In Short - Belief.

Here I am back again.

Have been away. Vacation and regeneration is part of it. But also examining other modes. Going back to back to back (parse that *grin*) conferences and books to absorb ideas. And exercising the short form muscles - via Twitter.

Twitter has been a great ride so far. It is like getting your news from the Agora. It is very up close and personal. That immediacy has advantages and severe problems. It can take one back to the pettiness of school yard name calling and hijinx.

Next foray is into video. Short form there as well. The under a minute form has all the same aspects as Twitter. Have been watching TED talks. Diving into the best and most inspirational in TED.

What does best and inspirational even mean? Pondering it for a little while I believe that.... it is about belief. Facts and truths have little "best" or "worst" or any shades of grey to them. And frankly they do not press the right buttons in the human mind. They do not inspire. What inspires us, what drives us to action, are beliefs. Then we can talk about proofs and truths and validation... Proof is necessary background work. But it all needs a start. We need to be inspired. And I do not mean some sort of unfounded theoretical belief. Belief is not an end in itself. Looking to examine beliefs that lead to results and actions.

So let me start up again with a blogging theme: Belief.

Cowork, Work Spaces, Forums

Non-traditional working arrangements like co-work have appeared on radar lately.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coworking
http://www.xconomy.com/boston/resources/technology-co-working-spaces/
http://bostinno.streetwise.co/all-series/accelerator-programs-and-coworking-spaces-in-boston/

They are related to semi-traditional incubators somewhat like the Cambridge Innovation Center
http://cic.us/

Given interest in a specific domain like renewables and sustainability, something like Greentown Labs arises.
http://greentownlabs.org/

And newer (physical) hacker spaces
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackerspace
http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/
http://artisansasylum.com/
and meetups.
http://makerfaire.com/
also appear.

There are also related forums where new business ideas get discussed
http://www.mitforumcambridge.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TED_(conference)
http://www.ted.com/

One of my friends mentioned in passing (and in confidence regarding any specific details/anecdotes) that it is sometimes the case that certain points of presence are more a liability than an asset (financially and legally). This must be carefully considered.