John Keyes

For any of you who love history, photography or both, you really should treat yourself and check out the Shorpy Historic Photo Archive.

My favourite from the past few days has been “The Tickler: 1909”:

I’ve read many pieces about failing early and failing often. It’s okay to fail, if you do it early enough, as this limits the cost of failure. An added benefit of failing is that you learn, and this may reduce the risk next time around.

Google Wave might be closing it’s doors, but it was a stunning demonstration of the power of web applications. That people are rejoicing in it’s closure is pathetic. If people weren’t using it, how was it’s existence affecting them? How is it’s death a source of pleasure?

The fail meme has assumed control of too many intellects. Rather than applying thinking to an issue, a more common analysis is a simple “Fail”.

16 people who worked in advertising were laid-off. How were their lives affected? What choices did they have to make? Are they leading happier lives since the layoff? Lemonade provides the answers to these questions.

It’s not a pink slip. It’s a blank page.

When people lose their jobs, their first concern is predominately about money. Mortgages still need to be paid off, utility bills need to paid, and food needs to bought.

In plenty of cases this is the only concern, as people worry about losing their home, and the prospect of having nothing.

In many more cases though, being laid-off is the catalyst for life changes. A second car, underused gym memberships, holidays, and plenty of other non-essentials can be removed from the accounts. A more frugal life can be lead.

Each person interviewed in Lemonade is happier (or at least perceives themselves to be happier) since being laid-off. We should all know that a job can be a prison for happiness, where monthly payments offset the unhappiness of doing the job, but also tighten the shackles of routine.

The most powerful part of the film for me was when David Cohen described how losing his job was also him losing the last shred of responsibility in his life. He was able to lead his life as a woman and no longer have to fake his masculinity (or hide his femininity).

I got laid off and I changed my gender.

If you are unhappy in your job and you don’t have major financial responsibilities, explore new avenues, try new things, follow your passions. You never know where it might take you, and you never will if you don’t try.

Pat Phelan asked whether check-in is over?

The check-ins which most people are familiar with are associated with hotels and airports.

Applications like Foursquare or Gowalla allow people to check-in anywhere, and share the fact with whoever they want. There is a game aspect also, with points and badges being awarded for checking-in.

One of the most common check-ins I see on Twitter is people checking into their homes, with ultra witty names like Chez Smith, Smith HQ, and Smith Towers.

These hold as much interest to me as conference, supermarket and shopping centre check-ins.

It really is a case of…SQUIRREL.

I’m very much a fence-sitter when it comes to declaring the future of web technologies. I don’t like Facebook, yet millions of people do. A couple of years ago I would have been tempted to say Facebook was over (if forced to make such a declaration). To do so would have proven foolish, but if I had said the same about Bebo would that be the case?

I’ll answer “is check-in over?” when IE6 is over.