Welcome to Smuggle Me

I love open source software. Video editing software is the only software I’ve had to purchase in a long time. Here’s 30 other reasons to love open source software. You can get almost any software out there open source these days. It’s one of the most significant software advancements of this century.

A while back I came across what is basically a Mormon digg for news items called Sustain’d. I thought the idea was really interesting, but I’ve really wondered if the market is big enough for mormons to use a site like this. I’d love to see it work well, but I have my doubts that it is a big enough niche market.

Also, I’m not sure why the person coded the site from the ground up as opposed to just taking Pligg and making it work.

How many of you have read Getting Real: The Book by 37signals? I’ve seen this referenced so many places on the web, but I’ve never gotten around to reading it myself. I think I’m going to add it to my links so that I add it to my regular reading. I really think that 37signals does some amazing work. I also love that the book is free online.

I know this is old news. I already told you I’m going through the drafts on my blog. Photosynth is still one of the coolest things I’ve seen. The idea of being able to take a bunch of photos and create a 3D representation of a place is an incredible idea. I hope that Microsoft is able to make things like this a reality.

A while back I ran across a blog called Credit Card VC. I thought they had an interesting concept on how you could create a business without having to go and get VC funding. I think a lot can be learned from this concept. I still think that the point is partially missed. This guy still needs some sort of funding to scale the business, but the point that for a relatively small amount of money you should be able to create a simplified version of your site and do a serious market test is a great concept. This is what I plan to do with my idea.

I don’t know what it is about Steve Wozniak or “Woz” but I absolutely love to hear the man talk or read anything that he’s said. Maybe I just respect him more because it doesn’t seem like he sold out of who he was for money. Sure, he’s worth a ton of money, but he could have been worth a ton more if he’d wanted to be. Instead he knew what made him most happy and stuck with it. Either way, I thought that this interview with Steve Wozniak was a great read.

Steve Wozniak carries $20,000 cash in his pocket so he can splash out on technology at will.

I’m not sure I’d carry cash, but I’d love to be able to enjoy technology this way too.

Today I was reading Techcrunch like usual and I found an interesting study on how many teens create content online. It also touched on how involved teens were in using other parts of the internet like blogging and social networks. I’m so excited by this study, because I have an idea I hope to build that focuses on this niche. I’m so glad that teens are as well connected as I thought.

I don’t know how many of you have heard about BlogHaus at CES, but I read all about it last year and it sounded like a lot of fun. I’d really like to stop by and see what’s happening. My only question is whether it is open to all bloggers or only professional bloggers. I imagine it is open to all bloggers since how do you define who is an A list blogger and who is not. I guess I shouldn’t even ask this question since I have like 10 blogs and make a pile of money blogging. I think I’ll sign up and see if I can find the time to stop by. I think the internet connection may be the best reason to stop by. Last year I can’t remember finding a good internet connection almost anywhere.

I was just reading on Techcrunch about the announcement that Google Talk will now translate a conversation for you and the person you’re instant messaging. This is an idea that Cambrian House market tested a while back, but the market test didn’t come back with any good results. I have a feeling that Google with google talk is going to be able to execute on the idea a little better.

I’m going to have to try it with my friends some time. I’ll speak to them in Italian and see how well it works.

11 posts in one sitting. That was pretty fun. It’s nice to have a bunch of content available to you and just to post really quickly your thoughts about it. Does it add value to anyone else. I’m not sure, but I am sure that it’s a fun and rewarding exercise for me to go through. I still have 51 more drafts waiting, so I’m sure I’ll be doing this again.