Should large companies use crowd funding?

When people start businesses or a new project that will be released for consumer adoption, there is a good amount of investment that has to be put into it. Not only in time and effort, but in money as well.

Traditionally, you either would use the funds and resources you have saved up or you would try to get a loan. Or, some cases, look for a venture capitalist. But what do you do if no bank will give you a loan or you cant find investors to fund your project or business? 

Kickerstarter, as well as indiegogo has become hugely popular in having projects crowd funded these days. Most recently, Canonical, which is the company behind Ubuntu, has launched a indiegogo campaign to raise a unprecedented 32 million dollars for the Ubuntu Edge. Even though Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth has a net worth of over 500 million

Crowd funding has become a great resource for everyday people use the power of the internet to have hundreds, if not thousands of people donate to their project. But should large companies like Canonical, who have the cash in hand to fund their project, ask others to pay for it? You also have people in Hollywood like director Spike Lee who is asking to have his next movie crowd funded. Spike Lee is asking for a little over a million dollars, even though he has a net worth of 40 million dollars. 

Crowd funding has been great to help small companies and "regular" people and projects come to fruition, which otherwise would probably not see past early prototypes. The Ouya, which is set top gaming console based on the Android operation system, was crowd funded and is now on the shelves of the stores like Best Buy. That is a great example how a product, which was pretty much barely out of concept phase made it to the main stream stores.

Now, there are perks people get for donating. Usually when they "donate" the amount the product, will probably get the product before it officially goes on sale. In the case of Ubuntu Edge, the 20 dollar pledges get their name listed a "founder".

I have a question for the large companies and individuals who can acquire the funds for their project easily. Are you only trying not to pay for your new product to get developed, or do you not believe it in enough to pay for it yourself?

Ubuntu Edge, X86 or go home

For those who are not aware, Ubuntu by Canonical is the one of, the not the most popular Linux distributions out there. Ubuntu is great for beginners going into Linux, especially if they do not know much about command line.

Recently, Canonical announced their ambitious 32,000,000 Indi GoGo campaign to fun Ubuntu Edge. A smart phone that is supposed to bridge the gap between mobile device/phone and desktop computer. Something Mark Shuttleworth is calling "convergence". This "phone" will boast a 2.4Ghz quad core processor and 4GB of RAM. That is just shy of the specs of my home computer. At of the time of the posting of this blog, the are into their second week and have passed the 7,000,000 mark.

Its an ambitious goal and though I did not contribute to this funding campaign, mostly due to lack of funds, I hope it brings them success. But, I unfortunately feel that this is doomed for failure.

In a previous blog post I wrote entitled "The Idea of Convergence", I go into my thoughts on if bridging between mobile and home computing. But that is not the reason I think this is doomed for failure, it all has to do with application compatibility.

Last year, Microsoft's Windows 8 launched with Windows 8RT. The main problem with Windows 8RT was their tablet operating system and run on a ARM processor, as opposed to an X86 processor, which all home computers and "normal" Windows runs on as well.

That is where windows screwed the pooch on Windows 8. They came out with an operating system that "looked" identical to its X86 counterpart. Something that confused a lot of people why they could not install their "legacy" applications.

I know the Ubuntu Edge will be dual booting Android for the phone and using Ubuntu for "desktop". But, since it will probably be running on an ARM processor, they will find themselves in the same boat as people did with Windows RT.

I know this first generation is supposed to be for the backers only. But, if I cannot really see "power" users using this as their main computing device, since a lot of applications that people rely on do not run on ARM yet.

I will say this though, for everyday computing, like web browsing, emailing and things of that nature, I think this will do well for a lot of people who do not mind having their computer and phone in the same device.

When there is not a way, you find a way!

"Its a bad economy". "Times are hard". These are terms you hear a lot with whats going on in the United States and other parts of the world. A lot of people are out of work and are trying to just make ends meet and provide for themselves and their families. I for one, am one of those people, having to provide for myself and three other people with only one job.

There are times, like right now, where I have no freaking clue how I am going to pay some of the bills I have, let alone pay for the everyday things like gas to get to work so I can make try to make the income I earn. But, you push through and you move on. You find ways to make it happen. Even if there doesn't seem to be a way, you find a way. This is a mantra of mine I have lived by. Luckily, I have an awesome group of family and friends that help me sometimes. Even when I am too stubborn to ask them myself. 

Too many times I have seen people just give up completely and completely mooch off the their family and friends and the Government. A lot of times, ruining the relationship they had with their family. Where it seems that they only need or want them when they need or want help with money. 

Do not get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with asking for help or hell, being on some kind of Government assistance plan to help supplement your income until you are able to get completely back on your feet. But too many times too many get too reliant on other sources paying for everything that they need.

Another thing that really irks me, are the people who always say there are no jobs. There are jobs out there, but probably not the jobs those people are used to or want to do. Keep in mind, I am not necessarily talking about the people laid from a job making 60K+ a year. Those "good jobs" are sometimes really hard to find. And if you worked your butt off working in that job for years, I think you are entitled to your unemployment of up to 80% until you are able to find a job where you made something comparable to what you were making before. 

No, I am talking about the people who jump from job to job, people who haven't had a job that makes more then 10-12 an hour. People who are in their mid twenties and above who think working fast food or labor jobs is beneath them. The people who usually quit the job, other then being laid off or fired. I am talking about those people. Those people I want to smack. Especially the ones who have a family to support, but do nothing to support them themselves, since they know the Government will not let them starve and especially if you have children, will also probably pay for your rent and utilities and now even a basic cell phone. 

And you do not even want to get me started on people that are single and that are homeless. There, in my opinion only a couple reasons where you find yourself homeless. One, you are disabled in some way and for some reason, due to your situation cannot or on a waiting list for Government help. And the second reason, which does happen sometimes, you from no fault of your own had the worst luck. Setback after setback and something was always coming up to get you to that point where you found yourself with no place to live. 

To all those single parents, families with smaller incomes just making ends meet and not giving up and fighting everyday for the best life you can provide, you guys rock. Keep fighting and hard work and dedication does eventually pay off. Like anything in life, you have to work hard for what you want. Almost nothing is going to be just given to you, you have go out there and take it. You have to go out there and work your ass off for success. Though it seems like some people have better luck and someone kiss ass more then work hard for their position, hard work does pay off. I know, I have been there. And I am getting back to that place now. 

When there is not a way, you find a way!

The idea of "Convergence"

The way we compute have come a long way. Even for me, who didn't get his first computer until I was in the mid 90's when I had 486 or 586 computer. I forget which kind. To give you an idea of this powerhouse of computer. It had a whopping 40 megabyte hard drive and I think I had like 4 megs of ram. So, no it couldn't play Crysis.

Fast forward to today, where most of us carry phones that have more computing power then the NASA Shuttle program had when they started in the 80's. Even my phone, A Samsung Galaxy S2, which is now considered low to mid-grade by today's standards has a 1.2 dual core processor with 1GB of Ram, with 8GB on board storage.

Modern phones, or "Smart Phones" do meet a lot of peoples computing needs and it has been thrown around and even proof of concepts have come out about merging the phone and computer. A term, which is being called "convergence". Mark Shuttleworth of Canonical is really pushing this idea, so much Canonical has setup a IndiGoGO campaign to raise a whopping 32 million dollars to fund this effort with Canonical's "Ubuntu Edge". Canonical is also the company behind the Linux Ubuntu Desktop Operating system

Its a promising idea and a great concept. A merge between phone and computer. Literally your computer in your pocket and when you need to use it a "computer" you dock the phone in the docking station and now can use your keyboard, mouse, monitor, ect.

According to the video from IndiGoGo, Mark Shuttleworth stated that this will only be for the backers to the fund and they might come out every new with a new model. That is, partly his reasoning for having the entire project funded by "crowd funding". Mark Shuttleworth did not go into if those future models will be crowd funded though.

Though, I think its great idea and something that should be looked into and is probably the future of main stream computing, but for me, I like my phone as my "phone" and my desktop/laptop for my "computer". If you lose your phone, like it tends to happen with smaller devices that fit in your pocket, your computer and phone is now gone. I know a lot of people have insurance on their phone, but if you use your new phone/computer as your phone and regular computer, you are now SOL and all your non cloud data is gone. Not to mention the fact that since people usually do not encrypt their devices, let alone put a pass code to access your phone, all that personal/business data is now available. I guess I am old codger when it comes to this, but this is something that people have to think about if they are going to go full bore into this "convergence".

I would say that this would a great way as an additional device. Like how people use a tablet to complement their laptop or desktop computer. But i would not, for me anyways, use this as my only device for all of my computing and phone needs. If you only use this, your are literally putting all your eggs in one basket.

Make Fraudulent ID's, Go to Jail for 5 years...During Christmas only.

COMMENTARY

I was going through some news story and came across an AP piece, where a 44 year old female was convicted making fraudulent ID's for people. The sentence can be up to fifteen years in prison, but she only got probation. She does have to spend sometime in jail though. At least three days a year during Christmas. She has to do this during her five year probation period.

So, I was trying to figure this out. If you were going to send someone to jail, why only for three days during Christmas? The article does not say the reasons, but only says that if she violates her probation she can be forced to serve the entire fifteen year sentence. I for the life of me cannot think of a reason why just during Christmas. I know judges do not always have the most conventional sentences, but what the hell is this? I mean seriously, why is it that we have people who have a "felony" possession charge get years in jail and this woman only get a slap on the wrist probation with the caveat she has to be in jail during Christmas for the next five years. I even know of a person who has sexual misconduct with a minor charge and only got a six year sentence. That means if she does not violate her probation she will only be in jail for a minimum of fifteen days in the next five years.

Now, when I was reading through the comments of the article some people think its because of the convicted individual is black and that is why the light sentence. I do not think that has anything to do with it. I think it has to to with the non standardized sentences people are given. Now I am not saying she should get the full fifteen years in prison for this crime she committed. But what does it say when we have a justice system for people get more time for simple possession then to make fraudulent government identification cards? Or going back to the instance I brought up about someone who had sex with an underage female and only got a total of six years of prison time.

I believe that Judges should have some say in how sentences need to carried out, but sentences like these is one of the reasons that a lot of people are losing faith in the justice system.

What is the hardest thing to endure? Barring a violent or traumatic even.

When you think of the hardest thing to witness, what comes to mind? To some, its witnessing something harmful or fetal being done to animals, to their family of friends, witnessing a horrific event. be it on TV or being there when it happens. But those events effect almost everyone in some way. How about something where there is no physical loss or is not violent? What if you had to watch someone you love be with someone else?

I was watching a video where this took place and made me think. What if, one day for some weird circumstances I had to go through that. Not granted, in the video she was already betrothed and she convinced herself that she had to go through with it.

But it begs the question; what would you do if you had to watch someone you love be with someone else? And here is the added kicker to the question. What if she felt the same about you?

I think, barring violent or loss of life events, that would be the hardest thing I would have to see and go through. I do not know how I would handle it.

At least when there is a traumatic event in your life, though horrible, you usually can move on. But what if there is nothing wrong with the person, but you still cant be "with" them? What if you are in a position where you would be seeing them on a semi regular basis? Be it gathering with mutual friends, you may be co workers, ect. It would be like a wound re opening every time you see them and there is nothing you can do about it. Now, I know after time, it will get more bearable, but it will still be there thus the same. A constant reminder of thinking of what your life could have been.

I believe that would be the hardest thing for me to endure.

I`m a Spanish-Ecuadorian-Irish-Portuguese American

I`m a Spanish-Ecuadorian-Irish-Portuguese-United States of America American. Yep, though I have never set foot in any those countries, except of the United States, where I have been born and raised. But that does not matter. I have heritage/lineage from those other countries and I am going to say it loud and say it proud! I am going to make sure every person that comes into my presence know that too. I also am going into tell you how my Irish brethren succeeded from the United Kingdom to become a free state. To which, it has not even been 100 years since that great time we declared in one voice. Ireland is free! 

But we cannot forget my Spanish brethren either, who fought in the Spanish American War, while Cuba was fighting for independence against the Spanish. Since I now reside in the United States, I have to tell everyone that. 

I may have never been to those countries, nor do I have any plans to go there. But I feel their pain as it were my own. 

Never mind, I am white. Or I look white, so I can never understand what any kind of prejudice is like. Its not like I have ever had any racial incidents against me for being "white" or for my last name. That is actually not possible, by virtue of me being white. So, those comments said to me were just words with no other means other just being "mean"

I am getting sick and tired of one group or another that happens not to be white always yelling prejudice and everything must be a hate crime when its usually people just being dicks or assholes. When it it usually people just committing a crime to commit the crime and usually not giving a fuck who the victim is. Why do not not hear about brown and brown crime, or black on black crime? Why is it that 61 people are killed in Chicago during the Zimmerman trial but almost nothing if anything is said about that? Why is it that almost nothing is said about when Marley Lion, who was 17 year old white unarmed teenager was killed by a 30 year old black man? Why is it that when I was growing up in a predominately Asian gang area, nothing was said when they when they killed people of other races? Why is it that only white people are racists? Why the fuck do people have to always have to identify themselves like "pick your "race"-American". 

Now, I am not saying there is not racism still in this country, or around the world. Its something we will in someway will always have to deal with. In one way or another. I think of the things that helps perpetuating racism and prejudice is how a lot of people keep having to label themselves by where they are "from" before what country they are a citizen of. 

Division in the name is equality.

"...where they are not judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. August 28th, 1963. 

Above is an excerpt from the famous "I have a dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A speech that has been used and quoted since its inception almost fifty years ago. A speech that talked about all races, colors, creeds, religions, and everything else that make us different, to come together. Unfortunately, especially with the current events of the Zimmerman trial, I believe those ideals have been perverted in the name of being equal. But before we get into that, we have to go into a dark chapter of the United States of America. 

Though the end of the Civil War effectively ended slavery, it did not officially end until the 13th amendment was added to the Constitution in 1865. And even after that, though not illegal, it wasn't easy for newly freed slaves and others of color to vote. It wasn't until 1870, when the 15th amendment was added, that it effectively abolished any restrictions on voting based on a persons color. 

Even with those things, it took a long time. Not until the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did things really start to change. It changed with people like Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat on a bus, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who organized marches and gave the famous "I have a dream" speech. 

Fast forward to today. It is almost more then one month shy of being the 50th anniversary of the "I have a Dream" speech, and we have made great strides. But recently, I believe, in the name of equality, we are dividing ourselves even more. I also believe, that in the name of equality, well-known leaders in the black community are destroying all the work they supposedly are trying to protect. When you have the likes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton jumping on the racism band wagon in almost every case where a black person was the alleged victim, but have never retracted their statements when cases like Twana Brawley rape allegations are found to be false and do not speak about it. 

You have to stand up to people in your own faith when they are doing something wrong. You stand up against people in the Westboro Baptist Church. Even though they have not done anything illegal yet, what they have done is still wrong as they promote hate in the name of Christianity. You know its bad when organizations like the KKK speak out against Westboro Baptist Church for going too far. 

We can take a take a part of the oath the United States Military takes. To protect the United States from all threats, foreign and domestic.

We have to stand up to all threats. Stand up to people who use what you believe in, as an excuse or a reason to justify their actions. 

As this is being written, there are protests regarding the acquittal of George Zimmerman. Some of those protests ended in violence and property destruction. One incident, resulted a group going after a vehicle, whose driver was taking her grand daughter to the Emergency room. And yet, some of the loudest voices organizing the protests are not speaking out against those actions. They also were silent when a 17 year old, who was also "unarmed", named Marley Lion was killed by a thirty year old black man. No outrage on that? No outrage on the hypocritical nature of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson when nothing is said about someone who was black was the shooter. Not to mention the huge amount of black on black crime that get almost no media attention what so ever, other then another addition to crime statistics. 

This has to stop, and it has to stop now, or the very thing people try to protect, will be destroyed from within. If you are going to fight against people who wrong you, you have to fight against the people who wrong others in the name of your cause. People who use what you are fighting for as an excuse and justification for violence. You have to speak out against people who ruin peoples' lives in the name of equality when they are found to be wrong. You had to fight against people like that just as much as you are fighting for your equality. 

Like the old saying goes; "Bad things happen when good people stand aside and do nothing".

Officially A Night Owl Again

There were some changes with my work schedule due to cut backs. Even though there were a loss of hours where I am assigned, I still am able to work a full forty hour workweek. Unfortunately, I was switched to the graveyard shift. My days off also changed as well well.

I will not get into the full circumstances of why I am working nights, since I do not believe its really appropriate to post on such a public forum. But, I am grateful I still have a job and a means to support my family.

One really good thing about working nights is that I am naturally a night owl. I usually do not go to bed or fall asleep until three to five in the morning. So, transitioning to working all night really isn't to big of a problem for me. Also, I usually am getting up around three in the afternoon. So, I do spend pretty much the later part of the day and mid to late evening at home with Leanne and kids. I just wish I did not have to be away from Leanne for five nights a week.

Cant get him on murder? Get him on federal civil right charges!

When you think of civil rights, what comes to mind? I know for me it conjures up images of peaceful protests of the likes of Dr. Martin Lutheran King Jr. It also brings up thoughts of everyday people doing all the can to be at peace and live together with their fellow man, no matter what background they come from.

But, some people would think that life, no matter what the circumstances is, is a civil right. Well, since a someone who happened be black lost his life and the person who killed him was just acquitted since the Jury believed his acted in self defense. Or they believed there was reasonable doubt he didn't act in self defense. 

As you can probably tell with the headlines flying around right now, I am referring to the Zimmerman trial. George Zimmerman killed Travon Martin early last year, in what he said was self defense, and the jury agreed with him. 

Now, since this criminal trial is over, the NAACP wants the United States Justice Department to charge Mr. Zimmerman with civil rights violations against Travon Martin. Are they saying because Travon Martin is black? Nope. Are they saying they have proof he had racist reasons to which let up to the confrontation between Travon Martin and George Zimmerman? Nope. Its because Mr. Zimmerman killed Travon Martin, thus depriving Mr. Martin of his civil right to life. 

Now, lets be clear, Mr. Zimmerman was found not guilty of killing Travon Martin, by reason of self defense. But, since he killed Zimmerman shot and killed Travon in self defense, Zimmerman is a civil rights violator. Even the FBI investigation concluded that they could find no evidence that race had anything to do with this case. 

Has the world gone mad? So, the NAACP is saying, you cannot use deadly force to protect yourself from someone else. Or, maybe they should just come out and say what they really want to say. You have no right to kill someone who is black in self defense if you are white. Where are they crying about the huge numbers of black and black killing? Where were the likes of them and Al Sharpton speaking out when there is black on white crime? 

I am getting sick and tired of this double standard. How dare they say I cannot defend myself by using deadly force if necessary. Would they be saying this if they roles were reversed? If Travon killed Zimmerman in self defense, would they be crying over civil rights? 

Now, no charges have been pressed against Zimmerman on civil rights violations when this blog post was published. But I find it non laughable funny how just mere hours after the not guilty verdict, they are contacting Attorney General Holders office on charging Zimmerman with civil rights violations.

Starting a Podcast under Moonstone Studios Network

Well, I have toyed with this idea for a long time, but I am finally going to start a podcast. Actually, I have a couple lined up. One of them I will be with a co-host where we banter back and forth and talking about what we think is wrong with shit going on in the world. That is, if we can get our schedules to coincide with each others.

This will all be under the banner of Moonstone Studios Network, which I recently created.

The other podcast I am working on will be called Private Security Weekly. It will be a weekly pod cast with me talking about the Private Security industry and hopefully I will line up some interviews in the Security industry.

If anyone has any show suggestions and or would like to start a show with me. Drop me a line at contact@moonstonestudios.net