This season I plan to compete in the full series, totalling 7 events. I would like to thank my partners for the series: MC Systems, Brand New Machine and Chilitos Mexican for their support.

Follow the updates using #TeamDM3 on Twitter. We will also be updating via Facebook: http://facebook.com/dmitridawkins . Thanks for all the support. See you all Sunday!

Come out to Fiction Night Club in Kingston, Jamaica this Wednesday for BNM – Ready, Set, Go! Brand New Machine, the hosts of this event are official sponsors of my Race Around Jamaica 2012 Campaign. As part of the Campaign I will be entering Dexterity events around the island starting April 22nd to win the National Championship. More Details to come after the Launch.

FB event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/312374395502600/

Well??? What do you think?

I found this:
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/db-toolkit/

Love it so far, but the learning curve is steep. It allows you to create interfaces, where you can view or input data from a DataBase. It’s all customisable by themes and CSS. It allows you to build apps in WordPress for WordPress as custom menus and widgets. Can even use short codes to include the app in posts or pages. It also supports pulling data from API’s and allows you additional functionality by your OWN API!!!

I hope this helps.

You probably are, but feel that way because it’s not as much as you like. This is a reminder to do a little each day. Send that email, read that article, do what you need to do.

Yes you are busy with work, life, whatever. But! 15 minutes a day is almost 8 hours per month. Bump it up to half hour and that’s 15 hours a month. And you get the gist.

Now go forth n get ‘er done! (Larry the cable guy reference).

I won’t continue rambling into who knows what, I will just share what I realised on the beach:

Sometimes we complicate things. It’s always unnecessary. Sometimes people do it to add self worth, or to feel important. Some do it because they are bored with life. Who knows how many reasons there are. Fact is people need to stop doing it.

The struggle is real, but not that real. I find I do this alot, constantly put myself in positions to push harder. Not to say we must not always try to achieve more, but sometimes mentally we get so used to this push push, that we just make things hard for ourselves. Sometimes it is ok to take it easy, to not worry, to just be at rest. We all need it at some point. My uncle calls this the sufferer mentality, my mother calls it madness. The point is, break free from your cycle.

Finally, focus on the value of life, not what you do in life. I think that’s pretty self explanatory.

Until next time…….

BTW I know this is a pretty boring read without pictures. Hush.

JPS will launch the project for the construction of  its multi-billion dollar Maggotty Hydroelectric Power Plant in St. Elizabeth on Thursday March 15.

The hydroelectric project, expected to cost 26 million US dollars, is the biggest to be undertaken in Jamaica in nearly 50 years.

JPS already has a hydro-plant at Maggotty which provides roughly 6 megawatts of  electricity.

The new power plant, will add another 6.3 megawatts to the national grid and employ 100 persons during the construction phase.

I think the original source was RJR news.

This is good though, St. Elizabeth already has wind farms producing renewable energy. Since the decline of bauxite mining, does this mean St. Elizabeth will now become the farming and renewable energy capital of the island?

Cool Stuff!

What’s new?

Well several things. This should probably be broken into several posts but……. well maybe I will do that later.

In January we successfully had Slash Roots Developers Conference, which is also the Developing Caribbean Open Data Conference. This was held simultaneously in Jamaica, Trinidad and The Dominican Republic. Check the details at http://developingcaribbean.org Much props to the organising team and MSB for pulling off this event.

February brought many challenges. In the space of one month I lost my Grand Aunt and Grandfather. Very difficult time. I think I will have to do several posts on this. Both of them achieved great things technically and introduced technology to Jamaica. But most importantly they are family and friends.

During this process I was also reminded of the lesson to keep the balls juggling. I nearly lost a major customer due to things falling behind during this difficult time. Lesson learned. No man is an island, we all need help and we all need to appreciate those who help us. Also communication with customers is key.

March so far has been very busy, not much I can speak about due to NDA’s. However I can tell you I was invited to lecture at UTech on March 5 and 8 on innovation and how it promotes entrepreneurship. Much thanks to Lisa Shaw for inviting me, I had a blast interfacing with the third and final year students. So many students planned to start their own business and some even shared their ideas with me. Really cool stuff, right here in Jamaica. Look out world!

Big event for March so far was rolling during a rally on March 4. I was co-driving for Thomas Hall in his Toyota Starlet. Basically we went around the corner sliding a little wide, the back tyre caught a rock and we started the tumble. Thankfully we are both fine with no injuries. Thomas is trying to get the car repaired for the next event. In the mean time we have to buy new safety gear. Photo below:

Sorry about the long read. I have installed the WordPress app on my tablet. Will try doing some shorter, more frequent updates for the rest of the year. In the mean time, live long and prosper!

Click for High Res

World Bank Open Data evangelist, Dr Tariq Khokhar will deliver the keynote address at the Opening Plenary of the Mona School of Business-hosted SlashRoots-Caribbean Open Data Conference, which is being presented under the theme, “Developing the Caribbean.” Describing his interests as being “where technology, transparency, poverty
and data meet”, Dr. Khokhar will speak on the topic: “Open Data: The New Revolution”. The Conference which takes place January 26-27, in the Faculty of Law building at the Mona campus, opens on the first day of the University of the West Indies’ “Research Day.”

As a co-organizer I invite you to attend the conference for the keynote address and more. Please see below:

Agenda for Jamaica: http://developingcaribbean.org/jamaica-agenda/

Event Registration: http://developingthecaribbean.eventbrite.com/