g-speak overview 1828121108 from john underkoffler on Vimeo

The coolest shoes ever!

Since acquiring my Five Fingers several months ago I keep hearing how ugly and strange they are.  While I can’t say the attention bothers me I thought I’d post up a great article I came across today about the benefits and concept behind these ’shoes’:

Barefoot Running and Sports – Why it’s better

And here’s why they rock:

1. Running in them feels fantastic, I feel like a weight was lifted.

2. They keep my feet just as warm as slippers but I don’t have to take them off to run to the store.

3. They are a great conversation starter or “third object”

Cheers!

A good friend of mine named Dan has a solution of this. He looks up relevant words in another language, hoping to find a pronounceable word with meaning and available domain.

This morning I turned to a similar approach for a new company.  Rather than run tens of queries at Google Translate I found this awesomely handy tool which looks up words in multiple languages: http://www.nicetranslator.com/ .

Combine that with the fastest domain lookup tool I’ve ever used at https://domize.com/ and finding foreign company names becomes much-less painful…. although I’m still searching.

How do you find company names and domains?

Thanks for the great post Ash!

Was this all because instead of monsters in my closet I saw Nazi’s, poised to divulge my secrets of the Holy Grail?   Although, I did dream of Nazi’s in the closet (thanks Mom&Dad), I think Indy embodies the things that many people will never do but sit around and wish they could/would.  So if that’s you -time to take action. Head over to WIRED and read this awesome article on how to grab things with a bullwhip Indiana Jones-style.

Grag things with a bullwhip Indiana Jones style

Now I love trains, in fact my parents attic is piled high with HO scale model railroad gear form my younger days.   Trains that I plan to recover and enjoy with my children some day but I can’t help wonder why we would put in a high-speed train without asking the people first?  Even the Simpson called a town hall meeting  and held a vote. If Doyle is any sort of governor he should be able to sing and dance us into submission in no time!

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Why not hold a contest in which engineering firms and designers from WI propose ways to spend the money? Thereby encouraging innovation and creating blue-collar jobs.  The Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 used that approach and out of it came the Ferris Wheel, Moving Walkways, and numerous other innovations.

Oh and if you wonder how the Simpson’s monorail story goes, hop on over to Shelbyville and ask.

Cheers!

For those of you that aren’t tennis fans or didn’t make it to the U.S. Open website this year.  Every match that wasn’t on network TV was accessible LIVE via online streaming -with  your computer plugged into a TV you could watch matches, quickly switch between courts, pull up live statistics via overlay, and view live picture in picture.

Far and away the most amazing live video experience I’ve had to date.  How awesome would it be to have full live access to the 2010 olympics with those features? Imagine traveling around a map of Vancouver to the various event destinations, being able to watch full coverage of any event.

I’d work from home the entire two weeks if I could have bobsled and luge on 12/14!  Has anyone gotten word of what NBC’s planning?

1. Show up early – I did this by accident several weeks ago and had nothing to do but talk to the event organizers and help them rearrange the tables.  In return these two ladies made introductions for me throughout the evening.
2. Use an exciting opening phrase – Rather than the traditional “How are you?” greeting, incorporate a phrase such as “What are you working on that’s new and exciting?”  or “What’s new and exciting?”  I’ve used this at tradeshows for several years now and it’s a great way of getting other people to open up.
3. Give descriptive answers – Rather than answer the inevitable question “What do you do?” with “work for a software company”.   Try giving a more specific answer such as “I  sell and market data mining software to insurance companies.” Even though my example is tech-y I’ve given given my bogey the option of connecting on several fronts: software, sales & marketing,  and insurance.
4. Prepare – Formulate interesting answers to common questions that you know you will be asked. (apply #3)
5. Recommend & Refer – As you begin to meet people throughout the evening make recommendations and introductions between your new acquaintances.

What’s your favorite small talk tactic?

Give this clip a listen and then write George Lucas a letter and tell him to stop screwing with his already great movies.