This is so ridiculously cheesy I don’t even know what to say about it. In trying to “reach” people you would think that they would 1) realize that the real Homeland Security threat level system is widely ridiculed and made fun of and would therefore 2) pick something that “unreached” people didn’t find dumb. I know their excuse for people not liking it will consist of quoting “the gospel is foolishness to those that are perishing” but last time I checked, lame seeker friendly promotions do not comprise the gospel. This is one of a half-dozen or so aspects of American Evangelicalism that I hate. It makes me want to vomit.

Click Here.

I’m becoming more and more of a LuckyOliver fan, but recently I’ve been getting too well acquainted with their hamster Skippy. Hopefully, they can sell a few more images shortly so they can get Skippy a friend.

AOL is pulling the plug on Feb 1, 2008.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve had a bumpy learning curve trying to figure out how to synchronize my web experience and love for design with the hectic, fickle and fast-paced world of Web 2.0 startups, applications, widgets and fads. It seems like every time I turn around there is some modified (and sometimes pretty darn close) implementation of an idea that’s floated around in my head. No doubt there are millions of people who have experienced this. If your employ is in the realm of internet based services (like me) the probability you have experienced this equally frustrating and encouraging sensation upon discovery of a new site that resembles one of “your” ideas likely increases dramatically.

(FYI - “encouraging” above refers to the “at least my ideas are somewhat on point” moment that usually occurs when you see a similar implementation of your idea.)

Toss in the dangling carrot(s) of huge buyouts, instant fame, industry recognition and ridiculous valuations and you’ve got a volatile mix of emotions, entrepreneurial passion, creative ingenuity and perhaps enough self-confidence to overcome all the doubts and fears just enough to get a “beta” launch up and running.

I’ve gone down this road 2 times. First, back in 2004, while I was a student at UNM I put together a site called uFile.org which was a basic online file management system designed to help me organize all my crappy school papers and assignments. It worked pretty well for my purposes and I soon began to tell a few friends about it. Within a few months of launch 125 people had signed up and were using the site periodically. Most were from UNM, however, towards the end about two dozen people registered with .ca email addresses. Interesting Canadians. Anyway, I say “towards the end” because I hired an acquaintance to do some server maintenance and in the process of updating Apache he crashed the server and everything was deleted. I was pissed. And I got even more panicky.

So I dove right into the next idea I had, the foundation of which was “improving traditional business directories” - you know like YellowPages, etc. To make a long story short, that idea went from ABQsearch.com to whoswhoinabq.com to clickbricks.com each time with me initiating ill-advised “gun jumping” to get to the “next level”. Idiota. In the end, my focus was on growing so fast and chasing the dangling carrots with such dedication that I lost all joy, purpose and direction and completely forgot what I had set out to do. When it didn’t grow as fast as I wanted it to I became discouraged and gave up on it.

Well, I’m getting older, I’m maturing, the dust from my rush to the Web 2.0 promised land (what that even means, I have no idea) has settled. I’m no longer nervous or worried or panicky. Much of this has to do with heart transformation issues but pragmatically speaking I’m just a single dude, with a wife, three children (with a fourth on the way), a full-time job, no VC backing and no development team. So I’m going to stop taking myself so seriously. I’m also done putting self-imposed pressure on my ideas. I’m also done worrying about what other people are doing.

So say hello to happier and less stressful times and blinders and goodbye to the fourth post of today. Wow, this blogging thing is starting to grow on me. I never would have thunk it.

I’m either one of the above or a combination of each. What event hath transpired to lead me to such a dire conclusion? Well, not the third post in one day - a new record for me - and likely the result of starting my day at 5AM this morning, but rather a project that I am working on which some might say shows elements of each of these qualities. Not that the project itself exhibits these aspects, but perhaps the way in which I’ve gone about it. I’ll explain the “way in which I’ve gone about it” statement more in the near future. Until then, cheers and don’t check back today because it’s likely I won’t be making anymore posts. Three posts in one day is contributing to my already worsening “rollerballmouseandtoomuchtypingandclicking” (and no, nothing else) syndrome. It’s painful.

Many of my friends think I’m off my rocker for liking said band. Come to think of it, I’m not even sure why I like them. In fact, I really don’t like most “punk / techno / electronica / lcd soundsystem-ish” stuff. But for some reason I really enjoy LCD’s mix of witty (albeit sometimes sparse) lyrics, catchy beats and use of those fancy electronic sounds. Ha, ha I just said “catchy.”

I came across a firm called The Tribe located in Dubai. It’s made up of a bunch of former “big agency” cats. They do nice work and with Dubai growing at the rate it’s growing I’m sure they are poised for a successful run. On a (not-so-fun) side-note, I’ve been trying to work out a Dubai business arrangement for the last 6 months to no avail. Simon, if you’re reading this, light me up as I’d love to talk more about a potential deal.

So I’ve been getting a few comments from fellow users of the world wide web and in the process of approving them realized that I have not payed attention to the design of the comment area. My apologies. Perhaps I will get around to this over the next few days.

“He presents the bait and hides the hook.”

- Puritan preacher Thomas Brooks’ take on Satan’s primary tactic