Ted Howard : technology morsels and rambling rants

What I did during my “early retirement”…

My early retirement has ended. It ended a few months ago when I joined Playdom. As with most new jobs, especially in growing companies, I was slammed. I have finally dug myself out of my work debt hole and decided I should finish this post I began when interviewing.

For every gap an a person’s resume, there should be a good answer. This is my answer for this gap. In short, I learned things that I had been wanting to learn but could never get around to. Since I started working, that list has begun to grow again and will likely not shrink until my next retirement.

Tagged Business Model, Life, Personal, Projects, Retirement, Silverlight

2009 10 11 TedHoward Uncategorized Comments (0) Permalink

I’m a <insert OS>.

Paul Graham has an essay on identity that hypothesizes one source of those never-ending arguments that we’ve all been involved in at one point.

I think what religion and politics have in common is that they become part of people’s identity, and people can never have a fruitful argument about something that’s part of their identity. By definition they’re partisan.

Apple started the OS identity labeling with the "I’m a Mac. I’m a PC" ads. Microsoft had their "I’m a PC" campaign. I have only recently seen how strong this emotional involvement in a technology choice can be.

Before moving to San Francisco, I had never seen such adoration of one company (Apple) or disrespect for another company (Microsoft).

Tagged Apple, Microsoft, Open Source, Silicon Valley Culture

2009 06 11 TedHoward Personal
Professional Comments (3) Permalink

E3 Xbox 360 PR that I think matters

Project Natal is awesome. No question on that. But does it alter business models? I don’t think so.

The announcement that people haven’t discussed much, at least in positive terms, is moving the Xbox 360 media marketplace to Zune. I see that as far more significant than a new controller.

Tagged Media, Xbox 360, Zune

2009 06 11 TedHoward Professional Comments (0) Permalink

Puzzle Pirates revenue update

In a previous post, I played with public numbers for Puzzle Pirates. They just made some more numbers public, so I thought I would see if it validated any of my previous post.

Here are my thoughts about the new numbers.

Tagged Business Model, Games

2009 06 09 TedHoward Professional Comments (0) Permalink

Want to retire early? Sniff marshmallows.

I have spent the last few months with no job, but not unemployed. To qualify as unemployed, you have to be actively searching for work. I like to say that I’ve been taking “early retirement.” Many people are amazed by and jealous of my ability to do this. My secret is incredibly simple: I don’t eat the marshmallow.

Rule number one is simply “Always live below your means.”

Tagged Life, Retirement

2009 05 30 TedHoward Personal
Professional Comments (2) Permalink

Pop 2.0

I think I just heard the Web 2.0 bubble burst. Someone posted an analysis of the survival and exit rate of 2005’s Web 2.0 startups. Someone else just posted that a cat has a half million Twitter followers.

Also today, we learn that Facebook just raised more money. What’s it for? Hiring? Capital expenses? Nope. Facebook is raising money to pay for their employees’ stock-based bonuses. I’ve never heard of a company taking on debt or equity dilution to pay bonuses. When things get weird, either something fundamental has changed or things are broken. It’s like treasury bills with negative interest or credit spreads doing things like this.

What follows includes some stereotypes and generalities based on my experiences in life.

Tagged Economics

2009 05 16 TedHoward Professional Comments (0) Permalink

I like Food.

I just posted on my enjoyment of growing plants. Now, it’s time to explain why I like cooking. Though I’m a snob about kitchen tools, I wouldn’t call myself a “foodie.” For me, it’s not about knowing ‘trivia’ about things like fine cheeses and wines. I enjoy understanding cooking and the visceral experience of doing it myself. It’s also tasty when done properly.

I’ve started making my own yogurt. Continue reading for a photo.

2009 05 15 TedHoward Uncategorized Comments (0) Permalink

I like Plants

From floor to tip of the flower spike is about 5 feet. This plant was 4 inches tall when I received it in the mail over 5 years ago. Last year, the flower spike grew straight up like this then softened to become pendulous. I place the pot on a shelf about 5 feet up but the spike hung nearly to the ground. If this thing starts drooping, I’ll have to let it dangle down the staircase.

Friends have joked on occasion that I devote to much space in my home to plants. I prefer to go with Hundertwasser’s concept of “tree tenants”. (I can’t find a decent link for that concept.) I like plants.

2009 05 15 TedHoward Uncategorized Comments (0) Permalink

You don’t see that in Seattle

Feces and sunsets. Intrigued?

2009 05 12 TedHoward Uncategorized Comments (0) Permalink

I. M. Wright is Wright

Eric Brechner, err… I. M. Wright, authors one of the best blogs on development that I know of. (I’m working on a concise blogroll of development inspiration.) I. M.’s column has been published within Microsoft for many years. I didn’t realize that it was public until recently. I suggest that all new software developers read through the archives. To paraphrase Dr. Burrus, it’s the sort of wisdom that you don’t appreciate until a year or so later.

I. M.’s latest is about the incredible value of finishing. He calls is ‘shipping’. I have seen venture capitalists call it ‘execution.’ It’s all the same thing.

2009 05 12 TedHoward Uncategorized Comments (0) Permalink

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