It’s got a bit of everything, factual history, reminiscing, opinion (i.e., iPad, IE, web standards, etc.).

Across the board it’s an excellent piece. And it turned me on to a new bit of kit from RunRev, some clever geeks in Edinburgh.

Watch this video:

Over at GigiOm, Liz Gaines has a piece for noobs re how the hashtag became a component of the twitter vernacular after having grown up in the world of IRC.

According to Twitter, 11 percent of tweets now contain hashtags. This is on a platform that sees more than 50 million tweets per day.

Chris Messina (@factoryjoe) called them “channel tags” (as in IRC channel) in the beginning, however the name hashtag became more popular.

Just so you know, a hashtag looks like this: #hashtag

By putting a hash sign in the front of one of the words in your tweet you let others know the category. There can be more than one category. And there is no official dictionary of hastags, so feel free to make up your own.

When someone searches on a term (i.e., antisense) if you tweeted something like “Just read #antisense #mRNAi is major, big pharma #genetics #breakthroughs coming” they more easily find your tweet thanks to you hashtag emphasis.

Moral of the story: Simplicity Rules (kinda like pizza, eh?)

BTW, Santa if you’re still in the vicinity I just saw a demo video of a new toy I would have put on on my list for being a good boy all year. So please Santa, could you swing by with one of these, please please please, and instruct Parrot to install hi-def cams instead of the standard-issue ones.

As you know I’m a bit of a maps addict (thanks, Google), here’s three apps (in no particular sequence) you may find cool:

The Casper online flight tracker. A beautiful implementation for aircraft tracking.

The marinetraffic.com vessel tracking site is amazing. And I checked, looking at the vessels map in a browser and looking out the window at vessels outside the harbor is a direct match. Amazing stuff.

And of course you might be interested in turbulence, so there’s the Live Turbulence Explorer to tell you where to watch out when you’re taking off with your jet-pack.

Perhaps a narrow definition of private property got us here, whether it’s carbon credits, water or whatever, we could probably stand some examination of property and responsibility. It’s actually a very interesting problem this business of problem solving.

Climbing the wrong hill is something not easy to observe. If you travel in problem solving circles you can easily visualise the nature of the problem, the problem of solving the problem that is.

It’s easier to solve a problem if know where you are. For example imaging being on a journey, you are in a dense fog climbing a hill hoping to pass over a mountain range. But what if you knew there’s a higher hill that has an easier path across the range nearby, of what if the other hill has the path and yours doesn’t. Obviously you would back down and change hills in the latter case. But you are in a dense fog, remember? Mr. fog is making a hard time for you. And if you’ve got the crowd following you their all-knowing leader or you’re being swept up the wrong hill with the crowd what’s going to happen?

A big thanks and congrats to Lin Ostrom.

First, if you don’t know what El Sistema is, watch the video.

Okay, so now imagine how this concept, all the good will and constructive energy, could be expanded.

And then the reporter said: “You are in America now, what Americans?” Dudamel didn’t miss a beat and shot back ”I am talking about Americans!” — to which the room packed with journalists erupted in laughter and clapping.

That Latin America is indeed part of America is something that Dudamel brings up often, but always with good humor and patience. At his news conference he reiterated that America is one — Argentina, Venezuela, Mexico, the United States, all included. That message is likely to resound in Los Angeles, a city that is half Hispanic and home to millions who migrated from southern portions of the Americas.

I get chills when I watch this TED Talk (WordPress is not letting me embed the video for some reason so follow the link; GD begins talk at about 5:20). The youth orchestra concept is powerful, wouldn’t it be cool if someone could get this together on a larger international scale? Anyone out there with more brains and bucks than me to work on such a project?

Accomplishments include a killer provoleta (sorry, no pics cuz it was too difficult to get the camera), home made ravioli and pasta, chocolate tarts (blueberry this time, peach last time) and of course the requisite weekly pizza experiment. Here’s some pics, I will post more in September but it’s getting late tonight and time to hit the hay.

It was great seeing you all, hope next summer is as much fun, am thinking about moving the location to make it easier for everyone and also have a larger kitchen. Enjoy the pics:

pizza experiment #nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

pao de queijo

making ravioli in a tiny kitchen

chocolate tart (with blueberries)

Am scribbling a few thoughts publicly here since I’m here already answering the what’s going on question for friends, I’d like to apologise in advance for simply presenting a list, below, of where I think businesses should be focusing to keep their momentum in an economic slow down. A list the most efficient method I can think of since I’m writing for a few select readers and not typically the general public (who I’m certain don’t read my blog anyway as I’m not one of those Internets celebs with yards of followers, most of my ideas are old and simple common sense.

So here goes, get ready for a list :)

1) Transparency and trust count more than ever. I’ve always tried to help along the folks I work with in negotiations understand we have to be transparent and show our intentions, if we don’t do so it’s hard for counterparties to understand where we’re coming from. I run into resistance some times from old world thinkers who have so ingrained in their DNA the need to hide pricing and profits they are  lost in this world where we work hand in hand with counterparties to form relationships and agreements. If you think your obfuscation gene is dominant then get some professional help, the world today can smell you coming a mile away, your days are numbered.  

2) Divas and skanks are in trouble. The fastest way to turn off a counterparty or have one self-eject is to disrespect that person’s time or to be whoring around looking for a better deal whilst finalising the final strokes of a contract you have already agreed in principal. Just don’t do it. If you feel the need to self optimise to this extent, whatever the personal psychological need or reason, just don’t go it. repeat, don’t do it. 

3) Handshakes, promises and contracts had better be sincere. This in not your mother’s snowmobile. Folks across the negotiating table from you are looking for respect, everything being done in good faith -if you remember that term, don’t think that you can squeeze more through a back trade and weasel when you’ve promised (verbal or written contract) to deliver something. Word spreads quicker than the legs of a reality show contestant. Your reputation is all you have these days and in fact it’s all you ever had though during the last bubble you may not have needed to think about that as much as you do today. I have a lot more to say on this subject, if you’re looking to develop a piece of business in an industry I’m involved in where you think we have a match re transparency and integrity and it could be used to do a roll up or other such deal I be interested in hearing from you.

There you have it, three simple themes I find can help keep things moving forward in most situations. My track record is pretty good in not getting people into bad deals, I have had to opt out of a few relationships to avoid making bad situations for counterparties and folks I’ve introduced. And agreements I’ve guided where transparency and respect is understood by the parties are the ones I expect to be the most trouble free.

One of the things I’ve tried to do from the the beginning of my professional career is to manage the progress of deals such that all parties get a fair shake. I’m sure some hard-core negotiators would call it foolish however I have no reservations placing fairness above pushing a party into a close before they are ready to commit or into a deal where I myself wouldn’t tread. Above all relationships are more important than any one deal, when you think a relationship may be endangered by a hasty contract simply warn the party across the table things are moving too fast and that more time is required; when you protect the counterparty in such instances you are helping everyone except the litigators down the road who would otherwise feast. 

Seems all of this should be clear today given the shenanigans and obfuscations still haunting us from the last bubble but I think it’s all worth mentioning. So get back out there and do some deals keeping in mind the guy on the other side of the table is having the same bad reaction to the old DNA as you, you’re really both on the same side trying to make some business that makes economic sense. My sense is if more people realised this integrity thing sooner there would have been more real growth to offset the bubble, the real challenge today is to make real growth, the types of relationships that you develop starting today will necessarily be more based on trust, don’t disadvantage yourself by grabbing a quick profit at the cost of relationship. Real growth in this economy is desperately needed, so back to work.

And BTW, speaking of good dinners and simplicity, here’s a pic of the burgers and muffins from a recent dinner, can you see why simple eats and good dinner conversation is my preference during these busy times when not on the front line…

And as usual, I’m not proofreading this post so don’t go bonkers re spelling and grammar, accept that this is just how it is on this blog. Later. R.

Anyway, I’m not going to post anything half clever here tonight because it’s getting late plus I’m not sure I’m sufficiently clever tonight anyway. In fact, I’m not sure I’m clever at all but since some think (rare) I actually know what I’m doing in this whacked global economy I will play along with their plan and continue to respond to enquiries  :-o   But I digress…

I’m posting tonight a fantastic interview with Marissa Mayer that appeared on Charlie Rose. I’m a hugh Marissa fan, and a long time Charlie Rose fan too of course, BTW. The run time is about an 55 minutes, there’s not a bad moment in the video. She’s got absolutely the right tone in everything she says, she’s one in a billion. Enjoy!

Need to find a way make more free time. Why is it work has to consume so many hours and things like bicycling and hiking get lost in the shuffle.

I got in a workout last night for the first time in a week and whilst it felt really good to be in the gym again my mind was half listening to Peaches (don’t ask) on my iPod and half thinking about how to satisfy a present and immediate carbs craving.

Enter farinata. For some reason, possibly related to the chilly weather this week, I’ve been craving carbs. 

After working out I decided, well actually while I was working out, to fire up the oven. Farinata is great naked but I had a taste for something on top and had some beautiful anchovies in the fridge, as well as a small block of parmigiano. Mmmm, salty.

Decided to pre-warm the anchovies while the farinata baked, then threw them on top at the very end. Tossed a tiny bit of the cheese on to and flipped on the broiler for just a minute to finish it.

Here’s what it looks like after mixing the ingredients and pouring it into the pan to bake:

Opened a bottle of wine, sliced the farinata into strips and settled into a post workout snack.

UPDATE: Also had c craving for cheese balls, here’s the result:

But here’s a post I’ve been meaning to put up for a few weeks, it’s in response to a question I get from both locals and visitors. And now that the economy is taking a breather the question has gained an added dimension – frugality.

And the question is “where are the great places to eat, but simple and without breaking the bank, and not tourist traps or boring”. Here are a few of my suggestions:

Artichoke Pizza, 328 East 14th Street near 1st avenue, NYC: Try a slice of their artichoke pizza but be warned it’s big and long calories. The margarita is my standard, a bit lighter than the artichoke and the tomato sauce is flavored and thick just right for my taste. There are no seats, it a standup place and you will probably end up outside the door if it’s crowded, which it almost always is.

Next up is Joe’s Pizza, Carmine street just east of Bleecker street. Basic fresh pizza, Sicilian too. Joe’s has been around for ever serving fine pizza with a great vibe day or night. Much lighter than Artichoke but not the ultra-thin crust variety I sometimes crave. 

Despaña, over near the Police building at 408 Broome street, is one of my favourite lunch places. And ot’s hard to leave without picking up some chorizo and cheese to enjoy with a Malbec at home later in the evening. Best sandwich IMHO is the toasted and pressed Gallego (Serrano ham, Arzua Ulloa and chorizon). And the hot chocolate is the best in NYC, wait let me correct that, the best anywhere.

Pinche Taqueria for burritos, I’ve not found a better burrito in NYC. Head over to 227 Mott street (midway between Prince and Spring). The burrito al pastor (grilled pork) is my usual pick. I haven’t yet tried Jeffrey Chartier‘s new outpost on Lafayette, it’s on my list so come back for an update.

Once Upon A Tart, an old soho fav at 135 Sullivan street, still makes great scones and tarts. Pick up one of their red pepper tarts to toast up at home and enjoy with a glass of wine. They are basically a bakery with a small-ish small sitting area indoors and two or three tables outside, an assortment of soups and sandwiches are offered.

La Esquina, which I’ve mentioned before, is also over near the Police building and about a block Despaña. You can’t really go wrong with anything there, the little steak sandwich is pretty reliable. It’s also got great atmosphere, there’s a row of bar stools lined up inside along the window and a skinny counter for dining.

We found that for drinking one standard cup of coffee in the Netherlands we need about 140 litres of water, by far the largest part for growing the coffee plant. A standard cup of coffee is 125 ml, which means that we need more than 1100 drops of water for producing one drop of coffee. 

Outside The Box‘s John Mauldin just published an insightful summary called The Elusive Bottom. 

Take the time to read the entire piece, here’s his bit on the new frugality that you might find sufficiently amusing to click over and read the entire piece:

Frugality is going to set in

As far as I know, there are only two ways to eliminate debt. You either walk away from it, which people obviously are doing, which is why we got these write-downs and these foreclosures, or you pay it down. I think people with a FICO score that they are concerned about are going to pay that down. That means that the savings rate is going to be forced higher. This, again, is going to be very, very disinflationary. It means that fashions are going to change. It means frugality is going to set in. We’re going to be living in smaller houses, driving smaller cars and living more frugally. It’s not going to be the end of the world; it’s going to be a necessary process to truly embark on getting the balance sheets down to more comfortable levels so that we can actually embark on the next cycle.