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2013-05-25 18:48:32 (3 comments, 8 reshares, 28 +1s)

Yes my dear, this has been a wonderful #caturday , don't you think?

2013-05-25 18:47:15 (2 comments, 8 reshares, 19 +1s)

Things should be investigated very thoroughly on #caturday  

2013-05-25 18:39:34 (2 comments, 4 reshares, 21 +1s)

A nice bath - always a good idea on #caturday  

2013-05-25 18:36:59 (0 comments, 4 reshares, 13 +1s)

Make sure you are well groomed - you want to look nice for #caturday  

2013-05-25 18:34:58 (3 comments, 3 reshares, 11 +1s)

The cat is out of the bag!  - because this is #caturday  !

2013-05-25 18:32:57 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 13 +1s)

A beautiful day when we could be outside.  Instead, we look at pictures of cats on our computer - that is what #caturday  is all about.

2013-05-25 18:30:40 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Wait for it....    wait...   wait...,  

That's right - today is #caturday  !

2013-05-24 20:16:10 (10 comments, 2 reshares, 13 +1s)

Building On Our Strengths. Strength is not the absence of weakness.  That is something is something I was taught long ago, but somehow forgot until recently.   It is a simple timeless truth - in business and all human endeavors throughout history -  strength has never been the absence of weakness.   Powerful men and women often have great flaws - but it doesn't matter.  No one remembers them for their flaws, they remember them for their accomplishments -  and great accomplishments are made by using your strengths, not by eliminating your weaknesses. 

It is something I have had cause to think of a few times recently.  I now have a small team of advisers helping me to get my business in better shape, and they are great - I have gotten really invaluable advice and direction from them.  One of them, however, did seem to want me to work on correcting my flaws - of which thereare many.  &qu... more »

2013-05-24 18:59:05 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Seriously Alex Jones?   Obama uses a top secret "weather weapon" to steer a tornado to Oklahoma?  Who are the people who listen to this headcase?  I think it is far past time that the men in white coats came an took this guy away.  

2013-05-24 03:29:15 (8 comments, 7 reshares, 30 +1s)

I didn't see that one coming. 

2013-05-23 23:44:22 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Hee yah!  This is so flipping American.  We are going to lasso an asteroid!  

2013-05-23 21:10:55 (13 comments, 0 reshares, 37 +1s)

Posting "stuff" here.   I need to make a quick moderator comment because the number of low quality posts here seems to be increasing again.   Too many people are seeing this community as a place where they can just "throw stuff up" maybe for SEO reasons, and not much else.   I have seen what has happened to the other business communities on Google+ and I want to do whatever I can to avoid that happening here. 

The thing is, it takes very little effort to make a post here, but even with the minimal effort, I am seeing lots of really sloppy posts.   The ones that have just a link and nothing else, we remove immediately - if Google doesn't get them first, but more and more I am seeing ones with maybe one short sentence and the link and nothing else.  The worst ones, simply repeat the title of the blog and expect people to click through and read it.  Even worsethan t... more »

2013-05-23 19:37:44 (7 comments, 3 reshares, 7 +1s)

I'm having a fire sale.  For the next three days, anyone who buys at least $100 of my content services prepaid will get a 50 percent discount.  This is the equivalent of four well written, researched and keyword intensive blog posts of 500 words or more, or as many as 10 social network post of 200 words or more designed to showcase your expertise.

These rates were already low before this discount, but since this is a new practice I want more clients so I can generate referrals and hopefully repeat business.  I can write on almost any issue, but am probably best at business, economic, and technology topics. 

Do you have a blog you have been neglecting because other parts of your business have required your attention?  This is a great way to give it a booster shot.  The content will be based on your notes or ideas and you will have full editorial control over what getspublis... more »

2013-05-23 18:01:24 (7 comments, 6 reshares, 32 +1s)

Good morning everyone. 

2013-05-24 07:18:46 (5 comments, 8 reshares, 13 +1s)

I'm having a fire sale.  For the next three days, anyone who buys at least $100 of my content services prepaid will get a 50 percent discount.  This is the equivalent of four well written, researched and keyword intensive blog posts of 500 words, or as many as 10 social network post of 200 words designed to showcase your expertise.

These rates were already low before this discount, but since this is a new practice I want more clients so I can generate referrals and hopefully repeat business.  I can write on almost any issue, but am probably best at business, economic, and technology topics. 

Do you have a blog you have been neglecting because other parts of your business have required your attention?  This is a great way to give it a booster shot.  The content will be based on your notes or ideas and you will have full editorial control over what gets published. Writi... more »

2013-05-23 05:19:06 (29 comments, 6 reshares, 31 +1s)

Fire and Water.  I have been thinking a bit about a post I made here earlier that posed the question "did we evolve to be unhappy?".  It sounds horrible, but it is completely plausible, and fits with other things I have read.  

The human species evolved to fill the "cognitive niche".  It makes sense - other animals don't try to "think themselves out of trouble" the way we do.  We are forever trying to "get out of the moment" - because in the world where we evolved, the odds were, the "moment" was pretty dangerous, and a good thing to try to escape from.

This is a disease we all have, and sometimes I think I have it worse than others, but are there ever moments where things seem ok?  I was talking to a friend of mine once about how humans must have evolved to be more relaxed around campfires - we seem to go into somekind ... more »

2013-05-23 05:08:17 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

The Boss was in a quandary. He had to fire somebody. He had it narrowed down to one of two people, Debra or Jack. It was an impossible decision—they were both super workers. Rather than flip a coin, he decided he would fire the first one who used the water cooler the next morning. Debra came in the next morning with a horrible hangover after partying all night. She went to the cooler to take an aspirin. The Boss approached her and said, “Debra, I’ve never done this before, but I have to lay you or Jack off.”

“Could you jack off?” she says. “I feel like crap”.

2013-05-23 04:33:08 (7 comments, 7 reshares, 26 +1s)

So sad.

2013-05-22 17:35:35 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Contracts and Handshake Deals.  The attached blog post is by legendary Silicon Valley investor and Y-Combinator founder Paul Graham.  In it, he describes how he thinks a "handshake deal" for startup investment opportunities in Silicon Valley should work.  Basically, it is just a verbal agreement, followed by an email that describes the basic terms of the offer, and then a confirmation of that.  It ensures a basic level of communication between the two parties.  The actual formal contract follows later.

I got to thinking a little about the difference between contracts and handshake deals after I made an agreement with a larger firm recently.  As many of you know, I am beginning to emphasize the writing and content creation part of my practice.  A few people have noticed my skills in writing and social networks, and have hired me for jobs even though I reallyhaven't ... more »

2013-05-22 05:33:32 (7 comments, 8 reshares, 38 +1s)

Time for a late night snack. 

2013-05-22 04:19:48 (10 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

DailyKos Jumps the Shark.  No one has ever accused me of being "right wing" but seriously +Daily Kos ?  This is the best you can do?  This is what has become of being liberal or progressive?     I think Government and Corporate employees are doing just fine - they at least have food on the table, medical insurance, and some semblance of security.  What about the rest of us?  

As some of you may know, I did some writing covering small business issues from a progressive point of view, and published a few of these long form pieces there.  It turned out that was the wrong place - that site is filled with government employees and creative thinking is not welcome there.   The "moderators" on that site, are themselves trolls, and they are giving liberals a bad name.  
They have become a caricature of liberal values, in the way that FoxNews is a caricature ofconservati... more »

2013-05-22 01:14:18 (11 comments, 6 reshares, 36 +1s)

How my day went 

2013-05-21 21:19:47 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Business & Life Coaches, Advisers & Mentors.  This is a shared circle I curate of those on Google+ who are involved in small business coaching and advising.  I am getting ready to publish this to my own stream - which for whatever reason I have more followers than are currently in this community, but first wanted to post it here because I'm sure I have missed some people.  

Please let me know if you are involved in this activity as a profession and would like to be added to this circle.   I want to have a well organized list of these professionals as a resource for this community and the virtual brain trust.  Please comment if you would like to be added. 

#smallbusiness  
#entrepreneurs  
#coaching  

2013-05-21 21:17:25 (10 comments, 3 reshares, 9 +1s)

Business & Life Coaches, Advisers & Mentors.  This is a shared circle I curate of those on Google+ who are involved in small business coaching and advising.  I am getting ready to publish this to my own stream - which for whatever reason I have more followers than are currently in this community, but first wanted to post it here because I'm sure I have missed some people.  

Please let me know if you are involved in this activity as a profession and would like to be added to this circle.   I want to have a well organized list of these professionals as a resource for this community and the virtual brain trust.  Please comment if you would like to be added. 

#smallbusiness  
#entrepreneurs  
#coaching  

2013-05-21 18:36:06 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Just look at it.  This is some very minor advice on a way to avoid procrastination, but it may help some.  I had a boss once when I worked for an IT firm who would give me a task to just look at some file.  "What should I do with it after I look at it" I would ask.  "I don't know" he would say, "just look at it and tell me what is in there". 

I didn't realize till later the wisdom of this approach.  I looked at the file, and of course I got some ideas on how to proceed.  Sometimes when you are stuck - or don't know what to do, taking a quick minute to "assess the situation" can make a big difference.   I did this just now - there was an online form I knew I needed to fill out, but I kept thinking of all the information I would probably have to gather to finish it.  

I decided to "just look at it".  Yes, ittook me 4... more »

2013-05-21 19:35:48 (4 comments, 4 reshares, 26 +1s)

Ok everybody, it is a workday - let's get our asses in gear!
 

2013-05-21 02:33:53 (17 comments, 13 reshares, 25 +1s)

Guns don't kill people.   The logic is impeccable. 

2013-05-21 02:30:42 (37 comments, 31 reshares, 122 +1s)

Why guys need women for parenting. 

2013-05-21 02:28:55 (3 comments, 7 reshares, 41 +1s)

An angry mop. 

2013-05-20 18:03:59 (9 comments, 8 reshares, 23 +1s)

The Best Startup Ideas.  I am usually not all that hot on infographics,  but I like the one in this article.   It is from the Founder's Institute and describes the characteristics of the best startup ideas.   Execution may be everything, but ideas do matter.   This might be a good checklist to go through if you are working on a startup idea. 

2013-05-19 23:51:08 (14 comments, 1 reshares, 45 +1s)

A random act of kindness .  Was just walking up the street to Trader Joe's to partially replace my dwindling food supply when I saw a group of young people about 20 feet ahead of me.  

One girl with pink hair seemed to point at me and shouted "I love you".  I assumed she was pointing to someone behind me but she did it again.  "Me?" I said, pointing at my chest.  "Yes - you" she said back.  "Nobody loves me" I replied, "but thank you".   They walked past and she shouted something else, but I didn't hear her.  so I asked "What?".  "Say it back" she said - so I did.

Probably she was just being playful - but it wasn't done in a mocking manner - I would have been able to tell.  I started my day with some rather crappy news, so this lifted my spirits just a bit.  Maybe this is a littleextreme, b... more »

2013-05-20 00:18:25 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Using the B word.  I'm sorry, maybe I am old school, but I just don't.  This article implies that it was ok for Silicon Valley venture capitalist Dave McClure to publicly call a woman "a bitch" because he was raised by a single Mother.  

I don't buy it.  In most situations, that word immediately dumbs down any conversation to a base, hateful level   It has no "wit":, makes intelligent discourse impossible and reduces humans to objects.  

I know there are times when it is funny - I think even I shared a few of those "bitches love" meme posts - but those were self effacing - designed to make the person using the word look stupid, not the other way around.  Recently, I was tempted to use this word in describing a "Game of Thrones" character character I like in a somewhat positive manner  - I was going to say "Damn Ithink t... more »

2013-05-19 19:41:35 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 20 +1s)

Thus concludes my participation in this #punday  - hope everyone is having a great day.  

2013-05-19 19:35:23 (7 comments, 9 reshares, 27 +1s)

We're all trapped - because this is #punday  

2013-05-19 19:30:14 (0 comments, 34 reshares, 26 +1s)

Arrrr - time to do some exercise matey - it is #punday  

2013-05-19 19:26:05 (1 comments, 8 reshares, 17 +1s)

Even Kings get involved with #punday  

2013-05-19 19:21:48 (0 comments, 8 reshares, 23 +1s)

Things are sometimes taken a little too literally on #punday  

2013-05-19 19:14:02 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 21 +1s)

Yes, that can happen sometimes, even on #punday  

2013-05-19 19:08:17 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 21 +1s)

Summer is almost here!  Which is great, because this is #punday  

2013-05-19 19:00:44 (2 comments, 3 reshares, 12 +1s)

We all need a little guidance sometimes, especially on #punday  

2013-05-19 18:58:22 (3 comments, 12 reshares, 18 +1s)

Some sound advice for #punday  

2013-05-19 04:23:41 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 31 +1s)

A cute little bunny, for #sexysaturday  

2013-05-19 04:12:45 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 23 +1s)

Oh give me a break, after all, this is #sexysaturday  

2013-05-19 04:04:00 (2 comments, 3 reshares, 39 +1s)

A rare opportunity to combine #caturday  with #sexysaturday  

2013-05-19 03:59:18 (7 comments, 2 reshares, 9 +1s)

Sounds like a plan. 

2013-05-19 03:30:40 (0 comments, 5 reshares, 30 +1s)

Almost time for dinner. 

2013-05-18 20:53:49 (2 comments, 2 reshares, 6 +1s)

Money Making Techniques for Startups.  I thought this slide deck from a company called "Board of Innovation" was interesting.  This seems to be mostly for online businesses thought they don't really say that.  We have already talked here about how the "freemimum" model is much less effective than many people think http://goo.gl/RF36B and investors often roll their eyes when startups say they will be supported by "advertising".   Nothing earth shattering here, but this has some good food for thought about what people will pay for.

2013-05-18 20:22:56 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

PHP and App Engine.  Learning PHP has been on my list for ages, as has been learning Spanish.   I hack at it to make my open source applications work, but I am really not a coder.   This seems like it must be a good thing in some circumstances - not having to mess with servers.   No mySQL though, right?   I would also have to learn that "big table" thing also?  

2013-05-18 18:46:52 (13 comments, 1 reshares, 13 +1s)

Something weird is going on in my brain this morning.  I seem to be able to see into the future - but only about 30 seconds into the future.   Seriously I think about something and a few minutes later they are talking about it on the radio, or I think about some person I haven't interacted with in a while, and suddenly they are on top of my Google+ stream.  Probably just a series of coincidences, but it has been happening for the past hour. 

2013-05-18 00:04:16 (7 comments, 6 reshares, 33 +1s)

Puppies don't always get the hang of #fidofriday