We're Taking a Break! GreenQloud Hires New CMO Paula Gould
GreenQloud, the first TrulyGreen® public compute cloud and data storage service, today announced several organizational changes including the appointment of Bala Kamallakharan to Chief Executive Officer, replacing Founder and former CEO, Eirikur Hrafnsson, who will transition into the role of Chief Global Strategist. Gisli Kristjansson will assume the role of Chief Financial Operating Officer. GreenQloud also announced a new hire, Paula Gould, who will serve as Chief Marketing Officer.
GreenQloud is tackling the growing “dirty data” problem in IT and data storage globally by offering carbon neutral cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) solutions powered exclusively by renewable energy sources. GreenQloud, with their primary data center facility at Verne Global, is capitalizing on Iceland’s key geographic position, unique infrastructure of abundant renewable power and naturally cool climate to provide clean cloud solutions with world class customer support at competitive price points. For example, GreenQloud is compatible with the Amazon EC2 and S3 Web Services.
“I chose Bala for the CEO position and Paula for the CMO position because I truly believe that their respective backgrounds in diverse markets worldwide and demonstrated success in guiding startups will be instrumental in GreenQloud’s ability to reach its potential on a global scale,” said GreenQloud Founder and CGS, Eirikur Hrafnsson.
The new executive hires and restructure position GreenQloud for greater growth within the Iceland IT industry as well as the global IT market. “Experienced in investments, global business and with a depth of history in technology and management consulting, Bala Kamallakharan brings to GreenQloud the leadership necessary to meet our objectives as we enter the next stage in the company’s development,” said Chairman of the Board, Gudmundur Ingi Jonsson.
“As more data is stored and processed online, the Information Technology industry is quickly contributing to global carbon emissions, which McKinsey & Company recently estimated will increase to 4% by 2020. GreenQloud is augmenting cloud-based service efficiency with sustainability. GreenQloud believes that world class cloud-based, easy-to-use services can be delivered at competitive prices while simultaneously reducing a company’s overall carbon footprint. I believe the solutions and team we have assembled for GreenQloud is well positioned to disrupt the cloud-based services business, and I am really excited to be part of this journey,” says GreenQloud CEO, Bala Kamallakharan.
In addition to providing energy and cost effective cloud solutions to SMBs, GreenQloud provides customers with live energy metrics and carbon savings reports to incorporate into their own sustainability programs.
By working with academic, scientific communities and university networks, GreenQloud is developing means to deliver less expensive and deeply integrated high performance computing (HPC) cloud services.
About GreenQloud
GreenQloud offers carbon neutral TrulyGreen® cloud computing virtual servers and data storage (IaaS) that companies or individuals can lease at highly competitive prices. GreenQloud services such as ComputeQloud™ and StorageQloud™ feature an easy-to-use, self-service web console and advanced API controls for full automation of IT services.
GreenQloud was founded in 2010 and is privately funded by Icelandic investors. The company has won several Icelandic government grants such as the technology grant from Rannis (The Icelandic Centre for Research). Verne Global is the primary data center facility for GreenQloud. In 2011, Gartner chose GreenQloud as a Cool Vendor in Green IT and Sustainability. For more information, please visit GreenQloud.com.
http://greenqloud.com/greenqloud-appoints-new-ceo-bala-kamallakharan-and-hires-new-chief-marketing-officer-paula-gould/
Paula Gould talks Iceland in Autumn for The Daily
Our own Paula Gould took some time to showcase to The Daily all that Iceland has to offer this Fall. Download The Daily App or check it out here:
Iceland: The frozen flame
Land of dancing lights in the sky and boiling springs provides warm welcome
An Open Letter to the US Postal Service
Dear USPS:
Can you please get your act together. A vendor shipped me a gift for my niece on August 21. To date it has crisscrossed the country no less than 5 times. Why it even made it out of Massachusetts is beyond me really-- both the vendor and my niece live in the Bay state. I live in Los Angeles, maybe you knew this? Are you occasionally intuitive? No, can't be because NOBODY involved lives in Nashua, NH (though I've visited several times and well it's a nice little town). I called to tell you that I could help you, but you hung up on me. :-(
I tried again, only to hear that you do not have access to information about my package and it's only provided to me as a courtesy, yet I did nothing to identify myself as the recipient other than entering the tracking number into the search field on your site. Go ahead, you try it, it's super easy. You too can pull the same info as me. I tried to explain this to you and even encouraged you to jump on the information super highway yourself to give it a whirl but you again hung up on me. Do you have an iphone 3g? Is that why our calls keep getting disconnected?
Long story short USPS, I would just like my niece to get her present before she goes to college. It's fair warning, she's only 1 now. I'm even willing to have you ship it back to the vendor (the vendor and i discussed this at length and she's TOTALLY cool about it). Heck, send it to me. I could probably hand deliver it faster. Or even, FEDEX it for guaranteed delivery. I mean, geez, with the cost of fuel and the airlines charging baggage (that's right airlines, stick it to us, we can fit everything into those damn terror-proof ziplock bags now anyway), I'm concerned you may be blowing your budget with all this volleying the country with my niece's present. In short USPS, I really just want to see the bright glowing 4 toothed smile of my 1 year old niece
For your convenience, I've pasted the details of this package's journey below.
Thanks and best,
Paula Gould
Consumer, Publicist, Aunty.
Ps. I think it goes without saying the shipping costs are on you. We could pretend it was the lottery and you could hand me a huge check for $5.95. But I may just be content on getting the damn package.
Label/Receipt Number: 9101 ... 4238 76
Detailed Results:
Bullet Processed, September 17, 2008, 4:45 pm, LOS ANGELES, CA 90052
Bullet Processed, September 15, 2008, 4:49 pm, NASHUA, NH 03062
Bullet Processed, September 14, 2008, 1:58 am, BOSTON, MA 02205
Bullet Processed, September 12, 2008, 6:54 pm, LOS ANGELES, CA 90052
Bullet Processed, September 10, 2008, 6:40 pm, NASHUA, NH 03062
Bullet Processed, September 10, 2008, 2:27 am, BOSTON, MA 02205
Bullet Processed, September 07, 2008, 11:54 pm, LOS ANGELES, CA 90052
Bullet Processed, September 06, 2008, 2:14 am, LOS ANGELES, CA 90052
Bullet Processed, September 05, 2008, 6:37 pm, LOS ANGELES, CA 90052
Bullet Processed, September 03, 2008, 6:26 pm, NASHUA, NH 03062
Bullet Processed, September 03, 2008, 2:12 am, BOSTON, MA 02205
Bullet Processed, September 02, 2008, 5:11 pm, NASHUA, NH 03063
Bullet Processed, August 31, 2008, 9:13 pm, NASHUA, NH 03062
Bullet Processed, August 29, 2008, 7:59 pm, LOS ANGELES, CA 90052
Bullet Processed, August 27, 2008, 6:33 pm, NASHUA, NH 03062
Bullet Processed, August 27, 2008, 1:01 am, BOSTON, MA 02205
Bullet Processed, August 25, 2008, 8:08 pm, LOS ANGELES, CA 90052
Bullet Processed, August 23, 2008, 9:07 pm, BOSTON, MA 02205
Bullet Electronic Shipping Info Received, August 21, 2008
Boston You're My Home...
We flew in over Minot’s Ledge . I smiled, nodded my head as we passed over it and said “ I Love You Too.” What a great welcome it was to see the Harbor this way, in the glow of the eastern morning light. Quickly I rifled through my purse to find my camera as I knew this meant we’d soon be over Hull and it’s a rare occasion that I can take a snapshot of the peninsula from the air. As we passed Boston Light, the windmill was in view and over the great wingspan of the plane I snapped a misty morning shot of the tranquil islands, of the Harbor and my home. In an hour I’d be at the other vantage point; walking the seawall, perhaps, watching the planes descend to the west, disappearing just beneath the Boston skyline.
The weekend was a flash to me, a blink, the flicker of an old film or one of those flip books from cracker jacks (back when there were cool prizes), that some how lifted me up and twirled me back down in Los Angeles in one breath. Good to be home albeit for a short time.
Tonight: METAPHYSICS, MYSTICISM AND MUD: AMERICAN STORIES FROM THE DEEP SOUTH
It's hot. What better way to cool down than with a thick meaty slice of watermelon and good art.
Tonight The Lowe Gallery in Santa Monica Presents the Opening reception for METAPHYSICS, MYSTICISM AND MUD: AMERICAN STORIES FROM THE DEEP SOUTH: AN EXHIBITION FEATURING ARTISTS ANDREW SAFTEL & KE FRANCES.
(KE FRANCIS DEBRIS: HOUSE AND TRAILER (15/20), 1989 LINOCUT 18 x 15 inches)
In addition to the amazing artwork, the American-South themed reception will feature daisy-duke clad dancers, soulful hip-hop, and Southern cuisine as well as fresh watermelon and bushels from the latest crops…all served with a mess of southern hospitality.
(ANDREW SAFTEL:WATER OVER THE BRIDGE, 2007 ACRYLIC & MIXED MEDIA ON PANEL 36 x 72 inches)
The Opening Reception is tonight Friday, June 15th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The exhibition continues through July 12, 2007 during regular gallery hours. LOWE GALLERY is located at 2034 Broadway St., Santa Monica, CA 90404. The gallery is open to the public on Tuesday-Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
(POLLY COOK:CITY ANGEL (DON'T PASS ME BY), 2007 CERAMIC TILE ON WOOD 46 x 23 inches)
Under the ownership and direction of Bill Lowe, The Lowe Gallery represents artists who share powerful and eloquent visions supported by a highly advanced mastery of their media. For additional information on the gallery, the public should visit www.lowegallery.com, or call 310-449-0184.
It Worked? That's Nuts!!
This is by far one of the coolest "grassroots" efforts I've come across recently. The people have spoken and they are nuts for Jericho!! Please excuse this bad pun, and all bad puns that follow in this blog; it's just too easy. Upon hearing the sad news that Jericho was canceled, fans took matters into their own hands. Rather than stalking CBS Brass outside the studio and throwing rotten eggs and tomatoes, fans launched an outrageously brilliant online campaign with nutsonline.com to inundate them with bags of nuts until they agreed to bring the show back on air. 40,000 bags of nuts later, CBS President Nina Tassler posted a note on the CBS JERICHO home page announcing the show has been renewed for 7 more episodes.
Read James Hibberd's article on TVWEEK.COM
Launching soon... impeachment by nuts. Jimmy Carter's down.
Let me just get it out of my system:
"they have them by the nuts"
"I can't believe that worked. That's Nuts!"
Jericho Back On Air. CBS Executive Overhead Yelling "Aw, Nuts!"
"That's a nutty way to save a show"
SXSWorld Magazine
If anyone happens to have a copy of SXSWorld Magazine, please proceed directly to page 26. I submitted an edited excerpt from my post-sxsw blog and they published it! Yeah! Go team. xop
SXSW--oBLOGatory Post Fest Recount
"This room is non-smoking, right?" I meekly inquire in a voice barely audible. The receptionist looks back at me, distracted and hesitating, "yes." I don't believe her. As I walk down the hall to room 106, slip the key card into the door, and step into the nicotine soaked air of my smoke-free room, I mentally wave a white flag and recall the tea bar I saw on my way in. Even the peppermint can't soothe away the days of beer, salsa and salted meats from my tender throat. Each swallow shreds and grates, summoning flashbacks of the previous nights, of me, enthusiastically shouting over crowds and bands and singing every word to every song before wooooing both the bands performance and my own.
The misadventures of my delayed arrival feel like weeks ago but still sting a bit nonetheless. I walked away from the Hilton, wounded by bad timing and with bags in tow to Emo's Jr. to see The Ponys; damned to let the annoyances of my travels further interfere with my evening. Now after midnight, my luggage served as my badge and I immediately sent texts alerting my friends of my whereabouts and continued on with the boys of OSLO to the Blender Bar for Albert Hammond, Jr., then... and so on before retiring back to the band house for a morning nap. Unlike last year, I didn't plan out every moment of my day and night, nor race from showcase to showcase. I simply happened upon many great performances and people, sharing moments with friends old and new, running into many serendipitously. SxSW is great that way.
MUSIC.COM had a successful adventure with the launch of the music download and ringtone store, a great day party and a warm reception from artists at the convention center. All four of OSLO's performances went well, Waves (Upstairs) particularly. The night sky was warm and open to us, and the room full and driven, with the band invigorating the audience and audience reciprocating the energy. Saturday's shows seemed to resonate with me better than any of the other nights, Kings of Leon at Stubb's standing out most among them.
The HEEB party was fun (HEEB parties always are), as were the SPIN and FILTER sponsored events. BLENDER House was nice, once we passed the pretense of the door shenanigans. Each night saw the beginning of the next day. Upon word the Maxim party was shutdown, an impromptu gathering with Music.com, Oslo, YOUTH GROUP, and several of our friends who had also found themselves at the Driskill, punctuated the pleasantries of the day by enabling conversation among us all. Seeing the live shows is what we were here for, but the opportunity to actually converse with, rather than shout over, those you were partying with, was an unexpected treat.
Today, with most everyone gone, the few of us lingering aimlessly wondered 6th street before inevitably retiring home for naps and comfort or to enjoy time alone. To end my adventure, I grabbed dinner and a drink at Chuy's with Arrica Rose, a Dot, and some Los Angeles ex-pats before leisurely strolling through the beautiful night back to the band house to pack up my things. The river was black and silent beneath my feet and the last bit of spontaneity in me wished I would cannonball the stillness of the water and that of the town. It's an amazing transition how quickly Austin returns to itself only hours after the chaos. There was a lull to the day today that left me sleepy and content and ready for home.
Cows, Hootenanny and OSLO, Oh My!
The question eliciting the shortest response this week would be "What ISN'T happening right now?" So much brewing...
GLEN WEXLER is currently featured on APPLE.COM's Start Page highlighting his new book The SECRET LIFE OF COWS. 
We hand delivered a 6' print of an image from the book, featuring a cow in a trebuchet about to be launched over a castle wall, to the Grail Theatre at the Wynn Las Vegas. The print will hang in the main hallway amidst the Monty Python artwork for the duration of Spamalot!!
MUSIC.COM, who you'll see in every peticab you get into at SxSW this week, will release their Artist-controlled music download / mobile download and customizable ringtone store Thursday (March 15). It rules, and makes it possible for the ARTISTS to get the most money for their music sales! 
MUSIC.COM has a booth at the convention center where bands will be performing and are sponsoring the High Wire Hootenanny day party Thursday at Habana Calle 6 from 12-5p.
OSLO, who just played an amazing show at The Viper Room in Los Angeles Monday, has new tracks posted to their MySpace and is down at SxSW (isn't everyone??) playing several shows this week:
Mar 15 2007 9:00P Waterloo Icehouse
Mar 16 2007 3:15P Music.com @Convention Center
Mar 17 2007 3:00P Dirty Dog Bar
Mar 17 2007 11:45P Waves (upstairs)/Texas Rock Fest
The album cover for Oslo's forthcoming release "The Rise and Fall of Love and Hate," shot by Glen Wexler is nearly complete.
Here's a fun wrap pic of a very disheveled me, Photographer Glen Wexler, "the talent" and Vu Ong from the set (shot by Carsten Steinhausen):
Reports from Austin soon...
OSLO Posts New Songs to MySpace
OSLO has posted 2 new songs off their forthcoming album "The Rise and Fall of Love and Hate," to their MySpace site!!! With the new album in the can and renowned photographer GLEN WEXLER shooting the album cover, "The Rise and Fall of Love and Hate" should garner a lot of attention lyrically, musically and visually!
Before embarking on their journey to Austin, TX for Texas RockFest and SXSW next week, Oslo will play BLAKES in Berkeley, CA on March 9 and the VIPER ROOM in Los Angeles on March 12th (10pm) as part of Indie 103's Presents.
Los Angeles Turned UK Band ORSON Take Home a Brit
Photo Credit:ORSON
Our long lost but never forgotten friends ORSON took home a Brit [last] week for Best International Breakthrough Artist!!! Though their music is now available in the US on iTunes and their single "No Tomorrow" became the most downloaded Single of the Week in Apple's iTunes history, they've yet to break through the often fickle US market. The last year and a half has seen Orson touring worldwide with the likes of Duran Duran and Robbie Williams before headlining their own tour in 2006.
Things seem to be coming together Finally. I wonder if those of us back in the States that have anxiously anticipated their return home, perhaps, with this new found and overdue accolade will finally be treated a US Tour?? I suppose we will see.
You can see them accepting their award, posted on their MySpace Blog HERE
Please also visit Orson's Official Site
Originally posted Feb. 15, 2007
Welcome to my BlogSpot!
I'm rarely at a loss for words, or opinions for that matter. So, why not start a blog, right? I already chat up a storm as it is and am finally getting my act together on my own site.xo—P
Originally posted Jan. 10, 2007