The Latest and Greatest from CAMEX

As promised (and being reminded by a faithful reader), here is an update on some of the new things to look for in the coming months on the college market:

Peace Signs
Apparently, 2009 is the 50th anniversary of the peace sign. This means that the fashion powers-that-be have decided that the peace sign will adorn as many clothing items and accessories as possible this year. Everything at the show from sweatshirts to wallets were covered in peace signs and silly paisley prints. After a short visit to Disney Land, we reluctantly confirmed that this fashion does exist and must be embraced.

Go Green
We all know that the environment is a hot topic right now, and the exhibitors at CAMEX confirmed it. Reusable bags, pens and paper made of recycled materials, organic clothing and stainless steel water bottles littered (no pun intended) the trade show floor.

Pen Technology
This was my first buying experience with office supplies, and one would think they are boring, but wowzers did the pen companies impress me with some of the things they came up with. In addition to pens made with recycled, earth friendly materials packaged in recycled packaging, you would be shocked at what Bic, Sanford, Pentel and Zebra are capable of coming up with. Sanford featured a mechanical pencil that rotates the lead every time you touch the pencil to paper so you are always using the sharpest end of the lead. Zebra featured a pen that donates a majority of the profit to Breast Cancer. Bic had my favorite new pen, the Reaction. The Reaction pen has a shock absorber built in so that the pen compresses when you push on the paper, reducing fatigue in your wimpy hands.

Save the Tatas
A company with a goal of freeing the world from cancer, Save the Tatas stole the show at CAMEX with their blunt marketing campaign to raise money for breast cancer research. Buttons and stickers saying things like "Save the Tatas" and "Caught you looking at my tatas" were found all over the convention center. Visit this website to learn more about the campaign: www.savethetatas.com.

Apple Does it Again

Those of us who have taken any sort of product development class know about the marketing scam that is known as "planned obsolescence". Apple is a company that has mastered the concept. They make flashy, awesome technology that lasts longer than everyone else's, though they come out with new versions of iPods and computers so often that it will make your head spin off if you think about it too much. If you are like me, and have a love affair with your iPod Shuffle, you have no doubt heard about Apple's new Shuffle, released last week while I was helplessly kept away from the internet in a hotel in southern California.

The new iPod Shuffle is roughly half the size of the most recent generation and holds twice as much music. Four gigs of space, which gives you enough room for 1000 songs in a package smaller than an AA battery. Some of the even more impressing features of the shuffle include the fact that it has no buttons and its voiceover function that tells you what song and/or playlist is playing.

Check it out! I want one.

MSU Bookstore is going to Disneyland!!

Well, that's a lie. We aren't moving the whole Bookstore, because if so we would have to perform a complicated rebranding to name the store MSU Bookstore - Disneyland, and let's face it, we don't have the time for that... but I digress. Katie, Mark and I are headed to Anaheim, CA for the Campus Market Expo or CAMEX for short. CAMEX is a ginormous trade show featuring all the new goodies in university retail.

Mark and Katie are thrilled to be in 70+ degree weather, especially after our low of 10 below this morning. I, on the other hand, will be missing the snow the entire time we're gone. I'll provide updates of the latest and greatest stuff from the show this week.

Rail Jam 09 - Meet Your Best Trick Judges

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the explosion downtown, Rail Jam '09 will be held at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds instead of on Main Street. The event will begin at 6 PM as originally scheduled.

As mentioned before, MSU Bookstore is an official sponsor of Chamberlin Productions' Rail Jam 09! Not only will we be at the event tomorrow night, spreading the awesomeness that is the MSU Bookstore, we will also be judging the Best Trick competition at the event. We trucked in the greatest snowboarders from the northwest to choose the dude or dudette with the raddest moves at the Rail Jam. The winner of the Best Trick award will win Skull Candy headphones, product from Ogio and the coveted AWESOME stamp so he/she can spread awesomeness all over Montana.

Now, it's time to meet your judges:

Brian "Mini Pony" Johnson
Able to stun strangers with his infamous Boston accent, Brian grew up on a miniature horse farm in upstate New York, leading to his nickname of Mini Pony. Brian traveled from his new home in Boulder, CO for Rail Jam 09.

Favorite trick: Backside 1260 to revert, ala Travis Rice.
Favorite snack: Woven bacon topped with imitation bacon bits.
Hometown: Schenectady, NY
Favorite Pro Snowboarder: himself
Favorite Pass time besides snowboarding: constructing scarecrows




Alena "A Team" Howard
Hailing from the a small island just south of the Philippines, this pint-sized ripper has judged snowboard competitions from Argentina to Austria. She's famous for traffic-stopping crazy eyes, backside 180s, and delicious strawberry rhubarb pie. Alena crossed the ocean from France to make an appearance in Bozeman this weekend.

Favorite brand of soy sauce: La Choy
Best powder day ever: Sugarloaf, Maine.
Claim to fame: appeared as an extra in Saving Private Ryan
Random fact: She can spell all the state capitals in 45 seconds... backwards.

Mary "Bollywood" Uravich

A long time organizer of the largest pea and lentil shipper's organization in the Northern Hemisphere, Mary currently is studying for her Master's in Reconditioned Reverse Axial Coercision Therapy, with a Minor in Archery. She currently resides somewhere in the greater quad-cities area.

Favorite Trick - Switch 270-on frontslide boardslide to nosepress, frontflip out.

Favorite Snack: Grilled Amazonian Duck Breast, marinated in a reduction of cote d' fluere and spanish razeberries, served with candied Indian yams and a sprout salad.

Hometown: Moscow, Russia (briefly)

Favorite Pro Snowboarder: Tony Hawk...wait, wrong sport?

Favorite Passtime besides snowboarding - Non-Professional Architecture Consulting.

Jerrod "Underscore" Warner
Known for his untameable tendency to imitate animal and kitchen appliance sounds, Jerrod's dog grooming abilities are nationally recognized. When he is not beautifying pooches, he spends his time slashing powder in eastern British Colombia.

Favorite US Territory: Guam
Power animal: Wombat
Passtime besides snowboarding and dog grooming: Interpretive dance.
Random fact: Can recite US Constitution in Swahili
Favorite G-rated swear word: Golly gee wizz.

Anyone for a Hike?

Only sixteen miles from the world class ski area that is Bridger Bowl and 45 miles from the base of magnificent Lone Mountain, which houses Big Sky Resort and Moonlight Basin Resort, Bozeman is a mecca for backcountry skiers and snowboarders.

The new Schlasman's chairlift at Bridger Bowl, which opened this winter, provides easier access to the legendary Ridge terrain that the resort is known for. Local authors Tavis Campbell and Sam Cox released the second edition of their handy guide to The Ridge titled Stepping Up.

Stepping Up is a detailed account fo the prominent lines at Bridger Bowl. The book is chock-full of photos, maps and descriptions. Areas of interest in clued The Ridge, High Traverse and The Fingers. This is a must have for Ridge Hippies and novices alike.

Copies of Stepping Up are available at the MSU Bookstore both in-store and online. More information about the book is available at the book's website: www.stepping-up.net

Buy an Apple, Get Free Stuff!

I have more than a few best friends in this world, but among the top of the list are my dog, my coffee cup, and my iPod Shuffle. I have a 5th Generation 30 GB iPod as well, and it's great and all, but nothing beats my little blue Shuffle with its clip for my belt loop and 1 gig of my favorite tunes for running and snowboarding. If you are looking for a computer and a new best friend, do we have the deal for you!!

Right now, buy any Apple computer and get a free iPod Shuffle! To top that off, if you buy the Apple Care protection program, which includes an extended 3 year warranty and phone service, you get a free printer*! (*while supplies last, of course)

Sidewalk Sale TODAY through Thursday

MSU Bookstore is hosting a Sidewalk Sale today through Thursday from 10 AM to 2 PM in the hallway in front of the Buyback Window in the Strand Union Building. Stop by to find amazing deals on sweatshirts, t shirts, Under Armour, books and more!

This Week's Bestsellers

Food Matters by Mark Bittman

"If I told you that the same lifestyle choice could help you lose weight, reduce your risk of many long-term or chronic diseases, save you real money, and help stop global warming, I imagine you'd be intrigued. If I also told you that this change, while not effortless, would be easier and more pleasant than any diet you've ever tried, would take less time and effort than your exercise routine, and would require no sacrifice, I wouldn't think you'd want to read more. If you do, you'll find an explanation of the links among diet, health, the environment in general, and climate change in particular, and you'll see how you can make a difference." -- From Food Matters







Agincourt by Bernard Cornwell

Young Nicholas Hook is dogged by a cursed past--haunted by what he has failed to do and banished for what he has done. A wanted man in England, he is driven to fight as a mercenary archer in France, where he finds two things he can love: his instincts as a fighting man, and a girl in trouble. Together they survive the notorious massacre at Soissens, an event that shocks all Christendom. With no options left, Hook heads home to England, where his capture means certain death. Instead he is discovered by the young King of England--Henry V himself--and by royal command he takes up the longbow again and dons the cross of Saint George. Hook returns to France as part of the superb army Henry leads in his quest to claim the French crown. But after the English campaign suffers devastating early losses, it becomes clear that Hook and his fellow archers are their king's last resort in a desperate fight against an enemy more daunting than they could ever have imagined.

One of hte most dramatic victories in British history, the battle at Agincourt--immortalized by Shakespeare in Henry V-- pitted undermanned and overwhelmed English forces against a French army determined to keep their crown out of Henry's hands. Here Bernard Cornwell resurrects the legend of the battle and the "band of brothers" who fought it on October 25, 1415. An epic redemption, Agincourt follows a commoner, a aking and a nation's entire army on an improbable mission to test the will of God and reclaim what is rightfully theirs. From the disasters at the siege of Harfleur to the horrors of the field of Agincourt, this exhilarating story of survival and slaughter is at once a brilliant work of history and triumph of imagination--Bernard Cornwell at his best.