Most people I know have problems with Internet addiction. We’re all trying to figure out our own customs for getting free of it. That’s why I don’t have an iPhone, for example; the last thing I want is for the Internet to follow me out into the world. My latest trick is taking long hikes. I used to think running was a better form of exercise than hiking because it took less time. Now the slowness of hiking seems an advantage, because the longer I spend on the trail, the longer I have to think without interruption. Paul Graham - The Acceleration of Addictiveness (via bijan)
Cite Arrow reblogged from bijan
some impressive numbers from Microsoft

Frank Shaw from MSFT put up a post on The Official Microsoft Blog  with some impressive numbers. In particular:

  • 14 Million: Total number of Netflix subscribers vs 23 million Total number of Xbox Live subscribers
  • 150,000,000 Number of Windows 7 licenses sold, that’s 7 licenses every second
CTO vs VP Engineering: what’s the difference

Not surprised that most people still get it wrong, here is a great post by Mark Suster

The best CTO’s / Chief Architects are purists.  They care about the quality of what is build more than they care about end customers.  They should be setting the standards for how code is developed. 

 VP of Engineering is a people manager.  They still have the respect of their team because they’re technical by training.  But they’re that rare breed that also understand the human element.  They know how to motivate their people.  They understand the different character types and which prefer carrot vs. stick.  They know how to get people to hit deadlines.  They know when it’s OK to push hard for the team to hit a deadline even if it means yet another all-nighter or weekend.  And they know when to tell YOU to get stuffed because the team has reached maximum stress / effort.  A great VP of Engineering manages as well up as they do down.