We’re having a ball here in Montana. Spent the day soaking in the Chico Hot Springs with a few geeks. I’ll bet the pictures will be on Valleywag sometime soon. “Fat white guys soak in bubble pool” will be the headline.
Heh.
Anyway, I already found the wifi in the state and the two biggest geeks. Had dinner last night with Greg Gianforte, CEO of RightNow ($110 million in revenues, publicly traded). He indeed was as interesting as I expected him to be. But the total shock was meeting Andrew Field, CEO of Printing For Less.
He told me his mechanic firm fixed my mom’s car in the 1990s and she was their best customer.
Small world. He has 150 employees. $24 million in revenues. Privately held, but the buzz around the party we were at last night said he was heading toward going public.
Both are hiring. And quickly too. Greg says he’s hiring a new employee every day right now. Maybe that’s why they call it “RightNow.”
Anyway, that’s enough geek talk. These two CEOs will be dropping by my mom’s house this week for “OffTheGridCamp.”
Tomorrow we’re going to Yellowstone. Talk to you later. Hope things are going well for you.
Oh, David Petersen of XML.com came out to visit us in Salt Lake City (so did a few geeks from the Mormon Church) and he’s put up some photos and recordings of the interesting conversation we had.
Thanks to Steve Sloan for taking nice pictures of Maryam, me and Patrick at BlogHer.
Michelle Quinn at the San Jose Mercury News interviewed me about my new job and I hear it’s on the front of the business section but they don’t distribute that paper in Montana, so I’ll have to be happy with seeing the bits online.
Oh, PayPerPost is paying bloggers to take potshots at me. Wonderful. Someone doesn’t agree with your approach to blogs so you build your own mob to attack. I love how this guy doesn’t disclose he was paid to write this blog post (someone else sent me the “hit notice” that they have out on my head).
Yeah, I’m not at WordCamp. We have our own WordPress camp going up in Montana, though. But I’m bummed that Matt Mullenweg isn’t at MY camp. Heheh.
Hope your week is full of geeks and fun.
Scobleizer 
I just returned from a week and a half trip to MT. My wife is from there and her family is in Great Falls, and some in Dillon. We went for her 20yr HS reunion in Great Falls, also spent time with her family of course. When I was with IBM I considered living in Missoula (I was easily mobile) as I’m a huge fan of the big country in Montana, and I love the college atmosphere of Missoula (recco: the bobcat vs. griz football rivalry in November is not to be missed). It’s great to hear about new and upcoming software companies from Montana. Small population, REALLY big state, so it’s not easy. Having just done a big MT family trip (from the Sip & Dip in Great Falls to Virginia City to Lewis and Clark Caverns), I once again reaffirmed my love for this great state. Kudos and good luck to Greg and Andrew and all of those making a living in technology in Montana – the ‘last best place’. -Bill (billhilf@microsoft.com)
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I just returned from a week and a half trip to MT. My wife is from there and her family is in Great Falls, and some in Dillon. We went for her 20yr HS reunion in Great Falls, also spent time with her family of course. When I was with IBM I considered living in Missoula (I was easily mobile) as I’m a huge fan of the big country in Montana, and I love the college atmosphere of Missoula (recco: the bobcat vs. griz football rivalry in November is not to be missed). It’s great to hear about new and upcoming software companies from Montana. Small population, REALLY big state, so it’s not easy. Having just done a big MT family trip (from the Sip & Dip in Great Falls to Virginia City to Lewis and Clark Caverns), I once again reaffirmed my love for this great state. Kudos and good luck to Greg and Andrew and all of those making a living in technology in Montana – the ‘last best place’. -Bill (billhilf@microsoft.com)
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Sweet: Chico Hot Springs! I remember going there with my family 3 or 4 years ago. Great rustic atmosphere, isn’t it? I remember one day I stayed in the pool for 5 hours straight. Let me know – do they still have the smaller pool that is really hot?
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Sweet: Chico Hot Springs! I remember going there with my family 3 or 4 years ago. Great rustic atmosphere, isn’t it? I remember one day I stayed in the pool for 5 hours straight. Let me know – do they still have the smaller pool that is really hot?
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$110 million…$24 million…I guess it’s true what Bill Bryson says about Americans – the first thing they tell you when meeting you is how much money they make… 😉
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$110 million…$24 million…I guess it’s true what Bill Bryson says about Americans – the first thing they tell you when meeting you is how much money they make… 😉
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Come on now…After you guys drag me through the mud we can’t have a little fun? http://blog.payperpost.com/
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Come on now…After you guys drag me through the mud we can’t have a little fun? http://blog.payperpost.com/
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The PayPerPost thing brings up an interesting concept, one beyond any goofiness with paying for potshots.
If a blogger discloses upfront they are getting paid and by who, and that pay does not influence or bias their opinions, is there anything wrong with getting paid to blog?
Folks like John C Dvorak have been getting paid for years to post their opinions in places like PC Magazine or on the late TechTV. How is what they do different?
Again, this isn’t a comment on the payperblog thing, I don’t know much about them, but just bringing up a broader issue.
Robert C
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The PayPerPost thing brings up an interesting concept, one beyond any goofiness with paying for potshots.
If a blogger discloses upfront they are getting paid and by who, and that pay does not influence or bias their opinions, is there anything wrong with getting paid to blog?
Folks like John C Dvorak have been getting paid for years to post their opinions in places like PC Magazine or on the late TechTV. How is what they do different?
Again, this isn’t a comment on the payperblog thing, I don’t know much about them, but just bringing up a broader issue.
Robert C
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Oh, PayPerPost is paying bloggers to take potshots at me. Wonderful. Someone doesn’t agree with your approach to blogs so you build your own mob to attack.
EXPIRED: Tammany Hall
TIRED: Flash Mob
WIRED: Cash Mob
Interesting concept indeed, in a samurai, hit man, “This Snark for Hire” sense.
I love how this guy doesn’t disclose he was paid to write this blog post (someone else sent me the “hit notice” that they have out on my head).
Scene from “The Podfather”
INT. DON WINER’S STUDY – DAY
DON WINER sits behind a massive wooden desk, in a room with dark wood paneling and velvet drapes. BOBBY SCOBELLO stands before the desk, agitated, wringing his hat in his hand.
SCOBELLO: I believe in the blogsphere. The blogosphere has made my fortune. But this Murphy, he enters the blogosphere, pollutes it, pays bloggers to post positive reviews of things. I said maybe this is good, maybe this is not so good. But now he is paying bloggers to post bad things. Bad things about me and my company. Then I said to my wife, for justice, we must go to Don Winer.
WINER: Someday — and that day may never come — I may call upon you to do a web service for me. But until that day, accept this justice as a gift.
INT. STARBUCKS — DAY
TED MURPHY is sipping a latte and scrolling through his email. He double-clicks on a message, and does a spit-take, spewing milk all over his screen and keyboard.
The email contains nothing but a large picture of a dead fish.
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Oh, PayPerPost is paying bloggers to take potshots at me. Wonderful. Someone doesn’t agree with your approach to blogs so you build your own mob to attack.
EXPIRED: Tammany Hall
TIRED: Flash Mob
WIRED: Cash Mob
Interesting concept indeed, in a samurai, hit man, “This Snark for Hire” sense.
I love how this guy doesn’t disclose he was paid to write this blog post (someone else sent me the “hit notice” that they have out on my head).
Scene from “The Podfather”
INT. DON WINER’S STUDY – DAY
DON WINER sits behind a massive wooden desk, in a room with dark wood paneling and velvet drapes. BOBBY SCOBELLO stands before the desk, agitated, wringing his hat in his hand.
SCOBELLO: I believe in the blogsphere. The blogosphere has made my fortune. But this Murphy, he enters the blogosphere, pollutes it, pays bloggers to post positive reviews of things. I said maybe this is good, maybe this is not so good. But now he is paying bloggers to post bad things. Bad things about me and my company. Then I said to my wife, for justice, we must go to Don Winer.
WINER: Someday — and that day may never come — I may call upon you to do a web service for me. But until that day, accept this justice as a gift.
INT. STARBUCKS — DAY
TED MURPHY is sipping a latte and scrolling through his email. He double-clicks on a message, and does a spit-take, spewing milk all over his screen and keyboard.
The email contains nothing but a large picture of a dead fish.
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Rob,
Can you make it back to TechRanch (www.techranch.org) this week? We enjoyed your visit last time. You should also try and make it out for the Big Sky Venture Capital Conference (www.bigskyventurecapital.com) August 24-25.
If we could bring the Sip and Dip to Bozeman we would in a flash….Chico and it are among the best bars in Montana!
John
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Rob,
Can you make it back to TechRanch (www.techranch.org) this week? We enjoyed your visit last time. You should also try and make it out for the Big Sky Venture Capital Conference (www.bigskyventurecapital.com) August 24-25.
If we could bring the Sip and Dip to Bozeman we would in a flash….Chico and it are among the best bars in Montana!
John
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Yo, Robert! Might not you be taking the whole “hit,” “potshot,” and “mob” thing a bit too seriously? I read the “Wanted Poster” and simply chuckled. Tell you what, I’ll gladly trade places with you — and then hit the mattresses until the heat’s off.
It seems to be part you being well-known and having a measure of fame, and part tit-for-tat if what is written is true (see below) — that is, you truly did “bash” the idea/launch. Also, you are not the sole target. People with water guns are after TechCrunch, too! It all seems like good clean [competitive] fun to me.
Get a hold of a picture of one of the bloggers that bashed us when we launched: techcrunch, scoble
or any of your other favorites. [text deleted] Tell us what you think about the elitists who think they are the only ones that should get paid. (Source: https://payperpost.com/blogger/opportunity/detail/213)
That said, and in the interest of full disclosure, I participate in PayPerPost. I let my readers know which postings are also advertisements. It works for me, but then I’ve known nothing but business schools much of my adult life. The notion of making legit and untarnished money makes pretty good cents. (Oops, that’s “sense.”)
In fact, it works doubly well for me. The advertisers are actually providing the very content I might otherwise have to spend time seeking out. Yes, it’s monkey change, but why not pick up beer money if it’s literally being given away? Anything I’ve written for PayPerPost, I would have written regardless. That means “free money” to me.
(But if you do need a place to hide until the contract expires, I’ll hook you up here at the beach.)
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Yo, Robert! Might not you be taking the whole “hit,” “potshot,” and “mob” thing a bit too seriously? I read the “Wanted Poster” and simply chuckled. Tell you what, I’ll gladly trade places with you — and then hit the mattresses until the heat’s off.
It seems to be part you being well-known and having a measure of fame, and part tit-for-tat if what is written is true (see below) — that is, you truly did “bash” the idea/launch. Also, you are not the sole target. People with water guns are after TechCrunch, too! It all seems like good clean [competitive] fun to me.
Get a hold of a picture of one of the bloggers that bashed us when we launched: techcrunch, scoble
or any of your other favorites. [text deleted] Tell us what you think about the elitists who think they are the only ones that should get paid. (Source: https://payperpost.com/blogger/opportunity/detail/213)
That said, and in the interest of full disclosure, I participate in PayPerPost. I let my readers know which postings are also advertisements. It works for me, but then I’ve known nothing but business schools much of my adult life. The notion of making legit and untarnished money makes pretty good cents. (Oops, that’s “sense.”)
In fact, it works doubly well for me. The advertisers are actually providing the very content I might otherwise have to spend time seeking out. Yes, it’s monkey change, but why not pick up beer money if it’s literally being given away? Anything I’ve written for PayPerPost, I would have written regardless. That means “free money” to me.
(But if you do need a place to hide until the contract expires, I’ll hook you up here at the beach.)
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“Taking pot shots at you?” Good God, Scoble. You have the thinnest skin of anyone I’ve come across. I thought you said you try to learn from criticism in your Merc News PR piece? I’ve not seen ANY evidence of that. All I see is you throwing temper tantrums when someone has the audactity to say something critical of you.
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“Taking pot shots at you?” Good God, Scoble. You have the thinnest skin of anyone I’ve come across. I thought you said you try to learn from criticism in your Merc News PR piece? I’ve not seen ANY evidence of that. All I see is you throwing temper tantrums when someone has the audactity to say something critical of you.
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LayZ: maybe I went overboard. I really am not bothered by it, but I find it interesting that you can now pay people to write shit about someone else and those writers don’t even disclose that they are getting paid.
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LayZ: maybe I went overboard. I really am not bothered by it, but I find it interesting that you can now pay people to write shit about someone else and those writers don’t even disclose that they are getting paid.
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@12 The more you comment on the pay per post issue the more you seem bothered by it. Frankly I think this type of pay per post was inevitible. I mean, at what point did journalist start getting paid to write newsarticles and have to keep the major advertisers interests in the back of their minds. Reporters don’t blantantly disclose that they are getting paid, why should bloggers? I mean, aren’t you the way saying there is no difference between a journalist and a blogger?
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@12 The more you comment on the pay per post issue the more you seem bothered by it. Frankly I think this type of pay per post was inevitible. I mean, at what point did journalist start getting paid to write newsarticles and have to keep the major advertisers interests in the back of their minds. Reporters don’t blantantly disclose that they are getting paid, why should bloggers? I mean, aren’t you the way saying there is no difference between a journalist and a blogger?
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All I see is you throwing temper tantrums when someone has the audactity to say something critical of you.
Is saying “Wonderful” and rolling your eyes a “temper tantrum?”
No doubt saying, “GOOD GOD you are the thinnest-skinned person I’VE EVER SEEN” is just a dry, objective statement of fact. 😉
I mean, at what point did journalist start getting paid to write newsarticles and have to keep the major advertisers interests in the back of their minds. Reporters don’t blantantly disclose that they are getting paid, why should bloggers?
I’m guessing you were Jayson Blair’s Journalism Ethics prof at Columbia?
I thought there was usually a difference between reporting the news and being a shill; that there was usually a difference between journalism and editorializing. But you’ll have to forgive me, I grew up in an era before Reuters photojournalists routinely photoshopped their pictures and one could actually believe the news was true. 🙂
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All I see is you throwing temper tantrums when someone has the audactity to say something critical of you.
Is saying “Wonderful” and rolling your eyes a “temper tantrum?”
No doubt saying, “GOOD GOD you are the thinnest-skinned person I’VE EVER SEEN” is just a dry, objective statement of fact. 😉
I mean, at what point did journalist start getting paid to write newsarticles and have to keep the major advertisers interests in the back of their minds. Reporters don’t blantantly disclose that they are getting paid, why should bloggers?
I’m guessing you were Jayson Blair’s Journalism Ethics prof at Columbia?
I thought there was usually a difference between reporting the news and being a shill; that there was usually a difference between journalism and editorializing. But you’ll have to forgive me, I grew up in an era before Reuters photojournalists routinely photoshopped their pictures and one could actually believe the news was true. 🙂
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Just a note – I read the pay per post post you mentioned and it seems pretty clear tht he did get paid for it. He mentions that is is a payperpost post and talks about getting paid for writing – how is that not disclosing that he got paid?
On that note – I think Pay Per Post is a great idea. Everyone else gets paid, why shouldn’t we? Even news journalists get paid, lol or they wouldn’t be doing it. Of course, I am a little pickier with what I write about. I think my readers need to come first – so if it isn’t something I would have written about without money – I won’t write about it. There are others who will say anything to make a buck – but that’s not really a huge concern to me.
Readers aren’t stupid – they know the difference between a honest post and complete BS:) Well, mine do anyway, lol. Maybe I am giving people in general to much credit.
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Just a note – I read the pay per post post you mentioned and it seems pretty clear tht he did get paid for it. He mentions that is is a payperpost post and talks about getting paid for writing – how is that not disclosing that he got paid?
On that note – I think Pay Per Post is a great idea. Everyone else gets paid, why shouldn’t we? Even news journalists get paid, lol or they wouldn’t be doing it. Of course, I am a little pickier with what I write about. I think my readers need to come first – so if it isn’t something I would have written about without money – I won’t write about it. There are others who will say anything to make a buck – but that’s not really a huge concern to me.
Readers aren’t stupid – they know the difference between a honest post and complete BS:) Well, mine do anyway, lol. Maybe I am giving people in general to much credit.
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Wow, you and Ted are like a couple of boxers before a big bout … talking a lot of “S” and creating a lot of hype. I’m not taking sides here, but it lookd like this PayPerPost thing is beginning to get the better of a lot of the people who slammed it. I visited the issue when it first launched and have been out of the loop till now. If what is being said holds any water and if the other posts above are any indication, it looks like you could be on the losing end of this battle.
The good news is that the more you talk smack with Ted and the more he keeps responding, the publicity machine for you two will keep on cranking out material.
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Wow, you and Ted are like a couple of boxers before a big bout … talking a lot of “S” and creating a lot of hype. I’m not taking sides here, but it lookd like this PayPerPost thing is beginning to get the better of a lot of the people who slammed it. I visited the issue when it first launched and have been out of the loop till now. If what is being said holds any water and if the other posts above are any indication, it looks like you could be on the losing end of this battle.
The good news is that the more you talk smack with Ted and the more he keeps responding, the publicity machine for you two will keep on cranking out material.
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It would seem that there is a side to me I never knew about….
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It would seem that there is a side to me I never knew about….
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Wow….I can’t believe I never saw this before. I know this is old, but I’m the blogger you linked to at livejournal and I’m a SHE, thanks. Not only that, but at livejournal I had a very small group of readers and before I even started making PPP posts I disclosed to my readers that I would be getting paid to blog and those blogs would be tagged with “ad” at the top. Not only that, but there’s a link to PPP stating “I get paid to blog” Mercy….Again, I’m aware this is so old, but I just came upon it and had to throw in my two cents.
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Wow….I can’t believe I never saw this before. I know this is old, but I’m the blogger you linked to at livejournal and I’m a SHE, thanks. Not only that, but at livejournal I had a very small group of readers and before I even started making PPP posts I disclosed to my readers that I would be getting paid to blog and those blogs would be tagged with “ad” at the top. Not only that, but there’s a link to PPP stating “I get paid to blog” Mercy….Again, I’m aware this is so old, but I just came upon it and had to throw in my two cents.
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