Sluggoaafa on Blogspot
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Blogger was started by a tiny company in San Francisco called Pyra Labs in August of 1999. This was in the midst of the dot-com boom. But we weren't exactly a VC-funded, party-throwing, foosball-in-the-lobby-playing, free-beer-drinking outfit. (Unless it was other people's free beer.)
We were three friends, funded by doing annoying contract web projects for big companies, trying to make our own grand entrance onto the Internet landscape. What we were originally trying to do doesn't matter so much now. But while doing it, we created Blogger, more or less on a whim, and thought — Hmmm... that's kinda interesting.
Blogger took off, in a small way, and eventually a bigger way, over a couple years. We raised a little money (but stayed small). And then the bust happened, and we ran out of money, and our fun little journey got less fun. We narrowly survived, not all in one piece, but kept the service going the whole time (most days) and started building it back up.
Things were going well again in 2002. We had hundreds of thousands of users, though still just a few people. And then something no one expected happened: Google wanted to buy us. Yes, that Google
We liked Google a lot. And they liked blogs. So we were amenable to the idea. And it worked out nicely.
Now we're a small (but slightly bigger than before) team in Google focusing on helping people have their own voice on the web and organizing the world's information from the personal perspective. Which has pretty much always been our whole deal.
For more on Google, check google.com. (Also good for searching.)
Finally it's Fall
Anyway, the wind is blowing a slight cool breeze, the leaves are starting to fall, and I can just feel high school band competitions are going on all over the place. It's been a few years since I went to one and would really like to go, but the last time I was at one here in the Minneapolis area, it was FREEZING. I do miss not being close to a high school to volunteer with a band, but it's fun to watch the video's on youtube or some place like that.
Last weekend I was back home in Virginia for my high school band reunion. It was a lot of fun. We had several directors over the years there, as well as students from the early to mid eighties, to when I graduated in '91. We had a blast getting together and seeing each other and reminiscing old times of how band use to be.
Watching the band at the friday night football game brought back many memories, but we can tell it sure is a different band than when we were there. Sure, there is a new director and he's doing a good job. I'm not sure if it's just the attitude of the kids, or the limit in the type of discipline that can be instilled into the kids, but I know we would have never allowed anyone to have blue hair, or wear ear rings while in uniform.
I do miss those good old days. I think for all of us at the reunion, we all realize that who we are today, we learned from band. "We're now 5 minutes behind schedule". "It's not my time your wasting", "there is someone better than you are". The decisions were up to us to do well. I truly miss not going directly into college and getting my music education degree that I wanted, but I'm happy with the decisions that I have made.
I guess what to expect next is great Apple Pies, or Apple cider, apple dumplings, or even halloween haunted houses. Those days are truly missed.
Is there ever any good news on TV?
Anyway, the only thing that is somewhat decent to watch on television during the day is the news. However, I’m just getting tired of watching it because when something is “breaking”, they tend to report the most bogus things, or will ask the most stupid questions. (no, not stupidly, just plain stupid)
I would like to just strangle that Nancy Grace in the way that she squeals on her show. I think Boston Legal did an outstanding job showcasing her by their Gracie Jane look alike of Nancy Grace. Sure, these reporters have every right to voice their opinions, but that’s just it..an Opinion. It’s not LAW, it’s not regulation, it’s an opinion. I doubt she would ever admit that she was wrong in her judgements of people.
You know it’s a slow news day when news stations are reporting how President Obama used the word “Stupidly” regarding how that police officer reacting to the Professor trying to get into his house. OMG, you would have thought that murder was sprayed all over the place. EVERY. SINGLE. NEWS agency reported on this slip. Per the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “Stupidly” is an adverb. So what’s the big deal? That a President called someone stupid? OMG, the world is going to end!
I also love during news conferences, different people ask the same questions over and over. One reporter will ask a question...it’s answered. Someone else will ask the same question, but word it different....it’s answered. Another reporter will ask the same question that the first two asked...but will word it differently again. By this time, the person doing the conference gets annoyed and reminds everyone to listen to other people’s questions...yours may be answered!!! Didn’t we learn this in Elementary School?