I've been busy doing a bunch of things lately, and haven't "centered" on a specific topic..... so with that said, here's some really quick thoughts on a variety of subjects.
- I don't know what the right response is in Baltimore (regarding the Freddie Gray situation), much as I don't know what the right response was in Ferguson, or any of a number of similar situations. But I do know that the violence which is happening is best described as "senseless", and is absolutely not the right response.
- If you're a fan of sports, particularly basketball, you owe it to yourself to watch and root for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA playoffs. They've been my sports passion for over 15 years, and have been a miserable franchise for most of that time. But this year something special is happening; they play an incredibly entertaining style, and have guys that you have to root for. Get on-board the train now!
- One of the biggest surprises in my "retirement" has been the ease with which I've gotten detached from the work at Apple...... I have absolutely no longing for the days of driving to the office, working my butt off during the day and into the night with e-mails and conference calls, and then repeating it tomorrow. This said, I still am incredibly loyal and proud of the company and what it does, and consider it without peer in the areas in which it competes. The vision is remarkable in its coherence - everything that makes it to market has a purpose and ties in with the rest of the portfolio. While not perfect (no company is), it is the transparency and ethics behind the company which make it admirable. And as evidenced by the earnings report which came out today, it's apparent that people buy into that vision.
- Speaking of Apple...... while I'm excited about the Apple Watch, and it was the final project I worked on (for over a year), I'll admit that I haven't ordered one yet. Is that an indictment of the product, a statement to wait for a second generation of the product, or something else that's negative? No. It's more a matter that I've gotten completely away from wearing something on my wrist, and haven't convinced myself yet that there's a "killer app" or use case that is going to convince me to give up the "comfort" associated with a bare wrist. That said...... almost every day I'm seeing another app or two which look really cool, so I'm getting close to sacrificing that wrist space.
- (Note: if you have a Watch, let me know what you like or dislike about it, and any "must have" apps for it.)
- I opened this with a comment about the tragedy unfolding in Baltimore..... realistically, my mind is more on the tragedy related to the earthquake in Nepal. Probably unknown to many, I've had an interest in Mt. Everest for years, having read many books and other accounts from adventurers on the mountain. As has been reported in some outlets, climbers on Mt. Everest were affected, with at least 18 reported deaths, and probably more to come as one of the major obstacles in the ascent - and descent - was damaged by an avalanche caused by the quake. While the devastation of the country as a whole is heartbreaking, which is magnified by the poverty and lack of medical personnel and facilities available, the specific situation and tragedy on Everest is particularly wrenching for me.
- Speaking of...... well, what exactly, I don't know. But one thing I actually do miss since leaving Apple is the travel. Yes, it was long, arduous, uncomfortable..... but there was also some sense of adventure with it. And in light of several factors (my "free" time, ability to contribute, love of travel), I started thinking today about how I could do the world some good by volunteering to help others out who need it. Sort of like "Habitat for Humanity" kind of stuff (though not necessarily that specific cause). Shelley and I have several things coming up over the next 6 months which will limit my ability to jump in and do something, but if anybody has a suggestion for a cause that I might be able to help out with (without putting myself in too much peril), please let me know.
Wishing everybody the best, and thanks for reading.