MICHAEL ASIMOS
ASHLEY TERRELL
Mike Asimos has done what many of us dream about; he turned his lifelong passion into a rewarding and challenging career
Fine arts entrepreneur and Amazon best selling author. Owner of Stella Bistro Foods and BSC & Co.
The Crazy Mind
INTERVIEW WITH DEVELOPER
Whitney Blodgett
Issue 1. March 2018. Copyright of UXScoop Pte Ltd | thecrazymind.com
INTERVIEWS WITH INTERESTING PEOPLE
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THE CRAZY MIND
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW WITH ENTREPRENEUR MICHAEL ASIMOS
Mike Asimos has done what many of us dream about; he turned his lifelong passion into a rewarding and challenging career. His love of wine has led to his role as a wine importer, exporter, and wholesaler. A Portland, Oregon native, in addition to all
How did you get started in the wine industry? I have always been involved in the wine industry. I love all stages of wine creation from the grapes to fermentation, to bottling, tasting, pairings and distributing. I have always loved tasting different wines, and my pallet was well-developed long
things wine, Asimos enjoys jazz music and
before I decided to make wine my career. When I
travel. Michael Asimos travels to vineyards
came to a crossroads in my life, I decided the wine
every chance he gets. When it comes to jazz
industry was my path to take and never looked back.
music, he loves the early musical trailblazers
I already knew many contacts in the industry so
as well as contemporary jazz musicians. His
that's how I got started; I just contacted the people I
favorites include Louis Armstrong, Miles
knew were the right ones and started networking.
Davis, and Esperanza Spalding.
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THE CRAZY MIND
INTERVIEW
Where are some of your favorite regions to
What's next for your journey in the world of wine?
source new wines?
More travel and more wine. I want to keep
I love sourcing new wines in California. They have
importing, exporting, and wholesaling wine. I want
such a solid wine culture it gives me immense
to try as many wines as possible, follow any new
pleasure to introduce new wines into a region with
varieties, explore new regions. I also plan to do some
such good taste. The Pinot Noirs known to the Santa
marketing and advertising strategizing. Nowadays,
Barbara area are unparalleled. The wealth and
having an online presence is essential to any kind of
variety of wineries in Europe are amazing locals to
entrepreneurial success. SEO is a huge part of
source new wines as well.
attracting Web traffic, and it is not my strong suit. I plan to work on this aspect of my personal branding
How do you stay current with developments
and see how it affects my sales. I love what I do, but
in your industry?
still need to make money at it. I plan to keep doing
It's easier than you think to stay current with industry developments. I suppose it can be said of many industries that when you're in it, it actually seems quite small. I'm pretty familiar with the industry leaders, so new developments often come to me in the form of rumors or news. Networking is important, and with the Internet and business sites like LinkedIn, it is easier than ever to stay on top of and connected to everything.
What advice do you have for aspiring connoisseurs out there? I initially thought I would be a sommelier, but then I realized I had a dream of a larger scale, a broader idea. I've seen 'Sideways' more times than you can count; the characters' passion for wine is exactly what I would advise to aspiring connoisseurs. I would say to follow their passion as far as it takes them. Often, we think what we love is just that, something we love. So many people live their lives in a job they feel nothing for, but there are so many options out there. I think the more passionate and curious a person is about a subject, the more likely it is that they would be successful at building a career out of it.
what I'm doing, just hopefully more of it!
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THE CRAZY MIND
INTERVIEW WITH FINE ARTS ENTREPRENEUR ASHLEY TERRELL Ashley Terrell is a fine arts entrepreneur and Amazon best selling author. Owner of Stella Bistro Foods and BSC & Co. We have conducted an interview with her. Why did you want to write a memoir? I wrote my memoir, The Black Sheep Shadow, because people should be understood. We share the same feelings, yet to what degree? The Black Sheep Shadow was a writing piece that's needed for mental, spiritual and emotional growth. Knowing how far you come breeds determination and courage. Determination and courage is diluted because people don't feel it's needed to become a better person [for ourselves]. I don't believe those characteristics are spoken on too much anymore because negativity sells in the media. I have a testimony of the glory of God! Your hardships and perseverance can be someone else's breakthrough. I wanted my memoir, The Black Sheep Shadow, to show my determination to find my purpose and the courage to tell my audience our journeys are worth every step in becoming greater.
INTERVIEW
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THE CRAZY MIND
What is the symbol of the 'sheep' in this memoir, a black sheep in particular and the emphasis on its shadow in the title?
INTERVIEW
What makes you feel empowered? (smiles). This is my first time EVER being asked this question! My faith and humility make me feel
The black sheep has a very direct and indirect
empowered. If He can trust you with a little, you'll
message. At times, I felt so alone, isolated and
receive increase. Becoming confident in my stance
confined. Those feelings will have anyone feel dark
as a multi-faceted entrepreneur makes me feel
or different. How we deal with the darkness is what
empowered and unique.
builds our character. For years, I was the black sheep. I feel myself [still] considering myself a black sheep, just enlightened now. My darkness inspired my light and what I wanted to attract. The black sheep isn't really dark, it's what's around the black
Why is empowerment and growth important, in your opinion? How do you want to spread these notions?
sheep that can make it [feel ]that way. For those
To see and feel growth IS empowerment. In order for
times, I'm grateful because I can considered the
growth to become your empowerment, you must
indirect and direct message of The Black Sheep
have determination for your goals to be achieved. It
Shadow as resilience and perseverance by
all works together. It's important to increase
overcoming the negativity that once weighed me
knowledge of empowerment and growth [for
down.
yourself] because there are too many talented
What is the importance of its influence of the building of your food brand, Stella Bistro Foods and Fine Arts, company 'BSC & Co.,'?
people wanting to "make it" or be known. In desperation or lack of knowledge, artists [of all walks] sell themselves short - literally - because the walk is too long or their confident level isn't the
My memoir, The Black Sheep Shadow has showed
highest. If you can sell millions of albums with a
me my [true] strength in doing what makes me
label, what made you think you can't do it
happy. I fell in love with food at six years old. When
independently? If you know the publishing industry,
Stella Bistro Foods elevated and launched, I couldn't
why not publish via your own publishing company?
have been more proud of myself. The strength I
Why is another company taking a percentage? I
discovered in my ambition, determination, stance
spread knowledge and inspiration by hosting
and vision came from the strength of telling my
entrepreneurship courses via my webinar, DREAM
testimony and touching others. BSC & Co. is an
Academy. The more you know, the more you'll find
extension of that [too]. No one should tell someone
yourself to stand tall for who you've become and
to not express themselves. Who are they? You can
your purpose. Think of it like this: your growth are
express yourself however you choose. BSC & Co.
your shoes in life and the finish line is your
allows me to do that - whether it's textiles, media
empowerment. When and how will you move to feel
and broadcast, literature, coaching, culinary arts or
accomplished?
visual arts I can express my visions, my story and inspire someone to follow and find themselves [and their purpose in life].
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INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW WITH DEVELOPER WHITNEY BLODGETT
Whitney Blodgett is one of the leading
During her time at the University of Georgia,
Software as a Service developers in the world
Whitney Blodgett became interested in the
after spending the first days of her career
SaaS platform and quickly saw her interests
following her graduation from the University
move towards developing a series of software
of Georgia looking to develop the links
choices dedicated to developing a retail and
between technology and business in the
marketing subscription service. As with the
most positive way possible. Now the leader of
majority of entrepreneurs, the front and
her own team of developers, Blodgett has
back-end developer set out to gain a
seen her company move through a period of
traditional role within a software
consistent growth which has led to them
development company before setting out on
becoming a well-known and respected three-
her own career as a SaaS developer.
tier organization providing services tailored directly to the needs and goals of clients.
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INTERVIEW
Currently located in Atlanta, Georgia,
What kind of challenges in the incorporating of
Whitney Blodgett heads a company which
SaaS into the business strategy is the most exciting
has grown to include more than 15
for you?
employees. Determined to continue to grow
As a SaaS provider, I do feel the delivery of this
in an ever-evolving market, the entrepreneur
system into the retail sector is particularly
believes is always at the heart of more than
challenging as you are always looking for the
simply the technology sector.
different ways a piece of SaaS software can be incorporated into the real world. Initially, I found
Why did you choose to work in the SaaS business?
convincing clients of the importance of data gathering and analytics difficult but now most contacts within the project management
When I graduated from the University of Georgia
framework understand this area of importance we
with a degree in Computer Science I remember
now struggle to rein in many of the ideas of our
feeling the connection between the Internet and
clients to meet the needs of their budget.
retailing was yet to be fully explored. My tutors at college were discussing all the different ways the
What do you foresee will the next goal for Internet
Online domain could be used for the future and I
of Things? How do you plan to move forward with
sensed the opportunities expressed in social media
IoT?
and entertainment were going to be difficult to
The "Internet of Things" is already playing a role in
break into. In my view, the use of Software as a
our everyday lives whether we ask Alexa to stream a
Service was only ever going to grow over the course
song or set our home alarm from our mobile we are
of the next few years and I felt Online retailing was
using the Internet in a way I believe it was intended
the area I was most interested in. My first job with a
to be used. In a business sense, Online and brick and
startup focused on live video delivery for social
mortar retailers are all looking to develop a greater
media platforms so I gained a good understanding
sense of the "Internet of Things" in terms of their
of how competitive this area was.
ability to integrate mobile devices and apps into the research and ordering of items from multiple
Which delivery model is your company providing?
platforms. I do believe the development of imagebased search options for retailers will remain a hot topic for many years to come and the first developer
We use a three-tier delivery model which is quite
to make a successful image-focused search engine
traditional in a business sector which is known for its
able to fit into a stand-alone app will have achieved
evolution and success but I feel this works well for
something great.
both ourselves and our customers.
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THE CRAZY MIND
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication", how much do you agree?
INTERVIEW
Which is your favorite personal quote in life/work? I recently stumbled across a quote from the great
Making something seem simple is always an
soccer coach, Bill Shankly. "A lot of football success
impressive feat with many of the leading
is in the mind. You must believe you are the best,
technological breakthroughs of recent years made
and then make sure that you are." My team is
to look simple when they have usually been
working in a way that reflects this quote as we
developed over a long period of time with great
believe we are setting out on a path which will bring
complexity. In my opinion, the appearance of
success to both ourselves and our customers as a
simplicity would be the ultimate sophistication.
matter of course.
WHITNEY BLODGETT
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THE CRAZY MIND
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW WITH ARTIST ADAM CRAEMER
Born in Durban South Africa, Adam Craemer
What were the challenges you faced (if any)
immigrated to Western Australia with his
when crossing over from painting walls on
wife in the early 2000s and emerged as an
the streets to painting on canvas in a studio?
artist shortly thereafter. His main training
The major challenge for me is scale. Going from
and influences come from the graffiti art
larger surface areas to areas less than a third in size,
culture in Cape Town and the UK; living and
and still trying to maintain the ‘street’ element isn’t
traveling around Europe and Asia; as well as
particularly easy for me to achieve in some
his parents who are both artists back in his
instances. I have had to abandon some techniques,
native South Africa. Having a graffiti background has heavily influenced his use of aerosol cans in his work, and his use of them can be seen in almost every piece he creates. We have conducted an interview with him.
but at the same time, have acquired some new ones during the process of change. Another challenge is the rigidity of a wall versus canvas. There is a lot more play on pushing against canvas than walls obviously, so again some of my techniques are now either harder to achieve, or not possible.
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THE CRAZY MIND
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I plan to do a few wooden substrate pieces in the
How do you show dynamism in your work? Which
future. It will be an opportunity for me to play
techniques are you using to achieve it?
around with more techniques and styles.
My work is a product of spontaneous mark making
Who influences you the most in your art
and aerosol can work. I’ll often listen to music to
styles? What would be a way to highlight and
help with the mood I am looking to achieve in the
describe in words as your style?
piece or layer of work I’m focussing on at that time. My newer works are heavily textured compared to
I like most art styles ranging from renaissance
my previous pieces, and I am looking to use any
portraiture, through to abstract art. I find elements
techniques possible to achieve the desired effect.
of all art I see to be engaging and, in some ways
I’m employing the services of Plaster of Paris, knives,
influential - from the fine, hard, neat lines of
my hand-held sander, and my belt sander in my
cartoony pop art, to the ridged mark making of
current body of work. All of these tools help create
certain abstract works. I take influence from all
the texture and depth in my art that I strive for.
styles I see and I particularly enjoy developing and playing with them. If they end up suiting my process, I’ll include them at some point in a piece or series of works. If I find myself moving in another direction that requires more growth or updates to my style, I’ll read up and study some works of artists I love, and try to incorporate elements into my work. I am currently working on a commission and the client likes Klimt’s works. So now I am incorporating elements of his work into mine and adjusting it to suit my street style. There’s going to be loads of gold leaf in this artwork, which I haven’t worked with before but I’m game! I like to challenge myself. If the gold leaf works out nicely, I may use it in my new body of work which is currently in the planning stages. If I was to describe my style in words it would be: Urban Pop.
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INTERVIEW
What affects you?
What is something that you do differently when
What affects me… with respect to my art and the
creating your artwork?
beginning of my journey, artists like Warhol, Lichtenstein and Rauschenberg initially made me want to become an artist. I loved the idea of being able to apply super bold, bright colours to a painting, as well as including elements in collage. In more recent times, artists such as Hush and Shepard Fairey are top of mind in terms of excellent work and interesting techniques. These artists, including some gratifying trips to galleries around Europe, affected me positively to at least give art a chance. I’m fortunate that my day job affords me the freedom to work in my studio when necessary.
I use a lot of water in creating my pieces. I am painting on, spraying off, painting on, spraying off again and again until I achieve the desired effect. As my studio does not have aircon, I need to time my sprays according to the time of day/year I am working, to achieve the texture I am looking for. After painting multiple layers, I’ll often paint a thin layer of white over the whole piece, and then repeat the process again from scratch. This is my method of achieving greater depth and texture to my works - a ton of water in my spray bottle or with a hosepipe outside the studio.
What is next for Adam Craemer? Once the large-scale commission piece is complete, I’ll be working through a new layering technique on a series of pieces. The aim is to try and pare back the image further than I have been. The end-vision is to make the subject look like it is poking out from behind some heavy layering which I’ll be placing on top of the image. The series will be titled “Ink’d”.
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INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW WITH CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT N'CLOUD.SWISS AG ANDRE MATTER
Andre Matter is Founder and Chairman of the
As one of Europe’s first IaaS/SaaS cloud
Board of Directors at n’cloud.swiss AG. In
platforms, n’cloud is the result of Andre’s
various national and international
tireless dedication and innovativeness.
management positions in the banking and
Today, several thousand users are working
large-scale industry, he has acquired
every day in the n’cloud – some since 2009! As
profound expertise as IT Manager, especially
a decisive step towards its expansion into 60
in the area of data center solutions.
countries worldwide, n'cloud.swiss AG is
Consequently, he is familiar with the
launching an ICO. Andre Matter is aiming
requirements for datacenter-based IT
with his team to establish n’cloud.swiss as a
services at first hand. The IT architecture and
Swiss/European alternative to the major
solution concepts of n’cloud come from his
cloud providers.
pen.
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THE CRAZY MIND
INTERVIEW
How do you overcome resistance around you
How important do you think is the process of
being the leaders in innovation and one of
innovation? Which is the strongest capability of
the cloud pioneers in Europe? What is your
n'cloud.swiss, what differentiates it from the
secret to self-motivation?
others?
It is said that if you do love what you do, you will
First of all, before analyzing the importance of the
never work a day in your life. This applies perfectly to
process of innovation, we should have a look at the
me. Throughout my career path, I have had the
person behind this process. For this reason, I tend to
privilege to occupy leading roles. Having a high
consider the role of innovation leadership. I believe
degree of responsibility awareness is therefore
that the latter is essential to ensure the presence of
something that allowed me to be successful in the
an innovation-friendly environment. This type of
different roles I occupied within well-known and
environment can be defined as a process for
large companies. Now being Chairman of the Board
creating direction and commitment needed to
of Directors at n’cloud.swiss AG, I am also
create and implement something new that adds
responsible for the well-being and success of my
value. The process of innovation is important, but
employees which is without doubt a big but a
having leaders and a team with an innovative
challenging burden to take on. I also believe that
mindset is crucial. As a Swiss company, “Swiss
becoming a great leader is not something that
madeness” is omnipresent in our day-to-day
happens overnight. In my opinion, it can be achieved
activities. All our products enjoy “Swiss made” high
only through discipline, hard work and a
quality standards in terms of security and reliability
commitment to improvement. I would like to
in setup and operation of fail-safe cluster-systems.
underline here the term “innovativeness”. In fact, I
This is exactly where the strongest capability of
am encouraging the development of an innovation
n’cloud.swiss comes to light. Moreover, Switzerland
culture within n’cloud.swiss AG where I motivate
is known for its high security standards. As a cloud
every employee to be innovative and help us in
provider, we have here a huge competitive
developing new products and improving existing
advantage. In fact, our servers are located in one of
ones as well. n'cloud is above all the result of this
the world’s most secure data centers in the Swiss
innovation culture. Today, we are rightly seen as one
mountains. Moreover, we provide our customers
of the cloud pioneers in Europe with our own cloud
with personal support and competitive pricing
platform since 2009 already. However, standing still
models, API connectivity for easy and fast transfers
is never an option for me. Innovations, new
of existing developments from or to other major
technologies, state-of-the-art products and services
cloud platforms. Cloud exit strategy is hereby
motivates me. After all, we operate in an industry
something we accorded an enormous importance
that is extremely innovative. Cloud computing is
to take away the fear of “lock-in” which is one of the
undoubtly the digitization tool par excellence. The
most known myths in the cloud computing world.
cloud market presents a huge potential to us. This is why we have launched n’cloud.swiss as with the ambition to establish it as a serious “Swiss made” alternative to the major cloud providers.
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INTERVIEW
You are launching an ICO in April to expand
What will you say about the potential of
worldwide into 60 countries. What is
n'cloud.swiss as being a Swiss made alternative to
particular about your ICO? What advantages
the major cloud providers? What are your
do investors have?
objectives?
Compared to the majority of other ICO-launches
By having a deeper look into the cloud market, we
nowadays, n’cloud.swiss is not a start-up operation.
immediately realize that the market is dominated
The initiator of n’cloud.swiss AG - Netkom IT Services
by Amazon AWS, followed by Microsoft Azure,
GmbH - the company I founded in 2001 in Seengen,
Google Cloud Platform and IBM Softlayer. Serious
Switzerland - is a Swiss based IT & cloud provider
competition only comes from Alibabacloud. The
with a proven track record of 17 years of successful
remaining part of the market is in the hands of
operations in various countries. n’cloud.swiss is
numerous cloud providers from all over the world. In
therefore already a successful cloud platform
principal, we can say that today’s cloud market is
running in one of the world’s most secure data
characterized by a competition between four
centers in Switzerland with existing customers,
American and one Chinese giant companies.
transactions and success stories in Switzerland,
Interestingly, the revenues in this market are
Germany, India, Russia, Pakistan and Ukraine.
expected to double in the next 3 years from 89
Investors in our ICO will be investing in a real story.
billion USD in 2017 to 162 billion USD in 2020. This is
They have with us the opportunity of supporting a
where I definitely see the potential for n’cloud.swiss
proven business case to grow global and become a
and the opportunity to win a substantial part of this
real cloud alternative to the major well-established
rapidly growing market. With the ICO, we will be
cloud providers in the world. Since the launch of
able to expand worldwide. The Swiss origin and
n’cloud as one of Europe’s first IaaS/SaaS cloud
company values, the innovative n’cloud product
platforms, several thousand users are working every
range, coupled with know-how, pioneering and
day in the n’cloud. The development of n’cloud.swiss
innovation spirit, make the successful establishment
as a full-service cloud platform for all cloud models
of n’cloud.swiss as a true alternative to the major
is in my opinion the logical continuation of a long-
cloud providers possible. This enables us to
term cloud strategy of a healthy fully self-financed
strengthen and underline our cloud leadership role
company.
for the future.
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INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR NADIA BRUCERAWLINGS Nadia Bruce-Rawlings uses grains of her often gritty life to infuse her stories with cathartic realism. Her stories “Fire” and “Scars” have both been finalists in Glimmer Train’s writing contests and are included in SCARS, her first anthology from Punk Hostage Press. Nadia grew up travelling the world and living in various countries before settling in Los Angeles. In LA she briefly worked at a vitamin factory and then began a long career in independent film distribution. A single mom for 11 years, she and her new husband have settled into the Nashville area, where she writes by the lake when she can escape their five kids and two dogs. We have conducted an interview with Nadia. How do you feel when your writing talent has been describe as "with dark humor and candor" or even "emotionally raw"? I feel that my writing is fairly candid and definitely emotionally raw. When I write, especially the memoir pieces, I go to a very deep place inside myself. I write things that I don't necessarily want to share - they just come out, they are just the raw truth. In fact, sometimes it's very strange knowing that some of my neighbors have read my book, and therefore know some of my deepest secrets. I hesitated for a moment in publishing some of the stories, but if I can help just one person with my words, then it is all worth it. I write about difficult
But I also write about a solution, an offer of hope and
subjects -- abuse of all kinds, incest, drug abuse,
redemption. And I do use a dark humor to lighten
alcoholism, domestic violence, etc.
things up at times - it's needed!
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INTERVIEW
What inspires you the most after writing and
Where do you like to write your stories? How
publishing your first anthology SCARS?Â
is it different?
Once I connected with my publisher, Punk Hostage
Our last house (we just moved a few months ago)
Press, and they said that they wanted to publish my
had an amazing view of Old Hickory Lake. I thought I
first anthology, I was just overwhelmed with
would be able to write really well there, but to be
gratitude! It had always been my dream to be a
honest I ended up having a writer's block and not
published author. I really admire the authors under
doing much there. I do like to "nest" on my bed,
Punk Hostage Press, so to be grouped with them is
whatever the view may be, and work away on my
just amazing. As for now - I have been doing
computer with my doggy cuddled up next to me. I
readings and fundraisers for women's shelters. After
get really into my head when I write, very focused, I
the readings, people have come up to me in tears,
shut out the outside world and just go to my place. I
saying how much I had inspired them to share their
can write anywhere if I am in the right "headspace." I
own story. I've heard some horrendously difficult
often come up with a sentence while I'm driving,
stories from these people too - it is amazing what
and by the time I get home I'll have finished a whole
the human psyche can survive. To know that I
paragraph or two in my head. I'll go to my nest and
touched these people in some way is very gratifying.
write the rest.
It gives me a sense of wonder to know that by telling people the difficult things I went through, I am helping them. This inspires me daily to keep going and to continue to help others.
Do you consider writing as your own 'catharsis'? Most of the stories in Scars were very, very cathartic.
Do you plan to write more stories in the
They talk about a time when I was at my very worst,
same genre?
they talk about the abuse I went through, about the
I have been struggling a bit with writer's block, though I did have one story published recently in the journal, Bluestem Magazine. It is called Peace Accord - it is a memoir of my adolescent years spent in Cairo, Egypt, during the Peace Accord era between Israel and Egypt. It is about the dichotomy between cultures, between childhood and adolescence, between peace and war, etc. I'm not sure that I'll continue in the memoir genre or writing about abuse etc, as I feel that I've told my story already in Scars. I'm not sure what direction my writing will take now.
drug and alcohol abuse that enveloped my life. They are about my mom's death, my daughter's birth, about reaching rock bottom and then about recovery and redemption. Writing them was like therapy - it got it all out, it helped my mind process what had happened to me, in a safe way. I feel like they helped me tremendously, and I hope they will help others as well.
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INTERVIEW WITH SENIOR DATA SCIENTIST TERRY BANDY
TERRY BANDY
Educated in New Hampshire and spending the first part of his career in the Northeast, Senior Data Scientist Terry Bandy now lives and works in California. Alongside creating his own company specializing in Data Science the Tufts University graduate has partnered with Elliot Massa to create the Data Science Summit which met regularly to discuss the latest developments in big data from 2002 to 2010. Currently working as a freelancer, Terry Bandy is a husband and father who is an experienced freelancer now based in San Francisco.
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INTERVIEW
How will data science change the marketing
How do your interests in mathematics, data
world as we know it?
analysis and interpretation, and business
I was talking with a marketing executive the other day and he was saying he expects big data to become the major trend for the future of the industry in the coming years. However, data has driven marketing for decades in many ways, it's just now that we can pinpoint with accuracy the needs and requirements of individuals to tailor marketing trends directly to the individual. Recently, I've been working with retailers looking to use beacon technology in their physical store locations which will talk directly to the smartphone of a shopper as they are approaching a store in a mall or on Main Street to deliver coupons, special offers, and details of the latest products arriving in store. I believe this will be the next step for data science to deliver materials directly to a customer instead of the focus being on major national and international
help you in this career? To use big data properly you really have to have some understanding of math to assist in creating the algorithms needed to track each piece of information needed to assist my clients with their marketing needs. Analyzing data in the way my clients require means having an understanding of their business needs and how the business can be shaped by the use of big data. In terms of my own business intelligence, I'm an entrepreneur and former executive with a number of companies so I think I can give some solid feedback for my clients about how data can have an effect on marketing decisions but I wouldn't attempt to tell anybody how to run their business. I can only recommend and advise based on the data and in a smaller sense, my own business experience.
campaigns.
Which current societal problems and issues When did you start working on business
are you tackling? Which one is the most
intelligence?
interesting?
I've always been interested in technology and the
In my opinion, it is important as a father and
possibilities of the Internet for business and personal
husband to develop some time with my family
use which is why I switched my focus at the college
which includes picking up my kids and wife and
from pre-med to computer sciences. In the early
heading out for a hike in the beautiful landscapes of
days, like most people in the industry, I focused on
Northern California. I love getting out in nature and
Web design but found myself drawn to business
have been giving my time and expertise to a
intelligence around the turn of the century when I
number of groups looking to map the impact of
moved to California and established the Data
changes in the climate on wildlife. As a keen wildlife
Science Summit. It's amazing to think I've been
photographer, I believe the impact of humans on
working with big data for almost two decades
the climate is one of the most important things we
because this is a lifetime in the fast-moving
need to be concerned with as I have seen the
technology industry.
changes taking place in the natural world first hand over the last few years.
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THE CRAZY MIND
INTERVIEW
What is your advice to businesses who wants to use data science a part of the life sciences sales strategy? Trust the algorithms technology experts come up with. In the past, there have been times when myself and my team have come up with new ideas and algorithms only to have them ignored by our clients. When clients ask why Terry Bandy has delivered an algorithm or statistics built from data I usually look back to the initial requirements of the client and find what we have delivered is what was asked for in the first place. Speaking for myself, I can say I believe big data is the key to successful marketing in the future.
JaamZIN Creative We feature artists and creative people www.jaamzin.com
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THE CRAZY MIND
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW WITH PHOTOGRAPHER MARGAUX PANEL
Margaux Panel is freelance photo producer born and raised in France. She moved to the New York at 18 to attend college. While in New York, she started a projet that is still on going called " The Parisienne" where she would capture Paris and its arrondissement everytime she would go back home. After graduating in Photography, She has traveled around Asia and came up with the project "Lotus" that was published and exhibited in a gallery in New York. Over the years, she has worked with different photo agencies and production companies. We have conducted an interview with Margaux.
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THE CRAZY MIND
What inspires you the most when working on
INTERVIEW
Which is more exciting (or challenging)?
these two projects, 'Parisienne' and 'Lotus’? Paris fascinates me. I moved away for college and my hometown was kind of a mystery for me. By coming back twice a year, it allows me to archive every arrondissements I’m cataloging places with the monuments as the past, new elements as proof of the present to get a picture for the future. Lotus was new for me. I didn’t have any expectations but I was driven right away to shoot what was around me while visiting cities and rural environment. Absorbing a new place is challenging yet adrenalizing
Paris is my hometown and I always go back so I know that I can continue this project for years. Whereas, the Lotus project, I only went to those places once yet and I am eager to discover new countries. The pictures from the Lotus project are memories of my time there and those places can change so much in the next years.
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THE CRAZY MIND
INTERVIEW
What made you think that the contrast
How does the use of negative space
between nature and city is intriguing?
impact you?
People tend to want to live in the city - we have seen
In a picture, having the eyes not looking at too much
the countryside deserted to the benefit of cities. But
information is my main focus. I want the viewer to
as humans, we miss being in open spaces or in a
feel calm and give its time to really appreciate the
quiet environment. What captivates me is that cities
quiet of the imageÂ
are trying to incorporate nature. Singapore is one of the best example with the surrealist garden they have created. Bali is ahead of the curve on wellness Avant garde on social media which makes it intriguing.
What is the most interesting part of your work? Planning to go somewhere unknown and being surprised by new landscapes and capturing them! The most exciting is being in the moment and see in the viewfinder that everything you want fits perfectly in the frame.