Summation

Note to Google -- move us to the metric system?

The internet is really increasing standardization. Language is becoming standardized around English and even odd English acronyms like IMHO and LOL are becoming commonplace.

But I would have thought that, by now, the U.S. would be closer to adopting the metric system. Here is an area that America is far behind the rest of the world in ...

I wrote five years ago:

why, o' why, do we still use inches, feet, miles, pounds, acres, leagues, ounces, Fahrenheit, tons, gallons, bushels, hogsheads, horsepower, pints, and teaspoons?

I'm still not sure. but I have a proposal to Google ... help us slowly move to the metric system.

 

Here's the logic:

 

First -- the old English system of measurements (that even the English don't use anymore) is evil. It is incredibly inefficient and hard to grapple with. So here is a small proposal on how Google can help rid some of this evil ...

 

Very simple:

Just deliver information in both the English system and the metric system. In Google maps (which for American users displays all distances only in miles) also display distances in kilometers. If I type in "weather san Francisco" into Google, also display the results in Celsius. Etc.

 

Very simple. A few small changes could help the American public slowly acclimate to this "crazy" metric system.

how meebo got its office space

like a lot of hot start-ups today, Meebo had trouble finding office space.

Meebo (www.meebo.com) just got funded by Sequoia and went from three to six people and had to move out of the founders' living room and into an office.   They had a hard time finding an office so they posted a "anyone know of any good office space in

palo alto

?" on their blog and the landlord of a cool office saw the post and replied.   And Meebo just moved in last week.

This is a really cool anecdote and part of a larger trend in corp blogs.  Companies are using their blog as a tool to help them accomplish more than just marketing -- they are using it to find people, office, and more.   of course, that's what Edgeio has tapped into.   

pimp your google

check out this simple but fun site forwarded to me by Tod Sacerdoti:

http://www.pimpyourgoogle.com/pimped.php?text=StoneBrick

pictures from Silicon Forum on Feb 15

The last Silicon Forum featured John Taylor -- fmr Undersecretary of the US Treasury.   he was fantastically interesting.   we all discussed the complications and intricacies of globalization.

check out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aurenh/sets/72057594068283603/

The Orens? No no. The Aurens? Nope. Oren and Auren

The Orens? No no. The Aurens? Nope. Oren and Auren
Originally uploaded by mary hodder.

Oren and Auren on Mary Hodder's flickr

Cullinane & Green Report podcast

Joe Cullinane and Roger Green have a great podcast called the Cullinane & Green Report.

they take a step down today to interview me in their newest podcast.
Hear interview with Auren Hoffman

Living Forever

Year 2050:

Backing up my brain takes a long time.   To do a full brain back-up can take 6 hours and it is hard to get an appointment.   A brain restoration could take 3-5 days … if you can find a body to put it in.

I'm waiting for a body right now … I'm living inside a computer.

Like many cautious executives, I go in for a regular brain back-up -- especially when I fly long distances.   I went in for my last back-up a day before an especially hairy trip I was taking to Central Asia.   Luckily I did.   Our jet was shot down by pirates and I "died" in the crash.   Well at least my body died.   That was the second time it happened to me.   The first time was from the bioterror outbreak two years ago.   Last time I "died" I was lucky -- was able to find a new body in a few days.   Now I am languishing … I yearn for some exercise.

The weird thing is that since my last brain back-up was about 29 hours before our jet crashed, I don't remember anything about the crash.   I've tried to recreate some of the events as I want to have a fairly full memory.

It is weird being here … bodyless.   My friends can "visit" with me … and we can talk anywhere.   It is easy for me to go to them as I'm just bits right now running on a fault tolerant system with instances in mountain view, capetown, santiago, and moscow.   

One thing I found is how many people are like me … in limbo.   According to the US Congress, you cannot vote when you're in limbo.   But I'm not sure how anyone will even know.   Most of my correspondence and communication is through my avatar anyway.

I remember not that long ago when death was something to be fear.   Today it is only rebirth …

(author's note: Bank in 1990 (when i was 16), I wrote a short-story on this phenomena called The Bourgon File)

Photos from Showcase at JP Morgan (Jan 30)

check out all the photos from the Connector Group's Showcase at JP Morgan:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sallyconnector/

Book: When Genius Failed

When Genius Failed: The Rise and Fall of Long-Term Capital Management by Roger Lowenstein

this is another great book i've been wanting to listen to for a long time ... the rise and the fall of LTCM.   ever since debating about the bail-out with my friend Richard Voon, i've been fascinated with how so many smart people could create a financial model that produced such staggering losses.

it is simply amazing.  essentially, they were fooled by randomness a bit.   

Lowenstein is a very good author who seems very fair and keeps the saga fast-moving while still going into a great deal of detail.

Book: Disney War

DisneyWar by James Stewart. 

if your a techie Silicon Valley guy like me who sometimes dreams about the world of Hollywood ... read this book.   you'll never want to work in Hollywood again.   

DisneyWar is all about back-stabbing, lies, and insecure people who go nuts if someone else is given credit for a success.   

i'm a big fan of James Stewart ... he's a compelling writer and a great storyteller.   of course, i'd listen to this book.   and it is definitely worth it.