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Randy Pausch, the inspiring man I wrote about in this blog, has lost his courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 47.
Randy will be remembered as being a courageous fighter with a gentle soul. His inspiring story will be remembered for years to come as well as his “Last Lecture.”
Rest in peace, Randy.
-K
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Can you feel it? Football season is almost here! In fact, the first day of Cleveland Browns training camp started today. This always makes me excited – but, today was extra special.
I was ecstatic to read this MSN article written by Peter Schrager, an expert contributor to FOXSports.com on the latest edition of the NFL Power Rankings. Why you ask?
“Everyone’s going ga-ga over Cleveland this summer, and with good reason,” is the quote about the Cleveland Browns which are picked number 8 OVERALL.
Number 8? Number 8?! We haven’t been picked that high since the days of the Kardiac Kids or Bernie Kosar!
What in the world does this have to do with business, Katy? Easy.
Because of this ranking, people will become more anxious about the Browns football, so they will travel to Berea to watch the training camp (and spend money on gas). Also, they will need to wear Browns apparel to watch them at training camp, so they will visit their local store to buy wearing apparel (and spend more money). Then, these Browns fans will be so hyped up that they will go to a game (and spend money on tickets, food and beverages – hey, it is Cleveland!)
Maybe some people can’t quite get it together to go to the game, so what do they do? Go to the local sports bar with your buddies (and spend money on food and beverages).
Perhaps some will even attend a Cleveland Browns party. Drinks, food, dog bones made in to necklaces – we’ve all attended one of these fiestas. (Actually, we’ve probably all thrown one of these parties!)
All-in-all, a good team brings in money for the city – New York, anyone? I look forward to football season for many, many reasons. No one can deny that even Pittsburgh Steelers fans enjoy being in Cleveland during football season.
Oh, speaking of THAT team – they were ranked number 9. 🙂
GO BROWNS!
-Katy
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Officer down, the worst possible phrase that can be spoken across a police band
As those of us in Twinsburg, Ohio try to heal, we know that we will never make sense of the tragedy that took a young officer, husband and father in the early hours of July 13, 2008. And, as the family and community try to cope, the war of words between the lawyers has begun. It is marketing and public relation through the media. Joshua Miktarian is not even buried and the lines have been drawn. Patrolman Miktarian deserves better. His family and fellow officers deserve better.
Yes, we have to trust the system. But, in the end, the system cannot give baby Thea her dad back. A dad she will never know except for photos, memorials and plaques. We will and must grow and heal as a community. Now, like in September 2001 we need to show our strength.
Plain Dealer editorial cartoonist Jeff Darcy captured the anguish of a community as well as Miktarian’s canine partner in this cartoon http://www.cleveland.com/darcy/index.ssf?/darcy/more/071508.html
Pray for the family and those that serve.
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And some guys have all the heart. Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, stepped down today from his roles with Microsoft to concentrate on his charity, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Microsoft has been struggling with how to compete with search engine giant, Google, and how to market Zune over Apple’s music player, the iPod.
One thing is for sure, Bill Gates will always be a staple in this industry as not only a man who had a large hand in how we operate on a daily basis – but also will be known as a man who wasn’t afraid to admit some of his products weren’t the best (Vista, anyone?).
However, no one can dispute how the third-richest man in the world stepping down off of his thrown to do charity is not a great strategy for both Microsoft and his charity.
Best of luck.
-Katy