Watch me online at Ignite Boulder 11 tonight (in front of 1400 people)!

A quick reminder that I’m giving a 5 minute presentation entitled “Be Your Own Guitar Hero” at Ignite Boulder 11 tonight. If you have tickets, you’ll be there to see me. If you slacked (or live somewhere else) don’t “fret” – Ignite Boulder 11 will be streamed online, starting at 6:30pm Mountain Time. I go on sometime between 8:30 and 9pm. I’m really excited about this (even if I’m a little scared about presenting in front of 1400 people). I would love it if you watched.

Are you coming? Don’t forget about my Ignite Boulder/iPhone4 video contest I’m having.

“Putt and Putt” is a new game I invented.

I think I just invented a new game.

I was out at Harvard Gulch Golf Course yesterday, playing some pitch and putt golf (known to some of you as par-3 golf). I like going there for a few reasons:

• Close to my house
• Only 9 holes, so it takes 60-80 minutes to play a round
• It’s pretty easy – holes are anywhere from 60-130 yards
• I get to work on my short game
• It’s just long enough for my short attention span

I like the commitment of only a couple hours, not the 5-hour 18-hole ordeals of a real golf course. But it’s not all that tough a course, so I find myself getting bored at the end. Yesterday, I had a pretty good round going (a birdie, lots of pars), but then had a double-bogey > triple-bogey on the 7th and 8th holes (respectively). The 9th hole is 65 yards of gentle downsloping angle. I’ve always contended that I could make a par by hitting my putter off the tee. I’ve tried a few times to do this and failed miserably. The excitement that I could reach a green by using a putter off the tee was too much to contain, resulting in some dreadful mis-hit.

But not this time. I knocked a ball with my putter 65 yards straight at the hole. The ball rolled past it, and came to rest just barely on the fringe of the green. I two-putted from there to make par (or was it a 3-putt?). All who were in attendance rejoiced!

So basically I invented a new game called “Putt and Putt” where you can play on a par-3 course, but at some point you have to use a putter for an entire hole. I understand that not all courses and holes are conducive to this, so you will have to use your best judgment. But it’s a new spin on a very old game. I’ve enjoyed this, and am thinking about using a special heavier putter just for this hole at Harvard Gulch.

Have a hankering for a little Putt and Putt? Let me know about your experiences in the comments below!

Free case of beer to best iPhone 4 video about Ignite Boulder 11

So it’s supposed to show up tomorrow for some folks, but the iPhone 4 will be über new when Ignite Boulder 11 rolls around tomorrow. I’m not sure I’m going to buy one because of my heavy loathing for AT&T, but I think the HD video capability is really cool. Because of this, I’m offering a case of beer from my personal stash for the best video about Ignite Boulder that is shot and edited on the iPhone 4. I will consult other people about their favorite, but my vote is the final vote. The winner will receive a smattering of the tasty craft beer I’ve been aging.

People will be recording the talks online (in HD), so the things I’m looking for are reactions to various talks, funny conversations about nerdy things, a recap of the whole night, etc. I’m looking for something that highlights both this funny event and the capabilities of this new phone. Feel free to team up with other iPhoners, too.

To enter, post your video online and link to it in the comments here.

Deadline is July 4, 2010.

I saw a moose today and took photos of it.

Driving around Tabernash, CO today, I came across a moose tooling around my neighborhood. It didn’t let me get too close, but it was beautiful to see. I forget sometimes about how lucky we are in Colorado to have these mountains so close to us.

I hope this moose helps me remember what’s out here.

Short photoset here.

An open letter to Apple and AT&T

Dear Apple and AT&T -

I was very disappointed to hear that your exclusivity agreement would continue through the initial offering of the iPhone 4.  I am giving you a few options that I think are decent, and if you make these happen, I’ll be buying a new iPhone. But if you don’t make these things happen, I will be switching to an Android phone on a different carrier. I’ve been patient with you, but this patience has waned. Ultimately I want to stick with the iPhone, but AT&T is so terrible most of the time that I’m VERY SERIOUSLY contemplating switching to an Android phone like the HTC EVO. You don’t have such a huge lead on the competition anymore, Apple.

• AT&T – Offer better service in the mountains of Colorado, specifically in Grand County. I split my time between Denver and Tabernash. Unfortunately your service is beyond pathetic in Grand County. Add a fucking tower or two around there, and I’ll stick with you. I’d like you to make it 3G because Edge still fucking sucks. But I’ll take expanded Edge availability, too, if that’s all you’re willing to give me.
• Apple – Start selling your iPhone on multiple networks. I get this whole “5 year exclusivity” thing, but take a look at the meteoric rise of Android, which is available on many networks. Additionally, this distribution of your OS onto various networks will also distribute the load on each network. Meaning you won’t bog down the AT&T network, which barely works when a crowd of people are somewhere – like at a Colorado Rockies baseball game. I’m specifically looking for Verizon, Sprint or T-Mobile deals.

I’m giving you an ultimatum. Cave to one of my two demands and I’ll definitely be buying a new iPhone. Don’t, and I’ll be going with competitors of yours. I’ll give you until the end of 2010. That is ample time to fix my problems with you. And don’t say I didn’t warn you two.