jonandnic dot com

Frequently Asked Questions

I used to have an array of “About” pages on the site, but those got annoying to maintain, so I took them down. However, recently I was made aware that people who arrive at this site don’t know anything about us, and are forced to jump to conclusions based on incomplete information. This FAQ is an attempt to provide a little bit more background on who we are.

Although this site belongs to both Nic and I, I am the primary blogger here and also the most likely to be passionately verbal about my opinions, so most of this will be about me, attempting to clarify the bits and pieces you might gather from from various blog entries. I’ll add in what I think Nicole might want to you to know, where appropriate though.

If you want more information, or want to contact us personally, please understand that we can’t guarantee a reply, but you can e-mail us at:

About Us

Q: Who are you?
A: We’re Jonathan and Nicole. We’re 28, have a toddler, Benjamin, and a baby girl, Abigail. We’ve just moved home to Southwestern Ontario from New York, where Jon was working.

Q: How long have you been together?
A: We met, and began dating, when we were 17. We were engaged a few years later, and married at the ripe old age of 21. There have been challenging years, but we have no regrets. We had 5 years to ourselves before the baby factory kicked into gear.

Q: What do you do?
A: Jon has a full-time job as a Senior Software Engineer for a major international company, but he works from a home office. Most of his experience is in web-based applications, and his passions lie in developing user interfaces that make it easier for people to interact with computers.
Nicole is a full-time mom, at the moment, but she has a degree in accounting (and no, she won’t do your taxes). Her current plans are to continue the mom thing for a few years, and is considering home-schooling our kids for the early part of their elementary school career.
When we aren’t tending to our professions, we love to serve God through our church, and through part-time missions. We have a soft spot in our hearts for our friends who have made ministry a full-time endeavor.

Politics

Q: If you’re Canadian, why did you live in New York? Were you one of those evil immigrants I hear about on Fox News? And why did you move back? Did you get kicked out?
A: First of all, might I suggest that you watch a more impartial news channel — and I don’t necessarily mean CNN, but if you watch both, that might help. You might be surprised to find that the BBC does a great job of impartially reporting the facts about world news — including America — and will change your perspective on a lot of things.
Second, no we weren’t trying to be immigrants. My employer has offices all over the world. I opted to sit in an office in New York while getting to know the company, and we were there under a Temporary NAFTA (TN) Visa. This Visa was created by the American, Canadian and Mexican governments who all realized that by allowing certain professions to work across borders (with the appropriate paperwork) it benefited each of their countries by helping them to stay competitive — especially in the technology marketplace.
Nicole and I had no intention of making the States our permanent home, but we enjoyed our time living there. We’re glad to be home in Canada, but as I still report to my boss in New York, we’ll be back regularly to visit. In short, we’re very happy that our mutual governments are friendly.

Q: Some of your posts about the States seem negative. Why do you hate America?
A: We don’t! We have wonderful American friends, and love their freedom and their passion for it. The USA is a beautiful land, and a great place to live!
However, like many Americans, we take issue with the current Administration in power in your country. We are opposed to the never-ending war in Iraq, and we believe that, being “outsiders,” we have a unique perspective that has allowed us to be more aware of the continued erosion of your constitution — which we respect as being at the foundation of your country.
Fortunately, both in Canada and in America, we’re entitled to our opinion, and you to yours. So you don’t have to agree with us.
Besides I have a natural distrust of any bureaucratic organization, and you would hear me complain about the government no matter what country I was in!

Q: Does that mean you’re a Democrat?
A: Heck no! We’d both consider ourselves “Conservatives” in Canada. In the States, however, “conservative” means “Republican” and that carries with it a whole bunch of stuff that we can’t agree with. In Canada we have gun laws, and as a result, low crime. We have government health care, and as a result, a higher standard of living than the average American. Nonetheless, we can’t be Democrats because our relationship with Christ precludes some of what that party stands for.
In short, we’re dead in the middle of the messed up two party system, so its a good thing we couldn’t vote while we’re in the States. We’ll have to get re-educated on Canadian politics before we chose a side here at home.

Religion

Q: Are you a religious nut?
A: Nope. Nicole loves chemistry, and I’m an engineer. We both have very scientific minds, and prefer to accept only what we can quantify or prove. However, we’re also both well aware that some things in life defy explanation and can only have come from a source more intelligent and more loving than ourselves.
We are not “religious” people — but we both have a relationship with Christ that has transformed us from the inside out, and continues to challenge us to grow on a daily basis. We believe that the Bible is His infallible Word and useful for instruction. We believe God is Love, like He said He was, and that the best way to change the world is by sharing that love with others — like Christ did when He was here.
This does not make us ignorant or simple minded. On the contrary, it allows us to experience life to the fullest.

Q: How do you do that?
A: We’re still learning how, but some of the ways we’ve found including teaching, giving financially to ministry, volunteering locally and at our church, and exploring His creation and helping people through missions trips around the world. Jon has been on four trips, two with his parents while he was growing up, and two of his own planning, to Asia and Europe. Nicole has been on two.
One of the best experiences in our lives together was serving in Asia in 2005. We fully intend to go on more trips.

Q: Why do you think its important to go other places?
A: For perspective. To get out of your comfort zone. To learn to rely completely on God, so you can see Him work. For adventure! And because North America (including Canada!) is spoiled, and deserves little compassion. We spend our time fawning over athletes and reading the latest gossip on celebrities as if these things were actually important, while in Asia people work 16 hour days to make a life for their family. We’ve gotten so comfortable that we’ve forgotten that we need God, while in other parts of the world, they’re dying to hear His word. We’ve made our choices in North America — many parts of the world haven’t had that chance. We know better, and choose wrong. They should be given the same opportunity.

Other Stuff

Q: Are you a geek?
A: We both are! We’re the only couple I know that enjoys watching sci-fi together. Still, I try to keep the geek stuff on this site to a minimum, so you can check out my other site, codepoetry, to fill up on technobabble.

Q: I have something to say, or am stirred by one of your posts in some way, should I leave a comment?
A: Yes! This site doesn’t exist for comments, but it sure is nice to get them! We invite discussion, debate, feedback and thoughts. So don’t be shy, leave those comments!

Q: This site is awesome, what does it run on?
A: Thanks! We’re powered by WordPress, hosted by LRE Hosting. In a previous incarnation, this site was running on my own server, powered by an engine of my own invention called eXpression. If I’d had the time, two or three years ago, I firmly believe that eXpression would be competing neck-in-neck with WordPress or MoveableType right now — they were comparable in so many ways. Alas, the professional career came first, and then a baby came along, and I gave up and adopted WordPress.
My install is somewhat customized, but mostly I’m happy with what they provide. Its quite simple to set-up a WordPress site, so if you’re interested in blogging, you should check it out.

Q: I love your videos! How do you make them?
A: You’re too kind. I learned a fair bit about FinalCut Pro during our time serving at a church in New York, and really enjoy editing video with it. Right now we have a pretty crappy camcorder, but I jump at any chance to use technology to make things that move me.

Q: Will you fix my computer?
A: No. Take it to a computer shop. The only exceptions are family, and those in full time ministry. Otherwise, you’re on your own with your virus-laden Windows box.

Q: What if I pay you?
A: No.

Q: OK, how about you just tell me how to fix my computer?
A: Fine, here goes… Throw it in the garbage and buy a Mac.

Q: What happened to iPodControl/jsObjects/other?
A: The source code for these projects has been moved to my software site. For intellectual property reasons, they are currently dormant, but you’re welcome to check them out.

Q: You’re awesome. Can I send you money or gifts?
A: Yes. Please do.