We accept advertising through Blogads. If you're interested, click the "Advertise here" link above, or go here to place your ad through Blogads. For assistance, e-mail me here; I'd be glad to help. Reach lots of viewers -- we're up to about 2,900 unique visits a day, and more than 53,000 page views a week (as of October 4). Our rates are dirt cheap for the exposure you'll get!
Robert Mondavi Solaire, Cabernet 2005
Castello Monaci, Liante, Salice Salentino 2006
Ricardo Santos, Malbec 2006
Quinta da Espiga, Tinto 2006
Charles Smith, Holy Cow Merlot 2006
Charles Smith, Boom Boom Syrah 2006
Charles Smith, The Honorable Pinot Gris 2007
Santa Rita, Cabernet Reserva 2005
King Estate, Pinot Gris 2007
Gloria, Douro, Tinto 2002
Bogle, Petite Sirah Port, Clarksburg 2005
Cardwell Hill, Pinot Noir 2004
Silkwood, Red Duet Cabernet-Syrah 2004
Portuga, Vinho Branco 2006, 2007
Osborne, Solaz 2004
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Reserva 2005
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill, Shiraz Cabernet 2006
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cabernet, Indian Wells 2004
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills 2004
Hannah Nicole, Red 2004
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2005
Protocolo, Red 2005
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2006
Portuga, Vinho Branco 2006
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1998
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1996
Kirkland, Roogle Shiraz 2004
Garda, Classico Chiaretto
A to Z, Oregon Pinot Gris 2005
I Giusti & Zanza, Nemorino 2006
Treana, Marsanne-Viognier, Central Coast 2005
Fife, Syrah, "Stanford" 2000
B.R. Cohn, Silver Label Cabernet 2005
Marques de Casa Concha, Cabernet 2005
Santi, Sortesele Pinot Grigio 2006
Al Muvedre, Tinto Joven 2006
Layer Cake, Shiraz 2006
Gritti, Ca' Andrea, Umbria red 2005
Altos de Luzon, Jumilla 2004
Thomas Leithner, Zweigelt 2004
Cain Cuvee NV 3
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot 2003
Meridian, Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2003
Paringa, Shiraz 2005
King Estate, Pinot Gris 2005
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2003
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2005
Kris, Pinot Grigio 2006
Silvan Ridge, Pinot Gris 2006
Fife, Mendocino Syrah, "Stanford" 2000
Castle Rock, Cabernet, Paso Robles 2005
Willakenzie, Pinot Gris 2006
The Show, Cabernet 2005
Essencia Valdemar, Rioja Rose 2006
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills 2004
Beaulieu Vineyard. Napa Valley Cabernet 2004
Irony, Cabernet, Napa Valley 2003
Rosenblum, Petite Sirah, Heritage Clones 2005
Fra Guerau, Montsant 2002
Barefoot Chardonnay
Kana, Syrah 2004
Castell Salegg, Chardonnay, Alto Adige 2004
Fetish, The Watcher Shiraz 2004
Gold Note, Fair Play Zinfandel 2005
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Canoe Ridge Estate Cabernet 2003
Ponzi, Pinot Noir 2004
Red Diamond, Merlot 2003
Mateus, Rose
Benton Lane Pinot Noir 2004
Penya Cadiella Vins de Comtat 2003
Kamiak, Cellar Select Red 2003
Anselmi, San Vincenzo 2005
Rubrato, Aglianico dei Feudi di San Gregorio 2004
Le Grand Noir (Black Sheep) Cabernet-Shiraz
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2005
Los Vascos, Cabernet, Reserve 2004
Jackaroo, Shiraz 2003
Paul Jaboulet Aine, Crozes Hermitage Syrah, "La Jalet," 2001
Paul Jaboulet Aine, Cotes du Rhone, "Parallele '45,'" 2003
Rolf Binder, Barossa Valley Shiraz 2003
Oyster Bay, Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Woodbridge Chardonnay 2005
Barnard & Griffin, Columbia Valley Cabernet 2004
Quinto do Carmo, Alentejano Red 2000
Forefathers, Alexander Valley Cabernet 2001
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt
Miles run year to date: 28
At this date last year: 102
Total run in 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269
Comments (6)
My guess is that they sublet out the work described in the postcard for a "directory" to some logistics company in Virginia who will collate the information and print it up.
While it seems fishy (and I'm sure there are local companies that could do the same, if not better work) it's probably not as sinister as it's being made out to be.
However, this is a Goldschmidt Disciple we're talking about, so sinister works can't be far behind...
Posted by MachineShedFred | July 23, 2008 11:27 AM
I got three or four virtually identical mailings from the same company, except they were putting together a "directory" for my high school back in Illinois. You're urgently requested to call their toll-free number so that they can "update their records" on you (and coincidentally, try to sell you a copy of said directory). My guess is that it's a way for them to try to get around the restrictions of the Do Not Call list.
Posted by Max | July 23, 2008 11:45 AM
Yeah...directory compilers....you get listed for free....they're trying to get you to buy one. Harris does it all over the country.
Caveat emptor!
Posted by veiledorchid | July 23, 2008 12:09 PM
"Yeah...directory compilers....you get listed for free....they're trying to get you to buy one. Harris does it all over the country."
No, I think MachineShedFred is right; PPS outsourced the directory compilation to Harris. My graduate school did the same thing and used the same company.
Agree that it would be better if PPS used a local company (might even get a better yield, since locals know the city and PPS alumni better).
Posted by Ari | July 23, 2008 12:58 PM
PPS did this more than ten years ago (some schools did it individually around 2004). The deal was that it would cost the district nothing. Harris did the work and got paid by folks buying the directory of their high school. (Some closed high schools were combined because there were not enough alums to justify the costs.)
The project did something that was not available at the time by creating an alumni directory under a single system rather than twelve or more different systems using several computer, paper, microfiche, high school administrative records programs. The district was losing staff and drastically cutting money from classrooms, including the records section, and did not have the capacity to do the work. But it was clear that PPS needed to find some way to know who graduated from the district and where they were then.
(One thing that always comes up: The directory folks have a record of successfully suing folks who use the directories for commercial purposes and they are not afraid to bring a lawsuit. They track the books constantly. Also, confidentiality is a part of the contract as well. They do this for colleges around the world.)
I do not know what the contract is with Harris or another company. I'd guess that Branam got the best deal he could so that the district can get an updated version of the previous set of directories. In some contracts the individual schools get some money as well. The schools do not have the staff or the parents to do the work to go through the records. Reconnecting the hundreds of thousands of PPS alums with their schools is the goal.
Posted by Lew | July 23, 2008 7:25 PM
I bit on one of these at the first go around Lew is talking about. Ended up ordering the directory too. A sucker is born every minute... me, in this case.
Posted by Dave Lister | July 24, 2008 11:04 AM