2014 Recap of a Memorable Year from Planetary Resources

It’s great to see local space tech firm Planetary Resources doing so well. Reviewing this recap of their 2014 delights me and makes me proud to live in this hub of innovation.

I’ve always had a thing for space and space exploration. One of my earliest memories was of the Apollo moon landing. Living in the shadow on Boeing has helped keep that alive, too. Add that to their local-ness, and I can’t help but feel an intense bias towards them.

Here’s to Planetary Resources‘ 2015! May it be a banner year for them, and for us.

Ezell’s Coming Back To Lynnwood?

On my drive into the office today, I passed the strip mall on the north side of 196th (just east of 40th) and was pretty certain that I saw an Ezell’s Chicken sign. A few years ago, they closed their first Lynnwood store (on 76th & 196th; Ezell’s was still showing on this Google map street view [as of today, at least]). It looks like the store wasn’t performing, so they moved it to south Everett, which is now apparently closed (their website has one in Mill Creek). I started with their chicken years ago, and am fond of seeing local businesses do well. And how much better does one get than getting called out by Oprah as “the best”?

There is the possibility I read that wrong, but I’m pretty sure I saw the logo on the banner. It’s an interesting location, as it’s right across 40th from KFC, which has been in that location as long as I can remember. Perhaps that will help? Will it hurt? That area gets massive amounts of vehicle traffic, so that should help things.

Anyway, if I’m right, I wish them the greatest success.

Thoughts on Vision Quest’s Sale

I just received a note from my almost-former fitness club, Vision Quest (read it here, if you wish). They have been acquired by Fitness International, LLC. If my brief bit of research holds true, they’re the parent for LA Fitness.

I bear them no ill will, and truly wish them and they’re staff the best. I found them pleasant and helpful. I great weary, though, of worn gear. Yeah, I’m not a treadmill runner, preferring my stationary bikes. But being relegated to barely functioning, decades old equipment wore me out. Anyway, I hope the new owners are prepared to invest and bring the facilities up to date. Sadly, I expect they will simply close sites and push people to existing LA Fitness locations.

It’s sad to see truly local companies fail and vanish. I guess, at one level, it’s the way of things. It’s hard to compete with the extra-large in commodities.