Category Archives: High Tech

HOPE AND PARANOIA IN THE NEW DIGITAL AGE

OreosJeff Segal – message therapist – Part 2

“Sure I’m paranoid, but am I paranoid enough?” – David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest

“If you have something that you don’t want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.” – Google CEO Eric Schmidt, 2009. Continue reading

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Filed under Death, Entrepreneur, High Tech, Influence, Politics

MIT WHITEBOARD CHALLENGE

Mark T Wayne BOTTOMJohn Jonelis

From special correspondent – Mark T Wayne

Five minutes, a marker, and a whiteboard. That’s all you get with this jaded crowd of critics, skeptics and swarming humanity.

You’ve come here to bare the greatest idea of your life and all the dreams that go with it. You competed for a chance at this grueling event against near a hundred early-stage teams. You’re one of only ten to make the finals.

Now they give the signal and you start like a runner off the blocks. And when your five minutes are up, it’s “NEXT!” No excuse will answer, sir! You are not permitted to utter another word so you sit down to bite your nails. Continue reading

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GOOGLE’S AMAZING ASCENT

Google LogoFrom Startup to the New Digital Age

Jeff Segal – message therapist – Part 1

Once upon a time, not all that long ago, Google was a startup.

No one who attended The New Digital Age, hosted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs last Thursday at the Swissotel, asked Google’s Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen about the juggernaut’s humble, scrappy beginnings. They were there to hear about technology’s power to thwart terrorism and bring dictators to their knees. Continue reading

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A NEW LINE OF THOUGHT

The Lean Canvas

John Jonelis

ENURemember when you wrote that 50 page business plan—the one that nobody actually read? Well, you never have to do it again! Now you can put it all on ONE PAGE. Continue reading

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Filed under Education, Entrepreneur, High Tech

THE TWO LAWS

IMSA Kids at MIT Enterprise Forum

John Jonelis

From a special correspondent – Mark T. Wayne:

Mark T Wayne Frankly sir, I am flabbergasted! This is something beyond my experience! Think of it. High school students turned serious entrepreneurs. These are children in suit and tie—teams of them politely waiting to speak in turn without interrupting the others. Not so much as a spit wad—do you hear me? Not one! That in itself is cause for more than casual interest. And no fluff here, sir! These kids seek equity funding without so much as a blush. And they do it with such aplomb. Continue reading

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Filed under Characters, Education, Electric Power, Entrepreneur, Games, High Tech, Low Tech

WHAT’S CLEAN

Impact Engine – Part 6

John Jonelis

~ VERBATIM from a special correspondent ~

PortaPure WaterChildLoop Lonagan here. I’m at a place where my natural greed ‘n’ avarice can do some good fer dis poor worn-out world. This is the Chicago CleanTech Competition—what you might call a race between high-tech global janitorial services. Ten distinguished judges will pick the best o’ da best—companies that’re really doin’ somethin’ to deal with the mess we’re makin’ outa our little corner o’ God’s creation. What we got here is da last ten finalists in our great city and tonight that gets cut down to five. Continue reading

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UNWIRED

John Jonelis

 – VERBATIM from a special correspondent –

Albert EinsteinDonatas Ludditis reporting but you can call me Don. Today I hop train to Chicago Ogilvie station and take elevator to meeting way up in tall skyscraper. Is raining hard outside but I no care. I no go out in rain. I just get off train and take elevator to meeting. It is in same building!

And they treat me like king here! You should eat such food! Maybe they think Einstein come back from the grave—I dunno. People say I look just like him. As a young man I yusta hate people calling me that and I break some noses. Some legs too, maybe. Now I smile. Carry his picture in wallet. Tell them he is my big brother. Continue reading

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GOOD OUTCOMES

John Jonelis

Written by a very special correspondent, Mark T. Wayne:

Runners KneesDid you know that, out of the multitudes of people that undergo knee surgery, 7% go bad within a year?* .No, I don’t mean to imply that patients with new knees turn to a life of crime, though some may do so. There are no numbers whatsoever to prove otherwise. There’s nothing to stop a man once he can run from the scene of the dastardly deed for the first time in years on his spanking new knees. Continue reading

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LIGHT UP A CONTINENT

Impact Engine – Part 4

John Jonelis

Impact EngineVerbatim from a special correspondent:

Ever hear o’ light poverty? Yeah, it’s a real thing ‘n’ it causes real poverty. But now somebody’s got a clever way t’ fix the problem. Lemme tell you about it. Continue reading

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Filed under Characters, Crowd Sourced Novel, Electric Power, High Tech, Low Tech, Poverty, The Economy