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Donut Crawl: Best Date Ever
About once a week I try to take one of my kids out on a date. It typically consists of something to eat and a trip to the bookstore. It is often the highlight of my week.
Last time Alex and I went out, we noticed that there are six donut shops on the Boston Post Road in Darien and part of Norwalk. SIX! This is about a six mile stretch. Connecticut loves its donuts. We committed then and there to visit each and every donut shop on that section of the Post on our next date.
We've been talking about it for weeks. Alex told his friends and they were coveting our future date.
Last night was finally Alex's turn. Walking to the car, I asked where we were going for dinner before donuts. He looked at me as if I asked him if he knew how to breathe.
Donuts are apparently dinner.
We started off at the department store in Stamford, looking for a new suit for Alex. By the time we finished there (without a suit in hand, since the people at Macy's forgot to mention that the tailor is only on staff before 5:00pm), it was 8:30 and we had only a half hour to grab our donuts!
We hurried back to Darien. On the way, we contemplated and debated the rules for our evening of decadence. Would we get the same kind of donuts at each place to facilitate a scientific comparison? Or would we ask the counter-person what his favorite two donuts were and get those? Or maybe we would just get what looked best at the time? Such important decisions.
We struck out at the first place--it was a restaurant which didn't sell donuts. Fail.
The second domicile of deliciousness, Donut Delight, was delightfully open and had a zero wait drive through. When we got to the window, I asked Alex for a decision on the approach. We asked the server what her favorites were: apple crum and Boston Creme. Favorite: Boston Creme
The third haven of heavenliness, Dunkin Donuts, also had a drive-through. We opted for the same approach and ended up with glazed and chocolate covered. Favorite: glazed.
Unfortunately, Speedy Donuts was closed so we continued the "donut crawl."
Next, we found a Dunkin Donuts in a gas station. We told the attendant what we were doing and I think he was genuinely impressed, if not a little incredulous, with the effort. What a delightful surprise the choco-block and "strawberry glaze covered" turned out to be! Favorite: strawberry glaze covered.
By that time, we were full. But neither one of us were willing to admit defeat. We doubled back toward the Dunkin Donuts in Darien. French Cruller, chocolate bar, and "vanilla-creme covered." Favorite: French Cruller.
Favorite of the night: Boston Creme, with French Cruller a close second.
Most excellent date. Highly recommended.
Last time Alex and I went out, we noticed that there are six donut shops on the Boston Post Road in Darien and part of Norwalk. SIX! This is about a six mile stretch. Connecticut loves its donuts. We committed then and there to visit each and every donut shop on that section of the Post on our next date.
We've been talking about it for weeks. Alex told his friends and they were coveting our future date.
Last night was finally Alex's turn. Walking to the car, I asked where we were going for dinner before donuts. He looked at me as if I asked him if he knew how to breathe.
Donuts are apparently dinner.
We started off at the department store in Stamford, looking for a new suit for Alex. By the time we finished there (without a suit in hand, since the people at Macy's forgot to mention that the tailor is only on staff before 5:00pm), it was 8:30 and we had only a half hour to grab our donuts!
We hurried back to Darien. On the way, we contemplated and debated the rules for our evening of decadence. Would we get the same kind of donuts at each place to facilitate a scientific comparison? Or would we ask the counter-person what his favorite two donuts were and get those? Or maybe we would just get what looked best at the time? Such important decisions.
We struck out at the first place--it was a restaurant which didn't sell donuts. Fail.
The second domicile of deliciousness, Donut Delight, was delightfully open and had a zero wait drive through. When we got to the window, I asked Alex for a decision on the approach. We asked the server what her favorites were: apple crum and Boston Creme. Favorite: Boston Creme
The third haven of heavenliness, Dunkin Donuts, also had a drive-through. We opted for the same approach and ended up with glazed and chocolate covered. Favorite: glazed.
Unfortunately, Speedy Donuts was closed so we continued the "donut crawl."
Next, we found a Dunkin Donuts in a gas station. We told the attendant what we were doing and I think he was genuinely impressed, if not a little incredulous, with the effort. What a delightful surprise the choco-block and "strawberry glaze covered" turned out to be! Favorite: strawberry glaze covered.
By that time, we were full. But neither one of us were willing to admit defeat. We doubled back toward the Dunkin Donuts in Darien. French Cruller, chocolate bar, and "vanilla-creme covered." Favorite: French Cruller.
Favorite of the night: Boston Creme, with French Cruller a close second.
Most excellent date. Highly recommended.
Change
About a year ago, I had one of the toughest conversations of my career. I had to let my management know that I would be leaving Church employment this year. It was tough because I revere and love these men and I adore my job, for many reasons. I've spent seven wonderful years here, but that's seven more than I originally intended. This week we formally announced my resignation from Church employment.
Working as the CIO for the LDS Church has been an incredible and humbling experience. I've grown, both professionally and personally.
The Church has always used and will continue to use technology to accomplish its mission. I'm honored and grateful to have played a small part.
Joel
New Virus for Macs
Macs have the reputation of being much more secure than Windows machines. The occasional Mac virus does raise its head, though, and this one is interesting and pernicious.
Be careful!
Bed is for Sleeping (and Facebooking)
Ericsson, a worldwide leader in the telecommunications industry, has released a survey which describes various trends in smartphone usage. The survey was conducted in the US, Europe and Japan.
One interesting tidbit in the report: 35% of Android and iPhone users "interact with non-voice applications on their smartphones before getting out of bed. The most common activity here is checking Facebook." The most common time to use the Smartphone, generally, is the "early evening." However, the most common time for using mobile phones for social networking is "late evening."
The research also indicates what we already know, that apps (not devices themselves) are the key driver of increased smartphone usage.
I found these charts interesting. The first shows Internet usage prior to the Smartphone. The second shows Internet usage after the advent of Smartphones.
Yikes.
This same digital dependence is moving to tablets as fast or faster than it moved to smartphones.
Read the entire report here.
Making Engine Jets with Tribal Leadership
My friend Christian forwarded me this article from Fast Company magazine. It details a very unique jet engine factory at GE, where a familial (or tribal) culture has developed and the results are astounding. This factory is the highest producing, highest quality jet engine factory at GE, and yet no financial bonuses are used and there is one manager for the entire factory (no middle management layer).
The question is how a company can create or foster a culture like this. GE apparently hasn't been able to replicate it themselves.
The article is worth reading.
Have you ever worked in an environment like this?
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