The Musing Mill

Standing on the beach the other day, I told Susan that this summer was worth every penny. I think the picture says it all. While I have not had the summer off, I have had significant control over WHEN I do my work versus spending time with the kids and Susan. So, this advice is for whoever might read this someday.

ADVICE: If you ever get the chance to take significant time off to be with your kids when they are little - DO IT! It’s worth whatever savings or income you will give up. There’s more to life than money - it’s an instrument not an end. Family is more important.

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Joshua Schachter: Del.icio.us - Things we’ve learned,
originally uploaded by Larsz.

This is a great overview of all the things that have to be considered when building a company with a Web-hosted application as it’s main interface to the customer.

The guys at Delicious have done a great job and these are their notes.

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Sorry to those who came to look here over the last few weeks. I had too many issues with the domain redirection and I finally moved the Musing Mill from its Mac-based home to a hosted server. It was actually dead easy and I’m surprised I didn’t try it until now! (Many thanks to Matt Mullenweg for good planning!) I did a SQL backup of the database on the Mac, created the same DB on Dreamhost, imported the SQL to the Dreamhost DB and then did their 1-click Wordpress install. Worked like a charm!

I’ll be back-dating some of the missing posts.

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Shaun Inman, Mint: 10 Reasons Why You Need to Build an API,
originally uploaded by Larsz.

Everyone (and by this I mean software-types, MBAs or CAD users) knows APIs are important. I’m trying to work with Vertex in Finland and they apparently do not. Here’s a good summary of why they are that I found on Flickr…

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OK - anybody in marketing? You really have to see this parody of how Microsoft would have re-designed the packaging for the iPod. It’s classic Dilbert-esque tech-geek humor

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The Wall Street Journal Maketplace section had an article on the front page, top of fold about the US Securities and Exchange Commission shutting down the ‘autosurfing’ site 12DailyPro.com. There is a lot to learn from how this case is resolved. Here’s why…

The difference between the new economy and the old one is that the old economy players relied on ‘economies of scale’ in production, while the new economy relies on ‘economies of networks.’ 12DailyPro was (supposedly) a really efficient way to build a huge network of people interested in website promotion. It was one of the top 400 sites (rated by Alexa traffic) on the Internet. It is safe to say that it was a top brand in website promotion.

The SEC shut down 12DP because it claims that, because 12DailyPro got most of its revenue from membership dues, that it was a Ponzi scheme. That logic makes every fitness club in America, for instance, a Ponzi scheme. I’m guessing that the SEC has more info than it is releasing publicly. But for now, by simply claiming that 12DailyPro is a Ponzi scheme, the SEC has been able to shut down a top brand in the website promotion business, with very little uproar from anybody. Isn’t this guilty until proven innocent?

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It’s been tough to post on the blog being back at school now and working on my startup. On the technology side, I’ve been working on the idea of tying blogs to voting interfaces like that used on DIGG.com. I think I’ll get my MBA classmates to start voting interesting topics and then make that browsable (UI secret to be revealed later

On a related note, using the same software ideas, I just got the idea to start a product mangement blog dedicated to the subject rather than cluttering up this space here. By using a blog to post software feature ideas/pictures/mockups, tying in a voting user interface (password restricted so I can control the sample profile of voters) and then posting results publicly, I could have a whole NEW WAY to solicit public input on a piece of software, or any project for that matter.

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Tommorrow is the first day back at BU for the Spring. It has been a great break and we spent a lot of time with the family and also driving to the cape (as you can see below!)

During the holidays, Sue and I went skiing at Okemo (without the kids this time) and I worked on researching various businesses I have been thinking about.

Along the way, I found this lawyer, Robert Townsend. His take on life was the last sentence on his website. I think it is great!

Recommended Life Style:

Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out shouting, HOLY SHIT……what a RIDE!

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We have had a really great holiday with our family. This is the first year we got our cards out before Christmas. Susan sang in the church choir on Christmas Eve. Susan’s mother, Karen, spent the holiday with us as well as my parents. Santa was good to us with very full stockings and wonderful gifts for the kids. As a thankyou, Elizabeth left him some milk and cookies (in advance).

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This is the Cape house yesterday Dec 22nd. Charlie Ferrullo (contractor) and Tom have been working on getting the roof framed and closed in before the weather hits. The dormer is for a small loft that will sleep a few more people than before. We plan to have the first use be when the BU folks crash at the house when Allison Beatty and company do the Cape Cod half-marathon in February.

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