alwayslookaround (and occasionally tell about it)

I met up with an old co-worker/friend last night, and we went to go check out ‘Friday Night Fights‘. It was my first time there. Fun event, good stuff. Not only were the fights entertaining, but the social scene was good fun. Definitely a higher score in my book than going to some over-rated, over-priced, over-superficial crappy bar scene. It gave me a new appreciation for going to live boxing events. Especially after having watched “Cinderella Man” the night before. I’m already sold as a loyal attendee.

For years I’ve wanted to take kick boxing lessons. And for years I’ve put it off. Being someone who fully appreciates how fast life flies by, I decided last night that I’m going to start training. Probably on my own to start, just to get in shape (mainly cardiovascular), then I’ll look into joining a real training gym. No better time than the present to start, especially as winter approaches.

On that same note, I also decided to finally start this blog. It’s another thing I’ve put off for years. I live, work, and breath all things internet related, and I truly believe the blog format, or at least what it represents (open, easy to publish, unrestricted, accessible communication - except in China, unfortunately) is one of the most powerful products of the internet revolution. Yes, there’s financial value there, as evidenced by the somewhat recent acquisitions of the big blog networks, but I think the real value is yet to be realized. The focus and valuation right now are on the eyeballs reading the blogs, which translate into advertising dollars, but there’s greater value under the covers. How exactly it will be realized and harnessed, I don’t know. Maybe it can’t (or shouldn’t) be harnessed. But it will be explored to the fullest. The Web 2.0 transition started with blogs, and we’re only at the start. It will be fun to look back in 5-10 years and think, “Wow - remember when blogging was just…….”. The recent announcement by Craigslist has the print publication industry shaking in their big top hats for a reason; where Craigslist used to be taking just their milk money in the form of classified advertising revenue, now Craigslist is going after their whole lunch. As an observer and a huge believer in the power shift, it’s hard not to smile while watching, since now it’s the big bully getting pushed around by the little guy. At least that’s how I hope it turns out. :-)

Anyway, the buck stops here the blog starts here.