Apple iSaaS with iWork 09

Apple has decided to get into the Software as a Service business (sort of) with iWork.com and iWork 09. This puts them in direct competition with Google Docs and Microsoft Office Live. This doesn't seem like a very Apple move. Unlike Google and Microsoft, for now, iWork.com is a way to share documents, spreadsheets and presentation slides with other people. Kind of like iWeb and MobileMe for business information. Some people have asked "well maybe Apple is doing this because that is where software is moving?" to which I would respectfully answer "Apple doesn't do things because that is where things are moving. If that were the case, Apple would have announced two new Netbooks at Macworld or earlier. Or at least a tablet Mac by now." I think iWork.com is a play by Apple to pave the road to bring iWork to Windows. I'll allow to that simmer in the ole Noggin Crockpot(TM) for a moment. Yes, I did say Apple wants to bring the iWork suite to Windows and no I did not uncontrollably repeat the first syllables of words. Apple has already jumped into Windows programming with the iPod, iTunes, Safari for Windows and Mobile Me. iWork.com could ultimately be the gateway for developers (and gateway drug for non-Mac users) for a native Windows version of iWork.

Cool! My Euro Smart Car is #0107 of the 1026 imported by G & K Auto. :) Pics: http://xrl.us/op4vi

OH.MY.GOD. Occipital blows Microsoft's PhotoSynth out of the water! #techstars08

Where to Sit at the IQ Awards

The Boulder County Business Report's (http://www.bcbr.com) annual IQ Awards are coming up. A lot of great companies from the Boulder area have been nominated. And I'm lucky enough to be part of two of them. One is Socialthing! (http://ping.fm/LDIys and http://ping.fm/S0scy), a digital life manager. The other is, well, you'll just have to find out. :) Since two of the startups I have helped found are nominated for the Boulder County Business Report's IQ Awards, I have a bit of a problem. At which table do I sit? I may be wrong, but I don't believe that Emily Post has covered this topic in any length. So do I sit between the two tables? At one half the time and then at the other, the other half of the time? Or should I pick one and stay there? Or at some other table entirely? It might be interesting to sit with the StillSecure team. And what if one (or both of them) wins their category? Too many questions, I agree. So my plan - and hopefully the Emily Post people or foundation or whatever, will put this into Etiquette law - is to go, have a nice team, meet some great people and say "Its an honor just to be nominated. Twice."

I should be following everyone I was following pre-Twitter spam hammering. But now there are at least 10 porn/spam accounts following me

Project Management

Been thinking about Agile dev (Scrum specifically) lately. Its great to plan "these are all of the things we will do." It helps you to stay focused on making positive moves; on progress; and on creating a habit of progress. But at those review meetings, is anyone asking "what if things went wrong? Would we be able to handle it?" Is it because it might be seen as a negative or as disruptive? An hindrance to progress? Nay-saying? Focusing on doom and gloom? This isn't disrupting the momentum, being a nay-sayer or a pain in the ass Its actually maintaining the habit of progress by helping everyone to add movements towards handling things if events do not go as planned. Like having the fire escape route for the building posted on the wall. Expect the worst, hope for the best and proceed somewhere in the middle of those two.

Proper Spelling, Grammar and Word Choice

It really bugs the shit out of me when I see professional (and by professional I mean there is an editor and it is ad-supported) sites that CANNOT get the following correct:

• you your you're
• to too two
• there their they're

For example, let's take this excerpt from the article Send Business Cards to an Inbox or a Mobile Phone on the ReadWriteWeb:

Once your done creating your profile card, share it with friends via email or embed it in your blog.

Quite obviously the "Once your done..." is supposed to be the contraction, you're meaning you are. As in "Once you're done..."

I know that the education in the United States has many areas where it is lacking (our government funds "wars" over education) but for fucking Christ on a bike's sake, get that fixed! NOW!