Underground TreeHouse

Is Apple TV About to Go Big?

2011-11-07T03:54:00.000-08:00

Best of Hallopallooza

2011-10-27T05:52:00.000-07:00

For the last 7 years, we have celebrated Hallopallooza on October 31st. This year’s theme is El Dia de Los Muertos. Past themes have been Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Addams Family, Michael Jackson Thriller, and Alice in Wonderland. Special thanks to our family and friends for participating and making it a memorable event for years to come

Aspen Ideas Festival: Where do ideas come from?

2011-08-16T14:30:00.000-07:00

NPR recently interviewed a keynote speaker from the Aspen Ideas Festival on where ideas come from. Following are my Top 20 Take Aways

1. It's a process of connecting people, understanding their needs, and getting inspiration from what they care about

2. How do we know if our ideas are relevant to others? Just ask them

3. There are three types of ideas: (a) Painkiller; (b) Vitamin; (c) Product

4. Passion + Sweat Equity (99%) = Execution

5. Feedback is the breakfast of champions. Try it out with a prototype first

6. Failures are the core of innovation. Passion => Brick Wall => Resilence => Fail Faster

7. Face-to-face conversations allow dialogue and idea exchange

8. Space allows one to nourish the mind, body, and soul

9. Create a collaborative environment

10. Ideas frequently come from accidents or mistakes (like 3M sticky notes)

11. See the problem in a different light to allow it to float/bubble to the surface (subconsciously)

12. Eureka moments happen when using our intuition to listen on a different level to see the pattern more consistently

13. Eureka ideas are only the beginning, the rest is just hard work

14. You have to have a prepared mind, a structured kind of mind to process

15. The 3 most important things that matter in building a great idea...TEAM, TEAM, TEAM. Teams must have a cross-disciplinary and have different experiences or frames of references

16. The discovery process...Where is it that we want to go, what do we want to create?

17. Create a problem statement for the team to solve

18. Stillness vs. activity (combination of stimulation and relaxation)

19. Ask the question. Depending on how you frame it, you will come up with a different answer.

20. Constraints (like time and money) actually help us know what to bounce off of. Too few constraints make it difficult to generate new ways of thinking. You need parameters and time deadlines

Who are your Top 10 Thought Leaders? Who are your Top 10 Advisors? Are you surrounding yourself with the right people to generate the next great idea?

Top 10 Books That Changed The Way You Think

2011-08-16T11:12:00.000-07:00

Recently asked the question, "What are the Top 10 Books that Changed The Way You Think?" Here's a list of responses I got

1. Ghadavad Gita: A New Translation - Stephen Mitchell
2. Orbiting Giant Hairball - Gordon McKenzie
3. Complexity Crisis - John Mariotti
4. A Million Miles in 1000 Years - Donald Miller
5. Pour Your Heart into It - Howard Schultz
6. Where are all the Customers' Yachts? - Fred Schwed
7. Good to Great - Jim Collins
8. Blue Ocean Strategy - W. Chan Kim & Renee Mauborgne
9. The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch
10. The Next 100 Years - George Friedman

StoneFish Announces Intergalatic Reunion Tour

2011-04-09T16:44:00.001-07:00

And just when you thought you'd seen it all...StoneFish Announces Intergalatic Reunion Tour.

New GMC Website Launched!

2011-02-14T20:37:00.001-08:00

New GMC website launched for the 7th Annual Grillmasters' Challenge on May 28th.

NEW Essex Roadies Extreme Olympics Website

2011-02-14T20:15:00.000-08:00

Better Bring Your A-Game.
Essex Roadies RULE!

Black Dawg Promotions Proudly Presents...

2011-02-14T02:28:00.000-08:00

Check out Black Dawg Promotions for all your promotional wearbables.

Grillmaster Steven Raichlen Responds to Pork Doneness Question

2011-02-10T04:39:00.000-08:00

Grillmaster Steven Raichlen Responds to Pork Doneness Question

StoneFish Behind the Music - A Decade of The Greatest Rock-n-Roll Band that Never Was

2011-01-10T17:59:00.000-08:00

Six Keys to Being Excellent at Anything

2010-12-09T14:32:00.000-08:00

Six Keys to Being Excellent at Anything

How Leaders create Strategy Execution - Ron Ashkenas - Harvard Business Review

2010-12-08T03:09:00.000-08:00

How Leaders Create the Context for Strategy Execution - Ron Ashkenas - Harvard Business Review

Now Playing on WUTR 108.8 FM - Nigel McNyhus' Deadset for the Faithful

2010-11-23T00:51:00.000-08:00

I was listening to another great GD show with David Lemieux on XM radio channel 57 and decided to make my very own playlist of great cuts from some great shows. Enjoy!

Rico's Top 50 Picks for 2010

2010-11-06T14:19:00.000-07:00

My music library is constantly expanding. I've been following the lead of cousin Timoteo and started listening to more funky jam bands, soulful groove, surf punk, & southern fried blues. Here's my most recent Top 50 in no particular order.

1. JJ Grey & Mofro
2. Radiohead
3. Page McConnell
4. Michael Franti & Spearhead
5. Arkells
6. The Beautiful Girls
7. Belle & Sebastian
8. Death Cab for Cutie
9. The Decemberists
10. Zach Gill & ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra)
11. Bag of Toys
12. Cake
13. Xavier Rudd
14. My Morning Jacket
15. Umphrey McGee
16. John Butler Trio
17. Keller Williams
18. Tokoyo Police Club
19. The Dispatch
20. Yonder Mountain String Band (YMSB)
21. Railroad Earth
22. G. Love & Special Sauce
23. Wiser Time
24. Ulu
25. Porter Batiste Stoltz
26. Grayson Capps
27. North Mississippi Allstarts
28. The Hold Steady
29. Most Serene Republic
30. Sufjan Stevens
31. Moe
32. Mumford Sons
33. Current Swell
34. Perpetual Groove
35. Widespread Panic
36. Phish Live
37. Sugarman 3
38. Bill Withers
39. Finley Quaye & William Orbit
40. Two Hours Traffic
41. Down with Webster
42. Peter Tosh
43. Wolfmother
44. Imogen Heap
45. Neil Halstead
46. Bag of Toys
47. The Thermals
48. Arcade Fire
49. The Stills
50. Trey Anastasio Band (TAB)

Top 10 Halloween Costumes

2010-10-22T09:06:00.000-07:00

10. Vampire - Adams Family
9. Capt. Jack Sparrow - Pirates of Essex
8. Chewbacka - Star Wars
7. Michael Jackson Werewolf Thriller
6. Austin Powers & Fembot
5. Gene Simmons - KISS
4. Elvis Viva Las Vegas
3. Mrs. Doubtfire
2. Hells Angel Biker
1. Mad Hatter on Essex

Hallopalooza Hall of Fame

"Type I Reading List - Drive" by dcornwall [WorldCat.org]

2010-08-02T10:48:00.000-07:00

"Type I Reading List - Drive" by dcornwall [WorldCat.org]

RSA Animate - Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us

2010-07-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

Dublin receives Top 7 Intelligent City Award

2010-05-21T18:09:00.000-07:00

Dublin Receives Top 7 Intelligent City Award

Future of the Telecosm and Net Neutrality

2010-05-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

Great WSJ update on the future of the Telecosm & open Internet access for broadband content providers

Google fiber losers, unite! (And then build your own network)

2010-04-05T12:23:00.000-07:00

Google fiber losers, unite! (And then build your own network)

Bridging the gap of the broadband digital divide between the technology have and have nots

Management Secrets of the Grateful Dead - Magazine - The Atlantic

2010-04-02T07:57:00.000-07:00

Management Secrets of the Grateful Dead - Magazine - The Atlantic

It's all about "strategic improvisation" these days

Derek Sivers: How to start a movement | Video on TED.com

2010-04-01T14:19:00.000-07:00

Derek Sivers: How to start a movement Video on TED.com
Amazing! The first follower supports the leader no matter now crazy it appears

Ten things you must know about the National Broadband Plan

2010-03-18T14:23:00.000-07:00

http://connectedplanetonline.com/residential_services/news/ten-things-about-national-broadband-plan-0316/

Top 10 Traits of High Performance Teams

2010-02-24T04:48:00.000-08:00

Check out the new Team Fishel High Performance Team video on YouTube

FOXNews.com - Google Unveils 'Super Phone' Nexus One, Online Cell Store

2010-01-05T16:26:00.001-08:00

FOXNews.com - Google Unveils 'Super Phone' Nexus One, Online Cell Store

Posted using ShareThis

Top 30 Concerts of a Lifetime

2009-12-31T14:40:00.000-08:00

Genesis, Cleveland, Mielke '87
Pink Floyd, OSU Stadium, Mielke '88
Rolling Stones, Alpine Valley, Alton '89
Grateful Dead, Deere Valley, Senese '89
U2, OSU Stadium, Kegler '89
James Taylor, Blossom '90 Fudd
Rolling Stones, Barcelona Olympic Stadium, Brother Scott '90
Blues Traveler Red Rocks, CO, Huber '91
Big Head Todd, Denver, CO Nealon '91
Big Head Todd Fox Theater, Boulder CO, Huber, Brannon '92
Allman Bros Vail, CO, Huber '92
Rolling Stones Mile High Stadium, CO Brannon ' 94
Counting Crows Vets Memorial, Whetzel '96
Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band, Louisville, Seneses '99
Eric Clapton Nationwide Arena, Keglers '04,
Jack Johnson & Ben Harper PromoWest, OH Lauren, '04
Jeff Tweedy Great Southern Theater, Whetzel, OH '05
The WHO Nationwide Arena, OH,Kegler '06
Police Churchill Downs, Senese, '07
Eric Clapton Nationwide Arena, OH Kegler, '07
Keller Williams Newport, OH, Fudd '07
Pete Yorn Lifestyle Pavilion, OH Nyhus '07
Keller Williams & Bob Weir Lifestyle Pavilion, OH '07, Fudd, Chip, Roger Rawlins
G. Love & Special Sauce Newport, Katz OH '08
Gary Hoey Belly Up, Solano Beach, CA Copeland & Padula, '08
AC/DC Schottenstein Center, Kegler, Katz, Fudd, McClellan, Rappolt, Rawlins, Poor, Greenlee '08
Mat Kearney Newport, Katz '08
Yonder Mountain String Band Lifestyle Pavillion, Fudd, OH '08
Chicago Earth, Wind & Fire @ Schott, Chip, '09

To many more good times & great shows in 2010!

10 Idea Inspiring Lightning Rods

2009-12-30T02:09:00.000-08:00

10 Idea Inspiring Lightning Rods

Here's a guy who know's what he's talking about. A real, modern day thought leader living in Columbus, OH

Broadband Stimulus Funding: The Local Point of View

2009-12-29T14:41:00.000-08:00

Broadband Stimulus Funding: The Local Point of View: "The federal government announced $183 million in broadband stimulus funding yesterday. They approved eighteen projects across nineteen states. We’ve assembled a summary of the projects, as well as compiled some local reaction/coverage to some of the projects below.
The funding will address all types of projects, but approximately two-thirds of these initial funds are devoted to [...]

Listorious: Discover the Best Twitter Lists

2009-12-28T14:12:00.001-08:00

Listorious: Discover the Best Twitter Lists

Posted using ShareThis

YouTube - Team Fishel Storm Restoration Video

2009-12-23T17:08:00.000-08:00

Team Fishel - Storm Restoration Video

StoneFish Update & Jackson Stone's Playlist

2009-12-23T03:47:00.000-08:00

So the Underground TreeHouse Records recording studio is underway and we are looking forward to recording our 4th studio album with Jeremiah and Jebediah Fish and special guests Kapt Kaos on bass. In the meantime, we are listening to a lot of the Dispatch, Keller Williams, Yonder Mountain, G. Love, Grateful Dead bootlegs, and of course the holiday swing cocktail lounge tunes with a funky R&B Motown twist. Stay tuned for more top 10 playlists from the vault along with the StoneFish 2010 concert schedule.

Rico Ocho's Test Kitchen

2009-12-23T03:43:00.000-08:00

I don't know Bill Penzey, Founder of Penzey Spices in Minnesota but from what I can tell the guy is a marketing genius. I have my own Penzey's spice cabinet open for display and I think I last counted that I own 54 of his spice jars. I have created my own top 10 list of my favorite spices and I have my top 10 recipes that Ocho's Kitchen has perfected. Ocho's Test Kitchen is currently under construction so there ain't a whole lot of cookin' goin' on right now, but when we get the grill back on we'll let you know.

Top 10 List Smorgasboard

2009-12-23T03:40:00.000-08:00

For those that know me, I'm a lister. I've been listing for at least the last 10 and maybe 20 years. I've got lists coming out the ying yang so I've decided to create a new list post everytime I think of something. So here's my list for today. What are the Top 10 Things we learned in 2009 and what are we going to change in 2010? What are we going to stop doing (immediately) that are counter-productive and a waste of time and energy? What are we going to continue doing that adds value? And lastly, what do we need to start doing to be more successful (however you want to define success)?

Where is the Telecosm puck going in 2010?

2009-12-23T03:33:00.000-08:00

So the "Telecosm" (George Gilder) puck is somewhere at the far end of the ice. The National Telecommunications and Information Association (NTIA) and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) are in the process of creating a new vision for the American Broadband Nation. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is now taking a back seat to the NTIA and there's a new sherrif in town. Even AT&T and Verizon are concerned that the genie may be out of the bottle. It is really anyone's guess where the telecosm puck will be in 2010, but one thing for sure is that the 4G wireless networks still need to be built and connected with fiber for cellular backhaul. With iPhone users like me sucking down bandwidth with massive multimedia applications, we need more fiber to connect to more towers across the nation to offload the cellular traffic, in both metro and rural America.

Strategic Leadership

2009-12-23T03:22:00.000-08:00

Today would be my dad's 69th birthday. As I reflect upon the greatest leader I've ever known, I am thinking to myself "What would Jeff do?" In these unprecedented times, Jeff would say "When the going gets tough, the tough get going". He would put on a funny hat and celebrate his birthday with his many friends and family and share his love for the holidays and the spirit of Christmas.