Tech Post 1: Most people hate traffic, but I love it for the web

Alright, I have been debating this for a while, since I wanted this blog to be not about my work, but about my observations, experiences, etc. However, since technology is a large part of my life, I guess I will have lots of observations, and experiences. So why not write about it from time to time? Well, I will identify these with the Tech Post : Title (kind of like my short stories). That said...

I have been working with internet based computing since the inception of the web in 1994. Now in the early days, there were several business models that were tried, but after the shakeout, only 5 real models emerged for making money on the web (at this time). Consider this as the 10,000 foot view. The models can be identified as not for profit information services, web related infrastructure services (hosting, consulting, programming), extensions of brick and mortar stores (online catalogs), subscription based services (um, mostly pornographic), and lastly advertising (the big monster, the Walmart of the web, Google ladies and gentlemen). Now I have tried to make money as a side line from each of the models (obviously not so for the not for profit). Tossing out the infrastructure model at least for this conversation, all three boil down to need the same thing (and the infrastructure model too, if you burrow down to the root cause). You need to have traffic to the site and that traffic to do something.

I have found, traffic is needed for click and mortar, subscription, and advertising models. The more traffic you send to your site, the more likely they are going to buy, subscribe, or see your advertisements. If you look at the venues I have followed in my attempts to make money, I started with building infrastructure for clients... well you needed customers for that. I then tried out an online store... well you need traffic to get the customers. In the 3 years we were open, we had 3 customers. I have not tried a subscription based service, but in my next venue I will have that as part of its biz model. Lately, I have been focusing on the advertising aspects (with this blog, several cash parked sites, and I am working on a content distribution service within the web and 3d worlds... the 3d worlds is for another post tho). I would say out of all of them, the most traction seems to come from the building of infrastructure, and the advertisement model. Funny, if I look at them in order of which I did them, they all built upon each other.

It used to be if you build it, they will come. Then it got to be if you build it, they will come, but you need to make them do something. Now it is, if you build it, they will come, but you have to make them WANT to do something. As an example. I used to build websites for people that were static and dynamic. Just submitting to the search engine was enough. Then I started building online stores for others and myself. People would come in, but you had to compel them to buy. Now, I have to drive traffic to my site with various ways (search engines, engine placement, dead url redirects, bought traffic, google ads, etc). Once here, I have to put out compelling content to get them to click on my ads or make sure my content pulls up ads that are higher paying. What is next? Bribes? There will be a new business model that will eventually shake out I suspect. Perhaps a slant on the old ASP model.

So what will the new business model for the web be? Either way, in the end you will need customers/traffic. Maybe something with SOA perhaps? Collections of services that are sold via micro payments each time they are used? That would work, but your services would have to be better than what is available freely, and the payments have to at that sweet spot of price to make them worth while to the developer and customer. I would love to be the one that sets up the "framework" for collecting the monies from SOA pay services (of course taking a small % for my troubles)... Hmm, there it is world. My newest entrepreneurial adventure! See you in 5 years on my boat in the Caribbean.... Ha!

They lost their way

This is probably my strongest rant, but it is an observations I have had brewing in me for awhile now. I try to be a live and let live. I try to look at every individual objectively based on their skills, knowledge, experience, and sense of moralities and most of all their deeds. Also, I can say I honestly believe in what the hippies, blacks, and gays were fighting for back in the 60's and 70's. However, I feel all three groups have not done anything with their new found freedoms or rights. They have truly lost their way from the root of each of their respective movements.

Lets start with the hippies. This group has sold out to corporate America and became the bulk of the baby boomers. They just kept the drugs and "free love" (in this case, just a reason to poke each other). Shameful. How did you all change the world? Not for the better. You gave us globalization, outsourcing, welfare, cheap goods from over seas that poison us, and affirmative action. Where is your passion to change the world? You rallied around so many things and went so many ways, I don't think I could tell you what hippies were/are about. Help me out please.

To our Black patriots (Or is the correct vernacular African Americans, since I work in an International company, peoples from African descent are now called Blacks again, since they are all over the world). I guess I am referring to those in the USA, I guess your group is African Americans. Well guys, what happen to the Martin Luther King's dream? All his work has led to what? The birth of "Gangsta Rap", and affirmative action? From all I have read from him, he wanted more for his children. Mostly, I seem to sense the younger generation of African Americans (not so from the immigrant blacks) seem to have a sense of self entitlement. Also, where are their moralities? Have those gone quietly into the night. Sadly, I am rather tired of the rant about slavery and oppression from 120 years ago. I am sorry for the atrocities inflicted upon you, and they should not be forgotten, but my grandfather didn't own a slave, and most likely yours wasn't one either. Go pound sand about it, because it has worn very thin. However, after all that your grand parents and parents did to further the cause of civil rights, you could come around with something better than taking the extra "points" from affirmative action. Stand up and have some pride like they did.

Lastly, the gays that fought long and hard for equal rights (right to marry, right to being accepted, etc.) are either retired, or dead. The ones that marched with the rainbow flags and the outlandish costumes are long gone. Since they seem to have become socially accepted in society, the younger generation has done nothing with it to better the cause. Anytime I have been to a gay run club, they seem to have became superficial, shallow, and egotistical. There is no depth of character that made their plight worthy. My gay or bi friends have agreed this is true when I point it out. Some depth of character on the whole would be nice.

Granted these are all generalizations (and in my opinion, there is not much difference between stereotyping and generalizations, even if people claim such... but then again, I think there minorities can have just as much prejudice as a majority too). This is not meant to be a bigotry rant. However, it is meant for people of these groups to open their eyes to the observations of an outsider. I felt what each movement was doing was good. Now, it seem the movements are either dead, or the groups don't care. It almost seems a slap in the face to all their forefathers hard work, dedication and perseverance. Maybe they don't need the movements anymore? Maybe this is indicative of something good? Perhaps things are converging into a true blending of ideas that all are created equal? That we no longer need causes to rally around because things are so good? Or is it a barometer of something bad? A compliancy not only found in these groups, but in the USA as a whole? Lord I hope not. Sometimes I fear for my generation.

Description of the holidays

Just to let you all know I am still posting, but I have been buried with my RL (real life) job's deadlines. My good friend sent me this description of the upcoming holiday season I thought was great and had to share. Edited somewhat:

"The holidays are coming like a bunch of marauding, bloodthirsty, frightfully large butch lesbians coming through the city gates. 'F*ck me,' said Santa Claus."

Got to love it! Thanks Bob!
Well more posts to come, since the work will be slowing down slightly after this weekend.

Convergence of leadership, the one common thread I have found

I have taken a few courses, attended a few workshops, read numerous articles, interviewed various participants, and tried various avenues myself, and I have found that leaders seem to have one common theme amongst them. They all tend to find some holding bucket for their FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt). Think about it. The ones that believe in God, will say "I place myself in God's hands". Or the ones that look to science, find themselves falling back to their immutable logic, theorems, and postulates to slide their FUD into. Likewise, the super crazy ones, shelve their FUD into their own divinity, and their supreme entity right to lead.

I find this ironic, since people look to these persons to alleviate their own fears in decision making, when most of them push the FUD onto something other than themselves? Now just whom is the foolish party here?

Maybe it is humans as a species are incapable of making decisions in the face ambiguity, uncertainty and possible unfavorable outcomes. So we just say to the Hell with it. Unlike animals, that tend not to think beyond instinct, when man is faced with something that could cause that, our brains overload, and we look to something outside of ourselves.

In short, maybe we have not evolved beyond instinct or if you are creationist, God left out that part, so we put our are faith in only him? Interesting question if you ask me.

The 13th Zodiac? Now, just what is my sign?

Well, some of you might have seen the History Channel's special on Nostradamus's lost book. Well, I did not. Hehe. I did hear about it and it mentions this 13th Zodiac. After reading up on it I have found some interesting things.

One, there are actually 13 astrological signs in the zodiac, but in ancient Babylon they removed the 13th, because it did not divide evenly (with 12 signs, it comes out to 30 degrees each). The missing sign is what you might ask? Well, it is a small constellation called Ophiuchus.

Ophiuchus is the only sign that is actually tied to a single man. Imhotep by name and his symbol is a snake on a staff. He was considered the father of medicine (hence the medical profession using the snake on a staff).

Well, low and behold, after some googling, I found my birthday actually falls in the Ophiuchus sign. All these years I have thought I was Sagittarius. Nope! I am a snake... which is ironic. My father used to call me "snake" as a kid. As in "hey you little snake, what are you up to?!?"

Interesting... what will I do with this new found knowledge? I think I need to digest it more. But if anyone is interested, here is a link (take a look, your sign might different as it shifts them):

http://aquarianmysteries.com/ophiuchus2.html

Note: The above link has become inactive since the post, I am leaving it here in case the site returns, however, here is the an archive of the link from the "way back machine" so you can see the information. (Jeffrey)


My jury is still out on astrology's validity (I am a system analyst by training, software engineer by trade... man I love how titles change). Let me know what you think of all this in some comments.