Month: December 2007

Open Web Awards

Whoa…MindTouch Deki Wiki is in the running for an Open Web Award. When I saw us get nominated I thought: “yah right, we stand a snow ball’s chance in hell on this one.” In fact, I think I told this to Corey who pointed out the nomination to me. Well, color me surprised! Don’t get me wrong, our tech has the baddest-ass kung fu. It certainly does make sense given we’re FREE and open source, adhere to open standards and have a 99 method REST-based API. It’s just that we’re really not that well known. I’m flattered. If you haven’t voted, please do so, and please help spread the word. Voting will take you 2 seconds.

  1. Click image below
  2. Scroll down, Click “MindTouch Deki Wiki”
  3. Bask in the glory of knowing that you’ve just made two-clicks for humanity

Microsoft Gatineau you dirty whore

Since Google “Upgraded” Google Analytics, or as I like to call it “google anal”, I’ve been dissatisfied with the service. To be sure, I was not overly thrilled about the the previous implementation, but as soon as the service went 100% Flash I really was disappointed. Common tasks take me more clicks. The map overlay sucks because you can’t get an overview as easily, and I can’t use the service from my iPhone. In general, the site usability of the site has suffered severely from the upgrade. Also, since the upgrade I’ve been unable to get the site overlay to work so I have no way of analyzing, visually, visitors traffic patterns.

I want a better web analytics package! Don’t tell me that Google’s “free”. It’s not free. I’m giving Google incredibly detailed and valuable information about visitors to my web properties. That’s worth a lot of money when you consider the traffic. This is why when I heard of Microsoft’s upcoming web analytics service code named: “Gatineau” I signed up for the beta and waited for an invite. This invite arrived today. It reads:

Thanks for expressing interest in our new web analytics service, code named: Microsoft “Gatineau.”

Get started today
Follow these instructions to get started with the Gatineau beta today.

1. Go to: http://adcenter.microsoft.com/?key=cb6ad37b-fcf3-4c69-8c89-5b0e19adef7c
Invite code: cb6ad37b-fcf3-4c69-8c89-5b0e19adef7c
2. Click Sign Up Today and create an adCenter account using this e-mail address.* You’ll be charged a one-time, non-refundable $5 fee to set up an adCenter account.
3. After your account is created, you’ll be directed to the Gatineau beta invite sign up page. Follow the instructions to begin using the beta.

Microsoft AdCenter 0

Wait. What? Let me read this again:

* You’ll be charged a one-time, non-refundable $5 fee to set up an adCenter account.

You want me to pay YOU to test your undoubtedly buggy software? I’ll be running your script on my web properties, slowing down my visitors experience because I’ll surely not drop my Urchin script from Google, and you want me to pay you? Even though I’m going to be giving you incredibly detailed information about my visitors. Moreover, you ask me for a lot information about me and my company including a credit card, which gives you access to all kinds of interesting information. Isn’t this payment enough for me to gain the privilege of testing your buggy software? WTF? You should be paying me $5.

Gatineau, you dirty whore, I shall pass.

Please get well Marc

Marc Orchant

At some time between 7:30 and 8:10 AM on Sunday Morning December 2nd, 2007 Marc Orchant sustained a massive heart attack while working in his home office. Marc’s good friend and colleague Oliver Starr has the full story.

I don’t know what to say. This troubles me so very deeply. I’m really torn up by this. Since founding MindTouch and hitting the technology conference circuit a couple years ago Marc Orchant is one of the most wonderful people I’ve met. Marc is an amazing guy. Marc is sincere, kind, and hella smart. I had a long phone call with him, I think, just last Friday night while he picked up, and then ate Chinese take-out with his son, Jason. I’m so damn thankful I gave Marc a big hug at Defrag a few weeks ago. This guy has been a friendly face I have always looked forward to seeing and to speaking with. He has made so many intros for me. He’s been an informal mentor. Marc in many ways took my obnoxious, punk ass in and helped me in ways he probably doesn’t even realize. I’m so deeply saddened by this i don’t even know how to react other than this stupid blog post.

Please, get well Marc.

To Marc’s family: My family’s thoughts are with you. Please ask Oliver or someone to post somewhere if you have _any_ needs that myself or the community can help with.

To everyone else: If you wish to send flowers, cards, or anything else for support, Marc is at:

Presbyterian Hospital
Cardiac Care Unit Bed #3
1100 Central Ave SE
Albuquerque, NM 87106

The hospital switchboard number is 505-841-1234.

Update: Marc’s status and comments are now being posted at a new URL.

50 Photos | Are You Interested?

50 Photos | Are You Interested?Carrer de la Força by Toni Verdú Carbó
Nate has come up with this fantastic idea to print a photo book of 50 carefully selected photos from various talented photographers whom have released their photos under permissive Creative Commons licenses.

Details:

  • Price: about $80 or so.
  • Photos/Photographers: There’s a list of them on the photographers page
  • The Beauty: Each photo was chosen specifically for this issue’s theme, “Old”. These photographers are outstanding, and typically charge nothing to use their photos.
  • The Cause: Each photographer will, for probably the first time, receive $1 per photo per book. The limited-run of printing only 50 books guarantees a rarity. The idea behind this project is to simply give credit and validation to these brilliant photographers.
  • Sharing (The Story): These books will hopefully be a talking point around your coffee tables. Share the story of how these books were created and behind each photograph.

Excellent! $80. Ok. This might be a hard sell for Tara, my wife. What’s the details on the book? Binding, etc? Will this be unique too?