President-elect, Donald Trump, our Twitter-wielding intimidator-in-chief, has turned his ironic rage toward the cast of the Hamilton musical. Last night, vice-president-elect, Mike Pense, attended the musical Hamilton. After the performance, actor Brandon Victor Dixon (who plays the character, Aaron Burr), recognized Mr.…
Author: F. Andy Seidl
F. Andy Seidl is a serial entrepreneur, software innovator, and technology business advisor with over thirty years of experience. Most recently, Andy is a founding partner at Advantary LLC, a full-service management accelerator that provides interim CxO services to early/mid-stage companies. He also teaches a course on Digital Product Design at the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering, Center for Entrepreneurship. Andy is passionate about building software to last, playing guitar, mountaineering, backpacking, hiking, running, and critical thinking. He is Dad to a son and twin daughters with his incredibly accomplished best friend, business partner, and wife of 36 years.
When is a Vote a Wasted Vote?
Suggest to a Gary Johnson supporter, or a Jill Stein supporter, that voting for their preferred candidate is a wasted vote and you’re likely to get an ear full. But whether or not such a vote is actually a wasted…
The High Price of Misplaced Priorities in Ann Arbor
A 16-year-old boy was hit and killed this morning crossing the street in front of Ann Arbor Huron High School–the result of misplaced priorities. He was crossing Fuller Road near Huron Parkway, shortly after 7 AM this morning. Both of…
Value of Connections–Is LinkedIn Worth $26 Billion?
Fourteen years ago yesterday, I left Starbase Corporation to found MyST Technology Partners, Inc., with fellow ex-Starbase software guy, Bill French. That anniversary, together with yesterday’s announcement that Microsoft intends to acquire LinkedIn for a staggering $26.2 billion in cash, got me…
My Latest Project: Open Source Newspaper and Newsletter
As a long-time software entrepreneur, I’ve developed a fascination with—and a reliance upon—the open source software industry. For years, I relied on RSS feeds, Twitter feeds, and a variety of other sources to help me stay abreast of the latest…
NECSS Apology to Richard Dawkins
I have been critical of NECSS for how it handled the Richard Dawkins situation. But I am also supportive of NECSS for eventually doing the right thing and issuing an apology to Richard Dawkins. Yesterday, the NECSS executive committee released the…
Audio: Richard Dawkins on his Stroke and the NECSS Fiasco
Recently, I wrote about how Prof. Richard Dawkins was suddenly uninvited from speaking at this year’s Northeast Conference on Science and Skepticism (NECSS). As I said at the time, I thought the move was a mistake on the part of NECSS,…
Socialism vs. Capitalism: a false dichotomy
A good friend of mine recently posted a link to this old clip of the economist Milton Friedman lecturing Phil Donahue on the (lack of) merits of socialism vs. those of capitalism. The problem with Friedman’s explanation is the problem…
Richard Dawkins at NECSS–Or Not
I just read Dr. Stephen Novella‘s clear and thoughtful blog post on how Professor Richard Dawkins was invited to be a featured speaker at this year’s Northeast Conference on Science and Skepticism (NECSS). And shortly thereafter, uninvited. It’s an interesting–even if disappointing–look into the…
Religions, Genes, Jokes, and other Replicators
I just read The Economist’s book review of Dominic Johnson‘s God is Watching You: How the Fear of God Makes Us Human. The review suggests “Belief in divine punishment may be inherent and a useful evolutionary adaptation, helping humans overcome selfishness.” But correctly assessing causation…