Meet the Founder, Bill Corbin > Avatar Tommy oldtoot
Tommy Oldtoot Explained
According to Bill Corbin's wife of MANY years, the BarkBack Institute is the perfect project for a man still brimming with creative (aka strange, offbeat, "OMG now what?") ideas, seasoned with increasing signs of grumpy-old-man syndrome. Tommy Oldtoot just seems right.
Serious Concern re: tODAY'S Shortage of Laughter
Bill Corbin is happy to say he is part of a family that believes in the power of shared laughter. He contributes personally when he can, going so far as riding his inflatable unicorn in the Penaluna, CA Unicorn Parade organized by his also-wacky daughter Kim. (See iSkip.com for her worldwide try at Joy spreading.
A Career filled with Ideas to Help His Fellow Man
Some of the initiatives aimed at identifying need and creatively helping:
- Observing that "average" people have a tough time in the traditional resume and job search process, Corbin pioneered the Creative Resume and Job Search. (Published and a niche best seller called "The Edge Resume and Job Search Strategy"
- Observing that the traditional book publishing industry was almost impossible to scale for new writers, Corbin became an early pioneer in Self-Publishing.
- Learning of the challenges of working through grief, Corbin partnered with an innovator in grief therapy to create the magazine Bereavement, still operating online, HQ in Colorado.
- Observing the ability of conmen to exploit new homeowners, created Unified Neighbors an information referral system that evolved into Angie's List and now the national firm ANGI.
and now worrying about barking dogs?
Okay, barking dogs make Corbin grumpy, but this project was originally intended to be a laughter-source... and hopefully still is. But even scratching at the surface, we learned that for many people, and for many reasons, dog noise is a serious matter. So we'll try to laugh and help in tandem for this one.
The Founder's DOG credentials & experience
Inventor of an Iconic Phrase
Don't Mess with My Son Either
Inventor of an Iconic Phrase
Approximately 1966, Corbin traverses a county road daily on long commute. Every day, large, fearsome sounding dog chases his car, as if planning to bite off its tires. One day, Corbin stops. rolls down window. Dog barks excitedly for a few moments. They make eye contact. Corbin says, "Hi, howz it going?" (not yet having developed his own bark). Dog looks bewildered. Goes and sits down. The first known "Dog that caught the car, and didn't know what to do with it.
Don't mess with leroy
Don't Mess with My Son Either
Inventor of an Iconic Phrase
Approximately 1971, Corbin visiting old home town, still parents' home. Sisters' beagle Leroy is in the back yard. Huge boxer comes out of nowhere and attacks Leroy viciously. Corbin (younger, stronger and demonstrating more Adrenalin than common sense) picks up the boxer by its collar, swings it full circle three times and flings it about 20 feet whereupon it lands upside down in an undignified heap for a formerly alpha-assuming canine. And it slinks off yelping.
Don't Mess with My Son Either
Don't Mess with My Son Either
Don't Mess with My Son Either
Approximately 19888, 12 year old son is mowing the family lawn. Neighbor's unleashed cross between Rin Tin Tin and a mountain wolf, decides to terrorize my son, in our yard, doing a chore it was hard to inspire him to do (but that's another story). Irish temper explodes again. Run straight at the dog, growling and yelling like a crazy man. Dog holds its ground for a few OMG seconds but turns and runs home just as I'm about to... I had no idea what.
Learning to Speak Dog
The Institute is born!!
Don't Mess with My Son Either
To demonstrate my core personal kindness toward dogs, I can point out that I have now begun barking with dogs in the spirit of light repartee when I take neighborhood walks. I have noted that most dogs are pleasant guys or gals who are willing to share a bark with their human neighbors. Speaking of neighbors, some of mine watch me and shake their head and mumble, "The poor bastard..." not realizing that the skills are being developed that will lead the BarkBack Institute to world leadership in this vital field. ("and delusional, too, " the skeptics mumble_)
Owner Feeling the Pain
The Institute is born!!
The Institute is born!!
Approximately 1992. Same dog that terrorized my son. Left out all night, barking loud enough constantly enough that my wife and I can't sleep. The dead in our nearby cemetery probably can't sleep. Our neighbors apparently can sleep. I call him up -- about 3:30 a.m.He answers sleepily. I say, "Just wanted you to hear what we hear."
(Note: this graphical depiction is not correct. I was holding the phone in my bedroom, the dog's booming bark resounding through our walls and returning to my neighbor's ears in his bedroom. That, my friends, is a loud fracking dog.
The Institute is born!!
The Institute is born!!
The Institute is born!!
As you can see from the timeline, I have had no meaningful interaction with dogs in several years, except for friendly social barking. I know my past is spotty, combinations of temper and weirdness. Many feel that my social barking today is a sign of gears slipping somewhere. But I tell you that were it not for these experiences, I would not be prepared to lead the BBI today-- AND it is another bark-off at the back fence, literally, that has energized me today. I'll keep you posted on progress... but he's tough border collie and a worthy BarkBack opponent.