08/27/08: Not your average Joe!
Greetings from Denver! Many of you know that our headquarters are located in the beautiful city of Wilmington, Delaware. While I travel quite a bit, I love coming to Wilmington to see the team and enjoy the sights. I returned this time to hear about the company’s recognition by Inc Magazine. The Archer Group was ranked #596 of Inc magazine’s 5000 fastest growing companies. We raised a glass to the honor and quickly got back to work.
Our offices are a short walk from the train station, which I frequently use to reach NYC or DC. On one of those trips many years ago, I struck up a conversation with Delaware’s Senator Biden, who takes the train daily to DC from his Wilmington home.
This was a trip home, and I had picked up a bottle of wine for the trip. After a few pleasantries, I offered Joe some wine to continue the conversation. While we didn’t agree on every topic, I very much enjoyed the banter. On some positions I even took the other side simply to continue the spirited conversation. We stayed in touch over the years and became great friends, going to Delaware football games together or sharing a tailgate spot at the Point to Point races.
I happened to be at his home when he received the official call to be Vice President. You could see the smile on his face as he accepted. When he hung up the phone, he turned to me and said ‘Bob, time to open another bottle of wine, we are going to Denver’
I am sure happy to see one of Delaware’s own receive such an important nod. I’ll be in the background here in Denver, but smiling all the way!
Our offices are a short walk from the train station, which I frequently use to reach NYC or DC. On one of those trips many years ago, I struck up a conversation with Delaware’s Senator Biden, who takes the train daily to DC from his Wilmington home.
This was a trip home, and I had picked up a bottle of wine for the trip. After a few pleasantries, I offered Joe some wine to continue the conversation. While we didn’t agree on every topic, I very much enjoyed the banter. On some positions I even took the other side simply to continue the spirited conversation. We stayed in touch over the years and became great friends, going to Delaware football games together or sharing a tailgate spot at the Point to Point races.
I happened to be at his home when he received the official call to be Vice President. You could see the smile on his face as he accepted. When he hung up the phone, he turned to me and said ‘Bob, time to open another bottle of wine, we are going to Denver’
I am sure happy to see one of Delaware’s own receive such an important nod. I’ll be in the background here in Denver, but smiling all the way!
Ni hao from Beijing! I’ve been pretty much parked at the Water Cube all week as a guest of Deborah Phelps, longtime friend and mother of the superstar swimmer Michael Phelps. Deborah and I met ten years ago when I was in Baltimore during the Dot Com days of the late nineties.
During those days, I spent a great deal of time helping internet start-ups that my friend had invested in. Looking back, many of the ideas had merit, but were simply ahead of their time.
These start-ups required a great deal of time and energy. To relax I turned to swimming at a nearby swim club called the North Baltimore Aquatic Club. Little did I know that the star of that club would turn out to be the World wide star, Michael Phelps. I found myself coming to as many meets as possible to see him swim, and even followed him as much as possible when my work allowed. We got to know Deborah well from sitting in the stands, and I simply couldn't resist her invite to Beijing.
Looking back on those days in Baltimore reminds me of the goals of many firms that I was asked to review. Many had a goal to stay on the user’s desktop, screen saver or home page. Some required a complicated install, which was often a deal killer to reaching the mass market.
While I was hanging out in between heats at the Cube, I was reviewing a project that was almost complete for a major retailer. The solution created a rich desktop application that integrated video, great animations and was being updated via the web. This may not sound special, but I was able to download it and use it fully while disconnected from the web. When the application got a connection to the internet, it was able to update prices, images, news, etc. When it wasn’t connected, it still worked perfectly.
Adobe Air also allows us to break out of the browser to reach customers with a more dynamic experience than going through the browser. Many of limitations due to bandwidth concerns, browser standards and even fonts disappear with Adobe Air.
Enough about Air, back to the Water! Way to go Michael!
During those days, I spent a great deal of time helping internet start-ups that my friend had invested in. Looking back, many of the ideas had merit, but were simply ahead of their time.
These start-ups required a great deal of time and energy. To relax I turned to swimming at a nearby swim club called the North Baltimore Aquatic Club. Little did I know that the star of that club would turn out to be the World wide star, Michael Phelps. I found myself coming to as many meets as possible to see him swim, and even followed him as much as possible when my work allowed. We got to know Deborah well from sitting in the stands, and I simply couldn't resist her invite to Beijing.
Looking back on those days in Baltimore reminds me of the goals of many firms that I was asked to review. Many had a goal to stay on the user’s desktop, screen saver or home page. Some required a complicated install, which was often a deal killer to reaching the mass market.
While I was hanging out in between heats at the Cube, I was reviewing a project that was almost complete for a major retailer. The solution created a rich desktop application that integrated video, great animations and was being updated via the web. This may not sound special, but I was able to download it and use it fully while disconnected from the web. When the application got a connection to the internet, it was able to update prices, images, news, etc. When it wasn’t connected, it still worked perfectly.
Adobe Air also allows us to break out of the browser to reach customers with a more dynamic experience than going through the browser. Many of limitations due to bandwidth concerns, browser standards and even fonts disappear with Adobe Air.
Enough about Air, back to the Water! Way to go Michael!
08/06/08: Portugal starts a party
I wanted to make a stop in Portugal to visit an old friend. João Nicolau, who runs the Ramos Pinto Port Winery in Portugal. They make a fantastic Port Wine, and I love stopping down to catch up and sample some of their Port. I’m a fan of their 20 year old port, even more so than the 30+ year old ones we try. We joke that based upon the number of cases I have shipped back, that he wouldn’t have to see me for another 20 years, but every year, I return for more.
We were walking back from a spectacular lunch and this shiny ball stuck to the side of a building caught my eye. It looked like a disco ball had broken loose from a crane and slammed into the side of the building. I asked João what this was all about. He chuckled and took me closer for a look.
It turns out that this was all part of a promotion by Diageo for J&B Scotch Whiskey. When I got back to the office, I went to the site associated with the promotion. The site features J&B’s character, Mirrorball Man in crazy party scenes.
J&B has always been one of those brands that I associated with stodginess, oak panels and cigars. This campaign starts me thinking about as a more interesting, party brand.
That night, I went out with a few other friends and actually ran into Mirrorball man at a party listed on the site. I simply had to see more. While there, I tried a J&Bee Sweet Tea. They tried to tell me what was in it, but between the noise and the language barrier, I couldn't get it. I went to the site to find out, but I am hoping someone cold help me translate what I found.
Kudos to Diageo for surrounding the consumers on all fronts with a creative re-brand campaign!
We were walking back from a spectacular lunch and this shiny ball stuck to the side of a building caught my eye. It looked like a disco ball had broken loose from a crane and slammed into the side of the building. I asked João what this was all about. He chuckled and took me closer for a look.
It turns out that this was all part of a promotion by Diageo for J&B Scotch Whiskey. When I got back to the office, I went to the site associated with the promotion. The site features J&B’s character, Mirrorball Man in crazy party scenes.
J&B has always been one of those brands that I associated with stodginess, oak panels and cigars. This campaign starts me thinking about as a more interesting, party brand.
That night, I went out with a few other friends and actually ran into Mirrorball man at a party listed on the site. I simply had to see more. While there, I tried a J&Bee Sweet Tea. They tried to tell me what was in it, but between the noise and the language barrier, I couldn't get it. I went to the site to find out, but I am hoping someone cold help me translate what I found.
Kudos to Diageo for surrounding the consumers on all fronts with a creative re-brand campaign!
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