I don't remember when JFK was assassinated.

I have a dim memory of watching a blurry TV when we took our first step on the moon.

But on 9/11 I can tell you precisely where I was, what I was doing, and what I thought and felt.

So can you.

You and I are members of the 9/11 Generation. Your children and children's children will think of you that way.

It's an uncomfortable label, full of undeniable truths that we've spent the last 7 years trying to escape.

Each of us has a personal story, memories and feelings that we've pushed into a corner. The drumbeat to 'move on' is natural, perhaps essential. But I'd gently suggest that you make sure that your story isn't lost or forgotten, as both historians and your grandchildren will hunger for it one day.

In that spirit, here's my story.

I'm a filmmaker. I listen, record, and organize memories into tapestries and timelines. I've done it all my life.

On September 11th, I was the CEO of a film and television production company. I arrived at work with the customary laundry list of to-do's. The truth was that as my company had grown large, I'd become less of a filmmaker and more of a manager of day to day operations. As a big company, with lots of details, the storytelling was often left to others.

Then, a plane flew into the World Trade Center.

I remember the jolt, the spike of fire in the blistering blue sky. Photographers and producers... [MORE]

An open letter to Ivan Seidenberg.

Ivan,  it's been a long time since i've been a customer of Verizon/Nynex/NY Telephone.

And - given today - I remember why.

You may not remember,  but when we met in your office at NYNEX almost 12 years ago,  you told me that the hardest thing about running the company was getting employees to think like they were in a competitive business,  not a utility.   That made sense then,  and I've seen you work hard to create products,  improve service,  and change the attitude of what is now called Verizon.

Well,  not so fast it appears.

It all begins when we decided to give Verizon another chance,  and shift from business VOIP back to Plain Old Telephone Lines (POTS) and a spank'n new Verizon DSL line.

So,  here's the offer:

Ok,  seems reasonable.  We've been happy with Vonage, but frankly - when we do conf calls and such Skype can a bit wonky -so it seemed like Verizon had created a reasonable product,  and a reaonsable price,  with a single point of contact for support and such.

And here's the exchange with the Verizon Sales Rep:

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On Jul 11, 2008, at 9... [MORE]

If you stand back and look at the environmental issues facing the world - they're not likely to be solved by a single group or discipline. Let's take energy for example. There's a powerful movement to rethink how we both generate and consume energy. The environmental movement is focused on changing behaviors, and changing laws. This is a good thing - of course. But once we've all changed our light bulbs and handed over our gas guzzlers for public transport and bicycles, it's pretty clear that the impact of even pretty radical conservation isn't going to be enough to change the fast moving impact of global climate change. It's pretty clear that cars aren't going to go away. And in fact cheap gas burners are cropping up fast in India and China, making any sacrifice we might make in the so-called 'developed' world pretty much moot. And that doesn't even begin to touch issues like coal. So, where are the technologists on all that? Well, for sure they're on it. Venture Capitalist John Doerr gave a very moving talk at a recent TED conference about the dangers facing the world, and clearly the Venture community and the Tech communit... [MORE]

photo by: saratoganow.com

Just got a "Dear John" letter from Facebook Ads.  Few things that are suprising.  I wrote one ad about two months ago - i think i paid all in about $10.   It wasn't anything salacious - just an ad for Magnify.net (no porn or firearms or drugs).  What is surprising is that they are telling me that not only was my ad removed (why??) but also,  my Facebook Ad Account has been permantly revoked (why?????)  and i will be unable to contiue advertising on Facebook - Really?

Have i been permanetly banned?  For life?  For the world?  Forever?  Wow.  That's pretty harsh stuff for a guy who was testing them - go no results - and is a pretty big user and fan of FB.

I'm hardly going to miss FB ads - they didn't work as best as I can tell.  But I've never been banned from anything before (ok, once a bar in College). 

I'm also stunned that FB is sending such harsh correspondence to early adopters -without making any attempt to explain what about my ads are outside their TOS or what I can do to rectify it.  It appears there's nothing I can do.  Hmm... ok,  can I get my Credit Card back then?

One thing is clear,  Google may remove an ad,  but they give you clear guidence about what you need to do to get the ad(s) turned back on.

Wikipedia and Craigs list will ban a post with this sort of generic language,  but even there there is a process to ask to... [MORE]