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Sebastian Coss

Welcome to my launch pad

Posts

  • August 29, 09:01 PM

    Island Hopping -- Day on Spectacle Island

    Headed out to the Boston Harbor Islands this weekend. Spent the day on Spectacle Island since I had been reading about it's reclamation as part of the Big Dig and had to check it out for myself. Pretty incredible that only a couple of years ago it was a polluted mess off-limits to the public. A similar story to the Rose Kennedy Greenway...two positive outcomes from the Big Dig that are starting to show signs of a worthwhile investment.

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  • August 15, 09:01 PM

    Good Things from Brooks

    Well this weekend was a tax holiday here in Massachusetts, so I went and got myself some long overdue running shoes. The shin splints my old pair were giving me had reached an unbearable crescendo, so off I went to the store. Snagged myself some snazzy new Brooks -- thought I would share the statement I found on the tissue paper wrapping the shoes. Definitely enjoy the "Goodbye, shoe stuffing!" sentiment. Long live mother nature indeed.

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  • August 01, 05:07 PM

    Great Advertising by @Zipcar

    Wandered into the disco-frenzy that is the Donkey Show last night (free admission after 11:00 pm) just as the air was filled with a fluttering cloud of neon-coloured paper butterflies. With the massive disco ball going full out, the tunes blasting and the the actors writhing to the beat it was quite the scene. However, as the butterflies slowly came to rest on the floor I noticed that they seemed to have writing on one side -- on closer inspection it turned out to be a promo for some Zipcar driving credit. Pretty slick guys. Very groovy.

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  • July 24, 08:00 AM

    iPhone 4 Case Program. Available now.

    When Apple announced recently that they would be giving out free bumpers to help alleviate concerns voiced regarding the device's reception I admit I was curious to see how they would go about it. Would we be talking bins of bumpers at your local Apple store? Or having to show assorted paperwork to prove ownership as so many other companies demand when processing rebates? None of the above it turns out -- you just download an app and you are good to go. Criminally easy; effortlessly elegant. Typical.

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  • July 19, 07:18 PM

    Creativity: Harry Nilsson's 'The Point'

    Was home the other day and found myself unable to sleep. Flipped through some of the LPs my mom had around and stumbled across an old favorite: Nilsson's 'The Point'. Since digital recordings are rare, and vinyls rarer still I thought I would photograph the accompanying storybook to share.

    Used to love listening to records as a kid that had flipbooks as part of their jackets. Obviously the Point has a slightly more adult target audience, but ultimately anyone can enjoy. Love my iPhone and it's endless MP3s, but sometimes I wish I had a record player around the house.

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  • July 13, 09:08 PM

    Unique Espresso Machine by Presso

    This amazing machine arrived yesterday just in time for my birthday courtesy of Holstee's curated offerings. What a nifty device.

    Designed and produced by Presso it is an Espresso machine in it's purest form; powered by a bit of elbow grease. Very satisfying way to make a great cup of coffee. Doesn't hurt that it's quite the looker as well -- it's distinctive shape and gleaming metal exterior immediately draws the eye. I am definitely looking forward to experimenting with my new 'award winning non electric coffee maker'

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  • July 11, 10:23 PM

    Birthdays Web 2.0 Style

    The Internet has often been called the great-leveler. If that is true, then Twitter is its ultimate realization [so far]. I had the good fortune to attend a cooking class this weekend at Myers + Chang in the South End and during the course of conversation I happened to mention that both myself and my girlfriend had birthday's coming up. Just once, a quick comment. Got this tweet later that day. Sure it's just a single line of text, but it feels more significant, more personalized, than just getting a free desert & a song from the waitstaff. It is precisely this sort of social media savvy that separates the companies that get it from those who just don't. Being social is about much more than just having a Facebook account and writing a blog post from time to time -- its about building relationships & facilitating dialogue. Both of these in turn help turn customers into champions, and next thing you know, you've got someone like me handing out free publicity just because I was so jazzed by my experience.

    You can find Myers + Chang on Twitter here, and while I am singing their praise, I have to recommend that you check out their Oyster Oblivion every Sunday from 8 - 10 pm. It's $1 oysters from Island Creek [Duxbury, MA] and $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon tall boys [pint size]. Need I say more?

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  • July 09, 08:00 PM

    An Encroaching Sea -- at Nauset Beach

    Found time over the July 4th weekend to swing down to the Cape and visit one of my favorite places -- the family camp out at Nauset Beach. As is par for the course the landscape was dramatically altered, and unfortunately, the ocean had managed to inch even closer. The storms that ate away at the beach also managed to deposit a large quantity of sand under the beach house. Now a house that used to have space for a grown man to stand under is barely three feet off the ground. Strange sight to be sure. Check out my previous post here from just a year ago to get a feel for the change Nauset is undergoing.

    Best part though? Sitting on the deck looking out towards the shoreline watching 15+ firework displays play out across the horizon. Good times.

    Permalink | Leave a comment  »

  • July 03, 12:55 PM

    "The Right Mat" -- Upcycled Ingenuity

    Spotted this door mat the other day, love how it repurposes old fishing ropes to make what is both an attractive & extremely durable product. Not to mention it comes with a bit of "save the whales" feed goodness [ropes used are of the older floating variety which would entangle Right Whales]. Always good to see things upcycled -- like the Holstee shirt I wrote on recently. We've already got so much crap hanging around; might as well creative new uses for it instead of pushing our landfills to a breaking point.

    Okay, getting off my soap box now. Have a great July 4th!*

    *(where applicable)

    Permalink | Leave a comment  »

  • June 27, 07:37 AM

    Home for a Wedding

    Headed out Western Mass way this weekend to participate in the marriage of my dad and Suzanne Love. It was a beautiful ceremony held in their lovely backyard. A friend officiated; my brother provided the live music; family read poems; and I gave the toast. An overall wonderful day with some amazing eats on hand.

    It also served as a great opportunity to test out the legs on my new iphone 4's camera. A definite improvement over the previous one. Still not fully at the level of a point & shoot though.

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  • June 25, 05:31 AM

    An Apple Addiction

    So it happened. As expected, I caved and spent two hours in line yesterday evening to get a new iPhone 4. It was a tedious wait for what ended up being a painless 10 minute set-up / configuration. Overall am very impressed with Apple's handling of this launch. And man is thing cool!

    Now this might be something only a fellow iPhone owner might appreciate, but I took the picture here in a nearly pitch black room! That would have been unthinkable on the 3Gs. Camera = vastly improved. Same story with battery life (significantly better), the 'retina' display (gotta see it to believe it), and so on.

    Only quibbles so far: flat & square looks very cool, but makes holding the phone during a call somewhat awkward, and I've found that the beast gets a bit warmer to the touch than my old one. First complaint may go away with the time, as to the second one, I guess I will see. Either way the pros far outweigh the cons by a huge margin. Or maybe that is just my apple addiction talking...

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  • June 20, 08:37 AM

    Plastic T-Shirt by the Green Tee

    Picked up this shirt yesterday at City Sports in downtown Boston. Pretty innovative product -- its constructed of 65% recycled cotton and 35% polester derived from recycled plastic bottles. And for good measure the lettering is printed with soy based ink. Along with the green credentials its really friggin' comfortable to boot. Similar in feel to my Holstee, which also derives its fabrics from reclaimed plastic. Very comfortable stuff, although I have yet to really put either to a longevity test as both are relatively recent acquisitions. Sure we will be seeing more & more of these kind of products moving forward.

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  • June 14, 08:51 PM

    Saddleback's Gateway Drug

    I only just wrote a glowing review of my new iPad Sleeve purchased from Saddleback Leather the other day. When I bought my sleeve one had to navigate through a couple of sub-menus to find the simply named "Gadget Pouch" -- it was actually a bit hidden. 

    Found myself on their site yesterday and noticed that the newly renamed "iPad Sleeve" had moved to the top of the product list and now proudly called itself "Saddleback's Gateway Drug". Considering that I was on the site to look at their wallets, and that I ended up buying one of them later that day, I think I can attest the accuracy of that statement. Good move on their part to increase the visibility of what is perhaps one of the best cases on the market for the wildly popular iPad. 

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  • June 10, 09:05 PM

    Just Joined the Tom's Club

    Held out on buying a pair of Tom's for a while now, but as the weather has moved from Springtime uneasiness to consistently beautiful Summertime the rationale has developed for some light canvas shoes. I mean the things weight practically nothing and are not really designed with inclement weather in mind, but man are they comfortable. These nearly flat soled slipons are somehow more comfortable then my way too expensive Nike running shoes -- starting to think there is some truth to the whole "run barefoot movement".

    All that aside, Tom's are also a fantastic buy for the philanthropic minded amongst us as the company will donate one pair of shoes to the needy for each purchased. They call it their One for One Movement, and it is definitely something I can feel pretty good about supporting. Not that any of this is breaking news -- Tom's has been at this for some time now -- but I would be remiss to not mention it. So go ahead and check them out. Your feet will thank you.

    Permalink | Leave a comment  »

  • June 03, 10:01 PM

    Saddleback Leather iPad Sleeve

    This thing rocks. 

    Buying a case is never easy -- the market is simply flooded with the worthless and banal. Finding the best one can then truly be like looking for a needle in a haystack. This normally dismal state of affairs is only compounded with the iPad; a product for which the majority of cases now available were designed by people who never held one when penning their designs. And it shows. Apple's case bucks this trend -- its both multi-functional and sensible -- however, it has a 3 - 4 week waiting period for delivery.

    Can't remember where exactly I stumbled across Saddleback Leather -- I assume it was during one of my blitzes digging through listings of iPad cases. What a find. The site has the look & feel of their products: a mix between rugged cowboy gear and the kind of leather bound books you find deep in a library's stacks. Before shopping I suggest you take a second to read their story, and for all you dog lover's 'In Memory of Blue' is not to be missed.

    Pictured here is my Large Carbon Black Gadget Sleeve that I selected after some deliberation. I must admit, the personality traits laid out under the Common Questions tab is what ultimately helped my make my decision. This thing is pretty serious leather. It feels amazing -- at once strong while also surprisingly soft to the touch. The build quality is remarkable, and then there is the smell. Man this thing kicks off that distinctive smell of hide -- leave it in a small room for a while and pretty soon it starts to smell like a tannery. Very cool. And you gotta love that slogan: "The'll Fight Over It when You're Dead".

    Did I mention that the customer service was amazing? Had a pretty hilarious email exchange with them myself. And when I opened the box...there was a free keychain with that same high quality leather. Nice surprise. I will definitely be keeping these guys top of mind for future purchases.

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  • May 31, 09:39 PM

    Fun at LAX

    Download now or watch on posterous
    IMG_0677.MOV (2406 KB)

    Flew out of LAX yesterday as I finally made my way home after a week on the road when I saw a picture of LAX at a distance that seemed to be attracting more interest than one might expect. Wandered over and shot this quick video -- funny to see both kids & adults getting into the game. Fun with technology.

    Interesting to note that just a couple of years ago one would only find this sort of display in a science museum -- now it is being used to bolster the reputation of an airport short on friends. Ultimately I support anything that makes going to the airport even slightly more bearable.

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  • May 29, 01:41 PM

    In LA

    After a whirlwind week in Vegas I now find myself in LA -- a city I have passed through many times but have never before spent any time wandering around. It couldn't have come at a better time either -- am seriously in need of some cultural debrief after spending days in the belly of a Vegas casino without seeing the sun. [ Just as a disclaimer, I was there working at the Forrester IT Forum and actually didn't gamble at all until I found myself at the slots near my departure gate at LAS ] Regardless it was a draining experience that left me craving real experience -- Vegas it just too fake for my liking. Should mention here, based on some feedback I've gotten on this post, that I view LA as a very real city that is inhabited by a large population of fake people. Vegas on the other hand, feels entirely made-up -- people and buildings alike. Take a quick drive through LA and I think you will quickly see what I mean.

    Was great then to step off the plane in LA yesterday, immediately meet up with my friend Peter and spend the evening exploring some of the city. After a breakfast burrito this morning I am finally feeling sorted -- back to normal post the oddity that was Vegas. Gonna do some wandering today, and the Soho House tonight. Then it's back to Boston. 

    On that note, just gotta mention that this entire trip has been made about 10x better by my iPad -- it's the best traveling companion short of a human that you could ask for.

    Permalink | Leave a comment  »

  • May 23, 07:54 PM

    @Foursquare Badges are Genius


    Foursquare - the rapidly growing location based service -- has got a bunch of great things going for it. High on my list amongst them are the badges -- just got the "I'm on a Boat" this weekend -- pretty awesome.

    Permalink | Leave a comment  »

  • May 15, 06:40 PM

    Backyard Gardening: Planting Time

    The project continues! Today was planting time. Good to be outside and get my hands in the dirt. Also carved out a new plot that I think should get a bit more sunlight than the first one -- better for some of the plants that require a full regemint of rays.

    Will be interesting to see what takes hold in the coming weeks. That is, if the insane weeds don't overrun our garden.

    Permalink | Leave a comment  »

  • May 11, 07:57 PM

    Upcycling in Style

    Recently got my Upcycled Holstee -- very neat concept. Basically you select a print, they hand make-it on a carefully selected upcycled shirt and presto: a wholly unique item. We need more of this -- we have made incredible strides over the last decades bringing recycling into the mainstream, however, it is only kicking the can down the road -- we need to figure out how to really reduce our consumption. Take paper for example, were a recycled life-span could look something like this:

    1. High quality paper stock
    2. Recycled paper towels [typically lower quality]
    3. Composite cardboard containers 
    4. Paper pulp [bonding agent]
    5. Propellant 

    What we call recycling should more accurately be called down-cycling. We are stretching the lifespan of a product, but it is still an end sum game that sees us continuing to need an ever increasing harvest of resources. 

    Something like the Upcycled Holstee is a small step; but its the kind of small steps we can all be making.

    Permalink | Leave a comment  »

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Profile

Sebastian Coss

Account Development Manager at Forrester Research
Information Technology and Services | Greater Boston Area, US

Summary

Client & Project management primarily with websites & Internet based applications.

Prefer to be hands-on and in a position to interact with clients both internally and externally on a daily basis.

Thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative setting that constantly pushes me to preform in new & innovative ways.

Completed a two-year stint in Germany where I studied at the European School of Business in Reutlingen, Germany in conjuncture with my International Business program from Northeastern University in Boston, MA.
Specialties: Account Development, Client Satisfaction, Training Program Creation & Implementation, Digital Strategy, Intermediate understanding of Internet coding (HTML, CSS, etc)

Experience

  • Jul 2010 - Present

    Account Development Manager / Forrester Research

    Servicing and selling to IT Professionals
  • Mar 2009 - Present

    Architecture & Strategy Consultant / Sebastian Coss Consultancy

    Continuation of previous employment with Philips Healthcare as a sub-contractor on a part-time basis
  • Jul 2009 - Jul 2010

    Client Services / Forrester Research

    Worked to connect our clients to the industry's leading research and analysts
  • Feb 2008 - Mar 2009

    Web Knowledge Architect / Philips Healthcare

    Ensured the timely and orderly launch of a knowledge sharing platform, the Philips Healthcare Intelligence Desktop [PHID], to over 1000 users in North America, Europe, Middle East and Asia

    Member of multi-nationality core decision-making PHID Project Team based out of Böblingen, German which oversaw End-to-End development cycle
  • Aug 2006 - Aug 2007

    Advertising Manager / The Northeastern News (Now the Huntington News)

    Responsible for selling of ad space to both local business & national agencies to ensure the newspaper maintained a consistent revenue stream
  • Jan 2006 - Aug 2007

    Barista / Starbucks Coffee Company

    Great place to learn how to stay cool under intense pressure.
  • Jan 2007 - Jun 2007

    Junior Project Manager / Banta Internet Solutions (Now RR Donnelley)

    Managed team responsible for the upkeep of the HP Graphic Arts portal website
  • Aug 2006 - May 2007

    Resident Assistant / Northeastern University

    Responsible for health & well being of 40+ Freshman Residents in Kennedy Hall.
  • May 2006 - Aug 2006

    Telephone Sales Associate / Handel and Haydn Orchestral Society

    Established relationships with potential and returning customers during the subscription process to produce consistently positive sales figures
  • Jan 2005 - Apr 2005

    Alumni Outreach Specialist / Northeastern Telefund

    Responsible for reaching nightly fundraising goals by cold-calling Northeastern Alumni
  • Aug 2004 - Nov 2004

    Precinct Manager & Canvasser / MoveOn.org

    Worked in both Boston, MA & St. Petersburg, FL leading up to the 2004 Presidential Election

Education

  • 2007 - 2009

    Hochschule Reutlingen

    Bachelor of Science in International Business (Diplom-Betriebswrit) in International Business
    Activities: American Club -- provide advice and assistance through once-weekly meetings between American and German students who will go on exchanges to the respective schools during their studies.
  • 2004 - 2009

    Northeastern University

    BSIB - Marketing in Marketing, German
    Activities: Co-Advertising Manager of The Northeastern News, Resident Assistant in Kennedy Hall, International Business Club

Additional information

Websites:
My Website, Forrester Research, Forrester's Communities
Interests:
Technology, both old and new. The Internet, and the ways in which it is constantly changing how we live, interact and communicate with one another. Trains, Automobiles and the advances in both areas. Guilty of constantly refreshing the Autopia blog from Wired, Gizmodo and my Twitter while meant to be doing other things. Traveling, preferably in a non-traditional manner. Snowboarding. Sharing and Learning new ideas. More recently: Politics.
Résumé