Author Archives: Steve Mays

Northwest Hospitality

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Captain RobWe wrapped up our first full day in Seattle with a delightful boat ride (do you call a 54 foot yacht a boat?) on Lake Washington, courtesy of Rob Harris and his buddy Rich. Rob is a friend and business associate of Roger and Clyde and owns a little company called Pacific Market International (they make Stanley and Alladin containers).

Rob gave us a look at Bill Gates’ lovely home (“Wave to the security man with the binoculars.”) and the houseboat where Sleepless in Seattle was filmed. The Seattle skyline at sunset was gorgeous…the weather was perfect…and Rob and Rich could not have been nicer. Not hard to see why people who live here love it so. [flickr set]

Roger visits Starbucks #1

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Roger’s efforts to get us bumped up to First Class were unsuccessful and the flight was packed. I sat next to Ma and Pa Kettle and the lady in the seat next to Roger had a chicken in her lap. Got all checked in at the lovely Marriott Waterfront (hi-speed net access for $10 a day. Given the room rate, you’d think they could throw in the broadband) and headed over to Starbucks #1 to get Roger a cup of joe.

Beautiful weather here in Seattle. Like the song says, “The greenest skies you’ve ever seen.” Had a great meal…walked along the waterfront…and traded stories from Learfield’s early days.

Gnomedex Vacation

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Three or four days at Gnomedex plus two weeks of vacation adds up to the longest time I’ve taken from work in…forever? Vacations have always been something of a “forced interlude.” You get it out of the way and then get back to what you do. This one feels different. On the other hand, I’m certain to spend a good chunk of time online every day so the lines between work and non-work grow ever more blurred.

But I need change my physical space, if not my virtual space and hopping back a few times zones (Seattle) will be a good start. And I’ll be with 300 people who eat, sleep and breath blogging, podcasting and all things digital. I’m looking forward to being the dumbest guy in the room. (Insert joke here)

God Will Fuck You Up

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AUDIO: God Will Fuck You Up

Blogging isn’t a business

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Doc Searls was one of several blogger biggies taking part in BloggerCon IV (“Celebrating the art and science of weblogs”), this weekend in San Francisco. Looks like all of the sessions are available as MP3 downloads and I’m looking forward to the one titled “Making Money.” Doc’s take on blogging and business makes a lot of sense to me:

First, blogging isn’t a business, any more than emailing or phoning are businesses. It is, however, becoming more important to many businesses. And to the nonbusiness lives of millions. This is an example of what I call The Because Effect. In the Making Money session yesterday, John Palfrey called this “making money Off blogging” (“as opposed to making money by blogging”).

My Wilderness Adventure

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Following my brief stint on The Tree House ground crew, Henry took me on a mini-tour of the Prairie Garden Trust. I think it’s hundreds of acres and we saw some small fraction of that during the hour we spent in Henry’s little four-wheeler. I did this in iMovie and have come to the conclusion it will do everything I’m likely to want or need to do. I haven’t given up on Final Cut Express but it’s obviously more app than I need. (Alas, more shelfware). As for this little ride-around video…it’s quick-and-dirty and doesn’t begin to capture the beauty of the Prairie Garden Trust.

Gnomedex 2006

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Vacation SuitcaseFive days. 120 hours. And then I’m on vacation. Sort of. On Wednesday Roger Gardner and I head for Seattle and three days (for me…RG will probably get geek toxic after a day or so) of Gnomedex. I’ll get back just in time for the long 4th of July weekend. I’ll rest up a few days after that and then it’s off to Destin with the lovely Barb where we gather with her clan for a week. While I won’t be completely off the grid, I will be away from the office and I’m really looking forward to it.

Hope to see my pal Jim Mathies, who lives in Destin. Search for some open wi-fi. And try to get better acquainted with the Mac Book. I feel like the guy that’s due to be released from prison in three or four days and is afraid to leave his cell for fear of getting shanked so close to freedom.