More for the Mavens...

“It's All About the Journey” highlights towns and sites along Highway 51 from Beloit to Hurley, and because it's a public road open at all times, travelers can make the journey any time. In addition to picking up a passport and map about the adventure, information about Highway 51 can be found at www.ExploreHwy51.com. The Web site contains facts about each of the 15 communities on the trek, as well as information about restaurants, hotels and sites along the road.

"Well, I know that highway like I know my hand
Yes, I know that highway like I know the back of my hand
Running from up Wisconsin
way down to no man's land."

Highway 51 Blues - Bob Dylan 1961

Door County Marketing Mavens please note:

Registrations are being accepted for PAMPERING Grab 2006. PAMPERING includes a top quality tent with daily set-up and take down. A very thick inflated air mattress. Extra large bath towel and wash cloth daily. A deluxe camp chair to relax after your ride. No need to mess with the baggage truck, your baggage will be transported as well. Cold drinks and snacks for your enjoyment. Do not be fooled by copy-cats, PAMPERING is impossible to duplicate. Complete details at www.BubbasPamperedPedalers.com. See you there.

Bubba Fest 2006 - The Florida Keys November 12 - 18, 2006
Direct link to site... Bubba Fest Florida Keys Bicycle touring

Plans are underway for Bubba Fest - Coast to Coast - Spring of 2007
Bubba is proud to be a member of the National Bike Tour Directors Association.

The following was derived from Faux Logo by Rob Walker in today's NYT...

Consumer cynicism is a topic of great interest to Amanda Helm, an instructor of marketing at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. In connection with her research, she has conducted in-depth interviews with about two dozen consumers on the subject and has looked specifically at fans of Adbusters. Some of her preliminary findings were summarized in an award-winning dissertation, “Cynical Consumers: Dangerous Enemies, Loyal Friends,” later published in a 2004 article in the journal Advances in Consumer Research.

One thing she has encountered is a desire among cynical consumers not simply to avoid companies and brands they dislike but also to punish them. At the far end of the cynical-consumer continuum, this might mean defacing advertisements, but for most it plays out differently. For example, shopping at Target because you can't stand Wal-Mart — Wal-Mart came up a lot, Helm says — thus denying dollars to the disfavored company. The marketplace itself is not the enemy in this situation; it's a tool for expressing discontent. Thus one of Helm's most interesting findings: that the cynical consumers who are her main focus "demonstrated very strong brand loyalty to the few companies they could trust."