Mike DeWolfe : The Daily Edition

I have been trying to crack the nut of increased web traffic for some time (my labour pains have been documented on my tech blog ). I may have tripped over a solution, but I have to see if this is a two day fluke or not. In broad strokes, my solution is to ask "what vexes you?" What gets you pissed off and animated? I do this trick in restaurants. I take a moment and tune from my table to all of the tables in earshot. I listen to all of the conversations-- not to eavesdrop: I am taking them in an indistinct combination of words. Family, friends, TV, what's on the menu. What I hear a lot of (maybe because it's me): I hear people talking tech. Why did Windows do this? My email won't work! Did you see the LOLcatz site? I can't get my iPod working! This stuff (tech) vexes people. When it gets people's attention, they look for a way to scratch their itch. Being single vexes single people, so they go to OKCupid (like the slogan says, "your date will be OK...

I heard about this cool company called " Cambrian House ." It's a start-up that creates start-ups. They use "crowd sourcing" to take ideas from concept to launch. One of their early products is the " Robin Hood Fund ." It's like a 50-50 draw, with a splash of democracy. You sign-in with your idea and chip in to register. The others see your concept and vote for it or for someone else's concept. It's a cool idea. I got in on an early drawe and votes for the one thing I wanted that I couldn't get myself: a better Christmas for my Mom, niece and nephew. Their finances suck. I try to help, but with whatever I do, there is always room for more. So, I asked for "A Good Christmas" for the Mom. I let it be known to my friends that they could vote for my Mom's cause. They did and we won. So, I distributed $200 amongst them. Today, I put together a video of the hand-off of the cash. Enjoy! Did I mention that I was a fan of Robin Hoo...