Best Named Linux Distro Ever!

You have to love this: EvilEntity Linux.  And I have to admit that they did at least one smart thing -- they install WebMin as a standard systems control interface.  Sweet!  [_Go_]

Note: This is something I looked at for like 3.14159 seconds so keep that in mind.

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Marketing 101: A Tip If You Publicly Use Your Own Product

Note: I apologize in advance for the absolutely bitchy tone in this article but these things drive me nuts!  I mean DOH!

I just happened to be on the site for a new Boston based firm, Refresh Software, that is making a content management product and would like to offer them some very basic advice:

• It is excellent to use your own product.  Kudos.
• If you use your own product then make *damn* sure that:
• You use it correctly and not in a way that looks like a bug (#1 below)
• It works (#2 below)

Here are at two bugs that hopped out at me after about 3 minutes on their site:

1. A link with an obviously wrong destination.  Go here and click on "Quick Tour".  I strongly doubt that you meant it to go to your contact page.  Tsk, tsk, tsk.  Three lashes for the webmaster with a web noodle. (No that wasn't a typo).
2. Go to the search page, here.  Search first for content management communities and it finds this one entry.  Now search for content communities and it finds nothing.  The same bug can be repeated with centrally stored databases and centrally databases.  Interesting.

I'm sure that I could find a number of other bugs if I spent a wee bit more time.  And we wonder why companies aren't buying technology products?  I mean come on!  Here you have the company making the product that can't even use it in a way that shows it off correctly.  What message does this send to average buyers of technology products? 

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Always Slow

AlwaysOn?  Nope!  Always Slow.  Nothing like launching a brand new web site and making it dirt slow.  Always Off for me from now on.  Stoopid.  [_Go_]

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Your Work Life

Here are some really good thoughts on structuring your work life:

The lesson I'm learning these days is focus. When there are more activities going on than you can simultaneously deal with, you must learn to spend time focused on each one without distractions, but the key is knowing when to move to the next -- and which task should be next in line. It is a tough lesson to learn, but I'd like to think I'm getting better.

What I have learned so far:

Remove distractions like Email, Phone, Pagers, IM's, etc. If you have to, choose a new venue. Pick a new place where you're not likely to be found.

Set goals. When time is short, don't think you can finish an entire project in a single sitting. Set a milestone that is realistic, but challenging. One that will put you just ahead of schedule.

Don't lose the groove. It's so hard to get into the zone. When you're there, the smallest mental distraction can take you down a 2 hour rabbit hole. Get into the groove and stay there until you reach that milestone.

Give yourself a break. When you've worked a hard day, tune out for a while. You're never wasting time unless you let it be wasted. It is important to recharge and refuel.

Celebrate. Have you achieved a personal milestone? Finished a project? Overcome an obstacle? Take time out to party -- even for a few minutes. Enjoy the sunshine. Take a walk. Go to a movie. Relax. [_Go_]

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Spam -- in Real Life

I'm a pretty frequent letter to the editor reader so this horrifies me:

Groups like the Republican National Committee and Planned Parenthood are using Web sites and e-mail lists to help disseminate form letters to publications across the country. With a few keystrokes and mouse clicks, individuals can send preprogrammed letters under their own names to editors. Some Web sites even preselect local publications, depending on the person's ZIP code and address. [_Go_]

Sigh.  Where did we lose our ethics in the arms race for moral dominance?  Thanks to Dave for pointing this out.

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Go Mark

Thanks Kasia for pointing this out to me:

Is my personal information secure?

Yes. I take great pains to protect your personal information. Literally. I hire ex-cons dressed in Klingon suits to watch over me whenever I connect to my subscriber database, with strict orders to hit me with pain sticks if I try to do something stupid.  [_Go_]

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Go Inluminent

If you go check out Inluminent today then you will notice a difference: the LACK of pictures.  This is something that Kasia and I asked for a few months ago and John has now delivered.  John's Inluminent is one of my favorite blogs but long time readers know that I link to it pretty rarely.  Why?  Well many if not most of my readers are reading this / checking it from work (that's a guess based on a partial estimate that seems accurate) and John's site used to be full of "Page 2" girls -- something that I just don't feel is appropriate for a work environment.  Heck in a lot of situations it could even be actionable if someone wanted to press the issue.  I've been a hiring manager all too often and I do know my (practical) labor law here*.

John has now added a new stylesheet that allows viewing without images.  And, yes all home workers, images are still available if you want them.  [_Go_]

Bias Disclaimer: I have NOTHING against this type of imagery just this particular context.

*Practical Labor Law is "if someone wants to be pissy and there is even the scent of a reason, even not a good one, it can be a real issue."

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I Don't Believe It

Check this out.  Don't send money but do check it out.  Then laugh.  [_Go_]

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The Superbowl

In case you are like me and just realized that you don't know who won, Google News tells me:

Coach Jon Gruden and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers routed the Oakland Raiders 48 21 in the Super Bowl in San Diego early today. [_Go_]

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