Redwood Forest

We visited a redwood forest in California near Santa Cruz last weekend. I've always know that Redwoods are absolutely huge and really old (boy both of those statements are really understated!), but I there are a number of really other interesting facts about Redwoods.

With all the news of forest fires in the West these days my first thought was that these trees would get demolished. But it turns out that they only grow in a narrow 20 mile band between the ocean and the mountains and thus in the winter there is a lot of rain, and in the summer there is a lot of fog. So the soil and the trees are pretty much damp year round. But then even if they do catch fire, the sap is not as highly flammibe as other trees…the bark will catch fire but rarely will it go further and the tree will repair itself.

Brands that are Product Categories

I read an article today http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/23/dells-main-category-sinking-and-taking-brand-with-it/ that listed Apple, Nike and Kleenex on the same line as being product categories. As strong as the brands Apple and Nike are, they are not at the same level as Kleenex. They do not yet represent the category of products and in fact a marketing organization has big challenges when the brand does reach that status. People ask for a Kleenex in place of a tissue… people no longer understand that Kleenex is a brand. The marketers at Kleenex have a tough time defending their trademark because of this.

The marketers at Nike and Apple do not have the same problem. No one confuses the difference between athletic shoes/apparel and Nike. No one confuses consumer electronics as a category with the brand Apple. While both companies may want to define their product categories, there is simply too much competition for that to happen.

Warren

Warren Pennsylvania is a small town in northwestern PA about 60 miles east of Erie, 100 miles south of Buffalo and 150 miles north of Pittsburgh. This is where I grew up, and I recently attended my 20th high school reunion. Although the food was absolutely terrible I had a great time seeing former classmates again. Funny how people go with different names these days- Liz vs Beth, Geno vs Sean...

I was one of those people who had come from a long way away- Seattle. Also there were people from San Diego, Orange County CA, and Colorado. Most people there were from the East Coast and most were still in PA...

I picked up the Reagan Diaries book on the way to Pennsylvania. I think a lot of people are nostalgic about the days of Reagan, but its funny how tacky he was, how easy to cry he was, how every time Nancy left the White House on her own he remarked that he was lonesome. Those times were different.

Vegas Bound

Heading to Las Vegas tomorrow for a week long business trip that will also include a number of fun events. I'm most excited about Thursday next week when I'll have a "day of leisure" and have chosen to do some cycling in Red Rock Canyon. The Red Rock Resort and Casino offers a package deal where you spend two nights at the hotel and then test out Lew Racing 880 gram PRO VT-1 wheel set on a Cannondale bike. If you end up buying a wheel set, you get $500 off. Now let me make one thing clear: I do not currently race cycles. I am in fact a mediocre rider at this point. But I am also a hopeless tech junkie, so naturally this offer is appealing to me. So I will do my best to attempt to try these wheels out, and compare them to my current non-racing wheels. I figure that since I've gained 15 pounds since buying my bike in 2002, putting lighter faster wheels on it can't hurt right? Famous last words.

Hotel 1000 Review

A great hotel on First Avenue in Seattle. Pulled up to the door at 3:30 and someone greeted us right away. In fact, they saw Lucy and asked “Is this Lucy?” at which time Lucy of course started wagging her tail and soliciting pats.

Check in was a breeze- Lane took care of the details while Lucy and I hung back a bit. The bellman gave Lucy plenty of pats.

Room 610... they have a cool key system where you only have to get the key close to the door to open the lock. We walked in and there was a bowl for food and water waiting for Lucy. There was also a dog bed that was a bit too small for Lucy, though she didn’t seem to mind.

Nice amenities- great “Hair wash” (this place is way to hip to call it shampoo). The very large tub has an interesting way for water to stream in- it comes via a spout coming out of the ceiling.

The food downstairs in the bar was excellent... we started with two very small crabcake cupcakes, followed by a Mac and cheese appetizer and a grilled gruyere cheese sandwich with Tomato bisque...

Lucy and the Paparazzi

My fiancée and I live with the most camera shy dog ever. The thing is Lucy is the cutest dog ever. No seriously…four out of five dentists actually voted her in. And let's face it the fifth dentist was in the bottom of his class so how smart could he possibly be anyway. And what does he know about dogs? I hope he's not my dentist.

Anyway, Lucy knows when the paparazzi are around and so at the last minute she tends to turn her backside toward the camera. I have more pictures of her tail than of her head.