Open Source Blogging

A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with an old friend of mine that I respect quite a lot. He’s one of those people that seems to know how to do everything - he can fix computers (and write code), handle almost any home repair, play the guitar, beat almost everyone I know at chess, discuss literature extensively, and so on.

We were simply talking to each other about our reflections on the past year - both personal milestones and otherwise. I reflected on the true birth of my writing career and the growth of my children (especially … Continue Reading

Welcome back after Christmas. Yesterday I visited Santa Cruz to shoot some surfers with Marc Silber, photographer, and to visit 12seconds.tv.

At first glance 12seconds.tv is a lame idea. But, most of you thought the same thing about Twitter. So, that first impression should be thrown in the recycling bin along with all the torn up wrapping paper from Christmas presents you received yesterday.

What is it? It’s a service that lets you upload or record videos 12 seconds at a time. Sort of a video Twitter. It’s gained a cult following around the world.

But forget all that.

In my 30-minute video … Continue Reading

I remember the good old days of 1994. Back when your only choice of developing a web site was doing it by hand. Remember typing HTML codes like <b> and <table> and making it all work? Or, if you didn’t know what those meant, you had to pay some developer $100+ an hour to do it for you. Seriously, back then HTML developers were in short supply and building a web site was expensive. The magazine/conference company I worked for, Fawcette Technical Publications, paid more than $100,000 to build its first web site, which was a pretty rudimentary one.

Then came … Continue Reading

Some startups are just unfundable but are developing things that change the world. In Barcelona I’ve found one. It won’t be my last, especially since venture capital is a LOT harder to get lately. I’ve been hearing a lot about deals that are falling through because the VCs are lowering valuations by a lot. As Ron Conway told me a few weeks ago it is a buyer’s market for VC now and they can pretty much demand anything they want.

But, this startup probably wouldn’t get funded in usual times. It’s sad, too, because it’s a technology that I really want. … Continue Reading

We’ve arrived in Barcelona, Spain for Nokia World, a week where Nokia talks to its top customers.

When we got here a Nokia executive met me and bragged that the Internet has no clue what they will announce this week. I asked “what about the touch screen cell phone that I’ve seen rumors about?” He said that no one had gotten it right yet. The announcements are on Wednesday morning (it’s early Monday morning as I post this) so we’ll have to wait to see what they announce. He told me this is one of the only times he can … Continue Reading

We’ve arrived in Barcelona, Spain for Nokia World, a week where Nokia talks to its top customers.

When we got here a Nokia executive met me and bragged that the Internet has no clue what they will announce this week. I asked “what about the touch screen cell phone that I’ve seen rumors about?” He said that no one had gotten it right yet. The announcements are on Wednesday morning (it’s early Monday morning as I post this) so we’ll have to wait to see what they announce. He told me this is one of the only times he can … Continue Reading

We’ve arrived in Barcelona, Spain for Nokia World, a week where Nokia talks to its top customers.

When we got here a Nokia executive met me and bragged that the Internet has no clue what they will announce this week. I asked “what about the touch screen cell phone that I’ve seen rumors about?” He said that no one had gotten it right yet. The announcements are on Wednesday morning (it’s early Monday morning as I post this) so we’ll have to wait to see what they announce. He told me this is one of the only times he can … Continue Reading

I don’t know what you’ll think of these videos but I thought they were very funny to watch. Or maybe some of this might hit too close to home for you. If it does, I’m here to help.

Let me know what you think.

The debt video of the year award should go to the folks at Burnrate.ca. Excellent job on the videos. I’m still laughing at the ridiculousness of the videos.

If you can’t see the videos below, visit this link to watch. Four Of The Most Stereotypical … Continue Reading

In yesterday’s post several commenters said they were unsubscribing because all I do is talk about politics.

Oh, really?

To those who say that I only write about politics or think about politics, you are absolutely wrong.

You must read my FriendFeed comments, for instance. Overwhelmingly tech.

Or see the things I’ve “Liked” (er, shared) with you. Overwhelmingly tech.

Or see all the things I share or blog about. Overwhelmingly tech.

Or see all the videos we do at FastCompany.tv. Overwhelmingly tech.

Or see all my Google Shared items. Overwhelmingly tech.

Or see my event calendar. Overwhelmingly tech.

Only a very small … Continue Reading

I’ve just learned I have a new boss and that lots of moves are being made by my parent company, Mansueto Ventures, which publishes Fast Company and Inc Magazines and also does a series of online sites, including Fast Company TV, which I head along with Rocky Barbanica. I also just learned that 20 of my coworkers have been laid off as the economic troubles start to move into the media world. Most of these cuts are in online and marketing.

I’ve been talking with people about these changes on my Twitter account and on my … Continue Reading