Jon Luciano

A view from 14,000+ feet. Being at the summit of both...

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 21:16:02 -0600

A view from 14,000+ feet. Being at the summit of both Gray’s Peak and Torrey’s Peak was an amazing experience!

150,000 miles on the 1998 Ford F-150 and going strong! (Taken...

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:26:36 -0600

150,000 miles on the 1998 Ford F-150 and going strong! (Taken with instagram)

After the Rugged Maniac. While I am smiling I am thinking...

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:51:50 -0600

After the Rugged Maniac. While I am smiling I am thinking “why did I just put myself through?”. The Rugged Maniac was one of the toughest things I have done physically. Can’t wait to do it again next year!

Brian Wilson (closer for the SF Giants) is one of the funniest...

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:16:31 -0600

Brian Wilson (closer for the SF Giants) is one of the funniest dudes in sports.

This video has had a profound impact on me for reasons I...

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:21:37 -0600

This video has had a profound impact on me for reasons I can’t explain. Watching this video has helped me put things in my life into perspective; it has really opened my eyes to what is important. I’ve watched this video several times of the last few days.

The Wolfpack

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 23:28:47 -0600

The Wolfpack

An Open Letter to Jay Cutler

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:38:35 -0600

Jay “Boo-Boo” Cutler,

I loathe you. I don’t know you, yet I loathe you. My perception of you is a person without character, selfish (borderline narcissistic), ignorant and a person with an ego larger than the football field you play on. Perception is reality.

You quit on the Broncos and you quit on your Bear’s teammates in the NFC Championship game. I know, I know…your knee was worse than what television depicted it as. Who cares! Don’t quit on your team, EVER.

I love when my fantasy football opponent starts you at QB. I know my defense will have at least four interceptions that day. Do you really think you can complete some of those passes (which is ignorant) or is your ego just too big to let you check down or throw the ball away?

You are probably saying “what have you done in your life? I’m a pro football player, what are you?” I am a fan of the game. I care about how people carry themselves. I know that no one player is larger than the game. That is a lesson you still need to learn.

Last season was your first winning season of your career since high school. Do you think you had anything to do with that? Or was it your teams fault? Your receivers fault? Winning isn’t just about practice and execution, its also a trait. Some people are born winners, some are born losers. The good news is that winning traits can be learned. I suggest you go to winners school. I’m really getting tired of hearing how much potential you have. When does that potential come to fruition or die? You can’t have potential forever. At some point (maybe very soon) potential becomes a waste.

The crux of this letter is that I don’t want to loathe you. I’m not that kind of guy. While you have been the butt of many of my jokes and banter, I really want to see you live up to your potential. I will be the first person to eat crow when you win.

If you read this (0.01% chance) and make your way back to Denver, look me up (0% chance). I’d love to have a beer with you to chat about my perception and why I think this way. Who knows, you might be the coolest guy ever who is just misunderstood. Until then, my perception is my reality and my reality is that you are a loser.

Putting Happiness Into Perspective

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 10:07:58 -0600

The other day, as I was walking from my car to my place of employment, I crossed paths with a gentleman that was severely physically handicapped (I put an emphasis on physically because I think, for the story I’m about to tell, its important to point out that this gentleman was not mentally handicapped).

In passing, I gave a quick glance and I saw a huge smile on this man’s face. I did a double take and when I did, the man spoke to me. He said “good morning”. This seem somewhat trivial, but this changed my perspective on life and especially on being happy.

We all have problems, that at times, make it hard to be happy. But when this severely handicapped gentleman smiled and said good morning, I could feel his attitude, his happiness. How could this man be happy when he barely has the use of his legs? Why can’t I achieve true happiness when I am alive, capable and have the world at my finger tips?

These thoughts stopped me in my tracks. My entire life, all my choices and decisions leading up to this point, played like a movie in my head. It also made me put happiness into perspective. I have no reason to be unhappy. I have all the ability in the world to be happy. I am the person who molds me.

At that moment, I realized that every bit of the person that I want to be is within me. I can be that person and I can realize happiness.

Every morning I look for that handicapped man. I’d love to introduce myself and talk to him. He may never know that seeing him happy changed my life. I am grateful for that.

There I Sat

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:57:54 -0600

I have been on a quest to improve my quality of life and as such, I have been living a pretty healthy lifestyle. Eating right and exercising has helped me lose over 50 pounds in the last year. I’ve kicked most of my bad/unhealthy habits except for one. I have a bad habit of consuming energy drinks. It’s closer to an addiction than to a habit.

I drink an energy drink a day. This is awful for a couple of reasons. Its really bad for my health. Energy drinks have been found to deplete the adrenal gland. Compounded with the fact that they are mostly composed of chemicals. They are also really bad for my bank account. These things are costly!

I’ve been trying to break the habit (kick the addiction) and I just haven’t been able to do it. Along comes Lent. To help me get these out of my life, I have given these up for Lent. I have done great in avoiding them since Lent started, however, today was a different day.

As I left my house, I could taste the energy drink and immediately started to crave it. I drove to 7-Eleven with an intent to buy one, and down it as fast as I can. As I pulled into the parking lot, I had a sense of guilt and anger. I promised myself that I would kick this addiction, yet here I was about to give in. There I sat in my truck in the parking lot for several minutes fighting an intense debate with myself.

There I sat as the debate went back and forth. The entire time I struggled with this decision, I could literally taste the drink. I was about to give in when the debate ended. I put my truck in reverse and left without buying an energy drink. Its a decision I knew I had to make. I need to improve all facets of my life and not drinking these will be a sure improvement in the quality of my life on several levels.

Here I sit writing this and must say, I am really happy and proud of my decision.

Fight For Air Climb | Team Sherpa

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 20:45:06 -0700

2009 Team Sherpa

Results:

Jon=19:26, Sarah=24:38, Michael=19:38, Shaunna=17:10, Colin=25:07, Sara=18:28, Steve=12:59, Kyle=11:56, Pete=12:51

2010 Team Sherpa

Results:

Jon=20:57, Sarah=38:17, Michael=20:44, Shaunna=19:31, Quentin=13:45, Colin=27:00, Sara=17:24, Steve=12:36, Kyle=10:53, Matt=14:55, Pete=12:04, Mel=13:57, Tricia=38:38

2011 Team Sherpa

Results:

Jon=13:12, Michael=15:42, Shaunna=14:35, Quentin=13:28, Colin=21:59, Sara=16:19

Interesting NBA Observation

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:47:00 -0700

I have made an interesting observation about current NBA players, their ability and their name. It seems that many of today’s top players have a last name that could also be a first name:

Kobe BRYANT
Carmelo ANTHONY
Chris PAUL
Lebron JAMES
Dwyane WADE
Ray ALLEN
Tim DUNCAN
Dwight HOWARD
Brandon ROY
Michael JORDAN (greatest of all time)

This strikes me as odd and its most likely a coincidence, but what if a last name can be an indication of aptitude, ability or greatness?

Why the new AppleTV will kill the Roku Player

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Let me first say that I currently own an older AppleTv and I also own a Roku Player. I use my AppleTV to stream content/media (movies & music) from my computer to my tv as well as rent movies from iTunes. I use my Roku Player for Pandora and Netflix.

THe new AppleTV has basically integrated the best that Roku has to offer. Meanwhile, Roku hasn’t done anything new recently save release new hardware. I’ve always wished that my AppleTV could play Netflix and Pandora or that my Roku could stream my content.The new AppleTV has done just that.

I am assuming that Pandora will be available on the new AppleTV via an app and Netflix will be integrated. What more could I want?

I know that there are ways to stream my media from my computer to my Roku, but they are all hacks as the Roku doesn’t do this as a channel. Besides Pandora, Netflix, Amazon Video & MLB.tv, most of the channels that Roku offer are public access type programming broadcasted over the internet. Yes, there are some gems here and there, but for the most part its stuff I’ll never watch. Kinda like buying a car cause the back seat has cool cup holders.

The new AppleTV is consolidating devices in my entertainment center. It is doing everything the Roku does and more. It won’t take long for Apple to have content agreements in place with the same providers that Roku has. When that happens, the Roku will officially be done for…unless…Roku has something up their sleeve that has not been floated around the internets. Will the Roku offer a channel to stream media from my computer?

The real nail in the coffin is that the new AppleTV will allow you to stream (via a wireless connection) from my ipad to the AppleTV. This means that Hulu will now be able to be streamed without connecting my laptop to my tv. Goodnight Roku!

Unless I see something from Roku soon, my old AppleTV and my Roku player will be listed on Denver Craigslist in the near future. Want to make me an offer?

Bye-Bye Foursquare

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:22:46 -0600

I’ve given up on Foursquare. Not that I don’t think its cool or doesn’t have potential, I just don’t use it and don’t see it fitting into my life. I am giving up on trying to be the mayor of anywhere. I used to be the mayor of 8 or so establishments and took pride in that title. But it dawned on me that being the mayor only means you are spending more time and money at that particular location than anyone else is…big deal. I broadcast my location to a bunch of people I don’t know. Who cares where I am? I don’t care where people are that I don’t know.

Foursquare would be cool if it allowed you to build a private network sorta like Yammer did with the Twitter concept. I guess that’s what Google Latitude is, but who wants to share all their data with Google? But this is predicated on friends and family also using the service, which is a tough sell to someone who doesn’t know or care about LBS.

While I’ve made an example out of Foursquare, I really am trying to unclutter all facets of my life. You’ve probably received advice that you should throw out (or donate) old clothing if you haven’t worn it in 6 months. I am taking that same philosophical approach to my iPhone apps. If I haven’t used them is x-amount of time, they will be deleted.

I want my brain back!

A New Addiction

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:38:33 -0600

I’ve recently delved into the world of bicycles. I started to tinker with a single speed conversion of a red schwinn (see previous posts), but I wasn’t into it yet. I really didn’t know what I was doing, and more importantly, what I wanted. I think I have it figured out now.

I have a plan to have three bikes:

1) Daily commuter - This bike is a Giant ATX 830. Its older, but its aluminum and light. I have been continually upgrading and making it better. I removed the two small rings in the front leaving only the big ring. This allowed me to remove the front shifter and derailleur. I opted for the road slicks instead of traditional mountain bike tires. I need to replace the brakes with new ones and it should be a completed project. I would remove the 7 rear gears, but I really do need them to commute to and from work.

2) Cruiser - I just procured a Schwinn Panther beach cruiser. I had the hand brakes taken off and a coaster brake put in. I also have small sized ape hanger handlebars that I will be painting white. Not a lot to do with this project except ride it!

3) Single Speed Mountain Bike - I have yet to buy a bike to convert as I have been researching what kind of bike I want and how I want it to look afterward. I know that I only want a front brake to keep it as clean as possible. But I’m not sure of frame design yet.

I really enjoy riding my bike(s) and look forward to continuous tinkering!

Great illustration of how Google works and how it makes money....

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:51:31 -0600

Great illustration of how Google works and how it makes money. Although it omits how it gets and stores your personal data to know everything about you.

Riding My Bike

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:46:01 -0600

Its been almost two weeks since I started riding my bike into work. I don’t actually ride my bike from my house to my place of work, rather I drive my car close to work and park on the street where its free. I then take my bike out of my truck and ride from there. Parking in downtown Denver ranges from $1.50 (8 blocks away) to $14-$20 a day at my building. Instead of asking for more money just to pay my parking bill, I decided to ride my bike. I’m not in good enough shape to ride door-to-door yet, but I hope to get there soon. Every couple of days, I am parking just a little further away from work in hopes that one day I’ll be riding from my house.

I’ve learned so much from riding my bike to work. First, it seems that there have been a well devised plan for bike riders. There are a ton of trails and ways to get around the city. Second, more people ride and/or walk than what I thought. Its nice to see so many people commuting without the use of a car.

"We have reached a point where, as a collective, human charater doesn’t mean much in American..."

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 03:15:41 -0700

“We have reached a point where, as a collective, human charater doesn’t mean much in American culture. As such, now is the time more than ever to be true to your true self.”

- Anonymous

My TiltShift Fake Mini Photos

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:20:00 -0700

Hulu: The Beginning of The End

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:43:00 -0700

Hulu: The Beginning of The End:

I don’t see how my beloved Hulu can survive. The very reason for Hulu’s success (overpriced cable) is now controlling its destiny. This can’t end well for Hulu

Handbrake 0.9.4 Released

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:35:05 -0700

Handbrake 0.9.4 Released:

Its been a year since Handbrake was updated. This is the best ripping software on the market