Friday night – Marking Dad’s birthday

August 15, 2014 johncohn Leave a comment

Today my dad would have turned 84 years old.. I spent the day thinking about him.. feeling more happy than sad. I tried to think of a fitting tribute for him today so I wore all of his clothes.. He left big shoes to fill, literally

I spent some time tonight looking for pictures of dad on past birthdays. It made me happy to see him always surrounded by all f us. here are a few i found.. with a few favorite non birthday dad pics thrown in that I came across

We did and do love you very much Pa.. Happy Birthday forever !

nite all. nite sam

-me

Thursday night – Booga and preppers

August 15, 2014 johncohn Leave a comment

Just back from a quick trip to the city for a great partner meeting. didn’t get to see many folk soutside the meeting because I had to get back here. I did manage to meet Max for a quick beer and dinner as he’s prepping for leaving for Burnign man tomorrow. He’s helping drive their 5 ton 6 wheeled truck Booga out to black rock with a team of 3 other drivers. (it can only go 45 mph).

here’s an ealrier project that I helped max with a year or so back..

I spent a very happy hour helpign the guys try to debug a last minute electronics issue with the LED lighting. they were still at when I had to leave for the airport. I’m betting they have it fixed by now.. It was great hanging out with Max… and a bunch of our old friends.. Doc Adventcha’, ben. perry. terry. flip and a bunch of new folks

it was a beautiful chaos..

i got to the airport in planty of time.. but the TSA guys were down to one lane, and the precheck line was closed … so I had to wait for nearly an hour.. Barely made my plane. Ran to the plane and they shut the door behind me.. Whew.. Had a great conversation with a JetBleu Pilot Randel which made the flight really nice.

Just as we were landing, the episode of Doomsday Preppers that I mentioned came on.. I was able to see the first half of the part with by buddies Tom and Beth.. It was great to see. I thought they did really well.. They looked great and showed some amazing stuff ! It was so fun watching it on a plane !

The funny thing is that they got on the show because they have awesome skills.. but the way those skills got to the attention of the shows producers is more indirect. A woman I know via burnign man casts for that show. If anyone out there is a prepper.. please let me know.. and I’ll pass on your contact info to my friend Jen…

ok.. 1:30 am.. time for bed

nite all nite sam

-me

Wednesday night – hype curve

August 13, 2014 johncohn 1 Comment

Create a concept a few years ago called the hype curve. The curve shows the five stages of any idea if it goes like this.

All ideas start with the trigger and then get more and more buzz around in the press and in the general culture. Eventually they hit the peak of inflated expectations. That's when the expectations on the technology are so inflated that anything that is even possible looks like a disappointment. For that reason the next phase is called the trough of disillusionment. After the trough, cooler heads reign and the real potential and capabilities of the technology are teased out. Finally comes the plateau of productivity… Which is the long. Incremental innovation that happens as an idea matures.

I'm thinking of this tonight because Gartner just came out today and said that the Internet things, the thing I'm working so hard on right now… Is at its peak of inflated expectations.

That's either good news or bad news. The peak is something that you eventually have to welcome because there is so much hyperbole and exaggeration around any new technology that it can't keep getting worse forever. This is the point that people start to doubt the technology.

The bad news is it's like a roller coaster ahead. Voices of I told you so will now start,… earning outlooks will start to decrease, startups will start to fail… It all sounds bad, but it really isn't. Expectations can't keep increasing forever, the sooner the real value of the technology can start to be demonstrated the better off everyone will be. For me, this is one of the fun parts where the good ideas and bad idea are separated. I think were working on some good ideas so I think I'm going to enjoy this.

Just hang onto your seats it's going to be a bumpy ride !

Nigt all,nite sam

-me

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Tuesday night – A little less funny

August 12, 2014 johncohn Leave a comment

I woke today and thought that the world felt a little less funny. Did you feel it too ?

Robin Williams death by his own hand rocked me like it rocked everyone else. I was really touched to see how many folks who …like me.. talked, tweeted, posted about the special relationship they had with Williams.. I was standing in the swimming pool last night at 3:30 am , unable to sleep, when it occurred to me, you’d be hard pressed to come up with a person who was so universally loved, liked and admired in the world today.. He was the embodiement of funny and pleasantly crazy.. he was the cheerleader of that whacked out voice in all our heads that wants us to let go and follow our impulses..

Maybe he’ll be a cheerleader now , too, for the treatment of mental illness. Recently Cheryl Hannah, a popular VT Law School committed suicide after a long battle with depression.. her death started a dialog in the state on mental illness and depression that was very healthy. Maybe Robin Williams sad act will help folks worldwide dig deeper and recognize that depression and mental illness can not always be seen.. ..

still shocked and saddened.. but I’ll bet like me.. you found yourself goign through the Robin WIlliams Rolodex in your head today.. and getting a few sad/funny memories from that..

Anyway … (never say ‘anyway’ in a blog post…)

Anyway…

We did have some fun today. My brother and sister in law Joe and Pat are in town today. In an accidental homage to robin williams we had a zany meal component tonight.. Diane made Brussels sprouts with walnuts and maple syrup.. They were so sweet, I got out the Americone Dream Ben and Jerry’s… It was better than you could possibly imagine !.. Brussels sprout chip ?