millerc

This just in: cloud services discover biff(1). Within a few years we should have an OS.

Sorry to be cynical, it pains me to see the whole state of computing thrown out the window everytime we reinvent new paradigms (none of which add substantial value).

Hint: we'll progress when we start building over old assets, not reinventing them at every "guerre de clocher".

Very well done! Looks like a full script of our experiences with AdWords back when it was new and shiny.

So, Woot is actually serious about this? Glad to see someone put things as they are.

Another angle would be to go to the meeting to discuss scope, under the condition that he pays for your time at your stated rate. This drives home the point that your fees are non-negotiable, while still listening to what he has to say.

I deal daily with program managers who specialize in getting you to the table with a legitimate request, then pull you into a weakened position after you said an initial "yes".

"Discuss requirements" - who could oppose to that? He can easily make the point that the main reason for the large cost is that he had a much smaller scope in head. He might not understand that the project is larger than he thinks due to dependencies. At worst, he might not care.

Listen to what he has to say, take a cool-off period, double-check yourself to see whether you're being pulled in something that might turn sour, and provide a revised quote.

Heh. That's something I dislike about dealing with the public. You suggest 2-3 slots, you're an a-hole for being hard to reach. You don't, you're an a-hole for putting the onus on them.

May I point out the camera was not in a car. The perpetrators actually robbed a house full of adults and children, while everyone was sleeping. It's almost a miracle nobody was hurt/killed.

OP's blog post reminds me sorely how depressing it is to create something and get feedback from the world. The most accurate description of Word Lens I've read is "take a look! This is the future." And still, there are people to write nasty articles calling it lame because it doesn't fix breakfast as well.

So I found my resolution for the new year. I'll stick to my anonymity when creating products, and hire somebody to get feedback while filtering out the nasties. And never, ever ego-search on my products.