On the death of Pyra

There was a time not so long ago when venture capitalists were handing out money to anyone with a business plan. Revenue didn't seem to matter, the important thing was doing something, anything on the Internet that might possibly bring some users to the site for something useful, and then, hopefully, those users would use a free service, any free service as long as it was on the Internet, and maybe someday parlay that use into a revenue stream.

Today, we know for sure that doesn't work. When I was looking for work last February because the company I was working for was part of this make money someday, somehow revolution, I talked to a bunch of places who were also in that market, most of whom were in the same sort of grey-area of revenue models. We were all full of ourselves then, talking into a frenzy about viral marketing, vertical markets and leveraging affiliate programs, feeling so smug as we looked down the yellow road to IPO. After a while, it became clear that our dreams weren't the answer, that while the Web was unlike anything else, it was like everything else. In order to survive, you need money coming in on a regular basis.

And the smug companies who turned me down went out of business, companies who wanted me, who I believed in, offered me a small severance for my troubles, carted my desk out to a Uhaul and put a for lease sign in front of the building. The times are changing, what seemed so great just a year ago now seems so obvious today that it would never work.

I have to ask, why did we get so caught up in venture capital money? Was it the lowered risk and perceived safety net that having several million dollars in the bank provides? What's so bad about starting a company with a small loan, doing everything you can yourself, then creating goods or services and selling them, growing the business and adding employees as needed? Maybe I'm naive, but I think we just forgot, lured by the big checks from VC's that were flowing like water. Now that those checks have stopped coming, it's a different world, hopefully a smarter one.

Note to self: When putting feet on computer do not rest your feet on the power cable. It can only lead to no good.

What are people on these days? Man wielding bat, machete goes on school rampage.

My new hockey skates arrived today. I'm so excited, I just hope they fit!

I can't even comment on this

I haven't turned the LizCam on today because the last pic from yesterday sums up my mood the last week or so all too well.

It's true. My job has sucked ass lately. I mistakenly volunteered for what has to be the most difficult project I've done in a while, reworking some undocumented code (hint: if you hire an outside firm to design and build your entire site, including development and staging environments make them document everything. Or at least a few things.). Unfortunately, it's a high-profile project and the whole world has been nipping at each other's heels to make it happen. It finally made it out of my hands today. I won't be signing up for any side projects for a while.

Furnace man #2 came today. Naturally, he can't fix it, he can only replace the whole thing. He also found a dead mouse in it, which Andrea forgot about and Zeus ate. The vet was concerned about any poison that might have been in the mouse so both Zeus and Alice are hanging out at the vet's today. For once, Alice was not the troublemaker.

Today's House Drama
When our plumber Titus came out to install the gas line for the dryer, he turned off the furnace. I don't know why but he did so we called PG&E to come out and light the pilot light so we could have heat again. The guy arrived early, so early we were still asleep but our mighty watchdog Alice woke us up.

Of course it's a larger issue than just lighting the pilot light. We need some random part with the accompanying service technician to install said part. I'm always wary of the people who can get out right away so I found someone who can come a little later. Hopefully this will be the one time they don't say 'oh, this is a bigger job than I'd thought.'

Today I hate my job. People are being largely shitty and more importantly, my soul's not in it. I've been working on the web in one way or another since 1997, has it come full circle, can I get no more satisfaction from it? I'm at a crossroads. It's no longer satisfying work and I'm more than tired of the politics and people who find it acceptable to be nasty. But the money's good so here I am.

I guess there's just really nothing of note going on today.

Last night was a tiring night of animals with ants in their pants. First Bennie, the guinea pig, decided to try and make a break for it, then to keep trying. After he calmed down, Zeus was the next to be afflicted and started rolling around on the floor and running around the house. All before 8 am.

Casual One-Nighter Gives Strom Thurmond Change Of Heart On Gay Issue. Thanks Phil.

This has been perhaps the most stressful couple of weeks of my life. Maybe that's not true but it certainly feels like it.

Miss Ellie's namesake had all 12 of her puppies on New Year's Eve. Ellie's Puppy Album is packed full of cute photos and we're debating about adding one of the little ones to our family this spring.

I neglected to mention that the last night's hockey game was packed full of highlights. It all started when a guy took to the ice for the very first time. He was falling down the whole time and spent all of his effort trying to stand. When I skated past him and said hang in there, he said 'I am having a very good time' with a very thick Indian accent.

Then there was some bizarre issue with a woman who usually plays in a different league with different rules. Somehow she got the puck between the goalie's legs, then proceeded to try and push it into the net while it was still under him. Which is just bad, no matter how you call it. Agressive motion under anyone's genitals is not ever a good thing. So the goalie (Gerald, a very nice guy) tells the woman to stop, that it's out of play. She (Linda, seemingly nice but something of a loose cannon) starts going off about it, wasting my time and everyone else's. She storms off the ice and continues her hissy fit from the bench, wasting a full minute of playing time.

With as much as that playing time costs, I don't give a shit who's right or who's free to wave a large stick in front of someone's genitals, I just want to play. So quit your bitchin' and start skating, lady!

We are officially free from the clutches of the Evil Landlord. All of our stuff is out and the place seemed pretty damn clean to me, but of course Evil Landlord (and her smarmy husband) found some sticking points so we'll still get dinged for (gasp!) dirty blinds and spots on the oven we never used. The kicker is they said they can keep the deposit if they can't rent the place fast enough since we signed a lease.

First I was pissed but now I don't care. Sure, the money would be a help, we have work on our house to do, but we're free from her annoying voice, hideous dress (hey lady, you sure aren't 25 anymore!) and $2100 a month rent. So hey, bitch, keep your money. We bought a house!

In setting up our new phone, naturally, I called our sorry excuse for a phone company. First there was confuesion because we had 2 lines at the other house and now only want one so even though they took my order they couldn't complete it and had to call me back. Then they asked if I wanted DSL. Knowing that everyone I know who's had it set up went through hell and that I'd rather work at work, I said no.

So what on my porch should appear? A box of DSL stuff. I'm on hold with them now waiting to cancel the order that I never placed.