Best Software Essays of 2004

Joel is compiling a list of articles to include in a book.

Why music is an important part of our culture

"Explain why music is an important part of our culture"

That’s the question that was to be answered by my six year TigerCub scouts in order to earn a music belt loop.
I thought I could spend a few minutes on the web and whip out a quick presentation for the boys.  It was not that easy, actually, to locate the answer.  I found this article titled "Benefits of Music Education" on an advocacy for music in school page.
I’ll have to submit a request to wikipedia for a page on "Music and Culture"

Here is my presentation  resulting from my research.  Remember, this is for six year-olds:

Why is music an important part of our culture (life)?

• Music can change your mood. It can make you feel good or sad or excited.

• Music can show your pride: Lake Pointe School Song.

• Music can teach us about how we live and about how others live.  (Music is a way to understand our cultural heritage as well as other past and present cultures)

• Music is used to tell a story.

• People use music to teach and to explain things. (People use music to carry forward ideas and ideals)

• Music helps bring people together (Choir, clubs, bands, concerts)

• Music is a way for people to connect with each other (School song, Church)

• Music is about communication, creativity and cooperation (Kids programs-Lazy Town-20 times up, 20 times down, Military marches)

Managing a technology start-up

An excellent series of articles that highlight the basic problems in starting a tech company.

• Beware the easy money


• How to work with venture capitalists


• How to understand the relationship between the CEO and CTO


• How to staff your company, do product planning and avoid common cultural pitfalls.
  

The common mistake is to accept money based solely on a financial business plan, without a detailed technical development plan.

The best way to protect your venture is to plan in detail at least 80 percent of your core technology before you seek funding or expand the business side

But remember that most prototypes and nearly all designs can be developed with (lots of) sweat equity from a small group of individuals and a post office box. The fewer people involved, the better; if you can’t find or motivate this core group, you should think twice about your ability to attract the creative minds you’ll need later to build your

To understand VCs is to understand their motivation, which is no more and no less than to maximize their return while reducing their financial risk…Even if its motives are obscured by initial glad-handing or an idealistic prospectus, never mistake a VC firm for a charitable foundation

You should never take VC money before you have the vast majority of your company’s technology core well planned—if possible, prototyped—and have a clear, long-term strategy for financing your company…Adequate, documented planning on your side, by contrast, shows that you have a clear idea of how the company will grow, and will leave you less vulnerable during negotiations.

Remember that what you promise is not as important as delivering on that promise. Competent VCs are not looking for phenomenal results up-front: they are looking for a predictable and disciplined company, which means a company that doesn’t miss its deliverables.

a small company need not and should not settle for small-time board members. Executives from highly esteemed companies will gladly agree to serve on a well-run and interesting start-up’s board, for free or for a few stock options.

 

Seven Reasons Why Businesses Should Blog Now

The case for corporate blogging [Via Scott]

Update July 29, 2005:

The new way to get your product noticed?
http://radio.weblogs.com/0001011/2005/07/28.html#a10770

be sure to read the
comments to that post that follow:

Using Blog search for Business:

http://www.blogmaverick.com/entry/1234000893051645/

Hip-E Teenage Media Node

Like a grown-up i-opener, a computer for teenagers