DISQUS

While I agree with everything you've said, your last paragraph is pure gold!

Believe it or not until George W showed up on the ballot, I had NEVER voted for a Democrat for president! Somehow the way the Republicans look now I just can't imagine ever going back.

The only point I want to add is that, as a woman (who just happens to be 2 months older than Palin), I am offended at the idea that Republicans would think even for a second that Hillary supporters would be swayed by Palin on the Republican ticket.

I wanted Hillary to win because I felt she was the best candidate for the job and her views mirrored my own. How does an inexperienced woman with views that are nothing like Hillary's attract the Hillary vote? Do the Republicans think we wouldn't see past her gender to her actual beliefs? Wow!

At this point I'm 100% for Obama.

Barry - this is a great overview and I agree with your conclusions entirely.

What strikes me as odd is that someone would actually think that because the Kindle sold the same number of units during its launch as the iPod during its launch year that it would be even remotely as successful. 2002 was a lot longer ago than it seems in terms of the market savvy for portable electronic devices of any kind and the number of people using them. We adjust dollars for inflation, I wonder if there's any way to adjust units for market size or savvy!

Saying that the Kindle may be similar to the iPod in sales is like saying some movie today made more (and was therefore more successful) than Gone With the Wind!

Chris -

This is brilliant.

I recently took a job and asked my employer to change my 'non-compete' to account for the fact that I bring a strong network of contacts (and quite frankly, friends!) to my position and that they will always be mine.

If he were paying for me and exclusivity to my "connections" (I really do hate to refer to relationships that way), then I would cost him A LOT more money.

In reality - there is no price one can put on that - it's not for sale, just rent for approved and mutually beneficial uses.

Ann

That's an interesting comparison. I have seen both Jim and Craig speak and was really taken with Jim's description of how they ran their business and why. My favorite quote in one interview he did was when he said that he and Craig are “not in pursuit of insane wealth” and “have enough revenue as it is”. Audience reaction to that was fun to watch!

It seems to me that people were writing to newspapers - and getting their letters printed - long before the Internet, blogging, and comments. This is no different. I agree with you "a few carefully selected reader comments would be a useful addition to the story."

Related to your 5th point, I also periodically go through the connections of someone in my network to see if there's anyone in there I know or should know (it's usually the people that have just added someone that stick out).

If it's the later, I put them on my "bus dev" list and as my "link" to introduce us.

On a funny note, recently LinkedIn "recommended" some connections to me and one was my brother! It never occurred to me to look for family on a business networking tool - how funny is that!

I'd have gotten another Pearl too. I love my phone! (although I'm planning on getting an iPhone next year)

Great post Doug! As silly as it may sound, I have problems with number 3. I do have one picture that I put up on my About page, but it was REALLY hard for me to do. I used to put it up on my blog so that my dad would immediately remember why he bookmarked the page - but it made me kind of uncomfortable! I have to get a another picture up. You're right - I always react favorably to pictures - I like to know who I'm talking with! (BTW - that's a nice picture in your header!)