Hello Internet!

Just what the Internet needs – another random guy telling everyone what he thinks about whatever. So why do I think it’s worthwhile to become one voice of 1.46 billion voices on the Internet? Honestly, I’m not sure. I guess first, I feel an obligation to reciprocate to those voices that blog and blog very well. I feel like I’m getting and not giving by just soaking up their blogs. Second, I guess I have a narcissistic streak that tells me that I simply MUST share my thoughts with the world. Finally, I am always seeking intellectual challenge. I admire those who produce and, more impressively, maintain well-run blogs. Those that I follow are listed in the blogroll section of this site. Of course, I have an outlet to the world through StartupLounge, but the mission of that site and the messages connected thereto are limited to Atlanta business and entrepreneurship. I’ve also on occasion been a guest blogger on Pothole on the Infobahn, but my style of writing really doesn’t mesh well with that blog. The time has come for me to move out of the basement and get a place of my own.

There will be no particular topic on my blog – simply whatever I feel interested in writing. For good or ill, my interests are varied, from politics, to foreign affairs (especially in Eastern & Central Europe, Russia, and Central Asia), to business, to economic theory (including business valuation) to music, to chess, to video games, to sports (especially baseball), to history, to linguistics, to my various public service activities. I’ll probably review stuff that I buy and read. What I can promise you is

1. I will distinguish opinion from fact, and will cite sources of fact
2. I will make an effort to entertain along the way
3. I will keep the tone of any discussion civil and constructive

I wish to offer my thanks to two people without whom this blog would simply be the subject of my idle chatter. First, I’ll thank my wife Cordelia, who is a gifted web designer and educator, for setting this blog site up for me. Thank you so much for helping me share my thoughts with the world. I am so proud of what you have managed to teach yourself – only a couple of years it was unthinkable that I would come to you for technology help. I love you and am very proud of you.

Second, I’d like to thank Mr. Scott Burkett, my co-conspirator at StartupLounge and Chief Operating Officer of StarPound. Scott and I have only known each other for less than three years. Scott has become one of my best friends and is a major reason I enjoy the reputation that I do in the Atlanta business and entrepreneurial community, as well as having the ability to live out my talk-radio fantasy through our podcast. I don’t say it enough Scott, but I am very grateful for our friendship. Like most of the American financial system, I already owe a debt that I can never truly repay for your friendship, your support, your good humor and your wise counsel. Scott’s blog is not only an important source of information for the Atlanta startup community in its own right, but I have to come to appreciate it as exemplary of how any blog should be created, maintained, and cultivated. It’s like a mini Web 2.0 tutorial.

My blog posts will frequently be longer than the typical blog. There are tons of blogs where you can get short blurbs on whatever topic. I hope to differentiate this blog by perhaps offering greater depth on the topics I choose to address.

OK – I’ve explained myself, I’ve thanked whom I need to thank and I’ve set the stage. Let’s go.