I’m Mac Fowler and I help businesses understand how the web works. I’m married to an awesome woman, climb rocks and ride things with two wheels while living in Grand Rapids Michigan.Tumblr (3.0; @inetmac)http://macfowler.com/<img src="http://12.media.tumblr.com/dbt3RZIlCpdwgq1kNVIXiqr5o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>I’ve seen this series of photos of Detroit around a bit, but every time I look through them it makes me sad to see how far the city has fallen - <a href="http://www.marchandmeffre.com/detroit/index04.html">Yves Marchand & Romain Meffre Photography - The Ruins of Detroit</a>http://macfowler.com/post/133651206http://macfowler.com/post/133651206Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:02:25 -0400<img src="http://19.media.tumblr.com/dbt3RZIlCp26eounKmZfr3Smo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>I totally dig this desk, it would be perfect for the office, to bad its a bit pricy for it’s simplicty - <a href="http://www.bluelounge.com/studiodesk.php?utm_source=MailingList&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=%5BStudioDesk%5D+Launch">Bluelounge - StudioDesk</a>http://macfowler.com/post/128714386http://macfowler.com/post/128714386Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:07:33 -0400<a href="http://www.presentationzen.com/presentationzen/2009/06/felix-jungs-pecha-kucha-presentation-tips.html">Felix Jung's Pecha Kucha presentation Tips</a>: I’m still intrested in seeing a <a href="http://www.pecha-kucha.org/">Pecha Kucha</a> night put together in Grand Rapids, who wants to help put one together?http://macfowler.com/post/128450723http://macfowler.com/post/128450723Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:05:11 -0400“It’s a fairly common phenomenon, when things are bad, people seek camaraderie. When things become difficult across an entire city or economy, people seek a sense of community.”<br/><br/> - <em><a href="http://www.cooltownstudios.com/site/sense-of-community-rises-in-down-economy/#When:05:35:46Z">CoolTown Studios</a></em>http://macfowler.com/post/128447294http://macfowler.com/post/128447294Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:58:26 -0400<img src="http://19.media.tumblr.com/dbt3RZIlCp1i9daouMkjKzm8o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><a href="http://www.100khouse.com/2009/06/15/coming-soon-the-customizable-postgreen-home/">Coming Soon: The Customizable Postgreen Home<br/></a>http://macfowler.com/post/128443352http://macfowler.com/post/128443352Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:51:34 -0400Next week Tuesday, the 30th we’re having a quick meeting for those that are interested in a coworking space in Grand Rapids. Come join us at <a href="http://hopcatgr.com/">HopCat</a> at 6pm to talk with other interested people, discuss what we all want in a space and see what kind of community we can build.http://macfowler.com/post/128293849http://macfowler.com/post/128293849Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:34:27 -0400coworking<a href="http://webworkerdaily.com/2009/06/09/cubespace-to-close/">CubeSpace to Close</a>: Sad to hear that another coworking space will be closing their doors.http://macfowler.com/post/123689071http://macfowler.com/post/123689071Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:08:30 -0400<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="230" data="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4821872&server=vimeo.com&fullscreen=1&show_title=1&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF"><param name="quality" value="best" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="scale" value="showAll" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4821872&server=vimeo.com&fullscreen=1&show_title=1&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF" /><embed src="http://www.vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4821872&server=www.vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="230"></embed></object><br/><br/>Trailer for<a href="http://blog.coastmodernfilm.com/?p=175"> Coast Modern</a> a documentary about modernist architecture and architects in the Pacific Northwest (via <a href="http://didyouevernotice.tumblr.com/post/123506334/trailer-for-coast-modern-a-documentary-about">didyouevernotice</a>)http://macfowler.com/post/123688586http://macfowler.com/post/123688586Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:07:25 -0400<img src="http://10.media.tumblr.com/dbt3RZIlCojp1g3yqcEU4bwNo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>Apple stuns WWDC crowd with pulsating App Store hyperwall - <a href="http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/06/09/apple_stuns_wwdc_crowd_with_pulsating_app_store_hyperwall.html">AppleInsider</a>http://macfowler.com/post/121185131http://macfowler.com/post/121185131Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:41:30 -0400<p>A lot of talk is going on around town about opening a coworking space in downtown Grand Rapids. I’ve been having great conversations with a bunch of people, pulling together some numbers and things are looking good. People really seem to be excited about the potential of having a space that’s driven to help independnt workers and provide a unique creative enviroment.</p> <p>In the next couple of weeks I want to meetup with people that are intrested in the community around a coworking space. We need to start thinking about what a coworking space in Grand Rapids should offer, where it should be and how big it really needs to be.</p> <p>I’m thinking just an informal night, maybe at HopCat or another great local eatery to discuss some of these points and see where it all leads.</p> <p>Let me know if you’re intrested by <a href="http://twitter.com/macfowler">contacting me on twitter</a> or leaving a comment here on my blog.</p>http://macfowler.com/post/119896691http://macfowler.com/post/119896691Mon, 08 Jun 2009 07:30:00 -0400coworking<object width="400" height="336"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/R2a8TRSgzZY&rel=0&egm=0&showinfo=0&fs=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/R2a8TRSgzZY&rel=0&egm=0&showinfo=0&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="336" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent"></embed></object><br/><br/>The Vendor Client relationship - in real world situations (via <a href="http://soxiam.com/post/118149468/jkatinger-the-vendor-client-relationship-in">soxiam</a>)http://macfowler.com/post/119463158http://macfowler.com/post/119463158Sun, 07 Jun 2009 11:40:45 -0400“…a positive coworking community is increasingly becoming a larger factor for people in choosing where to live.”<br/><br/> - <em><a href="http://www.cooltownstudios.com/site/a-modern-look-at-coworking/#When:05:43:04Z">A modern look at coworking - CoolTown Studios</a></em>http://macfowler.com/post/119461266http://macfowler.com/post/119461266Sun, 07 Jun 2009 11:35:00 -0400coworking“I remember the tail end of our time as a web design company. When we started we did 20 page proposals. I remember pulling all nighters getting a proposal ready. Pages and pages of stuff. What a waste of time. Towards the end we were doing one page proposals. It didn’t seem to matter. We were going to get the job or we weren’t. Over six years I never saw a connection between length and detail of proposal and winning a job.”<br/><br/> - <em><a href="http://www.37signals.com/svn/posts/1757-a-reminder-of-how-simple-business-can-be-when-you-dont-make-it-complicated">A reminder of how simple business can be when you don’t make it complicated - (37signals)</a></em>http://macfowler.com/post/119450379http://macfowler.com/post/119450379Sun, 07 Jun 2009 11:04:41 -0400<img src="http://10.media.tumblr.com/dbt3RZIlCocxkqwlnvufSpubo1_500.png"/><br/><br/>Venn Diagram - Happiness in Business (via <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/bud_caddell">budcaddell</a>)http://macfowler.com/post/118626246http://macfowler.com/post/118626246Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:06:04 -0400<a href="http://www.thedieline.com/">TheDieline.com</a>: A great blog on product packaging design, some great examples scattered throughouthttp://macfowler.com/post/118178893http://macfowler.com/post/118178893Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:59:34 -0400<img src="http://21.media.tumblr.com/dbt3RZIlCobq6s6kz1GcNtsTo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>I don’t know what it is, but I love the combo of Legos and creative photography - via <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3309/3500989490_4465922b6b.jpg?v=0">farm4.static.flickr.com</a>http://macfowler.com/post/118175468http://macfowler.com/post/118175468Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:51:30 -0400<a href="http://eamesaddict.canalblog.com/">Club des Eames Addict</a>: What a great little blog, all dedicated to Eames design and pieces. To bad it’s all in French, but the pictures are sweet enough to make up for it.http://macfowler.com/post/116245887http://macfowler.com/post/116245887Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:47:18 -0400<p>A great set of goals that are universally applicable to anyone looking to bootstrap a coworking community for themselves:</p> <ul> <li>People would rather come into the coworking space than work at home, even when they have no work to do.</li> <li>Successful residents will eventually outgrow the community and need to move out.</li> <li>Corporate workers will use the space to jump from being employees to entrepreneurs.</li> <li>New businesses are formed based on relationships between residents.</li> <li>Residents become evangelists for the space.</li> <li>The space becomes a catalyst for other social groups and clubs.</li> <li>There is diversity in the range of professions and disciplines practiced by residents.</li> </ul> <p>Via <a href="http://webworkerdaily.com/2009/05/28/measuring-the-success-of-a-coworking-community/">Webworker Daily</a></p>http://macfowler.com/post/114797892http://macfowler.com/post/114797892Fri, 29 May 2009 08:07:53 -0400coworking<img src="http://1.media.tumblr.com/dbt3RZIlCo1ha4d7TwoO9kAoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>I’m not getting another bike, but boy are these some sexy machines. Plus the name of the company isn’t half bad either - <a href="http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/05/28/mac-motorcycles-a-new-british-motorcycle-company/">Mac Motorcycles - A New British Motorcycle Company</a>http://macfowler.com/post/114465968http://macfowler.com/post/114465968Thu, 28 May 2009 16:44:27 -0400“Freelancers, telecommuters and independent contractors these days have a new way to get things done, and it’s called “coworking” (enthusiasts insist there is no hyphen).”<br/><br/> - <em><a href="http://www.chicagojournal.com/News/05-13-2009/The_net_and_a_desk">The net and a desk Is ‘coworking’ the office of the future? - Chicago Journal</a></em>http://macfowler.com/post/114352793http://macfowler.com/post/114352793Thu, 28 May 2009 11:49:41 -0400