McDonald’s, originally uploaded by Wananga.

So the other night I’m getting my mail, and become instantly excited when I see three separate Netflix packets arrive. I share the account with my roommate, and he gets the emails when new discs ship, so I’m never entirely aware of what we have coming in the mail. My excitement turned into fear and apprehension upon opening up the first packet and seeing the title, “Super Size Me.”

I was anxious to see this, but on the other hand I wasn’t so sure I wanted to witness all of the terrible things that happen to someone who eats only McDonald’s for an entire month. Terrible things do happen, if you haven’t seen the movie. In the end, it was worth watching, and serves as good motivation to eat a little healthier and exercise a little more.

I couldn’t resist posting this picture to go with this post. How many American flags can you fly at one McDonald’s?

Riverfront Park, Spokane, originally uploaded by kevbob.

Laugh if you will, but I’m always a little excited to get back to the Inland Empire. It’s going to be kinda hot though…. 99 degrees!

By the way, Flickr is awesome! I can always find great pics of exactly what I am looking for. Check it out - www.flickr.com

My roomate Aaron and I finished up watching the first season of 24, Fox’ emmy award winning television show, on Friday night. Wow! We watched all 24 episodes in about two weeks thanks to the power of Netflix. Netflix is one of those things you don’t know how you lived without once you have it.

24 is easily the best tv that I’ve seen since Seinfeld, with the exception of Soprano’s (which doesn’t really count anyways because it’s on HBO). Every episolde builds up and leaves you hanging on a cliff only to come crashing back down as the plot twists and turns its way through the course of an entire day. I think I have to take a break for a couple of weeks to let my blood pressure return to normal before starting the second 24 hours.

I’ve had some interesting coversations lately about the current Netflix model. While I enjoy the service right now, I do have my doubts about their sustainability as we push towards the “on demand” world. I think very soon its going to be all about “what (content) you want, where (location) you want it, and how (device, system) you want it.” I wonder what will become of Netflix in the next 5 years. Thoughts?

mykonos, originally uploaded by GreenBeanPrime.

Mykonos, in the Greek islands. I’ve never been, but I’ve heard it’s quite choice!

From Bud Withers (by far the best sports journalist in the NW) of the Seattle Times:

Sixteen months ago, over breakfast at a retro diner on the edge of the Gonzaga campus, he said what he wanted out of his first pro paycheck was a Cadillac Escalade with “24-inch rims and spinners.”
Today, what he really wants dearly is just to wake up again. Such a modest goal, and yet so imposing.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002402210_bud26.html

Ronny is going in for surgery on his heart tomorrow. I love what Andy Katz has to say in this article on ESPN.com today.

“We’re an extension of [Turiaf’s] family and we’re going to be there with him,” Few said.

I think it says it all about how tight the Gonzaga family is. Thanks for all the joy you have brought to Gonzaga Ronny, and I wish you a healthy recovery. Go Zags!

According to Joel Rushing such as thing exists in Texas (where else?). Apparently a diner owner in Snook, Texas by the name of Frank Sodolak came up with the idea. He thinks he is onto something and can be quoted saying, “I ain’t never heard of it anywhere else.”

Jayne Hurley, senior nutritionist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington D.C. doesn’t think its such a good idea. “They’ve taken fat, they’ve doubled-coated it in fat, they’ve fried it in more fat, and then served it with a side order of fat (gravy). I’ve never heard of anything worse.”

… I think I can hear America growing more obese by the minute. I wonder if I passed this along to my buddy Nick, who is studying at the French Culinary Institute in NYC, if it end would end up in any high end NYC restaurants?!? I can just see Perry Street, where Nick is currently working, serving this one up.

Even though today is Tuesday, it feels like a really tough Monday. I spent the weekend at Lake Chelan swimming, biking, and running a triathlon, hanging out with friends on the boat, playing poker, wakeboarding, winetasting, barbequing, and living it up! It’s really tough to be back at work today…. I’d just rather be back at the lake.

However, I was once again reminded why I love the Seattle climate (despite my complaining about not having a summer so far). When Liz and I arrived back into town, it was a pleasant 80 degrees with a light wind and clear and as beautiful as could be. Today, more of the same.

IMG_1235, originally uploaded by Spot!.

I doubt it. After an impressive run in the Alps today Lance regained the Yellow Jersey.
I think he will power on to his 7th straight Tour de France victory, and not relinquish the lead again. In doing so he’ll secure his spot as the standard by which all great athletes of the 21st century are measured.

Jason Bay, former Gonzaga Bulldog, will play in his first All Star game this week, and will be a contestant in the homerun derby this evening. I had a class with him while at Gonzaga, I think it was Religion 201 something or another with good ole Father Nigro.

Go Jason, hit some homers tonight!

Ronny Turiaf got some good press in the LA Times today. I would love to see him be “this guy” for the Lakers. In the 100+ games I witnessed him play in a Gonzaga uniform he is most definitely a junkyard dog.

LA Times: Lakers Unleash ‘Junkyard Dog’

It seems summer league coach Kurt Rambis thinks pretty highly of Ronny, “He’s shown the things needed to make it in this league. I think L.A. is going to love him.”

Go Zags!

Podcasting has been on my radar since sometime last fall, and I have seen it pick up some steam in the last couple of months. Anytime Mark Cuban takes the time to devote an entire post to something, its worth thinking about. Mark thinks the history of streaming broadcasts of the 90’s will repeat itself with podcasting. An interesting history lesson at the very least.

However, what a perfect opportunity to target those niche markets for advertisers. What would you pay to reach the 500 most passionate people about a particular subject? That idea, along with the fact that you can take in a podcast when you want and where you want it will keep this movement alive.

Adam Curry is passionate about podcasting. During his Gnomedex keynote, which you can download on iTunes or from his site, his message was “We want to take back the media, not to put it in our hands and hold it, but to put it back in our hearts.”

I think podcasting will continue to grow. As Apple jumped on board last week other major players are sure to follow.

I’m giving this program a test… so far, so good.

BlogJet. It’s a cool Windows client for my blog tool (as well as for other tools). Get your copy here: http://blogjet.com

“Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.” — Pablo Picasso

I just got back from another really nice weekend at Lake Chelan. Great friends, great weather, great food, and some great drink made for a rather enjoyable independence day.

Last night something horrific happened…. my love affair with the Pita Pit came to a bitter end, crashing to the ground like the crumbs of perfectly baked pita bread. After multiple attempts to revive the flame it ended with with a final Chicken Crave pita. It’s a truly unfortunate ending that makes me sad when I realize it was entirely avoidable. Ever since that first pita experience back in May of 2002 I have been enthralled with their fresh pita sandwiches. I’ll look back on this relationship with some fond memories, from the 4 pita day in Moscow to one of my happiest days in Seattle.

So long Pita Pit… it was fun while it lasted.

sunset, originally uploaded by Le French Monster.

It’s summer and I’m itchin’ to get away… far away. This is a sunset picture taken by Le French Monster of Sunset in San Sebastian, Spain, within the heart of Basque Country. I found this on Flickr, one of the coolest places on the web. Check it out!

San Sebastian is one of my top 5 favorite places I have ever been. The cozy town sits on one of the most beautiful bays I have ever seen. The young people are obsessed with surfing, the middle aged folk with jogging, and the elderly with pushing around babies in strollers (must be their grandchildren).

Fans of the Boston Celtics have to be excited about their first round draft pick today. Highly touted high school senior Gerald Green slipped all the way to the Celtics in the middle of the first round. Many had speculated that Green would be taken in the top 10. With last name like Green the Celts can’t go wrong!

Gonzaga’s own Ronny Turiaf went to the Lakers with the 36th pick, in the second round of the draft. Although, I am not a Lakers fan I think this is a good place for Turiaf. The Lakers need big men and Turiaf will have a good shot at making this team.

He is podcasting from Gnomedex right now - The Daily Source Code #200. I think this will be a great way to wrap up Gnomedex, and my blogging from Gnomedex. Have a good one!

Check it out… www.curry.com

Steve Rubel just finished up his presentation at Gnomedex. He made a good point and made it clearly: PR is changing, and now its suddenly more about listening and less about talking. He also stressed that in his opinion the press release in its current format is dead, except for in large scale aqcuisitions and the like.
PR and advertising are changing big time from the traditional model as a direct result of the new media avenues. To me the question becomes which agencies will change quickly enough to take advantage of this, and also which agencies will change smartly enough to sustain an advantage.