JediWright.com

I’ve been hoarding domains for years, while brainstorming countless hours on various startup ideas with the intention of one day putting one or more to good use.

This practice has been tapering on and off in waves ever since I knew I was going to be a father. But I literally don’t go by a day without some new startup idea or improvement for an existing startup/service. And sometimes, like this week, I feel like I’ve had an epiphany (again) about the next big thing. Admittedly, this feeling often lasts long enough for me to end up purchasing another domain that ends up collecting cyber-dust. I am still determined to manifest something on my own though, so I keep at it, believing that one day I’ll either actually managed to finish the training necessary to manifest these ideas (i.e. learn programming), or I’ll actually come up with something someone else gets equally excited about to hop on board with the resources necessary to make it happen.

I’m to the point, it seems now, that I’m willing to air those ideas. Since so many have already come to be, I might as well just put the intention out there plain for all to see. That way the odds are greater that someone might align with me on one or at maybe I’ll find some small measure of solace/credit if it was documented prior to someone else doing it.

Anyway, as usual, I’ve been noodling around with one of my startup ideas and was wondering what it would take to create some sort of auto-posting feature that takes news headlines (via Google Alerts, etc.) and posts them to Twitter and/or blog simultaneously.

Is this something that can be developed easily or is it more of a time-consuming project? Seems like it’s a common feature with some websites/services these days.

The startup idea stems from my own interest in finding something to do, either in a melting pot like Los Angeles where there’s just far too much to choose from or the polar opposite, with a place like Akron, Ohio where seemingly nothing happens. So this particular startup is an idea that originated with lawknds.com, where I planned to basically list events, with blog coverage of them, reviews, etc. Initial monetization would come through advertisements (naturally), from both event organizers and related products/services, with the possibility of a premium account for users that offered perks negotiated through relationships with event promoters and others on the site, i.e. discount tickets, vip packages, advance purchasing, etc.

However, since this idea sat for so long others have come along and begun offering similar services, laist.com comes to mind (they have one for most major US cities). So I’ve been thinking about narrowing the focus of mine to strictly wknd coverage, hence the name and the series of domains I’ve started collecting for this purpose: lawknds.com, sfwknds.com, nycwknds.com, vbwknds.com, miwknds.com, lvwknds.com, dcwknds.com (I thought these were the most notable US cities to start with anyway).

Anyway, not sure if this is worth pursuing, especially since I don’t have the best idea of what’s involved code-wise. Anyone out there have any input or interest?

p.s. Another idea in a similar vein was for artistlofts.org, since years ago I was living downtown in a loft and didn’t have an iPhone yet or other location-based services, I thought a directory of lofts with locally based goods and services would have been handy…

I haven’t done a list in I don’t know how long, so here’s one for 2009, recognizing my top ten, notable events:

• I got to see a woman/my partner/Tristan give birth to our first child and son Lee, born (1.24.09)
• I completed yet another phase of build-out at the first house I’ve helped build from scratch
• I got to see Lamb play live
• My immediate family got together, including my sister and bro-in-law from Spain (who got to meet Lee); last time was some years ago
• Made my first trip to Ireland
• Flew solo with Lee back to PA for a quick family visit
• Moved back to Los Angeles, California
• Helped navigate my Internet fabric company through treacherous economic waters, coming out ahead, out of debt and on track for renewed profitability
• Lee: rolled over, crawled, stood up, took his first steps, started “talking”, along with a multitude of other firsts
• Discovered some interesting truths about myself through some very heavy introspection

It is with much anticipation and after much thought, discussion, consideration, review, soul-searching, deliberation, and so forth that I have decided to set my sights firmly on the move back to Los Angeles, CA.

After half a year in PA and half a year in Ohio, neither Tristan or I have been satisfied with each others hometowns. Granted, as many have said, we haven’t given it time. But why should we when we already know what LA is like and more importantly, that we BOTH like it? Granted we didn’t have Lee there when lived there last, but a number of our friends out there have been having kids, while still finding work and time to play; it can be done and it will only be that much better with Lee.

There’s so much more opportunity and competition there; people go after their dreams. In big ways. And that’s largely what we’re looking at. Lee is part of our dream. But we both have others and it seems best, on most counts, to realize them there.

Admittedly, it’s going to be tough for me personally, on some levels, to head west again. I’ve held on to some pretty old dreams in PA and with another move west (my 3rd), it will be just another step away from them. Especially difficult, will be leaving my blood family behind again. Now that I’ve crested 30-yrs of age, it’s become even more clear to me how little time we have with each other in one lifetime.

But, many new plans originated in LA though and revolve around it or the west coast in general (yes, the spirit of the west is still quite alive and well . Plus, with age comes an increasingly strong dislike for the cold and wet weather.

So in maybe another two weeks, maybe more, maybe less…we’ll be back in La La land. Stay tuned.
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Update 1.6.10: We’re back in LA (have been for over 3-wks and it’s great!).

Continued infrequency in my posting comes as no surprise, since I’ve been working so much this spring/summer. But, a brain dump feels in order now, so here goes.

I’ve been busting ass at the Home Depot mostly, with a few hours woven in here and there at the first part-time job I picked up here in Akron back in April. I finally got my operator license there about a month into the job, at Home Depot, and thank god since it was really proving counter-productive working without it. So along with getting the gist of their “reach truck” (hmm, pretty much what it sounds like) and “tow motor” (forklift), I’ve been learning a lot more about pesticides (yuck), herbicides, fungicides, seeds, plants, various equipment, and more.

It’s actually kind of a nice little education into a number of things I can tie in with Green Gurus and any related consulting there. And on the Exchange front (the other part-time job), I’m learning the systems they have in place for an interesting buy/trade they deal in. Could provide an interesting entrepreneurial option at some point, either with them or in one of my own ventures I’ve had shelved for awhile now.

On the parenting front, the wee pup is getting big. He’s eating solid foods (insofar as bottled veggies and fruit can be anyway) and loving it. He’s gotta be pushing close to 20-lbs now and is finally starting to hold himself up in a seated position, on his own.

And as I can squeeze it in, I do what I can to tend to Distinctivefabric.com, which has been making steady headway at knocking away at its debt (I think largely in thanks, to me having opted out of my salary indefinitely). Along the way, we’ve parted ways with its first founding member and are now just in a weird limbo of knocking out our debt, exploring any liabilities associated with assuming 100% ownership, etc.

Other than that, things are very routine and boring. Just trying to make it through the summer, with the help of what I hope to be a nice break with a short trip to PA to visit with mi hermana Amanda in from Spain, then a 10-day stint with The Do LaB in Ireland for their third year there for Electric Picnic. Hopefully afterwards, some moving plans will really come together and life will pick up more.

Until then, I’m just reading as much as I can, the oldest refuge I know.

Time for some list-making with my first, Top 10 list of the new year.

This is a Top 10 of all my favorites, spanning any and every category. From favorite travel destinations, films, books, websites, events, jobs, and anything else that tickles my list-making fancy. Also, it should be noted that it’s been posted in no particular order.

1. Favorite Trip
I flew into Barcelona after my first European trip and job with The Do LaB in Portugal and did some sight-seeing with Patricio and finally got to see Amanda, meet her husband and otherwise catch up with her life of 10-years there in Europe.

2. Favorite Job With The Do LaB
I think my favorite job with these guys this past year was the one for SpeakerCraft. Everyone kicked ass for weeks in the pre-fab, load-in and setup in Denver at the Cedia Convention. That job was the most taxing in terms of details we’ve yet done and it really showed. It was so much work but in the end it turned out amazingly beautiful.

3. Favorite Live Show
Nine Inch Nails’ show in Baltimore, MD at the Virgin Music Festival was definitely my favorite show of the year. I always love Trent Reznor’s music and his live performances with a band are one of the best. Plus, I got to bring Tristan and my old high-school friend Jesse Buck along too; it was both their first time seeing NIN live.

4. Favorite New Web Service
I think definitely without a doubt, that Posterous was the coolest new web utility service. I discovered it late in the year but have been thoroughly enjoying its use ever since.

5. Favorite New Book
My favorite new read of the year had to be “From Program To Product – Turning Your Code Into A Saleable Product” by Rocky Smolin.

6. Favorite Gift
Definitely without a doubt was Tristan’s handmade pregnant belly cast she made for me at Christmas.

7. Favorite News
No it wasn’t Obama winning, it was the unforgettable news that I was going to have my first child and a son at that. He’s growing nice and strong and due in 3 weeks.

8. Favorite New Album
This is a bit tough but would have to say Booka Shade’s “Movements”. Then Santogold’s self-titled album, followed by Death Cab’s “Narrow Stairs”.

9. Favorite New Movie
Hmm, another toughie but I’m gonna’ have to say Iron Man I think. Tropic Thunder, Batman: The Dark Knight, Speedracer, and a few others were all great too, but I think Iron Man was one of the most well done comic book adaptations yet, and a great first-time effort in one from Robery Downey, Jr.

10. Favorite Activity
Blogging has proven the most enjoyable activity that I’ve pursued this year. My creative pursuits have kind of been up and down a lot over the last few years so blogging has helped to stabilize and fulfill the need for a healthy, consistent outlet of expression. Plus, I received my first check in related advertising.

Someone hit us today. 4th accident since Tristan got pregnant. None of them were our fault, just crappy luck!

Posted via email from JediWright’s Posterous

Seriously. None of the four accidents we’ve been in in the last months were our fault:

1. Some guy smashed through the front driver-side quarter panel in LA
2. A UPS driver rear-ended us after driving up to a redlight too fast (also in LA)
3. Tristan got rear-ended waiting at another traffic light here in PA
4. I got rear-ended by someone reversing too quickly out of their spot today (also in PA)

2009 will be a better driving year or we’re trading the car in and taking public transit!