Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Progress

Dear People Who Read This Site, “George”, Girl, That Euro, Special C, Dr. Chris, The (Other) O.C., (Get Back) JoJo, and Potential Investors,

Karmic justice is achieved. While his movie choices have been suspect, his peroxide head look was derivative, and his insensitive Angelinariffic photo spreads are problematic, Brad has overcome all of these problems and finally told Gwyneth to shut it. At least according to the copy of Metro I read on the subway on Monday. Check it out (it's on page 17 of this).

As for things closer to home, no specific announcements to make, but lots of progress on all fronts. As you can see, the list is nearly 10% complete. Also, in mint news, we've had good exposure at a launch in LA, and good progress in moving the product to retail. Special thanks to old, new, and pinch-hitting team members for all the help while I was away to make these things happen.

I'd like to think that all of the little steps I'm taking are going to work out nearly as well.



PS: <Whistling> Sure is lonely without any comments.

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Ljubljana is the Cleveland of Europe

Dear People Who Read This Site, “George”, Girl, That Euro, Special C, Dr. Chris, The (Other) O.C., (Get Back) JoJo, and Potential Investors,

Every once in a while, the guide book industry really throws you for a loop. For example, earlier this year, I went to see the home of gaucho culture in Argentina, as promised by Lonely Planet, which turned out to be a small, flea-bitten town, with an empty town square and a small hacienda museum. I should have known I was on the wrong track when a girl who lived there asked me why I was going there, with a look that I would give someone if they had come all the way from Argentina to go to Syracuse. Not that there's anything wrong with Syracuse...

Anyway, I should have had the same premonition when people started asking me how I was ever going to entertain myself in Ljubljana for three days, and not believing me when I said that I was not just coming here to switch trains to get to Venice. Also, the large number of conventions here -- EU Crime Unit and a Slovenian-American
church group -- as well as the really good hotel breakfast should have given me a clue. I am in the Cleveland of Europe. Heck, the people from the church group were from Cleveland. This is apparently where people in Cleveland go for conventions.

Seriously, it is a lovely little place. A bit too cold for my tastes, but I am well entertained, well fed, and enjoying the slow pace of things. In mint news, we've had more exposure, more possible team members, and more potential. Maybe I could break them in Cleveland. Conventioneers buy lots of stuff.

And, on a completely unrelated note, brava Britney! Preston makes the name Federline sound almost serious. And it's not produce. Now if we could only get you to wear shoes when you use the gas station bathroom.