Since I wrote the original value layer blog post, I've wanted to expand on the idea and start cataloging the different global systems connected through these primitives. At one point, I had hoped to get folks to contribute to it as an open-source project. Due to time constraints, that never happened, but I finally had some time… Continue reading The Value Layer – Expanded
Category: Rant
The Printed Word
My desk(s) are always surrounded by paper. One of my discoveries as an adult is that I don't absorb written words on a screen well at all. This has spawned an enormous amount of printing things. A few years ago I finally bought a decent black and white printer for our home. Our trusty Brother… Continue reading The Printed Word
Day Zero
This might as well be a private journal entry and it's certainly an internal narrative found biking in -0º weather and walking alone in the woods during 2 very cold weeks in Iowa. Sometimes time alone just gives you space to think and other times the inspiration from others is just what you need. What… Continue reading Day Zero
20 20
Jami sent me a text yesterday about it being the last day of the decade and I didn't really think about it that way until I read it. The day itself is not that different than most other days. I said my goodbye's to my family, had a nice black coffee, and came to the… Continue reading 20 20
Teaching Iowa Students to Code
I recently attended an interesting group discussion about getting students in Iowa, specifically rural Iowa, access to computer science skills. The state has a desire to do something and the resources to match but one of the challenges has been getting the right teachers in the schools to teach technology classes. It's not a problem… Continue reading Teaching Iowa Students to Code
Good Habits
I recently took a true vacation. A week off-grid with my family in the mountains with just a hot tub, endless trees, silence, and each other. When I got back I could feel myself walking differently, breathing more deeply, and I kept wanting to get on my bike or get closer to sunlight. Over the… Continue reading Good Habits
Out of sight & out of mind. The no-coast startup.
When talking to local entrepreneurs, my feedback is always different than talking to people who live on the coasts. The coasts, for reference are really US West & US East. More and more the coast type feedback could also apply to those in Boulder. I'm going to start saying no-coast instead of the midwest because… Continue reading Out of sight & out of mind. The no-coast startup.
Thoughts on automation
Like most people who will read this I spend a lot of time with startups. Something startups tend to agonize over is what to do vs. what not to do. They also further analyze those decisions by considering what will scale versus what won't. Multiple times a week I hear “that won’t scale, we shouldn’t do/be… Continue reading Thoughts on automation
The relationship between Ames and Des Moines
Ames and Des Moines have developed a symbiotic relationship. I think a lot of entrepreneurs feel it's a odd relationship but aren't sure why. For reasons unbeknownst to us the technology communities haven't historically collaborated well but that's changing. I was thinking recently about why the connection between the two cities feels so important and… Continue reading The relationship between Ames and Des Moines
How Fast is Mediacom’s 1G service?
Our family has had CenturyLink internet services at the house for a while and they are reliable but the speed hasn't been that great. It's advertised at 60mb and normally I'd see 30-25 over ethernet, and ~10-15 over wifi. Sometimes that lagged even lower. Since we don't have cable and all of our TVs and devices use… Continue reading How Fast is Mediacom’s 1G service?