Pud,

I want to upload some pictures from my camera to my computer, but I don’t have the disk that came with it — and it says i need the disk.

Is there any other way I can get the pictures onto my computer?

Laura
14 years old
England

Laura,

You — and everyone else reading this — need to throw away your SD memory card, and buy one with a built in USB connector. No more wires, no more disks; just pull the thing out of your camera and stick it straight into your computer.

They’re hard to find in stores, but here’s a link to the 1 GB version, other sizes available.

Pud

Update: Someone pointed out that I didn’t actually answer your question. The answer is, no, you do not need any special software. Most cameras come with a wire to connect your camera to your computer, which makes your camera show up as a hard drive (on Windows, click “start | my computer” then select your camera’s drive letter)

If that doesn’t work, get an external card reader. If you need help with that, ask someone at CompUSA.

Pud,

How do I get my foreskin back?

Ed
New York

Ed,

Funny you should ask. Among the many things I’ve learned in my days as Pud, is the “Penile Uncircumsizing Device,” a.k.a. PUD.

Pud

Pud,

Are you a good dancer?

If yes, which kind of dance do you prefer?

Thanks,
Randy
Germany

Randy,

Rock on,
Pud

Pud,

I’ve liked this guy since 6th grade. We were together for four years but broke up cuz I went to a different school (only 40 minutes away).

I still love him, but a couple months ago I told him we were over.

How do i tell him that i want to get back together, without looking like the complete idiot that I am?

Abby
17 years old female
Wisconsin

Dear Abby, (heh)

You didn’t break up because of the other school. You broke up because you’d been dating since you were 13, and it’s time to move on.

You can just tell him you want to get back together. And he’ll be cool with it. But after a couple of weeks, you’ll remember just why you broke up with him in the first place, and you’ll be bored. And then you’ll feel really bad, and you’ll ask me how to break up with the same guy twice.

You could take my word for it, but you shouldn’t — it’s a lesson you need to learn on your own. So take him back.

Pud

Pud,

If your websites never took off, what do you think you’d be doing for a living right now?

Brandon
26 years old

Brandon,

Before my websites took off, I was a freelance programmer. So I’d probably still be doing that, working on new businesses in my spare time. Or I’d be working for a small Internet startup, which is kind of like having a job and your own business at the same time.

But the real question is, what would I be doing for a living if my first business didn’t fail? Little known fact: My first business was “PK Productions,” a rap & hip hop music production facility in Maryland, where I grew up.

I’d produced a few songs and moved to NYC for the upgraded music scene. After a year, I accepted the fact that the most success I ever had in the music business was being able to invite this totally hot girl to a Will Smith record release party. I got to pretend that I was a big-shot music guy, but I think it was more obvious to her that my calling should be something in computers, and I never saw her again.

Pud

Pud,

Have you ever dropped an ice cold shot of Jager into a hot latte, and then pounded the hell out of it?

Would you be open to doing so?

Jesse
28 years old
Atlanta, Georgia

Jesse,

That does sound tasty! Assuming the Jager lowered the temperature of the latte enough not to burn me, I’d be up for it.

What do you call this drink?

Pud

Hello Pud,

I’m in college, but can’t seem to get interested in what I’m being taught. So I just don’t care really anymore.

That said, I smell success with what I’m really interested in — Internet marketing, videos, blogs, and so on. It it foolish to feel I can be successful in the Internet business? What does it take to become an Internet success?

Let me know if I’m where you were when you started AdBrite. I dream of it happening to me!

Collin
26 years old
Dallas, Texas

Collin,

You’ve done the hard part — found your passion.

There are a lot more people interested in the Internet business these days, than when I got started my first business in 1999 — but people who founded Internet companies in 1995 were saying the same thing about me. So, while there are more people competing for Internet success, there’s more opportunity than there ever was. We’ve barely scratched the surface of this technology. We’re still in the stone ages.

So ask yourself two questions:

1. What can you do, that people would pay for? People who are successful in anything, are experts in something. If you’re not yet an expert in anything relating to your passion, you’re studying the wrong thing in school. Stop immediately and DIVE IN to something you love.
2. Are you willing to do what it takes, to get what you want? There’s not an entrepreneur alive who hasn’t fantasized about having a 9-to-5 job. You’ll have to make sacrifices in every part of your life, with the knowledge that 9 out of 10 businesses fail within the first couple of years. Could you pick up and try again?

To answer your question about me, each of my businesses was built off a previous business. My first step was choosing to be a freelance programmer. That was two years (and two jobs) after college. Five businesses later, AdBrite was founded.

I’m 31 and doing what I love, which is what I consider to be success. But living in Silicon Valley (moved here 2 years ago from NYC), it’s pretty easy to feel small-time unless you’ve got 10,000 employees, a business that changed the world, and a billion in the bank.

So I’m working on it, and if you’re up for the challenge, so should you!!

Pud

Pud,

Am I too young to start having sex?

Zoe
16 year old female

Zoe,

Technically, no.

However, at your age, you’ll fall in love with the first guy you have sex with. The good news, if he’s roughly your age, he’ll be in love too. So enjoy!

Pud

Here’s a song I put together last night.

Never seen it
I never knew it could be real
When you showed me
You showed me everything that’s real

In the morning
In the afternoon, at 2:00
Just prepare me
Prepare me for what I’ve got to do

I’ll be dead, dead
I’ll be dead, dead
I’ll be dead, dead
I’ll be dead, dead

You know I’m going
You know I’ve got to move ahead
So when you see me
Tell me what’s inside your head

Are you happy?
Or do you miss me now instead
But tell me quickly
Cuz in a moment…

I’ll be dead
I’ll be dead, dead
I’ll be dead, dead
I’ll be dead, dead

Can you hear me?
I’m dying for you right now

Hi Pud,

I’m a single mom. I’ve got two kids with another on the way.

I need to get back on the right track, but I’ve got almost no support from my family. I want to go back in school, but I don’t even know where to begin.

What’s your advice?

Anne
22 years old
California

Anne, Anne, Anne…

You’re a mess. But your life doesn’t have to be. You just need to find your passion, then you’ll have direction. “Going back to school” isn’t the answer.

Some people know what their passion is. Unfortunately, you do not. But I’m going to help you find it.

Here’s what you do:

Ask yourself, if you could do ANYTHING in the world, what would it be? What’s the ultimate fantasy that you’ll probably never actually achieve, but would be awesome? Rock star? Movie starlet? Teacher? Birthday party clown? Brad Pitt’s wife? That’s the “WHAT.”

Now ask yourself, “WHY?”

For example, my “WHAT” was “be a rock star heavy metal drummer!” Upon further analysis, my “WHY” was “I want to do something creative. I want freedom. I want to affect lots of people.”

As it turns out, there were about a million different more tangible things I could do, that would satisfy my “WHY.” That’s why I became a freelance web programmer: creativity, freedom, and the opportunity to reach the masses.

What’s your “WHAT?” What’s your “WHY?” You’ll be surprised how easy it is to satisfy your WHY, once you’ve figured out what it is.

Pud

ps- I’m still gonna be a famous heavy metal drummer. just you wait.