The Innovator

He never said “woman”, always “female” because it sounded more scientific.
-Thomas Mann
In his short story,
VISION, written in 1893

Jules Verne was an avid reader of Edgar Allan Poe. Have you ever read ‘Paris in the Twentieth Century’ by Jules Verne? It was written in 1863 but first published only in 1994, about a young man who lives in a technologically advanced, but culturally backwards future. Often referred to as Verne's "lost" novel, the work, set in August, 1960, paints a grim, miserable view of the future. In this book Verne wrote ‘Nothing happens by itself in this world of ours…you must bear in mind contacts.’

This leads me to a most impressive innovator that I have come in contact with in recent years. I consider him a great friend and one that I admire very much. Innovators are successful, sophisticated, take-charge people with high self-esteem. Because they have such abundant resources, they exhibit all three primary motivations in varying degrees. They are change leaders and are the most receptive to new ideas and technologies. Innovators are very active consumers, and their purchases reflect cultivated tastes for upscale, niche products and services.

Image is important to Innovators, not as evidence of status or power but as an expression of their taste, independence, and personality. Innovators are among the established and emerging leaders in business and government, yet they continue to seek challenges. Their lives are characterized by variety. Their possessions and recreation reflect a cultivated taste for the finer things in life.

My innovator friend is Bob Bressler. He is the only one I know to immediately purchase the second generation Amazon Kindle 2.0. The Amazon Kindle is a software and hardware platform for reading electronic books. Bob is also the only person I know to own the Tesla Roadster, the high-performance “pure” electric sports car.

PHOTO: Bob Bressler with his Telsa sports car

Bob is a graduate from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT is known for its strong emphasis on scientific and technological research. Bob became well known in the Computer Networking Industry. He was also a Chief Networking Scientist at Sun Micro Systems from 1994 to 2004.

During a dinner party in wine country in 2008 I met a Cisco Systems executive and I mentioned Bob Bressler and his work at Sun Micro Systems.
“Oh my God, Bressler is a legend in Silicon Valley,” said the Cisco executive. “You know him?”
I had no idea of his legendary status at the time. I learned that prior to Sun Micro Systems, Bob had held executive positions at other networking companies including:
Chief Technology Officer for Network Equipment Technologies
Chief Technology Officer for 3Com
Senior Vice-President of Development & Engineering at BBN Communications.

While at MIT in 1971, Bob wrote a graduate thesis about how computers talk to each other. He got involved in a Department of Defense project called ARPANET, which for all practical purposes became the Internet.

Bob continues to be my ‘Knight in Shining’ Innovator that I continue to admire for all of his brilliance. His love for Science Fiction and the ‘latest inventions’ continue to keep him in the technological loop. I always know I can count on him for advice and counsel when techno-confusion sets in.

Bob and his wife, Stacey, are successful vintners in the Napa Valley, producing a most luscious Cabernet Sauvignon at Bressler Vineyards. Trust me; it’s scientifically tested by the best “supertasters” around.


Twenty-five years ago today:

March 25, 1984, Sunday

Chris Cordellos came over to my pad. We had planned on breakfast but Chris had no appetite. We eventually made it to Arthur's Coffee Shop and I ate an omelet. We continued our Sunday adventure with a visit to Mervyn's in Alameda where I bought Elisa Berney's baby daughter, Stephanie, a gift. Suddenly someone yelled out my name in the store. It was Kevin, a friend of Bill Helbush and Rick Clark and/or an ex to, Dick, a 'gay' skating rink visitor from Concord, CA.
"I live on Regent Street in Alameda now," Kevin said.
We exchanged a few words. What a very nice guy to take the time to chat.

Chris and I returned to my place after a stroll along the beach. We said our 'goodbyes'. When he left my folks stopped by to visit. Soon after I was on my way to Elisa's Birthday party for her daughter. I saw Nickie Kapellas and recalled our one-week eighth grade mini-romance. The wonders of junior high and 'going steady'. I chatted with Bunny (Elisa's sister) and some other chick who is attending Law School. It was eventful but a trite dull.

I stopped at Nadine's house on my way home. She wasn't home. Rejection #1. I left my business card on her door as proof of my visit.

When I returned home I called 'Patty Paisal'. A girl I barely knew in high-school but liked from a distance. My Dad had mentioned that she worked at the local Harbor Bay Isle Bank.
"I have a boyfriend but I'd still like to go out as friends and see," Patty said.
Rejection #1 1/2. Oh well. Feeling depressed I called Pat Shikuzawa and her telephone number was now non-existent. I called a few other people and no one answered...not even mom.

I decided to go for a Sunday drive to the 'Bench & Bar' for a drink. I browsed at a bookstore on Webster Street on my way home. I felt alone and depressed.

When I was home I found a written message from my brother John.
'Chris called and I've gone skiing.'

I started to take a shower when Salima called. She asked if I would stay at work until 5:30PM on Monday and Wednesday. I agreed.

I telephoned Chris and the Coast Guard did not even notice his absence last Saturday. How lucky is that? I will probably be flying up to Arcata this weekend. I was excited.
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