Geek/Tech/Entrepreneur Stuff to do in PHX

[keith smith]

So why would you want to continue down this same path?

------------------------
Keith Smith


--- On Sun, 8/2/09, Joshua Zeidner <jjzeidner at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Joshua Zeidner <jjzeidner at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: Geek/Tech/Entrepreneur Stuff to do in PHX
> To: "Main PLUG discussion list" <plug-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
> Date: Sunday, August 2, 2009, 2:58 PM
> On Sun, Aug 2, 2009 at 2:51 PM, keith
> smith<klsmith2020 at yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> > I think anytime government gets involved in anything
> it is bad.  If the government is going to be in charge of
> giving grants to business development groups only the
> friends of government will get the grants.
> 
>   the friends of govt are getting the grants right
> now.  believe me,
> I've been at the State Senate.  It's a zoo. 
> We're about to make the
> biggest financial decision AZ has made in decades. -jmz
> 
> >
> >
> > We agree on one thing.  Accurate reporting is needed.
>  That is what is missing.
> >
> >
> > ------------------------
> > Keith Smith
> >
> >
> > --- On Sun, 8/2/09, Joshua Zeidner <jjzeidner at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >> From: Joshua Zeidner <jjzeidner at gmail.com>
> >> Subject: Re: Geek/Tech/Entrepreneur Stuff to do in
> PHX
> >> To: "Main PLUG discussion list" <plug-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
> >> Date: Sunday, August 2, 2009, 2:41 PM
> >> On Sun, Aug 2, 2009 at 2:21 PM, keith
> >> smith<klsmith2020 at yahoo.com>
> >> wrote:
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > With the exception of labor law violations
> what you
> >> have outlined has to do with business practices.
> >> >
> >> > How can government improve these problems?
> >>
> >>   I think that the technology development people
> need
> >> clear
> >> representation in state govt.  You certainly have
> this
> >> in CA, and the
> >> political support is funneled through
> professional
> >> orgs.  As was
> >> pointed out the professional orgs are somewhat
> lacking
> >> here- perhaps
> >> this warrants a closer look.  Perhaps we need to
> take
> >> a look at who it
> >> is that runs them.  In my view the only way to
> make a
> >> durable org is
> >> direct support by state or city govt.  Economic
> >> development in AZ is
> >> typically modeled as low cost industrial
> investment + cheap
> >> labor =
> >> $$$$!  Im not suggesting doing away with it, but
> it
> >> has expanded
> >> enough to antagonize other kinds of development. 
> I
> >> dont think cheap
> >> labor should come at the cost of University. 
> This is
> >> the 21st
> >> century- cast iron widgets are becoming cheaper
> and
> >> cheaper.
> >>
> >>   Again just to clarify, I have nothing against
> >> Gangplank.  But we
> >> have to be accurate when we talk about it.  It's
> not
> >> the Kleiner
> >> Perkins of Arizona.  If we allow that perception
> to
> >> persist, AZ will
> >> gain a reputation as a fraud.  Secondly I would
> >> appreciate it if some
> >> of the protagonists of these groups were a bit
> clearer
> >> about their
> >> identity.  Some of these groups conjure up images
> of
> >> those cheapo
> >> chinese buffets that change their names every few
> months.
> >>
> >>   Keith I dont have a business plan... but we
> need to
> >> start by
> >> accurately reporting on the state of things. 
> Then we
> >> can make the
> >> right decisions.
> >>
> >>   -jmz
> >>
> >> >
> >> > ------------------------
> >> > Keith Smith
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > --- On Sat, 8/1/09, Michael Butash <michael at butash.net>
> >> wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> From: Michael Butash <michael at butash.net>
> >> >> Subject: Re: Geek/Tech/Entrepreneur Stuff
> to do in
> >> PHX
> >> >> To: "Main PLUG discussion list" <plug-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
> >> >> Date: Saturday, August 1, 2009, 10:31 PM
> >> >> Well, largely I agree with Joshua's
> >> >> assessment, sounds like his
> >> >> experience is much like mine...
> >> >>
> >> >> I moved to the Bay area in 99, worked
> tech there
> >> for 2
> >> >> years, moved back
> >> >> when things imploded in 01.  Since being
> back
> >> versed
> >> >> with tech skill and
> >> >> corporate politics, I've only ever been
> able to
> >> describe
> >> >> most business
> >> >> in Arizona as bass-ackward and/or
> hot-air
> >> propelled.
> >> >> Largely I note
> >> >> Arizona seems to encourage abuse of fair
> labor
> >> standards
> >> >> act for
> >> >> salaried employees, resulting in a lot
> of
> >> "sweatshop IT"
> >> >> mentality in
> >> >> corporations here.  Funny I heard
> mentioned
> >> godaddy
> >> >> and 2wire, as they
> >> >> tend to be some of the biggest offenders
> of
> >> running said
> >> >> sweat shops.
> >> >> Give your buddy 6 months at the Daddy to
> acclimate
> >> to them
> >> >> and ask what
> >> >> he thinks.  :)
> >> >>
> >> >> When I did move back to AZ, I'd joined
> some
> >> professional
> >> >> "networking"
> >> >> groups like AZIPA that led to not much
> more than
> >> pedantic
> >> >> bickering and
> >> >> posturing, not much at all helpful for
> business
> >> or
> >> >> technology
> >> >> opportunities.  Ultimately I saw it
> splinter,
> >> >> fracture, and a lot of
> >> >> people simply lose interest because of
> it,
> >> including
> >> >> myself.