Multitouch Space Invaders Demo from Multitouch Barcelona on Vimeo.

Tending to our sick should be the primary concern for our doctors, not whether or not they’ll get paid for doing what they’ve sworn to do. Imagine if our government representatives were looking out for their pockets over the welfare of their constituencies…. oh. Regardless, this sacrifice of Medicare proceeds will undoubtedly leave hospitals searching for fresh capital – hopefully it will spur serious competition between hospitals and lead to new equipment and well-trained staff to inspire confidence in patients – more than likely it will lead to a government bailout and serious reform of the healthcare industry. If only there were real capitalists left!

It would be logical that VC’s and Angels would be seeding new companies (geared towards a recession conscious nature) like crazy, but they’re not. Why? Just like the banks VC’s have been burned by bad investments – or an army of apps they’ve been funding for years with no clear path towards ROI. Their investors have also likely taken a huge hit in other sectors, and are requiring a more conservative investment style.

Why this is bad: Webapps should be getting micro-funding like nuts! The most vertical growth is still being seen on the internet – and the internet still has the lowest barrier for entry costs in any sector. After all, people are flocking to the internet looking for coupon sites and ways to get discounts more and more frequently.

But instead of the standard comparison engines, niche-targeted sales sites, or better ad networks – VC’s and Angels are sitting idle as other countries take the reigns of web development.

Going back to my model of traditional banks, VC’s are following the same principals as the bankers- they’ve got burned in their primary method of driving revenue by their own bad decisions, and now they’re sitting idle instead of attacking and diversifying into new markets!

Hey VC’s, Angels – I’ve got a bunch of great projects for you – just call me.

Thanks to everyone who helped Marcie and I get on the trading floor! It was amazing to see how the cornerstone of America’s financial sector operates.

While I was really excited to be privileged enough to check out the exchange, I was a little disappointed knowing that most people won’t be afforded the opportunity to see how everything works. In my opinion, touring the NYSE is crucial for everyone at some point in their life.

We toured the trading floor, met with several traders & specialists, and learned a lot about the history of the market. The ‘Garage’ as the traders refer to it, is where the traders in the early days of the market, came to park their horse and buggies – today its over-run with large kiosks filled with computer equipment.

As recently as last month, the AMEX was moved onto the floor of the NYSE, and now the two are both housed at 8 Broad Street. Interestingly, the NYSE and the AMEX are not in separate rooms, however options trading and stock trading are. (Incidentally, the options traders didn’t look all that busy!).

I can’t say enough great things about the people at Triad Securities and Bluepoint Securities, who gave us the opportunity to check out the trading floor, and get a feel for the real Wall Street. Thanks!

– Post From My iPhone

Dear 1-800-Flowers.com,

I am an avid flower purchaser. I think its nice to buy flowers, for my family members, my girlfriend, or just to be cordial when I’m going to a dinner, etc. I am writing to you today because I believe your marketing department has lost their mind. While I understand that the economy has been tough on sales, and I know that one of the largest flower-purchasing holidays of the year is upon us, I still cannot stomach the multitude of disruptive emails I have received from you.

As I am an analytical person, I like to gain some perspective on others actions, I critically assessed your motive for this email blitz. I assume that your marketing department is comprised of smart people. I further assume that you have a protocol for email blasting. Therefore, I know you must be aware that the average email user does not check their email two and three times a day. So, why would you send multiple daily emails!

Okay, lets assume that you have micro-targeted me. You KNOW that I check my email every five minutes for business. So, why would constantly “remind” me to purchase flowers from you- thereby disrupting my day? If you really KNEW me, you’d know that when I order flowers from you, I spend less than 5 minutes from selection to checkout. I purchase quickly, and I always buy baskets – furthermore you’d know by my pattern of purchasing, that I always buy WAY in advance of the occasion I’m shopping for.

1-800-Flowers, my friend, I think you may need to re-evaluate the effectiveness of your marketing department, and discern which of their tactics are beneficial and which work against you. Internet marketing is a science, don’t throw everything you’ve got against the wall and see what sticks, examine your customer base empirically, and work towards a more effective marketing campaign. If you need some help, I’m a scientist, call me.

Your friend,

[AH]