Sunday, July 06, 2003
Sunday, June 29, 2003
This poor guy deciphered a code that was used as a PR stunt for Neal Stephenson's latest novel. Worth a read.
Thursday, June 19, 2003
Wednesday, June 18, 2003
Tuesday, June 17, 2003
Okay. My Dad's nickname is 'Otter'. Although he collects pictures, cartoons, stuffed animals, etc.. of the furry creature, he has never ever considered going as far as the owner of Plushie Forest. Thank God!
Sunday, June 15, 2003
More interesting reading regarding the Medical Malpractice 'crisis'. These doctors and insurance companies have probably spent more money of PR in the last year than medical malpractice payouts.
Saturday, June 14, 2003
Friday, June 13, 2003
Wednesday, June 11, 2003
Sunday, June 08, 2003
An absolutely wonderful look at Portland architecture through the years. The Las Vegas area had no significant population or industry until the early 40s and there is little if no respect for buildings from the past here. I do think Portland's solution to urban sprawl would work in the Las Vegas valley. However, we are limited by our water use as much as a geographic bounderies.
Christopher Elkins's reminds me of a great passtime -- Movie Location Hunting. I'm always on the lookout for places where movies have been filmed. It was a bit easier when I lived in Bubank, but there have been a number of films shot in and around Las Vegas. Surprisingly, CSI, although set in Las Vegas, does most of its filming in the LA area.
Thursday, June 05, 2003
I'm reading one of my favorite books again, "Beauty" by Sheri S Tepper. The whole book is a unique retelling of some of our common fairytales leading upto a death and redemption of the earth and all its beauty. I've just come to one of the crucial passages and was struck, as I am each time I read it, by the gravity it lends to the situation of the world today. So, if Ms. Tepper does not mind, I will repeat the passage, in which our heroine is attempting to save the earth via an environmental group, here:
We have been thwarted at every turn by god. Not the real God. A false one which has been set up by man to expedite his destruction of the earth. He is the gobble-god who bids fair to swallow everything in the name of a totally selfish humanity. His ten commandments are me first (let me live as I please), humans first (let all other living things die for my benefit), sperm first (no birth control), birth first (no abortions), males first (no women's rights), my culture/tribe/language first (no human rights), my politics first (lousy liberals/rotten reactionaries), my country first (wave the flag, the flag, the flag), and, above all, profit first.
We worship the gobble-god. We burn forests in his name. We kill whales and dolphins in his name. We pave prairies in his name. We have retarded babies in his name. We sell drugs in his name. We set bombs in his name. We worship him everywhere. We call him by different titles and commit blasphemies in the name of worship.
We have been thwarted at every turn by god. Not the real God. A false one which has been set up by man to expedite his destruction of the earth. He is the gobble-god who bids fair to swallow everything in the name of a totally selfish humanity. His ten commandments are me first (let me live as I please), humans first (let all other living things die for my benefit), sperm first (no birth control), birth first (no abortions), males first (no women's rights), my culture/tribe/language first (no human rights), my politics first (lousy liberals/rotten reactionaries), my country first (wave the flag, the flag, the flag), and, above all, profit first.
We worship the gobble-god. We burn forests in his name. We kill whales and dolphins in his name. We pave prairies in his name. We have retarded babies in his name. We sell drugs in his name. We set bombs in his name. We worship him everywhere. We call him by different titles and commit blasphemies in the name of worship.
Wednesday, June 04, 2003
I've never read this blog before today, but Waldo Jaquith makes a couple of excellent points in this post and the one that proceeds it. With approx. $8000 in time and equipment he'll save his town millions and turn a downtown street into a mecca for tech and business types.
Saturday, May 31, 2003
Had to steal this from the ol' FutureCulture e-list:
It started out innocently enough.
I began to think at parties now and then to loosen up. Inevitably though, one thought led to another, and soon I was more than just a social thinker.
I began to think alone - "to relax," I told myself - but I knew it wasn't true. Thinking became more and more important to me, and finally I was thinking all the time.
I began to think on the job. I knew that thinking and employment don't mix, but I couldn't stop myself. I began to avoid friends at lunchtime so I could read Thoreau and Kafka. I would return to the office dizzied and confused, asking, "What is it exactly we are doing here?"
Things weren't going so great at home either. One evening I had turned off the TV and asked my wife about the meaning of life. She spent that night at her mother's.
I soon had a reputation as a heavy thinker. One day the boss called me in. He said, "Skippy, I like you, and it hurts me to say this, but your thinking has become a real problem. If you don't stop thinking on the job, you'll have to find another job." This gave me a lot to think about.
I came home early after my conversation with the boss. "Honey," I confessed, "I've been thinking..."
"I know you've been thinking," she said, "and I want a divorce!"
"But honey, surely it's not that serious."
"It is serious," she said, lower lip aquiver. "You think as much as college professors, and college professors don't make any money, so if you keep on thinking we won't have any money!"
"That's a faulty syllogism," I said impatiently, and she began to cry.
I'd had enough. "I'm going to the library," I snarled as I stomped out the door.
I headed for the library, in the mood for some Nietzsche, with a PBS station on the radio. I roared into the parking lot and ran up to the big glass doors...they didn't open. The library was closed!
To this day, I believe that a higher power was looking out for me that night.
As I sank to the ground clawing at the unfeeling glass, whimpering for Zarathustra, a poster caught my eye. "Friend, is heavy thinking ruining your life?" it asked.
You probably recognize that line. It comes from the standard Thinker's Anonymous poster. Which is why I am what I am today: a recovering thinker. I never miss a TA meeting. At each meeting we watch a non-educational video; last week it was "Caddyshack." Then we share experiences about how we avoided thinking since the last meeting.
I still have my job, and things are a lot better at home. Life just seemed... easier, somehow, as soon as I stopped thinking.
Now that makes you think, doesn't it?
It started out innocently enough.
I began to think at parties now and then to loosen up. Inevitably though, one thought led to another, and soon I was more than just a social thinker.
I began to think alone - "to relax," I told myself - but I knew it wasn't true. Thinking became more and more important to me, and finally I was thinking all the time.
I began to think on the job. I knew that thinking and employment don't mix, but I couldn't stop myself. I began to avoid friends at lunchtime so I could read Thoreau and Kafka. I would return to the office dizzied and confused, asking, "What is it exactly we are doing here?"
Things weren't going so great at home either. One evening I had turned off the TV and asked my wife about the meaning of life. She spent that night at her mother's.
I soon had a reputation as a heavy thinker. One day the boss called me in. He said, "Skippy, I like you, and it hurts me to say this, but your thinking has become a real problem. If you don't stop thinking on the job, you'll have to find another job." This gave me a lot to think about.
I came home early after my conversation with the boss. "Honey," I confessed, "I've been thinking..."
"I know you've been thinking," she said, "and I want a divorce!"
"But honey, surely it's not that serious."
"It is serious," she said, lower lip aquiver. "You think as much as college professors, and college professors don't make any money, so if you keep on thinking we won't have any money!"
"That's a faulty syllogism," I said impatiently, and she began to cry.
I'd had enough. "I'm going to the library," I snarled as I stomped out the door.
I headed for the library, in the mood for some Nietzsche, with a PBS station on the radio. I roared into the parking lot and ran up to the big glass doors...they didn't open. The library was closed!
To this day, I believe that a higher power was looking out for me that night.
As I sank to the ground clawing at the unfeeling glass, whimpering for Zarathustra, a poster caught my eye. "Friend, is heavy thinking ruining your life?" it asked.
You probably recognize that line. It comes from the standard Thinker's Anonymous poster. Which is why I am what I am today: a recovering thinker. I never miss a TA meeting. At each meeting we watch a non-educational video; last week it was "Caddyshack." Then we share experiences about how we avoided thinking since the last meeting.
I still have my job, and things are a lot better at home. Life just seemed... easier, somehow, as soon as I stopped thinking.
Now that makes you think, doesn't it?
Thursday, May 29, 2003
The Motely Fool talks about Disney killing off it's line of Disney Stores. As you suspect, I have a comment or two.
For the life of me, I can't figure out why the Disney Co can't make The Disney Stores work. I don't think it has anything to do with over extending, at least on a nationwide basis. Certain local markets may have been over saturated. But that should be corrected market by market. Don't be afraid to close or 're-target' a store that is under performing...
Under-performing... that's one of the keys. I think the late 90's early 00's pressure to produce a 20 percent profit in every division has been the real killer for TDS. In consumer products, this has resulted in the shift to online catalogs and low end stores (target, walmart) being allowed to sell more of the high profit items (t-shirts, plush, school items) taking these profitable items away from TDS (and even worse, perhaps, defusing the 'magic' of TDS) and the product lines that don't produce 20% profit consistantly were just too much of a risk and were cut (mainly the more expensive to produce adult clothing, watches, collectibles, etc..).
Now, rather than going back to a product mix that worked, although at less than the optimal 20%, they're closing stores.
I try to give the Veeps at the Consumer Products division the benefit of the doubt. Surely they've run the numbers on the feasibility of changing the product mix back to what it was. Maybe opened a few trial stores. Offer a few new products that would excite consumers... but I don't think that they have. I don't think they're willing to take the effort it takes to be 'excellent' again.
You can trace many of the companies current woes back to the fact that they've fallen off the path of the 'search for excellence'. Instead they're on the path to make 20% profit in every division even if they have to cut to do so.
This isn't a black and white situation, some cuts are necessary to eliminate programs that didn't work, red tape, excess supply, etc.. But when your cuts affect the core brand (in this case 'the Disney magic' (or the reputation of having the 'magic')) then you're going the wrong direction even if you're meeting the profit directive. In the long run (like after the 3-5 year market correction we're in now) if no one trust the brand*, then all those cost saving cuts were for nothing as it will cost you ten times as much to build the brand back up.
So back to the Disney Stores. They've seriously mucked up the brand by all their penny pinching and product dilution (ie, the $4.99 t-shirts at Target and the $9.99 snow globes at hallmark). What was the brand -- "A Disney Themepark/Experience In Your Store". What is the brand they representing now? -- "A pre-teen princess store with the Disney Label". Which one interests you more.
My solution: Phase out as much of the target/wallmart/hallmark product licenses as possible. Revitalize the product mix at the store as soon as possible. Bring back many of the old items, some new 'tech' items (like hte Pal Mickey), and some synergy items. Also open up terminals in each store for online catalog shopping. Check each market for over saturation. (Can you get from one store to another in less than 25 minutes would be a good test.) Target one store in each market to highlight collectibles AND (this is important) housewares.
Finally, I'd like to see a few of Ken's 'Disneytowns' built. I think they'd work well in other touristy destinations. Places that already have high foot traffic (Las Vegas, San Antonio, The Seattle wharf). The important aspect of any new Disneystore or Disneytown would be synergy with existing product/brand and with upcoming product. These places should be meccas for Disneyfans to get an extended preview of the next Disney film, see a model of the latest themepark attraction, test market new food products, etc).
The Disney Store is still a 'killer concept' and to pass it off to a 'buyer' who is not invested in the overall success of all Disney products would be a failure anyway.
* let's not even talk about how they've lost the 8-10 year old boy market and have completely given up on the 11-14 year old boy market. Without Pixar they'd have lost them all. Reruns of 'The Apple Dumpling Gang' on Hallmark channel isn't going to bring them back either.
For the life of me, I can't figure out why the Disney Co can't make The Disney Stores work. I don't think it has anything to do with over extending, at least on a nationwide basis. Certain local markets may have been over saturated. But that should be corrected market by market. Don't be afraid to close or 're-target' a store that is under performing...
Under-performing... that's one of the keys. I think the late 90's early 00's pressure to produce a 20 percent profit in every division has been the real killer for TDS. In consumer products, this has resulted in the shift to online catalogs and low end stores (target, walmart) being allowed to sell more of the high profit items (t-shirts, plush, school items) taking these profitable items away from TDS (and even worse, perhaps, defusing the 'magic' of TDS) and the product lines that don't produce 20% profit consistantly were just too much of a risk and were cut (mainly the more expensive to produce adult clothing, watches, collectibles, etc..).
Now, rather than going back to a product mix that worked, although at less than the optimal 20%, they're closing stores.
I try to give the Veeps at the Consumer Products division the benefit of the doubt. Surely they've run the numbers on the feasibility of changing the product mix back to what it was. Maybe opened a few trial stores. Offer a few new products that would excite consumers... but I don't think that they have. I don't think they're willing to take the effort it takes to be 'excellent' again.
You can trace many of the companies current woes back to the fact that they've fallen off the path of the 'search for excellence'. Instead they're on the path to make 20% profit in every division even if they have to cut to do so.
This isn't a black and white situation, some cuts are necessary to eliminate programs that didn't work, red tape, excess supply, etc.. But when your cuts affect the core brand (in this case 'the Disney magic' (or the reputation of having the 'magic')) then you're going the wrong direction even if you're meeting the profit directive. In the long run (like after the 3-5 year market correction we're in now) if no one trust the brand*, then all those cost saving cuts were for nothing as it will cost you ten times as much to build the brand back up.
So back to the Disney Stores. They've seriously mucked up the brand by all their penny pinching and product dilution (ie, the $4.99 t-shirts at Target and the $9.99 snow globes at hallmark). What was the brand -- "A Disney Themepark/Experience In Your Store". What is the brand they representing now? -- "A pre-teen princess store with the Disney Label". Which one interests you more.
My solution: Phase out as much of the target/wallmart/hallmark product licenses as possible. Revitalize the product mix at the store as soon as possible. Bring back many of the old items, some new 'tech' items (like hte Pal Mickey), and some synergy items. Also open up terminals in each store for online catalog shopping. Check each market for over saturation. (Can you get from one store to another in less than 25 minutes would be a good test.) Target one store in each market to highlight collectibles AND (this is important) housewares.
Finally, I'd like to see a few of Ken's 'Disneytowns' built. I think they'd work well in other touristy destinations. Places that already have high foot traffic (Las Vegas, San Antonio, The Seattle wharf). The important aspect of any new Disneystore or Disneytown would be synergy with existing product/brand and with upcoming product. These places should be meccas for Disneyfans to get an extended preview of the next Disney film, see a model of the latest themepark attraction, test market new food products, etc).
The Disney Store is still a 'killer concept' and to pass it off to a 'buyer' who is not invested in the overall success of all Disney products would be a failure anyway.
* let's not even talk about how they've lost the 8-10 year old boy market and have completely given up on the 11-14 year old boy market. Without Pixar they'd have lost them all. Reruns of 'The Apple Dumpling Gang' on Hallmark channel isn't going to bring them back either.
Tuesday, May 27, 2003
Cory Doctorow, author of "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom", has a few good suggestions for Disney. Any of which might inspire a turnaround.
Saturday, May 24, 2003
Thursday, May 08, 2003
A quick update. Sorry I haven't been writing much, although I really want to. My powers of concentration have waned tremendously since the accident. I get little headaches after a short while, plus the lower back pain is always there.
I have, however, picked up a moleskin notebooks (as suggested by my Bro). I sketched out two ideas for a childrens book (gee, I wonder why that is on my mind) the other day and hope to expand them shortly.
My life is almost all waiting these days. Waiting for the Bureau of Disability to decide if I get Disability Insurance. Waiting for the accident insurance to settle. Either of which would allow me to start the career counseling and retraining process. I'm waiting for my back to heal, to see if the latest procedures will work, to see if I will ever heal.
It sounds depressing, I know. But I don't spend all my time thinking about it. Life goes on, even if it is in slow motion sometimes. Plus, little Indigo is on the way and I have new responsibilities to him now.
I have, however, picked up a moleskin notebooks (as suggested by my Bro). I sketched out two ideas for a childrens book (gee, I wonder why that is on my mind) the other day and hope to expand them shortly.
My life is almost all waiting these days. Waiting for the Bureau of Disability to decide if I get Disability Insurance. Waiting for the accident insurance to settle. Either of which would allow me to start the career counseling and retraining process. I'm waiting for my back to heal, to see if the latest procedures will work, to see if I will ever heal.
It sounds depressing, I know. But I don't spend all my time thinking about it. Life goes on, even if it is in slow motion sometimes. Plus, little Indigo is on the way and I have new responsibilities to him now.
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