1st off, why did I quit Twitter?
I haven’t really decided if I will quit for good, but some things have transpired over the last few months that make it where I feel I can’t be myself  on Twitter any longer. I don’t really want to put it out here where everyone can see, but I feel that I can’t really use Twitter how I’d like to anymore. I can’t put out the good without throwing in the bad comments about certain products and services. If I can’t have it both ways, I should just shut up. I might pop back on after my 1 month, self imposed ban and read here and there, but for now, I am calling it quits. Posts I make from this blog will still be piped into my Twitter channel, but I won’t be commenting on replies on Twitter. It’s not as simple and saying “Screw it, I’m going to say whatever I want” either. It’s kinda complicated.

It’s not just Twitter.
I have also decided to discontinue use of some other social media sites as well. Foursquare is the main one. Foursquare has no real use in my life. Do any of you really care where me and my family are eating? I didn’t think so.

Why did I shut this blog down?
Truth be told, it was an impulsive act that coincided with my decision to quit on Twitter. I decided since I can’t blog about mobile tech anymore, I need to distance myself from the past. The Aximsite years were awesome, but I am not a journalist, I am not a current site owner/admin, I left the Microsoft MVP program, I can’t blog about mobile any more, and I am no longer a part of the mobile community, so there is no real reason to hang out on twitter anymore. There also is no reason to operate a personal blog anymore since I can share on Facebook. I am also trying to privatize my life a little since I am no longer any of those things. Short and simple version is that I am not important enough to really have more than Facebook to share on.

It’s back online now, why?
Simple. I missed having a place to bitch and complain that I control. My own piece of the internet. Facebook is cool and all, but I don’t own my own content there. Here I do. Not to mention, making $2-3/day with 1 single ad doesn’t hurt. It’s not gonna pay for devices, but it almost covers the server (although another site here I host for a friend covers that already).  I have so many gripes and complaints I want to share that I needed to have this back online. I might not have much to say about mobile here anymore, but I will have some things to say.

Should I change the site’s domain again? Maybe www.talesfromawashedupcommunityleaderthatnolongerhasavoice.com?

Upon publishing, the following things should happen:

• Link to this post tweeted on my @ChrisLeckness account (even though I am abstaining from Twitter right now).
• Posted to my Facebook Wall with link back to the post.
• RSS Updated

I just want to make sure, after tearing the site down, that it’s ready for public consumption again.

What’s going to be here?
Basically the same crap I have been posting in the past. I will be trying to add more general content about phones and my obsessions though. I can be a fanboy for whatever Mobile OS, Game System, Carrier, OEM, football team, and gas station I want without worrying about whose feelings get hurt. I will be upfront as I can be here!

I plan to add a new disclaimer page to disclose all my affiliations soon!

In the meanwhile, do you want to know why I chose /Shrug? I have a hint! It’s got nothing to do with slashdot! I explain it here. Maybe I should have snagged slashfail? Oh, a couple domains that missed the cut for this rebranding were attfan.com and wrrx.com.

All in all, it’s just me rambling like always folks!

I want to clarify that this is still MY PERSONAL BLOG. It’s not going to be converted into a Windows Phone news/review site. It’s just a new domain. Same content, same me. While I might post some tech bits here and there, 90% of my mobile related posting will be done at GottaBeMobile. You will also be able to find me in some of the Microsoft run support forums helping out when I can.

As for Windows Phone 7, I am still quite excited. I have had the chance to play with Windows Phone 7, but don’t currently have a device in my possession. I am told that I should have one soon, but if not, I will rely on getting my hands on T-Mo and AT&T US versions for review. I am unsure which device I will actually purchase right now, but I am leaning towards the HTC Surround or LG slider since I don’t want to ditch AT&T right now.

Thanks for reading my ramblings all these years.

I still keep a pretty good pulse on the mobility world though. What I get from logging into Twitter 1-2 times a day is more than enough for me. I still get 10-15 emails a day telling me about some new software or hardware.  I still get press releases and device offerings from the major carriers and OEMs, but I don’t act on them. I don’t really want to stop learning and enjoying mobile tech, but I do enjoy being a regular dude now.

Since walking away 3-4 months ago, I have found so many things around my house that needed attention. I have been able to spend more time with my kids. I have been working with my son and his baseball team. I’ve had more time to play video games, which is a bigger time sink. It’s just amazing how much you can get done when you aren’t running a website.

Initially, I planned to take some time off (3-4 months) and return back to writing/reviewing, but I have decided not to do that now. I still plan to share online in some ways though.

If I get a new device or something that I think warrants some attention, I might post something up here. Not sure anyone will find it that might care, but I might as well. I still plan on getting more involved in the Microsoft Forums to help support Windows Mobile 7 Windows Phone 7 too.

I know, to some, this sounds totally retarded. I have all these companies willing to send me stuff to look at and I don’t want to. Some people would love to have that opportunity and I am just giving it away. Yes. That’s about the gist of it. In a way, I don’t want to give this opportunity up because if I change my mind a few years from now,  I probably won’t have the same opportunities available to me today. This is just a chance I have to take though.

To anyone reading that liked my way of presenting a product and valued my views on various subjects, I am truly sorry for not continuing what I have done for over 8 years as a hobby. For a long time, what drove me to continue when I was not really feeling it anymore, was the fact that I felt that I owed the readers something. I finally realized that I have to do what is best for Chris. This is best for Chris.

To sum it all up, I am really enjoying being a regular old dude now. I don’t think I want to trade that back in again.

When a hobby turns into more work than fun, it’s time to find another hobby.

My cousin Michael and one of his life long friends Brett have started a new company in the Atlanta area that focuses on Web development, Social Media Strategy, and SEO. The company is called Web Devils. I feel I can help them with this business and I am in talks with them right now.

I am enjoying a more simple lifestyle, one that has me removed from the hustle and bustle of the Mobile Blogging Scene. I have less responsibility now and I can focus more on family and other hobbies. I feel that joining forces with my cousin and his friend will give me the opportunity to continue to do things online, but without the hassle of actually running things. I had actually recently considered reopening my old web design company, LeckMedia, but I quickly nixed the idea because of the responsibility and commitment that running your own company brings. I still don’t have enough time for that right now. When I found out about my cousin’s new project, I felt this would be a perfect fit for me.

If I do move forward and work with Web Devils, I could see me doing some screen-casts, some how to articles, and of course… some design work. My backend experience with dedicated servers and the behind the scenes coding work would also be invaluable to this venture.

I am actually working on 2 sites now. One for my son’s baseball league locally and one for a friend for him to blog about Rutgers football. A couple weeks ago, I finished off another site for a friend about personal inventing and commodity trading.

Any thoughts on this from my family, friends, or followers?

This is where I will place the boring details that are my life, later….

• Update : Sept 14, 2006 – Later will come…
• Update : Nov 5, 2006 – Still working on details (see a pattern here?) …
• Update : Dec 20, 2006 – haha.. I got nothing.
• Update : January 23, 2007 – You are going to have to wait.
• Update : April 13, 2007 – haahhaahhha… still waiting?
• Update : November 19, 2007 – I have finally gotten time, but I don’t feel like updating this page.
• Update: September 30, 2009 – I actually intend on updating this page. Seriously. Soon.
• Update: April 15, 2010 – I still haven’t updated, but I swear… soon.
• Update: April 16, 2010 – I am really doing it this time. Read on.

Now, almost 4 years later, I decided to throw up something more “real”. It’s rough right now, but I will go back in and edit it later. It will do the job though. No biggie, just thought I would share now.

Brittney is 16, almost 17 now. What happened to the little bitty girl sporting the Aximsite tshirt for the readers almost 10 years ago. She is driving and we gave her my wife’s old Nissan Altima. My wife got here one of them there fancy cars now, a Volvo XC90 SUV. Brittney went to her 1st prom last weekend and she hated it. She said all the do at prom is dance. DUH… what did you expect? Mini golf? Anyhow, her grades are almost perfect as they have been all through High School. Unless she steers off course, I see an academic scholarship coming her way. Good job Britt!

Brett quit Taekwondo finally. He tried quitting before, but we always talked him back into it. I really wanted him to get his black belt 1st. That’s the reason he quit I think. He failed his 1st black belt testing and was so discouraged that he didn’t want to go anymore. We forced him for a couple weeks, but we quickly figured out he really didn’t want to go anymore. With baseball season approaching, we let up and let him quit. I am disappointed, but I don’t want to force things on him. Now, he’s in his 1st “real” season in baseball. 7 and 8 year old league uses 43 mph pitching machines. He’s batting about .500 for the year. Normally he gets up to bat 2-3 times and has hit 1-2 times safely in each game, except 1.

Me, I spend a lot of my time watching MMA and other sports as well as movies. 2012 disappointed me, but Blind Side was freaking awesome. I have also started playing video game more, PC games like World of Warcraft and PS3 sports games mostly.

I plan to write more soon. Been taking lots of needed time off.

I have a decent number of RSS followers of my personal blog here. I don’t update it nearly as often as I would like to though. Sometimes I think about just taking it down, but no reason as long as nobody minds the infrequent updates. Today I was checking out my image gallery of photos I sent to Twitter with Tweetie and I was wondering just who follows me here.

Leave me a comment and tell me how you follow this blog. Are you a family member, a friend from the Navy or School, someone I played a video game with, a website follower, etc… I am sure there is a mix of a few of those groups, but just wondering.

Leave me a comment!