STUFFLEUFAGUS

Please change your bookmarks/RSS feeds to point at http://lagesse.org.  It's much more fun over there - really!

Rob

After a lengthy chat tonight with someone I respect, I have some questions for you.

Is it really important that we have a physical space for "The Learning Locker" or could a similar idea work on the web?  Basically think of an Amazon-like site (or maybe even THROUGH Amazon) where teachers could go and order material.  Is that less useful?  Or just as useful?

The costs of maintaining a physical store and staff would eat into the product we could supply teachers.  It's overhead that would be hard to avoid.

I can't think of a real reason for a physical presence now that I have been offered this alternative.  Would need some central office somewhere to mange things, but beyond that everything could be cyber-based.  Get shippers like FedEx and UPS to ship free.  Partner with an existing company with on online store to fill the orders - just build a specific portal for the teachers.

Maybe at this point we don't even partner with individual companies - we seek funding from someone like the Gates Foundation, and just buy stuff outright in bulk and ship it.  Less time begging - more time to serve customers.  I don't know anyone with an in to the Gates Foundation, or anything similar - do you?  It would be an interesting new approach to the problem.  The portal could allow teachers to request things, express thanks, explain what a difference the program made, etc.  It is a MUCH more software centric approach, and would require more software resources.  But almost no hardware resources.

What do you think?  Let me know in the comments.

Rob

For those looking for an update:

I spent most of the morning stealing text educating myself on the available material on the Internet.  Hopefully I can update the WiKi Business Plan in the next day or so.

I've been mentally focused on trying to get companies to donate material for this project, but I also realize I will need cash donations as well.  Even non-profits have to pay utilities, etc.  I've started talking with a couple of large retailers about partnerships where they do both.  This takes time.  And persistence.  I find they are all generally and seemingly genuinely interested.  But I've test driven a lot of cars I didn't buy, and I've heard a lot of business pitches I didn't invest in.

I still need help with a lot of stuff - especially getting the work out - the more people that know what I am trying to do, the better chance I find someone that can help!

A local network-affiliated station has offered to give me some air time - either in the nightly news, on a local morning show, or in a PSA.  But I don't know that I have much to say yet beyond, "I have a dream" - and since that's been done before (by a much better man than me), I don't think I'll get much mileage off of it!

I need to focus on the sales/marketing pitch - on how I get others to believe.  I find this to be pretty easy for me in small groups, but it's much harder, if not impossible to convey the emotion, or passion, or even need in text, or a PowerPoint slide.  I think I need those things, but I need them for when I personally meet people and make the pitch.  I don't really like talking to large audiences (mostly because it is difficult for me to tell if I am connecting with them or not.  I've been on TV a couple of times in my life, and done a talk or two in front of hundreds of people - but I know I wasn't as effective as I am in a room with 5-10 people.  SO I need to focus on what I am good at at try to convince small pockets of people to become my larger voice...

So that's about where I am today.  Not a lot of real progress, but it's only been a few days.  Patience is something else I have to learn to embrace.  I can't expect to accomplish this in a week, or even a month. 

Rob

I was just preparing myself to commit this blog to The Learning Locker and avoid other topics... but I found out tonight that an ex co-worker has passed away, and I can't not share my emotions.  Jerry Lusk was a talented programmer.  I've met a lot of those.  But Jerry was also a wonderfully kind human being - the kind I always hoped to be.  If one of my employees approached him about a "bug" he would say, "OK, I probably f*cked" up".  And he worked with my team to find out the root cause, and he did it gracefully and without an ego and he just "got it" that QA and Development were not enemies - we were a team.

Jerry was probably the programmer that most understood this, and didn't ever make my team feel like we were "tattling on him". if we found a bug.  He assumed we knew what we were talking about.  He assumed he was human, and fallible.  He just wanted to find the bug, and fix the bug, and he appreciated us finding it before a customer did.

Jerry was the best type of coworker - he got along with everyone, he didn't have an agenda, and he was respected.  I just wish I would have told him that before he passed. 

We were a fairly small group here in San Antonio, and we basically got along like a family.  Tonight I lost a member of that family - a good and decent man who leaves behind a family.  I'm bummed.  Jerry left too soon.

Rob

I spent the day walking uphill, on a treadmill, into a headwind.  That's what it felt like anyway.  It is difficult to get people to understand exactly what I am proposing - so I'll work on putting together a written presentation in the next few days.  I really need help with the business plan though 0- so any of you that have experience in writing business plans (especially for a non-profit) please feel free to help - the Business plan WiKi is located here, and it's really easy to go and spend 5 minutes or five hours updating it.  There is not much of anything there yet - I've been spending my time doing what I think I am better at - talking to people :).  I know the business plan is important, so I'll devote some time to it as soon as I can - but I could really use help!

Speaking of help - are any of you graphic designers and want to take a stab at a logo and/or banner for The Learning Locker?  As soon as I find a host for the web site I'll go live, and your logo could be the first thing people see - and hopefully associate it with The Learning Locker for years to come!

Yes, I know I'll need a web design at some point - one thing at a time.  Initially it will be a WordPress blog - I'll move it to something else later if I need to.  IF someone is a WordPress Template guru, and wants to work with the logo designer to build something, of course that would be helpful!

And finally, to answer a couple of questions I got via email:

• I am a single parent with two High School age children.  They are great, and most of what I've done good in life has been because I met these kids.
• I am not currently employed in any full-time (or even official) capacity.  I spent last year starting a couple of businesses that don't need me to be involved - and they are too premature in their existence for me to be "working there" and sucking salary away from their attempts at success.  I do consulting, when I can find the work - mostly for Social Networking related issues, etc. 
• Why am I doing this?  Because my children (hard to call them that at this point - they are young adults) have benefited from the love, devotion, and attention of some really remarkable people that I think are undervalued in our society.  I don't have the money to come up with a grant program, or reward program for teachers.  But I know how to get people involved - at least I've been successful in the past.  This is worth trying, and I have some free time that I would otherwise be wasting.

Finally, I appreciate the emails - I really do.  I get a ton of email though, and sometimes your emails end up in my junk folder - and that takes even longer for me to respond to.  I would appreciate if you left your questions or comments on this blog (until the main site comes up).  Others will benefit from reading what you have to say, I have only one place to respond to The Learning Locker issues, and hopefully others are motivated by the momentum and will also get involved - even if that involvement is writing a comment!

Thanks again for visiting, and for any support - even if it's just thinking, "Yeah - good luck with that" :)

Rob

Someone just deposited $400 in my PayPal account for The Learning Locker.  THANK YOU. 

I can't seem to figure out who did it though (maybe they don't want me to know).  I have never received PayPal money before - I've just shipped it out!

To my IM friends who have been pinging me all night - thanks.  I do appreciate you!!!

Check here.  Help if you can!  Share it with people you do think can help!

Thanks,

Rob

I really  appreciate all of the visitors that have come here from Scoble's blog and from Mark Cuban's blog.  None of you knew what to expect, few of you commented, but I do appreciate you stopping by.

I really appreciate a telephone call I got tonight that I can't share the details of yet.  There are prerequisites I have to meet in order to receive a potential gift.

One of these things is writing a business plan.  So here's my "Big Idea".  I am going to set up a WiKi, and I am going to ask (beg) all of you to help me write a business plan for a non-profit franchise business that plans on never making a dime!

Interested?  Comment.  Curious? Comment.  Hate it? Comment?

I'll set the WiKi up tomorrow and link to it here.  Comment! :)

Seriously - it is rather difficult to cold call companies with an idea that is so new it doesn't even exist beyond this blog - and then ask them for some type of financial support.  ESPECIALLY when you are combining so many new technologies into something as traditional as a non-profit.

1. I want to franchise it.
2. I want to create a WiKi where the community writes the business plan.

These are only two "new" ideas (as far as traditional non-profits go) - and I don't think anyone has asked the community to write a business plan with them, non-profit or not.

I am thinking of a somewhat unconventional non profit, and I need your encouragement to make it happen.  I am not asking for your money - just keep prodding me.  Make me do this.  Don't let me quit.

WordPress has a plug-in called "Live" that lets me watch activity on my blog - it EXTREMELY refreshing after being so left in the dark by MSN Live Spaces. 

That's yet another reason I am making this my primary blog site!

Well, I didn't get as much done as I had hoped, but what I did get done gives me hope!

I am blogging about this in the hope that people here will continue to egg me on and make me make this happen.  It's too easy to run into roadblocks and get discouraged when you think you are "on your own".  I know I am not alone in this desire, and I already feel the presence of friends like Bruce, Ann, and Deannie egging me along with very helpful and needed encouragement.

I didn't find a lawyer today, but I talked to a few.  The one I really want wasn't in town, so I'll talk to her tomorrow (I hope).  She set up the last two for-profit startups I helped found.  I hope she loves the idea and gets pumped up to help - she's good people, so even if she can't be the lead attorney, I know she will provide good advice.

I talked to three WalMart managers today - all local.  They love the idea, or pretended to.  They are willing to help, but there are of course limits to what a local manager can do.  Basically the same story holds true for Target, and even Lowe's (I called Lowe's because I will need shelving, and other assorted store fixtures.  Lowe's seems to be a very good potential partner.

Of course I didn't get any commitments from anyone - I didn't ask for them.  I'm not ready for that yet.  Still waiting for the teachers to respond, and they are just now getting out of school.

My Realtor friend was VERY jazzed about the idea, and he promises his support, and is right now trying to find a suitable location.

If things start moving a bit faster, and as momentum grows, I'll put a separate blog at the domain http://learninglocker.org.   There isn't anything there to speak of now - just a simple Register.com starter page.  If anyone wants to volunteer hosting, that would be really cool!  As any WhoIs query will tell you, I registered the domain some time ago - let's put it to good use now!

Finally the Point of Sale system I was working on fell through, so I'll need to spend some more time researching how I do that.  Keep in mind I want this to be a very replicable process - cheap and easy.  I want to go through most of the pain now so it makes it easier for other franchises to burn a Xerox copy of what I'm doing and get up and running quickly (and cheaply).

I think I'm out of gas for today.  I'll give another update tomorrow, and as things progress. 

Rob

The Learning Locker is an idea that has been rattling around in my head for a year or so.  Basically, I want to open a non-profit "store" where teachers can go and get school supplies for their classes - at no charge to them.

I was reminded of this idea again yesterday when I was at OfficeMax.  I saw three teachers I know through my children - and they were all buying classroom supplies with money out of their own pocket.  I don't think teachers should have to spend a portion of their already slim salaries on tools to do their job.

Teachers have one of the most critical jobs in our society, and I think we do a poor job of recognizing that.

Basically my idea is to try and create a corporate sponsored non-profit that receives both cash funding, and product from companies like WalMart, Target, etc.  They donate goods or funds in exchange for community good-will. 

I really would like to build this from the ground up with the intent that it enables franchising.  I'm not aware of anyone applying franchising to non-profits, but I see no reason why it could not be successful. 

I spent most of this morning talking to various companies, like WalMart and Target.  I need to talk to their national offices, and not just local stores, but basically I am getting a pretty good reception. 

In the next few days I will try to find a pro-bono attorney to set up the non-profit, and help with franchising crap.  I'll find a realtor to help me find about 3,000 square feet of shell space that is either donated, or very cheap.  I'll work with local schools an organizations like the Boy Scouts - trying to find people that need to do community service to meet group or school requirements in the hope I can get some volunteers to helped "manage the store", do stocking, etc.

I need to find a couple of programmer's that are willing to help write/modify a Point of Sale software package.  I'm already in contact with a company to provide a free Point of Sale system - scanner, register, receipt printer, etc.  Why do I need this if everything is free?  Because I need to be able to show where donations are going - I need to track what schools are using the service the most, so I can either relocate closer to them, or open another branch close to them.

I've sent a dozen emails to teachers today asking basic questions, like, "What hours would be most convenient for you?".  Is it enough just to be open on a Saturday, or do they need us to be open during the week as well?  I have no clue what would be the most convenient for them.  I'm learning.

I'm also learning that starting a non-profit is even more difficult than starting a corporation.  I've read a lot online about starting a for-profit business, but I can't find much on starting a non-profit franchise...

We'll see how things go...

I've never heard of "foie gras", and based on the name I doubt I would ever consider ordering it (and knowing it's duck and goose liver, I am certain I wouldn't order it).  But I don't really think it should be illegal for others to eat it.  I like steak, and I don't want it banned, so I gotta support these people that want their foie gras - otherwise we might all end up eating fucking grass!

Link to Chicago to ban foie gras - U.S. Life - MSNBC.com

I had a long chat with a new friend tonight - it was quite interesting, and I think it would make for at least a good cross-blog posting series, or a very good PodCast.  Will talk to her again tomorrow or the next night and try to convince her about the PodCast.  I honestly think a lot of people would be interested in what we talked about.  I was :)

Thanks "D", and sorry we got cut off.  My VoIP phone died (and the service is still down).  Since it's 3am (damned near) your time, I figured calling you back can wait until later today :)

Rob

A friend and I saw Ron White last night (it's slow web site - I think he's running it off a cellphone dial-up connection to a computer in his tour bus - AND it has an annoying damn pop-up).

We saw the show at the Majestic Theater in downtown San Antonio.  It is a beautiful theater and the recent restoration is fantastic.

Rob White is one of the stars of the "Blue Collar Comedy Tour" series of three DVDs.  I own them all, and they are some of the funniest things I have ever seen.  If you have never seen them, rent them.  All of them are good.

Ron White was by far my favorite of the four comics - this might have something to do with the fact he *always* has a glass of scotch in one hand, a smoke in the other, and a microphone... well, I don't know how he holds the mic!

After the show my buddy, his wife, and I played Texas Hold' em with my two kids.  It was my son's 18th birthday, and suitably he won.  He was short-stacked for a while, so it was a very cool come back victory (oh - and I still owe him $5.00 for that!).

Anyway, yesterday was a good day.  Today has been a lot slower, but fun in different ways.  Kids are getting ready for school tomorrow.  First day.  My daughter is a Sophomore and my son is a Senior.  Shit - where has the time gone?

Rob

1. No notification when people leave comments.  I gotta dig for them.
2. No comment feeds.
3. It's too hard for people to comment (they have to have a Spaces ID)
4. I don't control my data - there is no way to export it in any fashion so I can take it to another blogging platform.  Interestingly enough, The fact I couldn't move my data was the primary factor that caused me to want to move it - before I get more data to manually move than I can manage!!!  Web 2.0 DOES NOT mean that the webservice owns my data.  It's my creation, even if it is blabbering drivel about the color of my dog's shit.  Give me an easy way to move it, or lose me.
5. I don't control the CSS.
6. I don't really want a MySpace type place - I want a blog - and Spaces isn't focused on Bloggers.
7. It's slow! Subjective I know - but it feels slow.  Perception is reality.
8. Spell checking.  MS has done this before, do it on MSN Live Spaces!

   Now don't get me wrong - I'm not just bashing MS - I use their OS, and like it.  I use Office, and like it.  I use about 40 MS applications - but this one just isn't doing it for me, and it's not changing fast enough.  Changing the name, and URL just isn't enough to keep me around.

Rob

I just found an annoying "bug" (I hope it's not a feature) of WLW - when you open a post that is already published and make changes (like to correct Grammar!) - when re-publishing to MSN Live Spaces, it just updated the original post.  When I posted the same update to my duplicate WordPress blog, it came out as a new post.  So sorry about the dupes in RSS if you got them.

Again, this is the first release of a BETA program - I know it'll get much better.  As I continue to play with it though, you may see goofy things on both my blogs.  If you do, I apologize now!

Rob

I just ended a rather heated conversation (we still remain friends!) with someone I have know for decades.  He told me he thought it was "OK to download music off BitTorrent so I can listen to it and figure out if I like it".

OK, that's what clips are for.  I asked him how many times he had to listen to music before he decided to buy it, and he said, "I usually don't like it after I listen to it for a while, so most of the time I don't buy it".  And THAT my friends is the problem with the argument that you are "just downloading something to see if you like it" - especially if that "something" is a song, or a movie.

Chances are you would get caught and go to jail if you went into a bookstore and put 15-20 books into a bag and tried walking out without paying for them.  This is called theft.  Theft isn't just illegal - it's just not nice.  Thieves are assholes.  They are the same fuckwads that cut the roof of my convertible open so they could steal $20 worth of CDs.  They are the same useless shitwipes that recently busted the driver side window out of a friend's truck to steal... basically nothing.

There is no legal or moral way to rationalizing consuming something that you have not paid for - unless the owners of that material have no expectation of payment.  You can't read a book and then decide if you like it, and whether or not you want to pay for it, and you can't legally, morally, or with any self-respect download illegal movies or music (or e-books, software, etc).  If you do you are just fucking wrong.  Just because you are not leaving your house to commit your crime doesn't make you any better that the fuckwads that broke into my car.

Stop making excuses for thievery.  Buy what you use, and if you can't afford it, then use less of it, until you reach the point that you CAN afford what you use - be that electricity, gas, books, music or ass-wipe.

I'm changing blogging platforms from this MSN Live Spaces site to a self-hosted WordPress site.

Please update your RSS feeds to point at:

for new blog entries:  http://lagesse.org/?feed=rss2

for comments: http://lagesse.org/?feed=comments-rss2

I'll continue to cross post for a while, until I see the stats on this site drop.  So please, after you add the new site, delete the old feed!

Appreciate it, and sorry for blog-bouncing - but as you can imagine, a self-hosted blog is much more useable for me, and hopefully I can extend some of the features over the next couple of weeks.

Rob

I am writing this post with a new Windows Live Desktop tool, called "Windows Live Writer".  It lets you use a Windows application to create blog posts.  So far, it looks pretty cool.  I am having an issue with the text entry screen not resizing to the size of the main application (meaning my text is scrolling off the screen to the sides).  I'm sure they will address this quickly, and simply making the application window larger "fixes" the issue for now).

It has a spell-checker (not in real time, unfortunately (crossed that out because I just found it is not turned on by default for real-time spell checking for some silly reason - go to Tools|Preferences and select "use automatic correction") CRAP - crossed THAT sentence out as well because clicking this doesn't actually appear to do anything.  I assume it will at some point ).  In any case, you can have it check all posts before you submit them, and I desperately need this! :)

Since I'm testing this for the first time as I am writing this post, I'm going to embed an image here, and see if it works (one of my favorite cartoons by hugh macleod of "The Gaping Void").

It featured Auto-Save, which I also need, and you can save drafts locally, instead of directly to your blog - very nice.  You can also publish the post to your blog as a draft if you wish.

It supports multiple blogs - MSN Spaces, Wordpress, etc.  read the Windows Live Writer Blog for details.

I started this post by telling Windows Live Writer (WLW?) that I was posting to my MSN Spaces blog.  I just added my WordPress blog (basically an installation that I am considering using to replace the MSN Spaces site) and told WLW to switch to this blog - WLW auto-magically changed the look and feel of my half-completed blog entry to match the look at feel of my WordPress site instead of the MSN Live Spaces site.  Very cool.

When I get ready to publish, I'll see if I can publish this same article to both blogs simultaneously.

I just clicked on a toolbar icon called "Post Properties", which opened a footer bar in WLW that allows me to set a date/time to post the entry, turn commenting on/off, allow or deny trackbacks, etc.  Handy.

Another nice feature is the checkbox to force links to open in a new window - it would also be nice if they had a similar option to open a link in a new tab, but this is beta, after all!

I'm sure I'll post more about this as I use it more (and I am sure I will!), but for now I'll end it here, and leave you with a screenshot of this blog post being written in Window Live Writer!

Larger image HERE.