Dave Morin

Just rolled into Phoenix for the weekend. Work meeting tomorrow, at Arizona State University.

After checking into my hotel this afternoon, I attempted to log on to the wireless network. No dice. Checked the strength of the network with MacStumbler to find a level of around 6 (out of 100).

So, on my way out to find a better connection, I asked the guest services attendant what the story with their wireless is.

“Oh! Just go down to the middle of the floor where the elevators are. You can get it to work there. Then, go back to your room. It’ll follow you.”

Brilliant.

Destination Hotels positions this hotel as:

“…the ideal blend of business, recreation and elegance…”

Which means, that it’s perfectly suited for a business traveler. But, they’ve decided to skimp on the most important thing for every single business traveler: wireless internet. Thus, causing me to search for the best coffee shop in town to get my work done.

Not cool.

And, all they needed to do was spend maybe an extra $1000 to install ten more wireless routers at the end of each hallway on all 5 floors.

I’ll keep my business at Starwood.

On a brighter note, the weather in Tempe is fantastic. And, Arizona State University must be a kickin’ place to go to school with weather of this caliber year round.

Written from: Bamboo Club Asian Bistro Rooftop Deck – Tempe, Arizona

Popularity: 8% [?]

So, a few weeks back I posted about the cool services out there on the web that will turn you into a sketch, icon, or otherwise insanely cool illustration. Here’s the latest from Paul Sahner over at IconizeMe.

What an incredible job from an incredibly talented individual. Worth every last penny of $40. And, he even gives you different icon sizes to use as parts of your operating system, as a part of your address book card, your iChat icon, or even a giant 2000 pixel wide one that you can squash down to just about any size for any of your web related icons.

Awesome work Paul. You rock!

Oh, and everyone. Go get one. Life animated is pretty sweet.

Popularity: 6% [?]

City of Cupertino City Council Meeting

Cheers to you, Steve

Popularity: 3% [?]

Marketing copywriting is fantastic. It’s one of the most important things in the world we live in. Without great copy, great communication doesn’t happen. And, people can’t understand what the heck your product is supposed to do in the first place. Writing in general is something that is very hard to get good at, and even harder to stay good at. Half the reason I love writing this blog so much is the chance to keep writing, and keep learning about my writing. In front of all of you. As Jason, over at 37signals says; if you’ve only got two candidates for a job: “Always hire the better writer.”

Thus, I start a series of posts about great copy. Not sure what I’m going to call it yet. But, we’ll do it like ThoughtBombs. And, here’s this weeks:

Your toaster doesn’t crash. Your kitchen sink doesn’t crash. Why should your computer? With the industrial-strength Mac OS X, you’ll become accustomed to a computer operating system that crashes about as often as a paperback book. Which is to say almost never.

From: Apple – Switch – It just works

Popularity: 7% [?]

I’m having an email conversation with my accountant today. And, he says to me:

I would rather have the information mailed, since it is much easier to read.

I use a fax machine for two things, ever. Taxes (W2 forms and the like) and contracts.

Fax is dead. Why are we still using it?

Instead, I got out my digital camera that I happened to have with me this trip, and took pictures of the documents. Put them on the web in a secure folder, and shot him the links. Easy as that.

Popularity: 9% [?]