KHontent

This coming weekend I’ll be headed up to Laramie, WY for the Dead Dog Classic. This will be my first cycling race of the season. I’ve been training for over the past two months and feel pretty confident that I’ll race well. I’m competing as a Category 4 racer, which is the lowest classification rank. Currently there about 30 other racers signed up in the Cat. 4 men group. Most of them are traveling from Colorado and ride for local teams around Denver and Boulder.

Dead Dog is a stage race, which means it is a multi-day and multi-disciplined. Saturday morning starts out with a 54 mile road race which includes a 9 mile, 2,400 feet climbing section that tops out at a summit of 10,8000 feet. Sunday is a 30 minute criterium around downtown Laramie and is then followed by a 10 mile time trial on Sunday afternoon. The time trial should feel pretty natural as I’m used to individual timed efforts from triathlon racing. I’m looking forward to putting the hammer down and seeing how well these legs can climb and spin.

We’re planning on camping outside of Laramie up near the base of the climb. I’ll make sure to post some pictures and provide updates via twitter.

This weekend marked our first anniversary of living in Colorado. As I reflect on being here, time has gone by very fast and we’ve done so much. I’ll spare the adventures for now, but I just wanted to mark the occasion with a simple post. We’re very thankful for our lives, our love, our blessings, and our friends. Here’s to another year that will be even more amazing than the last!

Last night at Tech cocktail Boulder, I had the pleasure of speaking with Adam Calihman about some unique problems his company is trying to solve. Adam is a super cool guy and the boyfriend of Tara, my former rockstar boss and Rock Band professional at Lijit.

He’s the Founder and CEO of a company called Lucid Dimensions. In the most basic of terms, Lucid makes a product called Omni-Watch3D, which is a sphere covered with sensors that recognize infrared heat. The sensors (appx. 500 at 1 pixel each) allow for three-dimensional situational awareness via light and signal recognition. That’s was already way over my head, but Adam gave me a few practical examples.

The spheres can be used in border protection, search and rescue, and security for places like harbors, airports, and buildings. After mounting the sphere, a user can identify anything that gives off heat and speed –i.e. humans, dogs, engines, bullets, etc. Because of the low pixel requirements of the sensors on the sphere, it can be mounted on a helicopter (traveling up to 250 mph) and clearly identify objects on the ground. Since Adam is an avid skier in Colorado’s high country, he’d like to someday see this technology used for backcountry search and rescue and human detection after an avalanche.

This is an amazing piece of technology, which offers faster information processing and more accuracy than traditional camera thermal imaging. Best wishes to Adam and the entire Lucid Dimensions team.

Tomorrow night, TECH Cocktail will descend on Boulder, Colorado for the first time. I expect Friday to bring a flurry of positive posts about the success of the event and how it served to further highlight Boulder’s rightful place as entrepreneurial hub.

Having lived in Chicago during 2006, I had the opportunity to attend the first TECH Cocktail and several others before moving to Colorado. What impressed me every time was just how much buzz and excitement the event creates within a community eager to drink free booze, network, and sell their wares. Frank and Eric have done a fantastic job building TECH Cocktail from a infant gathering, to a Tour de Force (I had to use a cycling reference) event that brings out some of the most popular local bloggers, creative people in tech, interesting VCs looking for deals, and unfortunately a few sleazy recruiters looking for a score.

Most of all, TC is all about featuring the best up and coming local web companies and bringing eyes, ears, and sometimes money to these start-ups. Tomorrow local companies like Lijit (the best search company who I had the pleasure of working for), and a whole slew of other movers and shakers from the 5280 area will be in attendance. I’m looking forward to the newfound excitement and buzz of TC Boulder. Thanks guys in advance for bringing it to Colorado!

On Tuesday night during the Wisconsin and Hawaii primaries, I heard John King of CNN say something to the affect that Barack Obama’s is like a growth stock, while Hillary Clinton is a declining stock. As an investment analyst, I liked this analogy and wanted to explore why one would want to elect a ‘growth stock’ candidate.

A general definition of a growth stock is one that 1. that increases earnings at an above-average rate and is expected to continue growing at high levels (has momentum) 2. that has usually does not pay dividends to shareholders (hopefully whomever the nominee they’ll pay leadership dividends to the American people) 3. that may have higher risk and more volatility (politicians will always pull a wild card at some point during their term) 4. that may exhibit recession resistant characteristics (no elected official is immune from becoming a lame duck).

For today Barack has the momentum and Hillary doesn’t. His popularity is growing like Google stock did in the second half of 2007. He’s won 10 straight primaries, raised over 36 million in January and 7.6 million the two days following Super Tuesday, cut into Clinton’s traditional demographic support base, and rallied an entirely new and diverse base from all groups, and has opened up a lead in pledged delegates (super delegates don’t count yet).

According to today’s article about Barack’s fundraising in Bloomberg it says this:

While much of Obama’s money came in small donations over the Internet, he also again benefited from the support of Wall Street. Employees of New York’s Goldman Sachs Group Inc. contributed $52,923 to Obama, compared with $14,350 for Clinton.

While I definitely see merit in following the smart money at Goldman, the contrarian in me always gets a bit nervous. Until Barack can either win Texas and Ohio or keep the margin very close in a loss, I think its bit too early to count her out. The Clintons are like street magicians, as much as you think you’ve got ‘um figured out their hands (and mouths) usually work faster than your eyes.

On a momentum basis, I’m definitely long Barack and short Hillary. However, if there is one weak spot in Barack’s ‘investment fundamentals’ it’s his ability to debate clearly and respectfully attack with force. I believe that Clinton is clearly a better debater, albeit a worse orator in general than Barack. I’ll be interested to watching the Texas debate tonight to see if Barack’s current momentum will give him a boost of confidence that will help clearly articulate the reasons why he’ll make a better President than Hillary.

Although, if I were a tried a true conservative Republican, I would hope the Democrats would mess this nomination up and choose Hillary to face McCain. That would be the ultimate negative slugfest and the best shot for Republicans would have to win in November. However, I’m tired of the negativity and scare tactics of the old guard. For whatever the message of hope and change is worth, right now I find it has much more appeal.

I had to re-post this hilarious quote by Howard.

My problem is, I am a stock and market pervert, not a porn addict. I have long been embarrased that when my wife sneaks up behind me that she finds me at Google Finance.

Classic. Howard, I share your struggle.

The dollar makes a short comeback only to falter again as the year progresses. Gold and Silver correct, but not for long.

Oil also declines in the spring to early summer, but then resumes climb due to some geo-political turmoil. Oil discovery and service companies continue to be the place to be in the energy sector.

Natural Gas increases in price and there is a renewed focus on the environmental benefits of using natural gas. Companies that have natural gas reserves and transport capabilities will benefit the most.

Global warming is cooked, but we won’t stop hearing about it especially into an election year. Valuations of solar stocks are becoming obscene and will get corrected.

Green is the new black. Whether or not it’s a capitalist marketing ploy or actually good for the environment is still question.

Gamers rule. With Nintendo the Wii and DS flying off the shelves, Activision being acquired by Vivendi, Xbox 360 becoming an Madden gamers getting their own show on ESPN, Guitar Hero and Rock Band becoming the ways for kids to loose weight and families to unite.

Growth is the asset class of the year. Fund managers will continue to chase it down wherever they can find it. Agriculture will continue to be the hottest new growth sector around.

The global infrastructure boom continues and large international or U.S. based multi-national companies continue to get in the game.

Biotech, specialty pharma, life sciences continue to grow even into an election year with possible Democrat control. There will be a greater focus on using technology to solve unique heath problems.

Banks continue to have larger than expected write downs. Share prices continue to suffer until at least mid to late 2nd Quarter. Structured debt instruments will continue to be sold at fractions on the dollar in order to clean the books. Share prices of large banks will eventually make a comeback. Don’t expect a recovery until late 2008 into 2009 and stay patient.

Blackberry continues to impress and move from the business to consumer market with easy. As more countries get access to Blackberry devices, everyone will want one. Although the iPhone is beautiful and user friendly, poor service from AT&T, the lack of openness, and unrealized security issues will continue to stifle sales from what they could be.

China will host a great Olympics. However, the pollution problem will increase and become a serious problem for both athletes and tourists alike. Marathon runners will get sick and no distance running records will be broken. The country will continue to post exceptional GDP growth, but will have a stock market correction after the Olympics in the fall of 2008.

Facebook doesn’t IPO, although it continues to impress and dominate despite screw-ups along the way. Social networks as a whole will increasingly reach saturation and people will reach connection overloaded and get further annoyed with so many networks, logins, web services, and intrusions of privacy.

Aggregation and search become what social networking was two years ago. People begin to realize the mess of data they’ve created online and the growing need to categorize and retrieve it with ease. Local web companies like Lijit, will win and lead the way with searching the social graph and helping users easily aggregate and access their scattered content.

Boulder will continue to grow as a start-up and technology hub. It’s the new Austin and alternative venture capital locale. Best wishes to Brad and the Foundry Group in 2008.

The Patriots don’t win the Super Bowl and a Democrat will be back in the White House.

People will become increasingly more negative and opinionated. Don’t listen to them. Stay positive, hopeful, and realize the blessings each day. I wish the best to you and yours. Have a Happy New Year!

While surfing tonight, I saw that Kiva was featured in CNBC’s ‘Business Nation’ last week.

You can find the story and video here.

If you’ve never given a loan on Kiva, I encourage you to do so today.  You can also help change the life of a developing world entreprenuer by purchasing a gift certificate for the holidays.

After helping an individual, head on over to Unitus and make a donation to help scale a microfinance organization. Unitus will also send a personalized e-card or printed card after you donate.

If you’d rather invest this holiday season instead of just give, visit Microplace and help others while helping yourself.

As many of you know, over the past three years I’ve gained a strong interest in microfinance and its use to help the working poor in developing countries.  I believe that the entrepreneurial spirit coupled with micro-lending is so powerful to eradicating poverty worldwide.

Almost two years ago, I bought a URL with the intention of starting a web based micro-lending service.  My goal was to create a collaborative on-line marketplace that would link donors with listing agents of microfinance projects supporting the working poor.  Donors could effectively choose specific projects related to microfinance worldwide and effectively get some sort of nominal return on investment.

Earlier in 2005, Kiva.org launched a radical new idea of peer-to-peer lending to the working poor.  Although, Kiva was amazing (and continues to be) it didn’t provide any way for an investor to gain any sort of return.  It was more or less, lending for the sake goodwill and return of principal.  Albeit good, this wasn’t exactly the idea I had in mind. 

Shortly after purchasing the URL, I received an e-mail from Tracey Pettengill at Seed Capital inquiring if I would be willing to sell the domain.  After looking at the description of Seed Capital, I knew right then that I had to follow-up and get to know Tracey.  After subsequent e-mails, I learned that Tracey recently founded the Silicon Valley Microfinance Network (SVMN) with fellow microfinance evangelist, VC, and tech blogger Dave McClure.

Living in Chicago at the time, I traveled out to California a few times to attend SVMN (Silicon Valley Microfinance Network) events and meet Tracey in person.  At SVMN meetings, I met several other great people who shared a similar interest in microfinance. From these connections, I also had the ability to volunteer with Kiva on marketing efforts last year.

While Tracey decided not to purchase my URL, knowing who she was and what she did helped grow my interest in microfinance.  From a few brief meetings with Tracey, it was clearly evident that she has unbelievable experience, vision, and passion for microfinance. With Tracey’s leadership and the help of EBay, MicroPlace will hopefully become the new standard for socially responsible investors looking to gain exposure to the world of microfinance.

Congratulations to Tracey Pettengill-Turner and the entire MicroPlace team for launching such an innovative way to invest and a company that will change the world.  Go make an investment today and help to crush poverty worldwide.

Click here to check out the Business Week article regarding Tracey and MicroPlace. 

Today my friend Eric Olson wrote a great post that has inspired me that today is the day to start this blog. Anyone contemplating his or her career (or starting anything in life) should give Eric’s post a read. In short, Eric received some advice from a friend addressing the need of figuring out what you want to do, getting there as quick as possible, and thereby giving yourself as much time as possible to make mistakes and learn to make something great.

In business, as in life, an idea is only as good as the execution of that idea. For the past few months I’ve been sitting on ideas for this domain, but not executing those ideas and publishing content related to the topics I’m interested and excited about. Today, waiting to start has come to an end. It’s time to execute on my ideas and learn how to build a better web presence and become a better Net Native as explained by Fred Wilson.

Along the journey of creating this blog, I hope that any reader consuming my khontent will find it interesting, informative, useful, or just plain fun. I know that I’m going to make some mistakes along the way and I’m open for anyone to challenge my thoughts or assumptions. My thoughts are not static and I know that open dialog creates refined ideas and dynamic interaction. Only with your help can I learn to think of it, create it, or do it better. Let’s start having some fun and get involved in a conversation together.