dave mcdowell | blog

Happy Halloween from 1981

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:13:00 +0000

That's me in my jammies with some shredded paper grocery bags for fur and a pretty scary mask, if I do say so myself. I think I am either the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz or a Werewolf.

I have great Halloween memories. My neighborhood is a mile square and fairly easy for kids to make their way around, so there were always plenty of trick-or-treaters and folks knew to stock plenty of candy. Plus, my Mom (or my Dad) would dress up as a witch and we would play a scratchy old tape dubbed from the original vinyl recording of Chilling Thrilling Sounds of The Haunted House from Walt Disney. It's out of print now, but available on iTunes for all of you digital ghouls and goblins.

The Best Greatest Hits Albums

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:40:00 +0000

A Greatest Hits album. Sometimes a bad idea, sometimes a good place to start. Sometimes replaced by the original albums once you get to know an artist. But, sometimes preferred to the original albums. Some artists pull the trigger early (did you know Hilary Duff has a Greatest Hits album?) Some artists with plenty of hits reject the idea altogether (AC/DC, for instance.) And, some artists achieve their greatest feats with their Greatest Hits (the best-selling album in US history is The Eagles' Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975.)

In addition to the material, song selection and sequencing are important to a good Greatest Hits album. In my band, I've always been responsible for set lists and album sequencing. So, I appreciate the art of arranging songs in a particular order for maximum effect. With an album, you've got to start with a bang, then reel it in a bit. You deliver your single around song 3 or 4. If you follow your heaviest song with a ballad it will increase the drama. And, you can't forget to save something memorable for the end. But, with a Greatest Hits, it's a challenge -- they are all hits, after all.

I had a road-trip discussion about my favorite or most formative Greatest Hits albums. Here's my top-five...

Jimi Hendrix - Smash Hits. I remember checking this out of the public library. The sound was so dark and the production so raw next to Huey Lewis & The News or whatever else I was listening to that it felt like something from another world. And the cover art is definitely 60s, with Jimi as part Aristotle, part JC Penney model. 'The Wind Cries Mary' was my favorite song, probably because I could understand what the hell was going on
Bob Marley - Natural Mystic. I am not a huge reggae fan, but I put this on whenever I feel the urge. I also like to mix it in with some R&B or hip-hop for a BBQ. I can't remember the last time I actively played Legend. It's probably because the songs on Natural Mystic are one cut deeper into Bob's catalog and the sequencing is better. 'Time Will Tell' is the way to end a record, while Legend signs off with 'Punky Reggae Party'? Also, I think Legend drops the bomb, 'No Woman, No Cry', way too early...
James Taylor - Greatest Hits. Again, a masterwork of song selection and sequencing. Ending with something live is always a good move for a Greatest Hits. I still like to listen to this record even though I have many of his albums
Sly and the Family Stone - Greatest Hits. I don't own any other Sly and the Family Stone. But, can it possibly be any funkier? Well, maybe -- this record could be shortened to about 8 tracks for the maximum dance-party-in-your-living-room effect
John Martyn - Sweet Little Mysteries. Maybe this is more of an anthology or box set than a Greatest Hits album. But with a double-disc, I think the key is getting two different feels from each disc, which this album achieves by sequencing itself chronologically -- tracking the evolution of the artist, similar to Neil Young's Decade

Welcome to the USA, Nevermind the M16s

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:48:00 +0000

One of the things I've noticed as an ex-pat and frequent international traveler is the difference in passport control procedures from country to country. When I return to the US, I'm always struck by how militarized our border seems. Travelers are greeted by heavily armed guards and random searches. We are one of the only countries that requires everyone to complete an entry form, which is confusing for folks with little or no English skills. And, people are subjected to a series of questions that can sound like an interrogation, depending on the border official. So, I was not surprised when our border experience emerged as an issue in Chicago's bid for the Olympics.

From the NYT, "Among the toughest questions posed to the Chicago bid team this week in Copenhagen was one that raised the issue of what kind of welcome foreigners would get from airport officials when they arrived in this country to attend the Games. Syed Shahid Ali, an I.O.C. member from Pakistan, in the question-and-answer session following Chicago’s official presentation, pointed out that entering the United States can be “a rather harrowing experience.”

Unfortunately, I agree.

See You in a Week

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:30:00 +0000

Plantar Fasciitis and Customer Service

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:01:00 +0000

I first noticed heel pain getting out of my tent the morning after hiking to the top of Yosemite Falls in 2005. My feet were always fairly tender. So, I didn't think it strange to gingerly take my first steps of the morning. But a few years later, the combination of a heavy weightlifting regimen and softball games in cleats irritated the problem to the point that something as simple as standing up from my desk was painful.

After some Internet research, I suspected I had a condition called Plantar Fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the thick ligament connecting the heel bone to the toes. I first tried to treat it myself with icing my feet after softball, over-the-counter shoe inserts, and stretching (Lauren tells a funny story about me stopping in the middle of Paris to lean against a wall and do my calf stretches.) A few months went by without much improvement. Eventually, I went to a podiatrist and got custom-molded orthotics, which combined with stretching, really helped.

Though easy to inflame, Plantar Faciitis takes a long time to heal. So, avoiding inflammation is very important. One of the worst things for Plantar Faciitis is to walk barefoot, especially on sand. Also bad is wearing flip-flops, which makes trips to the beach a challenging fashion experience.

My sister has the same problem with her feet, so I was surprised to see her wearing some cool flip-flops at a family vacation in Florida last year. She found a pair from Chaco with enough arch support for the beach. But as she said, "I wouldn't mow the lawn in the them." I was excited to get a pair for myself. But, this type of product is difficult to find in Switzerland, so I asked my Mom to pick up a pair for my birthday. She turned to Zappos.

Ostensibly a Web site selling shoes, Zappos really sells customer service, which they approach with a zealous fervor fueled by a unique culture. Famous is the story of a Zappos customer service rep who sent flowers (billed to Zappos without any kind of bureaucratic approval process) to a widow who called to cancel a shoe order from her recently deceased husband.

My Mom and I had our own great experience with Zappos. I can be a size 10, 10.5, or 11 depending on the shoe brand. So, it was hard to tell my Mom what to get. Zappos solved the problem two ways: a) by literally measuring the shoe with a ruler and b) emailing us a size chart for this brand of shoe. Of course, I dawdled in replying back with my size. But despite my delay, their international shipping was so efficient I got the flip-flops the same week, just in time for a beach holiday. And, they were a perfect fit! Thanks Mom...

PS -- For anyone else who may consider buying the Chacos, I found the straps took some time to wear in. So, you may want to wear them around the house for awhile before you walk any distance in them. But, now they are as comfortable as can be...

Famous and Semi-Famous People I Have Met

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:24:00 +0000

Running into Lars Ulrich on the streets of London last Friday was my most recent encounter with a famous person. It got me thinking about other ‘celebrities’ I’ve met, so I compiled the list below (in rough chronological order.)

Cesar Cedeno – Centerfielder, Cincinnati Reds. Perhaps more infamous than famous because his gun went off in a hotel room, killing his girlfriend. His kids played on my t-ball team
“Flyin” Bryan Pillman – Linebacker, Cincinnati Bengals and Professional Wrestler. Kid brother of one of my Mom’s friends. We went to see him in a WCW event at the Cincinnati Gardens and afterward he met us at Sorrento’s Pizza in Norwood. Also in attendance: Arn Anderson and The Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal), who were wearing Zubaz, if memory serves
Jerry Springer – Talk show host and former Mayor of Cincinnati. His daughter went to my high school
Joe Williams – Jazz singer and Claire Huxtable’s father on The Cosby Show. I struck up a conversation w/ Joe sitting at the bar in the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, waiting for a friend. He told some amazing stories about Miles Davis, Coltrane, and Stevie Wonder. I think I even sent him a demo
John Mayer – Before his self-released EP came out, Mayer posted a few demos to MP3.com that I stumbled across. As another struggling musician, I sent him an email and we exchanged a few back and forths. He mentioned coming to Chicago to open for Delbert McClinton and Harmony Riley at the House of Blues. There were about 10 people there early enough to see his set. After the show he came out and we chatted briefly
Jenny Jones – Talk show host. My band was the musical guest on her show
Jason Hervey aka Wayne from The Wonder Years – His wife, former exotic dancer and adult film star Angel Hart, struck up a conversation with me (I swear) at Ghost Bar in the Palms Hotel, Las Vegas. After a few drinks, she asked me if she could borrow my cell phone to call her husband, whom she described as a famous producer. I acquiesced and 30min later Wayne from The Wonder Years came through the door and we all did a couple of tequila shots. The next morning I woke up and my very first thought was “I have Wayne from The Wonder Years cell phone number.” Thus began an ill-advised series of prank calls, culminating in a masterful performance from my friend Mike Meyers (real name) as ‘Noogie’ (not real name) from “Noogie and The Wayne”, a fictional Chicago radio show. Sorry Jason
Robin Williams – A friend of mine at Yahoo! somehow got tickets to the black-tie 50th anniversary celebration of the San Francisco Film Festival. As I walked to our table, I remember being annoyed because there was a big group of people crowding the space between tables. I tried to shimmy around, but managed to bump right into the cause of the crowd – Mrs. Doubtfire himself. He laughed and we shook hands. Going in, I had no idea how big of a deal this event would be, but was amazed when the speakers included George Lucas, Ron Howard, Jim Brown and Spike Lee
Daniel Krige – Australian film director who enjoys a good pint
Jean Broke-Smith – British etiquette & grooming expert and reality TV host. We did a radio promotion together for Yahoo! Mail in the UK
Lars Ulrich – Drummer, Metallica. I was drinking a Guinness outside a pub in London when I saw a flash of someone that looked like Lars crossing the street. I debated for a minute or two before ditching my Guinness and trotting after him. He was damn fast. But once I caught up, I slowed to a reasonable pace to give the impression I just happened to be passing him on the street. A sideways glance noted earrings, some big rings, and rock n’ roll bracelets. “Lars?” I said. “Yes,” he said. “Big fan”. “Ah, thanks a lot…where ya from?” “Switzerland, via the Bay Area” (I knew he lived in the Bay Area, so I threw that out there.) “Oh yeah? I live in Marin.” We talked a bit more about the Bay Area, shook hands (softer than I would expect for a drummer), and went our separate ways. All in all, a very gracious guy

Something You Don't Expect to See in a Swiss Car Park

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:26:00 +0000

As seen today at the Littoral Centre in Aubonne, Switzerland, a Toyota Previa with a wicked San Francisco-Golden Gate Bridge decal.

A Long Walk

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:42:00 +0000

I like a good long walk. At least an hour or so. I feel like you don't really get to know a place until you get out of your car and walk around. This is true of a National Park, true of a foreign city, and true of your hometown. I always take the dogs for a walk when I go home to Blue Ash. A trip around 'the big block', as we call the mile square around our neighborhood, is good for the soul.

Lately I've taken to long walks around our flat in Nyon. 10min outside the town centre and you are in a vineyard or a farm. Here's what it looks like...

The World's Best Business Card

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:54:00 +0000

As seen in the Marquis of Granby pub in London, clearly the greatest byline of all-time, "Analyst, Engineer, Scientist, Real-Time Innovator. Leading Edge Solutions for Earth and Space." And the best part is that he has a RocketMail email address (that's a domain Yahoo! Mail offers, so he's my customer.) Hats off to you Edward McCullough. I wonder what Patrick Bateman would think?

Five Years at Yahoo!

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:19:00 +0000

Two weeks ago, our receptionist notified me I had a package at reception. I wasn’t expecting anything, but soon opened the box to find it was a gumball machine commemorating my 5-year anniversary at Yahoo! (still have ten years to go for the Foosball table.) Truthfully, this anniversary sort of snuck up on me, since this has been a year of big anniversaries (1-year wedding anniversary, 5-year b-school reunion).

Thinking back, I had thirty-one interviews with companies from Kraft to L’Oreal from Fall 2003 to Spring 2004. But in the end, I ended up right where I belonged, back in the Internet space at Yahoo! Five years later, I am still challenged by the smart folks around me and I always tell prospective candidates that Yahoo! is the best place to learn the Web. We compete in nearly every vertical (communications, community, media, search), nearly every business model (fees, partnerships, display advertising, search ads), and nearly every country in the world. Of course, that’s also a bit of our challenge, isn’t it?

It’s been a great ride so far and here are my top five memories from the first five years…

Working the Back to Business recovery event in New Orleans sponsored by Yahoo! Small Business. We helped 300 local businesses get back on their feet w/ a Web site and a search marketing campaign in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Afterwards, David Filo bought us dinner and partied with us in the French Quarter. I remember finding a quiet corner to drink a 30-year old scotch at midnight just as I turned thirty
Recruiting at Kellogg, which felt great after being on the other side of the fence just a few years before. I’m proud we hired a few grads for both full-time positions and internships. And, it gave me the opportunity to come back to Chicago a couple of times a year, which helped me keep up with friends and finish the downcounting EP with my band
Launching the All-New Yahoo! Mail with a 60-foot inflatable version of Liam, our Yahoo! Mail mascot
Moving to London, as commemorated in the first post on this blog
Moving to Switzerland

Tracks: The Story of a Song

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:00:00 +0000

When I first became interested (ok, obsessed) with playing the guitar, my parents were not too keen on the idea for fear I would turn into some kind of long-haired burnout (maybe they were right, since I did eventually flirt with long-hair, and some degree of burnout status, in my college years.)

I bought my first guitar, a steel-string, acoustic Palmer, with money I earned mowing the lawn (a chore I hated.) But, the guitar was a POS with terribly high action. And, despite my parents springing for a few lessons at the local music shop, I really didn't make any progress for the first year or so. I remember my Dad good-naturedly ribbing me as the guitar sat gathering dust in my room.

In junior high, I had the opportunity to choose some elective classes -- one of the options was Beginner Guitar. But, my Mom had other ideas -- and insisted I enroll in Intermediate Piano (I had taken piano lessons for a few years.) But, lo and behold, I showed up on the first day of Intermediate Piano and the teacher said a few magic words that probably changed the course of my life -- "Intermediate Piano is full, would anyone like to volunteer for Beginner Guitar?" My hand shot up like a bolt.

The guitars provided in Beginner Guitar had nylon-strings, so they were much easier to play than my Palmer. And, I met other budding guitar players -- some of whom even had electric guitars. They became the first in a long-line of friends I met through music (I remember looking around the room at my bachelor party, and nearly everyone there played guitar or was someone I met through somebody I played guitar with.)

In Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers, he says that top athletes, computer scientists, and musicians practice at least 10,000 hours to be at the top of their field. Doing the math, that works out to 20 hours a week, 50 weeks a year, for 10 years. I'm not sure I ever reached 10,000 hours, but by senior year of high school, I was taking two 50 min Advanced Guitar classes 5 days a week, plus playing an hour during Study Hall every day, and another hour or so at home every night.

Vince Rahnfeld was the guitar teacher at our high school and his approach to Advanced Guitar was blissfully loose. We were required to make our way through a songbook, practicing on our own and then playing the songs for a grade. And, once a semester we had to do a report on a famous guitar player. Other than that, we were free to noodle around, jam with other students, etc. But one day, he gave us the assignment to write something -- something inspired by our environment.

I had just discovered the ringing sound achieved by de-tuning both E-strings to D, as well as the rhythmic possibilities of strumming in an open-tuning. So, I started work on something I called 'Tracks', intended to mirror the feeling of waiting for a train to pass, something I often did on Blue Ash Road -- right near my childhood home.

I never learned to read music very well, so I did not play in the school's Guitar Ensemble, the Jazz Band, or the pits for musicals, etc. But, Mr. Rahnfeld invited me to play 'Tracks' at the Music Department recital anyway, with the whole school in attendance. A girl in my guitar class offered up her father's guitar for the event. When she brought me the guitar before the recital, I found out it was a 12-string.

For many years I wanted to record Tracks, but I knew I needed a 12-string to do it properly, just like that day in school. Finally, I bought one -- a beautiful Martin D12-28. And, recorded a video of 'Tracks' live in the studio on my last visit to the US. Enjoy!

We Schruted It

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:40:00 +0000

Today, I was meeting with a colleague in a small conference room when a ruckus distracted us enough to take notice. We peered out to see a small bird twittering against the window across the room. "Someone must have left the door open to the atrium!," I heard a co-worker shout (the atrium is a decorative, open-air space in the middle of our office.)

Immediately, I thought of The Office episode where Dwight traps a bat, loose at Dunder-Mifflin, against Meredith's head with a trash bag. There wasn't time to explain, and I'm pretty sure my colleague is not as fluent in The Office as I am, so I don't think he totally understood when I stood bolt upright and said, "Let's Schrute It."

I dashed out of the meeting room and looked in one...two...three trash cans to find a liner that was suitably empty. Another co-worker was shouting, "Chase it back to the atrium!" But, the door to the atrium is a) small b) often locked c) far away. So, I knew Schruting the bird was the best course of action.

At this point, there was lots of excitement, people were fleeing the scene, and everyone was chattering loudly. That's when a sensible co-worker reminded us that the Head of Europe and one of the CEO's direct reports were meeting in a conference room directly across the way. Luckily, the bird landed in the corner, right next to this cool-headed guy. And, I quickly passed him the trash can, which he used to cover the bird.

By this point, I had shimmied around the desk. And, as my co-worker slowly pulled the can away, I scooped the bird up in the liner and headed directly for the atrium...but it was locked!

I didn't feel much fluttering in the bag, so I started to worry we might have suffocated the little guy. I sped up my pace and re-directed towards the ground floor. I opened the door, skipped down the stairs, and went out the main entrance.

When I made it outside, I crouched down and opened the bag -- and out he flew! A little dazed, but soon he was perched on a nearby tree, looking like nothing happened.

The World's Best Ham?

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:52:00 +0000

In the spirit of the Cappuccino Taste Test, a colleague from our Madrid office brought in four types of Spanish ham -- Jamon to the initiated. The Spanish folks I know are passionate about their ham, even going so far as to call it healthy. Though I'm not sure the arguments, 'It's all protein!' and 'The pigs eat acorns!', resonate with me. But, I am certainly not someone to worry about my waistline when trying a delicacy. Moving clockwise from the 9'oclock position...

Jamon Serrano. Cured in the mountains. To my palette, the most similar to Italian prosciutto. And, the least expensive of the lot.

Jamon Iberico. The true Jamon. Made exclusively from black Iberian pigs. This stuff is very expensive and apparently very difficult to find in the States. Like fine wine or cheese, it must be left to breathe for an hour or so before eating. It tastes rich and sweet, almost like a dessert. And, like I said above, the best Jamon Iberico is made from pigs that eat only acorns -- so, it must be healthy, right?

Lomo. The Spanish word for tenderloin. This is a cured meat, like a sausage, which is made from the back of the pig, the muscle along the spine. Very tender and delicious. Not as rich as the ham.

Lomo Iberico. Lomo made from Iberian pigs. I really enjoyed this stuff, it has a lot of flavor -- kind of spicy -- because it is cured with garlic and paprika. It has very little fat, and is far less rich than the Jamon Iberico.

The Jamon iberico was the hands-down winner in this taste test. Unfortunately, we did not go head-to-head against the best of Italy -- Prosciutto di Parma or Prosciutto di San Daniele. Or, the best America has to offer -- Honeybaked Hams! So, I can't declare an official winner, though I think the Jamon Iberico will be tough to beat.

It's Official, Women No Longer Need Men

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0000

As seen at the Migros Brico & Loisirs, which is sort of like Menard's here in Nyon, a device for safely catching spiders at arm's length. Basically, the operator slides open the bottom of a see-thru plastic door. Then, places the trap over the offending spider and closes the trap door. The spider can be flushed or released back into the wild. Voila!

Text Message Hall of Fame

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 11:26:00 +0000

In 2006, my friend wrote a recurring feature on his blog called Text Message Hall of Fame, where readers sent him (generally raunchy) text messages from their weekend hijinks. I thought it was very clever, and had the idea to create a web site where text messages would be submitted, reviewed, and rated by the world. Although I registered TextMessageHallofFame.com, the idea never went any further.

But, proving the notion that 'ideas are like a**holes, everybody's got one', somebody went out and built something very similar. Lauren came across their site via friends on Facebook. Time and time again, I see that entrepreneurship is not about the perfect idea. It's about execution. It's about getting off your ass and pushing through obstacles. And remembering, as Winston Churchill said, "If you are going through hell, keep going."

PS -- If anyone is interested in a fun side project, I still think the game is young (and I have a few angles these guys haven't covered yet.)

The World's Best Shaving Cream

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:39:00 +0000

I moved to mug and brush shaving about 2.5 years ago, when Lauren gave me an Art of Shaving Pure Badger Brush and Lemon Shaving Cream for Christmas. The advantage of a mug and brush is that the water from the brush and the shaving soap from the mug combine to create a rich lather as you move the brush in a circular motion across your face. The circular motion of the brush and the rich lather help lift up the hairs to give you a much smoother shave, with less irritation or chance of nicks.

When I'm traveling, and I have to use a shaving cream or gel that is applied by hand, I really notice the difference, which is why I carry an alum stick in my dopp kit. If you don't know what an alum stick is -- you should check it out -- it's the only thing that really works for quickly stopping a nick.

Anyway, I really liked the Art of Shaving brush, but the shaving cream was too sticky. So, I tried a few other varieties over the years. Note, in any shaving cream -- the key ingredient to look for is glycerin.

Jack Black Supreme Cream Triple Cushion Shave Lather with Macadamia Nut Oil and Soy. In addition to a ridiculously long name, and despite winning some kind of grooming award, this stuff is flawed. On the positive side, it produces a thick, satisfying lather that smells good. And, the heft of the packaging feels good in your hand. But, the lather gunks up my Gillette Fusion something fierce. Once you use this stuff a few times, your razor will have a permanent white film around the blade area. And, it takes a surprising amount of water pressure to clean the used lather and whiskers from the blade.

Kiehl's Lite Flite Shaving Cream. Though they make some of the best brushless shaving cream, the instructions on the packaging tell you to apply the shaving cream to the brush with your hand rather than dipping the brush in the mug. I find this very awkward. Here I am with a wet brush in one hand -- how do I twist off the top with the other hand? Or, if I've opened the top before I wet the brush, how do I close the top after I pick up the brush to apply the cream? Do I leave the top open -- what happens when I inevitably knock it over? Expensive shaving cream everywhere, that's what.

Taylor of Old Bond Street Shaving Cream Bowl. In addition to being the cheapest option at today's exchange rates, Taylor of Old Bond Street has it all figured out. Drier in the mug, you quickly whip up a perfect lather that smells of a hundred and fifty years of British tradition. Comes in many fragrances, including my favorites Sandalwood or Lavender. You can get it online, but if you are ever in London, I encourage you to stop by the shop on Jermyn Street, which is full of bespoke clothing shops, cigar stores, and classic men's accessories. I've taken to even getting my hair cut in the back of the shop whenever I am in town. Despite being a traditional barber shop, they appreciate newer styles and you will leave feeling like a British gentleman.

The World's Best Nap

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Sun, 24 May 2009 19:43:00 +0000

A good nap is a wonderful thing. And, I'm not talking about a sleeping-in-your-meeting-shirt, crook-in-the-neck, where-are-you airplane nap.

My favorite naps are:

The Football Nap: After a few beers and a nice deli sandwich, what's better than grabbing a few zzzzs on the couch just as half-time is starting. Even if you sleep a bit into the second half, who's counting? You'll be up for the 2-minute warning, guaranteed
The Double Dip: I'm not sure this is really a nap, or just a break in the action. But, it's so great to wake up for brunch, and then head back to bed for another hour or so. Or, let's say you have a crack-of-dawn conference call, but are off the rest of the day -- the thrill of jumping back in bed is almost worth the interruption
The Beach Nap: The only nap that comes with a warning label -- shade only!
The Disco Nap: A nap taken immediately before heading out on the town (usually for the 2nd night out in a row.) Rarely seen these days outside of wedding weekends or bachelor parties. Even if you can't fall completely asleep, 30min of quiet time is better than pushing through if you want any chance of hanging in there for night two
And the grand-daddy of them all, The Springtime Windows Open Nap. Ah, the breeze. The fresh air. Need I say more?

Things I Saw in the US

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Sun, 17 May 2009 16:59:00 +0000

Only had my camera phone, but a few things caught my eye...

Car on Fire, Chicago, IL

Butterfly on My Mom's Shoulder, Cincinnati, OH

My Great-Grandfather's Farm, Milford, KY

Uncle Dave Makes a New Fan

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Thu, 14 May 2009 13:04:00 +0000

Jason Bourne, Picasso, and Maxim

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:02:00 +0000

It’s been a couple of weeks since Lauren and I got back from our trip to Dubai and The Maldives. Vacation is always a great time for me to catch up on my reading list. This time I read:

Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Lifeby Neil Strauss. I could hardly wait to tear into this one after I read Tim Ferriss’ post: How to be Jason Bourne: Multiple Passports, Swiss Bank Accounts, and Crossing Borders. Emergency is about Strauss’ response to Bush’s re-election in 2004 whereby he sets out to prepare himself WTHSHTF (or for the uninitiated, When The Shit Hits The Fan.) The author trains in outdoor and urban survival skills (including escaping after being handcuffed in a trunk,) protects his financial assets w/ offshore bank accounts, and becomes a citizen of St. Kitts in case the US borders are locked down. This book really appealed to my independent (or paranoid?) nature. I have always felt good that I have a full complement of camping gear in my closet and know how to use it. And, I will always keep the Swiss bank account I lucked into by working in Switzerland. So, maybe I am a bit of a survivalist too.

Old Masters and Young Geniuses: The Two Life Cycles of Artistic Creativityby David Galenson. The hypothesis of this book is there are two types of creativity. Conceptual innovations, which often manifest as a single masterpiece, that happen early in an artist’s career. And, experimental innovations, which are best captured by looking at a sizable body of work, that are achieved later in the artist’s life. To apply Galenson’s theory to music, the Sex Pistols were conceptual innovators. Their singular, genre-defining conception of punk-rock can be found on Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols. In fact, you can hear most of the conceptual innovation of the Sex Pistols in a single song like 'Anarchy in the UK.' On the other side, you cannot understand The Grateful Dead by listening to a single album (or even a Greatest Hits album.) Improvisation is a journey. And, the process, not the product, best captures the genius of The Grateful Dead -- perhaps they knew that when they sang "what a long, strange trip it's been." Though the idea of this book was interesting – I now see why Steven Leavitt partnered with Stephen Dubner to write Freakonomics – because even fascinating research can put a reader to sleep if it isn’t written in compelling way. Also, like many of these economics-applied-to-social-phenomenon-books (see Gladwell’s The Tipping Point) there are counter arguments.

How to Get Rich: One of the World's Greatest Entrepreneurs Shares His Secretsby Felix Dennis. Dennis is the founder of a publishing empire that includes everything from PC catalogs to Maxim magazine. He is also a published poet, recovering coke-and-malt-whisky addict, and hung out with John Lennon in swinging, 60s London. Sounds like an interesting autobiography, no? That’s what I thought, but Dennis’ dry, overwrought platitudes just bored me. The only thing this book reinforced about entrepreneurship is something I learned long ago – ‘He who dares, does. He who dares not, does not.’

...see you in 10 days

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:50:00 +0000

Working with the Three Types of Leaders

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:55:00 +0000

A few weeks back, I wrote about the Three Types of Leaders I've seen in my career. My friend nikkos left a hilarious comment with his take on the three types, which made me thankful I've had the opportunity to work for some great people.

That said, a significant part of the relationship with your boss is determined by how your style complements (or conflicts) with their style. There is some level of adaptation you can do, but I think a frank, upfront assessment of yourself, and your potential boss, is important to avoiding a mismatch.

Here are my thoughts on what style works best with each type of leader:

The Diplomat. Above all, the diplomat values information and relationships. So, as their employee, it's tempting to try to be an additional set of eyes and ears. However, unless you are actually a better diplomat than your boss, you will rarely achieve your goal. And even if your are the 'first to know', your boss will worry that the information did not come to them directly, which outweighs the benefit of your scoop. The best complement to a diplomat is a visionary. The diplomat loves to spread ideas and connect people, and the visionary is a constant source of news. Likewise, the diplomat tends to be impatient listening to details from the methodical operator, preferring broad strokes from the action-oriented visionary.
The Operator. Although an operator is not the best complement to a diplomat, the diplomat makes a great second to the operator. Operators tend to be internally-focused, diplomats externally-focused. Operators benefit from the networking skills of the diplomat, which free them from getting bogged down in consensus-building. The operator loves nothing more than to focus on the task at hand, the diplomat won't forget the people who help complete the task. The diplomat brings ideas from everywhere, the operator quickly spots the winners and knows how to put them into practice.
The Visionary. It should be no surprise that a visionary needs an operator to help turn their ideas into reality, keep them focused, and manage the day-to-day aspects of the business. Visionary/operator is a classic pairing that often leads to the succession of the operator to the lead role as the company (or division) matures. Sometimes this transition is successful, sometimes not -- depending on the strategic abilities of the operator and the extent of the visionary's halo.

Dark Tower

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:45:00 +0000

When I saw this article, I knew if Dark Tower did not make the list of great, but forgotten electronic games, the list was bunk. But, it did.

I loved Dark Tower when I was a kid. It was a combination of all the things I was into: video games, board games, and sci-fi/fantasy. And, it had a wicked TV commercial. I never owned the game, but a family friend did, and we played it with gusto at every get together.

The key to winning this game, as with many other games I was good at (Risk, Monopoly, etc) was to play aggressive. Although I earned a varsity letter in Chess, I was generally not that good at games where careful deliberation and lots of practice trumped quick-thinking and instinct. Only later in life did I get more analytical and disciplined.

Anyway, the article got me thinking about other pre-console (e.g. Atari, Nintendo) electronic games I loved. Archon, on the Commodore 64, was another game my Dark Tower friend had. It was like a real life version of the 3D chess game in Star Wars, combining strategy and combat. And, there was Tunnels of Doom, which, after spending countless hours on the Quest for the King at a neighbor's house, I was disappointed to find out cannot be won! At home, I had a TI-99/4A that my Dad got through some kind of work contest (I think)? I actually did learn some rudimentary BASIC on it, but mainly I played Parsec, Hunt the Wumpus, and my favorite game, Pirate's Adventure, which actually required a cassette tape machine to be attached to the computer as an external drive.

Recognizing my early passion for video games, my parents enrolled me in a Saturday morning video game programming class at the University of Cincinnati. Though I was more interested in storytelling and scripting gameplay than learning how to program, I didn't mind going to the class because afterwards my Dad and I would go bowling and play Gauntlet (and probably grab a snack) at the student union.

I never really thought about it until now, but it's no surprise I've worked my entire career in the Internet. Though I was never a developer, the Internet is a tool that enables digital creativity without programming skills, which is what I wanted to do as far back as those Saturday classes.

The James Brown of YouTube

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:31:00 +0000

Per my earlier post about the possibilities of the Bob Dylan of Twitter, why not the James Brown of YouTube? Israeli musician (and Pitchfork golden boy) Kutiman built an entire album entirely out samples from YouTube clips. If you are skeptical, just wait until :44.

And, as this article points out: "No record labels, no distribution costs, almost no production costs. Welcome to the future of music." And publishing, and film, and...

The Bob Dylan of Twitter

noreply@blogger.com (dm) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:22:00 +0000

This weekend, John Mayer caused a flap in the echo chamber of Twitter and blogs by appearing to pitch products in his Tweets, the first being for Cambell's Soup. Even though many people on Twitter are already promoting something -- whether it's an article, a blog post, or an event -- if it's true Mayer is 'selling ad space' in his Tweets, I think that is an unwelcome leap to the blatantly commercial. And, though I'm not convinced this isn't satire from Mayer, he does raise an interesting point, "How can you sell out when the high art in question is Twitter? Can you be the Bob Dylan of Twitter?"

I would argue: Don't bet against it. There was a time when the 3-minute pop song was considered disposable, now we celebrate The Beatles alongside Mozart. Likewise, the graphic novel (nee comic book). Graffiti. Rap. Blue jeans. There are countless examples of the uncouth, the profane, and the utilitarian evolving into art.

I think it's only a matter of time before we find the next great filmmaker working on YouTube, the next great author writing a blog, or the next Bob Dylan posting tracks to MySpace.