The late Richard Holbrooke used to give the essential piece of advice for a question-driven life: Know something about something. Don’t just present your wonderful self to the world. Constantly amass knowledge and offer it around.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
How has the Internet changed the way you think?
Just yesterday, my son asked if he should take Huxley's Brave New World on a flight with him to Los Angeles. The book is a dark portrayal of a dystopic future. I guess the questions and my mood made be a bit more sober than usual.
Then, a friend (Bruce Frank) was reading from a compilation of articles published on Edge.org which answered the question: "How has the Internet changed the way you think?"
Here is my response...
The ability to connect 24/7 with media has affected everything. I'm sure a book could be written, but in a sort of recursive way (like the way Escher painted,) the answer is 'infected' with the Internet. Like defining a word using the word.
The first thing I did was Google it.
I read an article recently that claimed one of the changes is the way we remember information. Why do you need to remember anything if you can find the answer on your mobile phone? I used to pride myself on my memory of clients' phone numbers. I can honestly say I don't know my mom's phone number: it's in my cell phone along with (I was aghast to learn when I backed it up) 900 other contacts. HOW CAN THAT BE POSSIBLE?
And why would kids want/need to learn anything? They all have iPads (or will) and the answer to any question will be delivered by Google. And if Google can't find it - how important can it be?
What about spelling, grammar or punctuation. Seriously, when I'm texting you and using Ur, 4, 2, sup? and :) to communicate, who cares about apostrophes, possession, conjugation or tense agreement?
You've all chided me for my multiple e-mail addresses. I recall creating them. Each was an escape from the torrent of messages. It used to be Spam. Now, the Spam is gone - but the torrent remains! Good messages from important people I should read, file, respond to or just think about. It's like getting 50-70 pieces of mail a day! How can you deal with that?
The Luddite movement responded to the onslaught of automation with violence. John Henry supposedly died competing with a machine. And now Chess and Jeopardy are proving that machines are as smart as they are strong. No less, the Internet?
Of what use are humans? To keep the lights on?
Then, a friend (Bruce Frank) was reading from a compilation of articles published on Edge.org which answered the question: "How has the Internet changed the way you think?"
Here is my response...
The ability to connect 24/7 with media has affected everything. I'm sure a book could be written, but in a sort of recursive way (like the way Escher painted,) the answer is 'infected' with the Internet. Like defining a word using the word.
The first thing I did was Google it.
I read an article recently that claimed one of the changes is the way we remember information. Why do you need to remember anything if you can find the answer on your mobile phone? I used to pride myself on my memory of clients' phone numbers. I can honestly say I don't know my mom's phone number: it's in my cell phone along with (I was aghast to learn when I backed it up) 900 other contacts. HOW CAN THAT BE POSSIBLE?
And why would kids want/need to learn anything? They all have iPads (or will) and the answer to any question will be delivered by Google. And if Google can't find it - how important can it be?
What about spelling, grammar or punctuation. Seriously, when I'm texting you and using Ur, 4, 2, sup? and :) to communicate, who cares about apostrophes, possession, conjugation or tense agreement?
You've all chided me for my multiple e-mail addresses. I recall creating them. Each was an escape from the torrent of messages. It used to be Spam. Now, the Spam is gone - but the torrent remains! Good messages from important people I should read, file, respond to or just think about. It's like getting 50-70 pieces of mail a day! How can you deal with that?
The Luddite movement responded to the onslaught of automation with violence. John Henry supposedly died competing with a machine. And now Chess and Jeopardy are proving that machines are as smart as they are strong. No less, the Internet?
Of what use are humans? To keep the lights on?
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Otto Wichterle, my new hero
This guy beat the odds, kicked their ass and invented something hundreds of millions of people use - but you don't know him.
I volunteer at Business Ownership Initiative in Indianapolis, an SBA funded Womens Business Development Center. We help mostly women and minorities start businesses.
When I counsel these startups I try to convey what it takes to be successful starting and running a business. Persistence is at the top of the list. (My favorite quote on the subject is from former president Calvin Coolidge.)
I always enjoy using examples from history of scientists or entrepreneurs who exhibited remarkable persistence to become successful. There are many. Today's news media too often makes success seem like it comes out of a microwave.
I came across this story about Otto Wichterle, the inventor of contact lenses. His picture spoke to me: It was like: "I kicked their asses, and I can kick yours too!" I LOVE THAT IN AN ENTREPRENEUR!
But unlike The Donald, this guy had a brain.
I volunteer at Business Ownership Initiative in Indianapolis, an SBA funded Womens Business Development Center. We help mostly women and minorities start businesses.
When I counsel these startups I try to convey what it takes to be successful starting and running a business. Persistence is at the top of the list. (My favorite quote on the subject is from former president Calvin Coolidge.)
I always enjoy using examples from history of scientists or entrepreneurs who exhibited remarkable persistence to become successful. There are many. Today's news media too often makes success seem like it comes out of a microwave.
I came across this story about Otto Wichterle, the inventor of contact lenses. His picture spoke to me: It was like: "I kicked their asses, and I can kick yours too!" I LOVE THAT IN AN ENTREPRENEUR!
But unlike The Donald, this guy had a brain.
Monday, June 06, 2011
Somewhere, Nicola Tesla is smiling
Anyone who knows me knows I admire Nicola Tesla. The man was an unrewarded genius. It is too soon to tell if I will be among that cohort, or break out.
But to make a fraction of his impact on the world would be an achievement. So mode it be.
But to make a fraction of his impact on the world would be an achievement. So mode it be.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Business Ownership 'Operations' Section Notes
I presented the CoreFour Business Planning section on Operations offered by the Business Ownership Initiative tonight. You'll find my links to the materials I presented here. Hope it helps!
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Friends and mobile devices
If you do this when you meet up with friends, they should be looking for another friend.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Cloud services reliable?
I read Reddit all the time. It depends on Amazon's EBS. It's down all the time.
If Reddit can't keep it up, what chance do 2nd and 3rd tier providers have? Better bring an umbrella.
If Reddit can't keep it up, what chance do 2nd and 3rd tier providers have? Better bring an umbrella.
ILTSO releases standards
The International Legal Technical Standards Organization initial draft standards (to which I contributed) has just been published.
I predict that they will be the subject of much debate over the next few months, but the idea for the standard, the brainchild of Jeff Goens, CEO of Dialawg, is a good one and will be refined over the next couple years. There have already been a few blog posts - Press Release here.
There is an Internet meme that applies to most standards: TL;DR. At under 50 pages, these standards are a scintilla of other standards that many industries - let alone 'The Law' - have come to be governed by. But from my experience in the technology service business, any sentence that includes the word 'computer' is likely to be too long for most normal people to read.
Nevertheless, I'm pleased that the ILTSO standards emphasized brevity and clarity and are targeted at the technical acumen of a 'normal' person rather than, say, the audience of the MSDN.
With so much change happening in technology today - from cloud computing to mobile devices - these standards are intended to help law firms keep their clients' data safe and their partners out of trouble. Worthy goals for any standard.
I predict that they will be the subject of much debate over the next few months, but the idea for the standard, the brainchild of Jeff Goens, CEO of Dialawg, is a good one and will be refined over the next couple years. There have already been a few blog posts - Press Release here.
There is an Internet meme that applies to most standards: TL;DR. At under 50 pages, these standards are a scintilla of other standards that many industries - let alone 'The Law' - have come to be governed by. But from my experience in the technology service business, any sentence that includes the word 'computer' is likely to be too long for most normal people to read.
Nevertheless, I'm pleased that the ILTSO standards emphasized brevity and clarity and are targeted at the technical acumen of a 'normal' person rather than, say, the audience of the MSDN.
With so much change happening in technology today - from cloud computing to mobile devices - these standards are intended to help law firms keep their clients' data safe and their partners out of trouble. Worthy goals for any standard.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Personal vs Cyber relationships
A professor speaks about substituting personal relationships for technology...
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Four things
My Rotary Club invocation of March 5 simply recounted Robert Fulghum's All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. So far as I know, this was the first time an invocator presented his or her remarks with an assist from Powerpoint. The result was that most of the audience followed along outloud - Mitch Miller style!
I mentioned to myself today that if a struggling, but proud, parent wanted to do the best they could for their children, they should lie to them about the cruel realities of life. Better that they manufacture a fantasy that would create the hope that their life would be better, than sew despair that the future held no relief from the pain they saw in their parents' eyes.
And another thing, parents should at least prepare their students with a respect of diction, grammar and the rewards of speaking as if you care to be understood by people that matter. Right after appearance, the words that fall from your mouth create an impression that fixes you in the mind of a listener. A negative impression is hard to overcome.
I mentioned my belief (to Cy Wood of Franklin University of Ohio,) that the future of education is The YouTube Degree. Venerable institutions of higher education will 'certify' graduates based on standardized tests - most of their degree programs will be too expensive, take too long and become irrelevant to the majority of lifetime learners.
I mentioned to myself today that if a struggling, but proud, parent wanted to do the best they could for their children, they should lie to them about the cruel realities of life. Better that they manufacture a fantasy that would create the hope that their life would be better, than sew despair that the future held no relief from the pain they saw in their parents' eyes.
And another thing, parents should at least prepare their students with a respect of diction, grammar and the rewards of speaking as if you care to be understood by people that matter. Right after appearance, the words that fall from your mouth create an impression that fixes you in the mind of a listener. A negative impression is hard to overcome.
I mentioned my belief (to Cy Wood of Franklin University of Ohio,) that the future of education is The YouTube Degree. Venerable institutions of higher education will 'certify' graduates based on standardized tests - most of their degree programs will be too expensive, take too long and become irrelevant to the majority of lifetime learners.
Monday, March 14, 2011
 |
| Waiting For Superman |
I'm left with the depressing feeling that we may not have the courage to let the market work to solve this problem. If we resort to lotteries to ration good education too many students will be left to the 'Failure Factories' and too much potential will be unfulfilled just when our country needs all the help it can get.
Charter Schools are a great start. But can't we expect more from Public Schools? Doesn't everyone want every school to succeed?
Sunday, March 06, 2011
ClusterMesh
We've had a lot of fun introducing our 'Half Price' wireless mesh networking product. EVERYTHING is going to be wireless soon. And the 802.11x standard is not going away for a while. So customers: schools in particular but anyone that has a large space to 'light up', really need this.
Turns out there aren't very many economical solutions - that's was the same story behind FileSafe. So it was second nature to invent something! Irvington Community Schools loves it at their three campuses and I hope we'll deliver it soon to several more.
We've had a range of reaction to the name: ClusterMesh. Everyone smiles. What could be better?
Oh, and we got the Facebook page up: www.Facebook.com/ClusterMesh last week. Over 30 friends already!
Turns out there aren't very many economical solutions - that's was the same story behind FileSafe. So it was second nature to invent something! Irvington Community Schools loves it at their three campuses and I hope we'll deliver it soon to several more.
We've had a range of reaction to the name: ClusterMesh. Everyone smiles. What could be better?
Oh, and we got the Facebook page up: www.Facebook.com/ClusterMesh last week. Over 30 friends already!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Just make it go away
Windows 7 introduced the concept of Libraries. Like symbolic links in Unix. I'd describe them as a layer of abstraction over the hierarchical directory system that most people have learned to deal with since DOS. It's not terribly hard to shove 'folders' down peoples' throats. They see filing cabinets filled with folders all the time. Hard drive = filing cabinet. Folders = subdirectories. Simple.
But Microsoft just had to give Windows 7 something more than a pretty face (like the Mac) and better security (like the Mac.) So it added a file system abstraction that aggregates folders from different places and/or computers into the mix. When you delete something here it isn't deleted from the source. When you copy something here there aren't really two copies of it. More properties control the listing order and the new indexing service can be enabled to search by more metadata.
Trouble is 100% of my customers don't care. Actually, 100% of the comments on the Microsoft website explaining this little gem of a feature want to know how to make it just go away!
Don't they pilot this stuff? Or do they just not listen? We've reached the stage where the Windows operating system has simply morphed into an engineer's feature dreamworld. One would think they'd focus on the user's productivity.
But Microsoft just had to give Windows 7 something more than a pretty face (like the Mac) and better security (like the Mac.) So it added a file system abstraction that aggregates folders from different places and/or computers into the mix. When you delete something here it isn't deleted from the source. When you copy something here there aren't really two copies of it. More properties control the listing order and the new indexing service can be enabled to search by more metadata.
Trouble is 100% of my customers don't care. Actually, 100% of the comments on the Microsoft website explaining this little gem of a feature want to know how to make it just go away!
Don't they pilot this stuff? Or do they just not listen? We've reached the stage where the Windows operating system has simply morphed into an engineer's feature dreamworld. One would think they'd focus on the user's productivity.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Google Rex
I'm fascinated by the power of search in general and Google in particular. Like drive through windows on information - fast, convenient, accurate results to curiosity about anything has made us obese in a digital way. Sloppy scavengers of data, factoids and random nodes.
Anyway, two recent articles on Google are just too interesting not to mention here:
Today's NYT: The Dirty Little Secrets of Search brought focus on how search results can be manipulated. Staying with the fast food alalogy, like adding sugar to high fat food to appease the animal brain's hunger for calories.
Then there was A Bully Finds a Pulpit on the Web (also from David Segal and the NYT.)
Manipulation has always been the simplest form of larceny. The game is simply faster, more profitable and less obvious today.
Anyway, two recent articles on Google are just too interesting not to mention here:
Today's NYT: The Dirty Little Secrets of Search brought focus on how search results can be manipulated. Staying with the fast food alalogy, like adding sugar to high fat food to appease the animal brain's hunger for calories.
Then there was A Bully Finds a Pulpit on the Web (also from David Segal and the NYT.)
Manipulation has always been the simplest form of larceny. The game is simply faster, more profitable and less obvious today.
Friday, December 31, 2010
On Cloud Computing
From an e-mail to friends...
Cloud computing is a strategy to outsource complexity and risk. Most SMBs can’t stand that their Windows systems constantly need maintenance, updates and repair. A ‘cloud’ service is really just a way to fix the cost and get out of the PC Problem Pool.Until you get a generation of users that are willing to STOP using Word, Excel & Quickbooks you won’t have cloud services replace local servers. Likewise: Autocad, Photoshop and a myriad other apps that put a strain on even CAT6 infrastructure. Microsoft wants to hurry that along (Office365 – not to be confused with Office360) but Google is already there. Trouble is that very few of my customers know what the cloud is or why they’d want one ;)
If you don’t have a local server (like ours: FileSafeServer.com) you’re going to be sucking data through a straw until everyone gets fiber to their dmarc from their ISP. And our experience is that customers are already pushing back on $100+/mo broadband. They want to BROWSE, BACKUP TO and GET THEIR EMAIL from the web but not much else. A few have tried VPNs to virtual servers and they think it sucks. We get calls all the time from customers that simply need to reboot their routers. We have 100+ FileSafes in the field that check in every three minutes. There’s always a few that stop checking in and it’s almost always because of Internet issues. And sometimes our monitoring page lights up like NORAD because there has been a system wide Internet failure. This ain’t like the old phone system with five nines uptime.
If you want to access files remotely you use LogMeIn or, better yet, RDP – it’s free and fast right back to your desktop.
I agree that SalesForce.com, Sharepoint and some other hosted apps – in particular Hosted Exchange with smartphone integration – are MUST HAVEs for many small businesses, but our customers are much more comfortable knowing their data, docs, pics and all the important stuff they ‘own’ is inside their four walls. Don’t get me started on data privacy concerns, cloud vendor security/availability (DDOS risks,) and lock-in.
And just wait until ISPs start putting tolls on bandwidth! This ‘all you can eat’ free lunch we’ve been eating is going to end someday. That will certainly put some hail in those clouds.
Like many things, the story is more complicated than it first appears – and hybrid solutions are still the right answer.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
A Horribly Broken Prescription Delivery System
From a recent e-mail to friends...
I rarely write during the day - I actually stay pretty busy. But I'm 'relaxing' over the holidays (only trying to work 8 hrs/day,) and I needed to focus on my Zolpidem (generic for Ambien) prescription because I'M ALMOST OUT!
So I wanted to order some online now that we are on an HSA and paying cash for them...I thought that it would be no big deal.
Lots to talk about here for the next time we're together. But interesting results from price checking a few local pharmacies: One tech told me she had know way to find out what prescriptions cost. The range was $45 (drugstore.com) to $164 (CVS.) Walmart was $86. The CVS tech asked me, "Do you know how many insurances (sic) there are?" She passed me around for a while and I finally learned that you need to specifically ask for the 'Cash' price - a keyword that takes you into the 'this poor bastard doesn't have insurance' queue - which they know means you'll PAY ANYTHING SINCE THERE IS NO MARKET FOR PRESCRIPTIONS SOLD AT AN ADVERTISED PRICE! (I use the term 'Market' in its technical/economic sense here.)
I ordered from drugstore.com on 12/9. The flurry of paperwork ended today when I practically had to conference them together to exchange info. My doctor still depends on faxes and phone calls exclusively to do this. There is no system of electronic communication. Zolpidem is a 'controlled substance' and must require doctors and pharmacists to pledge their first born sons or daughters to keep paper documentation authorizing them to write/fill prescriptions - with penalties like dismemberment if they can't provide the paper trail. (So much for the ubiquitously available ED meds!)
It would be MUCH EASIER to get Pot, Cocaine or Heroine. At least I know the service would be driven by market forces! I may try later today and report back ;)
P.S. Drugstore.com turns out to be the BEST place to get this stuff so far. I know exactly what phone numbers to dial and IVR prompts to pass to crack their system now ;) I'll clue you in for free drinks!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
The Real Royal Society
A few friends and I meet from time to time to discuss the issues of the day. We careen from subject to subject and pontificate on a variety of topics, making assertions, citing dubious references, pillorying our lunchmates and attacking sacred cows with vim and vigor!
I have named the group the Royal Society and I mean it no disrespect. I long for the polemics and debate of a latter day; courteous, informed and energetic!
But there is a 'real' Royal Society which is celebrating its 350th anniversary - and they deserve congratulations and honor. The home of such great minds as Newton, Laplace, Maxwell, Hawking and Berners-Lee, all FRS - Fellows of the Royal Society, and countless others who have preserved science over centuries when, to paraphrase a popular country music song, science wasn't cool. We owe the Society an immeasurable debt for a life unparalleled in abundance, convenience and longevity.
You can read a brief (32 p) report, Science Sees Further, which their President, Martin Rees, calls "an opportunity for us to look at the key scientific issues of today, and those of tomorrow."
Edit: And then there was this.
Sunday, November 07, 2010
This just in
NYU moves to Google Apps for Education. Does that score one for Microsoft 0n-premises solutions?
Saturday, November 06, 2010
Couldn't help myself
Redmond Channel Partner is a thin magazine that extols the virtue of Microsoft Products and generally heaps praise on whatever they do. The last issue served up lots of affection for Microsoft's latest strategy to dominate the universe with their Cloud technology.
I think reports of their imminent success are a bit premature. But what do I know?
So I sent the author of the article a short note (using my Google Apps account,) to wit:
I think reports of their imminent success are a bit premature. But what do I know?
So I sent the author of the article a short note (using my Google Apps account,) to wit:
Hi Scott,
I read with interest your recent piece in RCP, "Bet on MS Cloudy Forecast." I got a kick out of the quote from the reporter: "What is it?" or words to that effect.
One of my customers recently asked: What is it? That is *not* a closing question.
The problem is that MS has hit a wall dictated by physics in a way. Customers' needs are well met by local apps, Internet for most is a flaky $20 DSL connection, they see the 'bleed' of a subscription service (I know, I sell one,) and open source is right on their tail. I say MS is a short sell opportunity.
What they can't control is the very real fear that viruses, malware and security risks impose. MS is at the root of all this, whether they are to blame or not. Bad PR is bad PR.
We've moved lots of customers to Google Apps. I love hosted Exchange @ $5/user per month. I think Windows servers are stupid complex and I'll be the first to admit my reluctance to sell them is that I'm not smart enough to work on them. My small business customers (less than 20 users, 5+ million,) are stupider than I am! They think I'm smart!
MS can't deny gravity. This cloud initiative is chasing Google. Apps are a commodity and search is all that matters.
Loved the article,
Kim Brand
Indianapolis
Thursday, November 04, 2010
What does this mean?
I was just minding my own business when Tom Lapp, Co-Inventor of FileEngine, forwarded me a story from EWeek.com that includes this 'strategy' comment by a Microsoft executive:
“We are going to lead with the cloud,” Microsoft COO Kevin Turner said during a speech at the company’s Financial Analyst Meeting July 29. “Leading with the cloud actually helps better position Microsoft to sell more on-premises products than we ever have before. … Very strategically, it signals a very clear commitment to our customers and our partners.”
How could a C level exec attempt to convince intelligent finance managers that delivering cloud based solutions will accelerate sales of on-premises solutions?? Maybe Google should sell on-premises solutions to promote sales of Google Apps?
I had never heard of the term 'on-premises' solutions before. Was that Windows Server 200x? Almost sounds cooler when you call it an on-premises solution. (See my older blog entry here on how Windows server is like a puppy trying to find a place to pee.)
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