Category: Observations

30 Things I Did Before Turning 30

Post author By karlschmieder
Post date February 20, 2017
Categories In biotechnology, Brooklyn, Influences, Marketing, Observations, Science Fiction, Skateboarding, synthetic biology, Writing

In anticipation of my 54th birthday, I answered this question on Quora: What are the 30 things you did before turning 30 in your life? Learned to skateboard ramps and pools. Memorized every ditch and was part of an informal word-of-mouth network that knew when a new ramp appeared in Ventura. Convinced my parents to drive […]

Who Takes iGEM Seriously?

Post author By karlschmieder
Post date January 22, 2017
Categories In biotechnology, Observations, Science Fiction, synthetic biology, What's Your Bio Strategy?

This past week iGEM startup PvP Biologics closed a $35 million round with Takeda. Last year, in June 2016, Ginkgo Bioworks raised $100 million. The company was founded by a team that participated in the first iGEM competitions. The iGEM startup page lists some 19 startups that originated from the competition. While Christopher VanLang is […]

My Three Words for 2017

Post author By karlschmieder
Post date January 2, 2017
Categories In Influences, Observations, Writing

Chris Brogan is an inspiration. If you study internet marketing, you’re bound to run across him. He’s smart, honest and prolific. Anthony Iannarino had him on an episode of In The Arena, where he discussed his book, The Impact Equation. I subscribed to Chris’ newsletter and read every word every Sunday morning. A few days ago, Chris mentioned he chooses three […]

A Brief, Personal Reading List – Fiction September 2016

Post author By karlschmieder
Post date September 30, 2016
Categories In 100 Days of Writing, biotechnology, Book Reviews, Journal, Observations, Science Fiction, synthetic biology, Writing

I recently shared this reading list with thesalesblog author and sales guru Anthony Iannarino. Anthony’s extremely well read but admitted he didn’t read much fiction. Here’s what I wrote him: I grew up on science fiction and have read a lot of it and admit it’s inspired my career. But I’ve also read a lot […]

Captain Underpants, BioBuilder and iGEM: Preparing Kids for the Biotech Century

Post author By karlschmieder
Post date November 13, 2015
Categories In biotech in kids books, biotechnology, Influences, Observations, synthetic biology
No Comments on Captain Underpants, BioBuilder and iGEM: Preparing Kids for the Biotech Century

Melvin’s Li’l Scientist Wristwatch had a built-in DNA extractor. Melvin inserted the filthy toenail into his watch and programmed a complete extraction procedure while the Turbo Toilet 2000 chased him back through town… As Melvin ran screaming, his watch quickly pulverized and sonicated the toenail cells, removed their membrane lipids, proteins and RNA, and purified […]

Nag Nag Nag: Cabaret Voltaire vs Akufen’s (karaoke slam mix)

Post author By karlschmieder
Post date November 12, 2015
Categories In Influences, Journal, Music, Observations, Writing

It’s been a while, a long while, since I’ve posted anything music related, so I offer up a contrast of sorts. Here’s Cabaret Volataire‘s brilliant Nag Nag Nag from their 1980 Live at the YMCA album. Simple distorted guitars, bristling synthesizer electronics, this was early – but still danceable – industrial music no doubt inspired by the Cold War […]

Biofabricate: Scientists + Artists Transform Materials, Manufacturing

Post author By karlschmieder
Post date October 20, 2015
Categories In biotechnology, Observations, synthetic biology

This week, a group of artists, designers, and scientists will gather in New York City for the second annual Biofabricate conference. They’ll be discussing the use of biological organisms to create new materials and transform manufacturing. You might think a conference like this would attract only scientists, but surprisingly it is the often artists and designers in […]

Your Founder Is Crazy, Isn’t He? (Part 1)

Post author By karlschmieder
Post date August 27, 2015
Categories In 100 Days of Writing, 50-Word Epics, Advertising, Influences, NYC, Observations

At the beginning of the week, the Founder swore he’d have me back on payroll by the end of the month. It’d been six weeks since any of us had been paid. “What about the options?” I asked. “I’ll take care of those by the end of the week,” he answered. It was the same […]

The Pool at 4 A.M.

Post author By karlschmieder
Post date August 25, 2015
Categories In 100 Days of Writing, 50-Word Epics, biotech in kids books, biotechnology, Influences, Observations, Skateboarding, synthetic biology

My father’s pool is, was, and always will be –– all skaters agree –– absurd. The pale blue surface is very hard, durable, very fast, and sentient. The coping is a great grindable bullnose. The shape is a perfect kidney, just under nine-feet deep. To ride the pool from one lip to the other across […]

Why I Write (Or How I Started Writing)

Post author By karlschmieder
Post date August 24, 2015
Categories In 100 Days of Writing, 50-Word Epics, Influences, Journal, Music, Observations, Skateboarding, Writing

“Two hundred years of American technology has unwittingly created a massive cement playground of unlimited potential. But it was the minds of 11 year old that could see that potential.” – C.R. Stecyk My first stories were skateboarding stories inspired by C. R. Stecyk‘s Skateboarder Magazine articles, his fabrication and chronicling of the Dogtown’s Z-boys’ […]