I just started learning about nitrous oxide (NOx). When we electrified our house, we did it to burn less carbon. I signed up for MCE Deep Green so our share of energy usage would come from renewable sources. I felt good about paying extra (the notorious "green premium") for our all-electric home appliances. I feel… Continue reading Knocking your NOx off
Mobile homes are a piece of the housing puzzle
Note: this is my first blog post written with an assist from ChatGPT. It was fun! Oh, the housing crisis. Let me dip my toe in. I am a YIMBY. I want to see new housing built close to BART and freeways. I'd much rather see downtowns built up than open spaces built out. Housing… Continue reading Mobile homes are a piece of the housing puzzle
Why I’m taking a break from parallel entrepreneurship
When I described what I'm doing now to a good friend, he chuckled and said, "Guess you're going to have to write a new forward for your book!" The book he referred to is The Parallel Entrepreneur, of course. It's hosted free on this blog and generates most of my organic traffic. I still believe… Continue reading Why I’m taking a break from parallel entrepreneurship
My trip to NYC with Lily
A long time from now, with any luck, I will be very old. I will look back on my experiences as a young father: in the delivery room, first steps, first words, first days of school, ice skating rinks, hot dogs, board games, bicycle rides, dinners, friends' houses... all of it. I have a feeling,… Continue reading My trip to NYC with Lily
Business evaluation: Slo Carbon
A little while ago, I made a website for Slo Carbon. I picked the name because it was available. I didn't love it, but it was there. So I picked it. The problem this hypothetical company tries to solve is also described in a different business evaluation for Clime. The "green premium" for carbon-free appliances… Continue reading Business evaluation: Slo Carbon
Is it okay to be a nice CEO?
As I take the CEO helm again with Shovels, I've been thinking more about what kind of CEO I want to be. Am I some visionary leader with all of the answers? A hard-nosed drill sergeant making sure we stick to our deadlines? A coder? A product whiz? Or the Chief Sales Officer? I simply… Continue reading Is it okay to be a nice CEO?
Taking advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act in Contra Costa County
After the success of The Future of Diablo Valley conference, for which I chaired and did the bulk of the organizing, I was approached by a friend in the local sustainability community. She asked me if I'd like to help organize a conference focusing on green tech in Contra Costa County. I enthusiastically said yes!… Continue reading Taking advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act in Contra Costa County
Platforms versus point solutions
This winter break has been a big one for Shovels. Despite having my kids at home, trekking out to Hawaii, and getting swept up in the Southwest chaos getting to and from Disneyland, I put a lot of deep thought into Shovels. This exercise brought out some gut-wrenching paranoia, deep frustration and confusion, and then… Continue reading Platforms versus point solutions
Business evaluation: Alumnify
I like B2B data businesses. I learned how to write web applications by building Toofr.com (now FindEmails -- they kept my "oo" logo after I sold it). Toofr found email addresses for business contacts. I wrote a book, The Parallel Entrepreneur, about my experience building, running, and selling Toofr while I kept a day job… Continue reading Business evaluation: Alumnify
Meet Murphy
I wrote only two posts here about Blue Boy, our first dog, a lovable chocolate Labrador who left us too soon. But if you had access to our photo album, you'd see that he's in nearly every video and every picture. Once you notice his round brown shape, the sound of his walk and shake,… Continue reading Meet Murphy