ongoing · 2003 · November

When
· Naughties
· · 2003
· · · November
· · · · 25 (3 entries)

Computer Stores and Ikea · Scoble explains why Dave Winer’s having trouble buying a computer; the shopping experience needs to be more like Ikea. As Dave would say, “It’s even worse than it appears,” buying a laptop online is a pain in the ass too. Something is clearly wrong with this picture. I hesitate to say this—religious feelings may be involved—but the Apple stores feel quite a bit like Ikea, these days, and they’ve got ’em in Palo Alto and Burlingame. Only you spend more than in Ikea.

Taxonomy Madness · I observe that many who like me hand-craft their publishing setup are kind of absessive about taxonomies, both their contents and construction. Consider examples chez Walsh (taxonomy, machinery), Pilgrim (taxonomy), and Winer (taxonomy). Of course there’s also that link to your right labeled What (but these days, I’m increasingly conscious that I need to run through the whole essay farm here and do some taxonomicleanup). So, a reasonable person might ask: “Why all this taxonomy work? What is it being used for?” And I wouldn’t have a good answer. I’m not stopping, though. Intuition is a perilous guide to engineering action, but for now, this certainly feels like the Right Thing To Do.

On Work and Immigration · There’s an interesting op-ed in the New York Times by David Brooks (who’s recently been serving as existence proof that right-wingers can still be intelligent and interesting). He points out that the two real big differences between the U.S. and European economies is that they work harder in America (350 hours a year, that’s a lot) and they let in immigrants, a million a year in the last two decades. (Warning, I’m passing on his numbers without fact-checking.) He concludes—right-winger, remember—that this is Why America Is Winning, and on the immigration front, I think he’s exactly right. But I keep wondering why working 350 hours—9 or 10 weeks—more per year is considered a good thing.

2003 · November · 25