Our Web, Ourselves. – Page 4

Database Dream:

Smokler on November 1, 2006

In response to an earlier post, I got a note from one Kristina Dahl, part of the team behind Squirl, a social networking site for collectors.

Squirl comes at a fortunate time for me as I’ve been on the lookout for a database program to catalogue my art collection (really a pretentious way of saying a half dozen prints and some pottery) and most programs I’ve found are either Windows only or aimed at the yacht club market and hence, cost about $800. According to Ms. Dahl, the art collection template, is taggable and has the fields I’m looking for.

As soon as I can get my staff photographer to come over and shoot each piece, I’m going to give Squirl a try.

Startup Me Up:

Smokler on October 31, 2006

Attended SF Tech Sessions last night and me oh my there are a lot of companies getting going in the Bay Area. Social Bookmarking was the theme of the evening and short rundown of attendees included…

Featured Presenters

Wists: Called “social shopping”, lets you create sharable pages of
images from across different retail sites.

Kaboodle: Community shopping site which lets you create “collections” of products and share them with others.

Ma.gnolia: Think friendster with bookmarks.

Interesting Folks in Attendence:

SlideShare: “The Youtube of Powerpoint” hosts and lets you share presentations.

ZapTix: An online box office for small venues. Down with Ticketmaster!

Wifi Earthcode: A community driven directory of wireless cafes.

Lotta hot action going down. Might have to come back next month.

Gleanings: Republicans, Leminy Snicket and the Cocaine Energy Drink:

Smokler on October 29, 2006

Even the conservatives think their own have gone off course. “The intellectual dexterity that once distinguished campus conservatives has given way to mindless GOP boosterism.” And that’s from an article in American Conservative magazine (via AL Daily).
In the fund, flip and exit culture of Silicon Valley, is it possible to build a sustainable company? Here’s a theory on how (via Kottke).
Business Week has some thoughts on bridging the generation gap in the workplace. Here’s my favorite part: “Be a Mentor, Not a Taskmaster.” (via Susan Mernit).
According to the Washington Post, ‘Myspace is so last year’ (like they would know) and teens are graduating to Facebook at earlier ages (via New Media Musings).
NPR Interviews Bill Bryson about his new memoir “The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid”. I’ve read everything Mr. Bryson has ever written and will pick up this book too.
Daniel Handler talks to Salon about the end of the Leminy Snicket series and what’s next for him.
In no-duh news, 7-Eleven has decided to stop selling an energy drink called Cocaine. Smart choice (via Davenetics).

Design Crimes:

Smokler on October 26, 2006

It’s such a crime that Drive in Theater.com, “Dedicated to the keeping the American drive-in alive” is possibly the ugliest website in creation.

Wikipedia on your iPod:

Smokler on October 21, 2006

Has anybody tried putting Wikipedia on their iPod? How does it look (via Micropersusion)?

Friendster Has None:

Smokler on October 17, 2006

This NY Times examination of why Friendster is now a Silicon Valley cautionary tale has been jumping around the web lately. It paints Friendster as a classic tale of Valley hubris gone wrong–A headstrong CEO, investors drunk on hype, product flaws papered over and a blurry eye towards competitors. But it misses one crucial point in a haze of euphemism describing Friendster founder Jonathan Abrams.

“Jonathan is very much an acquired taste,” said Larissa Le, a former Friendster employee and longtime friend of Mr. Abrams. “He’s your typical engineer from the Valley who can come off as very arrogant.” For a time Mr. Abrams, then in his early 30’s, cut a high profile in the Valley, showing up regularly at parties with a strikingly attractive woman on each arm and his head in the stars.

An “acquired taste?” Let’s get one thing straight. I ran into Jonathan Abrams several times at different events and never found him to be an “acquired taste”.” I found him arrogant, standoffish and rude. That may be fine if your that attitude commits you to running a strong business or at the very least gets your company some buzz. It does not work if your company is called Friendster and the founder, the company’s public face is no one you’d want to be friends with

Don’t Tease Me Like That:

Smokler on October 16, 2006

Yes, I would love to get crap delivered to my house at all hours of the night ala Pink Dot in LA and the long-departed Kozmo. But LicketyShip is not the answer, with its $19.95 delivery charge and limited hours. I don’t know what the answer is, short of teleportation, but I hope they have bigger plans than this. ‘Course it’s in Alpha, so we’ll see.

(via Willo).

Austin 2007:

Smokler on September 18, 2006

Pass has been purchased. I will be back this year for round #8. Just an attendee this time, which is fine.

You going?

Thank you Ben Brown…

Smokler on July 2, 2006

Because I’m now completely addicted to Consumating, an ostensible dating site but really an excuse out-clever yourself about 63 times a day. Ben Brown invented the thing like two years ago and sold it to CNET. I’d be jealous if I hadn’t basically injected it into my veins already.

Just what we never needed…

Smokler on April 20, 2006

A giant ass database of all the free junk the world has to offer (via Techcrunch).