I’m sitting here on the floor at Austin’s South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive conference, waiting f0r the next panel discussion on my schedule to start, but as I sit here I wonder a bit what the point of coming to these conference really is. Sure, there are a lot of smart people here, and for the most part the panels have some great ideas… but are they ideas I couldn’t have acquired by simply reading sites like Mashable, Internet Retailer or other tech blogs and news sites? The answer here is pretty clearly “no.”
Life
4
Mar 09
Balance: Nature vs. Technology
Lately I’ve been trying to put a lot more focus on the idea of balance. In particular, finding balance between nature and technology within everyday life. I’ve always been a lover of both, but beyond personal interest I am a strong believer that finding an equilibrium between the two of them is key in having a prosperous existence in today’s world. Continue reading →
4
Feb 09
Plan to Sell Your Creation? Then Be a Business and Claim Your Tax Deductions.
Whether you’re an author, musician, artist or any other kind of content creator, one important thing you need to think about is whether you create as purely a hobby, or if you intend (or hope) to someday make money off of your creations. For many creators, this intent becomes obvious once you’ve decided to go beyond creating for yourself, friends and family and taking the big step into offering your creations to the rest of the world (with an intent to make some money while you’re at it.)rec
If you’ve taken this step, you’re a business – and you need to start acting like one.
To be a creator doesn’t mean you have to be creating a tangible item either. You could be running your own blog, review website, etc. – and if you are doing it with the intent to make money – and even if you’re not currently making a profit or doing it full-time – you need to treat it as a business. And, during this time of the year, that means claiming all of your expenses in your tax return.
During my college days I launched and ran Music-Critic.com (I sold it years ago now) – and I ran it as a business. The fact of the matter is that if you’re going to make any money from a venture, you have to pay income tax on that money. This is why you are required to supply your tax ID or Social Security number when you sign up for affiliate programs, Google AdSense, publishing through sites like Lulu.com, and any other instance where an entity is going to be sending you a check. At the end of the year, if they’ve sent you any money, they’re also going to send you your tax information – which you are required to include in your tax filing.
But whether or not you actually did make any money in the first year or two doesn’t mean you’re not running a business. If you honestly are attempting to make a profit from whatever you are doing (in my current instance, writing a book), then you need to start treating this venture as a business now. Beyond the mindest that running a business requires (seriousness, professionalism, etc.), you also need to run it right financially. And again, at this time of the year, it means writing off any expenses you put into it in the previous year.
30
Dec 08
Why I Don’t Like Reading Books
As a person who loves reading and has bought and read literally thousands of books, I never thought I’d say it, but I don’t like reading books anymore. It’s not that I don’t enjoy reading stories, or novels, nonfiction, etc. – it’s that I don’t like reading books. That’s right, the ink-on-paper all bound in one big lump of dead tree things. I can’t stand them.
Ever since getting my Kindle I’ve become more and more accustomed to reading on its e-ink display. For a while it was all I read on (other than the computer, but I refuse to read full-length novels on a computer screen). Sure, at first it took a bit of getting used to: holding a hunk of plastic and not having the feel of paper beneath my fingers, but when I started reading a new book (who shall remain nameless), it simply was not available for Kindle – so I had to read it in dead-tree form. I hated it.
26
Oct 08
Seven Reasons to Buy a Kindle from Amazon
As stated in an earlier post back when I was still using beinggod.com for regular updates, I finally decided to go ahead and order a Kindle from Amazon. Since this was my first time going the e-reader route, I did decide to try the safe route, and went with a free trial offer I received as a Prime member.
Now that I’ve had my Kindle for a few weeks, it’s time to share my thoughts – and why I recommend one for anybody who does even a fair amount of reading. Rather than go with an exhaustive review, however, I’ve decided to narrow it down to seven reasons to buy a Kindle. (Not necessarily the seven best reasons either – just seven really good reasons).
26
Oct 08
Purpose (or: Stalk Me Here.)
So, the time has come for me to finally put together the first “official” personal website. Having been working on the actual Internet since 1996, it’s probably about time I finally did so.
If you’re at all familiar with me, you’ll of course know that over the years I’ve had a lot of different “presences” online: my old web page at an ISP (now gone), the Magic / Paranormal site at balistic.com (also gone), my first “big” web site at Music-Critic.com (sold, although you’ll still find my old reviews, articles and interviews there), and the old “personal” site, now turned wholly focused on promotion for my new novel, www.beinggod.com. Yes, there have been more… but those were the big ones.
My experience “online” does go back quite a bit further than the rise of the Internet, however. Back in the early 90′s I was a complete geek of a kid, spending time on dial-up bulletin boards (BBS). I even asked my prom date out via a personal message on one. Like I said: geek.
24
Oct 08
Building
The site is currently being built. If you are looking for information on my debut novel, The Trouble With Being God, go to www.beinggod.com
