Someone sent me this SNL clip today and in more ways than one it seems eerily familiar (if you know our Western sales team, you’ll know what I mean)
Seems our industry is reaching more and more for any real innovation these days. I’m almost pretty certain that most of these ideas featured in this skit have come up before in product development meetings, and I’m also pretty sure that I’ve seen some of these features in the market already. Though the whole double hood thing is pretty revolutionary and sweet.
Being the nerd that I am, I used to love playing the game, “Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?” on my sweet Apple IIGS computer (well I didn’t have one, the school did though and I definitely put those tax dollars to good use).
Deciding to use my power to help me re-live my youth (to this day I still can’t say “Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego” without singing it, and if you know what I’m talking about then obviously you were as nerdy as I was), Red Ledge has decided to sponsor a soon to be world traveler in his quest to travel the already explored and take lots of pictures for our blog explore the unexplored.
In the coming days you will be introduced to this world traveler and become more acquainted in his quest and his unquenchable thirst for world knowledge. This explorer (who may or may not have been found yet) will become a guest blogger on our site and will enrich us with his travels so that those of us who are stuck behind a desk, reading blogs trying to pass the time, can live vicariously through him.
Hopefully we’ll get some good pictures and entries as a result of this, and holding true to the Carmen Sandiego way, we’ll also be posting up useful (and useless) facts about wherever his travels may bring him. So stay tuned as we reveal Red Ledge’s World Traveler.
On Tuesday, three of our members were off to Newark Airport to travel to the great country of Ecuador. Surrounded by beautiful mountains and volcanoes as well as historic buildings and churches…Ecuador is a beautiful history-rich country that many do not get to experience.
I for one have been there….had a great time..discovered a lot…when do you get to see things like this….(yes i took this)
Andy, Chris, and Haney will be travelling to Ecuador but are really nervous about their travels.
Will they have the same experience down there as I have?
Pictured here is an Ecuadorian guard…..guarding the northern border of Ecuador where it hits Colombia considering just earlier this year they broke off ties with Colombia. Ahh this northern Border…where a U.S. citizen back in 2001 was kindnapped and held for ransom by Colombia.
Now According the US Department of State (travel.state.gov)
The U.S. Embassy in Quito advises caution when traveling to the northern border region of Ecuador, to include areas in the provinces of Sucumbios, Orellana and Carchi and northern Esmeraldas. U.S. government personnel are under limitations with respect to traveling alone and over-nighting in these areas due to the spread of organized crime, drug trafficking, small arms trafficking, and incursions by various Colombian terrorist organizations. Since 1998, at least ten U.S. citizens have been kidnapped near Ecuador’s border with Colombia.
Most beaches lack consistently staffed lifeguard stations.
U.S. citizens should carry identification at all times, including proof of U.S. citizenship.
Crime is a serious problem in Ecuador, and visitors should be alert and cautious.
Hundreds of Americans are robbed every year in Ecuador.
Travelers should avoid wearing expensive-looking jewelry and watches.
Always be aware of your surroundings, and try to not travel alone.
In Quito, travelers should be particularly alert on the crowded streets of south Quito, at the Panecillo, in Old Quito, and in the areas of El Tejar, Parroquia San Sebastian, Avenida Cristobal Colon, and Gonzalez Suarez.
In Guayaquil, take extra caution in the downtown area at night, in the street market area of La Bahia, at the Christ Statue (Sagrado Corazon de Jesus) on Cerro del Carmen, in the airport area, and in the southern part of the city.
Criminals sometimes use incapacitating drugs such as scopolamine on unsuspecting tourists in order to rob them.
See guys…there is nothing to worry about!
P.S. Don’t forget your twenty bucks you need to get out of the country!
Some memories from my last night in Hong Kong and Typhoon Hagupit:
Before dinner, in the lobby of our Hotel.
And yes that is correct, I’m doing the whole “Hey look how important I am on my blackberry, yet I still have time to point to the Typhoon level 8 warning sign and show everyone how awesome of a job the hotel is boarding up the windows.”
After seeing this one might want to reconsider going out for dinner on a night like this considering Hong Kong is located right on the water. We considered staying in, but 3 seconds later we decided how often do you get to go out on a Typhoon night.
Though Hong Kong is pretty small and it’s subway system pretty efficient there are still some places where you can’t simply hide from the elements.
Though the path was trecharous, we eventually made it to dinner, and after dinner my friend told me about a place of legend in Hong Kong. A place where boys become men, and men become drunk, and women become scared of the drunk men who were once boys. A place where this transition takes places only on treacherous nights like these.
And that place my friends, is Typhoon. Apparently they serve free shots when a Typhoon hits level 8, talk about sytematically trying to weed out the riff-raff of society.
Well that’s where it ended. A little night cap here and a little night cap there and before you knew it we were on a plane the next day flying over the typhoon to Taiwan and back to from Taiwan to the US.
So on a final note I’d like to bid my friends Typhoon Sinlaku and Hagupit farewell, you will be missed, we had good times, almost became BFFs if you had not tried to make out with me and whispher sweet nothings in my year.
Not bad though, all in all 3 typhoons/hurricanes in 2 weeks for the Red Ledge staff. Looks like a record we’ll have to try to beat next year.
