John's Music Blog

OK, it’s summer, and while that doesn’t mean any less work, it does mean additional responsibilities, such as car-pooling three children (mine and one other) to a day camp.  It puts a squeeze on time, and the only release valve is 9 pm until whenever.  My last conference call yesterday was 11 pm, thanks to some very helpful development folks in India.  I’ve also written drafts of , but have yet to complete, several blog postings. 

In the meantime, I thought I would share with you this link to Metropolis, published by Japan Today.  It includes some very creative and entertaining inventions, which are, for the most part, completely outside of the world of high tech.  My favorite is the “commuter’s helmet.” Enjoy.

I spoke with my brother, Ken, during the past week, and we were talking about his business.  I’ve never fully understood Ken’s business, but he is, in his words, in the business of “Helping people realize their dreams of starting their own business.”  Ken is an internet and affiliate-marketing expert.  He runs successful conferences on the topic, writes software, writes books, and teaches people how to make money through affiliate marketing programs.  Now, a lot of people want to have their own business, and since Ken is in the business of helping people “realize their dreams,” I was a little surprised to hear him also say, “Some people shouldn’t run their own business.”  It just goes to show you, he’s an honest fellow.  And he’s right; some people don’t belong in the pool.  This morning, I thought of my conversation with Ken, when I saw some small critter making tiny waves in our pool.  The critter turned out to be a chipmunk, paddling furiously, getting nowhere, barely keeping its nose out of the water.  I pulled the chipmunk out of the pool, but for the record, chipmunks don’t swim well or for long, and don’t belong in the pool.  (more…)