In the first few years of our journey around the world we barely saw the inside of any airports. We were traveling mostly by train or bus overland – 18 months in Asia or 15 months in Latin America. But in the last couple of years, this has changed; we now spend quite a lot of time in airports crisscrossing the globe. And because our work is almost entirely online, wi-fi is one of the key things we look for in airports. Continue reading
Happy Earth Day, fellow Earthlings!!! We hope you all are taking a special moment today to honor and appreciate our special planet in whatever small or big way you can! Here at Boingo, we’re very passionate and serious about preserving, healing and respecting the Earth. Our in-office green efforts are guided by the Boingo Green Committee, which meets monthly to monitor the company’s progress on increasing efficiency in a variety of areas. We score our efforts using the Consumer Electronics Association’s (CEA) green assessment guide, and we’re always implementing new methods to improve. We’re proud of our employees for faithfully participating in the various everyday green initiatives at the office. Click here to read more about the green program at Boingo. While Earth Day is a great opportunity to formally celebrate our precious planet, we strive to practice green living each and every day. But there is so much more to be done, which is why we continue to research and learn more about new habits, initiatives and technologies that drive sustainability. Our hope is that more people and organizations across the globe will join us. How do you practice greener living on a daily basis? Here’s how ten members
In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, we’re honoring our favorite green organizations! These folks are superstars at educating the public about environmental issues, providing tips for everyday green living and working to heal the earth. Which green organizations do you follow? SmartPlanet offers environmental news and information across a wide spectrum of intersecting topics, including: technology, business, and life. They have an impressive editorial staff of seasoned writers from well-known publications such as ZDNet, Popular Mechanics, Entrepreneur, Discover Magazine, Nature and the Washington Post. Recently published articles that we enjoyed include “In growing cities, electric motorcycles, scooters to bridge gap” and “Los Angeles could use apartment rooftops for big solar gains.” Twitter handle: @SmartPlanet Join SmartPlanet on Facebook TreeHugger‘s stated aim is to drive “sustainability mainstream.” The organization has more than delivered on this promise to become one of today’s top-ranked media outlets covering green issues. Their sustainable living philosophy encompasses topics from transportation, science + technology, design + architecture, travel + nature, culture + celebrity, food + health, to business + politics. We particularly enjoy TreeHugger’s vast library of videos (in association with PlanetGreen) that features powerful messages about the negative consequences of global warming and green
The New York Times recently published an article which asked the question: Is fitness all in the genes? The article discusses a study which found that there are genes associated with people’s response to aerobic exercise. Although not mentioned in the piece, this study falls on the heels of another which found a gene that predisposes people to physical activity versus sedentary ones like sitting on the couch. Now, I’m all for science. We can learn wonderful things from research and sometimes there’s an immediate practical application. But there’s a case to be made for studies of this sort being kept under wraps. Here’s what I mean: It’s no secret that some of us like physical activity more than others. There are some of us who go nuts without it and there are some who will fight it to the death. And if there were a guarantee that we’d all turn into physical studs/studettes through exercise, more people would simply suck it up, do the work and wait for the results. But, again, it’s no secret – that may or may not happen. Everybody responds differently. So, a study that presents a reason for our lack of desire to exercise
Some of you have asked for a glimpse in the day of my workout life, and I’m happy to oblige. Here is a snapshot of how I balance my work (with Exceeding Expectations) and my workouts: The alarm rings at 5:00 a.m. I take a moment to luxuriate under the warm, cozy covers before tossing them off. By 5:30 I’m in the pool starting a 2500 yard swim, a speed workout consisting of short, fast intervals. Following the swim, I rush home for a quick breakfast and a little computer time, checking new messages that need immediate attention. Having taken care of the necessary business details, I pack up the bike and several gear bags and drive out to my favorite locale for some bike and run speed work. My bike ride includes both short, steep hills and long flat sections perfect for “redline” intervals. This ride takes about an hour and a half and is quickly followed by a run which includes a couple of extreme hills. It’s a short three-mile run but a toughie because it ends with an all-out one mile to the finish. A few minutes of stretching concludes the athletic portion of the day, and
This Saturday, March 5, a group of Boingo employees will gamely attempt their first triathlon in La Quinta, CA. These are folks who spend hours working as a group towards corporate goals. But this weekend, they’re laying it all out there – as a team – and shooting for personal fitness goals. When I joined the Boingo family, I brought along my belief that everyone can benefit from some sort of fitness program. However, I’m well aware that many folks find it a bit intimidating to start a fitness program. You’ll be happy to know that there’s a very good solution to that problem, and the Boingo folks are an excellent example. Being a part of a group and having a goal upon which the group is committed are two of the best possible motivators for getting into a fitness routine and sticking with it. – When you’re having an “off” day, someone who’s feeling strong will pull you along. You’ll do the same when it’s your “on” day. - You always know that others are counting on you: if you commit to meeting at the gym, you’re expected to show up. Whether you feel like getting out of bed
Here is the scene of one of my typical days twenty years ago: It’s 3:00 in the afternoon and I’m sitting in my office in downtown Los Angeles. I look out the window at the beautiful spring day and realize that this is the first time all day I’ve stopped to look outside. I’ve barely been out of the office for the last several days, and I likely won’t for several more, as I’m about to scramble to LAX to catch a plane for Boston. Once again I have that same pounding headache that seems to have become an afternoon fixture. Something about this scene had to change, and change it did! I didn’t just put down my briefcase immediately to do my first Ironman. It was a journey that started with baby steps. And with the first day of this morphing into a new me, I lost the headache, so I knew I was onto something good. One step at a time can lead you to wonderful places – sometimes to a place you had no idea you could reach. As a first step, I encourage you to turn on your television to NBC this Saturday afternoon, December 18th,
A few years ago, I decided it would be really fun to do a triathlon. Looking back, I’m not sure what aspect I thought would be fun – the freezing cold ocean swims I spent hoping I wouldn’t be eaten by a shark? The minor fortune I spent on equipment? The small death of embarrassment I endured each time I wiggled into to my Spandex training outfit? Hard to say. But I do know one thing that made my journey from novice to triathlete fun was that I got myself a darn good coach – Cherie Gruenfeld. Cherie Gruenfeld is one of the most decorated Master’s triathletes in the world today. She’s competed in twenty-three Ironman races, including the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii 17 times. Now, for the uninitiated, an Ironman triathlon is a study in insanity. It begins with a 2.4 mile swim, continues with a 112 mile bike ride, and concludes with a marathon. (Yes. All on the same day.) Cherie is a master at this particular form of crazy. She’s won the world title in her age group ten times and currently holds the world record for Women 65-69. She is the first female over 55
Here at Boingo, we’re all very passionate about protecting the environment and contributing to the community– both of which are everyday efforts for us. Recently, CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) showcased our environmental and community initiatives in this blog article. Highlights: “For Hagan [our CEO] and Boingo, going green is really all about incrementally doing the right things.” “The [Green Boingo Employee] committee started by implementing a few simple wins – quick changes that yielded real results. Among the first was removing old lighting and replacing it with light emitting diode (LED) light bulbs which both consume less energy and last longer than traditional light bulbs. Another was the elimination of plastic water bottles in favor of the office water cooler and the substitution of coffee mugs for paper cups.” “[Boingo] was equally committed to showing the community and its customers what it means to be green. The company teamed up with California Recycles in 2009 and was able to recycle hundreds of pounds of electronic waste including items like batteries, cell phones, keyboards and mice, old computers and computer monitors.” “On the customer side, Boingo created a unique promotion for Earth Day 2009 where they offered to donate 10 percent
Here at Boingo, we’re not just about gadgets and Wi-Fi — we also dabble in the enjoyment of art. The graffiti painting above is the first thing you see when you enter our lobby in Los Angeles. Several more aerosol-painted canvases adorn the walls throughout our office, infusing the work environment with color and creativity. The artists behind these works? Teenagers and young adults (no, we don’t feel humbled or anything ) who are part of the ArtStorm Art Community, a non-profit organization that provides young artists with the materials and studio space to create their work. By encouraging and nurturing the creative endeavors of young folks, ArtStorm keeps them off the streets and away from crime. And that’s why we folks here at Boingo feel extra good about the masterpieces around the office — as a patron, we’re contributing to the funds necessary for art supplies, studio space, and mentorship programs at ArtStorm. Check out this video tour of the fabulous paintings around our office. Bonus: Boingo team members share their interpretations of the artwork. Tour the ArtStorm gallery on Flickr. Read more about Boingo’s partnership with ArtStorm here. If you or your company is interested in supporting ArtStorm,
Friends of Boingo: I’d like to extend a big thank you to each of you who supported the Haiti relief efforts, whether it was through a channel we brought to your attention or any other channel you discovered on your own. It’s heartening to see such generosity and goodwill in a time of tragedy. I am awed by the outpouring of support from within the Boingo community. For us, this effort is still underway. As you may know, Boingo has made a financial commitment to Doctors Without Borders. For the month of February, a portion of all Boingo sales will be donated to this great organization to aid their work in Haiti. This is in addition to nearly 1 million ads for the Red Cross that we have served in our North American airports. Again, thank you for your support in this time of need. Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims and responders, both in Haiti and around the world, and our gratitude is extended to you. Best regards, Dave
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