SWCAMBORNE

Utila Photos One

Simon — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:31:21 +0000

A sunset across the lagoon.

The Deep Blue Resort for the dive boat.

Really a nice place to dive and stay

Utila Diving

Simon — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:14:24 +0000

Utila is 30 miles from Roatan is 30 miles from the coast of Honduras. It is past the end of the road but it has excellent diving and WiFi.

Life is Good

Pictures to follow.

A Distribution Opportunity

Simon — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:12:40 +0000

In Boulder Colorado last summer we ate at a very good restaurant on a night that they had a price fixe menu with wine pairings. The wine was being poured by a young man who was a very specialized wine distributor. He bought wine from small vineyards in the Piedmont area of Italy and sold it to fancy restaurants in Colorado and he was making a living at it.

I used to think that because of the internet, distribution was not a growth industry anymore. And certainly when the producers or the consumers are huge they don’t need the services of a middleman so big distributors are dying. Proctor and Gamble don’t need distributors. And neither does Walmart. But a small restaurant in Boulder Colorado that wants a unique wine list does. And so does a small wine producer in the Piedmont.

Not just wine. What about cheese from New Hampshire, specialty eggs from Georgia, bananas from Costa Rica. In India they grow more than 30 types of rice. As far as I know only one of them, Basmati, is distributed and promoted in the US. If I was young and looking for a business to be in I’d seriously look at specialty distribution. It has a low barrier to entry and very high potential rewards.

Sign of Spring

Simon — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:59:02 +0000

A sure sign of Spring is that Trader Joes has daffodils

$1.39 a dozen

from Canada

More Weather

Simon — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:22:36 +0000

In Pasadena when the storm ended we could see the mountains and there was snow down to the 4000 foot level. I took this not very good picture to prove it to you:

Why do people live where there is snow right where they live?

My friend Tom S’s boat in Baltimore.

It must be inertia.

In Defense of Drunken Sailors

Simon — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:00:50 +0000

“I take exception to saying that Bernanke, Obama, Reid and Pelosi are spending like drunken sailors.
When I was a drunken sailor, I quit spending when I ran out of money.”

- Sen. John McCain

Thanks to Joe S.

Changing Boundaries

Simon — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:03:15 +0000

The announcement card for the Map exhibit at USD have been published.

Now the difficult part begins: Promotion and marketing. Hopefully we’ll do some Facebook and some press releases and some other viral stuff. If you have any ideas let me know. Mean while if you know anybody in San Diego forward this link to them. http://swcamborne.com/archives/simon-says/changing-boundaries

The opening reception could be quite interesting because it is hard to avoid the question: “Did the USA steal California from Mexico?” You and your friends can come and hear my brilliant answer. To register click here. Here are more details:

Charles Kuralt

Simon — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:37:58 +0000

“Most Americans, it turns out, are not running for office, not running from the police, and not alienated from their society. Their lives are well filled, their nature is generous, and they are at peace with their neighbors.”

Charles Kuralt

1985

From: On the Road with Charles Kuralt, Set I

February 23, 2010 Maxim

Simon — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:04:22 +0000

“Every valley ends in mystery.”

Isabella Bird
A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains
1879

Serendipity

Simon — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:41:27 +0000

These purple flowers were growing in the flood control, debris basin in Eaton Canyon. I went home and got my camera to take this photo.

An Unexpected Visual Delight