Jason Boegle

Remember back to being a little kid, sitting on the carpet of your house watching Sesame Street as your parents went about their adult routine of getting ready for the day? Remember that feeling of fascination and comfort you got while watching and learning things like how numbers work or the perspective of garbage truck drivers? I was reminded of this feeling while spending an afternoon in the field with Jason Boegle. Jason is crew supervisor for the people who pour and rake asphalt onto our streets, put up stop-signs, and paint the lines for crosswalks. Really exciting? No. The simple and mysterious ways that make the city go 'round? Yes.

Jason's humble personality makes him the perfect one for this job. He's been with the city for 15 years, working his way up. He likes the work that he does, he works hard, and after work he goes to his Fernley ranch and practices team roping -- also something he excels at. One year he won the $50,000 prize at the Reno Rodeo. Admirers say his calm demeanor is the real key to his success. Meet Jason Boegle.

Colin Loretz

In March I started working at Reno Collective, where I met Colin. What strikes me most about Colin is that as a web developer / entrepreneur he could live in any major city, but he chooses to live in Reno - because he likes it here. Not only does he live here, but he works hard to make Reno a better place. When I asked him why he does this, he seemed thrown off. "A rising tide lifts all boats," he said in our interview. He wants everyone to succeed at whatever they're trying to do, simply because he wants to live in a place like that. Colin is definitely a leader, having founded Reno Collective (with Ed Adkins), Reno Wordcamp, and Ignite Reno, but he doesn't ask for much spotlight. He seems to lead from the back- which makes him all the more interesting....Meet Colin Loretz.

nice flight

Sunday was the last day of my 10 day mini-tour of the east coast. Leaving Washington D.C. I was inspired and filled with love by seeing old friends and new places.





Delta flight DL1239 from Reagan NATL to Salt Lake City boarded and I found my window seat at 36F next to a cute father-daughter pair (who had been on a vacation touring the capital for her 12th birthday). The captain made an announcement or two and we rolled onto the runway.
I peered out my window as the plane lifted up and tilted gently back and forth over the Potomac River through crisp, voluminous white clouds. Whoever was flying the plane was having fun doing it. I felt like the pilot was taking us on a tour of the sky!


I thought to myself, "Man when you're filled to the brim with love it overflows into the people and places around you...I bet the pilot is loving flying this airplane right now."




We continued on flying through the cottony sky, the plane turned in a circle and lifted up higher until we were above the clouds. I stared out the window in a dreamy daze for like 2 hours I think. For the rest of the flight the captain kept us updated on upcoming turbulence, landing time, routes, etc. It was the best flying experience I have had in a long time.














When we landed I told the pilots this and I also took their picture.






















I still think the future of travel is speed trains...but nice flight boys.

Professor David Silver

I was lucky enough to be in David Silver's Davies Forum on Digital Literacy class my last semester at USF. That class is the reason I even have this blog! What I most noticed and appreciated about Professor Silver's teaching style then was how much he asks questions instead of gives answers. Somehow as a student a professor's questions and curiosity empower you to think and learn more... And he's so curious that it in turn makes YOU curious about what he's teaching, no matter how you felt about the subject otherwise. You see his curiosity and you think, "Wow this must be really interesting."

So I was thrilled to interview Silver about his approach and philosophies on teaching, and living in the bay area. If you know David Silver you know that two of his main focuses are: gardening, sustainability, and green; then analyzing, creating and studying media. I had fun editing the video and putting the pieces together because though these are separate concepts, they also fit together very nicely and Professor Silver has made a point of meshing them into one: green media.

Oh, and I could not have told his story well at all without the use of fantastic photos from his prolific, well-organized, creative commons-ed flickr account.

Meet David Silver.

Meet Reno Fire Captain Tim Spencer

Jónsi

Jónsi, his band, the 59 productions team, and the rest of his artistic crew, are very talented. If you have listened to his album, watched the making of videos on his site, or watched the music video for Go Do, you know what I'm talking about. Before I got to see him live at the Palace of Fine Arts on Friday I knew it was going to be awesome. But it was INCREDIBLE. Here's a tiny taste.



Back home, after playing the album for my mom, she said, "It seems that through his music he's giving people a sense that we CAN create a brighter future."

That night, together as performers and audience, we experienced the creation, or maybe the acknowledgment, of inspiration and hope. Somehow Jónsi's music reflects this sense of possibility. I suspect all of his performances are like this. For his current tour, there's a place on his site for guests to share their experience of his shows. It's no coincidence phrases like, "transcendentally beautiful," "truly magical," and "the soundtrack of my life," are what make up those comments. Some commenters admit to crying. I know I saw my own life before my eyes during the show, the word catharsis comes to mind. I left so personally inspired.

At the end of the second encore, after two standing ovations, the Jónsi crew came up and bowed together. The performance was so perfectly orchestrated, this was the most raw moment of the whole night. As they stood at the end of the stage closest to the audience, Jónsi and his team seemed genuinely surprised and appreciative of the roaring applause from the packed house. How special it is when, after an artist gives and gives so much, you can give back, say thanks and express your appreciation in such a simple but meaningful way.

Meet Jason Geddes

Jason Geddes is Environmental Services Administrator for the City of Reno. The City created that position in 2007, and Jason is the first person to have it. As Environmental Services Administrator, he serves as the environmental awareness / sustainability liaison for the city council. Prior to this he was the Environmental Affairs Manager at the University of Nevada, Reno. That position, and his current position as Vice-Chairman of the Nevada System of Higher Education's Board of Regents, allowed him to play an integral role in the design and building of the awesome new green building, the Joe Crowley Student Union at UNR. It was great touring the building with Jason, having him point out some of the key features that make the building green, and also reflect the great state of Nevada. Jason is a Nevadan through and through, who was born in Winnemucca, raised in Gabbs, went to Sparks for High School and UNR for college. Meet Jason Geddes.