Friday, March 28, 2008

NOTACON - Get it on!

NOTACON, an annual conference held in Cleveland, Ohio, explores and showcases technologies, philosophy and creativity often overlooked at other “hacker cons”. The desire of Notacon is not to supplant other events, but complement them and strike a balance that has gone unnoticed in the Cleveland community for far too long.

With each new year Notacon builds upon the successes and knowledge of the previous years. The goal is to enlighten, educate, and entertain attendees, presenters, and staff alike. The conference tries to accomplish this by finding new ways to apply technology to graphics, art, music, or social interaction.

I had the honor of speaking to this engaged group a few years back during my days as “Tech Czar,” and it was a great event that is critical to the success of Cleveland.

Notacon is creativity: Participate in North America’s largest demoparty, Blockparty. Try your hand at powerpoint karaoke.
Notacon is technology: Rural technology, academic internet studies, personal privacy and computer security.
Notacon is music: Learn to create and use circuit bending instruments. Engage in experimental music performances.
Notacon is imagination: Move data using Anything but Ethernet.
Notacon is participation: Talk on Notacon Radio. Create a competition entry. Enjoy interactive art.

Get connected at Notacon.

www.notacon.org

Posted by Tech Czar at 18:47:23 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Friday, March 21, 2008

Tech Czar Alert: Senator Sherrod Brown to Hold Town Hall Meeting with Tech Companies

Cleveland, OH—Senator Sherrod Brown will hold a Town Hall meeting with representatives from local technology companies on Monday, March 24 at 2:00pm in the 2nd floor conference room of the Idea Center Building at 1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115.

FIT Technologies, one of the many companies who will join the meeting on Monday, moved to the Playhouse Square area of Downtown Cleveland two years ago.  “There are clearly opportunities for collaboration within the tech district that is evolving here in at Playhouse Square,” stated Micki Tubbs, President of FIT Technologies.  “Having Senator Brown convene a group of people to get ideas on how to assist in growing the tech sector in Cleveland will prove to be very beneficial.”

During the past four years over 35 technology-based companies have moved into the City of Cleveland – these companies now employ over 1,000 people. Topics for the meeting may include ways in which his office can stimulate growth, support collaborative efforts between business and education, and create job opportunities in the Cleveland market.

Members of the general public are welcome to attend the meeting.

Posted by Tech Czar at 18:38:59 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Saturday, March 1, 2008

My Last 24-Hours

I often like to tell people that I live a “Manhattan-influenced life-style” in Cleveland. Meaning I am out and about in Cleveland and that there is always, and I mean always, something to do. The past 24-hours go a long way in highlighting this fact. Consider this my own personal “twitter” for the masses:

·         Posted “Re: The Medical Mart” on Tech Czar Notes (gets posted on Brewed Fresh Daily and a lot of dialogue continues on the Notes site –good stuff!).
·         Some quick dialogue with George Nemeth; we talk “about absolutely nothing.”
·         Rachel buys us tickets for the Hives – (“Hate to say I told you so….” Kick ass music).
·         Call best friend John Heaney – we score some duckets to the opening game for the new Cleveland arena football team.
·         Help secure a condo in the Pinnacle Building for a class at the Cleveland Institute of Art for an art show. Very cool stuff.
·         Met with Joe Marinucci of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance (great conversations on the history of Cleveland).
·         Parked my car for meeting with Marinucci in the Tower City parking garage (reminds me something out of 1970’s movie about a New York Cop) – essentially the garage is the old Union Terminal train facility.
·         After meeting with DCA drive over to Little Bar in Warehouse District. Share a few good pints with Gina Nicola as we discuss next steps with our cool e-commerce concept – LemonPudding.com.
·         Left Gina at Little Bar to head over to Union Club to host a fund-raiser for Joe Cimperman (www.joecimperman.com). Raised some coin.
·         Quick conversation with Henry Gomez of the “Pee-Dee,” he thanks me for calling him “the hardest working man in the Fourth Estate.” He is and deserves the props.
·         After fund-raiser a little dinner at the Union Club – short-ribs in a rich Kansas City sauce and chicken pot-stickers. A few Kettle One gimlets.
·         A quick martini at Budapest Blue on W. 28th near Detroit Avenue.
·         Get home/crash on my comfy couch.
·         Wake up early in the morn – run!
·         Head on over to Zen Salon and get my head shaved. I look like a fresh, new Marine recruit at Paris Island.
·         Going to meet Rachel at Gypsy Bean.
·         Another meeting with Gina Nicola and crew over planning launch of LemonPudding.com

Just how exciting is all this cool stuff! I am a blessed man. And remember, my friends, you can do this too!

Posted by Tech Czar at 19:55:23 | Permalink | Comments (2)