Saturday, July 12, 2003

Snickerdoodles! 

Cut on the Bias mentions Snickerdoodles in their blog today. I'm a Snickerdoodles junkie, as is my son. Here's my early blog entry about Snickerdoodles, and a good recipe from Land O'Lakes butter.
Comment

AOL to sell CDs and CDs online--watch for an AOL Music label as well. 

AOL cuts out the middleman: Reduced video, DVD and CD sales through Amazon signal AOL's effort for more revenue from its entertainment-focused audience. Two years ago, in 2001, AOL invested $100MM in Amazon as part of a multi-year sales pact, during a quarter when they were really hurting for cash; in return for the investment AOL got access to badly needed collaborative filtering technology to incorporate into Shop@.
Given that Amazon.com was the second most-viewed Internet shopping site in the U.S. in May with 35.9 million visitors, according to research firm ComScore Networks Inc., this audience segment and product category on AOL probably do not represent a large part of their online business, but the move can provide the AOL unit with desperate needed revenue--one of the ways they have made their numbers in recent quarters is to cut over $100MM in staff and costs--showing a positive uptick with new merchandise segments will make a difference to their annoyed corporate parent.

"America Online subscribers can buy CDs and videos "on impulse," said Bill Wilson, AOL Entertainment's new SVP. In other words, AOL promotes a first listen by an artist, the member plays the cut and then purchases the music--in some cases with fees going to AOL both from advertising and promotion from the label and later for merch.

In addition, this move paves the way for AOL to position itself not only as a maker of hits--the must-be destination to break new songs, new movies, and new media--but a developer and packager of such hits--remember, much of the AOL Entertainment team came from BMG and have kept their close ties to the music business. Further, AOL's great job developing the online radio business, which it now dominates, can provide a great advertising and distribution medium in which to sell new products.
Comment

Prepping for our first Garage Sale 

We're spending a good part of this weekend getting ready to have a garage sale, every American's precursor to taking the trash to the dump. I've just gone through Google and gotten my quick Garage Sales tips from Getting Frugal and other sites decided not to buy professional signs because they won't arrive in time, and learned how to watch out for professional buyers arriving early the first day and buying up all; the good stuff (is this really a problem?
I've also learned that there are garage Sales freaks out there whose web sites are all about yard sales--Garage Sale Susan and Yard Sale Queen, in particular.
Our yard sale is going to feature several items of the "Please, get your van and haul them away" variety, notably bookcases and an Ikea armouire, as well as the usual jumble of unused bottles of sunblock, old CDs from the 80s, books, worn jeans, etc. And a sprinkling of that good stuff I hope someone comes and buys--I've decided to part with my collection of silk vintage Vera blouses, Coach bags, and 50s embroidered sweaters, as well as some of the bedspreads, tablecloths, and pieces of fabric that seem to follow me everywhere.

Comment

Thursday, July 10, 2003

The Architecture of the World Wide Web 

It's all right here, thanks to the W3 Standards group. Best practices sprinkled throughout.
Comment

Department of Small Tragedies: I lost my address book 

My computer is old, I am going to buy a new one this month. Meanwhile, I decided to clean out the 6+ copies of AOL in the program files--and in doing so I accidentally deleted my current version of AOL 8.0 and my address book.
Downloading a new AOL took a second, but the system reached into itself and found a version of AOL that was from, hey, probably Fall 2002, and used that to set up my favorites file/book marks list and my address book. I'd thought AOL address books were server based--it wasn't until the email addresses of some folks I have been talking to this month didn't pop up in my email that I realized I might be have a problem.
Conclusion: My address book has really been functioning as my directory or database of who I know.
I now feel lost without it and am going to have to think of a better back up system than printing the damn thing out.
Word to the smart asses: Yes, I know I can get off AOL or switch to Outlook, I may do both, or neither.
Word to the AOL product teams: How about a save function for address books?

Comment

When are bloggers off the record? 

A post today from David Hornick on Venture Blog asking when, if ever conversations with bloggers are off the record. David writes:
"The bigger issue raised is an important one for the blogging community -- when, if ever, is something off the record for a blogger? I think for some bloggers the answer would be "never." For those of us who are blogging in the context of our businesses, there has to be some more pragmatic line drawing. If companies that pitched me found the details of their businesses discussed on VentureBlog the next day, it wouldn't take long before no one would pitch me. That said, business blogs are interesting because they are informed by the day-to-day business dealings of their authors. So I will continue to write about the things that interest me in my day-to-day life as a venture capitalist, but I will always be careful not to even push against the edges of confidentiality."

As a former and sometimes journalist, and as a former senior executive for large media companies, and now as a consultant, I would say that I have been trained to collect and analyze large amounts of diverse data--but to always assume that EVERYTHING is off the record, unless established otherwise, ahead of time. While it may be a cute convention for some bloggers to name drop everyone with whom they had breakfast, dinner, lunch, sex and whatever , we all know those people are like the needy kids on the edge of the cool crowd in high school, or the anxious little bullies in middle management at a big Internet company I used to work for who ran around the airplane-hanger sized offices quoting their bosses' bosses in every other sentence--in other words, they don't get any street cred for being name-droppers and suck-ups.

While this blog is deliberately not a work-focused blog, I do write often about business issues and companies that interest me, and I think what I bring to the table that makes the blog worth reading is my informed perspective--and hopefully, my sense of humor. I read Venture Blog for the same kind of insider expertise, more than for blabbed secrets, and that's pretty much what I expect from all the blogs I read--an insider voice that can help me understand something better.
Comment

8 am: Took the Which Matrix Persona Are You? Quiz 


What Matrix Persona Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Result: You are Neo, from "The Matrix." You display a perfect fusion of heroism and compassion.

Comment

Wednesday, July 09, 2003

Jewel: So fake it feels real? 

Jewel's newest single, Intutition, she tells listeners to be real and to follow your heart. Judging by the recent glam photos and women's' magazine stories about Jewel's "glamour "makeover," either she is amazingly insincere and vapid, or she thinks the rest of us are.

Jewel says 'Don't sell out, follow your heart.'
Susan say 'You give bad name to blondes.

Comment

The Brilliance and Fear of "28 Days Later" 

"28 Days Later," Danny Boyle's recent film about a world where an out-of-control virus rages through England, is one of the most affecting movies I've seen in quite a while. Closely linked with the zombie classic Night of the Living Dead, and with homage to the apocalyptic landscapes of Terminator, Mad Max, and A.I., as well as the abrupt realism of Blair Witch Project, 28 Days is the story of a world where "the infected" come after the few who still live.
The movie is shot entirely in digital video( I looked that up just now) and is wonderfully styled, with heartbreakingly beautiful shots of a rainy London and English countryside contrasting with the bloody horror of the plot.
The recent New York Times review that called the film "arresting" and "beautiful" made me want to see it, but nothing prepared me for the immense wave of feelings the film unleashed. The plot points of the story manage to connect themselves to much loftier questions about human nature, rage & aggression, our political and economic system, sadness, loss, and death.
What makes this film special, however, is how much it makes you care about the characters--and how scary it is to care, since they're in pretty-much constant danger. There were moments when I could barely stand to look at the screen, I was so afraid of what might happen.
The movie takes an upturn in the last third which made it easier to watch; rather than just waiting for everyone to be killed off, I actually started to consider that they might find a way to survive.
Susan's 2 cents: Great flick, instant classic, will be big seller on video after current run is over.
Good article in the Oregonian here.
More stories here.
P.S.> Turns out the flick was named Best British Film of 2002.
New: Photos taken on set by a fan.
Comment

Cell phones: The newest disruptive technology 

According to Biz 2.0, cell phones are now interesting because there's a real chance to make money in the sector. Despite their lack of attention to cool things like mobblogging, Biz 2.0'sRafe Needleman, Michael Copeland, and Om Malik have put together an excellent feature on how new uses of cell phones are creating huge business opportunities.

Cell phone usage is expected to double by next year.

Comment

Tuesday, July 08, 2003

Mobblogging: How long is it going to take before we pick this up and put it down? 

Of course I want a camera phone.
I also think I will get over it in about 3 weeks.
Meanwhile, here's an interesting piece on what to do with one, by Adam Greenfield, one of the organizers of the FIRST Moblogging Conference (I would have loved to have gone).(Link via Smart Mobs)

Also, interesting post by Greg Elin on cameras as infirmation gathering devices, or "See, it's more than pretty pictures."
Comment

Around the Blogosphere, remix version 

Taking a break from my consulting project work to read the 200 blogs on my newsreader. You know, at this point the newsreader is the perferred vehicle for consuming information. When I come across blogs without RSS, XML or other feed options, I feel sad because I will read them 75% less than the ones I can add to the newsreader. And yes, I do click and open pages in the blog as well--but the newsreader is a great scanning device.
And helped me find
from The MediaBurn Radio Weblog: Photos of deserted farms in iceland.
Comment

Blog This! Dear Abby gives advice to a teen blogger 

Watch out, says Abby to this NJ team (she's probably from South Orange, NJ, where all the HS kids blog).
Comment

Digital shoplifting: Did ya see it? 

Apparently, digital shoplifting is on the rise in Japan, home of many camera phones. Apparently, Japanese are photographing books, movie times, fashion displays, etc and exchanging the images.

Said one woman, " But I have taken pictures of a hair-style catalogue to show to a hairdresser as the whole catalogue book was heavy... I also photograph clothes to consult friends about what to buy... or to tell them: This is the dress I'm planning to wear for the wedding party."

Wow! Can't wait till this new behavior comes to the US. Mobblogging is fascinating enough...
Latest from Joi Ito: Mobblogging banned in Japanese bookstores.
Comment

The new, new credo: is downscale cool ? 

Is downscale the new upscale? Kat Donohue outlines the new no excuses credo:

I drive (and hold title on) a Japanese sub-compact economy car

- I wear non-designer clothes bought at discount stores

- I usually make my coffee and tea at home instead of buying it at Starbucks

- I buy used books

- I write in a $0.99 composition book from Walgreens, not a $10 leather-bound journal from Barnes & Noble

- I own almost nothing from Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, or Restoration Hardware

- I don't have DSL, wi-fi, or Bluetooth, and neither does my PDA

- The last vacation I took was to visit my parents in Washington DC for Easter

Comment

Come home now, son : All dialogue guaranteed verbatim 

From little,yellow,different:
Ernie: Hello?
Dad: Your mother tells me you're not working anymore.
Ernie: That's correct.
Dad: Have you been looking?
Ernie: No. I've slept for 14 hours. The bedsores are the only reason why I'm talking to y—
Dad: WHAT?! YOU SHOULD MOVE HOME!! IF I WAS YOU, I WOULD—
Ernie: I'm kidding.
Dad: You should still move home.
Ernie: No, dad.
Dad: It would be cheaper.
Ernie: No, dad.
Dad: Mother would cook for you and —
More here.
Comment

Warning: This is an Insular Mediarati-type Post about a NY Post writer 

Mediabistro's Jesse Oxfield interviewed one of my absolute favorite journalists, the NY Post's tireless Keith Kelly (as opposed to Kevin Kelly, another great journalist). The Post's amazing rise in circulation is at least in part due to their determination to find the breaking news and gossip in all the key New York industries--entertainment, sports, television, real estate, banking, modeling, and of course, media--and cover it several times a week so info junkies like myself have to keep reading the paper (which I do, every morning, along with the NY Times and the Merc when I am in California).
Entire interview is here.Meanwhile, some neat snippets--
"... We live in a culture where we place a great premium on the scoop. I'm not going to do the second- or third-day, here's-how-it-fits-into-the-culture piece. I don't do that; I just don't have the space."
and
" You have to have something that resonates with the common man. That to me is the ideal story, the one that the industry is intrigued by, but also, hopefully, has enough human interest and drama in it. I guess if you want to boil it down to the quick and easy, we're very much interested in just basically winners and losers. And we're much more interested in uncovering the news than covering the news."
(Via Romanesko)

Comment

Radio Userland: What's next--Speculations 

There is also much speculation that this is tied to Userland being acquired by a larger company. Dave Winer today says:
To those who have asked if I will return as CEO, I can't. I have a job that I love at Berkman, we're doing lovely things, the things I want to do. For me, the technology challenge is behind me, the next challenge is to apply the technology in activities that Harvard does uniquely well, and then bring the results to the constituencies that the university serves. That means there's room for a CEO here, and a management team; it also means it's possible that UserLand will be acquired. But we will only do it if it means continuity and growth for UserLand's customers. One thing hasn't changed, the first two syllables of the company's name. That's been constant through all the changes of the last fifteen years."

I spent part of last night exchanging emails with friends and colleagues, speculating about what might be going on. Ideas we rejected--an acquisition by Microsoft (already discussed, apparently, would be interesting complement to Sharepoint), Yahoo (always known to jump on a trend), AOL(nah, kings of build it themselves and user base is so not relevant to their focus).

My guess #1: Merge with Academica
Given that one of the striking features of the Manila and Userland product strategy has been the strong and apparently committed installed base they have established in the university and academic community, why not a sustainable business venture between Stanford and Harvard?
AOL gets the newbie consumers, MT gets the digerati, Blogger gets the' if we have it on the Google toolbar they come ' crowd, and diaryland and live journal continue as they are.
Meanwhile, Userland gets a great boost for the knowledge management and edu business they have served so effectively, and the universities get to grow a successful spin-out very complementary to their current blog-related endeavors.

My guess #2: Merge with Social Text
Second wild guess-I am going all out here--is a merger with Social Text, a company deeply interested in both the academic and the enterprise space, and one that is likely to continue to support RSS, having stayed out of the recent barbed discussions. The people at Social Text are smart and committed,and are working to create a more robust product; they also just received some investment money.

Guess #3: Can't talk about this one, and it's a wild card around an under the wire not yet launched start up that's received beaucoup dollars and is in acquisition mode. I don't think this is the one, but who knows.

Okay, I've put the wild speculations out there, and now will wait to be proving totally wrong on every count, which is how these things usually go.


Comment

Where is John Robb? Not Userland, not anymore 

John Robb, former head of Radio Userland , left that business yesterday, and his web log now seems to be offline (his email address may be as well.) John started as the head of Radio Userland last February, so this is a fairly brief tenure.
Earlier in the week, John whose passion for and understanding of using blogging tools as a part of knowledge management has always impressed me, had posted some notes on his blog and others about a new commercial scheme to create a blogging network to make money for expert bloggers. This was very un-CEO like, so it caught my attention, as did the crawling script about the new idea that took over my newsreader browser (John took the script down fairly quickly, thank goodness).

The blogging community is posting about this news, quoting Dave Winer and wondering what happened to John. Many are chilled that his blog and email address could disappear so quickly (this is like being jacked OUT of the Matrix).

John, please let us all know where you are! During the brief conversations we had about blogging in education-both K-12 and university--you impressed me as a smart and focused guy, with a lot to contribute. And your blog--with its focus on knowledge management, has taught me a lot.

Comment

Monday, July 07, 2003

AOL BLogging: The Talk Goes On 

411 bloggers are pointing to Jarvis' AOL Blogging post; another 20 or so to Clay Shirky's new post at Corante.
I would imagine the AOL team are well-pleased, this may be the most positive early vibe on a new AOL product in a while.
Comment

Department of Unexpected Ideas: Poem 

Late Fragment

And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.

by RAYMOND CARVER
Comment

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?