Have been asked:

If you could have one super power, what would it be?

My answer was:  

Teleportation.  Basically, I don't think time should be wasted simply because you need to get from point A to point B.  Now, if you want to take the scenic route to enjoy the beauty of nature, then that is fine.  I was just referring to efficiency and being awesome.

It turns out that my type of answer was a good one.  It indicates that I might like to get things done, work fast, or work hard.  In any case, I thought it was a half-way clever way of asking a pseudo psychological question without getting too crazy.

BTW:  This question was asked by John Scott (@jszilla).  John, sorry if I am giving away your secret "go to" question.  But, no worries.  No one reads this blog.

Like to ask:

What book is on your nightstand (in your book bag) right now?

I ask this question for the following reasons:

• Does this candidate read?  I believe you need to constantly be searching and learning.  I don't care about the topic.  Just read.
• I am genuinely interested.  Usually, this can lead to other questions about outside, non-technical interests.  It may reveal something about the candidates fit with the culture.
• I may also, in the alternative, ask the Top 3 blogs you read everyday, or something like that.

Stupid non-technical questions I have been asked and I never ask:

What do you see yourself doing in 5 years?

Could there be a more useless question?!  There is no correct way to answer this!  It is just a stupid question that is asked when you do not know what else to ask.  

If anyone says, "I hope to be working here and have moved up the ranks."  I know that person is shoveling crap.  Why?  There is no way that person could possibly know that they want that.  It is the canned response to a stupid question.  If anyone can think of a legit reason for this question, please let me know.

Let's say you have a disagreement with a team member.  How do you resolve this?

Say it with me, "Well, I would really try to work with that individual and talk the issue through.  I would try to understand their viewpoint and give them the benefit of the doubt.  If that fails, then I would privately escalate the issue to my superior.  blah, blah, blah . . ."  

Is there a wrong answer to this except for, "I would not resolve it."?

Out.

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It looks awesome! Click the link and download it for yourself!

Credit goes to here: http://-kol.deviantart.com/art/MinMaxCLose-63569813

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I will post later about Pragmatic Thinking and Learning, and Outliers. There is just too much good stuff to keep to myself.

At any given time, I might be reading 3-4 books. A couple will be about programming/technology.  Another will be about management/innovation/marketing.  The last will be my "for fun" book. Usually, it is a fantasy novel. I started on the Wheel of Time series based on a recommendation from Jamis (@jamis).

Pragmatic Thinking and Learning: Refactor Your Wetware (Pragmatic Programmers)

Outliers: The Story of Success

The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, Book 1)

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If you are a Mac user, and you are anything like me, you go back and forth between Firefox and Safari as your primary browser.  Firefox for its Add Ons, such as Firebug.  And, Safari for its Mac-esque-nes.

One "must have" Safari feature for me, was the ability to bind a keyboard shortcut to a bookmark that is in your Bookmarks Bar.  It is possible that you did not even know of this feature.  If you put a bookmark into your Bookmarks Bar, Safari will give it a Comand+<number> keyboard short cut.

Well, now, Firefox has something just as awesome!  SiteLauncher:  https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/10127

On a Mac, you hit control+alt.  A sweet looking HUD appears.  Hit a key.  Opens a site.

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If you are a Mac user, and you are anything like me, you go back and forth between Firefox and Safari as your primary browser.  Firefox for its Add Ons, such as Firebug.  And, Safari for its Mac-esque-nes.

One "must have" Safari feature for me, was the ability to bind a keyboard shortcut to a bookmark that is in your Bookmarks Bar.  It is possible that you did not even know of this feature.  If you put a bookmark into your Bookmarks Bar, Safari will give it a Comand+<number> keyboard short cut.

Well, now, Firefox has something just as awesome!  SiteLauncher:  https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/10127

On a Mac, you hit control+alt.  A sweet looking HUD appears.  Hit a key.  Opens a site.

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Lessons Learned: What does a startup CTO actually do?

http://startuplessonslearned.blogspot.com/2008/09/what-does-startup-cto-actually-do.html

So, what is a CTO supposed to be doing all day?  I think Eric Ries, in the above post, sums it up pretty well.

The CTO's primary job is to make sure the company's technology strategy serves its business strategy.

So concise.  So correct.  The key phrase in that statement is "serves its business strategy".  Technology often forgets why it exists.  Why does technology exist?  It exists to serve some function.  If you work for a company, that function is for business.  And, if you are really lucky, that business is transforming the world, and culture.

He goes on to identify 5 (+1) key skills for a CTO.

• Platform selection and technical design
• Seeing the big picture (in graphic detail)
• Provide options
• Find the 80/20
• Grow technical leaders
• Own the development methodology

Provide options

Some technologists have a tendency just to "decide for you" and give you the "best" option, but that's dangerous. You can't have an honest dialog if one party knows all the answers.

"Some"?  I would say "most" technologists.  Usually, when a technologist says, "That's impossible."  What they really mean to say is "I don't want to do that because I don't know the technology you are talking about, and I kind of think you are an idiot, and by the way, I have this piece of code that I wrote 20 years ago that we should use, and basically, I don't care about the business, I care about Perl."  

Too many technologists only think about technology.  What good is technology if it is not meeting a business need?  Provide options.  Be a collaborator.  Collaboration is the key to honest dialog.  Collaboration builds trust.  So, get out of your cave and start collaborating.  

Find the 80/20

Once I understood what the objective of their feature was for customers, I could sometimes see a way to get 80% of the benefit for 20% of the cost.

Now, we are talking!  Everyone, all up and down the food chain, needs this skill!  

This is of ultimate importance for the CTO.  Why?  Because technology is friggin' expensive.  Because a technology project is never 100% done.  Because technology is never as easy as you think it is.  The key to "getting done" is getting 80% done.  Then, decide if doing the rest is part of the technical and business strategy.  If the CTO (or an leader for that matter) cannot grasp the 80/20 concept, costs will rise while project timelines increase.  A losing proposition indeed.

Grow technical leaders

By delegating and training, we create a corps of leaders who could step in to provide CTO-like services on demand. And by working together, we created a team whose whole was greater than the sum of its parts.

In other words, the CTO needs to mentor.  To me, this is a no-brainer.  For anyone in leadership, one of their main day to day activities should be to mentor.  ABM (Always be mentoring).  But, I am constantly amazed at how little mentoring is done.  I have found that when I mentor someone, it is always a growing experience for me.  I think I get more out of it than the mentee.  Why?  Teaching something is the best way to learn something.  Plus, you can't BS someone you work with everyday.

Out.

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http://gitready.com/

Quick snippets of Git tips and tutorials.

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http://gitready.com/

Quick snippets of Git tips and tutorials.

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http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=22812&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&parentCategory=503394&feat=503394-tn&cat4=503383

Got these in the mail yesterday.  Just in time for this crazy cold weather in Chicago.

Gotta say that I like them so far.  They have that "I'm too cold to care what they look like, and that is what makes me more awesome than you" look to them.  Waterproof.  Warm (get the Thinsulate ones).  Comfortable.  Affordable.  Awesome.  If you get them, following L.L.Bean's sizing guide.  These run large.  No.  These run huge.

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http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=22812&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&parentCategory=503394&feat=503394-tn&cat4=503383

Got these in the mail yesterday.  Just in time for this crazy cold weather in Chicago.

Gotta say that I like them so far.  They have that "I'm too cold to care what they look like, and that is what makes me more awesome than you" look to them.  Waterproof.  Warm (get the Thinsulate ones).  Comfortable.  Affordable.  Awesome.  If you get them, following L.L.Bean's sizing guide.  These run large.  No.  These run huge.

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Create a Document

Ever wanted to create a document from an email conversation thread?  This is a great feature.  My emails contain all sorts of awesomeness, such as feature requests (that get shot down), technical specs, passwords to my money, and really good stuff.

Send and Archive

I archive everything in order to keep a clean inbox.  Also, I don't label stuff.  I just search.  So, this is a great for me.

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Create a Document

Ever wanted to create a document from an email conversation thread?  This is a great feature.  My emails contain all sorts of awesomeness, such as feature requests (that get shot down), technical specs, passwords to my money, and really good stuff.

Send and Archive

I archive everything in order to keep a clean inbox.  Also, I don't label stuff.  I just search.  So, this is a great for me.

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For me, it has been a long time since I have HAD to use MS Outlook.  Recently, because of "IT" issues, I have had to use MS Outlook via Crossover.  I am still on my Mac.  But, still . . . it kind of sucks.  I was struck and reminded of the UI design differences between MS and Apple.

Take a look.

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For me, it has been a long time since I have HAD to use MS Outlook.  Recently, because of "IT" issues, I have had to use MS Outlook via Crossover.  I am still on my Mac.  But, still . . . it kind of sucks.  I was struck and reminded of the UI design differences between MS and Apple.

Take a look.

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This is just an awesome example of how business, marketing and the web should work.  All you people out there trying to figure out a way to "market" yourself on the web. Take a lesson from Gary V.

http://garyvaynerchuk.com/2009/01/07/i-had-a-wild-day-you-turning-negatives-into-positives/

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This is just an awesome example of how business, marketing and the web should work.  All you people out there trying to figure out a way to "market" yourself on the web. Take a lesson from Gary V.

http://garyvaynerchuk.com/2009/01/07/i-had-a-wild-day-you-turning-negatives-into-positives/

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From:  http://www.holytaco.com/if-movie-posters-were-honest

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From:  http://www.holytaco.com/if-movie-posters-were-honest

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I am watching the Palm Pre CES videos on YouTube.

Those who know me have heard me rant about how the Apple iPhone's UI actually kind of sucks. Don't get me wrong. It is the best mobile device out there. But, the UI design is not that great. Sure. It looks great. But, it does not function great.

As I watch these Palm Pre CES demo videos, I am reminded of a few innovation truths:

• There is always room for improvement
• Being first does not make you the best
• Design must be functional

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I am watching the Palm Pre CES videos on YouTube.

Those who know me have heard me rant about how the Apple iPhone's UI actually kind of sucks. Don't get me wrong. It is the best mobile device out there. But, the UI design is not that great. Sure. It looks great. But, it does not function great.

As I watch these Palm Pre CES demo videos, I am reminded of a few innovation truths:

• There is always room for improvement
• Being first does not make you the best
• Design must be functional

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• http://blogs.zappos.com/blogs/ceo-and-coo-blog/2009/01/03/your-culture-is-your-brand
• http://www.zappos.com/core-values.zhtml
• http://blogs.zappos.com/blogs/ceo-and-coo-blog/2008/11/06/update

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• http://blogs.zappos.com/blogs/ceo-and-coo-blog/2009/01/03/your-culture-is-your-brand
• http://www.zappos.com/core-values.zhtml
• http://blogs.zappos.com/blogs/ceo-and-coo-blog/2008/11/06/update

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A highly recommend blog about business, management, and innovation:

http://venturehacks.com/

An awesome quote from the latest article (http://venturehacks.com/articles/ordinary-people).>

The problem isn't that money is a weak motivator. The problem is that money is a terribly strong motivator. By itself, money motivates the wrong people to do the wrong things in the quest for more money.

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A highly recommend blog about business, management, and innovation:

http://venturehacks.com/

An awesome quote from the latest article (http://venturehacks.com/articles/ordinary-people).>

The problem isn't that money is a weak motivator. The problem is that money is a terribly strong motivator. By itself, money motivates the wrong people to do the wrong things in the quest for more money.

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These are some of the best looking web forms, controls, and widgets I have seen!

http://konigi.com/tools/omnigraffle-wireframe-stencils

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These are some of the best looking web forms, controls, and widgets I have seen!

http://konigi.com/tools/omnigraffle-wireframe-stencils

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Sprinkle is a software provisioning tool you can use to build remote servers with, after the base operating system has been installed.

http://github.com/crafterm/sprinkle/tree/master

I am going to have to try this out!  It looks really promising.

I have used a number of Cap scripts to do something similar.  But, this solution looks more elegant.

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Sprinkle is a software provisioning tool you can use to build remote servers with, after the base operating system has been installed.

http://github.com/crafterm/sprinkle/tree/master

I am going to have to try this out!  It looks really promising.

I have used a number of Cap scripts to do something similar.  But, this solution looks more elegant.

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A Ruby based Continuation Integration server.  I have not had a chance to try it yet.  But, this could be an interesting project.

http://integrityapp.com/

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A Ruby based Continuation Integration server.  I have not had a chance to try it yet.  But, this could be an interesting project.

http://integrityapp.com/

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Lack of planning on your part will not constitute an emergency on my part.

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Lack of planning on your part will not constitute an emergency on my part.

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If you have not watched it already, go watch the Apple battery video here:

http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/

Prior to watching this video and understanding the reasons for an enclosed battery, it was difficult to understand Apple's decision.  Now, I am going to wait for the new enclosed battery to make its way to the 15" MacBook Pro before purchasing one.  It all just makes sense.

I think this is a great example of how we can get used to something, and think that it is the "correct" way.  But, in reality, the thing you got used to (and thought was the "correct" way) was created because of faulty design, laziness, or the lack of innovation.  

I see this phenomenon a lot in programming.  Some examples might be:

• Premature optimization
• Valuing computer processor time more than developer time
• Writing unreadable clever code because it is "faster"
• Stored procedures and triggers
• Not using an ORM

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If you have not watched it already, go watch the Apple battery video here:

http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/

Prior to watching this video and understanding the reasons for an enclosed battery, it was difficult to understand Apple's decision.  Now, I am going to wait for the new enclosed battery to make its way to the 15" MacBook Pro before purchasing one.  It all just makes sense.

I think this is a great example of how we can get used to something, and think that it is the "correct" way.  But, in reality, the thing you got used to (and thought was the "correct" way) was created because of faulty design, laziness, or the lack of innovation.  

I see this phenomenon a lot in programming.  Some examples might be:

• Premature optimization
• Valuing computer processor time more than developer time
• Writing unreadable clever code because it is "faster"
• Stored procedures and triggers
• Not using an ORM

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http://startuplessonslearned.blogspot.com/2009/01/sharding-for-startups.html

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<div style="width:477px;text-align:left" id="__ss_891219"><a style="font:14px Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;display:block;margin:12px 0 3px 0;text-decoration:underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/fred.lee/all-i-really-need-to-know-about-pair-programming-i-learned-in-kindergarten-presentation?type=document" title="All I Really Need To Know About Pair Programming I Learned In Kindergarten">All I Really Need To Know About Pair Programming I Learned In Kindergarten</a><object style="margin:0px" width="477" height="510"><param name="movie" value="http://static.slideshare.net/swf/ssplayerd.swf?doc=all-i-really-need-to-know-about-pair-programming-i-learned-in-kindergarten-1231170963674324-1&stripped_title=all-i-really-need-to-know-about-pair-programming-i-learned-in-kindergarten-presentation" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><embed src="http://static.slideshare.net/swf/ssplayerd.swf?doc=all-i-really-need-to-know-about-pair-programming-i-learned-in-kindergarten-1231170963674324-1&stripped_title=all-i-really-need-to-know-about-pair-programming-i-learned-in-kindergarten-presentation" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="477" height="510"></embed></object><div style="font-size:11px;font-family:tahoma,arial;height:26px;padding-top:2px;">View SlideShare <a style="text-decoration:underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/fred.lee/all-i-really-need-to-know-about-pair-programming-i-learned-in-kindergarten-presentation?type=document" title="View All I Really Need To Know About Pair Programming I Learned In Kindergarten on SlideShare">document</a> or <a style="text-decoration:underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/upload?type=document">Upload</a> your own. (tags: <a style="text-decoration:underline;" href="http://slideshare.net/tag/programming">programming</a>)</div></div>

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http://rubypond.com/articles/2009/01/05/ruby-on-rails-tutorials/

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http://rubypond.com/articles/2009/01/05/ruby-on-rails-tutorials/

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• Snow Leopard
  • Demo some crazy performance gains
  • Will make you want to pay $150 again to upgrade immediately
• New Mac Mini
  • New form factor
  • Upgrade the hardware
  • Position is against a Dell desktop for non-pro users
• Updated Macbook Air
  • Update the screen/lid to match the new Macbooks and MBP's
  • Update the trackpad to the new buttonless glass ones
  • Upgrade the hardware
• AppleTV
  • Something, not sure what . . . but, the new killer feature will make me want to finally go buy one.  Finally!
• iPod Touch Nano (not an iPhone Nano)
  • To me, this makes more sense.  The iPhone cannot get smaller because of the keyboard issue.  A smaller iPhone means a smaller keyboard.  On the other hand, a smaller iPod Touch would be sweet!
  • This follows the product progression for the iPod.  iPod -> Nano -> Shuffle
  • So, expect a Shuffle that is just a touch screen at some point.  What?!  That's right.

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• Snow Leopard
  • Demo some crazy performance gains
  • Will make you want to pay $150 again to upgrade immediately
• New Mac Mini
  • New form factor
  • Upgrade the hardware
  • Position is against a Dell desktop for non-pro users
• Updated Macbook Air
  • Update the screen/lid to match the new Macbooks and MBP's
  • Update the trackpad to the new buttonless glass ones
  • Upgrade the hardware
• AppleTV
  • Something, not sure what . . . but, the new killer feature will make me want to finally go buy one.  Finally!
• iPod Touch Nano (not an iPhone Nano)
  • To me, this makes more sense.  The iPhone cannot get smaller because of the keyboard issue.  A smaller iPhone means a smaller keyboard.  On the other hand, a smaller iPod Touch would be sweet!
  • This follows the product progression for the iPod.  iPod -> Nano -> Shuffle
  • So, expect a Shuffle that is just a touch screen at some point.  What?!  That's right.

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