The online education platform built by GoingOn, my old software company, gets a review from UPenn's student newspaper:
Open Learning Commons combines elements of Blackboard and Facebook
The love child of Blackboard and Facebook has a name - the Open Learning Commons.
The new platform prototype, launched by the College of Liberal and Professional Studies, allows interested people within and outside the Penn community to participate in classroom activities from the Web.
The first class covers global environmental sustainability and combines coursework with social networking.
Led by Political Science professor Donald Kettl, the course involves not only 14 Penn students, but also international university students and anyone interested in "a flavor of what's going on at Penn in the classroom," program developers Lisa Minetti and Jennifer Maden said.
"The students are doing a real-world, real-time project, focused on framing an American approach to the next round of climate change policy," Kettl wrote in an e-mail.
Marni Baker, the program director, originally conceived the idea after fruitlessly searching for an ideal platform to combine "private interactions with the students" with YouTube lectures, discussion forums and a blog, all open to "wider audiences."... (full article)
You can visit the Global Environmental Sustainability Collaborative site here.
"Love child of Blackboard + Facebook" is a good description for this vertical Dave, Jon and team are working hard at leading.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Adjix Security Hole... Sam Is On A Roll
Sam, InsideWork's CTO, discovered a security hole in Adjix, which is the URL shortener that inserts text ads at the top of the page. A summary is on their blog:
Security Hole Found, Fixed, and Deployed
Just before 10 am PST, today, a security hole was discovered, by chance, in Adjix2Twitter by Sam Nguyen which allowed him to post this tweet to Guy Kawasaki's Twitter timeline. I'd never heard of Sam or his company before today - he is the CTO at InsideWork which "infuses business innovation with biblical insight".
Since Twitter is about as real-time as it gets, the following happened within an hour of the problem being discovered by Sam:
1. I saw the tweet as soon as it was sent and I immediately reviewed the logs to discover that Guy hadn't posted it from his own Adjix account.
2. NEENZ, who is Alltop's Chief Evangelist, DM'd me about the tweet and called Guy.
3. A number of Guy's followers @'d him regarding the tweet - and many also RT'd it, seemingly "in the blind".
4. Twenty minutes after Sam discovered the problem he sent an e-mail to me outlining what he had done and I called him to get the details.
5. Guy, who was in a meeting when this happened, called me after the meeting to find out what was going on and what he needed to do.
6. Guy disavowed the tweet and proclaimed his love for Adjix. (more)
Security Hole Found, Fixed, and Deployed
Just before 10 am PST, today, a security hole was discovered, by chance, in Adjix2Twitter by Sam Nguyen which allowed him to post this tweet to Guy Kawasaki's Twitter timeline. I'd never heard of Sam or his company before today - he is the CTO at InsideWork which "infuses business innovation with biblical insight".
Since Twitter is about as real-time as it gets, the following happened within an hour of the problem being discovered by Sam:
1. I saw the tweet as soon as it was sent and I immediately reviewed the logs to discover that Guy hadn't posted it from his own Adjix account.
2. NEENZ, who is Alltop's Chief Evangelist, DM'd me about the tweet and called Guy.
3. A number of Guy's followers @'d him regarding the tweet - and many also RT'd it, seemingly "in the blind".
4. Twenty minutes after Sam discovered the problem he sent an e-mail to me outlining what he had done and I called him to get the details.
5. Guy, who was in a meeting when this happened, called me after the meeting to find out what was going on and what he needed to do.
6. Guy disavowed the tweet and proclaimed his love for Adjix. (more)
Adobe Acrobat and Flash Security Flaws
Heads up from InsideWork's CTO, Sam, that I thought I would share:
"Adobe has posted security bulletins for both Acrobat and Flash Player products in the last few days.
Although the risk is low because attackers are currently targeting relatively few people, an attack could potentially gain remote control over your computer and therefore access to sensitive files.
.....
Adobe won't have a fix ready for this until March 11th, so please be extra careful with any PDF documents you open. Make sure you know where they are coming from and if you have any doubts about a particular file, please don't open it."
"Adobe has posted security bulletins for both Acrobat and Flash Player products in the last few days.
Although the risk is low because attackers are currently targeting relatively few people, an attack could potentially gain remote control over your computer and therefore access to sensitive files.
.....
Adobe won't have a fix ready for this until March 11th, so please be extra careful with any PDF documents you open. Make sure you know where they are coming from and if you have any doubts about a particular file, please don't open it."
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Marc Andreessen on Charlie Rose
HatTip to Al. This has been discussed on posted in a fair amount of places already, but it deserves to be. Andreesen is insightful, entertaining, and provides the pulse of Silicon Valley to outsiders.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Dustin Lance Black Get Your Religion Right
Last night while we were watching the Oscars off and on while taking care of the girls, I saw Dustin Lance Black, writer of Milk, accept his award for best original screenplay. During his acceptance speech, he said:
"...No matter what everyone tells you, God does love you..."
I was annoyed at his ignorance or purposeful misinformation. I'm guessing it was the former.
As a Christian, I've encountered such ignorance many times throughout my life. During junior high, when my good Jewish friend found out I went to church, he asked me if all Christians hate Jews. I was baffled. I explained that it wouldn't make sense because it's clear through the Bible that Jesus, Paul and others were Jews and Christians or Catholics held them in the highest esteem. If our savior and role models were Jews, why would any believer in our faith hate Jews? Sure if you're an idiot member of some fringe hate group or simply illiterate and can't read the Bible, then I could see how it was possible. My friend was happy to hear his misconception, which I learned to be more common than I believed, cleared up.
During my twenties, my good gay friend also had a misconception that Christians hated gays and lesbians. I agreed that there were backwater, ignorant Christians that spout hate against gays and lesbians, but I explained that mainstream Christians don't hate gays and lesbians. I continued to discuss how it's seen as a sin like any other sin from hate to pride to adultery, and a gay "sinner" isn't weighed more than a heterosexual "sinner." We are all sinners before God and all loved by God, so no person is better than any other. My friend appreciated the discussion though he didn't believe in the Bible or the concept of sin.
So where does Dustin Lance Black get this view of religion (probably Christianity) that its followers would say or hold such a belief that God doesn't love gay and lesbians? It's incorrect and false. God loves everyone period, even in the Christian faith.
"...No matter what everyone tells you, God does love you..."
I was annoyed at his ignorance or purposeful misinformation. I'm guessing it was the former.
As a Christian, I've encountered such ignorance many times throughout my life. During junior high, when my good Jewish friend found out I went to church, he asked me if all Christians hate Jews. I was baffled. I explained that it wouldn't make sense because it's clear through the Bible that Jesus, Paul and others were Jews and Christians or Catholics held them in the highest esteem. If our savior and role models were Jews, why would any believer in our faith hate Jews? Sure if you're an idiot member of some fringe hate group or simply illiterate and can't read the Bible, then I could see how it was possible. My friend was happy to hear his misconception, which I learned to be more common than I believed, cleared up.
During my twenties, my good gay friend also had a misconception that Christians hated gays and lesbians. I agreed that there were backwater, ignorant Christians that spout hate against gays and lesbians, but I explained that mainstream Christians don't hate gays and lesbians. I continued to discuss how it's seen as a sin like any other sin from hate to pride to adultery, and a gay "sinner" isn't weighed more than a heterosexual "sinner." We are all sinners before God and all loved by God, so no person is better than any other. My friend appreciated the discussion though he didn't believe in the Bible or the concept of sin.
So where does Dustin Lance Black get this view of religion (probably Christianity) that its followers would say or hold such a belief that God doesn't love gay and lesbians? It's incorrect and false. God loves everyone period, even in the Christian faith.
News & Links List
"Start Up the Risk-Takers" by Thomas Friedman
Now Friedman says let them burn. Well, at least someone from the Left is calling for the bankruptcy of GM. He's proposing to take the $20 billion and give it to VCs? Sounds like he's pro-Schumpeter to me :)
"A Stimulus Plan For Venture Capital? No Thanks." by Fred Wilson
Great response to Thomas Friedman's oped.
"Just Say No to a VC Bailout" by Bill Gurley
"See you at DEMO ‘09: Contest for free tickets!" VentureBeat
"VentureBeat partners with DEMO" VentureBeat
"Why the crisis hasn’t shaken the cost of capital" The McKinsey Quarterly
"How Japanese Newspapers are Trying to Save Themselves" ReadWriteWeb
"Why I hate Facebook" BusinessWeek's Paul La Monica
"Baby Boomers, Luddites? Not So Fast" NYTimes
"A World Transformed: What Are the Top 30 Innovations of the Last 30 Years?" Knowledge@Wharton
"Laissez-Faire Capitalism Has Failed" by Nouriel Roubini
"Why the White House's Embrace of Drupal Matters" techPresident
My old software company, GoingOn, was built off the Drupal platform.
"Silence Of The Valley Obamacons" by Forbes' Rich Karlgaard
Now Friedman says let them burn. Well, at least someone from the Left is calling for the bankruptcy of GM. He's proposing to take the $20 billion and give it to VCs? Sounds like he's pro-Schumpeter to me :)
"A Stimulus Plan For Venture Capital? No Thanks." by Fred Wilson
Great response to Thomas Friedman's oped.
"Just Say No to a VC Bailout" by Bill Gurley
"See you at DEMO ‘09: Contest for free tickets!" VentureBeat
"VentureBeat partners with DEMO" VentureBeat
"Why the crisis hasn’t shaken the cost of capital" The McKinsey Quarterly
"How Japanese Newspapers are Trying to Save Themselves" ReadWriteWeb
"Why I hate Facebook" BusinessWeek's Paul La Monica
"Baby Boomers, Luddites? Not So Fast" NYTimes
"A World Transformed: What Are the Top 30 Innovations of the Last 30 Years?" Knowledge@Wharton
"Laissez-Faire Capitalism Has Failed" by Nouriel Roubini
"Why the White House's Embrace of Drupal Matters" techPresident
My old software company, GoingOn, was built off the Drupal platform.
"Silence Of The Valley Obamacons" by Forbes' Rich Karlgaard
Sunday, February 22, 2009
One Water Launching This Spring 2009
One Water is a UK brand and company that donates 100% of its profits to select charities. They are launching in the U.S. this spring where 100% of their profits will go to PlayPumps International. To date, they have donated $2.5 million, which in turn has provided clean drinking water to over 220 communities in rural Africa. It happens that my old grad school friend, Ron, is heading their U.S. efforts.
Did you know that 1 billion people in the world don’t have access to clean water? Or that 2 million people die each year as a result of water related diseases?
"The great news is that now you can make a difference and it’s as simple as a trip to your local store. Next time you are looking for a bottle of water, buy a bottle of One water, and all our profits - every last drop - will go toward funding the installation of a PlayPump water system. The PlayPump is an incredible innovation that we guarantee will capture your imagination and heart.
THINK about it. Every time you buy a bottle of water, you are choosing to make a difference. We have raised $2.5M to date and funded over 220 PlayPumps from our sales in the United Kingdom, bringing clean water to millions. We’re funding a new pump every 3 days. With our launch in the United States we will soon be funding a new pump every day! To learn more about PlayPumps or how you can help us make One a success, email (infous@global-ethics.com) us today."
You can find out where to buy it here, or consider carrying it in your restaurant, office, or local supermarket and use the form described here.
Did you know that 1 billion people in the world don’t have access to clean water? Or that 2 million people die each year as a result of water related diseases?
"The great news is that now you can make a difference and it’s as simple as a trip to your local store. Next time you are looking for a bottle of water, buy a bottle of One water, and all our profits - every last drop - will go toward funding the installation of a PlayPump water system. The PlayPump is an incredible innovation that we guarantee will capture your imagination and heart.
THINK about it. Every time you buy a bottle of water, you are choosing to make a difference. We have raised $2.5M to date and funded over 220 PlayPumps from our sales in the United Kingdom, bringing clean water to millions. We’re funding a new pump every 3 days. With our launch in the United States we will soon be funding a new pump every day! To learn more about PlayPumps or how you can help us make One a success, email (infous@global-ethics.com) us today."
You can find out where to buy it here, or consider carrying it in your restaurant, office, or local supermarket and use the form described here.
What To Watch For On Convertible Debt Financing (Especially During a Downturn)
I've been involved in several discussions lately on convertible debt financing for startups. First, I should reference some good posts out there. My former advisor, Brad Feld (Managing Director at Foundry Group), has a good post here ("What’s The Best Structure For A Pre-VC Investment?"). The Venture Hacks guys have a good overview here, "What are the benefits of debt in a seed round?"
Pretty much everyone is in agreement that convertible debt is ideal for entrepreneurs during their company's seed round. You don't give up equity at this point and the valuation of the convertible debt is pegged to the next round of financing, which should be your Series A.
Other entrepreneurs might need convertible debt in the form of a bridge loan to your next round of financing. A common situation for 2009 might be a startup needing a $1 million bridge loan as they try to close their Series B financing since they want to avoid shutting down their operations.
Prior to the economic meltdown, I would tell entrepreneurs for any seed investment under $1 million you have to push for convertible debt. Since $1 million is the new $10 million under today's environment, I would probably say negotiate this for only deals under $500,000. Maybe even $300,000 depending on what region or country you live in.
Also the standard terms have changed. From my experience and speaking with a couple attorneys at Wilson Sonsini, which is considered the top Silicon Valley law firm, a standard convertible debt deal would provide the investor 6% to 7% interest, 20% warrant coverage, and 2 to 3 year maturity date. After the economic meltdown, it seems more investors are asking for 8% interest, 20% to 40% warrant coverage, and a backstop provision.
The last item is the one to avoid. Some aggressive investors (conservative in selection but aggressive on terms), which are becoming more frequent in today's climate, are asking for backstop provisions. This sets a deadline for you to close your next round of financing. If you don't close, the debt provided will convert to equity based on your current round or an agreed upon valuation.
Your startup might already have seed capital or a Series A at a set valuation. The standard term for a backstop provision is one year. Let's say if you have $1 million in convertible debt, your company is valued at $3 million, and you don't close within the year time, then that $1 million is converted to equity at the $3 million valuation. You've given up a third of your company. Crap!
Some investors might even try to negotiate for a shorter duration, such as 6 months. Don't fall into this trap especially if you're already in discussions with your next round investors. Financing rounds take longer than you think. Sure if you're in the top 3% of all tech startups, then you can close within a month. Most rounds take 3 to 9 months. Today I would say it takes 6 months to over a year.
Just say "NO" to any backstop provision less than a year. I would suggest to negotiate the opposite if an investor insists on having a backstop provision. Push for 2 years due to the current financial environment, or just avoid the backstop provision all together.
Pretty much everyone is in agreement that convertible debt is ideal for entrepreneurs during their company's seed round. You don't give up equity at this point and the valuation of the convertible debt is pegged to the next round of financing, which should be your Series A.
Other entrepreneurs might need convertible debt in the form of a bridge loan to your next round of financing. A common situation for 2009 might be a startup needing a $1 million bridge loan as they try to close their Series B financing since they want to avoid shutting down their operations.
Prior to the economic meltdown, I would tell entrepreneurs for any seed investment under $1 million you have to push for convertible debt. Since $1 million is the new $10 million under today's environment, I would probably say negotiate this for only deals under $500,000. Maybe even $300,000 depending on what region or country you live in.
Also the standard terms have changed. From my experience and speaking with a couple attorneys at Wilson Sonsini, which is considered the top Silicon Valley law firm, a standard convertible debt deal would provide the investor 6% to 7% interest, 20% warrant coverage, and 2 to 3 year maturity date. After the economic meltdown, it seems more investors are asking for 8% interest, 20% to 40% warrant coverage, and a backstop provision.
The last item is the one to avoid. Some aggressive investors (conservative in selection but aggressive on terms), which are becoming more frequent in today's climate, are asking for backstop provisions. This sets a deadline for you to close your next round of financing. If you don't close, the debt provided will convert to equity based on your current round or an agreed upon valuation.
Your startup might already have seed capital or a Series A at a set valuation. The standard term for a backstop provision is one year. Let's say if you have $1 million in convertible debt, your company is valued at $3 million, and you don't close within the year time, then that $1 million is converted to equity at the $3 million valuation. You've given up a third of your company. Crap!
Some investors might even try to negotiate for a shorter duration, such as 6 months. Don't fall into this trap especially if you're already in discussions with your next round investors. Financing rounds take longer than you think. Sure if you're in the top 3% of all tech startups, then you can close within a month. Most rounds take 3 to 9 months. Today I would say it takes 6 months to over a year.
Just say "NO" to any backstop provision less than a year. I would suggest to negotiate the opposite if an investor insists on having a backstop provision. Push for 2 years due to the current financial environment, or just avoid the backstop provision all together.
Friday, February 20, 2009
The Hole Gets Deeper For Alex Rodriguez
Once you lie and continue to lie, it becomes a bigger problem. Didn't you learn this is grade school, Alex? Especially in today's world of instant access to information and a global network, why would you lie to the public? To baseball fans?
"Primobolan not legally available in DR" ESPN
"Primobolan not legally available in DR" ESPN
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Postbox Beta Live... Email Client for Your Mac
Catching up on some emails, so here's an announcement that Postbox went live with their beta last week. Some initial good reviews from CNET and Lifehacker. It seems their initial beta has only a Mac version, but I know a Windows version is planned for. More from their site:
A new kind of messaging application, the Postbox™ email client helps you spend less time managing email and more time using email to get things done. Postbox automatically analyzes your e-mail messages, documents, photos, and links to web pages; then it catalogs all this information making it faster to search for and retrieve.
Easy-to-use tagging features let you organize messages the way you want and then focus on one project at a time without missing out on important new messages. You can also gather messages by conversation, annotate messages and create to-do items that appear in mailbox windows.
A new kind of messaging application, the Postbox™ email client helps you spend less time managing email and more time using email to get things done. Postbox automatically analyzes your e-mail messages, documents, photos, and links to web pages; then it catalogs all this information making it faster to search for and retrieve.
Easy-to-use tagging features let you organize messages the way you want and then focus on one project at a time without missing out on important new messages. You can also gather messages by conversation, annotate messages and create to-do items that appear in mailbox windows.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Do Something.org Party... Computer History Museum in Mountain View
HatTip to Rahul. Tomorrow, Thursday, February 19th at 8:00PM in Mountain View, CA. It is hosted by Matt Cohler and Reid Hoffman. There are other secondary co-hosts like Rahul who sent me the info. More from Rahul...
"Do Something works to engage young people to get off the couch and take action in their communities - and they do it on a massive scale, having interacted with over 11 million teens last year alone. They are a young, hip, high-energy organization with a lot to celebrate (awarded Fast Company Social Enterprise of the Year, Featured at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month, Invited to the White House this week, etc.)."
"Do Something works to engage young people to get off the couch and take action in their communities - and they do it on a massive scale, having interacted with over 11 million teens last year alone. They are a young, hip, high-energy organization with a lot to celebrate (awarded Fast Company Social Enterprise of the Year, Featured at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month, Invited to the White House this week, etc.)."
David Merrill's Siftables @TED... Toy Blocks That Think
Pretty cool idea. Toy blocks that network with each other and think.
"MIT grad student David Merrill demos Siftables -- cookie-sized, computerized tiles you can stack and shuffle in your hands. These future-toys can do math, play music, and talk to their friends, too. Is this the next thing in hands-on learning?"
"MIT grad student David Merrill demos Siftables -- cookie-sized, computerized tiles you can stack and shuffle in your hands. These future-toys can do math, play music, and talk to their friends, too. Is this the next thing in hands-on learning?"
"Collegiate Sex-Ed"
HatTip to Bill H. The other side of the discussion about sex. Princeton students founded the Elizabeth Anscombe Society on their campus to provide an alternative to liberal thinking about sex and sexuality.
Collegiate Sex-Ed
by Ryan T. Anderson
February 03, 2009
Every fall, kids arrive on college campuses and learn that their basic moral intuitions on sexual matters don’t square with the reigning ideas. Thanks to debased campus culture and overreaching on the part of administrators and professors, students are beginning to respond systematically—and they’re having an impact. Here’s how.
No two undergraduate experiences are quite the same. But the undergraduate years are marked by certain commonalities: students are challenged intellectually, socially, and ethically. Long-held beliefs are forced to submit to rational scrutiny. No longer is “that’s just the way we do it” or “that’s just the way I feel about the issue” sufficient. In philosophy classrooms and biology labs, students are expected to slough off the opinions they held in their pre-critical-thinking days and adopt the conclusions of the best arguments. Everything is to be tested, and only the rationally defensible is to be retained... (full article)
Collegiate Sex-Ed
by Ryan T. Anderson
February 03, 2009
Every fall, kids arrive on college campuses and learn that their basic moral intuitions on sexual matters don’t square with the reigning ideas. Thanks to debased campus culture and overreaching on the part of administrators and professors, students are beginning to respond systematically—and they’re having an impact. Here’s how.
No two undergraduate experiences are quite the same. But the undergraduate years are marked by certain commonalities: students are challenged intellectually, socially, and ethically. Long-held beliefs are forced to submit to rational scrutiny. No longer is “that’s just the way we do it” or “that’s just the way I feel about the issue” sufficient. In philosophy classrooms and biology labs, students are expected to slough off the opinions they held in their pre-critical-thinking days and adopt the conclusions of the best arguments. Everything is to be tested, and only the rationally defensible is to be retained... (full article)
Ask The Harvard MBA... Chris Yeh!
Hilarious concept. Love it. It's actually a useful site for practical advice. Plus Chris is a great guy. More on the "Ask the Harvard MBA" site:
Ask a compelling question, and you just may see it answered right here, by a real Harvard MBA! And it won't cost you one thin dime.
All submissions for Question of the Week will be read, but we regret that only a chosen few can be answered.
Ask a compelling question, and you just may see it answered right here, by a real Harvard MBA! And it won't cost you one thin dime.
All submissions for Question of the Week will be read, but we regret that only a chosen few can be answered.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
News & Links List
"How Facebook is taking over our lives" Fortune
"Facebook Removes Conservative Group’s Anti-Stimulus Petition"
"How Twitter Can Help at Work" NYTimes
"Surviving the Drama of the Twitter Awards" WSJ
"Lost Finds 1.4 Million Viewers On ABC.com" NewTeeVee
"Samsung unveils Blue Earth solar powered phone"
"India's Innovation Gap" by Sramana Mitra
"Back To Technology's Future" by Ed Sperling
"Android G2 Hands On: Close to Perfection" Gizmodo
"Bluehole Studio, creating the next flagship MMORPG 'Tera'" Korean Insight
"What really happened at Ma.gnolia and lessons learned" Factory City
Citizen Garden Episode 11: Whither Ma.gnolia? from Larry Halff on Vimeo.
"The Art of Generating Buzz" by Guy Kawasaki
"Obama 'must act now' on climate" BBC
I don't know who's wackier, some of these doomsday scientists or doomsday cult leaders.
"'Dino Island' Yields 48 New Prehistoric Animals" Discovery
"Race for 'God particle' heats up" BBC
"Obama's Catastrophic Start" Forbes' Rich Karlgaard
"So Far, Amateur Hour" The Washington Post's Kathleen Parker
"Maxine Waters brings the crazy" The Atlantic
"Gregg Links Withdrawal to Census Concerns"
"Republicans Must Be a National Party" by Jeb Bush
I like Jeb...
"Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" by Jennifer Lahl
"NBA trade value rankings, King James version" by ESPN's Bill Simmons
"Facebook Removes Conservative Group’s Anti-Stimulus Petition"
"How Twitter Can Help at Work" NYTimes
"Surviving the Drama of the Twitter Awards" WSJ
"Lost Finds 1.4 Million Viewers On ABC.com" NewTeeVee
"Samsung unveils Blue Earth solar powered phone"
"India's Innovation Gap" by Sramana Mitra
"Back To Technology's Future" by Ed Sperling
"Android G2 Hands On: Close to Perfection" Gizmodo
"Bluehole Studio, creating the next flagship MMORPG 'Tera'" Korean Insight
"What really happened at Ma.gnolia and lessons learned" Factory City
Citizen Garden Episode 11: Whither Ma.gnolia? from Larry Halff on Vimeo.
"The Art of Generating Buzz" by Guy Kawasaki
"Obama 'must act now' on climate" BBC
I don't know who's wackier, some of these doomsday scientists or doomsday cult leaders.
"'Dino Island' Yields 48 New Prehistoric Animals" Discovery
"Race for 'God particle' heats up" BBC
"Obama's Catastrophic Start" Forbes' Rich Karlgaard
"So Far, Amateur Hour" The Washington Post's Kathleen Parker
"Maxine Waters brings the crazy" The Atlantic
"Gregg Links Withdrawal to Census Concerns"
"Republicans Must Be a National Party" by Jeb Bush
I like Jeb...
"Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" by Jennifer Lahl
"NBA trade value rankings, King James version" by ESPN's Bill Simmons
Bill Gates Unplugged @ TED
Video from this year's TED2009 is up. Bill Gates presentation:
"Bill Gates hopes to solve some of the world's biggest problems using a new kind of philanthropy. In a passionate and, yes, funny 18 minutes, he asks us to consider two big questions and how we might answer them. (And see the Q&A on the TED Blog.)"
"Bill Gates hopes to solve some of the world's biggest problems using a new kind of philanthropy. In a passionate and, yes, funny 18 minutes, he asks us to consider two big questions and how we might answer them. (And see the Q&A on the TED Blog.)"
Monday, February 16, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
UPenn's Global Environmental Sustainability Collaborative... Join the Conversation & Courses!
The software company I co-founded, GoingOn, has recently launched an initiative of UPenn's College of Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS).
The Global Environmental Sustainability Collaborative is an online forum and course that is open to the general public. Join if environmental and sustainability issues interest you! More from their site:
Please join faculty and students from The University of Pennsylvania, Kyung Hee University, and Ritsumeikan University, in a global, multi-continent discussion of issues around Global Environmental Policy and Sustainability led by Dr. Don Kettl, Professor of Political Science and Robert A. Fox Professor of Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania. On this site you have access to the course syllabus and reading list, as well as have "real-time" access to course lectures and discussions as they unfold. We invite you to join the conversation at no charge as a member-at-large. Create a profile, and join the course conversation as it evolves. As a member you will be able to add your thoughts to the course Comment Wall, Blogs and Forums. Members can also network with each other via email and instant messaging using the "Facezone" on the right. Offering a Penn course in an open online forum is an exciting new initiative at Penn. As you participate in the course this Spring, please share with us your thoughts and feedback on the experience.
If you're interested in bringing a similar initiative and collaborative platform to your academic institution, contact GoingOn's CEO, David Popler, at davidp[at]goingon.com
The Global Environmental Sustainability Collaborative is an online forum and course that is open to the general public. Join if environmental and sustainability issues interest you! More from their site:
Please join faculty and students from The University of Pennsylvania, Kyung Hee University, and Ritsumeikan University, in a global, multi-continent discussion of issues around Global Environmental Policy and Sustainability led by Dr. Don Kettl, Professor of Political Science and Robert A. Fox Professor of Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania. On this site you have access to the course syllabus and reading list, as well as have "real-time" access to course lectures and discussions as they unfold. We invite you to join the conversation at no charge as a member-at-large. Create a profile, and join the course conversation as it evolves. As a member you will be able to add your thoughts to the course Comment Wall, Blogs and Forums. Members can also network with each other via email and instant messaging using the "Facezone" on the right. Offering a Penn course in an open online forum is an exciting new initiative at Penn. As you participate in the course this Spring, please share with us your thoughts and feedback on the experience.
If you're interested in bringing a similar initiative and collaborative platform to your academic institution, contact GoingOn's CEO, David Popler, at davidp[at]goingon.com
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
UpTake.com, Another Travel Search Site
Randomly came across UpTake.com. It's a new travel search site with a twist. They take a bit more personalized approach by factoring in your travel preferences. More from their site:
UpTake.com is a travel search and discovery site - the first step for travelers to decide where to go, where to stay or what to do. We help users make informed decisions about what best fits their travel preferences. We scoured more than 1,000 sites to collect 400,000 places to go, things to do and places to stay in the U.S. Then we analyzed and organized over 20 million travelers' opinions to enable search based on exact travel requirements and preferences.
They are still in beta, but their more personalized approach is a good path their differentiation as long as their pricing search results are competitive. You can read their travel blog here.
UpTake.com is a travel search and discovery site - the first step for travelers to decide where to go, where to stay or what to do. We help users make informed decisions about what best fits their travel preferences. We scoured more than 1,000 sites to collect 400,000 places to go, things to do and places to stay in the U.S. Then we analyzed and organized over 20 million travelers' opinions to enable search based on exact travel requirements and preferences.
They are still in beta, but their more personalized approach is a good path their differentiation as long as their pricing search results are competitive. You can read their travel blog here.
GamesBeat 2009
VentureBeat's gaming conference is coming up. GamesBeat 2009 is on March 24th at the Mission Bay Conference Center in San Francisco. More info here:
Why GamesBeat?
In 2008, more than $885 million was invested into video games and virtual worlds. U.S. game industry sales rose 19 percent to $22 billion, not counting sales from online games or casual games. Those figures are astonishing and they confirm that the games industry stood out as a haven during the tough economic storm. GamesBeat 2009 will explore what will happen next.
As we stated above, it’s a time of explosive growth for the video game industry; however, it now faces a crossroads. Will games take the next step up in experience and become the pinnacle of entertainment? And, while developers seek to attain this goal, how will the games business fair? As more types of people start using games, these games are becoming increasingly interesting for advertisers. Hollywood, application-developers and retailers are all likely to use games and gaming principles to hook users with addictive content, or to engage them in ways that will lead to more purchase transactions.
Meanwhile, the traditional gaming business models are under attack. Users are shifting toward new platforms such as Facebook and casual Web games, and it’s not clear that the gaming leaders of past generations will stay on top. The Internet and the recession are driving big companies to rethink their focus on hardcore games; the costs of producing console games are out of control, putting the squeeze on independent developers.
The Nintendo Wii, the iPhone and the online game World of Warcraft now dominate the industry’s mindshare, but big questions remain: Can upstarts with free games, virtual goods, and episodic content further undermine the establishment? Does the Wii’s popularity represent the return to simplicity and cartoon-like entertainment, or are we on our way to touch-based user interfaces that immerse us in a compelling virtual reality? And is the web the path to more efficient economics, or will it introduce a flood of free titles that decimate everyone’s profits?
So, for those of you wanting to know what the future holds for games, and their effect on the world at large — whether you’re interested in console, casual or mobile phone games — you’ll want to join us on March 24th!
Why GamesBeat?
In 2008, more than $885 million was invested into video games and virtual worlds. U.S. game industry sales rose 19 percent to $22 billion, not counting sales from online games or casual games. Those figures are astonishing and they confirm that the games industry stood out as a haven during the tough economic storm. GamesBeat 2009 will explore what will happen next.
As we stated above, it’s a time of explosive growth for the video game industry; however, it now faces a crossroads. Will games take the next step up in experience and become the pinnacle of entertainment? And, while developers seek to attain this goal, how will the games business fair? As more types of people start using games, these games are becoming increasingly interesting for advertisers. Hollywood, application-developers and retailers are all likely to use games and gaming principles to hook users with addictive content, or to engage them in ways that will lead to more purchase transactions.
Meanwhile, the traditional gaming business models are under attack. Users are shifting toward new platforms such as Facebook and casual Web games, and it’s not clear that the gaming leaders of past generations will stay on top. The Internet and the recession are driving big companies to rethink their focus on hardcore games; the costs of producing console games are out of control, putting the squeeze on independent developers.
The Nintendo Wii, the iPhone and the online game World of Warcraft now dominate the industry’s mindshare, but big questions remain: Can upstarts with free games, virtual goods, and episodic content further undermine the establishment? Does the Wii’s popularity represent the return to simplicity and cartoon-like entertainment, or are we on our way to touch-based user interfaces that immerse us in a compelling virtual reality? And is the web the path to more efficient economics, or will it introduce a flood of free titles that decimate everyone’s profits?
So, for those of you wanting to know what the future holds for games, and their effect on the world at large — whether you’re interested in console, casual or mobile phone games — you’ll want to join us on March 24th!
News & Links List
"Winklevoss twins made $65 million on Facebook “copycat” settlement" VentureBeat
"Report: Apple nixed Android's multitouch" CNET
"You stay classy, Engadget" ParisLemon
"There's No Stimulus Free Lunch" WSJ
Good op-ed by Nobel Prize winner Gary Becker.
"Obama fails his first test on civil liberties and accountability -- resoundingly and disgracefully" Salon
"Obama Backs Off a Reversal on Secrets" NYTimes
"Administration Officials Met With Laughter At Bailout Briefing" The Huffington Post
"Survey: 31% of Europeans blame economic crisis on Jews"
Not sure which is crazier, this result or a third or whatever of Americans believing pro wrestling is real.
"Baby Trashed After Botched Abortion
23-Week-Old Delivered While Teen Waited For Late Doctor; Clinic Owner Tossed Infant In Garbage"
I believe a moral cog is missing in the clinic owner.
"Expanding Our Moral Vision" by Margaret Manning from Ravi Zacharias International Ministries
"Report: Apple nixed Android's multitouch" CNET
"You stay classy, Engadget" ParisLemon
"There's No Stimulus Free Lunch" WSJ
Good op-ed by Nobel Prize winner Gary Becker.
"Obama fails his first test on civil liberties and accountability -- resoundingly and disgracefully" Salon
"Obama Backs Off a Reversal on Secrets" NYTimes
"Administration Officials Met With Laughter At Bailout Briefing" The Huffington Post
"Survey: 31% of Europeans blame economic crisis on Jews"
Not sure which is crazier, this result or a third or whatever of Americans believing pro wrestling is real.
"Baby Trashed After Botched Abortion
23-Week-Old Delivered While Teen Waited For Late Doctor; Clinic Owner Tossed Infant In Garbage"
I believe a moral cog is missing in the clinic owner.
"Expanding Our Moral Vision" by Margaret Manning from Ravi Zacharias International Ministries
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Creator of Popular iPhone App, Doodle Kids, is Nine-Years Old
Here's a boy genius, Ding Wen:
"This young prodigy from Singapore is fluent in six programming languages, according to a BBC report this week, and his newest creation, an iPhone drawing game called Doodle Kids, has racked up over 4,000 downloads in just two weeks. He wrote it for his younger sisters, who love to draw."
"This young prodigy from Singapore is fluent in six programming languages, according to a BBC report this week, and his newest creation, an iPhone drawing game called Doodle Kids, has racked up over 4,000 downloads in just two weeks. He wrote it for his younger sisters, who love to draw."
Monday, February 9, 2009
Sam Yoon Running for Mayor of Boston
Sam Yoon finally made an announcement to run for the Mayor of Boston. Go Sam!
"Sam Yoon looks ahead to run in historical mayor race" Boston Herald
"Yoon launches a pioneering bid for mayor" The Boston Globe
You can donate here to support this historic run.
"Sam Yoon looks ahead to run in historical mayor race" Boston Herald
"Yoon launches a pioneering bid for mayor" The Boston Globe
You can donate here to support this historic run.
"What Would Google Do?"... The PowerPoint
HatTip to Dan. Jeff Jarvis, author of "What Would Google Do?", did a pretty cool thing. He made a powerpoint summary of his book:
"A Vision for 21st Century Learning"
My friend Al is working on a new game-based education company. The video presents his vision.
Al was invited present at the first-ever TEDDIY session at TED@PalmSprings. One of twelve speakers to do a short presentation on their cause, skill, or special interest.
Al was invited present at the first-ever TEDDIY session at TED@PalmSprings. One of twelve speakers to do a short presentation on their cause, skill, or special interest.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
More 25 Random Things About Me
Since I'm taking the graveyard shift with our baby girls, I thought I would rattle off another 25 random things :)
1. My mother's name is Insoon, her Korean birth name. Later in life she wanted an "American" name, so she sought one with a Biblical meaning. She decided on "Jemima," who was a daughter of Job and means "Dove (purity)." My brother and I warned her that cultural context was important along with the meaning. She ignored us. My dad initially had a field day at grocery stores pointing to bottles of "Aunt Jemima" maple syrup saying, "Hey, look there's your sister!"
2. My mother wanted our daughters to have Biblical names while I told her we were going to consider more progressive names. It was almost a decade since the above situation, so I forgot about her American name because she doesn't use it. I was finally reminded, so the discussion abruptly ended.
3. I cried at my wedding. I was holding back so hard that I was silent for almost a minute during the vows and provided some drama at our ceremony, and then silently teared like a baby. Since I rarely get emotional, my mom was so shocked and amused she made fun of me afterwards, "Were you crying!? Hahaha... I don't believe you were crying..."
4. I've been a groomsmen 13 times and an usher almost twenty times.
5. My favorite baseball player in my youth was Don "The Hit Man" Mattingly even though I wasn't a Yankee fan. Class, skill and humility. I wish his back wasn't injured during the time he could have won the triple crown, and so that he could have played longer.
6. I worked at Arby's during the summer of my junior year in high school since my friend, Hamon, asked me to work with him somewhere. They had these uniforms and the longest pants were 29 inches in length. I was 32 inches, so they placed me in the back to make sandwiches.
7. My favorite course during college was my lit class on John Milton. Reading and analyzing "Paradise Lost" with Prof. Weiner was amazing.
8. My most difficult final exam during college was one covering 13 of Shakespeare's plays. I had to read, memorize and know almost every sentence in these plays.
9. I initiated the Bible study group at Yonsei University's Summer Program in 1990, which I believe stands to this day. I remember planning for it before leaving for Seoul that summer after my freshman year. Unfortunately, since I had so many family obligations and friends living in Seoul I attended about half of our meetings.
10. I rarely curse, but have a way with words especially the word "idiot." My friend, JB, said the way I use it pisses people off more than if he or others cursed at them. M*(#$@F&!k*& doesn't come close my usage of "idiot."
11. My pet peeve is people cutting lines. Can't stand it. One time at Jake's Dilemma (NYC), we were signed up and waiting for the pool table. This guy skips my name and a few others on the board. I saw this as I was talking with JB and our friend, Terrance. Shorten conversation: "Excuse me, you just wrote in your name and skipped four people."
"So??" (typical NYC tough guy) "Um, what don't you understand? Are you a friggin idiot??"
The guy comes at me; I grab on to his sleeves at the wrist; he's helpless and flailing; I calmly ask him if he really wanted to continue; the bouncers took him away.
12.I don't mind conflict. I actually enjoy it. Verbal, physical, whatever. I have extremely thick skin, so I don't mind going back and forth endlessly. Better if it's a constructive discussion that leads to better ideas or thinking, but mindless dribble is tolerable as long as it's fun.
13. My pivotal professional experience was doing my first tech startup, ViewPlus. From learning how to write a business plan, pitching angel investors and venture capitalists for money, and learning a new industry, it is my most cherished experience especially since it was with two dear friends. A close second was the Coro Fellowship since that provided me the confidence to enter and learn any new industry and environment.
14. When I was younger, many people thought like looked Chow Yun-Fat. Now my mother sums it up best, "Dear, you don't look like Chow Yun-Fat. You're just FAT. Please lose some weight!"
15. Verbal abuse does not motivate me. Whether from my mom or anyone else since I'm thick-skinned. "Dear, you're so fat now that your face is round. When you have a round face, you look dumb. You look like you have low intelligence. You should really lose some weight..."
16. I have a high pain threshold. People that dish out pain feed on this. In my youth, my dad burned acupuncture incense pads on my hands to improve my circulation. Probably more than needed. My Taekwondo instructor loved pushing my limits especially during stretching. He would sometimes break that threshold and I would scream. Not unexpected since this is a man who broke large beach stones with his bare hands (one of the most amazing things I have seen).
17. I enjoy a good cigar, cognac and great conversation.
18. I enjoy beer, Buffalo Joe's wings and very little conversation.
19. I got food poisoning three times in my life and all three times were in Asia. Once in Thailand and twice in Korea. All from raw or undercooked fish. Twice in Korea could have been prevented since my parents warned me to only eat raw fish at nice hotels during off season.
20. I had very stinky feet from high school through college. It was accentuated when didn't wear socks, and docksiders were big during my high school years. It got so bad my friend, Sang, refused to let me in his house unless I washed them first. I don't know what happened, but by my mid-twenties the stinky feet disappeared. It might have transferred to my stinky farts.
21. I rarely get stressed or panic. Even in life-threatening situations, I'm calm. This is ok with Christine, but not getting stressed sometimes is an issue with her. Note to self: when wife is stressed, be stressed too.
22. I loved graduate school, especially since at Columbia you can cross register with the other professional schools. I could have easily taken another year of courses.
23. I will probably live in Europe for a year or few. Both Christine and I want to since we both lived in the U.S. and Asia. Just have to wait for the when.
24. I come from a tall family of Koreans and Korean Americans. I'm 6'1" and somewhere above 220 lbs., and I'm not the tallest. My dad is 6', my younger brother is slightly under 6'3", a couple other cousins are about the same, several uncles and other cousins that are 6', and my big cousin John is 6'5".
25. I come from a family of carnivores. My favorite meal is a porterhouse steak. I once saw my brother eat a few rack of ribs without breathing. It was pretty gross. My dad once ordered his steak "raw" instead of "rare."
1. My mother's name is Insoon, her Korean birth name. Later in life she wanted an "American" name, so she sought one with a Biblical meaning. She decided on "Jemima," who was a daughter of Job and means "Dove (purity)." My brother and I warned her that cultural context was important along with the meaning. She ignored us. My dad initially had a field day at grocery stores pointing to bottles of "Aunt Jemima" maple syrup saying, "Hey, look there's your sister!"
2. My mother wanted our daughters to have Biblical names while I told her we were going to consider more progressive names. It was almost a decade since the above situation, so I forgot about her American name because she doesn't use it. I was finally reminded, so the discussion abruptly ended.
3. I cried at my wedding. I was holding back so hard that I was silent for almost a minute during the vows and provided some drama at our ceremony, and then silently teared like a baby. Since I rarely get emotional, my mom was so shocked and amused she made fun of me afterwards, "Were you crying!? Hahaha... I don't believe you were crying..."
4. I've been a groomsmen 13 times and an usher almost twenty times.
5. My favorite baseball player in my youth was Don "The Hit Man" Mattingly even though I wasn't a Yankee fan. Class, skill and humility. I wish his back wasn't injured during the time he could have won the triple crown, and so that he could have played longer.
6. I worked at Arby's during the summer of my junior year in high school since my friend, Hamon, asked me to work with him somewhere. They had these uniforms and the longest pants were 29 inches in length. I was 32 inches, so they placed me in the back to make sandwiches.
7. My favorite course during college was my lit class on John Milton. Reading and analyzing "Paradise Lost" with Prof. Weiner was amazing.
8. My most difficult final exam during college was one covering 13 of Shakespeare's plays. I had to read, memorize and know almost every sentence in these plays.
9. I initiated the Bible study group at Yonsei University's Summer Program in 1990, which I believe stands to this day. I remember planning for it before leaving for Seoul that summer after my freshman year. Unfortunately, since I had so many family obligations and friends living in Seoul I attended about half of our meetings.
10. I rarely curse, but have a way with words especially the word "idiot." My friend, JB, said the way I use it pisses people off more than if he or others cursed at them. M*(#$@F&!k*& doesn't come close my usage of "idiot."
11. My pet peeve is people cutting lines. Can't stand it. One time at Jake's Dilemma (NYC), we were signed up and waiting for the pool table. This guy skips my name and a few others on the board. I saw this as I was talking with JB and our friend, Terrance. Shorten conversation: "Excuse me, you just wrote in your name and skipped four people."
"So??" (typical NYC tough guy) "Um, what don't you understand? Are you a friggin idiot??"
The guy comes at me; I grab on to his sleeves at the wrist; he's helpless and flailing; I calmly ask him if he really wanted to continue; the bouncers took him away.
12.I don't mind conflict. I actually enjoy it. Verbal, physical, whatever. I have extremely thick skin, so I don't mind going back and forth endlessly. Better if it's a constructive discussion that leads to better ideas or thinking, but mindless dribble is tolerable as long as it's fun.
13. My pivotal professional experience was doing my first tech startup, ViewPlus. From learning how to write a business plan, pitching angel investors and venture capitalists for money, and learning a new industry, it is my most cherished experience especially since it was with two dear friends. A close second was the Coro Fellowship since that provided me the confidence to enter and learn any new industry and environment.
14. When I was younger, many people thought like looked Chow Yun-Fat. Now my mother sums it up best, "Dear, you don't look like Chow Yun-Fat. You're just FAT. Please lose some weight!"
15. Verbal abuse does not motivate me. Whether from my mom or anyone else since I'm thick-skinned. "Dear, you're so fat now that your face is round. When you have a round face, you look dumb. You look like you have low intelligence. You should really lose some weight..."
16. I have a high pain threshold. People that dish out pain feed on this. In my youth, my dad burned acupuncture incense pads on my hands to improve my circulation. Probably more than needed. My Taekwondo instructor loved pushing my limits especially during stretching. He would sometimes break that threshold and I would scream. Not unexpected since this is a man who broke large beach stones with his bare hands (one of the most amazing things I have seen).
17. I enjoy a good cigar, cognac and great conversation.
18. I enjoy beer, Buffalo Joe's wings and very little conversation.
19. I got food poisoning three times in my life and all three times were in Asia. Once in Thailand and twice in Korea. All from raw or undercooked fish. Twice in Korea could have been prevented since my parents warned me to only eat raw fish at nice hotels during off season.
20. I had very stinky feet from high school through college. It was accentuated when didn't wear socks, and docksiders were big during my high school years. It got so bad my friend, Sang, refused to let me in his house unless I washed them first. I don't know what happened, but by my mid-twenties the stinky feet disappeared. It might have transferred to my stinky farts.
21. I rarely get stressed or panic. Even in life-threatening situations, I'm calm. This is ok with Christine, but not getting stressed sometimes is an issue with her. Note to self: when wife is stressed, be stressed too.
22. I loved graduate school, especially since at Columbia you can cross register with the other professional schools. I could have easily taken another year of courses.
23. I will probably live in Europe for a year or few. Both Christine and I want to since we both lived in the U.S. and Asia. Just have to wait for the when.
24. I come from a tall family of Koreans and Korean Americans. I'm 6'1" and somewhere above 220 lbs., and I'm not the tallest. My dad is 6', my younger brother is slightly under 6'3", a couple other cousins are about the same, several uncles and other cousins that are 6', and my big cousin John is 6'5".
25. I come from a family of carnivores. My favorite meal is a porterhouse steak. I once saw my brother eat a few rack of ribs without breathing. It was pretty gross. My dad once ordered his steak "raw" instead of "rare."
Friday, February 6, 2009
News & Links List
"Open Source Means Business" by Sramana Mitra
"Spy on Your Workers With Google Latitude" PCWorld
"Mobile tech 2010: Five trends that will change our lives" Computerworld
"Barriers To Innovation" by Sramana Mitra
"A recession of biblical proportions" Fortune's Geoff Colvin
"Obama's Commerce Secretary Pick Loves The H-1B Program (Video)" Silicon Valley Insider
"CBO: Obama stimulus harmful over long haul" The Washington Times
"Tax snafus add up for Obama team" USAToday
"Obama names Doerr, Phillips to economic board" CNET
"Stephanopoulos Has Participated in Daily Strategy Sessions With Emanuel Throughout His Tenure at ABC" Gateway Pundit
"Bozell to ABC President: You Must Publicly Address Stephanopoulos' Apparent Conflict of Interest"
"The Higher the Climb, the Bigger the Fall" by Jennifer Lahl
"Savings lost to Madoff, elderly forced back to work"
"Spy on Your Workers With Google Latitude" PCWorld
"Mobile tech 2010: Five trends that will change our lives" Computerworld
"Barriers To Innovation" by Sramana Mitra
"A recession of biblical proportions" Fortune's Geoff Colvin
"Obama's Commerce Secretary Pick Loves The H-1B Program (Video)" Silicon Valley Insider
"CBO: Obama stimulus harmful over long haul" The Washington Times
"Tax snafus add up for Obama team" USAToday
"Obama names Doerr, Phillips to economic board" CNET
"Stephanopoulos Has Participated in Daily Strategy Sessions With Emanuel Throughout His Tenure at ABC" Gateway Pundit
"Bozell to ABC President: You Must Publicly Address Stephanopoulos' Apparent Conflict of Interest"
"The Higher the Climb, the Bigger the Fall" by Jennifer Lahl
"Savings lost to Madoff, elderly forced back to work"
Thursday, February 5, 2009
With All Due Respect Mr President, That's Not True... Cato Ad
Solid campaign by the Cato Institute.
President Obama says that "economists from across the political spectrum agree" on the need for massive government spending to stimulate the economy. In fact, many economists disagree. Hundreds of them, including Nobel laureates and other prominent scholars, have signed a statement that the Cato Institute has placed in major newspapers across the United States.
President Obama says that "economists from across the political spectrum agree" on the need for massive government spending to stimulate the economy. In fact, many economists disagree. Hundreds of them, including Nobel laureates and other prominent scholars, have signed a statement that the Cato Institute has placed in major newspapers across the United States.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
25 Things Meme From Mernit
I just found out today that Susan Mernit has been tracking various "25 Random Things About Me" lists from her Facebook contacts and the blogosphere. (Thanks, Susan, for the add.)
Pretty cool how this Facebook chain note has spilled over to the blogosphere. She has about 20 listed here and more on other posts.
Pretty cool how this Facebook chain note has spilled over to the blogosphere. She has about 20 listed here and more on other posts.
News & Links List
"Davos Versus TED. Which Conference Has The Answers To Today's Crisis?" BusinessWeek
"Watching Bill Clinton work his magic at Davos" Salon
Clinton is a political stud and animal. One of the most brilliant presidents in history, but tainted by his ethics and his indecisiveness.
"The Difficulties Bartz Faces at Yahoo" BusinessWeek
"Warning: Dependence on Facebook, Twitter Could Be Hazardous to Your Business"
"What Would Google Do?" Newsweek
"Google Earth now travels the world — and the seven seas" VentureBeat
"Top Twitter Celebrities" Forbes
"How Twitter Was Born"
"Facebook Founders Settle Their Feud" Valleywag
"How to be the most hated person on the Internet: Five role models" Webware
"Silicon Valley’s Fork in the Road" Newsweek
"Venture Rogues: How one Silicon Valley VC tried to get away with millions." Forbes
"Leading futurists, thinkers to launch Silicon Valley university" CNET
"The Richest People You've Never Heard Of" Forbes
"The New Anti-Semitism" by Claudia Rosett
"This pledge a bad act" Boston Herald
"How Obama Really Won the Election" Esquire
"Watching Bill Clinton work his magic at Davos" Salon
Clinton is a political stud and animal. One of the most brilliant presidents in history, but tainted by his ethics and his indecisiveness.
"The Difficulties Bartz Faces at Yahoo" BusinessWeek
"Warning: Dependence on Facebook, Twitter Could Be Hazardous to Your Business"
"What Would Google Do?" Newsweek
"Google Earth now travels the world — and the seven seas" VentureBeat
"Top Twitter Celebrities" Forbes
"How Twitter Was Born"
"Facebook Founders Settle Their Feud" Valleywag
"How to be the most hated person on the Internet: Five role models" Webware
"Silicon Valley’s Fork in the Road" Newsweek
"Venture Rogues: How one Silicon Valley VC tried to get away with millions." Forbes
"Leading futurists, thinkers to launch Silicon Valley university" CNET
"The Richest People You've Never Heard Of" Forbes
"The New Anti-Semitism" by Claudia Rosett
"This pledge a bad act" Boston Herald
"How Obama Really Won the Election" Esquire
1Gbps Downloading in South Korea... Most of Korea by 2012
Gizmodo is reporting that the "Korea Communications Commission is spending $24 billion to secure 1Gbps access by 2012." A friend told me that Powercomm has already provide 1Gbps services in some districts in Seoul, so I assume the 2012 date is a target for all of Seoul and other major cities.
"There's one small catch to the commission's plan, which is that only large cities in Korea will have access to the top tier broadband. But surrounding smaller areas will still have access to 50 to 100 Mbps speeds...or about 10 to 20 times the speed of what I get in my DSL-only apartment building."
The amusing part of the Gizmodo piece above is that there is no small catch. Almost half of South Korea's 46 million live in Seoul alone. Most people live in large cities.
"There's one small catch to the commission's plan, which is that only large cities in Korea will have access to the top tier broadband. But surrounding smaller areas will still have access to 50 to 100 Mbps speeds...or about 10 to 20 times the speed of what I get in my DSL-only apartment building."
The amusing part of the Gizmodo piece above is that there is no small catch. Almost half of South Korea's 46 million live in Seoul alone. Most people live in large cities.
Monday, February 2, 2009
25 Random Things About Me
A popular Facebook chain note has been going around and I finally caved in and wrote my response. I decided to post it here for your amusement and to show that I'm not a completely stale, boring blogger:) Some of it is best understood in the context of my friends since I primarily connect with people I know in Facebook, and I made some edits here for favorable public consumption :)
The rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.
To do this, go to "notes" under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.
1. Over the past year, when I go to McDonalds alone, I order a BigMac, Filet-O-Fish, and Southern Style Chicken (their new sandwich is magic). No fries. If I'm not that hungry I'll get a cheeseburger instead of the BigMac. When I go with Christine, I order a BigMac and maybe a Filet-O-Fish if the mood is right.
2. During college, my father got into a juice kick and made some pretty horrible drinks with his juicer (e.g. beets, lettuce, celery, and maybe an apple). I came back during a break and my brother warns me to pretend sleeping. Next day at 6am I hear thumping at the door. "Wake up, Bernard!" My dad walks in and hands me a tall glass of liquid that looks like the sick cousin of V8. "Drink it... Drink it now." The nightmare began that lasted a couple years.
3. During my second startup, I lived in Seoul with my parents, who were there seventy percent of the year. My dad forced my brother and I to eat yogurt from Tibetian mushrooms for a few months. Supposedly it helped clean your bowels. Still uncertain of its effects, but it did double my crap output. I took a crap 3-4 times a day. My younger brother, Lenny, took 5-6 craps a day. I believe his sphincter muscles are permanently damaged.
4. My friend Sang and I started two things together at our high school, Glenbrook North: GBN Bible Study and the Boys Volleyball Team. It was also cool several years later to see Lenny (5 years younger) win the IL State Championship for Boys Volleyball for our high school.
5. I had to get my stomach pumped as a toddler. One of my dad's drunk friends gave me a bit of whiskey one evening. I don't believe my mom ever allowed him back in our home.
6. I have a natural high tolerance to alcohol from my dad's side. This was scientifically supported when I got pulled over at a check point in Seoul and blew into a breath analyzer. After five drinks, it registered a .03% (limit in Korea is .05%). I wasn't even buzzed, so I was confident that I would pass.
7. Japanese is my favorite cuisine. I love sushi (toro, maguro, uni, everything!), shisamo (it grosses out Christine, but i can eat dozens of them), teppan style, ramen, soba, etc.
8. I was a Dungeons & Dragon geek as a youth. I was primarily the dungeon master.
9. Christine is my best professional coach and counselor. Extra gravy on top of being my godsend wife and partner.
10. I sometimes hate arguing with Christine because even when she's wrong, she can make her viewpoint sound rational and mine irrational. Drives me crazy!
11. During junior high, one of my friends pushed my younger brother, Lenny off his bike. Lenny was crying, so I was pissed and pushed my friend off his. That event eroded our friendship within the year, but it was worth it.
12. During my late 20s, I discovered I had extra padding on my cheeks that provided additional protection. One time I got sucker punched by a guy who was a solid 225 lbs right on my eye. Bone on bone sound was heard, but no damage, no bruise and just a little pain. If I knew about this before, I would have trained to become an MMA fighter in my early 20s (Where was Henry, a friend that trains special forces Brazilian jiu-jitsu, back then?).
13. During college, I ordered from Domino's Pizza so much that when I called from other locations, they would say, "Moon, what are you doing over there?"
14. After intense workouts, I crave milk. A couple tall glasses, or if it's after playing basketball outside I would buy a bottle of Strawberry Quik and Gatorade. Drink the milk and then the Gatorade. This would gross out a few of my friends.
15. I have an extremely long second toe. Some friends would call it "the finger" because it sort of looks like an index finger. My close friend, Hamon, would call "hand ball!" a few times during high school soccer practice.
16. I was nicknamed "Ralph" separately by two friends during freshman year. One because my wardrobe back then was about half Ralph Lauren. Another (PAhn!) because when I played with Korean Americans I was always stuck as a center but wanted to play small forward like Ralph Sampson. So when I'm at a fast food joint and have to give a name, I sometimes use "Ralph."
17. While living with my parents in Seoul, I got kicked out due to their disapproval of the girl I was dating. My friend, Mike, had an extra room and saved the day, and later corrected my delusional thinking about this woman. This ex is still the ace card for Christine if we argue... negotiating from a weaker position really sucks.
18. I still want to skydive and bungee jump. Hopefully I can make time before 40!
19. While learning to ride a bike, I was knocked unconscious. My father tried a short cut and placed me on an inclined road and let it ride! My brother was given the slow route on flat surfaces when his time came.
20. I was a mediocre hockey player in my youth (started late). During high school tryouts for the JV team, I wasn't looking and collided with someone during a drill. I got up and couldn't remember my name. Then I couldn't remember the day and time. My parents picked me up and I went home, slept almost 24 hours, and was okay.
21. I was addicted to volleyball from my senior year in high school through junior year in college. I loved the sport, but rapidly lost interest after I sprained my ankle during my junior year that kept me out for a few months. I tried a few come backs, but it was never the same. I play once in a while thinking I still have a 35" vertical but really have a 12". Yes, it doesn't look pretty when you're form is based on having a vertical 20" higher... net, net, out, net, out.
22. I sharted once during college when I was trying to let one rip in my buddy's room. My friends Sam and Bob had a good laugh. I had to get new underwear.
23. During freshman year, my mother would call my dorm room every morning for a few weeks to wake me up. I felt really bad for my roommate and friend, Chad, and begged her to stop, which she finally did. Amusing outcome is that Chad can speak a few words of Korean after listening to some of those morning conversations.
24. I miss delis in NYC... the sandwiches, sides and breakfast sandwiches (egg and double bacon on a roll, please). I miss hot dog joints and steakhouses in Chicago. I miss noodle shops in Hong Kong. I miss mandu (dumplings) and gop chang joints in Seoul. I wish those Star Trek teleporters were real.
25. I look forward to getting old with Christine and seeing our daughters grow up. So much more to do and places to visit. I can't wait to travel around the world with our children.
("More 25 Random Things About Me")
The rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.
To do this, go to "notes" under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.
1. Over the past year, when I go to McDonalds alone, I order a BigMac, Filet-O-Fish, and Southern Style Chicken (their new sandwich is magic). No fries. If I'm not that hungry I'll get a cheeseburger instead of the BigMac. When I go with Christine, I order a BigMac and maybe a Filet-O-Fish if the mood is right.
2. During college, my father got into a juice kick and made some pretty horrible drinks with his juicer (e.g. beets, lettuce, celery, and maybe an apple). I came back during a break and my brother warns me to pretend sleeping. Next day at 6am I hear thumping at the door. "Wake up, Bernard!" My dad walks in and hands me a tall glass of liquid that looks like the sick cousin of V8. "Drink it... Drink it now." The nightmare began that lasted a couple years.
3. During my second startup, I lived in Seoul with my parents, who were there seventy percent of the year. My dad forced my brother and I to eat yogurt from Tibetian mushrooms for a few months. Supposedly it helped clean your bowels. Still uncertain of its effects, but it did double my crap output. I took a crap 3-4 times a day. My younger brother, Lenny, took 5-6 craps a day. I believe his sphincter muscles are permanently damaged.
4. My friend Sang and I started two things together at our high school, Glenbrook North: GBN Bible Study and the Boys Volleyball Team. It was also cool several years later to see Lenny (5 years younger) win the IL State Championship for Boys Volleyball for our high school.
5. I had to get my stomach pumped as a toddler. One of my dad's drunk friends gave me a bit of whiskey one evening. I don't believe my mom ever allowed him back in our home.
6. I have a natural high tolerance to alcohol from my dad's side. This was scientifically supported when I got pulled over at a check point in Seoul and blew into a breath analyzer. After five drinks, it registered a .03% (limit in Korea is .05%). I wasn't even buzzed, so I was confident that I would pass.
7. Japanese is my favorite cuisine. I love sushi (toro, maguro, uni, everything!), shisamo (it grosses out Christine, but i can eat dozens of them), teppan style, ramen, soba, etc.
8. I was a Dungeons & Dragon geek as a youth. I was primarily the dungeon master.
9. Christine is my best professional coach and counselor. Extra gravy on top of being my godsend wife and partner.
10. I sometimes hate arguing with Christine because even when she's wrong, she can make her viewpoint sound rational and mine irrational. Drives me crazy!
11. During junior high, one of my friends pushed my younger brother, Lenny off his bike. Lenny was crying, so I was pissed and pushed my friend off his. That event eroded our friendship within the year, but it was worth it.
12. During my late 20s, I discovered I had extra padding on my cheeks that provided additional protection. One time I got sucker punched by a guy who was a solid 225 lbs right on my eye. Bone on bone sound was heard, but no damage, no bruise and just a little pain. If I knew about this before, I would have trained to become an MMA fighter in my early 20s (Where was Henry, a friend that trains special forces Brazilian jiu-jitsu, back then?).
13. During college, I ordered from Domino's Pizza so much that when I called from other locations, they would say, "Moon, what are you doing over there?"
14. After intense workouts, I crave milk. A couple tall glasses, or if it's after playing basketball outside I would buy a bottle of Strawberry Quik and Gatorade. Drink the milk and then the Gatorade. This would gross out a few of my friends.
15. I have an extremely long second toe. Some friends would call it "the finger" because it sort of looks like an index finger. My close friend, Hamon, would call "hand ball!" a few times during high school soccer practice.
16. I was nicknamed "Ralph" separately by two friends during freshman year. One because my wardrobe back then was about half Ralph Lauren. Another (PAhn!) because when I played with Korean Americans I was always stuck as a center but wanted to play small forward like Ralph Sampson. So when I'm at a fast food joint and have to give a name, I sometimes use "Ralph."
17. While living with my parents in Seoul, I got kicked out due to their disapproval of the girl I was dating. My friend, Mike, had an extra room and saved the day, and later corrected my delusional thinking about this woman. This ex is still the ace card for Christine if we argue... negotiating from a weaker position really sucks.
18. I still want to skydive and bungee jump. Hopefully I can make time before 40!
19. While learning to ride a bike, I was knocked unconscious. My father tried a short cut and placed me on an inclined road and let it ride! My brother was given the slow route on flat surfaces when his time came.
20. I was a mediocre hockey player in my youth (started late). During high school tryouts for the JV team, I wasn't looking and collided with someone during a drill. I got up and couldn't remember my name. Then I couldn't remember the day and time. My parents picked me up and I went home, slept almost 24 hours, and was okay.
21. I was addicted to volleyball from my senior year in high school through junior year in college. I loved the sport, but rapidly lost interest after I sprained my ankle during my junior year that kept me out for a few months. I tried a few come backs, but it was never the same. I play once in a while thinking I still have a 35" vertical but really have a 12". Yes, it doesn't look pretty when you're form is based on having a vertical 20" higher... net, net, out, net, out.
22. I sharted once during college when I was trying to let one rip in my buddy's room. My friends Sam and Bob had a good laugh. I had to get new underwear.
23. During freshman year, my mother would call my dorm room every morning for a few weeks to wake me up. I felt really bad for my roommate and friend, Chad, and begged her to stop, which she finally did. Amusing outcome is that Chad can speak a few words of Korean after listening to some of those morning conversations.
24. I miss delis in NYC... the sandwiches, sides and breakfast sandwiches (egg and double bacon on a roll, please). I miss hot dog joints and steakhouses in Chicago. I miss noodle shops in Hong Kong. I miss mandu (dumplings) and gop chang joints in Seoul. I wish those Star Trek teleporters were real.
25. I look forward to getting old with Christine and seeing our daughters grow up. So much more to do and places to visit. I can't wait to travel around the world with our children.
("More 25 Random Things About Me")
"Unveiling the TED Fellows program"
I first heard of the TED Fellows program soon after Christine and I came back from TED2008. It was a program to invite people from the nonprofit sector, education and the arts, who add to the great diversity and excellence of TED but typically cannot afford to attend.
Our good friend, Adrian Hong, is one of TED Fellows for this year. There were 40 selected and our colleague from the NetKAL program, Esther Chae, was also part of this first class. Too bad we can't join them since we are busy with our newborns. We hope to be at TED2010 next year!
An article on this new program, "TED reaching out to "remarkable" people in hard-luck lands"
More from Tom Rielly 's email:
Unveiling the TED Fellows program
Greetings TEDsters -- It's my pleasure to share with you the first “Great Unveiling” of TED2009: our new TED Fellows program. At TEDGlobal 2007 in Arusha, Tanzania we were struck by the remarkable conversations and collaborations inspired by the 100 fellows who attended. We saw the founding of several companies, including Black Star Line SA by speaker Herman Chenery- Hesse and TEDGlobal fellow June Arunga; the emergence of new NGOs such as Ushahidi.com, founded by Fellows Erik Hersman, Juliana Rotich and Ory Okolloh; and U.S. TEDsters setting up offices and hiring a TED Fellow in Tanzania. Scientists met with artists and designers, tech bloggers spoke with environmental activists, and filmmakers bonded with economists. Those exceptional people continue to write Africa's "Next Chapter."
Since then we've been seeking a way to bring the TED Fellows’ passion, energy and the ideas worth spreading to every TED conference, with the hope that their world-changing ideas and proven potential will meld with the talent and experience of the TED community.
Introducing TED Fellows, our new international program that will bring 50 eclectic, up-and-coming world-changers to our Long Beach and Oxford conferences each year. Twenty of those fifty will be invited back, starting the next year, as TED Senior Fellows, joining the community for a three-year term including six conferences. All TED Fellows will receive special benefits including pre-conference programs, training from world-class communications professionals, the opportunity to give short TEDTalks at TED University, the opportunity to spread their ideas on TED.com, a private social network and more. Of course, TED will cover their conference fees, travel and lodging.
We’re targeting individuals aged 21-40 from all of TED’s many disciplines, including of course, technology, entertainment and design but also science, humanities and the arts, entrepreneurs, NGOs and political and community leaders. We’re focusing on candidates from five regions of the world: Africa, Asia/Pacific, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Middle East. However, anyone 18 and over is welcome to apply. The first application cycle begins February 23rd, 2009.
Meet our first 40 fellows here. The complete list is also at the bottom of this email. If you’d like to read more about them, you can download a PDF of the TED Fellows Program Guide.
These men and women were selected for their achievement but especially for their promise. Each of them shows real potential to create positive change in their field -- whether it's technology, entertainment, design, music, art, science, business or the NGO community -- in their country, and even around the world.
I would like to thank the Bezos family, the Harnisch Foundation and Nokia for their visionary inaugural support of the program, with in-kind participation from TED friends Kodak, Livescribe, Lynda.com, ONE.org and SubscriberMail.
There are many opportunities for TEDsters to get involved and contribute. Find more information at www.ted.com/fellows
Warmly,
Tom Rielly
TED Community Director
Our good friend, Adrian Hong, is one of TED Fellows for this year. There were 40 selected and our colleague from the NetKAL program, Esther Chae, was also part of this first class. Too bad we can't join them since we are busy with our newborns. We hope to be at TED2010 next year!
An article on this new program, "TED reaching out to "remarkable" people in hard-luck lands"
More from Tom Rielly 's email:
Unveiling the TED Fellows program
Greetings TEDsters -- It's my pleasure to share with you the first “Great Unveiling” of TED2009: our new TED Fellows program. At TEDGlobal 2007 in Arusha, Tanzania we were struck by the remarkable conversations and collaborations inspired by the 100 fellows who attended. We saw the founding of several companies, including Black Star Line SA by speaker Herman Chenery- Hesse and TEDGlobal fellow June Arunga; the emergence of new NGOs such as Ushahidi.com, founded by Fellows Erik Hersman, Juliana Rotich and Ory Okolloh; and U.S. TEDsters setting up offices and hiring a TED Fellow in Tanzania. Scientists met with artists and designers, tech bloggers spoke with environmental activists, and filmmakers bonded with economists. Those exceptional people continue to write Africa's "Next Chapter."
Since then we've been seeking a way to bring the TED Fellows’ passion, energy and the ideas worth spreading to every TED conference, with the hope that their world-changing ideas and proven potential will meld with the talent and experience of the TED community.
Introducing TED Fellows, our new international program that will bring 50 eclectic, up-and-coming world-changers to our Long Beach and Oxford conferences each year. Twenty of those fifty will be invited back, starting the next year, as TED Senior Fellows, joining the community for a three-year term including six conferences. All TED Fellows will receive special benefits including pre-conference programs, training from world-class communications professionals, the opportunity to give short TEDTalks at TED University, the opportunity to spread their ideas on TED.com, a private social network and more. Of course, TED will cover their conference fees, travel and lodging.
We’re targeting individuals aged 21-40 from all of TED’s many disciplines, including of course, technology, entertainment and design but also science, humanities and the arts, entrepreneurs, NGOs and political and community leaders. We’re focusing on candidates from five regions of the world: Africa, Asia/Pacific, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Middle East. However, anyone 18 and over is welcome to apply. The first application cycle begins February 23rd, 2009.
Meet our first 40 fellows here. The complete list is also at the bottom of this email. If you’d like to read more about them, you can download a PDF of the TED Fellows Program Guide.
These men and women were selected for their achievement but especially for their promise. Each of them shows real potential to create positive change in their field -- whether it's technology, entertainment, design, music, art, science, business or the NGO community -- in their country, and even around the world.
I would like to thank the Bezos family, the Harnisch Foundation and Nokia for their visionary inaugural support of the program, with in-kind participation from TED friends Kodak, Livescribe, Lynda.com, ONE.org and SubscriberMail.
There are many opportunities for TEDsters to get involved and contribute. Find more information at www.ted.com/fellows
Warmly,
Tom Rielly
TED Community Director
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