So the RNC was a circus, and the DNC is off to the same, tumultuous start. One convention that seems to be going swimmingly? NSA Influence 2016, of course! The convention wraps up today, so make sure to swing by and visit Russell at PR/PR’s booth.

While the conventions of our two major political parties got underway, so were negotiations in the sale of another once-great online mainstay. On Monday morning it was announced that Yahoo had been purchased by Verizon for $4.83 billion. In 2000, Yahoo reached its peak value: $125 billion.

Talk about cratering.

Yahoo, one of the original online heavy-hitters and extremely popular search engine, is yet another example of a longstanding internet outlet that failed to adapt. Google and Facebook outpaced Yahoo in innovation, ingenuity and engagement.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: adapt or die.

It’s unknown how Verizon plans to utilize Yahoo going forward, or what will become of embattled CEO Marissa Mayer. Verizon may attempt an all-out rebrand, ala Justin Timberlake’s purchase of Myspace in 2011. Historically, the internet has not been a kind place for rebrands or reboots, but maybe a Verizon-led Yahoo is able to buck that trend.

Like a public relations tumbleweed, we continue our 2016 desert summer tour this week! Starting at the Lady and the Champs conference in Las Vegas, PR/PR rolls into Phoenix on Friday, excited to attend NSA Influence 2016!

PR/PR has remained a proud sponsor of the National Speakers Association for over a decade now, and the summer convention is one we eagerly and excitedly await all year long.

Russell will be manning the booth, per usual—I’m staked with the task of holding down central operations here in Orlando. He will also be attending Cigar PEG events, as should be as well! Online registration is still open through today, and will be open in-person at the convention. Check out Russell’s feature interview on the Cigar PEG’s podcast.

So stop by the booth, stop by for a cigar and a frosty beverage at one of the Cigar PEG events, and say hello! And it’s never too early to begin planning for next year, so pencil 2017’s Lady and the Champs conference in to your summer plans.

If you’ve seen what appears to be random twentysomethings wandering aimlessly through your neighborhood, eyes glued to their phones, you’re witnessing a cultural high watermark. No, they’re not all locked into a rapid-fire text conversation, nor are they all watching a show before Facebook inevitably spoils it.

They’re hunting Pokemon. That’s right. It’s 2016, and (nearly) everyone you know is meandering through the streets to collect imaginary, videogame monsters. What a time to be alive.

Unless you’re locked in a doomsday bunker (as of late, I wouldn’t blame you) you’ve heard about Pokemon GO, and seen the throngs of people walking around and seeking them out. Pokemon GO was released last Friday, the newest incarnation of Nintendo’s generation-defining game from the 90’s. The massive initial response has proven that when you mix childhood nostalgia with smartphones you can make billions—and get people to inadvertently exercise!

Since its release, Pokemon GO has added more than $7 billion to Nintendo’s value, and some reports show the videogame already having more users than the dating app Tinder, and with those users spending more time playing daily than using WhatsApp, Snapchat and Instagram. Talk about an immediate impact.

Being a GPS-based game that requires players to physically “hunt” Pokemon outside, many businesses are seeing a secondary boost as a result of the increased foot traffic. Certain spots or waypoints are marked as “Pokestops” where players can acquire a variety of in-game items, and some forward-thinking restaurants and cafes have begun promoting their proximity to these stops—and reaping the rewards of players flocking to their businesses.

There have been strange stories, too, such as the girl on the hunt who instead discovered a dead body, or the four teenagers that spent time by a Pokestop for the purposes of an armed robbery. It underscores that if you decide to go Poke hunting, you must remain aware of your surroundings at all times!

The biggest challenge for Pokemon GO will be to overcome the fad threshold. Many smartphone-based apps and games have become instant megahits, just to see daily users drop off over time. Nintendo needs to harness this enthusiasm and continue to update and add to the game to keep users engaged with new content to keep this upward trend going. But enough about the future—for now you should download it, get outside, keep aware of what’s around you, and happy hunting.

Back in the office on a Tuesday after Independence Day, and it feels a bit like I’ve stepped through a time warp. I get started with my normal “Monday” routine just to stop myself and double-check the calendar — yep, it’s Tuesday.

And if it’s July 4th in Florida, you can bet it’s as hot as a BBQ grill outside. The car temperature registered a solid 104 degrees yesterday as I headed over to my family’s house, so now I’m sunburned and confused about the calendar.

But burgers, hot dogs and ribs with a side of explosives is worth the temporary calendar confusion. We hope you and your families enjoyed your long Independence Day weekend and festivities, and hope you’re adjusting to Tuesday as well as can be!