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12/05/07 Links

Real busy with projects today, so not as much time to read. A couple links of interest:

• Congrats Charlie!
  
• I've been wondering about why Google has yet to change JotSpot
• A link I love and use everyday: Plaxo
• Link from yesterday's PE Wire: Carissa Project
  

The TechCrunch Umbrella

I recently realized that TechCrunch has an umbrella of sites including CrunchBase, Crunchgear and a handful of others. I am pretty positive that I should have known about these sites a LONG time ago, especially since I am a TechCrunch reader. However, I am notoriously bad at reading all blogs in my reader and never actually going to the site..... so, missed the connection.

Needless to say, I checked out CrunchBase, a listing of web2.0 company profiles. Out of curiousity I looked up some of the Wasatch companies to see what information was listed.

• The Generations Network - listed under MyFamily.com, The Generations Network and Ancestry.com. Information was different on every page, even though each page mentioned the others and how they were all interrelated. The acquisition news was only listed on The Generations Network.
• Mozy - information on company and acquisition were accurate. For some reason Tim Draper and Drew Majors were listed as the only investors even though Wasatch was the only one listed under the financing information.
  
• Lignup - not included, but I don't believe it has even been covered on TechCrunch
  
• BungeeLabs - not included, but I don't believe it has even been covered on TechCrunch
• Medsphere - not included, but I don't believe it has even been covered on TechCrunch

Hmmm... definitely not perfect... yet, I can't be too hard on the author Mike Arrington as there are a bazillion (note that this is not an actual count) web2.0 companies out there. If anything, Crunchbase can be a good starting point to find companies already noted by Arrington as movers and shakers, as his viewpoints result in a definite increase in site hits. Then perhaps researched on one's own after that.

12/03/07 Links

Interesting links I discovered today:

• Drop.io
• ZdNet Blog on Facebook
• Japan's Mobile Authors - Half of Best Sellers are Written on Mobile Phone
• eWeeks 2007 Emerging Technology Disappointments
• ZipCar - Flexcar Merger

And a couple fun links:

• Interesting Birthday Facts
• Cheapest Family in the Nation - How to Live a Frugal Life
• A Story from The Onion
  

Blog Trackback

I just read this AlwaysOn blog about undergrads and social networking and found it interesting as I follow the social network space as well. Thought I would do a quick trackback.

Blogs in Profile?

Can anyone tell me why my Blogger profile only shows my personal blog, Cragbaby, rather than both my blogs? I tried to edit it and went to the section that allows me to choose which blogs to display, but the Cragbaby was the only option.(?!)

Also, does anyone know how NOT to get my profile pic on the side bar to run off onto the edge? I might just need to check Blogger help first on this one. But figured since I was posting, might was well post all my questions. =)

Efficient Blog Reading

It is Saturday morning and I woke up early due to my little pooch needing to go outside. I have been swamped at work lately and haven't had the time to catch up on my blogs. So, this morning I thoroughly enjoyed spending some time reading the feeds and posting up comments.

It made me wonder how most people organize their readers and the order in which they read the posts. I have mine organized with general labels such as friends, vc, technology, utah, entrepreneur, fun, business, stocks and news. And I notice that the most important blogs to me are my friend blogs. Ummm... yes, I should probably read all the new technology blogs first, but sorry, my friends win out. The funny thing is, there are a couple blogs that I find so useful that I purposefully list them as 'friends' in order not to overlook the new postings. One such blog is LifeHacker. If you haven't checked out this site, you should.

After friends, I read the labeled posts in this order: news, technology and vc. I notice that certain labels like business never get read because I skip right to friends. And for some reason I skip certain labels, for instance Utah (sorry Utah bloggers), unless I have a lot of spare time.

I feel as if I need to re-label or think of a new system to better utilize my time and increase the realm of blog posts I read.

Any suggestions?

Windows Only Based Macs?!

The other day I read the ZDNet blog "Apple should start offering Windows-based Macs". Interesting read, but I disagree.

Apple has established a reputation for an integrated hardware and software resulting in high quality machine with few operating errors. Its performance and reliability are what make the computers so great... and (I believe) have increased the sales. I think there probably is some correlation (though slight) with iPod sales and Macs as the iPod helped to break down the consumer's viewpoints of Apple being hard to use (I mean how can you operate a computer without a right mouse button?). Yet, the main increase most likely resulted from consumers wanting a reliable computer with in-store service rather than having to call India to wait on hold for hours. Why would Apple want to mess this reputation by installing Windows rather than the OSX? If the user really wanted Windows, why not just invest in the upcoming Bootcamp?

I believe the increase of Apple sales are due to consumers becoming more comfortable with the Apple products and Apple slowing reeling each consumer in with each new gadget release.

What are your thoughts? Will the bootcamp be too techy for the normal consumer to use?

Identifying Your Weaknesses

Today's AlwaysOn included the post "Know What You Suck At" written by Brad Feld. I like the writings of Brad Feld, but this was especially good. He had created a list of things (over a wide range of spectrums) that he was lousy at and therefore, if important, outsourced to other individuals.

I loved the post (and Brad's list) as I know I also suck at a whole bunch of things. I say this not with a lack of confidence, but more as a realization that I just don't have the skill set needed in certain areas. Some of my list includes:

• I can not swim. I even took a swim class at a junior college and I seriously can't master the technique and breathing. I would really love to do a triathlon, but I genuinely could not do the swim portion without a life jacket.
  
• I have zero cooking abilities. If it requires more than boiling water, it is out for me. I will gladly clean all the dishes and the entire house, but please do not hope for a good meal outside the realm of Kroger Mac and Cheese.
  
• I don't deal well with cocky people. They irritate me, especially when I feel like they are clueless on the subject matter at hand. And especially when they put someone down to build themselves up.
  
• I have a rough time working on one sole project as I am a true multi-tasker. I need variety and get bored with only one thing on my plate.
  
• I suck at crossing logs over rivers. The log crossing is more treacherous for me than a technical rock climbing route.
  
• I have a hard time NOT giggling in my personal (and sometimes even work) life. Even while playing poker I can't hold a straight face. I like to giggle.... it is part of who I am.
  
• I feel that I struggle to convey my business thoughts and ideas in words. This isn't yet a lost cause, but is one of the main reasons why I started this blog.
• I can't watch scary movies and by scary I mean even Ghostbusters.
• I struggle not to over extend myself. I always think that there are more than 24 hours in a day.
  

Brad briefly mentioned entrepreneurs, to which point I want to re-circle. I feel that I often hear the "story" or only the good aspects that a CEO is trying to spin when coming to talk to the firm. The spin is necessary to an extent in order to engage the investors and sell the positive aspects, yet I also want to know the trouble spots or what the management can't do. I absolutely love it when someone genuinely tells me that he/she might not be the right CEO upon entering the growth phase of the business. Or that the company really needs someone with more of "x" experience (x being any area of the business). I really appreciate the humble entrepreneurs who have the necessary passion, but are willing to listen to an outside perspective.

I think Brad nailed the idea on the head when he said our weaknesses can actually be a filter and that we can choose to either work to make these areas our strengths or structure our business/life to either outsource or avoid these areas altogether.

Thanks for the post, Brad.