Archives for June 2009

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WordPress Theme for a Family Physician?

Posted on June 11, 2009 ·

I’m trying to “Web 2.0-ize” a friend who is a primary care (family) physician.  The big plan is to give him a site he can easily update, and that will build up some Google juice over time – surprise, surprise, that’s a blog. 🙂

He WILL blog, but not too often – so this should not look like a blog, more like a traditional website with just a section on the main page for the refreshing content – or in WordPress lingo, a theme that has several buckets for static content, and just one smaller area for blog posts.

Can you recommend a good theme?  Thanks.

Filed Under: Misc, Software · Tagged: , , ,
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Intuit Did Not Kill MS Money. Microsoft Did. Slowly, Over Long Years. Here’s the Full Story.

Posted on June 11, 2009 ·

An era comes to an end on June 30th, when Microsoft discontinues their PFM (Personal Financial Management) product, Money. 

The story started outside Microsoft, with a startup named Intuit releasing their first DOS-based PFM software, Quicken.   The concept was simple and powerful: balance your checkbook, keep track of your financial transactions electronically. It worked; in fact surveys showed that Quicken became the driver for many consumers to buy their first personal computers in the late 80’s.   But it really became popular when Windows, especially the first “good”  version, 3.0 arrived. 

Intuit remained a one-product company until after their IPO in 1993, when they acquired Chipsoft and entered the tax-software market. 

Continue reading …

Filed Under: Software · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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SAP Discusses SaaS Strategy

Posted on June 11, 2009 ·

John Wookey has a tough job. The former Oracle Exec, currently EVP @ SAP, the Enterprise Software leader is supposed to charter SAP’s foray into On-Demand – in a company whose bread-and-butter is clearly in installed applications and which still largely considers a threat to its traditional lucrative business.

He spent the first 6 months crafting the new strategy, which he first announced at the SIIA OnDemand Europe conference in Amsterdam.

Continue reading…

Filed Under: Enterprise Software, SaaS · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Experimental Green Flight Across the Atlantic

Posted on June 9, 2009 ·

American Airlines is about to test eco-friendly new technology on it’s regular flight between Paris and Miami this Thursday.

Read more…

Filed Under: Technology · Tagged: , , , , , , ,
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Keep Your Paws Off My PC, Microsoft

Posted on June 8, 2009 ·

<rant>

I’ve had it. I’m tired of Microsoft programs taking over my computer without permission.  This time it’s IE7 – yes, I know, IE8 is out, but I could not care less.  In fact I have not launched IE7 for a long time.  Sticking with Firefox, and if I was not so dependent on several Ffox add-ons, the browser I’d switch to would be Google’s Chrome, not Internet Explorer.

So what happened?  Read on …

Filed Under: Humor, Software · Tagged: , , , , , ,
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Home – World Premiere, on World Environment Day

Posted on June 5, 2009 ·

I’m receiving congratulatory notes – in the age of Facebook and Plaxo there is no hiding.  Oh, well, I’m happy to have reached 21smile_wink, at least I can get a drink now.

But June 5th is a memorable day for other reasons. This year it is the 20th anniversary of the of Tiananmen Square  crackdown in China.   June 5th is also World Environment Day, which this year has the theme:

Your Planet Needs You – UNite to Combat Climate Change

On this day an amazing film, simply titled HOME is released.  Directed by internationally renowned French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, produced by world famous director Luc Besson and narrated by five-time Academy Award® nominee Glenn Close (Dangerous Liaisons), Home aims to change the way people see the planet and their impact on it. Shot in high definition in 54 countries and 120 locations over 217 days, the unique and first-time ever all-aerial filming style highlights the Earth’s wonders as well as its wounds and provides a necessary perspective to approach the changing environment.

The World Premiere will take place in more 100 countries and in 23 languages, with free screenings  at the base of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, in New York’s Central Park,  London’s Trafalgar Square and Omaha, which is North America’s host city for the United Nations World Environment Day.

And now we can share it here, as the film is available in full length, amazing quality on Youtube until June 14th, 2009.

Update: apparently the film itself is not embeddable, so all I can include here is a a video on the shooting itself.  But the real film is worth clicking through and watching on Youtube – in full screen mode, ideally HD.

Enjoy. And Think.

Filed Under: Misc · Tagged: , , , , ,
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Business Planning on Twitter

Posted on June 4, 2009 ·

As with all-things-Twitter, you should read this bottom-up:

 

And the text summary – again, read from bottom up:

  • amandagbeals @bencasnocha love the biz idea but dont leave out the gays!!! they wld be ur biggest clients!
  • zolierdos @bencasnocha On second thought, this business model is one of the oldest, although not limited to kissing 🙂
  • djnotfound @bencasnocha but… but can they get pregnant by kissing?
  • zolierdos @bencasnocha Haha, will it be bootstrapped or VC funded? 🙂
  • constantmotion @bencasnocha I have to ask, did a specific experience lead to this idea?
  • jeffnolan @bencasnocha you could rely on craigslist as your go-to-market strategy
  • msimonkey @bencasnocha Who decides whos the expert?
  • bencasnocha Business idea: create a kissing school where people pay to practice kissing "expert" instructor of opposite sex and get immediate feedback.
Filed Under: Humor, Startups · Tagged: , , , ,
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Jeffrey’s Seven: Cancer Dude Back Online

Posted on June 4, 2009 ·

This is the third slide of the Opening Keynote from Atlassian’s Summit this week.  Amidst all the celebration of success, product and partner announcements, and just about a windfall of information it was a nice gesture to spend a minute with Atlassian’s first US employee, President Jeffrey Walker, who could not be at the event, having just received his chemotherapy a few days earlier.

Other than an Atlassian, Jeffrey is also a hacker artist and musician. And Cancer Dude.  His words, not mine.  He wrote them two years ago:

In preparation for this upcoming surgery, I’ll be working out every single day. I’ll be leaving work at a reasonable hour. I need to point my Type-A personality at Atlassian at something more important right now.”

I am Cancer Dude and I am going to kick it’s ass.

In March Jeffrey dropped a bomb: his cancer was back, bigger and uglier than ever before.  I don’t want to repeat the story, here’s my wrap-up, and his own post: Living with Cancer in Silicon Valley.

Today Jeffrey’s back online: Living with Cancer in Silicon Valley II: Survival Tips from a Hardened Cancer Dude.  It’s a must-read.  There’s no excuse not to find the time to read it.   His Seven Survival Tips are a testament of strong will, the kick-ass attitude that makes him invincible, and gives strength to many others.  Literally.

This time around the battle took more focus than ever before, so Jeffrey took a 6-month leave from Atlassian.  But he doesn’t rest.  Between two chemo treatments he played guitar at the recent Stanford University Relay for Life:

 

Now for the important part: he has 3.5 weeks left until surgery.  He is offering to play (free) at a local benefit in the San Francisco Bay Area.  If you need a musician who can identify with your cause, or just know of a benefit event, ping me below in comments or via the contact form.

Focus on the positive. Tell cancer to “Piss off”

(Cross-posted from CloudAve)

 

Filed Under: Misc · Tagged: , , , , , , ,
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CrunchPad – It’s Real. Beautiful. I Want One.

Posted on June 3, 2009 ·

I admit I was skeptical when Mike Arrington first announced he wanted to build a  lightweight  Web Tablet.  But a few month later we saw the first prototype, which was not particularly attractive – but real.  Mea Culpa, I was wrong.

The second prototype was already quite likable, albeit not as sexy as as the original sketch.  Today Mike @ Techcrunch announced that the final prototype is just weeks away– and although all he now has are conceptual drawings, if the real thing is anywhere close .. OMG.. OMG.. it’s absolutely sexysmile_tongue

Read more …

Filed Under: Technology · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,
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Accessorize Your Algorithm, Amazon :-)

Posted on June 2, 2009 ·

I think this email promo I’ve just received from Amazon after purchasing the replacement filters (first item shown) speaks for itself.  I guess if I had bought a kitchen sink or some furniture, they would offer a house as accessory.smile_regular

Filed Under: Humor, Marketing / PR · Tagged: , ,
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