tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35393262024-02-20T14:08:14.257-06:00Graves MattersThoughts from Jay Graves for life, business and technology...Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-46787363569133203542007-04-12T20:38:00.000-05:002007-04-12T20:43:13.687-05:00We've moved!Graves Matters has moved to it's new and improved hosted location. I am playing around as usual and trying to learn more about Linux<br /><br /><a href="http://www.jaygraves.info">http://www.jaygraves.info</a> is hosted on <a href="http://www.textdrive.com"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">TextDrive</span></a> and I have complete and unfettered access to the OS. This is likely good for no one but I am going to give it a try!<br /><br />Comments welcome!Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1165550060747286592006-12-07T21:53:00.000-06:002006-12-07T21:59:50.816-06:00Behind the Firewall (BtF)A post I wrote on our company blog about Behind the Firewall (BtF) computing. Long live Linux and old computers.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.acxiom-direct.com/acxiom_direct/2006/12/behind_the_fire.html">http://www.acxiom-direct.com/acxiom_direct/2006/12/behind_the_fire.html</a><br /><a href="http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/7072428"><br /></a>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1164133954472650862006-11-21T12:32:00.000-06:002006-11-21T12:32:34.500-06:00<a href="http://clickz.com/showPage.html?page=3623991">Quick Tips on Corporate Blogging</a>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1163599542861241472006-11-15T08:05:00.000-06:002006-11-15T08:05:43.006-06:00<a href="http://www.noumenal.com/marc/dwpoly.html">The Politics of Data Warehousing</a>: "Data warehouses are high-maintenance systems. "Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1163379263543616682006-11-12T18:54:00.000-06:002006-11-12T18:54:23.586-06:00<strong>What the &#@!? Watch your language at work</strong><br />Your office is not the proper venue to spew profanities<br /><br /><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15643746/">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15643746/</a>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1162651695126914622006-11-04T08:48:00.000-06:002006-11-04T08:48:15.166-06:00<a href="http://news.com.com/Expert+LEDs+could+start+replacing+lightbulbs+soon/2100-1008_3-6132427.html?tag=html.alert">Expert: LEDs could start replacing lightbulbs soon CNET News.com</a>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1162061363795657222006-10-28T13:49:00.000-05:002006-10-28T13:49:23.866-05:00<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15358319/site/newsweek/#anc_nwk_061021_dems">Live Vote: Do you think the Democrats will regain control of either the House or the Senate? - Newsweek Politics - MSNBC.com#anc_nwk_061021_dems#anc_nwk_061021_dems#anc_nwk_061021_dems</a>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1161797814540212022006-10-25T12:36:00.000-05:002006-10-25T17:56:16.096-05:00<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15411275/">Live Vote: Did Limbaugh go too far in criticizing Fox? - Politics - MSNBC.com</a>: "Do you think Rush Limbaugh went too far in accusing Michael J. Fox of exaggerating the effects of Parkinson's disease?"Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1161742454323372032006-10-24T21:14:00.000-05:002006-10-24T21:16:12.980-05:00<a href="http://www.tmz.com/2006/10/18/celebs-who-claim-theyre-green-but-guzzle-gas">Celebs Who Claim They're Green but Guzzle Gas - TMZ.com</a><br /><br />Vote: Who galls you the most?Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1151025594825709022006-06-22T20:19:00.000-05:002006-06-27T07:24:46.363-05:00Wireless USB is almost here!<br /><br />A technology that is sure to change the way we use consumer electronics. See below for more info:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=189600587">http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=189600587</a>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1149431203289356972006-06-04T09:24:00.000-05:002006-06-09T20:28:27.413-05:00Hey, check it out! It seems my wife, Liza Graves, has become the lead singer of a all-girl punk band!<br /><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xQK3vX4LhdY" width="425" height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Disclaimer: My wife, Liza Graves, is not the lead singer of an all-girl punk rock band. In fact, she is quite frank about the fact that while she loves me she liked the sound of her maiden name "Thompson" much better than "Graves" :)</span>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1148567245435971062006-05-25T09:26:00.000-05:002006-05-25T09:27:25.446-05:00Check out our company's new direct marketing related blog: <a href="http://www.acxiom-direct.com">www.acxiom-direct.com</a><br /><br />While it unfortunately features me, it still is one of the best in the industry :)<br /><br />Thanks, JayJayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1138486027592175132006-01-28T16:05:00.000-06:002006-05-30T14:49:24.603-05:00<strong>1st Annual No Email Day - August 31, 2006</strong><br /><em>Preserving the goose that lays golden eggs</em><br /><br />For the last several years, our business has promoted one day a year where we all give up internal email. I propose that on August 31, 2006 we ALL put down the email for a day.<br /><br />This coming from a true addict. Here is some background...<br /><br />I love email. I've been using it in some shape, form, or fashion since 1993. I discovered the VAX computer on campus and, after much trial and error, sent an email to someone. I can't even remember who or about what. Whatever, I was hooked.<br /><br />Fast forward to today. I live on my Blackberry. I work for a company that does email marketing.<br /><br />I think the overall spam problem is getting better - our corporate filters are blocking almost everything now. Phishing is still bad, but the technology is out there to protect almost any computer now. A software firewall, antivirus scanner and spam filter combo can be had for $50 or less. It isn't yet a perfect world (email authentication is taking longer than I suspected) but it is certainly better than twelve months ago.<br /><br />Yet I cannot ever recall feeling so afraid for the future of email and general electronic communications. Why? <em>People have forgotten how to actually talk to each other.</em> I know people who will IM someone in the next office or cube. People send things that fifty years ago would result in a mob showing up with pitchforks and torches. Few people take the time for proper punctuation, spacing, grammar or to even run the built in spell checker.<br /><br />It truly is a shame. So let's all do something about it.<br /><br />Here are the steps required:<br /><br />1) Challenge everyone that on August 31st they can send and receive email from clients - but that ALL internal communications must be in person or over the phone.<br />2) Everyone should, in lieu of email, write one letter that day and mail it.<br /><br />Most importantly, get CEO/leader level support. Have them, and yes I understand the irony, send an email with the rules two weeks early. The penalties for breaking them should be fun and result in only minor public humiliation. The point is to have fun - like human beings - not to add new rules. A message from the top will go a long way.<br /><br />Comments, thoughts or suggestions? If you and your company or organization are in I will start a listing to keep track. I look forward to hearing from you.<br /><br />By the way, why August 31st? The <a href="http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc821.html">original specification for email</a> was published back in August of 1982. I have no idea what date, so if we stick to the last business day in August going forward I figure we'll be safe :)<br /><br />Thanks, JayJayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1128195284385113282006-01-26T14:30:00.000-06:002006-01-29T22:24:22.546-06:00<b>The End of Bitterness</b><br /><br />This is long overdue, but I owe my apologies to most of my friends, most of my family, and everyone in the Vanderbilt Athletic Department. Consider this my public atonement.<br /><br />It isn't been easy to be a Vandy fan growing up elsewhere in the SEC. There are those that are, and have always been, true believers bleeding black and gold. That just isn't me - watching us lose, and usually in spectacular fashion, hurts and hurts badly. <br /><br />I refused to be called a fair weather fan - because I've never really seen fair weather despite a few glimpses through the clouds in 1992 and 1993.<br /><br />The problem is I was just flat out mean about the losses. I would storm out of the stadium/gym/house with a dark cloud around me. My family would either laugh or leave in general disgust. I hate losing. <br /><br />I've been there over the years for some of the worst losses ever. As a photographer in college, I got to be one the field. <br />I found these pictures when moving this summer. The negatives, unfortunately, are gone. However I felt it my duty to scan these for all history. <br /><br />Remember the 1991 LSU game (LSU 16, VU 14)? A picture of "The Fumble" is below. It truly captured a moment (and almost got picked up by the AP):<br /><br /><a href="http://graves.blogspot.com/uploaded_images/VU_HarrisLSUFumble-711076.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://graves.blogspot.com/uploaded_images/VU_HarrisLSUFumble-709862.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /> <br />(Side story: Paul Youngdale, who had graduated a year earlier from VU, was in law school at LSU at the time. I ran into him at a tail gate party before the game and he indicated he would be "insulted" if I didn't drink Jim Beam with him. Therefore, I cannot even believe this picture was in focus. LSU tail gate parties are the best in the world.)<br /><br />Here is one of a punt block by Alabama. I cannot remember the year or any details about the game. Someone please email and I will update the post and insert you as the credit:<br /><br /><a href="http://graves.blogspot.com/uploaded_images/VU_AlabamaPuntBlock-787246.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://graves.blogspot.com/uploaded_images/VU_AlabamaPuntBlock-783474.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br><br><br /><br />The picture of Watson Brown with his hands over his eyes is my favorite. Against Auburn our second string quarterback got hurt and we had to put our third string in. Despite the humor of the picture (Watson is doing well now at UAB), I seem to remember something heroic about the third stringer performance after coming off a personal tragedy. Again, I cannot remember the details nor find anything on the web. I'd love to have the full story:<br /><br /><a href="http://graves.blogspot.com/uploaded_images/VU_WatsonAuburn-741763.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://graves.blogspot.com/uploaded_images/VU_WatsonAuburn-740439.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />But I have to say, this football season and early hoops play has opened a new chapter. After the Arkansas victory I got to be a jerk at the home office for the first time ever. After the Tennessee victory I was just a plain jerk. I have no frame of reference to be a good winner. It was wonderful. <br /><br />Sitting in the stands parallel to the MTSU kick, you just knew it was going to be blocked. It just sucked the spirit right out of you. Buy hey, we beat Arkansas. <br /><br />You knew the Florida OT was likely going to result in a loss. Moral victories stink, but it made for wonderful drama. <br /><br />I guess I've learned that winning, unfortunately, really is everything - but how you handle losing has a real impact on the people around you. My family, friends and alma mater deserver better than how I've handled the last decade. <br /><br />Therefore, I promise to do better. It will take time. Losing still stinks. I've long argued we as a university could make more money with a giant parking deck than Dudley Field. Buy hey, at least I am not bitter any more...<br /><br />That being said, we all need a bowl trip. The Weedwacker Bowl in Shreveport will one day be a wonderful thing!Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1132409412661837192005-11-19T08:10:00.000-06:002005-11-19T14:09:07.406-06:00GRILLED TEA-BRINED TURKEY WITH TEA-AND-LEMON GRAVY <br /><br />For best flavor and moist, juicy meat, brine the turkey for 36 to 48 hours. If you are planning to brine it in a cooler, plan on needing extra ice. Kosher salt is preferred in most brine recipes for its pure flavor and because it dissolves quickly.<br /><br />5 lemons, divided<br />18 Earl Grey tea bags<br />11 4-inch-long rosemary sprigs, divided<br />2 cups coarse kosher salt<br />1 1/2 cups (packed) golden brown sugar<br />1/2 cup fresh lemon juice<br />12 cups ice cubes<br />2 turkey-size oven-roasting bags<br />1 22-pound turkey; neck, heart, and gizzard reserved for gravy<br /><br />1 12 3/4x9x2-inch disposable aluminum pan<br />1 celery stalk, cut crosswise into 3-inch pieces<br />1 medium onion, quartered<br />1/4 cup olive oil<br /><br />Tea-and-Lemon Gravy <br /><br />Bring 6 1/2 quarts water to boil in large pot. Remove from heat. Using vegetable peeler, remove peel from 3 lemons (yellow part only). Add peel, tea bags, and 6 rosemary sprigs to water; steep 20 minutes. Remove tea bags. Add salt and sugar; stir to dissolve. Stir in lemon juice. Cool to lukewarm. Add ice to reduce temperature to below 45°F.<br /><br />Place 1 roasting bag inside the second, forming 2 layers. Place inside large pot. Place turkey in roasting bags, breast side down. Pour brine over turkey. Tie bags tightly, eliminating any air pockets. Refrigerate 36 to 48 hours. Or, place bags into large cooler, pour brine over turkey, and tie bags securely. Pour ice over and around turkey in bags. Place lid securely on cooler. Check twice a day to ensure that turkey is covered with ice (some ice will melt). Remove top rack from grill. Place disposable aluminum baking pan in center of barbecue (if using 2-burner gas grill, place pan on 1 side of grill; if using 3-burner grill, place pan over center burner).<br /><br />Prepare barbecue (medium-low heat). If using charcoal grill, arrange coals on each side of aluminum baking pan, dividing equally. (You will need to add about 6 briquettes to each side of aluminum pan every 30 minutes to maintain temperature while cooking turkey.) If using 3-burner gas grill, light burner(s) on left and right, leaving center burner(s) off. If using 2-burner gas grill, light burner on side opposite disposable pan. Insert instant-read thermometer into top vent of grill. Maintain temperature at around 350°F.<br /><br />Drain turkey; discard brine. Pat turkey dry. Pierce 2 lemons all over with fork. Stuff turkey with lemons, 5 sprigs rosemary, celery, and onion. Tie legs together. Brush turkey all over with oil.<br /><br />Place turkey directly on grill above aluminum pan. Close grill. Adjust temperature to maintain 350°F. Roast turkey until thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 175°F, about 3 hours. Transfer turkey to platter. Tent with foil. Allow to rest 30 minutes before carving (internal temperature will rise 5 to 10 degrees). Serve with gravy. <br /><br />Makes 16 servings.<br /><br />Bon Appétit<br />Menus<br />November 2004<br /><br /><br />Epicurious.com © CondéNet, Inc. All rights reserved.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1125501311244441952005-08-31T10:14:00.000-05:002005-08-31T10:15:11.250-05:00<strong>Data mining hits pay dirt</strong><br /><a href="http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section=51&screen=news&news_id=44031">http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section=51&screen=news&news_id=44031</a><br />By Don Mooradian, dmooradian@nashvillecitypaper.com<br />August 31, 2005<br /> <br />Welcome to the Information Age. Now what are we going to do with all that info, an amount so vast few humans can make sense of it?<br /><br />Two Nashville companies are leading the way in new fields that have names such as data mining, text mining and knowledge discovery. These fields generally fall under the category of ?artificial intelligence.<br /><br />Software has long been able to sort and organize information, but a new generation of software is going where no bytes have gone before. These programs are pinpointing customers for direct mail advertisers and fighting the war on terrorism. And some day soon they will help fight crime and cure disease.<br /><br />Digital Reasoning Systems, on West End Avenue, recently landed a five-year, $7 million contract to provide its Interceptor Suite artificial intelligence (AI) software development and information-architecture services to the U.S. Army National Ground Intelligence Center for the fight against terrorism.<br /><br />The software looks at enormous volumes of raw intelligence (much of it text) gathered through human and electronic sources. It finds patterns at the deepest levels of the content and then presents the information in a variety of formats. It helps enable analysts and policy-makers to quickly grasp the meaning and significance of information.<br /><br />?Our company's goal is not to store data and move it around, but to start understanding the data itself. It is very important that you be able to find meaning in all this info, said Tim Estes, founder and chief executive officer of DRS. ?Not knowing something can cost money; cost lives.<br /><br />He said the traditional approach is for programme" <br />Welcome to the Information Age. Now what are we going to do with all that info, an amount so vast few humans can make sense of it?<br /><br />Two Nashville companies are leading the way in new fields that have names such as ?data mining,? ?text mining? and ?knowledge discovery.? These fields generally fall under the category of ?artificial intelligence.?<br /><br />Software has long been able to sort and organize information, but a new generation of software is going where no bytes have gone before. These programs are pinpointing customers for direct mail advertisers and fighting the war on terrorism. And some day soon they will help fight crime and cure disease.<br /><br />Digital Reasoning Systems, on West End Avenue, recently landed a five-year, $7 million contract to provide its Interceptor Suite artificial intelligence (AI) software development and information-architecture services to the U.S. Army National Ground Intelligence Center for the fight against terrorism.<br /><br />The software looks at enormous volumes of raw intelligence (much of it text) gathered through human and electronic sources. It finds patterns at the deepest levels of the content and then presents the information in a variety of formats. It helps enable analysts and policy-makers to quickly grasp the meaning and significance of information.<br /><br />?Our company?s goal is not to store data and move it around, but to start understanding the data itself. It is very important that you be able to find meaning in all this info,? said Tim Estes, founder and chief executive officer of DRS. ?Not knowing something can cost money; cost lives.?<br /><br />He said the traditional approach is for programme"Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1117860467914620082005-06-03T23:43:00.000-05:002005-06-06T21:20:20.606-05:00<b>How To Use a Shovel</b><br /><br />"Yeah, well the world needs ditchdiggers too"--Judge Smales, Caddyshack<br /><br />There seems to be a tremendous bias in this country against manual labor. Many people that I've met could learn something from the most simple of tools - the shovel.<br /><br />I cannot find any references to when the shovel was actually "invented". It must go back to ancient times, but if some student of archeology could provide more background it would be appreciated.<br /><br />There are two tricks to using a shovel:<br /><br />1) You must work hard. Really no way around it. Even creative uses of angles and pressure points cannot remove the effort around accomplishing your goal. For example, when planning a shrub the hole always has to be wider and deeper than you first imagine. Inevitably, you must dig longer than expected. Even in the dead of winter you'll break a good sweat - or you are not working hard enough.<br /><br />2) You need to know how to reverse the blade to get a right angle dig into the earth - or you work too hard. People that try to dig without an occasional flip and downward jab generally do not reach their goal. Worse yet, they hire someone to do it for them. Pure laziness. <br /><br />The real challenge comes when digging a proper ditch. A good ditch is straight with symmetrical sides. It is deep enough to accomplish your task - but not so deep as to waste effort. A ditch most likely is for drainage or for holding some sort of pipe or electrical wire. Regardless, you should treat it with respect. Unlike many tasks in life a ditch has a start, a finish and a purpose. Ask yourself how many things the typical white collar worker does during the day that cannot pass that test?<br /><br />So the next time you see someone using a shovel please treat them with respect. They likely are doing something in the long run more important that you are and certainly are working hard - what more can you ask?Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1116041596753560852005-05-13T22:33:00.000-05:002005-05-13T22:54:50.806-05:00<strong>Vanderbilt Student Communications - Thank You to "The Tunnel"</strong><br /><br />I recently received an alumni newspaper from Vanderbilt Student Communications. What, you may ask, is VSC? This is the non-for-profit holding group for the student newspapers, radio station, television, etc. at Vanderbilt. Pretty boring stuff to most.<br /><br />I graduated in 1993 after working for the newspaper, The Vanderbilt Hustler, and other publications as a photographer and writer for all four years of college. (Scared my mother to death when I came home telling her I was a photographer for the Hustler). Again, you likely are tempted to add "and didn't date much" to "pretty boring stuff."<br /><br />We somewhat affectionately referred to ourselves as "tunnel rats" since we never saw the light of day from working in the bottom of Sarratt Student Center. Most other people didn’t refer to us as anything.<br /><br />My hands stunk almost permanently from film chemicals. Negatives wound in pitch black to an old boom box containing a Yes mixed tape (don’t know where either came from) with the LED's blacked out with tape. Developer (pushing T-Max films way beyond 400), stop bath and then fixer. Then repeat for the prints. Speed was everything - it was a matter of pride who could guess the exposure and then develop, wave by the stop bath and slam into the fixer. Test strips were for pansies. Digital cameras were a myth.<br /><br />I haven't really touched a camera since.<br /><br />Then I tried to write a bit. I really stunk at basic reporting but found some satisfaction in opinion and humor writing. Most were tongue-in-cheek adolescent ramblings. But there were a few I remain proud of today - stories brought up in philosophy classes. Stories that emptied the stands of a literary magazine. A few articles that got me threatened and more that got me laughed as a fool - deservedly so.<br /><br />Today I use bullet point memos, Visio diagram and Blackberry-length emails. This is easily the longest thing I've written in ten years that doesn't involve a budget spreadsheet or SQL to query a database.<br /><br />But...<br /><br />I learned to love the elegance of black and white photography. Several will remember a picture I took of the ball popping out of Corey Harris' arms on the LSU goal line - it captures a moment better than any video.<br /><br />I also saw arguably the best sports in Vanderbilt history from the best seat in the house - on the sidelines.<br /><br />I learned to love the written word - and respect the power each word can have to hurt and to heal.<br /><br />I learned how to get people talking and, at the same time, how to begin dealing with my basic introversion.<br /><br />I discovered a work ethic that I didn't know I had - and that work should have a passion and purpose (because the money stunk).<br /><br />I learned that despite what professors said, they did give you better grades for well-formatted documents. Thank you PageMaker.<br /><br />I became enthralled with how technology could actually be used in the real world. Certainly few of my classes prepared me for life outside of the West End corridor.<br /><br />I learned accounting was hard - and waiting until the last minute was no way to run a business.<br /><br />I made friends that I still keep in touch with. Not well enough, I might add. But I respect them because we all went through it together and they taught me a lot.<br /><br />I didn’t do so well in class - my grades were less than spectacular. (I think I once wrote "if you take the square root of my GPA it doesn't change that much”). My parents were none too thrilled.<br /><br />Also, despite a variety of rumors, nothing ever happened in the darkroom - but not for a lack of trying.<br /><br />But...<br /><br />That stupid newspaper taught me about desktop publishing, networking, pre-press, people management and production schedules - things vital to modern marketing success.<br /><br />I brought in the first film scanners and proper network for file sharing. Remember, this was 1993 - there was only one book on the whole campus library system about the Internet (Zen and the Art of the Internet - Divinity Library in a three ring binder - I know because I checked it out). God only knows how many hours I wasted playing with this stuff.<br /><br />Why tell this story? In 1995, another Vanderbilt grad and I started a direct mail agency with no money and a computer split on our credit cards. While he sold and wrote copy I started doing the design (badly), networking (better) and database work (pretty good at the time if I may say so myself). It was just two people then and, weirdly, the tunnel knowledge - from tech to working with people to basic accounting - starting showing up as a guide in our business.<br /><br />Long story short, exactly ten years later we had fourteen million dollars in profitable sales, ninety employees and sold to a large publicly traded database marketing company. We did it by building a team and that was eerily familiar at times to “the tunnel” - especially since our office space stunk. There are certainly better entrepreneurial stories, but I am proud of mine nonetheless.<br /><br />To make it absolutely clear, without my time in the tunnel, nothing would have ever started.<br /><br />Too rarely in life, because of this damn work ethic, have I stopped to look around and reflect. Even less frequently do I say "thank you" to people and organizations. Well, without VSC my path in life would be wildly different - just maybe as good but no way as interesting.<br /><br />So, thank you to all the names I remember but won’t embarrass and also to those I don’t recall. Also, to all of you out there just leaving the tunnel - trust me the hard work will pay off.<br /><br />Oh, and there is hope. My wife is a beautiful, intelligent sorority girl from Vanderbilt that never understood the pointless inside-joke personals in the back of the Hustler. She married me anyway.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1115134308235987872005-05-03T10:31:00.000-05:002005-05-03T10:31:48.236-05:00<a href="http://news.com.com/For+Intuit,+unanswered+prayers+spell+success/2008-1012_3-5692782.html?tag=st.num">For Intuit, 'unanswered prayers' spell success | Newsmakers | CNET News.com</a>
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<br />This is an outstanding interview with Scott Cook of Intuit, the maker of Quicken and Quickbooks. More businesses should study and learn from them as they understand the art of serving the customer and promoting a culture of creative risk taking.
<br />Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1114965113805239402005-05-01T11:29:00.000-05:002005-05-01T11:31:53.806-05:00<span style="font-family:arial;">Well, Technorati has Graves Matters listed as the 1,119,625th most read blogging news source today. Still ahead of CBS News but we have a lot of opportunity to increase readership...</span>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1113773490009250292005-04-17T16:31:00.000-05:002005-05-01T11:34:13.786-05:00Great blog for common-sense approaches to work <a href="http://michaelhyatt.blogs.com/">http://michaelhyatt.blogs.com/</a><br /><br />I recently had the opportunity to have lunch with Michael. I cannot tell you how impressive to have a CEO that tries new things with technology while at the same time focusing on real ways to get real work done. Just proof there is always much to learn in business and life from leaders around us!Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1107138367935075572005-01-30T20:22:00.000-06:002005-01-30T20:26:32.453-06:00While I hesitate to post a website called "justsocks.com" I would like to share info about "INGenius" socks. These socks have built in liners and are the most comfortable I've ever worn hiking. Highly recommended!
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<br /><a href="http://www.justsocks.com/catalog/ingenius.cfm">http://www.justsocks.com/catalog/ingenius.cfm
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<br />(No offense to justsocks.com, but it just rings too much of 1999 - I am sure you are making money now, though!)Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1105240152941241932005-01-08T21:07:00.000-06:002005-01-08T21:09:12.940-06:00<a href="http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=33&screen=news&news_id=38385">SmartDM acquired in $22 million deal</a>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1105217511576159402005-01-08T14:51:00.000-06:002005-01-08T14:51:51.576-06:00<a href="http://www.rexblog.com/">rexblog.com: Rex Hammock's Weblog - A big shout out to Nashville friends Rich Maradik and Jay Graves...</a>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539326.post-1104705910416588162005-01-02T16:45:00.000-06:002005-01-02T16:45:10.416-06:00<a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-1422283_1,00.html">Times Online - Sunday Times - Interview: Jasper Gerard meets Michael Crichton</a>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699654785979704829noreply@blogger.com0