SMX Seattle Me and Dave Dugdale

SMX Seattle John and Dave Dugdale, originally uploaded by John Beagle.

Dave Dugdale helps people find homes for rent at his very popular website, RentVine. So naturally, I would want to hear about his rental SEO efforts and he would want to hear about my efforts to rent technology to businesses with my website, Rentacomputer.com.

Dave also goes by the name, "Solar Dave" making him one of my 'greenest' friends.

Three years ago, Danny Sullivan started SMX and this was the third year we both attended SMX Advanced in Seattle. Who want's to miss anything Danny has to say about Advanced SEO? Not me.

Steve Markle Runs the 2009 Boston Marathon

Boston Marathon 645, originally uploaded by John Beagle.

The Boston Marathons bill's itself as 'The World's Oldest Marathon.' The 1896 Olympic marathon distance of 24.8 miles was based on the distance run, according to famous Greek legend.

The marathon distance was later changed as a result of the 1908 Olympic Games in London. That year, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria wanted the marathon race to begin at Windsor Castle outside the city so that the Royal family could view the start. The distance between the castle and the Olympic Stadium in London proved to be 26 miles. Organizers added extra yards to the finish around a track, 385 to be exact, so the runners would finish in front of the king and queen's royal box.

Every Olympic marathon run since the 1908 Games has been a distance of 26 miles, 385 yards.

I don't know how he managed to do it, but my brother-in-law, Steve finished the race with a time of 3:42:50 finishing 11081 in his division. That is an average speed of 8:30 per mile. This includes heartbreak hill where many a marathoner has dropped out because it is about 2/3 into the run.

Congratulations Steve on finishing in the upper half of your division!

Here are my 659 Photos from the Boston Marathon.

Dayton Tea Party Protester

Dayton Tea Party Protester, originally uploaded by John Beagle.

This grandpa is the last person one would expect to protest. But here he is out protesting at the Dayton Tea Party on West 3rd and Main Streets. He was one of several thousand republicans and democrats who came together to protest against higher taxes.

Thousands of people left work early to participate on the planned national Tea Partly event taking place in nearly 1000 cities in the United States.

Conservatives, who are usually working and have little time for political nonsense, decided that they have had enough taxes and spending by this administration and this congress.

People were fired up as they stood up for themselves against the ignorance of those who want higher taxes and bigger government.

Here is a video of the event: Dayton Teaparty Video

This is the first protest I had ever attended. Everyone I spoke to also said that they have never protested before. The time has come in the first time in history, for conservatives to protest.

This ain't no Vietnam war protest, but it is a war protest nonetheless. Perhaps this protest will be heard by those who do not know and do not care. Perhaps for once, with facts not fists, we can convince the uninformed that high taxes hurt everyone.

Here are more photos from the event.

Goodbye Julian Sandler, Business Associate and Friend

The computer rental industry lost a good friend last week, Julian Sandler. Julian was founder, president and CEO of SmartSource Computer and Audio Visual Rentals, formerly Rent-A-PC.

Julian was a pioneer in the computer rental industry, starting Rent-A-PC in 1984, the same year IBM introduced the IBM AT. He started one of the computer rental industry's first companies. I started my company, Rentacomputer.com (Formerly Rent-A-Computer) 3 years later in 1987.

He grew his Rent-A-PC organization by hard work, organic growth and acquisitions. Under his leadership, the company made 16 acquisitions and currently has 22 full-service locations nationwide with more than 250 employees.

I met Julian two times at International Technology Rental Association (ITRA) meetings. Due to his illness, he was unable to attend this year's meeting.

The last time I met Julian was in San Diego at the Coronado Island Marriot Resort. There I really got to know the wit, wisdom and charm of Julian Sandler.

Dinner Tour of San Diego Harbor

About 50 ITRA conference attendees took a Dinner cruise of the San Diego Harbor. I had the pleasure of sitting down across from Julian for dinner and speaking with him at length. You could tell he was South African, or British by his accent. He had a charming way with words. At evenings end, I was thoroughly impressed by his wit, wisdom and knowledge of the industry.

He was a gentleman who was firm in his ideas, yet diplomatic in his conversations about business, politics, economics and life. He never bragged about his education or success, yet he had much to brag about. Unbelievably, Julian had a Ph.D. degree in experimental nuclear physics! SmartSource is estimated to have done over $55 Million USD in 2008, which would put his company near or at the top of the computer rental industry.

Julian Sandler was a man of charm, optimism and grace.

Goodbye my friend. Your knowledge and wisdom will live with me, the members of the ITRA and the computer rental industry always.

Peace and goodwill be with you, your friends and your family.