Finished reading Reality Check by Guy Kawasaki. The subtitle for Reality Check references outdoing your competition, but in reality the majority of the book focuses on getting a startup off the group. If you can forget about the irritating overuse of “bullshittake” Reality Check is useful book. The book is caulk full of do’s and don’ts in regards to presentations, budgeting, forecasting, hiring lawyers, and networking. One of the most useful topics in the book is Guy’s discussion on common startup mistakes. If you can learn from these mistakes the book will more than pay for itself. In addition, Reality Check contains a lengthy section on getting venture capital. I recommend this book to anyone looking to start a business.

I got bored of my sites design so I finally decided to change it. The original theme is call OneRoom and it was created by Jeremie Tisseau. I liked the graphics and the overall design. I had to change the menu system. Jeremie’s original theme didn’t handle subpages the way I needed. After a few CSS tweaking my theme now has dynamic dropdown menus for all subpages. I made a few other changes but the menu was the most noticeable change. Now I need to make time and design a better logo along with some speed optimizations for the site.

Let me know what you think of the new design! I’m always looking for feedback on ways to improve things.

Finished Reading SuperFreakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. SuperFreakonomics picks up where Freakonomics left off. In this book Levitt and Dubner examine bolder, funnier, and even more surprising topics than in the first book. Like Freakonomics, SuperFreakonomics challenges everyday beliefs by exploring the hidden side of everything. In the book the authors ask questions like: How is a street prostitute like a department-store Santa? What do hurricanes, heart attacks, and highway deaths have in common? Can eating kangaroo save the planet?

The two authors, Levitt and Dubner, mix intelligent thought and great storytelling like no one else could to create an extremely compelling book. If you enjoyed Freakonomics you will enjoy SuperFreakonomics. If you haven’t read Freakonomics, no worries you can start with either book. The books cover completely different topics.

Finished reading The Alchemist’s Pursuit by Dave Duncan. The Alchemist’s Pursuit is the third book in Dave Duncan’s Alchemist’s series, a Venetian fantasy mystery. In this book Alfeo Zeno, apprentice to Nostradamus, is in search of a killer who’s targeting Venice’s prostitutes. After three women are strangled a courtesan and friend of Alfeo, Donna Violetta Vitale, begs Nostradamus to find the killer and prevent the next death. Alfeo barely escapes the unseen murderer after the fourth victim is stabbed. Alfeo and Nostradamus must rely on more than clairvoyance to save Violetta and unmask the killer.

I really enjoyed the Alchemist’s series. Duncan created an amazing mix of magic and history along with an entertaining set of characters. The series made me want to read some of Dave Duncan’s other books.

Finished reading The Alchemist’s Code by Dave Duncan. The Alchemist’s Code is the sequel to the Alchemist’s Apprentice. In this book an ordinary case of a missing girl turns serious when Venice’s Council of Ten asks Nostradamus to find a spy. Nostradamus’s only clues lie in a ciphered message that hasn’t been decoded.

Dave Duncan does it again with the Alchemist’s Code. I really enjoyed this book; the second book in the series. Duncan continues to build the main characters from the Alchemist’s Apprentice. I’m starting the Alchemist’s Pursuit soon, the third book in the series.

Finished reading Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion by Gary Vaynerchuk. Crush It! is about turning your personal passion into a career. Gary Vaynerchuk took his father’s local liquor store and turned the $4 million business into a $50 million business. After which he created a wine blog, Wine Library TV, where he discovered the power of Internet sales. In the book Gary shares his experience and advice for using Twitter and Facebook to monetize your passion.

Crush It! contains virtual no new information but Gary Vaynerchuk’s enthusiasm comes out in the book making Crush It! extremely engaging. The book is written in a step-by-step format that allows anyone to follow his advice. Vaynerchuk believes that the Internet makes it possible for anyone to make a living by turning what they love into a personal brand. I’m less optimistic that everyone can turn a passion, like photography or horseback riding, into a career. Such an event would flood the market place and change the price elasticity of ad revenue or service fees in the market sector. I believe people will be able to turn a passion or hobby into a part time income if not a full career. Overall, Crush It! is a good book that contains valid information in an engaging way.

Finished reading The Alchemist’s Apprentice by Dave Duncan. The Alchemist’s series features alchemist and astrologer Maestro Nostradamus and his nobly born apprentice, Alfeo Zeno, who narrates with panache. Duncan mixes a vision of old Venice and fantasy to create the world portrayed in The Alchemist’s Apprentice. In the Alchemist’s Apprentice, the first book in the series, Nostradamus foresees the murder of Procurator Bertucci Orseolo, who’s poisoned right beneath his nose during a dinner party. When suspicion falls on Nostradamus, Alfeo must solve the mystery. With the help from his adored courtesan, Violetta, Alfeo attempts to prove his master’s innocence.

The Alchemist’s Apprentice offers more hilarity than chilling crime drama. Dave Duncan is a great writer and truly paints the picture of life in old Venice. I found the book to be entertaining and I look forward to the book in the series. I only wish The Alchemist’s Apprentice had more of a thriller twist to keep the reader on their toes.

I finished the lastest WordPress upgrade. It was a bit of a pain because I had to update MySQL before I could upgrade WordPress. But, now everything is up to date.

Finished Once a Runner: A Novel by John L. Parker. Once a Runner tells the tale of Quenton Cassidy, a runner at Southeastern University whose lifelong dream is to run a four-minute mile. He’s less than a second away when the political and cultural turmoil of the Vietnam War leaks into the school’s athletic department. Cassidy is suspended after getting involved in a protest within the athletic department. Coached by Bruce Denton a graduate student and former Olympic gold medalist, Quenton gives up his scholarship, girlfriend, and his future to train for a head-to-head match with the greatest miler in history.

Once a Runner captures the essence of what it takes to be a competitive runner, devoting your life to the love of racing. I found the book extremely entertaining and accurate. The training that Quenton Cassidy performs in Once a Runner is similar to the training I used to do when I was racing years ago. Runners, ex-runners, or anyone interested in competitive running will find this book enjoyable.

Finished reading Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (P.S.) by Steven Levitt. Levitt argue that many seemingly mysterious events of everyday life aren’t mysteries at all. The events can be examined and made even more fascinating by asking the right questions and drawing connections. For example, Levitt traces the drop in violent crime rates to a drop in violent criminals. Levitt believes the Roe v. Wade decision preempted the existence of some people who would be born to poverty and hardship. In a section that may scare or relieve worried parents, Levitt argues that most parenting methods don’t really matter much and that a backyard swimming pool is much more dangerous than a gun.

Freakonomics is an easy quick read. Levitt turns an otherwise boring topic of economics into a fascinating book. I’m looking forward to reading the next book SuperFreakonomics.