Monday, February 27, 2006

Internet Word-of-Mouth Marketing


Olivia LCD TV

Today's San Jose Mercury News had an article by May Wong (AP) about how the market for flat screen TVs has opened to new brands that have used a Word-of-Mouth Internet marketing strategy. This shows the power that consumer recommendations can have in a commodity market.

"At Amazon.com, a 32 inch Olivia flat-panel LCD TV was recently the No.1 selling TV. The relatively unknown brand ranks in Amazon's top TV vendor list, helped by positive customer reviews, according to Amazon officials."


This is further evidence that the new long-tail WOM-Internet marketing is working and having a real impact. See also Hugh MacLeod's post on success of Stormhoek.

From The Desk
From the desk

Richard Treadway

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Amgen Tour of California - Sierra Road

Climb up Sierra Road
Discovery Leads the chase up Sierra Road - Stage 2

Today the Amgen Tour of California rode through our back yard. It really was a thrill to see the world's best cyclists hammering up the very hill I climbed just the day before. Sierra is a tough climb rising 2000 feet in under 4 miles. It took me 39 minutes to climb it. The pros would climb it in 20 minutes.

I had no idea just how big this event would be and I certainly was surprised. As we waited on Sierra for the race to arrive the road gradually began to fill with hundreds of spectators. Jon and I had positioned ourselves about 1/3 of the way up and found a good spot to catch the action. A steep right hand turn. From our vantage point we could see down to the intersection of Sierra and Piedmont roads where the racers would turn left and start the climb.

People with cell phones getting updates on the peleton's progress... They're 30 minutes away! Then suddenly the skies filled with helicopters, motor cycles, police cars honking their horns and camera crews all whizzing by. It was like an invasion. Then the leaders on the climb. Yes with the same cross eyed brain dead look that marks the absolute concentration required to climb a 13% grade at 13+ mph at your HRMAX. Savoldelli, Hindcapie, Simoni all fly by. WOW.

Here are my photos from the stage

From the Bike
From the bike

Richard Treadway

Friday, February 10, 2006

Publish Subscribe Press Releases

Here's more evidence that the web is moving from request-response to publish-subscribe.

As noted by Tom Biro, PR Newswire now has a button that enables readers to tag press releases with del.icio.us.

Steve Rubel takes this one step further in his post Social Press Releases with idea that if a press release were like a blog post it would enable a conversation through posted comments.

This points once again to the need for a new application that lets you be notified of puslished events that are material to you. As I discussed here that application is not an RSS reader.

From The Desk
From the desk

Richard Treadway

Meditation Point




Santa Teresa Park...

Sitting on a rock at meditation point.
What do you hear? What do you see?

Wind in your face to the south. Sun in your face to the north.
The first day of spring. In with some rain. Out with some sun.
Only the faint signs of life. Bird's song issuing the new bright green grass of spring.

Deep tracks in the hard baked mud of winter. Signs that there are other inhabitants you can't see, but certain they can see you.

Can you be still enough?
Can you be observant enough?
Can you be patient enough?
Can you be quite enough?
To hear and see and feel what you know is there.

FromTheTrail
From The Trail

Richard Treadway

Monday, February 06, 2006

Morning Coffee



After a difficult 2 weeks at work it's a great pleasure to enjoy an early leisurely morning outdoors having breakfast in the cool sun. Birds chirping. Sounds of the day awakening.

Each time I spend a morning like this it takes me back to my time in in Cassis, Provence. The early morning when the air is still cool, the wind is calm and the smell of pines is abundant.

It belongs to the early birds. Those that service the tourist industry, working diligently and efficiently to prepare for the new day. Cleaning the sidewalks, cafe tables and beaches in anticipation of the tourist onslaught.

Those moments of industry, so purposeful, so practiced, so efficient, followed by sleepy eyed tourists wondering about with no particular purpose but for that all important cup of coffee. It's a time when everyone can tell the tourist from the local.

Gradually the sun becomes stronger and the "cigals" start their chorus. You have to look hard to find the locals, their time of preparation spent, the tourist onslaught overwhelms them. The lazy moment of the wondering tourists ends as the early birds fly away into the mayhem of the crowed streets.

FromTheHeart
From the heart

Richard Treadway

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Lost in Time On A Horse With Two Wheels


Cowboy Country From the Bike
Originally uploaded by Richard Treadway.


I took a great ride in the back roads of Hollister today with my son Jon. Just like San Juan Batista this area is lost in time. Cattle farms that have changed very little since the late 1800s dot the landscape as cows graze peacefully. This must be where they film the "Happy Cows" cheese commercials. I think if I were a cow this would be the place to be.

When I look out at the undeveloped land I'm taken back to a time when we'd be riding horses not bicycles.


Into The Hills


Old Barn

Here are the other pictures I took on the ride.

The day was perfect and the temperature was cooling in the mid 50s. The hills are all golden this time of year and made for a real contrast to my rides last week in New Hampshire.

Here is a part of the route.



Jon and I made a plan to do this ride again in the Spring when all these hills will be emerald green. Earlier this week a major bicycle race, the Tour of California will go through this area in February. That should be a perfect time to highlight the beauty of the region.

I'm looking forward to it.


From the Bike
Originally uploaded by Richard Treadway.


Richard Treadway

Enter at Your Own Risk

Enter at Your Own Risk
San Cristobal Mine, Quicksilver Park

My Brother was visiting for Christmas and to give him reprieve from the flatlands of Florida I took him on a 4 mile hike in Quicksilver Park to the San Cristobal Mine.

Quicksilver is a magical place that has loads of wildlife and plenty of ruins from the mines that closed down in 1972. A great place to take out of towners that is authentic and not touristy. I know that trials well as I ride my mountain bike on the English Camp - Bull Run loop often. In the years I have been visiting I have seen wild boar, bobcats, wild turkeys, coyotes, rabbits, deer and even a mountain lion.

It must have been a hard life as a miner but when you finally did get out of the mines you could rejoice in the surrounding beauty. The kids of Quicksilver must have been a tough bunch as well if this class picture in any indication.

English Camp School Photo
English Camp School Kids

The hike to the mine is a little over 2 miles mostly uphill with a mild 6% grade. The day was cloudly but warm as we've had a series of storms driven by a jet stream straight from Hawaii known as the pineapple express.

On entering the mine the air is strangely warmer and our glasses steamed up as did the camera lenses. The mine has been closed off about 100 feet in. Looking beyond the barrier gives you an idea of what cramped quarters the miners must have had to work in. It certainly gives you an erie feeling even though you are only 100 feet in. The rails remain in the entrance which makes for nice picture looking out.

Into The Light
Into The Light

You can see all the photos from the outing here on flickr


FromTheTrail
From The Trail

Richard Treadway