Steel and Towers

Well I've had my first real taste of the G20, having being away from TO for so long, not seeing the slow growth of the fences, the stark reality of their appearance was a little unnerving.  My walk through the red zone this morning was full of police, the RCMP, a couple of military looking types and various accoutrements of a police state that I am glad are temporary.  Not the least of which was a squad of horses "ready to go."

Leaving Union via York Exit, first signs of trouble.

 In spite of the uninviting nature, everyone seems jovial, and in good spirits, the police who have been brought to town for the invent seem collegial with the local team, and were probably happy for the peace that is the calm before the storm.  I hope they leave Toronto with an interest in returning, and spreading the word that in spite of 143 years of bad press since confederation Toronto isn't that bad a place.  (I know it is an uphill battle against long formed (and probably once justifiable) prejudices.

My building, just beyond the fenced zone.  I feel safe...

I left the office today with haste, and a sense of foreboding, a protest planned for tonight at 4:30 in the Financial District underlining the growing scope of this event.  Anarchist, and fringe aside, the G20 are not without fault when it coms to the worlds woes, and even if they were without blame, they also represent so much of the worlds wealth (both experientially and financially.)  An event like this, no matter how short, or expensive (and really regardless of the country it occurs within) offers a possibility for change, hopefully for the better.  Lets hope a cool beer beside a fake overpriced lake gives all the delegates a chance to reflect and elevate thinking.

First Bike Commute

Alas those bygone halcyon days of vacation are now behind me, and I'm on my way to work.  I got my first spin on my new commuting bike, and by new I mean new to me.  Honestly this baby has to be the best piece of garbage picked treasure I've ever found.  When rescued from the edge of destruction she had rims made of rust, and tubes who hadn't held air in 30 years.  The tires so dry they were crumbling to dust at a touch.  But the frame was sound, and the gearing merely cried out for a tune up and some grease.  

I did what I could with the tires and the tubes, but the tune up I left up to the professional, all and all she cost me less then $80 to get back on the road and running smooth.  So this morning, for the first time since moving to Milton, I cycled to the go station.  The ride was a lot faster then I expected (sure I've done it in no time flat with my good bike, appropriate cycling attire, and no luggage, but today I was ready for work and trying not to break a sweat.  So leisurely, I got to the station, feeling good, and happier for it.  The best I can I'm going to keep this up until the fall, maybe skipping the really wet, windy or hot days, but 20-30 minutes of cycling a day might not be the best exercise, but it is some exercise and it is exercise that I will enjoy and hopefully be better for.

Check out those retro fenders (the back one will probably come off to fit the rack.)

On a side note, I did realize two things about my good bike I seriously missed, 1) peddle clips, seriously I always thought my cycling form was poor at best, but the number of times I lifted my feet off the peddle on the upstroke as I tried to lift it (in proper form) gave me cause to realize how much I love my clips.  2) My shifters.... this bike has the classic tension only shifters on the down tube, between position and the fact they don't click I was a little befuddled by them.

Hard at Work

Bryan had lots of work keeping him busy yesterday in the office, as I understand from his assistant there were a lot of 8's and 2's that needed doing.

Mmm hmm, yes, mmm hmmm

More 8's and 2's and b's

"Please send this up to head office right away."

Mattamy University / Stuff

Busy busy day yesterday, work was just go go go, followed by get home and go out.  As with our last home, Mattamy sets up what they call Mattamy University, in which they invite all the home buyers closing at the same time / in the same area to come together and do a meet and greet with the build team.  They cover stuff like warrantees, the construction process, closing day, and stuff you have to take care of (I know have a "oh yeah" list to follow up on that looks like a list of bills (Hydro, water, gas, phone, etc.)  As a group, the Mattamy team are not strong public speakers, which having met many of them one on one over the course of the build know most of them to be gregarious constructions types, and in front of the mike they become monotone nervous speakers.  I suppose that's just anecdotal evidence that fear of public speaking seems to affect most people.  In any respect I'm glad they are skilled and competent home builders, and being able to communicate that comes second.

From the session we learned that the park behind our will be built before the end of the summer, will be very similar to the one near Bryan's baby sitter (which is a nice one) and will have a trail that connects it up to other stuff near by.  Its actually kind of funny, the similarities in location between this house and my parents.  Backs on to a trail, the brick and trim, and a few other little things, not the least of which is the exact same kitchen appliances :P

Okay since this is actually a real(TM) blog post, and my stomach insists on being heard, I really wish I hadn't left my breakfast on the counter this morning :(

So what else, oh yeah, most important we met a bunch of the families in our neighbourhood, there are lots and lots of kids around Bryan's age, so it is going to be a super fun street for Mr B to grow up o.

<< why is Streetsville go station a cell dead zone, he asks as his internet connection dies. >>

So yeah that was Mattamy U in a nut shell, um, we don't get a tree on our lot, but we get some trees and shrubs at our back fence (on the other side.)  Our back deck may not be built until after our grass goes in, so no going out the kitchen door because that first step is a doozy.

As for the actual house, they did a lot of painting and finishing yesterday, and all the cabinets arrived, they are all shrink wrapped in the family room, and our bedroom, but they are there.  When I got their and started taking pictures I was ducking around all the painters, just trying to stay out of the way, I had an amusing conversation that when kind of like "Hey are you the guy to install the cabinets", "nope, just the soon to be home owner," "oh, well there in the way."  Typed out it is boring sounding, but it was funny at the time.

So after all that chaos I got home, and got down to work :( we are headed out to our suprasecret test lab soon and I had to get a bunch of stuff documented so it could be sent there, and it needed to be done.  I write these release docs pretty regularly, so much so, I think I wrote yesterday's on auto pilot, and it still might be the most error free one I've written to date.  For some reason I'm not able to create them flawlessly, but I'm getting better.

So thats why no one heard from me yesterday, it was go go go.

Anyways, I'm signing off for now, ttyl

No progress

Did a quick spin by the house and all was quiet, I think the've cleared the site of debris, and maybe even began grading around the footing to lay down the gravel for drainage, but there is nothing else done yet. Our neighbours on both sides have now been poured, so certainly progress is being made. I'm still at a loss as to where the windows will go. I am suspecting they will cut away concrete to install them, just have to wait and see.

At the office, Friday night was the big day, and it went well (I've been joking better then we deserved) but seriously the team really pulled together in the final weeks, and our first big release was really good (by my unbiased objective measure.) This was our first release milestone, we have a few more to go, but that this one went so well is a good portent.

Free Agent

Well I'm to, to, to something to directly call everyone, and I'm sure I will talk to you all within minutes of you reading this, so I will get the nasty details out of the way, and you can always call me and say hey. So I was laid off today from my company today. It really sucks, but what you going to do. The blow has been softened with a reasonable package, and well, some time off :)

It looks like I will have the time to be around after the baby was born, and will probably target to get back to work early August, but really nothing is decided, I'm just trying to get my head around it. I knew when I left the bank that this was a risk, and our CEO did give a nebulous presentation recently that implied things weren't rosy and here is the repercussions.

Upset, sure, but almost more that I won't see the completion of the current project, then anything. I was really into it, and now poof. Well that is the news, I don't have any more details then that yet.

g

Red Herring North America Winners 2008 Announced

Well we are all really stoked around here as QuickPlay made it into Red Herring's 2008 Top 100 Tech Startups. Don't know the exact demographic breakdown, but if we aren't the only Canadian's in the lot, we are certainly one of a very small percentage. Business is starting to feel very very good around here, although one can't help but wonder if being on a list like Red Herring's doesn't now put us on the shopping list of the Fortune 500 Tech companies, for good or ill. Still I hear our CEO is still on cloud nine.

Red Herring Names QuickPlay Media a Finalist For the Red Herring North America 100 2008

Not sure if I can release this, but it is public and on our site, and I thought it was kind of awesome, so legal if I'm not allowed to post this, ask me and I will take it down, but you will forgive me for thinking QuickPlay is pretty cool.

Press Releases

For Immediate Release

Red Herring Names QuickPlay Media a Finalist For the Red Herring North America 100 2008

Award Recognizes the 100 “Most Promising” Companies Driving the Future of Technology

San Francisco, CA— April 15, 2008

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Red Herring today announced that QuickPlay Media, the leader in mobile TV and video solutions, has been named a finalist for the Red Herring 100 Award, a selection of the 100 most innovative private technology companies based in North America.

The Red Herring editorial board diligently surveyed the entrepreneurial
scene throughout the North American region and identified the top 200 out of more than 800 closely evaluated companies that are leading the next wave of innovation.

“We empower leading brands such as Alltel, XM, Bell and Research in Motion to bring quality rich media content to their customers,” said Wayne Purboo, president and CEO of QuickPlay Media. “Our success comes from simplifying all aspects of the management and distribution of this content, with flexible technology that scales with the increasingly sophisticated demands of customers. Being selected as a finalist for the Red Herring 100 is an honor, and we appreciate the recognition of our market, and QuickPlay’s approach within that market.”

The 100 winning companies will be announced at the Red Herring North America event. The CEOs of the winning startups will present their innovative ideas and technologies to an audience of leading entrepreneurs, financiers and corporate strategists at the event in San Jose, California, on May 12-14 at the Fairmont. This year’s Red Herring 100 North America event marks the 11th anniversary of the Red Herring 100 Awards. In celebration, the event will feature keynote addresses from legendary VC investors and CEOs of leading Internet, information and communications companies. Register online at: http://herringevents.com/northamerica08/index.html.

About QuickPlay Media
QuickPlay Media provides content management and distribution solutions for mobile television and video services. The QuickPlay OpenVideo™ platform offers maximum flexibility and streamlined application integration for mobile operators, media companies and technology partners. The platform powers mobile video services for 13 major mobile operators in North America and Europe, providing both live and on-demand content from more than 150 different media companies. OpenVideo works in many different mobile content ecosystems, seamlessly operating with major search, advertising, billing and user interface frameworks. QuickPlay Media Inc. has offices in Toronto, San Francisco and London. For complete information, please visit www.quickplay.com.

About Red Herring
Red Herring is a global media company which unites the world’s best high technology innovators, venture investors and business decision makers in a variety of forums: a leading innovation magazine, an online daily technology news service, technology newsletters and major events for technology leaders around the globe. Red Herring provides an insider’s access to the global innovation economy, featuring unparalleled insights on the emerging technologies driving the economy. More information about Red Herring is available on the Internet at www.redherring.com.

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For more information, please contact:

QuickPlay Media Inc.
Christi Dean
fama PR
(617) 758-4153
quickplay@famapr.com

Red Herring
Anam Alpenia
Red Herring, Inc.
650-428-2900
aalpenia@redherring.com

New Office

Well it is two weeks now in the new office, and we have really settled in. They built some more private offices enclosing some of the openness, but for guys whose job it is to be on the phone and meet with clients it makes sense. We are all getting used to the space, including the smaller shared bathroom, but really the complaints are minimal compared to the old space. I think as a company we took a great step when we moved here, it was a step up, and a maturation that helps everyone refocus and realize how great we are doing. We can't stop to rest on our laurels, but should consider the new office to be a reward for success, and a space to grow into for the future (we really are far from capacity (which is nice for a change.)

Anyways here are just some random camera snaps from move in day.

Moving out

Another image dump, here is our last day at the old office. Place is starting to look a little spartan as we are packing and moving everything.

If you look back through the blog at the first images, the place was a lot less built, that whole back section was a gutted monstrosity. It has come a long way.

The board room table has been reduced to a shadow of its former glory. The table actually got taken early to get refinished, it was in a sad state after years of the roof leaking on it.




Here was the view from my desk, I always was partial to the chainmail stair curtain, but it doesn't photo well.

Fun Optical Glow?

Okay, this isn't a deep and thoughtful post, just a WTF

I need a new mouse for the office, so I'm cruising Staples, when I see this mouse. In its feature section I see the following:

Fun optical glow - no mouse ball

Seriously... Seriously? I don't even know, are we selling mice in the 1990's again?

I'm reminded of Radio Shack's Ad "This mouse is so big it is a rat"

A Real Fire Alarm

Well after nearly six months of constant, and I mean CONSTANT fire alarm tests actually inside my left ear, we had are real first fire alarm today. No mention of why we had it, but it did require a company wide email to indicate that it wasn't a test. Boys and wolf crying apparently do have relevance in the modern world.

Anyways we had a nice breakfast break instead, and now back to the grindstone.

I'm an Astronaut / I'm Famous on the Interwebosphere(TM)

Okay, this is a little elaborate, so bare with me...

First of go to: http://www.racetomars.ca/mars/game_marscommander.jsp this is the site for the Race to Mars: Mars Commander Game.

Push the Play Button...

Once the game launches push play again...

Okay scan your crew selection carefully, I highly recommend you pick the dashing British astronaut Tolliver, he bares a striking similarity to yours truely, perhaps because he is :)



I have no rights to that image, but I've copied it here for ease of clicking

More news about my company

I mentioned an article about my boss a few months ago here: Coast of Araska: Top 40 under 40.

Well he is in the news again here.

Always good to be getting press, I didn't realize that he went to McMaster, yeah Mac!

I wondered why it was so quiet...

The cranes were stilled, at least for a while...

Top 40 under 40

Just a little story about my 'boss' (where boss is anyone higher then me, but in this case there is no one higher then him,) who is a cool guy, and I'm not just saying that because he is my boss.

Without sounding to much like a kiss ass, Wayne is a pretty neat, friendly kind of guy, and well I certainly don't know him too well, I have had a lot more 1 on 1 meetings, and drinks with him, then I did with Gord Nixon.

Anyways the article gives a good impression of him and his company, and I'm happy to be a part of it.

G