I have a regular need for a small project to be done, a little bit of research, some following up on projects and so on. I’ve thought about using a “Virtual Assistant” for this but there is now so much noise in the area that it’s hard to navigate. An example of many many is Zirtual.com My needs are definitely episodic, so I don’t want someone that I pay a fixed monthly amount to unless it’s pretty small, knowing that it can go up and down depending on the work. Any feedback on your experiences or thoughts about this would be really interesting!
I am a big fan of this book, so I was really surprised to find a freely downloadable copy of the file in pdf form. I snooped around and the site seems legit but it’s odd that a very popular book is made available for zero dollars. Here’s the link to Lean Startup on PdfBook.co.ke If you are wondering, .co.ke is Kenya. I posted a question to them to explain whether this was above board. I wonder…
I’m excited to tell you that I just accepted a position as Visiting Lecturer at **[Olin College](http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/...
I was a volunteer for the Democratic Committee in Arlington Mass. They have an impressive operation, just like what you’ve heard. For example, the systems they used to deploy us volunteers. I walked in the campaign office, untrained and unschooled. Within minutes I was **assigned my...
Everyone (almost) has heard of Kickstarter, right? It’s the best known (I think) of the so-called Crowd Funding services. Let’s say you have a project – it can be anything – a record, a book, some kind of invention – and you need funding. The crowd funding sites giv...
I’ve been using a app called “WriteThatName” which very helpfully scans the emails I receive for signature blocks with people’s name. It takes that info and correctly parses it and adds it to my google contacts. Super nice. I recommend it!
Over the last year I mentioned “Americans Elect” several times: [Americans Elect: Another Opinion](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCoQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.salas.com%2Fimported-20111103233638%2F2012%2F4%2F6%2Famericans-elect-another-opinion.html&ei=_NiXUNKnD8...
I was rather proud of the art I designed for a t-shirt this summer. It’s cool but of course it’s a direct ripoff, um, no, I mean, it was inspired by a well known piece. If I show you my design, below:  said something which may seem obvious but is nonetheless very controversial: > “Apple’s success as a technology company is built on hardware. The current fixation with digital is misplaced.” (fromThe Real Meaning and Future of Apple’s Mantra – Designed in California) Good article. Read it.
One of the tensions that I have seen in teaching software engineering is whether something should be viewed as legitimate research or part of the craft of computer engineering. It’s a slippery slope that I myself didn’t have a good articulation for. I came across [this in a newsgroup which I think...
I don’t know why this has not gotten more press. You should take a look at Microsoft’s new Gmail killer, outlook.com. It’s a totally web based email client, like Gmail, but the user experience is miles and miles better than Gmail. 
I am just as guilty as anyone of being overly addicted to looking at my cellphone, and that’s not an original observation! It’s a cli...
I’m excited to tell you that I just accepted a position as Visiting Lecturer at **[Olin College](http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/...
