Tag Archives: entrepreneurship

Southside Mike Against the Machine!!

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Our favorite barbecue master has been put out of business by the County!!!

Mike posted the following on his Facebook page over the weekend

“Letter for Johns
June 24, 2016
To Southside Mike’s Friends and Patrons:
Over the past year we have enjoyed sharing our BBQ with Myrtletown and the Eureka area. Unfortunately today, we have some disappointing news to share with you.
You may or may not be aware that we have been struggling to gain a permit with the Humboldt County Division of Environmental Health (AKA the Health Department). While these folks agree that we do an excellent job following all regulations for a food booth, they maintain that there is no permit available for a BBQ trailer and a tent (unless we are at a festival.) Therefore today we have been asked to stop BBQing at John’s in Myrtletown.
On the bright side, we will still be at the 4th of July celebration in Old Town Eureka, in our usual spot in front of Roy’s. We will also be available for catering. We will continue our plan to build and open a local food truck ASAP.
Thank you for your patronage and support. Our sauce is still at the local grocery stores.”

This is a call to arms!  Check in with Mike on Monday in front of Roy’s and join those of us who appreciate low, slow cooking.  I’m distressed about having to do without that smoked mac’n’cheese and confounded that the talented folks in the County government have some dildo in the (old) Planning Department who couldn’t come up with a creative solution  short of punishing a growing business. The politicians talk so much about encouraging business. Where are they here?  Mark Lovelace is the Supervisor for Myrtletown. I’m letting him know about this and you should  too.

 I’m probably more upset than Mike is.  And waiting eagerly for his next venture/location.
 
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Streamguys Takes it Further

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The latest from our premiere internet player:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact:
Brian Galante
Dimension PR
(207) 494-8428
brian@dimensionpronline.com

StreamGuys Turnkey Streaming Network Elevates Online Radio Presence for Cox Media Group

SaaS platform integrates multiple cloud-based products and services to support live and on-demand streaming, targeted ad delivery, audience metrics and more for 60 stations

BAYSIDE, CALIFORNIA, February 1, 2016 — StreamGuys, a pioneering content delivery network and streaming media provider, has partnered with Cox Media Group to roll out a turnkey SaaS streaming platform for live ad-supported broadcasts, on-demand podcasts, and detailed business metrics and reporting across its entire radio network.

Now live across all 60 Cox Media Group radio stations in 11 markets, StreamGuys has built a rich toolset around its robust, reliable cloud-based content management and delivery network in alignment with the broadcaster’s goals. The company’s SaaS approach cleanly and cost-efficiently integrates several recent, innovative StreamGuys SGsuite products and services into the network that enrich streaming player data, accelerate podcast creation, enhance royalty reporting, and monetize streaming initiatives.

“In StreamGuys, we have found an ideal technology partner that understands the same opportunities we see to evolve our radio products,” said Tim Clarke, senior director of digital audience, Cox Media Group. “Their infrastructure and technology, along with competitive pricing and expertise in broadcasting, gives us incredible flexibility in the management and delivery of our network-wide streaming initiatives.”

Clarke emphasizes that Cox Media Group’s key goal is “ubiquity,” and StreamGuys’ open architecture assures delivery across all web and mobile platforms to support all listener preferences. The streaming experience is further bolstered through SGPlayer, an HTML5 multimedia player that is custom-skinned for each station. SGPlayer’s rich metadata support delivers the relevant information that online audiences seek along side the audio stream, including song/artist data, album art, recently played tracks and social media links for sharing the experience with other listeners. SGplayer is also an approved Nielsen SDK player, delivering client-side analytics that offer greater insight into online listener demographics than what was possible before.

Beyond live streaming, Cox Media Group is managing its ever-growing stable of on-demand podcasts using StreamGuys’ SGrecast software. SGrecast empowers multiple operators to quickly turn linear broadcasts into Podcasts and side channels of any length, with near-immediate turnaround to consumers. Clarke notes SGrecast has been “a phenomenal success,” and is used for brief news, traffic and weather in every market; and 24/7 rebroadcasts of high-profile shows after initial airings.

StreamGuys’ advertising portfolio also allows Cox Media Group to intelligently strategize local and national online ad campaigns. In addition to local video and audio insertions, Cox Media Group integrates ads for out-of-market listeners using StreamGuys’ connectivity to AdWave, a leading ad marketplace warehouse.

“Our listeners want access to our content on demand and on the devices of their choosing; SGrecast allows us to extend the life of content beyond the live linear broadcast,” said Clarke. “We can now provide content such as news, traffic and weather in an on-demand audio format that is easily consumable in our apps and on our websites. Additionally, we can offer a more advanced level of targeting to our advertisers, giving them more meaningful opportunities to reach our collective listeners.”

The StreamGuys SaaS architecture also integrates the company’s leading business software platforms, including a custom package for enhanced royalty reporting. This allows Cox Media Group to deliver information to the RIAA and SoundExchange about when and where songs were played in an automated manner—eliminating the time-intensive manual data entry and paperwork previously associated with ensuring artists are fairly compensated. The business software package also includes SGreports for in-depth audience analytics and stream metrics; SGalerts for e-mail-based notification of performance issues network-wide; and detailed logging and reporting for ad playout and exposure.

“Cox Media Group has deployed a highly progressive streaming architecture that StreamGuys will continue to scale and evolve in partnership with their internal teams, ensuring they remain on the leading edge of digital media delivery for many years to come,” said Jason Osburn, executive vice president, StreamGuys. “We are elated to deliver a comprehensive SaaS service that, along with our turnkey support, will at once help Cox Media Group solve problems and generate new ideas to push online radio and podcasting forward.”

About StreamGuys, Inc.
In business since 2000, StreamGuys is an industry-leading service provider of live and on-demand streaming, podcasting delivery, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) toolsets for enterprise-level broadcast media organizations. The company brings together the industry’s best price-to-performance ratio, a robust and reliable network, and an infinitely scalable cloud-based platform for clients of any size to process, deliver, monetize and playout professional streaming content. StreamGuys supports many of the world’s largest Podcasts, global TV and radio broadcasters, video and audio production companies, houses of worship, retail and hospitality businesses, government organizations, medical and healthcare services, and live venues for sports and entertainment. The company excels in developing and deploying technologies for business growth and revenue generation, including dynamic ad insertion, mobile streaming and detailed business and data analytics.

# # #
StreamGuys, Inc – info@streamguys.com – www.streamguys.com – 707.667.9479
P.O. Box 828 Arcata, California 95518 – fax 707.516.0009

 

The Ad That Makes Me Cry

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I’m talking about the GE ad that shows an Idea, in a costume that looks like it was recycled from the Farmer’s ad about “gaps in your insurance coverage”. The Idea is a scruffy, shaggy creature that no one wants around because it’s ugly and disturbing.  It hangs out at coffee shops till they close. It’s homeless, living in a box in an alley. Finally a yuppie takes it in but by that time my eyes are filled with tears.

Cherish your ideas! Every business in this community started as an idea. Cherish your ideas- nourish them, love them, work on them, discuss them and above all be thankful for them.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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“Taste of Bim” IS Pretty Tasty; Amy’s Delight Delivers.

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A TASTE OF BIM-  When I finally got to check out A Taste of Bim, the new Caribbean restaurant on 3rd Street (in the back half of what used to be the Avalon) the lunch rush had subsided and we were the only customers. The waitress was cheery and the space is colorful and full of light. Go HERE for a link to their website.

The food is definitely out of the ordinary. I ordered the codfish fritters, which come as three deep-fried tennis-ball size portions on a banana leaf. In appearance they’re kind of daunting but once you cut into them, they are absolutely delicious. They came with a mustard sauce that was also good.

I also had the jerk chicken wings, which were good. The jerk flavor was very mild. My friend had the roti with chicken, which turned out to be a large taco-like construction with the meat and potatoes stuffing folded into a sort of tortilla. It was very, very good and we were both impressed with the quality and the value.  The codfish fritters, for example, were $5. A Taste of Bim – “Bim” by the way, is short for Barbados- should do very well in a part of town that could use some new choices.  Open from 11-9 M-Th, 11-10 Fri-Sat, 11-7 Sunday. Check it out.

AMY’S DELIGHT- “I’ve driven past this place a thousand times” I said to myself. Amy’s is that place just down from Winco that you always pass by because  you’re just had lunch. I figure that with at least three trips a week to Winco,  COSTCO or some place on Broadway, plus return, I have actually driven past Amy’s 1560 times in the past five years. See? I never exaggerate.

We checked Amy’s out on a Friday morning and when we entered at 1130 no one was there.  We were greeted by a pleasant man who brought us a plate of cut-up oranges. He and his wife, who stayed in the kitchen, are the proprietors and her Asian heritage explains some of the menu items, like the chow mein.  They have many choices for breakfast or lunch and the prices are reasonable. We both had the chicken-fried steak breakfast which was good and which I could not finish.  By the time we left, the lunch crowd had arrived and there was not an empty seat. Amy’s closes at 3pm.  Their Facebook link is HERE and now you have no further excuse to drive past without stopping.  I’m definitely going back.

Open Tuesday-Friday 11-8, Saturday 7-2, closed Sunday and Monday.

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Annals of Customer Service

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This really happened.
I was shopping for a winter jacket at a local store which shall be nameless (because this could have happened anywhere in Humboldt) . I found one that looked right but it had a fur collar- not exactly my style,  plus I figured it was fake anyway. I flagged down a salesclerk and asked if it was real. She went to consult someone and came back saying, “Yes, it’s real. It’s fox.”

FOX!  I couldn’t believe it. “Isn’t that an endangered species?” I asked.  I don’t know whether they’re endangered or not.  My neighbor says there are foxes in our ‘hood in Cutten but I never see them.

“No, it’s really fox”, the clerk said.  “It’s right here on the tag. See?”

I looked at the tag.   It said “FAUX”, not “fox’.  I explained the difference.  She was sort of interested.

That incident made me wonder what local employers are doing for customer service training now that the Eureka Adult School is no more. Years ago, the Chamber sponsored training for retail employees.  The legend is that their training got its start when the waitstaff at the old Seafood Grotto were heard telling visitors who asked what there was to do in Eureka, “Nothing”.  The Chamber is under financial duress at present and I would’t expect any expensive initiatives from them for awhile.  

Retail is critically important in this County; it provides thousands of jobs, not all of which are minimum wage jobs.  It provides training; most people’s first jobs were in retail.  Retail trains people to communicate,  problem solve, handle cash and a dozen other skills. 

Including, maybe,  the ability to distinguish “faux’ from “fox.” The fake fox fur turned out to be detachable.  I’m trying to decide if I should give it to the dogs to play with or if that would encourage aggression toward small critters.  I guess I’ve already done irreparable harm with all the “squeaky” toys I’ve given them. The faux mice and faux birdies have taken their toll.

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My Favorite Businesses: Jeff W’s Lawn Service

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I’d like to give a shout out to a business in which I have no financial stake at all. Jeff Wickizer has been doing my lawn for three or four years now and does a great job. He shows up when he says he will and works quickly. His cleanup is great and his suggestions are helpful.  In other words, he gets five stars.

You can reach Jeff by email to mailto:j.wickizer@yahoo.com or on his cell which is 601-2090.  He’s also the General Foreman and Estimator at Professional Tree Services and you can reach him there at 839-TREE (8733). Jeff is a hardworking young guy with a family (they just had a baby a few weeks ago) and I say anyone ambitious enough to start their own company on top of a full-time job is the type of entrepreneur who deserves your support. Besides, he does good work. Give him a call and tell him I sent you. You won’t regret it. 

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NEW FUND AT HAF ESTABLISHED TO AID WOMEN IN TECH

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From the Humboldt Area Foundation:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2015
Contact: Courtney Haraldson
Humboldt Area Foundation
(707) 442-2993
courtneyh@hafoundation.org

New Fund Established at Humboldt Area Foundation to Support Women in Technology

BAYSIDE,CA- StreamGuys, a leading international streaming media company based in Bayside, CA has established a new fund with Humboldt Area Foundation. The Women in Technology Fund was created to encourage young women in high school to pursue online training in the field of computer technology.

The mission of the fund is to engage and encourage stronger diversification in the field of computer technologies, and to focus young minds on the current and future job demand of many companies in the Humboldt County area. Jonathan Speaker, Jason Osburn and Kiriki Delany have made it a priority to help establish and grow the technology field in the local area to bring higher paying jobs, family and home ownership to the community. Their hope is to expand this fund in the future in response to need.

This is an annual award for students in grades 9-12 and nominations can be made by high school teachers and staff through the Humboldt Area Foundation. Recipients of this award will be encouraged to use the funding to take additional online courses in technology.

For more information about the Humboldt Area Foundation or this particular fund please visit the Humboldt Area Foundation online at hafoundation.org or call (707) 442-2993.

Humboldt Area Foundation is the community foundation of and for the citizens of the Redwood, Trinity, and Wild Rivers Region. Vera Vietor established the Humboldt Area Foundation in 1972 with $2.4 million. Since then, more than $67 million in grants and scholarships have been awarded. Humboldt Area Foundation promotes and encourages generosity, leadership and inclusion to strengthen our communities.

##

Courtney Haraldson
Communications Manager
Humboldt Area Foundation
363 Indianola Rd. Bayside, CA 95524
<image003.png>
T | 707.267.9911
F | 707.442.9702
W | hafoundation.org

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We Finally Check Out The Oaxaca Grill

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Those of you who are familiar with this fine Henderson Center establishment- and I guess that’s most of you- can skip reading the rest of this. I am ashamed-ASHAMED- that I never ate there until Monday.  I have been missing out, clearly.

The Oaxaca ( 508 Henderson, near F Street, 445-9702) doesn’t have a website. It’s a family-run cafe with surprisingly sophisticated Mexican food.  The personable server is the paterfamilias.  The menu looks spendy until you figure in that most of the choices include soup or salad. I tried the Cream of Jalapeno and it was really different, smooth and richly flavorful.  I had the fish tacos and the fish appeared to be filet of sole.  The small pieces were tucked into thin corn tortillas that were a little too delicate to hold a taco together, especially with the mound of mango salsa that was piled on.  I used a knife and fork. It was great. 

My friend ordered a chimichanga and pronounced it good, although there was some debate over whether the chimi should have come with lettuce, guac etc on top as it does at Rita’s.  At the Oaxaca, it won’t, so take that into your considerations. Although we came into this situation knowing that the Oaxaca is renowned for its mole,  we left without trying it.

Shucks, I guess we’ll have to go back!

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Redding Man Featured in “Blue Collar Millionaires”

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CNBC’s new series “Blue Collar Millionaires” featured a Redding man, Boyce Muse, in its initial broadcast. Muse, the founder and owner, with his wife, of Muse Concrete, came up from dire poverty.  At an early age, they bet everything they owned on a future building boom in Northern California.  They bet right.

Concrete is an expensive business.  The machinery involved in pouring and sawing concrete is massive and difficult to transport.  Muse now has over 100 employees, 16 machines up from the original one, and the business did $13M in 2014. They do projects all over Northern California.  The Muses have two homes, a 4000 sf home in Redding and and an 8000 sf mountain retreat near Mt Shasta. And a plane.  You can rent the Shasta house when they’re not using it for $895 a night.

Mrs. Muse is shown describing the trepidation they felt at taking out a loan for a machine that cost more than their then-house. Yes, their bet paid off.  But would that kind of financing even be available today?  Ever since the 2008 crash, it seems that financing has dried up.  It’s going to be hard to spawn more tycoons without capital available for investment.

The next two episodes of “Blue Collar Millionaire” air tonight (July 22) at 7 and 10pm on CNBC.  You may have to tape Sharknado.

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Have You Tried Sammy’s BBQ Catering in King Salmon?

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No one goes to King Salmon by accident. You have to want to go ‘way out there. When I heard about Sammy’s it was from friends in Washington State,  go figure.
So when my friend and I checked them out on Tuesday, they had already been open for a year. The first thing we learned was, don’t go late. We thought showing up at 1:30 was the right thing to do, but they were already out of tri-tip by then. As you can gather from their website,  they usually have tri-tip, kalua pork, pork ribs, teri chicken, and meatballs.

The sides include chop suey, unusual for Humboldt but considering it’s a Tongan family that runs the place it all makes sense.  The menu is similar in part to that of the Banana Hut and it would be interesting to do a side-by-side tasting of the two versions of kalua and the two versions of pineapple gravy. The chop suey is made with glass noodles which I hadn’t seen before.  They also have a pineapple cole slaw which I didn’t expect to like, but I did.

I had the kalua pork, salty as heck but I can never resist it, and the ribs , which could have used more cooking. They were okay but not falling off the bone.  My friend got ribs which were too fatty.  The lady who was serving was slow about offering to replace them, and an unseemly discussion ensued during which my friend pointed out the layers of fat on her rib. Hers were too fat, mine were not. I liked the potato salad, wasn’t crazy about the meatballs. Things would have gone a lot better if we’d gotten there early enough for the tri-tip. 

The whole family works the restaurant .  When I lived on Oahu I had Tongan friends who used to come and visit me out on the North Shore and every time they would find an excuse to clean my house, which was not up to their standards. Sammy’s is spotless.

I see an ad for Sammy’s in the Times-Standard this morning, but the print is so muddy you can’t read it.  I hope they got their money back. Sammy’s will be open tomorrow and Friday but closed on the Fourth.  Check them out and have  a great holiday.

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