Ramblings

The thoughts & insights of a Jamaican living far from home...

[bigwhitejamaican]

Trust The Process

Last week I took a break from my regular job at Esri (Thanks Jack! 🙏🏻) and pursued my passion for #sneakers (Yes, I’m a #sneakerhead) at The Shoe Surgeon Shoe School in NYC! This experience has forever changed my life! Not only was I able to bond with fellow Sneakerheads, learn something new, unlock my creativity and create my very own custom version of an Air Jordan 3 (My “3Eighty-3”), but I learnt a very important life lesson - Pursue Your Passion!

But, I’ve never sewn before! But, I’ve never worked with leather! But, I’ve never... You see where this is going! But, I was determined to succeed! But, how? This was all so new & overwhelming!

Well, after open and honest conversations with my fellow classmates and my amazing instructors, here are the Four (4) fundamental steps I took to arrive at success each and every day:

1. Fight The Self-Doubt

2. Open Your Mind

3. Put In The Hard Work

4. Trust The Process

Steps 1 & 4 are absolute musts! And, as I return to “regular life”, whether that’s being an Account Manager for #Esri #Startups, building my next pair of custom #sneakers or just being a human, I am determined to surround myself with those that appreciate my passion, recognize my talent and constantly push me to be the very best version of myself! #trusttheprocess

[bigwhitejamaican]

Her Off-White Gown

She sat upon the crown, radiantly adorned in her Off-White gown!

Feet firmly planted on the uneven ground, her hands clasped around the throne!

Had you not seen her there before? Had you not caught her standing in the corner of your gaze?

“There is no room for more!”, shouts the fool! He cannot comprehend what to do with her glory!

“There is no room!”, comes the cry as the crown topples under the strain and the fool is happy once more!

She rises to her feet, eyes fixed in a crystalline gaze.

That Off-White gown shows her age; it defines her struggle.

The fool looks away! And, in that moment, she snatches the crown! She fills the room with her glory! Feet firmly planted! The ground levels underneath her and the radiance of her Off-White gown cuts through the darkness - “There is no room!”, shouts the fool! There she stands!

[bigwhitejamaican]

Mixing up a little Jamaican Rum Punch for a Sunday Afternoon Backyard BBQ with some JWray & Nephew White Rum…

[bigwhitejamaican]

Last week, I decided it was time to install a set of Subframe Connectors in my 1965 Ford Mustang Coupe. After some research online and a few conversations with fellow Classic Mustang Owners, I went with a set from Global West Suspension in San Bernardino, CA - These were installed by Hassett Auto Services in Margate, FL - I noticed an immediate difference in ride quality, as compared to the factory unibody design! I've also been enjoying less body roll, squeaks & groans from the cars chassis! I give the Global West Suspension Subframe Connectors a rating of 4.5 out of 5!

[bigwhitejamaican]

Fish 'n' Chips & $1.50 Draft Beer #AnnaMariaIsland #FL

[bigwhitejamaican]

After rebuilding the 289 V-8 motor in my 1965 Ford Mustang Coupe, I had to run a Champion Aluminum radiator & electric fan setup to get it to cool effectively. #MustangProject

[bigwhitejamaican]

Ford 289 V-8 nestled in the engine bay of my 1965 Coupe... ❤️

[bigwhitejamaican]

Chillaxin on a Friday afternoon with #FreeWilly at Freehand/Broken Shaker on South Beach, Miami FL

[bigwhitejamaican]

After nearly 6 months at the mechanics, it feels good to have her back! '65 Ford Mustang in the original factory color, "Dynasty Green"

[bigwhitejamaican]

Nothing says TGIF like cruising down the I-95 in your '65 Ford Mustang ford-mustang-generation

[bigwhitejamaican]

Slow-Cooked Caribbean Brisket Serves 6 * 1 tablespoon olive oil * 1 1/2 pounds yellow or red onions (about 2 large onions), sliced into half moons * 3 1/2 pounds beef brisket * Coarse kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper and dried thyme * 6 cloves garlic, minced * 1 cup of Belgian beer (Saison/Tripple/Quad) * 1 cup of brewed coffee (Dark or Espresso Roast) * 2 tablespoons Pick-A-Pepper sauce * 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or tamari, if gluten-free) * 2 teaspoon of Scotch Bonnet pepper sauce Heat a deep sauté pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat with the olive oil. Add the onions and cook on medium-low to medium heat, stirring frequently, for about 20 minutes or until the onions have caramelized lightly. While the onions are cooking, take the brisket out of its packaging and pat it dry. Season the meat generously with salt, pepper and dried thyme. Heat a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat and turn on your vent or fan, if you have one. Sear the brisket until a golden brown crust appears on both sides of the meat. Remove and place in a slow-cooker insert, fatty side up. Sprinkle the minced garlic over the meat. When the onions are lightly browned, pile them on top and around the meat. Mix the beer, coffee, Pick-A-Pepper sauce, Scotch Bonnet sauce, and soy sauce, and pour into the slow-cooker insert. Cover and cook in the slow cooker on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or until the brisket is very tender. Let rest for at least 20 minutes before serving in the slow cooker set on WARM. (If your slow cooker doesn't have a WARM setting, transfer to a baking dish and cover tightly with foil while resting.)

[bigwhitejamaican]

The Seven Oaks Cabin #cabinporn #sevenoaks #camping

[bigwhitejamaican]

Get With The Platform! - Part 2

If you build it, they will come!

Esri has a complete platform (content, technology, and expertise) to enable any organization...

Okay! Got it? Good! What Now?

Enable all your employees and contractors to discover, use, and make maps from their browser of choice, from Microsoft Office, from their desktop GIS, from their other enterprise systems, and from their mobile devices

Extend the usefulness and value of your existing asset mapping systems and GIS project work (even if you aren't using Esri technology - But you should be!)

Support mobile notifications and advertising (Hmmm... That's interesting!)

Manage and analyze massive volumes of real-time data from sensors and from devices

Construct and deploy your own branded "consumer and professional mapping platform"

Engage an ecosystem of developers that will extend their reach and value

Yep! You read that correctly, Esri can support all these!

Any Questions? Get that answers you need HERE!

[bigwhitejamaican]

Don't Forget To Share!

So, you've been using ArcGIS Online to build a killer map and now you're ready to share it with the world! You've shared the geographic content used to build your web map with "Everyone" (Public), and you've even remembered to share your web map with "Everyone" (Public) as well! You copy and paste the link into an e-mail; you tweet it out to everyone and their mother - At last, you'll be viral!

They've Got Maps!

Your boss clicks on the link from his mobile device of choice, your followers from beyond the twitterverse click on the link - Whoosh! Up pops their browser, but there's no map! Instead, they gotta login to the ArcGIS Online thing - Not cool!

Wipe That Egg Off Your Map!

Quick! Fix your map before it goes from “mind-blowing” to “mind-boggling”...

Get Ready To Do A Little Tweaking!

Bust out your trusty-dusty ArcGIS Online toolbox! Login to your ArcGIS Online subscription and click on the “My Organization” tab, then click the “Edit Settings” button…

Access Denied?

Once on the Organizational Settings page of your ArcGIS Online subscription, click on the Security tab and ensure that you allow "anonymous access" to your organization…

It’s Good To Be The King!

At last, your maps can go from being “backroom best” and move out into the “big-time”! Maps for all – But only when you want and to whom you want! Go forth and don’t forget to share!

Click HERE, try my map for yourself!

[bigwhitejamaican]

GIS is cool! @Esri #ArcUser #Esri #GIS

[bigwhitejamaican]

The ArcGIS Portal API is a core REST API

When used in conjunction with the ArcGIS Web APIs & Mobile Runtime SDKs, you'll be able to work with items (users, groups and content) within a portal to build web, mobile, and desktop apps that support sharing and collaboration using web maps.

Build It And They Will Come... Then Sell It To Them...

[bigwhitejamaican]

Get With The Platform! - Part 1

Fresh out of Beta and off into the world of final release, ArcGIS Online has been quickly adopted by customers old and new alike! They’ve taken hold of a true mapping platform and are off making, sharing and using maps on all their cool devices. And while these maps are great, one thing holds true; these organizations need special purpose Apps - Apps they can quickly discover, configure and use!

Calling all Esri Partners and Developers!

It’s time to get with the Platform! That’s right, pair those same Esri’s Web APIs and Mobile SDKs you’ve used to build Apps with for the last several years, with the ArcGIS Portal API and develop Apps that support the sharing and collaboration model of the ArcGIS Online mapping platform!

But wait, there’s more! Sell those Apps into every ArcGIS Online subscription account! Hooray New Customers! Host the Apps on your own servers and they will come! Or, let your customers host your Apps for themselves – Just remember to make your Apps configurable! Allow your customers to easily wire their web maps against your Apps and get them out to their entire organization!

Ready to get cracking?

Here are the Top 5 “Must Read Now!” items to set you on the path:

Creating Apps with Web Maps

Why not use Esri’s Web App Templates?

Or simply create your own Web App Templates

Make your Web App Templates configurable - It’s Easy!

Get your Web Apps noticed!

Keep watching this blog for more information on “Getting With The Platform”. I’ll be sharing a few choice real-world examples of Partners/Developers that have put this into practice.