28-09-2005 00:29

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

I personally think it's obvious what's on his mind. He's plotting world domination, and it begins with Canada. He just saw part 1 of his plan go through, and he's holding back an evil cackle, or bwahahahaha, or what have you.

28-09-2005 00:34

mechanicalbrain

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

I concur with ^

28-09-2005 00:47

Arefin Bari

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

He was just probably giving karthik that look after he saw steve pulling up karthik's kilt. ... Andy wanted his turn next.

28-09-2005 02:26

Madison

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

What was 'Supplier Summit 2005"?

28-09-2005 05:14

Koko Ed

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

Just remember he was at the Battlebots event the day before and was hoping to see a robot explode or something and was thinking abotu how much cooler the game would've been with massive hammers in the corners to defend the goals there.

28-09-2005 07:44

Greg Needel

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

nope he was in Canada before he was at battlebots

28-09-2005 08:08

Al Skierkiewicz

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

Andy,
Run to the light dude! Pretty soon you will be putting vinegar on your french fries and dying you hair. Come back...come back...come back....

28-09-2005 10:07

Andy Baker

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

OK, OK...

Mark Koors and I made a road trip this past weekend. Our main goal was to visit the BattleBots competition in Rochester to seek new customers for our AndyMark business. We demonstrated some products and made some great contacts. Also, we supported the Tetracide team as they competed.

Along the way, we stopped in at Toronto on Friday to see some friends and help setup for the Wonderland FIRST competition.

Along this trek, we discovered these things:

1. It's only an 8 hour drive from Kokomo to Toronto.
2. Crossing over to Canada and getting back is fairly easy, especially at the crossing points of Port Huron, MI and Niagra, Ont.-NY.
3. More teams need to attend the Wonderland off-season event. It is a great place to host a FIRST competition.
4. Hotel rates in Toronto are inexpensive.
5. Dinosaur BBQ in Rochester is excellent.
6. The X-Cats (team 191) have an awesome shop.
7. We have some new friends in the Rochester area.
8. FIRST is well-respected among Battlebots competitors.
9. Battlebots is an exciting, fun competition to watch.
10. A good spinner robot can do a massive amount of damage to its opposing robot.

As for the "FIRST Supplier Summit", it was a meeting among possible suppliers to FIRST which took place back in August. Essentially, it was a meeting where FIRST challenged, "what can you put in the Kit for free?"

Andy B.

28-09-2005 10:16

Rich Kressly

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

Obviously, Andy is attempting not to laugh at Karthik's rediculous story about a cab ride ...

28-09-2005 10:34

JVGazeley

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

What, you didn't know that? The reigning UK Robot Wars Champion is a spinner (named Typhoon)

28-09-2005 11:06

Alex Cormier

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

we were very scared of the spinners, just never knew how harsh they are. that's why i have an amazing idea for a middleweight spinner.

28-09-2005 13:00

Stu Bloom

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

Yup ... he's still smirking even though that story was told way back in April in the hotel bar in Atlanta ... (at least that was the first time I heard it) ...

28-09-2005 13:20

David Kelly

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

Sure sounds like a summit for FIRST suppliers or potential FIRST suppliers to get together and talk about and/or to support FIRST........

28-09-2005 18:10

dubious elise

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

Whoa now Al...since when has the addition of vinegar to french fries been Canadian?

And what is wrong with being Canadian anywho??

28-09-2005 22:18

kpugh

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

No no no. Gravy and cheese on the fries is Canadian!!! Poutine, yummy!!

28-09-2005 22:44

Sean Schuff

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

Andy?? Who the heck is Andy??!!

29-09-2005 08:25

Travis Hoffman

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

Perhaps he meant putting gravy (poutine) on french fries? Gag.

Ya know, I love Canada and the Canadian people, but there are some things you just shouldn't do to potatoes. KETCHUP potato chips? BLAH.

29-09-2005 09:17

JVN

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

Because I went to college so close to the Canadian border, I'm very familiar with the poutine.

When we were visiting the Toronto Regional this year, Adrienne and I made Ken Patton try one, I'm pretty sure he was wowed.

Gravy? Cheese? Fries? What isn't there to love?

29-09-2005 19:02

Ian Curtis

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

Sorry to burst your bubble Travis, but we have those stateside as well. I agree that they are gross but you can find them at your local convienance store in Maine.

29-09-2005 21:07

Chris Fultz

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

Andy, Mark - a basic business hint.

Giving stuff away for free does not generate a lot of profit.

29-09-2005 21:20

Mike Schroeder

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

but its above gracious, its awesomly proffessional

29-09-2005 21:24

Billfred

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

Actually, this would be interesting to see, because there will invariably be those who manage to completely blow the gearbox to smithereens two days after Kickoff. (We managed to completely mess up some omniwheels from our own errors.)

Besides, think of the fun that could be had if a two-speed (apparently a darn good one at that, after seeing this year) were standard.

29-09-2005 21:28

Travis Hoffman

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

Well, I first saw them at the Canadian Regional in 2002, and I have yet to see them in my neck of the woods (thank goodness). I am most fortunate to have Lake Erie shielding me from the evils of ketchup potato chips.

29-09-2005 22:11

Jessica Boucher

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

I'm going to have to strongly disagree with you there, Chris - aside from product reviews, people talking it up on forums like this one, and other chatter/buzz...the best way for an emerging company to get their foot in the door is by giving the stuff away. Because of this specific market's nuances, if they are able to snag their attention correctly, the price to visit Canada will be very small in comparison to what they'll make in return.

Of course, if Baker didn't take the opportunity to slip in an AndyMark sticker with whatever he donates to the KOP, I'll be very disappointed...

29-09-2005 22:19

Joe Matt

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

And get free shirts, don't forget that part David....

29-09-2005 22:23

Madison

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

But providing a sample product does -- the same way that IFI provides sprockets in the kit sufficient for 2WD and likely makes a killing when we all go clamboring for more so we can have 4, 6 or more driven wheels.

30-09-2005 08:12

Steve W

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

Ketchup chips are the best. Everyone eats french fries with ketchup so why not potato chips. The best are Pringles.

30-09-2005 12:55

Ken Patton

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

It doesn't *sound* tasty, but it is.... thanks for expanding my horizons!

30-09-2005 16:12

Chris Fultz

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

Alas, only on Chief Delphi can such a sarcastic, intended to be humorous comment, be taken so seriously as to question my understanding of the basics of marketing and business development .....

30-09-2005 17:18

Andy Baker

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

Yes, but what this did was give me free marketing advice from veteran FIRSTers. Lord knows, I sometimes need this advice since I have been known to do odd and silly things.

Andy B.

01-10-2005 01:03

Chris Fultz

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

I predict someday "AndyMark" will be a case study in an MBA program,
and all of the students will 'ooooh' and 'aaaah'.

01-10-2005 14:13

J Flex 188

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

Maybe I'll pitch the concept of AndyMark to my MGMT 1000 business plan group . Our first major project of term at Schulich for iBBA/BBA undergrads.
Throw in free poutines and ketchup chips for group breakout meetings or as incentives?

02-10-2005 02:15

Karthik

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

Trav,

It's going to pain you to hear this, but in Eastern Canada, you can actually get gravy flavoured potato chips! They're pretty good, although not as good at ketchup chips.

As for poutine, the concept of cheese curds, gravy and fries does sound pretty gross. It even looks grosser than it sounds. But everything it lacks in aesthetic appeal is made up for in taste.

02-10-2005 18:34

Denman

Re: pic: Andy comes to Canada.

and thats the big bots.
I shall see if i can locate the video of a featherweight spinner (its called vortex or something ) Against a printer, most of the bits landed on the roof of a building.
And there are also things like beef and yorkshire pudding flavour crisps( chips whatever)