Taking a break from blogging

Not that this will in any way affect the lives of people on the planet, but after reading this article, I've decided to take a break. I want to rethink my blogging efforts. Decide if it's really for me. What I would want to accomplish with it. So for the time being, I'll be pondering and not writing.

I'll still be producing the podcast though.

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TPN’s Jazz Show a Staff pick of 2006 at Apple

Catching up on some great publicity this podcast has received, Apple picked it as a Staff Favorite. Thanks Apple, and thanks to all the fans who have downloaded the show over the past year.

Check out the podcast at jazz.thepodcastnetwork.com

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But they are my vacation days… right?

This blog post by David Anderson (Agile Management Blog) resonated with me more than any other in a long time. David and I are pretty close in age it seems and I have been having the same thoughts, only he publicly shared them.

Over the past several weeks I have been looking for work, software engineering work to be specific, and I've noticed something really different in what I wanted from a company more than money. And as David pointed out, it was the work environment and benefits.

When I was younger and growing a family, I wasn't too concerned about insurance, vacation, school plays, field trips or dance recitals. I was, for heavens sake, a programmer. The code must be complete, at any cost.

But not I want more. I can handle leaving the code slinging to someone else, I want to use the software business experience I've learned and use it to make a better company for the customer, the employee and the shareholder.

But what I've noticed is that most companies don't believe someone who has grown up creating software has any business sense? What is up with that? If you have been in the computer industry since the early 80's, you've seen most of the break through technology and may have even help create it.

Is there a natural progression from someone who writes code, to someone who sees value in a job that includes innovating? Some call this architecting technology but I disagree. I see an Architect as someone who is more concerned with the creation of technology and it's interaction than with the business of software creation. Maybe that's what a good CTO gives a company. But what if your company can't support a CTO?

Anyway, back to the original post theme, being an older geek in the technology industry. I think we're the only ones who reminisce about our old BBS's, Commodore or Atari computers; writing, selling and installing our own products; watching stupid kids throw away millions of venture capitol on espresso and same day flights across the country to give a sales pitch to an unqualified prospect.

Yes, I'm more worried about my health, my families health, my interests outside the office than I am burning days and days at work. There was a time I would do it in an instance no matter the cost. But I'm not there anymore. I know it doesn't have to be that way. That type of work environment is due to poor project management and unrealistic expectations from executives.

Great post David.

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See Norah Jones video performance

Norah Jones is about to release a new album Not Too Late. There is a great video available on Amazon.com of her song Rosie's Lullaby.  You can also hear a track called Thinking About You.

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Book Review: iWoz - 2 Stars

This was a mediocre book at best. I was really hoping that it was much better than it was. I had read several reviews which stated the writing style, the grammar, the pace, was poor. I have to agree. While I think a biography should include a wide range of experiences which gives the reader a real sense of the person, dragging on for pages about the same topic is boring.

I guess my expectation was set too high, and that was my fault. I was on a waiting list at the library for months. Once the book came in I was very excited. The  anticipation was quickly lowered to dismay after the first few chapters.

Anyway, read it or not, but my suggestion is to pass. There is some good material on the early Apple days, but in the end you'll be disappointed. I was.

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