This past weekend, I went back to Ann Arbor, Mi to attend my 10th law school reunion.  Normally, I get hives when I'm around too many lawyers, but it was a fun event and reconnecting with old friends was pleasant.  

There were three big takeaways from the weekend:

1.  Ten years out, it was surprising how few of my former classmates stayed at their big firm jobs out of school.  (hmmm, maybe my theories of what ails the legal profession are true...);

2.  Going to a University of Michigan football game is still one of the best ways to spend a Saturday that I can think of (even if my Wolverines stunk up the joint and lost 45-20 to Illinois); and

3.  Despite everyone saying that we don't look any different than we did 10 years ago, those are just self serving statements.  It doesn't mean that many of us don't still look good, rather ten years is really ten years.  I, for one, am definitely worse for wear. 

For those of you interested, I present a photographic journal of the football experience and some reunion pictures as well for those of you unable to attend.

Football:

- Everyone needs a good tailgate.  This fine gentleman gave us each a hotdog as we walked up the street.  Thanks random grill dude!

Everyone also needs a two floor beer bong.  Yippie!

And the stadium avec le marching band

Reunion:

Dave Davis, me and Drew Worseck.  This was before the football team decided defense was optional.

Me "reunited" with my law school house

David Bouman, Tanya and Paul Hunter and Dave and (committeewoman) Lynne Davis

Matt Drake, "Mr. Classy" pouring generic whisky into a bottle of coke to "tune up" prior to the game.  In hindsight, maybe he was the smart one.

The law school

We'll see y'all in another 5 to 10 (sounds like a prison sentence).  Thanks to Carrie Newton and Jeff King for setting this all up us. 

While at my 10 year Law School Reunion this weekend, I happened up a truck parked alongside the University of Michigan Student Union:

This is a great idea.  The truck parks outside the union, is open until at least 3am and they deliver as well!  Or you can order online and have the cookies ready when you show up.

They make many types of cookies from standards like peanut butter and chocolate chip, but also M&M cookies and even a Smores varietal.  There are brownies and even and raw cookie dough, as well.  They are baked fresh to order and are awesome.  This isn't simply a case of a good business plan, but wonderful execution.  I was at the truck both Friday and Saturday nights and tried many different styles.  I must go on a diet immediately.

Better yet?  They have whole, 2% and skim milk.  Ah...

The story of their beginnings can be found here.  It Sounds like some smart undergrads wanted cookies late night, started making cookies late night and the rest is history.  I only wish they'd come to Boulder.

Great job.

Yesterday, Micah Baldwin told me and a few other Colorado-based bloggers about the DonorsChoose Challenge.  I decided to put up the DonorsChoose widget on my blog. 

There are already got a bunch of great Colorado projects up on the DonorsChoose website.  Look for the sidebar on the right of my main page or click through on the DonorsChoose website link.  Any amount helps.  Thank you.

Today, we published an article on our Foundry Group blog about the strange dance of politics and music.  Specifically, we’ve been following the royalty negotiations and legislative actions surrounding Pandora.

I've been an active participant in the debate regarding royalty streams for track plays for a long time.  I've never understood why the labels have been so resistant to let their customers actually discover their artists' products, but then again, I don't understand much of what the labels do.  In there lies the opportunity for the creation of good companies and investment in them like Topspin. 

I'd encourage you to check out our piece on the Foundry blog and join the discussion.

In all the upheaval of the financial markets, it's nice to see someone with a sense of humor.  My friend, Eric Jensen sent this to me today.  Get your picks into me.  The winner will receive Lehman or WAMU, your choice. 

Also interesting, is this this document on the "vanishing act" of investment banks.  It shows the time line and current state of affairs of the banking industry.  Scary.  Hang onto your hats everyone. 

Do you want a job?  Do you want to work in Boulder?  Do you want an all expenses paid trip out here to interview?

Do I have the deal for you...

Boulder is looking for great people to come join our startup ecosystem.  While many areas of the country are experiencing shrinkage in the job market, not us!  We have plenty of companies looking for great folks.

See our Foundry Group post for more information.

Amid the craziness of Wall Street, the U.S. auto industry, and Matt Millen finally being fired by the Lions, I received the most bizarre gift today.  EVER.  Clearly this is a sign that the world is ending.

In case you can't tell, it's a Barry F'in Manilow Pillow Case.  I mean, who really needs this?  Being the curious sort that I am, I found the official Barry Manilow merchandise site.  Some of my favorites were the "Infant Wear" and the Bobbleheads.  I'm totally excited for gift giving season now.  If you are on my list, watch out. 

The other day, I was chatting with a local venture capitalist who remarked that Foundry Group has received some nice press coverage during our first year of existence.  While true and absolutely appreciated, I am smart enough to realize that the press can turn on a dime.  Who is today's darling might very well be tomorrow's devil.

So the question became "how do you manage the press?" to which I my initial reaction was "you can't really manage the press, but you can get to know them and understand their world a bit." 

While some people believe that the media (and in my world this means tech / VC / startup press) is evil and out to get them, I tend to think that they just have a much different job than I do.  The irony of the relationship is that each of us have different incentives.  For instance, if you have dirty laundry and want to keep quiet, that is when the press is most interested in writing about you.  If you have something wonderful to announce, normally it's hard to get anyone to write about it, as "puff pieces" don't win authors any accolades.  There are exceptions, but it's a basic rule of thumb.

This doesn't make them evil, rather they have a job to do and their job is acquiring eyeballs.  And, unfortunately, bad news sells. 

Over the years, as a group, we've both been praised and punished and with some years under my belt, I've become much more mellow about both good and bad treatment.  It's just part of the industry.

If there are two pieces of advice that I'd give, they would be first, get to know some of the people in the media and second, email is your best friend. 

I've spent some time with several of the "usual suspects" in the tech media and for the most part thought they were smart,  nice and certainly not mean spirited.  Folks like Dan Primack take their jobs very seriously, really do research their topics and have even become contributors to our industry with events like peHUB across America.  That being said, I'm sure Dan will be the first to call me out should he think that I've done anything "noteworthy."

Others such as Russ Garland and Dave Barry at Dow Jones spend a lot of time developing free educational panels for folks in our industry including VCs and entrepreneurs, alike. 

By getting to some people, I've found that I've mellowed about their jobs and at least know that they aren't "out to get me" as some others fear.  Some of them are actually fun to have a beer with, even.

My largest criticism about the press are misquotations.  That is why email is your best friend.  I'd suggest having as much of your exchanges as possible over email unless you have a relationship with someone that you really trust.  I can't even being to tell you the extent to which "reputable" news sources have misquoted folks that I know.  I've never known is this is just sloppiness or something more nefarious, but it's something that everyone should be aware of. 

In summary, they have a job, you have a job, sometimes you are both aligned, but not usually.  Get to know them as people, be smart and you'll have a better platform in which to interact with them. 

If you are a Colorado voter, you have a very important choice to make this Fall on Amendment 55.  You will be asked approve an amendment to the state's constitution effectively ending "at will" employment arrangements.

From the Faegre law firm:

"Colorado voters are being urged to approve a constitutional amendment this fall that would drastically change the at-will rule of employment in the state.

Amendment 55—recently approved by the Colorado secretary of state for addition to the November 4 ballot—would require employers to establish just cause prior to discharging or suspending an employee. Proponents of this initiative submitted over 130,000 signatures with the petition, well above the minimum number of signatures required.

If this amendment is approved, employers seeking to suspend or discharge employees or planning a reduction in force will need to prepare and retain a significant amount of documentation that is not currently required. Further, employers could be subject to civil actions by employees who believe they were suspended or discharged without just cause."

This amendment, if approved, could have a larger impact on the state's economy than any presidential choice.  Before I get a bunch of hate mail claiming that I hate workers' rights, please consider the following:

1. Never in my ten years of being a lawyer / VC have I ever been involved in a "for cause" firing.  Each time "for cause" is even alleged, the employees hires a lawyer and the company spends time and money defending itself.  While it might sound nice, "cause" is a very vague word, no one really knows what it means and it will only cause a ton of litigation.  The only clean way of dealing with this issue is having "at will" employment arrangements;

2. Partly because of 1, above, but also due to the increased need of paperwork, the only real winners with this proposed change will be lawyers; and

3. Most importantly, this will have an extremely negative effect on small businesses in Colorado.  Small businesses will not take the risk of hiring folks that they can not easily terminate in the case of a downturn in business or debatable individual performance. Most small businesses will hire more carefully and more conservatively because of fears that they won't be able to make cuts if needed.  Without taking some hiring risks, Colorado companies will not have the advantages of growing quickly like companies in other states. 

I can't believe how anyone would think mimicking Germany or France's employment laws will make us more competitive.  I would highly recommend reading the full text here.  Thanks to Alan Kaplan for sending me the link.  VOTE NO ON 55. 

It's been no secret that United Airlines pilots want CEO Glenn Tilton to step down.  However, when they are passing out wrist bracelets to passengers, you might have a problem.  I now have my first bracelet.  After my week of many United induced travel problems, I might not take it off.