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Green energy needs to be more than just clean

CORONADO, Calif.--Looming energy problems present noteworthy challenges for the world, but big thinkers in science, business, and technology know they have to compete with the status quo without a helping hand.

The Future in Review conference has always been about sketching a picture of the technology and business landscape five years into the future. But this year, attendees and presenters are focused on a more pressing issue: the need for alternative energy sources to replace fossil fuels sooner, rather than later.

As such, the early talk at the Hotel Del Coronado is all about alternative energy, whether that's … Read more

Bruce Lee on productivity

I found Bruce Lee's Top 7 Fundamentals for Getting Your Life in Shape over on the Positivity Blog (ironic link on Negative Approach, I know.)

If there was anyone who can you look to as your business of warfare mentor, it's Bruce Lee, and sometimes Chuck Norris, though rarely Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (unless you need a skyhook) despite his role in kung-fu movies.

Bruce Lee's Top 7 Fundamentals for Getting Your Life in Shape 1. What are you really thinking about today? 2. Simplify. 3. Learn about yourself in interactions. 4. Do not divide. 5. Avoid a dependency … Read more

Weekend fun: Find the signed copy of Sarah Lacy's book at Green Apple in SF

I ran into Sarah Lacy and her husband Geoff at Green Apple and she sneakily signed the only copy left of her book in the store and stuck it back on the shelf. That's a special prize for whoever picks up Once You're Lucky, Twice You're Good: The Rebirth of Silicon Valley and the Rise of Web 2.0

I've been giving her a bit of a hard time that I don't really care about the story (I am still waiting for my copy from Amazon) but the truth is I am just jealous that … Read more

Verizon Wireless and I are back to being best friends

I got a call yesterday morning from the manager at the Verizon store where I had a not great experience last week. I am happy to say that me and VZW are back to being BFF.

All he really knew was that the call center had told him that I had a very negative experience in the store and he called me personally to ask what happened. This is the kind of customer service that I have always seen from Verizon and I appreciate the effort that they made.

As a side note for all you commenters, I am not … Read more

MacBook Air battery dying within 2 hours--any advice?

Having fixed my previous problem of the MacBook Air not actually going to sleep I am now seeing battery life of no more than 2 hours. It also seems to take about 4 hours for the battery to charge up completely...very strange.

I am not in Safe Sleep mode instead running a custom "quick sleep" setting. My friend is running the MBA with "Better Battery" and is also seeing about 2 hours of battery life.

Any thoughts or ideas would be much appreciated.

JavaOne catches an infection

Apparently JavaOne got an infection. Here is the note from the conference team.

The JavaOne conference team has been notified by the San Francisco Department of Public Health about an identified outbreak of a virus in the San Francisco area. Testing is still underway to identify the specific virus in question, but they believe it to be the Norovirus, a common cause of the "stomach flu", which can cause temporary flu-like symptoms for up to 48 hours. Part of the San Francisco area impacted includes the Moscone Center, the site of the JavaOne conference which is being held … Read more

Verizon Wireless and I are no longer friends

I had a few minutes today and I went to the Verizon store on Van Ness to see if I could get the new Blackberry Curve that just came out. After standing there for 9 minutes (I checked on my existing BB) someone finally asked if they could help. Here is my experience as verbatim as I can recall.

"Did you guys get the Curve." "Yes." "Can I get one" "What is your cell #?" "Does it matter?" "No."

Then he bounded off to the backroom to return without … Read more

Off-topic: Videos of the best pizza you haven't eaten yet

I don't know how I've managed to not know about Chow.com (a CNET site no less!) but today I found it through the Webby Awards page.

In the Chow Pizza Obsessives feature, you can watch seven videos of my friend and pizza hero Anthony Mangieri discuss the world of pizza and you too will become obsessed.

In the meantime you might want to try out Pazzia on 3rd @ Folsom.