As we gear up for the unveiling of our 2010 product line, we send out invitations and press releases to buyers, newspapers and trade publications. Sunday, we had a small mention in the Lafayette Journal and Courier.

http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090830/BUSINESS/908300340&template=printart

The full press release details some of our newest products. I'll post it here in the near future.

JP

A friend sent me this link. There are a lot of really amazing LEGO videos, but this one is really incredible. Hard to imagine spending 1500 hours to put this together. Wish I had that type of free time available.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qsWFFuYZYI

JP

Congratulations to Philadelphia baseball player Eric Bruntlett for turning only the 2nd unassisted triple play for the final 3 outs in a game ever! And only the 15th unassisted triple play of all time. Eric's parents live just down the road from us and he attended Harrison High School. I also learned he is a Stanford grad. Talk about a good role model. Eric seems to fit the bill.

A career .240 hitter, but now part of the history books. You never know when you will get your opportunity to shine. Eric sure didn't until the ball came right at him at the right time. It might look like luck, but the reality is he has spent a life time practicing and preparing. It is great to see it pay off in such a high profile way.

Kicking myself I did not make one more bid on his autographed baseball at a local fundraiser a few weeks ago. Hope I get another chance.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2009-08-23-phillies-mets_N.htm?csp=34

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Bruntlett

JP

Last year at this time, we were just deciding to attend the Fall Toy Preview Show in Dallas, TX. It was obvious from our booths location that we were one of the last booths assigned. We were on an alternate floor and at the end of a dead end aisle. Despite this terrible location, we were able to convince people to stop by and take a look.

This year we signed up the first day possible. Our booth is in a much better location. We are on the 12th floor of the Dallas Market Center in booth 12906. It may not be the biggest booth, but real estate is all about location. And our location is terrific. We are on the main floor, on a main aisle.

The whole team is working incredibly hard to get ready for the show. We have a great group of new artists, licensed products, new puzzle formats and some new product catagories in addition to puzzles. It will take a ton of effort to be ready, but it will be worth it.

I can not wait for this show.

JP

Lafayette Puzzle Factory products are starting to show up on retail shelves. Over 17,000 stores will have our products in them by October. It is an exciting time. It is truly remarkable how much time and effort goes into bringing products to market. At times it seems like it will never happen. And now the product is on shelves. All that is left is for consumers to like what they see.

JP

John Hughes died yesterday at 59. A total surprise. I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago in the area that many of his movies were filmed. I turned 16 the year before Sixteen Candles. My high schools detention was called breakfast club. I am loath to admit (although less so now than when I was a teen) that I identified with many of Anthony Michael Halls characters (especially in Sixteen Candles and the Breakfast Club).

John Hughes's movies captured a key time of my life. I still enjoy watching them today. Earlier this summer I watched Sixteen Candles with my daughter who is entering high school in the fall. I am not sure she saw it as I saw it. To her it was more like watching a history movie...What High School Was Like For My Dad.

Although he had not made a movie in years, I suppose I always figured he might make one more about my generation. Maybe a DVD release with unused footage or a directors commentary. As far as I can tell, he never did a directors commentary for his classic teen movies. That is too bad, especially now. Maybe he wanted to do it but kept telling himself, next year.

John Hughes will be missed, but because of his amazing movies, not forgotten. In some way they are the homemovies of a generation.

JP

I saw that the Arena Football league might be folding. Although I have not been to a game in 20 years, I do have fond memories of the 1988 Arena Bowl at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago. I remember it being the first Arena Bowl, but Wikipedia tells me it was the second.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ArenaBowl_II

It was definitely a different kind of football game. You have to give credit to the founders of the league. They found a way to take a traditional game, update it, and market it perfectly.

JP

Here is an article from last weeks issue of Newsweek. Stave makes absolutely beautiful handmade jigsaw puzzles.
But the beauty of a good jigsaw puzzle is that it does not have to cost $100's of dollars. All you need is the right picture and a good table (card table or kitchen table are my favorites).
Enjoy the article:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/207384

JP