All Fun and No Work Makes Jack a B-Lister?

On Wednesday, I was on a panel on "How to Find, Fund, Protect and Launch New Technologies" sponsored by WBBA, University of Washington School of Law, and Fenwick & West. The panel was moderated by Fenwick's Stephen Graham and the other panelists besides me were WRF CEO Ron Howell, supernetworker Janis Machala, and UW Law's Sean O'Connor.

Luke Timmerman reported it under the title "Seattle’s Lifestyle Keeps Us Trailing the Bay Area, Says UW Startup Maven Janis Machala." That pretty much sums up Luke's take-away from the meeting. Luke certainly reported the most newsworthy event of the panel: Janis saying that quality of life gets in the way of startup success in Seattle. “There’s a lifestyle element here. People want balance. People in Silicon Valley don’t know what balance means.” Janis specifically faulted Microsoft Millionaires for not starting enough new companies.

My comments on the panel were in a different direction. A big problem Seattle has starting companies is lack of a ready bench of people in all roles who have started companies. Seattle is just barely big enough to really make it, or maybe not quite big enough. Seattle has bobbled just above or below critical mass for decades without really breaking out or really failing. Also, the current crisis is a potential opportunity for Seattle. The current uncertainty gives us a chance to redefine Seattle's role in the nation’s and world’s biotech community.

RAMROD

Did RAMROD again. The weather was beautiful, from a scenery standpoint. A little hot, though. Actually, it was pleasantly cool all the way to Packwood. Then it was hot. Then later, hotter, then on the way to Crystal, hotter still. And the last five miles? Even hotter.

I finished in about exactly 11 hours. Considering the heat and that I'm still recovering from being hit by a car a few weeks ago, I was entirely satisfied with that performance.

Sunflower

Gyula Krúdy wrote 60 novels. He loved at least that many women, and this book, like many of those loves, is intense, abundant, and memorable, but not the labor of many years. Sunflower was instead serialized around 1918 in a Hungarian newspaper.

Sunflower tells the story of a well-born Hungarian woman, her friend, and their mutual and mutually exclusive loves. Also, much is reputed to be lost in translation. If that doesn't sound promising, let me recommend Sunflower as among the most lavish books ever conceived. A meandering plot yields wistful views of a lost Hungary, from sharp, snow-laden nights to hazy, sweltering summer afternoons, and everything in-between. Plus, it's funny and not a little saucy. I think of Krúdy as a kind of Hungarian Czesław Miłosz. Put down that forgettable Harlequin penny dreadful and get your lovin' from the house of Krúdy.

STP 2009

Took the first 100 miles fast. Too fast, actually, and I spent too much time on the front of pacelines. Got to within 10 miles of Centralia by about 9:00. The next 100 miles were a constant dance on the edge of bonking. Finished a few minutes before 5pm anyway. Had dinner with the family then went out and saw my brother's band. A good day. Thanks to Aki and Sven for meeting me at the finish. It is always nice to see a familiar face after a long day like that.