Category Archives: Jim Kren

September 25, 2019 · 3:38 pm

DON’T GO BELLY UP

by Loop Lonagan

Sleep never comes easy when you’re building the next great tech giant from scratch. Every idle moment gets overwhelmed with a flood of notions, fears, and phone calls. You know what I’m talking about. Those extra hours you squeeze out every day and all that risk you carry on your back are killers. Keep pushing and something’s gotta give—brain, body, business—one of them goes belly up for sure. What’s that I hear? That won’t happen, you say? Believe me, whenever you tough it out too long, your personality gets so severe that nobody can stand working with you. From time to time, a CEO has to refresh, rejuvenate, reboot. You know it and I know it, so listen up. Continue reading →

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Filed under angel, angel investor, bill blaire, Business, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, High Tech, Jim Kren, loop lonagan, Low Tech, mobile, mobile internet, Startup Companies, Startups, vc, venture capital

Tagged as bueters salmon camp, camp, camping, decompress, fighting fish, fishing, fly fishing, flyfishing, king salmon, reboot, refresh, rejuvenate, salmon, salmon camp, stress, thrill, vacation, weekend getaway, weekend trip

December 22, 2017 · 10:30 am

A STOLEN STORY

by John Jonelis

“Tell me a story, Uncle John!”

“A story eh?” My pal Loop Lonagan got in big trouble telling stories to Jim Kren’s little girl. “Y’know, Princess, in this case, maybe discretion’s the better part of valor.”

“But I always get a bedtime story. I can’t sleep without a bedtime story. Please, Uncle John! Pleeeeeeeeeze!”

How can a guy turn this kid down? “Okay Princess, just lay back and pretend you’re sleepy.”

“Make it a Christmas story!” Continue reading →

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Filed under angel, angel investor, Business, Characters, Death, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, Faith, Giving, High Tech, Jim Kren, Relationships, Startup Companies, Startups, Story, vc, venture capital

Tagged as avarice, Bible, Christmas, envy, Gift, Greed, hate, Holy Bible, Jesus Christ, loose living, lost son, love, Parable, the return of the prodigal son, waste

July 20, 2017 · 7:00 am

SECRETS DARK AND OLD

by John Jonelis

“I still say da guy deserves what he got. He ran down dat poor animal on purpose! Hates squirrels. Says so in da papers.” So proclaims Loop Lonagan regarding Alderman Brookins of Chicago’s 21^st Ward. Continue reading →

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Filed under Characters, Conflict, Death, Influence, Jim Kren, loop lonagan, Mystery, Story

Tagged as Alderman Howard Brookins Jr, Bar, bicycle accident, chicago machine, chicago machine politics, chicago politics, commie, communist, cruelty to animals, eastern gray squrrels, politics, rat control, rat control problem, scapegoat, squirrel extermination, squirrels, tavern

June 30, 2017 · 8:00 am

THE JOB INTERVIEW WITH WILLIAM SHAKES

by Mark T Wayne

We’re here to interview some reprobate named William Shakes for the job of special correspondent. I do not know why I’m a part of this. No sir! Continue reading →

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Filed under angel, angel investor, Business, Conflict, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, High Tech, Influence, Jim Kren, loop lonagan, mark t wayne, Story, Writing style

Tagged as anachronism, bad interview, bad job interview, Chicago Venture Magazine, how to answer interview questions, how to conduct an interview, human resource department, human resources, Jim Kren, job interview, key intervew questions, Loop Lonagan, mark T wayne, mark twain, psychological interview questions, recruiter, recruiter questions, Will Shakes, William Shakes, william shakespeare

December 2, 2016 · 7:00 am

TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM

by Mark T Wayne

Howard Brookins Jr, the alderman for Chicago’s 21st ward, was biking along Cal-Sag Trail on Nov. 13, when a squirrel darted into his path. The squirrel wrapped itself in the spokes of the alderman’s bicycle. [The Washington Post.] According to the alderman, “I can think of no other reason for this squirrel’s actions than that it was like a suicide bomber, getting revenge.” [The Chicago Tribune.]

If this is revenge, there is good reason for it. Yes sir! As the Post also reports: “Brookins denounced the eastern gray squirrel in a Chicago City Council meeting and has publicly spoken out about a toothy menace.” He complains of “aggressive squirrels that undermine efforts to overhaul the city’s trash carts.” [Chicago Sun Times] He claims that squirrels are gnawing through garbage cart lids at a cost to the city of $300,000! Continue reading →

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Filed under Characters, Conflict, Death, Jim Kren, mark t wayne, Politics, Story

Tagged as 'Suicide bomber' squirrel hospitalizes Chicago politician who spoke out against squirrels, Ald Brookins, Alderman Brookins, Alderman Howard Brookins Jr, Alderman says 'aggressive squirrels' eat through garbage carts, aldermen, Chicago alderman, Chicago aldermen, cruelty to animals, guilt by association, Howard Brookins Jr, Kamikaze squirrel gets revenge on Ald. Brookings, Mike Royko, mistaken identity, noble savage, politics, revenge, scapegoat, squirrel, squirrel attack, squirrel attacks alderman, squirrel eradication, squirrel menace

November 16, 2016 · 7:00 am

TRUMPED

by John Jonelis

Political outsider elected president! Nationwide shock! Emotions run wild! Markets in turmoil! Worst riots since Orson Wells’ WAR OF THE WORLDS broadcast!

Loop Lonagan watches the mayhem on television. People on the streets shout lewd obscenities—carry hate signs—crawl over cars—destroy businesses—throw bricks at police. “Da theater o’ dee absurd,” Lonagan mutters, “Did deeze folks even vote?” Continue reading →

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Filed under Business, Characters, Education, Influence, Jim Kren, loop lonagan, Politics, Relationships, Story, The Economy

Tagged as benghazi, cheating, chicago politics, Clinton, conspiracy theory, corruption, donald trump, ego, email scandal, ground game, handpicked opponent, Hillary, hillary clinton, liar, lying, machine politics, narcissism, narcissist, politics, president, president elect, rioting, riots, split the ticket, split ticket, stupid voters, the creep and the crook, The Donald, Trump, vote, voters

September 21, 2015 · 3:13 am

THE PRICE OF THEIR TOYS

by John Jonelis

The radio crackles, “Cherokee Six, rock yer wings and rock ‘em good.” Jim Kren ignores the command. We’re no Cherokee Six. Is the controller looking at another airplane?

The sky is lousy with traffic converging on one tiny airport Too many planes for back-and-forth radio chatter. Special rules apply. The controller spots incoming with binoculars and radios his instructions—the pilots respond in a kind of airborne sign language. Keying your mike is tantamount to declaring an emergency.

Jim can comply. He can bide his time. Either is dangerous if he’s wrong. Aviation is full of moments like that. The entire air transport system won’t function unless responsible people break the law in just the right way.

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Filed under Business, Characters, Death, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, High Tech, Jim Kren, loop lonagan, Startup Companies, Startups, Story

Tagged as air traffic control, eaa, eaa airventure, eaa fly-in, experimental aircraft, experimental aircraft association, fly in, homebuilt, homebuilt aircraft, oshkosh, oshkosh fly-in, signals