Jake Goldman
home of web dev guru jacob m goldman
Podcast Series: Exploring Commercial WordPress Models
May 28th
Throughout the month of April, I had the pleasure of co-hosting the WordPress Weekly podcast with regular host Jeff Chandler. The April episodes comprised a mini-series focused on commercial WordPress business models, not including consulting. Our primary goal was to provide insight and wisdom to those considering a commercial software or SaaS model built on an open source project (WordPress, specifically) from those who had been there and done that.
The origin of the series actually dated back to January’s WordCamp Boston, where Jeff moderated a panel I organized called “Monetization in a Free World”, intended to help the audience understand the commercial WordPress themes, plug-ins, and SaaS businesses. Jeff ended up being in an impossible position, with 40 minutes to cover all 3 models and incorporate Automattic’s perspective, visa vi Jane Wells. Jeff and I decided it was worth doing justice to the idea; and so the April series of podcast episodes came to life.
WordPress Providence Meetup Kicks Off
May 1st
Inspired by a few WordCamps that built themselves up from local WordPress meet ups, I finally got a few locals together at the beginning of April (Ken DeBlois of Brown and Suzanne McDonald, a freelance writer) to help organize a Providence Meetup. A couple of planning meetings, a new website, a Twitter account, and some local marketing later, we had our first meet up on April 26th.
I’ll be blogging over at the WordPress Providence website, so I won’t say too much about it in this forum, but the headline is that I was thrilled by the turn out and energy at our first event. We had about 30 attendees, a lot of buzz during the hour of networking, a nice and short presentation by DandyID (a local firm with a popular plug-in), and a great after-presentation brainstorming / discussion session.
The feedback has been positive, and we organizers are jazzed to keep the momentum going. On top of our base from the first meet up, I know at least a handful of people who wanted to come but had conflicts, and we already have a couple of RSVPs for our next meet up who were not at at our inaugural event.
In addition to the official website I scraped together, be sure to check out my guest post on RI Nexus, and some photographs of our first meet up over on Flickr. And if you’re in the Rhode Island area, come to our next meet up on May 25th!
Superfreakonomics by Levitt & Dubner
Apr 18th
Superfreakonomics is the sequel to the breakout best seller Freakonomics, which I really enjoyed a few years ago. I minored in economics in college, a decision I made after enjoying (and performing well in) a topical “economics if the Internet” course followed by required generic micro and macroeconomics classes. Both books evoked a pleasant nostalgia.
For some, economics is merely a “dismal”, mathematical study of the economy, and there are undoubtedly academics and intellectuals who treat is as such, ruining a fascinating study for college freshman and sophomores everywhere. Levitt and Dubner, however, remind – or reveal to – us that economics is really a study of human psychology and behavior within the context of markets and market behavior (often, in it’s most popular applications, extrapolated to provide insight and forecasts). Although, in one my favorite short anecdote in Superfreakonomics, they suggest market behavior might not be unique to humans.
The authors begin the sequel by assuring readers that they waited until they collected enough data and anecdotes to live up to the first book. The bad news is that they don’t really succeed. The good news is that it’s still a thought provoking and enjoyable read.
My two cents on healthcare reform passage
Mar 22nd
Was randomly interviewed by WPRI 12, our local CBS news here in Providence, about the imminent passage of the Healthcare Reform Bill. I offered my “imperfect, but very much in favor” opinion.
They used my remarks concerning small businesses benefiting from joining larger pools, and my general comment about no one favoring tax increases but taxes being secondary to fixing the overall cost curve (this was in response to the reporter pressing on taxes). They cropped a comment I made about the benefits of remaining a parent’s healthcare plan after school until the age of 26. That would have benefited me for about 2 months during my transition period after graduation, and I believe would have benefited my sister for a period of time too.
WordCamp Miami, The Great CMS Debate
Feb 15th
I will be talking WordPress at two upcoming events, on opposite ends of the U.S. east coast this month.
WordCamp Miami. Never a big fan of winter, I’m definitely looking forward to a breather in sunny Miami, Florida. I’m flying down the evening before (this Friday, the 19th) and returning the following Tuesday. It’s actually more economic to stay a couple of extra days at the hotel as compared with taking a Sunday flight back. In any case, I’ll be speaking at Miami’s WordCamp, which takes place on Saturday the 20th at the University of Miami. I’ll be presenting a revised version of Themes 101, which “premiered” at WordCamp Boston. It will incorporate new information on the upcoming “default” theme, along with some feedback from Boston. If you’re in the area and interested in meeting up on Sunday or Monday, send me a note.
Boston North Shore Web Geeks’ “Great CMS Debate”. I’ll be representing WordPress on a panel debating the merits of a few popular web content management systems (CMS). Other panelists include Boston Web Studio’s Marc Amos (Expression Engine), Jay Batson (co-founder of Acquia, a widely known Drupal consultancy), and Fidelity’s Tom Herer (representing Kentico). My friend, founder of WordCamp Boston, and strategy guru at Optaros, John Eckman, moderates. It takes place on February 25th, at 7 ,pm in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
