Busy day out in the world. We woke to this pic

 

From there I heard down to Shelburne for lunch with my friend Zach. Zach is an amazing guy… when he was 18 he started an organization called Hack Club  

which helps kids set up software development clubs all over the world. About 3 years ago Zach moved his org to Vermont..  and he’s been building it up ever since. I always love talking to him.. he has such a clear and wonderful vision 

From there I headed to to meet Jamie at the Make-a-wish foundation. Make a wish is a wonderful organize it that grants wishes for kids were dealing with serious illnesses and their families. Example of a kid going through chemo might get a chance to take his family to Disney World to swim with dolphins…. I didn’t realize it but it is a nationwide organization. Vermont has one of the smallest chapters and jamie is the leader of it. The Make-A-Wish foundation is in the teddy bear factory building. They have a corner of the building that is very cool staircase where they grant the wish… And a really nice facility upstairs where the kid in the family can hang out and find out the details of their trip. Call decisions are often heartbreaking… The hope and joy that these wishes can give kids need so much.… I was there to take a look at some lighting possibilities for the entrance staircase. Evidently Jamie’s talk to a couple of people who referred him to me. I need to figure out what I can do with the space… And most importantly what I can do with my own time given that I’ve got several other projects going. This is just such a great thing to put energy into. I’ve still gotta figure it out

 

So many cool things to work on.. gotta make some more time 🙂 

nite all, nite sam

-me

We started with a quick hike up the Bamforth Ridge. We couldn’t go to the top because I had some meetings I had to go to… But we enjoyed being in the snow. There were some really interesting ice formations in Gleeson Brook

Mid day had a visit from old IBM friend Larry W. He was well known at IBM for being a deep thinker… and very good problem solver. He ages taught for several years at Dartmouth at VTC  where he was my friend Jake’s  favorite Prof. It was fun showing him around Beta… its sooooo different from IBM. He asked many good questions .. as expected. I feel he’d like working at BETA. 

After Larrys visit I helped re-arrange the creative area at work .. which was a fun mental exercise in changing things up (thought it was later put back just as it was… ) . In the process I realized that my friend Mike’s red checked shirt was not exactly like mine.. he is pocket is rotated she he has DIAMONDS !   (reminded me of the famous ‘Diamond Shreddies’ ad

The day ended with a select board meeting.. which was interesting. Diane and I are on a recreational parking committee.. We had a read out with eh select board that went pretty well. We’re trying to help with a complicated parking problem where there are no easy answers. It did feel good to try to help the town figure this out.  It is also fun looking at all the old pictures in the town offices. Here are some old pictures of our village of Jonesville .

 

Finally.. I got some time to work with the new Touchdesigner flow that my friend Kyle M is helping me develop for fluffy next year. the idea is to automate the “layerization” and make it more controllable wrt. sound response and other controls. so far so good !

That was a busy day !

nite all, nite sam

-me

Hmmm.. today was Martin Luther King Jr day…
I thought about MLK and the changes he made in the world..

and as far as I can remember .. that’s all I did today !

nite all, nite sam

-me

Diane headed up to Montreal for the day with Jen and Deb.. while I went to Westford to watch a First Lego League Scrimmage that my friend Mark was helping run. I was the main entertainment with a jolts and volts show.. one of my first. since the easing of the pandemic. it was A really great event. 4 teams of league league makers competed on regulation size tables. The kids were so excited.   It even set off the loud noise warning on my watch !

I love helping build more FIRST teams in the state !

nite all, nite sam

-me