Tonight I read two articles, one on:
- how bloated and complicated the latest version of Ruby on Rails is
- how Javascript is the new must learn language
Separately and combined, both are such a mind grenade it can only mean one thing.
Tonight I read two articles, one on:
Separately and combined, both are such a mind grenade it can only mean one thing.
My neighbors have a fantastic garden gnome. Turns out, it hit a rough patch a while back and needed significant repair. Immediately I knew this story needed a commemorative beer.
Inspired by J’s comment, I gave the brew-in-a-bag technique a try for this beer. So far, I’m extraordinarily happy with the process. Straight forward all around. Took about 4 hours total (30 min set up + 60 min mash + 60 min boil + 45 min cool down + 30 min cleanup).
First quarter, things were so crazy I had gone to blocking off specific days for specific projects. I had gotten into a comfortable rhythm with my schedule and was able to move quite a few things forward quickly.
Second quarter, things lightened up a bit and I went back to blocking off multiple projects per day in 2-3 hour chunks.
Then this week, two deadlines have me – unexpectedly – back to dedicating entire days to a project (and it’s only Tuesday!).
I had forgotten the sense of accomplishment and flow that comes with plowing through one thing, uninterrupted for 6 hours.
So, yes, I’ll be instituting 1 project / day on the calendar moving forward.
This is also consistent with both the Pomodoro Technique and the Cult of Done.
Over the past couple years, I’ve consulting on a number of projects (at least 4) in the same space as Groupon (et al).
This model of providing a heavily discounted coupon on local merchants just doesn’t sit right with me – for two reasons.
Groupon’s S-1 filing has exposed the downside remarkable hyper-growth strategy they’ve pursued – $230,000,000 in the red.
With how many competitors on their tail? At least 10 in a mid-sized market like Minneapolis – and that’s not counting the ones that haven’t launched
It’s a hot space. An overheating space running the risk of exhausting everyone – fifteen minutes from now.
Before then, Groupon’s series G investors sure would like to get their return.
Where do you turn when you desperately need a huge infusion of cash just to keep the lights on and you’ve already executed a G-round?
The public market!
And if you’re already a public company?
Congress!
Elsewhere:
“This IPO game isn’t about finding value, it’s about finding a greater fool” – Sucharita Mulpuru
Last autumn, inspired by a conversation with Jamie Thinglestad, I took a couple lunch hours and hacked together a tool that dramatically improves my web browsing experience.
Since then, I hadn’t used it much. Nor have I revisited it to polish it up. Jamie and I have shared it with a small handful of people – maybe you.
This morning, in frustration, I turned it back on. For the rest of the day – it felt like the sun had finally come out after a harsh, bitter winter.