Wow, and double wow.

This past weekend, in case you didn’t know, I was part of an amazing event called Startup Weekend. I was simply amazed, with my mouth agape and all, at everything that unfolded over the course of 52+ hours. I hardly knew anyone there. Sure there were some familiar faces, but most everyone was nearly a complete stranger to me.

I’m very happy to say that this is no longer the case. It’s pretty damn amazing how much you can get to know someone by working with them in one area for about 52 hours. I knew that the weekend would be big in Bloomington when Kevin Makice first asked me if I wanted to be in the first meeting discussing bringing the event to Bloomington way the hell back in November of ‘07. I just didn’t know that it would be so huge.

If you didn’t already know, I was technical director for the event. I was charged with getting multiple websites up and running, creating multiple widgets, as well as recruiting as much as possible. When we opened registration, I signed up to be a front-end developer. I was very excited about the idea. I can code XHTML and JavaScript quickly, efficiently, and in a standards compliant fashion. However, upon arrival of the weekend things took a different turn for me. Somehow I ended up being the Technical Director for the weekend as well. I lead the development team forward and wrote code for maybe 5 minutes late Sunday. My real efforts where in making sure that the developers had what they needed to do what they do best, code. I helped  them to get organized, set persons on different tasks, and in general kept everyone working. I was also in charge of informing other groups as to the development teams workings. I also kept everyone, as much as I could, out of the developers way so that they could get into a groove and keep with it. Come Sunday night, I presented our workings to the group for our private launch. It turned out that we couldn’t launch publicly (yet) due to some legal concerns.

The event was certainly a smashing success. We meet during the weekend, and decided to do this again and again. Bloomington Startup will not stop at just one weekend, there is way too much talent here for that. No, we will strive to hold these weekend events as often as possible.

Thank you Bloomington and all of the wonderful people who attended the weekend. A special thanks as well to all of you fans of Bloomington Startup and to all who watched our progress unfold. It was my shear pleasure to help bring this about!

Add comment February 11th, 2008 at 08:24pm John

I’ve been coding non-stop for what seems like weeks.
I’m preparing the Bloomington Startup Weekend sites, as I’m the Technical and Recruiting Director. Our gigantic, huge, fantastically awesome event starts tomorrow.

Some of the organizers are meeting up at City Hall at noon to prep for the 5:00 opening.
Lots to do, lots to do. But hey, that’s life right.

I think I’m growing as a photographer [Why don't you be the judge?].
I believe my  photographs to  improve with each and every shutter snap.
I recently bought a new Tamron 90mm Macro lens. I effing love it, or to be a little more pop, I (heart) it, very very much.

Just check out this picture why don’t you?

Pretty effing cool eh? My Nikon kit lens certainly couldn’t do this. I’m really excited about photography. I’m sure that my Picture A Day project has something to do with this. You have been following right? If not, shame on you. Well, maybe that’s a bit harsh, but I wish you would follow. Who doesn’t want followers right?

Anyway, I’m super busy with class, Bloomington Startup Weekend, projects, and of course photography. Not to mention that my car’s alternator (generator) decided to lock up and leave me high and dry for personal transportation. I’m just lucky enough to have great family who helped me retrieve said broken monster and tug it all the way to my gravel pit. I’m also lucky to have pretty good public transportation around Bloomington. I didn’t drive too much anyway, but having those buses helps a bundle.

So, give me your thoughts on my new photographs. And, if you were one of the lucky 100 to sign up for Bloomington Startup Weekend before our amazing sell out, I’ll see you tomorrow (and for the next 3 days after that!).

Add comment February 7th, 2008 at 08:52pm John

Bloomington Startup Weekend is nigh.
Repent ye sinners. Go forth and register yourselves.

A 54 hour mad rush of intense energy, ideas, and work, Bloomington Startup attendees will conceive, create, and launch a completely new company. Bloomington Startup Weekend will be a great chance for locals (from all over the midwest) to network with other motivated individuals, learn and practice new skills in the context of a real business, and put Bloomington on the international map as a center for technology and innovation!

We’ve already gathered quite the press online, as evident by at http://www.bloomingtonstartup.com/. We also fully expect an article in the Herald Times. We are also hoping to gather some press from the student paper at IU, the IDS.

Currently we have around 20 open spots left. We fully expect these to sell out quickly. So, if you’re interested in coming and you have yet to buy your ticket. You better do so now! I know I’ll be there, will you?

Add comment January 29th, 2008 at 09:31am John

Bloomington Startup Weekend set for Feb. 8-10

Startup Weekend is proud to announce that the Bloomington Startup
Weekend will be held February 8-10 2008. Over 160 people voted to get
the weekend back to Indiana with the City Vote project. This will be
the 15th Startup Weekend to take place across the globe since the idea
originated last July.

Startup Weekend recruits a few dozen highly motivated people to build a
community and company in a weekend. Tickets for Bloomington Startup
Weekend will be sold for $20 on the Startup Weekend site at
http://bloomington.startupweekend.com.

There are 7 main areas of expertise that participants can sign up for:

* Design
* Developer
* PR/ Marketing
* Business Development
* User Experience
* Legal
* Project Management

Other skill sets are welcome. The most important attribute is a
willingness to contribute all three days of the weekend. Make sure to
get tickets early, it will most likely sell out fast.

Add comment January 16th, 2008 at 10:59pm John

This just in:

I’ve been named Technology Director for Bloomington Startup.

What’s this, you don’t know what Bloomington Startup is?

Well my dearest reader, I will inform you. Bloomington Startup is our version of Startup Weekend. We decided to use the name Bloomington Startup because it sounds cool! Our great city is really perfect for this type of event. We are literally oozing with intelligence and innovative people. Why not stick them all in one room for three days and see what they can come up with? At the very least, everyone will come away feeling smarter, happier, and much better about themselves and our city. Hurray Bloomington! In order to help us, I urge you, nay, I beg you dearest reader to go and vote for Bloomington Startup.

Are you done voting? Great, thanks a million!

Right now there are four organizers working very hard to bring this amazing event together:

• Kevin Makice, Marketing & Materials Director
• John Hill, Technology Director
• Travis Brown, Sponsorship Director
• Christian Briggs, Planning

and Kevin couldn’t have put it any better when he wrote:

There are others who have expressed interest in organizing, and I encourage you to contact these people to volunteer your time. Believe me, there is plenty of work for everyone.

We are currently accumulating a list of names of people willing to dedicate a weekend to creating a new business from scratch. We are also looking for sponsorship to foot the bill for security, fees, and travel to bring (we hope) a representative from SW out to Indiana to facilitate. John has already created a Ning group for Bloomington Startup, which we will use along with our Facebook group to communicate news and keep track of participants. Please join these groups and let your interest in supporting the project be known.

Our goal is to recruit a diverse group of people, preferably with a more equitable gender split than past SW events. We are hoping to recruit from outside of Bloomington as well, perhaps enticing a few veterans from the Purdue weekend down into enemy territory. Take a look at some of the past projects for an idea of what to expect.

More information will be forthcoming in the weeks ahead. If you are interested in attending, please feel free to comment here or get in touch with any of the other organizers listed above.

1 comment January 10th, 2008 at 11:43am John

So, as you might recall, perhaps in horror, I recently did post about the good possibility, nah, the near sure probability of ruining any chance with the new girl.

Good news everyone!

I was so “gone” on NYE that I actually had no clue what said girl spoke to me at the end of the night that caused my blow out. Well it was nothing serious. I was just way to dramatic and completely too serious about the whole thing and relationship, if you can call it that.

Girl and I have decided to continue to casually date. Huzzah!

What have I learned from all of this craziness? Play it cool man, like The Fonz. There is no damn need to be all crazy dramatic. There is no need to be so serious this early in the game. Just play it out and be the cool guy. I’ve learned not to call very often right away. To let the girls call me. Well, this one must like me pretty well in order to continue casually dating after the NYE night ending fiasco.

Of course keeping busy also helps. Now I have classes once again and I’m still working the same. Starting my new Picture A Day project also helps immensely. It gives me something to look forward to every day, helps my photography skills, helps me to feel productive, and helps me feel more connected to the world. You can read about it, check out the Flickr feed, or view the postings directly on my blog; Be sure to leave me any thoughts or comments. It was a good project to start, and I’m sure that it wasn’t a coincidence. Thanks to two great friends for helping me through the toughness and really speaking clearly to me, even though they slept on my sofa bed NYE without a proper blanket!

So, Who’s cool and has two thumbs?
This guy!

Add comment January 8th, 2008 at 03:07pm John

So I’ve started a “Picture A Day” project, sometimes called “Project 365″.

I will take at least one good picture per day and upload them.

I haven’t quite decided how I’m going to post each picture main because I don’t want to post something every single day. So I’ll be updating you as to how I plan on sharing this project with you the world. What I do know is that each picture will be uploaded to Flickr in a set called “Picture A Day 2008“. You can also view the photos right here on my blog. I shall do my best to keep everything up to date, and I will do my absolute best to take 1 good photograph per day. My goal is to hone my photography skills and get more intimate with my camea [oh yeah!]

Here is Jan 02, 2008

Add comment January 2nd, 2008 at 09:58pm John

NYE rocked. I had lots of fun, even though IU lost. Went to a pretty kickin party at Space 101 and danced like a fool. I even got a great new year’s kiss.

Sadly the night ended with my usually problems. Over enthusiastic, lack of control, and complete drama. I’m pretty sure I ruined any chances I might have had with this new girl.

I guess you can’t win em all. I’m not even sure how interested she was to begin with.

My new year’s resolutions:

get in better physical shape
take, and post,  1 picture a day
become a better photographer
be more understanding
have better self control in relationships
love more

Add comment January 1st, 2008 at 08:09pm John

I hate the waiting game. Am I being too pushy, too much; maybe I’m in contact too little, maybe you think it says that I don’t like you very much.

I write, I instant message, I call and leave a voice mail. I wait. I wait. I wait. Sure I understand you have things to do, you have a life. I just feel like it’s some crazy game. When do I make contact, how often, and at what time of day. Do I wait for you to respond before making contact again? Do I need a specific reason to make contact? Too many questions.

I just want to get to know you. I like you. I really like you.

But how do I handle the game. Even if neither one of us wants to play the effing game we still get caught in it’s tango. Shit, this is crazy. There are way too many factors to fuck up here. Should it really be this complicated? Is it really this complicated? Maybe all or most of the complications and games are in my head. Maybe it’s a one player game and I’m somehow kicking my own ass?

I feel like I must have been successful at this before. I’ve had girlfriends before. Really really good looking girl friends. I must have done something right. I just can’t remember being this crazy about it before hand. Maybe this just happens each time I meet a girl I like and then I forget about it. Arrrggg. It’s so damn confusing, time consuming, stressfull, and unproductive.

What to do, what to do, what to do?

I guess for now I must play the waiting game, so it goes. I’ll be waiting a mi bella, I’ll be waiting.

Add comment December 22nd, 2007 at 11:49pm John

I hoping, nay praying, begging, and pleading to not fuck this one up.

I met you at a show with a Japanese looking fellow who kind of looks like a girl from behind as the main singer. He rocked my socks off, not literally of course because I was also wearing shoes, but figuratively.

The truth is you rocked my socks off much harder and faster. I saw you walking and I melted a little inside. This wasn’t because of the alcohol that I had been consuming. Nay it was your presence.

I tried to dance, we yelled loud enough to hear each other talk during the breaks, I bought you a Harp, and we rejoiced. Less than 24 hours later I saw you again from a short distance.

This time it was planned. Even your silhouette looked great. I tried complementing your amazingly stylish black dress with my sudo-mod black shirt and silver tie. It was a nerve wrecking night of meeting all of your friends while not getting too much of a chance to talk to you. The night started winding down and we talked a little more. We headed out to a bar with those who were still at the party and talked some more. I attempted a wink and looked more like I was trying to catch a fly with my eyelashes, we laughed. Soon we left and I walked you home. You were the brave one and took my arm first. I was so shy. As the night air quickly froze my breath I clasped your hand in mine and felt my blood temperature shoot to the sky. Back inside your house I nervously talked to you while my mind was bending around our soon to be first kiss. Fireworks, rockets, and a million twinkling stars shoot off your lips as they touched mine. I was hooked.

The next evening we had plans for dinner and a movie. So classic, but ever so fitting. Dinner was short and sweet while the movie was emotional and funny. I tried not to let the night end so easily. We decided to get some drinks and talk so more. In a nearly empty bar with the worst music selection ever we intertwined questions and stories getting to know each other better and better with each word. I shot off some horrid questions and immediately told you not to answer, you did the same once in my direction. The night kept growing and time turned on us.

We made it back to your place. After a little more talk over a cigarette we kissed once more, twice more, three, four, and five times more. I hoped to not leave your back porch until the sun arose, but alas we said our goodbyes while you headed inside.

And the whole of today I’ve desperately clung to my telephone hoping, praying, begging and pleading with myself to not call you so soon. I’m mesmerized and enthralled by you. I don’t want to fuck this chance up. Please God don’t let me fuck this one up like so many before. So now I sit starring at a white-board which just too recently contained the scribblings of a neural network. It reads, “Don’t call her, whatever you do, don’t call her until Tuesday.” I hope I can keep to my white-board’s declaration. After all, it’s my own nature I’m railing against.

Add comment December 16th, 2007 at 11:32pm John