Sending meaningful communications using the SMS text message standard is like trying to write the next great American novel with an extremely inky pen on two-ply toilet paper whilst shrouded in the wet darkness of an alley behind a club.

Alright, perhaps my comparison is a tad harsh, but from where I am sitting there is no technological reasoning for having such small character limitations on SMS messages. The magical number of characters permitted per message seems to be a standard one hundred sixty, independent of service provider. Can anyone supply me with a reason why this is the case?

While it is true that longer messages can be simply broken into smaller 160 or less bursts, the recipient then has to wade through a choppy message, often backwards — as a result of people naturally sending the beginning of a message first and then continuing chronologically. The recipient's mobile operating system will display the last message received first, which would be the conclusion of the message.

The one thing this phenomenon does force me to do is come up with more creative ways of sending messages. But there is a caveat: I object to abbreviations. Even in daily life I cannot stand abbreviations of any kind. Emerging methods of technology have unleashed an entirely new realm of abhorrent signifiers on our society and especially those of the IM and SMS generation. So-called "TXT SPK" (text speak) is one way around both the time necessary to input a message into the often clumsy and restricted keypads of mobile telephones and avoid problems with the character limits.

So I suppose until I can get over my objection to abbreviated messaging — an occurrence I can virtually guarantee impossible in this lifetime — I will simply have to make due.

Could you pass me another cocktail napkin to scrawl upon?

RELATED

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SMS Web Directory

While I am still looking into taking a flight or perhaps the train, I posted the following advert in the "rideshare" section of atlanta.craigslist.org.

I will be helping a friend move to Athens on 08 August 2005. After staying for a few days I will need a ride back to Orlando. I am willing to help out with fuel costs and/or take turns driving (standard or automatic). I am 24, male.

Please contact me if you will be driving to or through Orlando from the Athens/Atlanta area at any point during the week of 08 August 2005. Thank you!

To those of you who may read one of Mount Sutro's RSS feeds: is it annoying that frequently updated features — such as the Refer Blacklist and E-Mail Blacklist — cause those entries to reappear as unread? I have been playing with RSS functions recently and noted that the above is true. Thank you!

Have you eaten at Taste yet? Taste is a fantastic restaurant featuring California Small Plate dishes for lunch and dinner in a hip and trendy environment. Their wine selection, general ambiance and service are all stellar as well. Located at 717 West Smith Street in College Park, Taste also features local artists' work in their gallery.

Incidentally, Taste is my newest client and I am advertising now (on my own accord) because I have just completed designing new print menus and a website for the restaurant. You can look at the new website and learn all about the restaurant by visiting tastecp.com.

If you do decide to stop in and give the restaurant a try, mention you came from Mount Sutro and tell them how much you love the new menus and website. And also please feel free to comment here with any feedback.

PLEASE NOTE This information is out of date. The menus and website are no longer of my design.