I.U.P.G. (International Union of Professional Grandpas)

 

https://www.obama.org/visit/

The phrase "I know it when I see it" was used in 1964 by United States Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart to describe his threshold test for obscenity in Jacobellis v. Ohio. In explaining why the material at issue in the case was not obscene under the Roth test, and therefore was protected speech that could not be censored, Stewart wrote: 

I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description ["hard-core pornography"], and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it, and the motion picture involved in this case is not that.

The expression became one of the best-known phrases in the history of the Supreme Court. Though "I know it when I see it" is widely cited as Stewart's test for "obscenity", he did not use the word "obscenity" himself in his short concurrence, but stated that he knew what fit the "shorthand description" of "hard-core pornography" when he saw it.

Ok, my turn: "I know a good man when I see one." ~ TomCapone.com 

It is Father's Day 2026. Today is the first Father's Day for my oldest son, Tom. My other son Robert now has two Father's Days under his belt. Tommy and Bobby both had sons born just this past Christmas. So now I'm a Professional Grandpa three times over. Theo, then Graham, then Otto. All family names. 

I just received this note from one of my team leaders at STRATUSstaff.com (one of my companies).

Just wanted to wish you a Happy Father's Day. You have been such a great Father to your Sons and a great Grandpa to your grandsons. Aside from being an amazing husband to Dianne, you are a great mentor/teacher and leader as well. You have given me an opportunity to fulfill my lifelong dream, being a Webmaster. Your teachings and advices are well appreciated and it's written all over different places :D (Notebook, online, my phone/desktop and in me literally). I am grateful and Blessed to have such an amazing boss and to be part of STRATUSstaff.com. Enjoy this special day with your Family sir. Happy Sunday and Happy Father's day. Salute!

Because I run the Distance Learning Association, I am constantly surrounded by teachers, trainers, coaches, mentors. Leaders Worth Following. Our Coffee In the Clouds video podcasts now reach millions, and we just went live with SiriusXM and Audible platforms. We are democratizing education on a global basis via disruptive technology. 

I just learned that we shall be broadcasting LIVE from The Obama Presidential Center later this year. And how did this happen? Someone told someone to check out www.CoffeeInTheClouds.com  Here is my Professional Grandpa quote for this Father's Day 2026:

"I'll probably never become a Billionaire. The odds are against it. But I can live my life in such a way, and run my companies with a culture so that everyone is rooting for me. Remember that money is just a tool to be used to do good works. Unused tools will get rusty." 

I'm in a great mood right now as I'll see my three grandsons tomorrow. I leave you with this on Father's Day 2026: Teach everything you know. Pay it forward. Be the boss that you wish you had. And remember - everyone you meet in life (especially at work) is someone's grandchild. 

Got this card today - thanks Ann! 

When was the first hello?

 If you are reading on a mobile device, hold in landscape mode.

It was January 2024 when I got the first 'hello' from the folks at Rocware. Basically, they had a brand that was new to North America but NOT new to the world. 

The New York METRO Distance Learning Association was born in the five boroughs of New York City in 1983. Pre-Internet. The Big Apple. The Center of the Known Universe. You know, the Home of the NBA Champion New York Knicks (first time in half a century). 

The 'ask' was to allow Rocware to be a Sponsor of the Distance Learning Association. And the first step was to 'send me your stuff' so that I can see it for myself. If we (the DLA) are going to sell, market, promote (any) product, service, book, course - anything - we need to know what we are talking about. So, the next thing you know there was a UPS truck in my driveway with 'one of everything' in the Rocware product line. 

Personally, I have been selling, marketing, promoting (and using) telecom and technology since the 70s. In the 80s I was the 3rd person in the USA to sell 'Car Phones' when the NYNEX Mobile system first went LIVE in the NY CGSA (New York Cellular Geographic Service Area. But I always had a rule: I use what a sell and I sell what I use. It never feels right to use Product A and then to SELL Product B. 

Very quickly I saw that Rocware was the best technology that no one ever heard of. (Yet). So, yes we became a RESELLER of Rocware and we became a Tier 1 ELITE partner. The first Rocware Platinum Level Reseller in North America. Rocware became Slide 1 on the NYDLA.org website, and we got busy telling the world to GetRocware.com 

Did I mention that the New York Knicks just won the NBA Championship Title for the first time in 53 years? They won in 1973 - and now again in 2026. 

Last night, the Knicks BRAND won. This morning in my inbox was Seth Godin's blog about The Nature of Launch Day. And about brands. 

Back in January of 2024 the endorsement of the Distance Learning Association was deemed to be very valuable to the leadership of Rocware. When you go to a trade show and you see booth after booth after booth of vendors (competitors) they are all hoping to get your attention. They are all hoping that you give them attention, which becomes engagement, which hopefully becomes adoption and finally, utilization. 

But nothing happens without step one: attention. If I don't earn your attention, I cannot sell you anything. I can't teach you anything, either. 

For the past ten years (or more) the major telecom and technology industry trade shows have been a big part of the DLA community. After all, you cannot do anything 'remote' without technology. 

This month, we are inviting the world to meet NYDLAatInfoComm.com and to specifically meet the folks at the Rocware booth. We have sent a zero spam, 100% opt-in email campaign to the 174K+ K-20 schools across North America, specifically to the facilities managers of the NYDLA.org | NADLA.org schools. If they are going to get cameras for their schools, they need to GetRocware.com 

And so, at InfoComm 2026 we are (once again) doing our best to make Booth C8479 the 'hot' booth of the show. We are giving a $250 gift card to all NYDLA | NADLA members who stop by and say hello to Daniel Meaders of Rocware. We are also giving 1 year of Zoom for FREE with every new Rocware account that we activate. All things Rocware is a member benefit. 

I do hope that you read Seth Godin's blog today (actually, every day). But TODAY really fits the moment. When Seth talks about planting the right seeds in the right place being more important that hustling for noise - that is what today's Sunday Blog is all about. There will be 800+ exhibiting companies. That is 800+ booths competing for attention. I would make a safe bet that 90% of the major video conferencing brands to be staple at InfoComm. Especially the camera companies. 

We (the DLA) sell, marketing and promote the entire line cards of TD SYNNEX, Ingram Micro, D&H, Jenne, and more - all of the major technology distributors. For Rocware, our partnership with D&H allows us to service our 174K+ schools, 16K+ municipalities, 6K+ hospitals for all things Rocware. We are Tier 1 ELITE resellers (partners) for many brands. Like Zoom, or Verizon, or Logitech, or Lenovo. But we always have an opinion. 

It is 'fun' to tell someone to GetRocware.com - it is fun to put YOUR name behind a brand. To tell the world that - yes - we have every make and model of  (that) widget. Yes, we have the entire line cards of TD SYNNEX, Ingram Micro, D&H, Jenne, and more... but we have an opinion. Hey, have you ever heard of.... Rocware??? Oh man, let me tell you all about Rocware. I am putting my name and MY brand on the line, right?  From Seth's blog:

The focused work of a trade show, then, isn’t to maximize turnout. It’s to get the right people to come. Not just people who like to go first, but folks who are eager to give you the benefit of the doubt, and those that are focused on spreading the word. Not because it’s good for you, but because it’s good for them.

People like you.

www.GetRocware.com

My Trusty Wheel Horse: $2 per hour

The last time I was on a rider mower was... yesterday. Before that? 

1969 in Cedar Grove, New Jersey.

Wheel Horse is a highly regarded brand of vintage lawn and garden tractors first developed in 1946 by Elmer Pond in South Bend, Indiana. Famous for their exceptional build quality, rugged cast-iron parts, and versatility, these iconic red machines are popular among collectors and hobbyists today.

The Wheel Horse Legacy

The company started in a two-car garage, building walk-behind tractors. After a naming conflict with another company, it became "Wheel Horse" named for its ability to do steady, dependable "tractive work".

Acquisition: The brand was purchased by The Toro Company in 1986. Toro continued producing tractors bearing the Wheel Horse name until 2007.

Community: The brand boasts a massive following of restorers, with hubs like the RedSquare Wheel Horse Forum providing resources, model lists, and event schedules for enthusiasts.

Popular Models & Features

Wheel Horse became a staple for property owners because of its modular design, allowing a single tractor to act as a mower, snowblower, tiller, or bulldozer.

1960s: Classic short-frame and step-through models like the Lawn Ranger, Suburban, and the 1054 series set the standard for heavy-duty small tractors.

45 Bowden Road | Cedar Grove, New Jersey

I blogged on my Dad a few times over the years. He was an early adopter. Ours was the first house in Cedar Grove, New Jersey to have a burglar alarm, radio controlled garage doors, Color TV and whatnot. 

And we had a Wheel Horse. 

We lived at 45 Bowden Road, Cedar Grove, New Jersey. I just did a Google Maps with Satellite view (above) to see the yard that me and my Wheel Horse maintained. You can also see the Community Church of Cedar Grove right next door. My first paying customer. 

Yes while other kids were doing lemon aid stands, I was mowing lawns. $2 per hour. Me and my Wheel Horse. Well technically it was Dad's Wheel Horse. And his gas. But it was my money. The Entrepreneurship bug found me early. 

I loved riding that Wheel Horse. For me, it was like a Go Kart. And I got PAID to do it. At my highpoint, I had 9 paying customers on Bowden Road, but the Church was the best. I got $5 per mow.

Yesterday was my first time on a rider mower since the 60s. In Connecticut. My wife and I visiting our eldest son and our grandson. I offered to mow the lawn. No Charge. 

"No, Tommy, your money is no good here...."

Me and my Wheel Horse Ride Again!

{Speakers On}