Dog days of summer indeed.  I got nothing from a trip to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware.  Some mosquito bites, yes, a little sun, some major league agita from an airline with a truly undistinguished name (okay, we mused momentarily about just how protectable a stylized American flag can possibly be) – but really nothing fun from a trademark perspective.  Lots of family time, though, entertainingly punctuated by a mini-20^th reunion of four of my summer associate class from Shaw Pittman (RIP), 1987.  Fun fact from that summer: I bought my own lunch only three times.  Those were indeed the days.

Got a great bumper sticker though – “Still pissed at Yoko.”  And one of the most interesting combo businesses I’ve ever seen: beauty supplies and bait and tackle side by side, with a big sign proclaiming “Perms and Worms.”  I believe there’s a “Haircuts and Hauling” near here in Seattle.  If anyone is aware of a specific term to identify such creatively coupled businesses (or wants to create one) I’m all ears.

As far as news I missed while I was away, this one just makes me boil because I know the answer to Marty’s question.  Don’t even try to tell me they have to do it to protect the mark and the institution.  Just come out here and look at the majestic Olympic Mountains.  To claim that OLYMPIC can today mean only one thing is to suck the life out of our language.