Are we living in the land of giants?

I have two nephews, Charlie and Toby, who are 13 and 14 respectively. They are both tall! I am not talking tall for their age...they are tall. Charlie the 14 year old is almost as tall as me and I am 6'1". I was walking through New York today noticing that the kids who are grabbing their last days of freedom before school starts, are all huge! I think this next generation is living in the land of giants!

OK so it's been a long time...

...apologies, things have been busy. So today let's talk social networking. Everyone used to talk about the revolutionary "Friendster", are you on Friendster, have your "friended me", things like that. The only problem was, it wasn't a great service and didn't attract enough people to gain mass. For example... AIM, owned and created by AOL, based on simple file server "pings", grew to such a mass, that it will always be around. The thinking is, everyone know is on my buddy list, therefore I will use it! MySpace, came along and it really blew Friendster out of the water. EVERYONE got a MySpace account. The problem there was, MySpace wasn't just MySpace, it became, everyone who wants to get at my space, and the social networking SPAM started. I got, on average 5 friend invites from busty blond women who "travel to DC, or NY" every day. I think they worked in a certain area of the entertainment industry! Now as much as I love pretty young things, these were not my idea of "Friends" and I certainly didn't go looking for them. MySpace grew to a huge level, and it looked like they would become the unbeatable "google" of social networking...but along came Facebook.

At first, Facebook was only open to students, but when they decided to open the gates, for some reason, everyone I knew, immediately signed up. Admittedly the UI was much better than MySpace, and it became a very quick addiction to myself and many of my friends.

So why did everyone immediately sign up for Facebook? People abandoned MySpace and jumped ship, it seemed almost overnight? What made this social network (we'll call David) beat the much larger network (Goliath)?? What makes a social network work????

A couple of weeks ago I e-mailed a cross section of people from my address book and invited them to a mobile app called "looped". It's a cool idea, you register and when you want people to knew where you are, you log on, it shows your location and the location of friends of yours, in your network who want to be found. Out of the 100 people I mailed, 4 signed up, and only two used it, and since then they and me have stopped. It just doesn't have the "magic sauce" to attract the mass needed to sustain and grow a social network. IF it did, it would be really cool, to walk down to Union Sq and find other friends in the near vicinity and grab a coffee. But it doesn't.

What makes a social network work. BTW, anyone with the correct answer and formula congratulations you are now very very rich, or should be :)

Lose It update

Well it's getting tougher on the weight loss. I am down to 197lbs, which for me is a milestone because my weight has a 1 in front of it and for the past 12 years it's had a 2 lol. I maintain 3 miles a day in the gym plus full work out, sometimes more, but have hit the hard last 15 lbs that everyone told me I would. Still keeping a religious count of all my calories on "Lose It", on the iPhone and it will get me to where  I want to be I am sure. Onwards!!!!!

Update - Paul Schmidi Schmidman

Family will probably be arranging a memorial in LA around September. As I learn more details I will pass on.

Paul "Schmidi" Schmidman - RIP

Yesterday I learnt of the sad news that Paul Schmidman, a friend and colleague from AOL had taken his life.  Sometimes you feel you know someone really well, sometimes you feel like you know someone quite well, but in Schmidi's case, as much as I spent hours and hours with him in, in-depth discussion, I really did not know the guy. The truth is, no one did, he is an enigma.  For those who knew Schmidi you know he had what could be called an "alternate" universe, where situations and stories blurred the edges of reality.  The thing that we did know, he was not a malicious person, but he sure did some crazy things. Schmidi we will miss you.  

"Lose It" app update. 20lb down!!!

For blog followers, you will know that for the past 9.5 weeks I have been using an app on the iPhone called "Lose It".  It's a free app and helps you keep track of calories in and calories out to help you lose weight. It also gives you a goal number of calories you can consume each day, (taking into account your age, height etc), in order to lose between 1lb and 2lb a week. I have been using this religiously and last night dropped to my first goal, 200lbs. This is a drop of 20lbs, and half way through my target. 

So why does this work where other things don't. If you use it, (and it's a bit of a pain at first), cataloguing everything you eat, all the ingredients in meals, and stay below your target line, you lose the weight. If you add exercise through the app, it will give you the calories burned in your work out and add it onto the calories you can consume, so there is a REAL incentive to work out every day, (I am now doing three miles a day in the gym plus a full work out, average work out is 550 calories that get added to my total that I can consume a day). So those 550 extra calories really become make or break.  The other thing that really works, is the app tells you how much calories are in any one item of food.  This makes you selective on the food you eat, thus helping you eat a more healthy, lower fat diet.

All in all, this app is just superb. Roll on the next 20lb!!!!

WIFI onboard!

So you're on a flight across the country, five or so hours...you've seen all the movies and the TV selection doesn't interest you?  For the first time ever, yesterday, I had WIFI internet onboard my Virgin America flight from LAX to NY.  It's just superb, to have the ability to get e-mail, surf the web, Facebook, and IM. I tried to do a video chat, but we didn't have the bandwidth, but apart from that, everything else was like being on a high speed connection. The price wasn't that bad either... $12, so all in all, I think WIFI and Virgin America are on a winner.

Melody Gardot is amazing!

Let me tell you a little story!!!  I was running late to a dinner at 10th street, and 1st, and I was on 44th and Lex. I jumped in a cab, 5.30pm and said, "I'm late get me there as fast as you can."  Instead of the usual bad mannered cab driver, I had this great guy who managed in 8 minutes, through rush hour traffic to get me to my destination...he was amazing, weaving in and out of the lanes, and jumping lights. Whilst enjoying this trip, he had a CD playing in the cab, and the singers voice was just amazing. I asked him who it was and he held up the CD case, for an artist I had never heard of, Melody Gardot. 

An eclectic mix of jazz, Latin, French...with a voice as clear as crystal glass, Melody and her albums are just superb. If you have a six CD changer in your car, one of the CD's has to now be Melody. Check out her voice, and amazing story at her website, www.MelodyGardot.com .

Melody's story is quite superb and  a movie in the making.  At the age of 19, she was hit by a car and severely injured. Previous to the injury she had played the piano, and so when it came to rehab, her doctors advised her to use music therapy.  From her music therapy classes, she wrote her own songs, developed her own style, learnt to play guitar, and became the mazing artist she is now. 

You have to check this lady out!!!!! Enjoy.

Mal

OK so

apologies for no whitty posts, been pre-occupied with things but will be back on track next week.

Weight update from Lose It

I've lost 10lb!

AMTRAK smells, a light hearted blog post

AMTRAK - Why do AMtrak trains all smell the same. It's an insipid someone just died here smell, and it's in every train apart from the Acela.  The Acela doesn't smell, but the normal AMTRAK trains do?  Why?  My friend posted on Facebook yesterday how disgusting the trains really are, from cleanliness, the smell of death and terrible over priced food. he one she was on yesterday even leaked water through the roof.  I can understand the cost of replacing all the rolling stock, but you must be able to do something about this smell?

Thoughts peeps?

We announced our deal today!!!!

I am very happy to announce that after a year and a half, TM Entertainment and Media has entered into a merger deal...

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

TM ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA, INC. TO COMBINE WITH HONG KONG MANDEFU HOLDINGS

 LIMITED (D/B/A CHINA MEDIAEXPRESS “CME”)

 

Highlights

·        CME operates the largest television advertising network on inter-city express buses in China

o        Highly effective and efficient advertising network of approximately 35,000 installed televisions in over 16,000 buses in nine of China’s most prosperous regions

o        Long-term agreements in place with 40 bus operator partners

o        Selected by China’s Ministry of Transport to be the strategic alliance partner for a nationwide in-vehicle television system on buses

 

The Market

·         The economies of 8 of the 10 (and 40 of the 50) fastest growing cities worldwide in 2008 were in China

o        CME’s network covers 80% of these cities

·         China’s advertising market is one of the fastest growing in the world

o        Second largest advertising market in Asia and the fifth largest in the world in 2007

o        Out-of-home advertising is China’s third largest advertising medium which totaled $2.7 billion in 2007 and is expected to grow 18% annually to $5 billion in 2011

 

Financial Results

·         CME has achieved strong revenue growth and profitability since its inception in 2003

o        2008 net revenue of $63.0 million^[1], increased 123% over 2007

o        2008 net income of $26.4 million¹, increased 246% over 2007

o        269% CAGR in net revenue from 2006-2008

o        404% CAGR in net income from 2006-2008

 

The Transaction

·         Attractive valuation and structure

o        Fully-diluted transaction valuation of 6.3x 2009E net income

o        TM to issue 19.5 million common shares and $20.0 million in cash in exchange for 100% of CME for total initial consideration of approximately $174.2 million

o        Significant stock based earn-out of up to 15.0 million shares over a three-year period

 

New York, NY and Fuzhou, China – May 4, 2009 – TM Entertainment and Media, Inc. (NYSE Amex: TMI; TMI/U; TMI/WS) (“TM”) and privately-held Hong Kong Mandefu Holdings Limited (d/b/a China MediaExpress) (“CME” or the “Company”) today announced that they have entered into a definitive share exchange agreement whereby TM will issue at closing 19.5 million new common shares and $20.0 million in cash in exchange for 100% of the outstanding equity of CME, subject to TM shareholder approval.  Upon the closing of the transaction, which is anticipated in the third quarter of 2009, TM will change its name to China MediaExpress Holdings, Inc. 

 

Since its inception in November 2003, CME has grown rapidly to become China’s largest television advertising operator on inter-city express buses.  The Company generates revenue by selling advertisements on its network of television displays installed on over 16,000 express buses originating in nine of China’s most prosperous regions, including the four municipalities of Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing and five economically prosperous provinces, namely Guangdong, Jiangsu, Fujian, Sichuan and Hebei.  These nine regions in aggregate generated nearly half of China’s GDP according to the National Bureau of Statistics of China.

 

CME installs displays and automated control systems on the buses owned by bus operator partners where it provides 30 minutes of entertainment content followed by 10 minutes of advertising.  The Company has long-term agreements in place with 40 bus operator partners ranging from five to eight years.  Additionally, the Company has entered into a cooperation agreement with an entity affiliated with the Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China to be the strategic alliance partner in the establishment of a nationwide in-vehicle television system that displays copyrighted programs on buses traveling on highways in China.

 

The Company’s ability to reach large audiences in a cost effective manner in a captive environment for a prolonged period of time has shown to be highly attractive to advertisers.  A monthly average of approximately 60 million passengers travel on inter-city express buses within the Company’s network.  As a result, CME has attracted numerous well-known international and national brands to its advertising network including Coca Cola, Pepsi, Siemens, Hitachi, China Telecom, China Mobile, China Post, Toyota, Bank of China and China Pacific Life Insurance.

 

CME has generated rapid revenue and profitability growth since inception.  In 2008 net revenue grew to $63.0[2] million compared to $25.8[3] million in 2007 and $4.0[4] million in 2006.  Net income in 2008 was $26.4² million, compared to $7.0³ million in 2007 and $0.9⁴ million in 2006.  The Company has a strong balance sheet and no debt. 

 

The Transaction

Under the terms of the transaction, the Company’s shareholders will receive 19.5 million TM shares and $20.0 million in cash upon the closing of the transaction. 

 

Stock-based Earn-out – CME shareholders may earn up to an additional 15.0 million shares of TM subject to the achievement of the following net income targets for 2009 - 2011:

 

Year	Net Income (RMB)	Net Income (US$)[5]	Shares
2009	287.0 million	$42.0 million	1.0 million
2010	570.0 million	$83.5 million	7.0 million
2011	889.0 million	$130.2 million	7.0 million

 

Warrant Proceeds – CME shareholders are entitled to receive up to $20.9 million of the cash proceeds from the exercise of TM’s publicly held warrants.  

 

After the closing, there will be approximately 28.9 million basic and 32.7 million fully diluted ordinary shares outstanding (assuming 29.99% conversion rights are exercised).  On a fully diluted basis, CME shareholders will retain approximately 60% of the outstanding equity of the surviving company, increasing to approximately 72% ownership if the full earn-out is achieved (assuming 29.99% conversion rights are exercised).

 

The transaction is subject to the review of TM’s proxy materials by the Securities and Exchange Commission, approval by the holders of TM common stock, and other customary closing conditions.

 

The Company is led by an experienced management team committed to its long-term success.  The Company’s senior management includes Founder, Chairman and CEO, Zheng Cheng; COO, Jian Yu; Chief Marketing Officer, Jinglong Du; and CFO, Zhuofeng Zheng, all of whom will remain with the merged company following the transaction.

 

Under the definitive agreement TM’s current shareholders have the right to designate two of seven Board members.

 

Commenting on the transaction, Theodore S. Green, TM’s Co-CEO, stated, “Immediately after TM’s IPO, we initiated our search for a business combination partner in the entertainment and media industry, seeking a well-managed, profitable, growth company.  Over the last year and half, we looked at numerous candidates and believe we have found an ideal partner.  We are very impressed with CME’s exceptional success building a multi-million dollar company from the ground up in just over five years, and are convinced by the Company’s prospects for continued growth.” 

 

Cheng Zheng, CME’s Founder and CEO, added, “We believe going public through this transaction is a logical next step for CME and we look forward to taking the Company to the next level of growth by further expanding our inter-city express bus advertising network.  Today, CME is China’s largest media company specializing in inter-city bus TV advertising.  According to CTR Market Research, the highway network covered by CME includes more than 3,000 cities.  As the Chinese government actively boosts domestic demand to stimulate the economy, our market opportunity will continue to grow.  The Chinese highway system is the second longest in the world in terms of mileage, and based upon government expansion plans, within the next three years the Chinese highway system should become the world’s longest.  The above factors will enable us to continue to grow significantly in the coming years.  We are pleased to be partnering with the TM team, which has a great deal of experience in the media and entertainment sectors.”

 

Growth Drivers

The Company expects to benefit from:

·         The increase in the number of passengers using inter-city buses due to their low cost, high frequency and point-to-point convenience covering major cities as well as small to mid-sized cities in China, vs. railroad and plane travel;

·         Significant government funded expansion and improvement of the highway transportation system;

·         Long-term agreements with 40 bus operator partners and a cooperation agreement with China’s Ministry of Transport, which create significant barriers to entry for potential competitors;

·         Other advertising growth opportunities in China;

·         China’s rapid and sustained economic growth and increases in disposable income and consumption;

·         Continued increases in advertising spending in China, projected to remain one of the fastest growing advertising markets in the world, growing at a CAGR of 12.8% from 2007 – 2011;

·         China having one of the lowest levels of advertising spending per capita, and as a percentage of GDP compared to more developed countries or regions of the world, which provides significant potential for future growth.

 

Malcolm Bird, TM’s Co-CEO, commented, “More and more, out-of-home advertising networks are gaining increasing acceptance in China as they offer advertisers a low cost new media alternative to reach audiences more effectively, and to supplement traditional advertising media, such as television, magazine and radio.  With a projected annual growth rate of 18%, out-of-home advertising spending in China is expected to reach $5.0 billion by 2011.  We are confident in CME’s ability to continue to execute on its growth strategy to expand its current inter-city express bus network, as its current bus operator partners enlarge their fleets, by establishing additional agreements with new bus operators and signing additional advertisers as customers.”

 

Mr. Green concluded, “We believe this transaction represents a very attractive investment opportunity for TM stockholders.  We look forward to keeping investors apprised of our progress throughout the process.”

 

Roadshow Schedule

 

The management of TM and CME will hold meetings with current and potential investors prior to the completion of the acquisition to further discuss the transaction.  If any accredited investors are interested in meeting with management, contact Lena Cati of The Equity Group at 212-836-9611 or lcati@equityny.com. 

 

Pali Capital, Inc. is acting as financial advisor to TM, and Morrison Cohen LLP is acting as legal advisor to TM on this transaction.

 

Loeb & Loeb LLP is acting as legal advisor to CME on this transaction.

 

For additional information on the acquisition reference the Form 8-K that will be filed by TM on May 4, 2009, which can be obtained without charge at the Securities and Exchange Commission's web site (http://www.sec.gov).

 

About TM Entertainment and Media, Inc.

TM Entertainment and Media, Inc. is a Delaware blank check company incorporated on May 1, 2007 in order to serve as a vehicle for the acquisition of an operating business in the entertainment, media, digital and communications industries and to seek out opportunities both domestically and internationally to take advantage of its management team’s experience in these markets. The entertainment, media, digital and communications industries encompass those companies which create, produce, deliver, own, distribute or market entertainment and information content, products and services.

 

TM’s initial public offering was consummated on October 17, 2007, receiving proceeds of $82,040,000 through the sale of 10.255 million units at $8.00 per unit (including 1,225,000 units pursuant to the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option).  Each unit is comprised of one share of TM’s common stock and one warrant with an exercise price of $5.50.  Each warrant will become exercisable on the latter of the completion of a business combination or October 17, 2008 and will expire on October 17, 2011, or earlier upon redemption.  As of December 31, 2008, TM held $81,119,299 (or approximately $7.91 per share) in a trust account maintained by an independent trustee, which will be released upon the consummation of the business combination.

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about TM, CME, and their combined business after completion of the business combination.  Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts.  Such forward-looking statements, based upon the current beliefs and expectations of TM’s and CME’s management, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements.  The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: continued compliance with government regulations; changing legislation or regulatory environments; requirements or changes affecting the businesses in which CME is engaged; labor and personnel relations; credit or currency risks affecting CME's revenue and profitability; changing interpretations of generally accepted accounting principles; general economic conditions; and other relevant risks detailed in TM’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks.  Neither TM, nor CME assumes any obligation to update the information contained in this presentation.

 

Additional Information and Where to Find It

 

This news release does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.  TM and its directors and executive officers, and Pali Capital, Inc., may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies for the special meeting of TM stockholders to be held to approve the business combination.  In connection with the proposed acquisition and required stockholder approval, TM will file with the SEC a preliminary proxy statement and a definitive proxy statement. Stockholders are advised to read, when available, TM’s definitive proxy statement in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the special meeting which will contain important information.  The definitive proxy statement will be mailed to stockholders as of a record date to be established for voting on the business combination.  Stockholders will also be able to obtain a copy of the proxy statement, without charge, by directing a request to: TM Entertainment and Media, Inc., 307 East 87th Street, New York, NY 10128.  The preliminary proxy statement and definitive proxy statement, once available, can also be obtained, without charge, at the Securities and Exchange Commission's internet site (http://www.sec.gov).

 

In addition, CME and its directors and officers may be deemed to have participated in the solicitation of proxies from TM stockholders in favor of the approval of the proposed acquisition. Information about CME and its directors and officers will be included in the preliminary proxy statement and definitive proxy statement filed by TM in connection with this transaction.

 

CONTACT:                                 -OR-                INVESTOR RELATIONS:

TM Entertainment and Media, Inc.                 The Equity Group Inc.

Theodore S. Green / Malcolm Bird                      Lena Cati (212) 836-9611

Co-CEOs                                                            lcati@equityny.com 

(212) 289-6942                                                    Linda Latman (212) 836-9609

                                                                                    llatman@equityny.com

 

Lose it update

now 212lb, lost 8 lb, have also been going to the gym every day, which is a great thing for extending you caloric intake allowance. It's very clever that s I get lighter, the app adapts the measurements to the new weight.

Lose It Update

lost 6 lb :)

Lose Weight!!! Lose It App

I have an iPhone.

I like my iPhone (AT&T sucks tho)

I have many apps on my iPhone, games, Twitter, Facebook, subway MTA, AIM and LOSE IT!

This is a superb app that allows you to track your caloric intake against a pre-set goal. You put your sex, age,weight into the app, select how many pounds a week you want to loose and then every time you eat you record the items. It's easier than it sounds and totally addicting. It also allows you to keep track of your exercise and subtract the exercise calories burned from your daily goal.

The thing that is also useful is, you start learning exactly how many calories are in things!

Who knew a single whole wheat pitta bread is 165 calories, pom juice is 192 calories for 11 fl oz!!! 

Lose It makes you want to not break your daily goal and it works. I am 5lbs down in two weeks. Try it, it's free.

You have got to be kidding

The government had a photo op today...not Obama shaking someone's hand, but a replica of Air Force One being tailed by an F-16 jet flying low over Manhattan! Buildings were evacuated, panic ensued...which turkey dreamed this one up? You can see from the photo how low it came over the buildings along the Hudson.

The FAA says the jumbo jet flying low over Manhattan this morning was "photo op" -- something having to do with the branch of the military that takes care of Air Force One.

However if you read the account from the WSJ -- which got the official statements -- you'll see that none of it makes any sense.

Sections like this are particularly unhelpful:

In a written statement Monday, the Air Force confirmed that an "aerial photo mission" had been carried out Monday in the area of New York City by the Presidential Airlift Group, which is described on the White House Web site as being part of the White House Military Office and responsible for maintaining and operating Air Force One. The Air Force statement described the mission has having been carried out in coordination with the FAA. The FAA referred additional questions about the matter to the U.S. Air Force.

"This mission, involving the VC-25 and an F-16, was conducted in conjunction with normally scheduled continuation training for assigned aircrew members," the Air Force statement said. "This mission was coordinated for the Upper New York Bay, south of the Holland Tunnel and in the Newark Bay north of the Staten Island Expressway between the hours of 1000L and 1030L."

We're not 100% sure, but the English translation is: "Oh crap, we really screwed up, so we're going say a bunch of words without saying anything."

Here's more ass-covering from the NYT:

Jim Peters, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said “the photo op was approved and coordinated with everyone.” Notification was made in advance to the mayor’s office, “including its 911 and 311 operation centers,” the New York City Police Department, the New Jersey State Police, the United States Park Police and other agencies, he said.

Later on Monday morning, the Police Department acknowledged that it had been notified about the event but said it had been barred from alerting the public. “The flight of a VC-25 aircraft and F-16 fighters this morning was authorized by the F.A.A. for the vicinity of the Statue of Liberty with directives to local authorities not to disclose information about it but to direct any inquiries to the F.A.A. Air Traffic Security Coordinator,” the Police Department said in a statement.

What!? So everyone in the government knew that a jumbo jet would be weaving in between skyscrapers this morning, but they were barred from alerting the public? Um, why? Were they afraid office workers were going to open their window and shoot spitballs at the plane?

Did they really think that the uninformed public would simply look up, see a plane and not evacuate their offices in a panic?

The bottom line here is that there was either a) a massive communication failure or b) a massive error in judgment. The most charitable interpretation of the government's obfuscation is that they're covering for someone's professional error.

Unless there's a really good explanation, that person probably deserves to be fired. Now, we just need to figure out who it is.

Bea Arthur gone :(

The mark in the entertainment industry for success is not how rich you are, how much "power" you have or had, but how much you will be missed when you're gone...this lady was a legend, and will be missed for decades to come.

Bea Arthur True/Slant

It's Friday...

Indeed it is, the end of the week, start of the weekend. Lots to look forward to this weekend, most of all a 40th birthday for my friend Will, and then hopefully sunshine in NYC!

Phillips Senseo recall

A couple of days ago I got an email from Amazon telling me the Phillips Senseo coffee maker, (one of the fancy put a pod in for each cup thingy), is defective and being recalled. Today I call the recall line and got told that yes, mine is in the recall and that they would be replacing it with the basic black model. Now mine isn't the basic black model, it's the LED, silver with multiple brew options! So I explained this and was told, hmmm, sorry we're only replacing them with the basic model.  It's a bit like saying, I'm sorry we messed up, potentially exposed you to injury by buying our shiny new Ferrari, here's a Fiat to replace it! Their catch phrase is Sense and Simplicity... well there's certainly some simpletons there with no sense!

Le Tweet from Le Bird

So last night I was watching Larry King, (unusual for me), and Ashton Kutchner was on celebrating beating CNN to 1,000,000 Twitter followers.  I have been registered on Twitter for a while, but not really used it. Are people REALLY interested in what I am doing or thinking?  I do though subscribe to some of Kutchner's thoughts from the show last night...it is impressive to have a social network tool that can make one individual more powerful, (in that one arena) than an established global TV network.

I have ramped up my tweets today, just to see if it's my bag of nuts. I must say it's nice that certain people want to see my tweets, just as it is nice people read this drivel I write out here on my blog. Are we humans naturally  social network beings?  It is somewhat addictive. I subscribed to Mr. Kutchner's tweets to see what's going on and it is very interesting.  As fellow Larry King guest P. Puffy Sean John Diddy Combs, (I think I have them all in there did I miss any?) said, when an artist or star issues a website, or blog it's usually an assistant, record company or film company doing it...when you see tweets it's actually from the celeb on his/her cell phone. Just now Ashton, (I'm now referring to him as Ashton as we've traded tweets and so now he must be a friend no?), posted a photo from his car showing the external temp where he is driving to be 102ºf, which is bloody hot! It is also, a direct way for celeb to keep in touch with their fans. Ashton has well over 1,000,000 fans following him, and they all got that photo.  What happens when Ashton's new film comes out and he starts promoting it on his tweets?

So how do you make money on this Twitter thing?  Well today I got a tweet ad from "Mailchimp", which showed up, not on my main Twitter web page, but on my app on my cell phone "Twitterific". So "Twitterific" is selling ads, but so far nothing on Twitter itself? Listen, together Ashton and I have 1,258,921 people following us, now that's an audience?! Now admittedly most of those people are following Ashton, I only have 8 people so far, but it's a start!

The death of newspapers...

...OK so everyone seems to be talking about the death of newspapers, and surely in print the prospects don't look good, but this morning was a real eye opener for me. I was having breakfast this morning with my good friend Byron Elton. We were sitting in his Manhattan hotel, having breakfast in a large breakfast room. Lots of business people, families and parents all sitting around having breakfast, and from where Byron and I were sitting, we could only see three newspapers. 

A couple of interesting things to point out here:

1: Breakfast time is premium time to read a newspaper.

2: A hotel, where a newspaper is left outside your door every morning, is the prime place for people who ordinarily wouldn't read a newspaper, to read one.

3: The average age in the breakfast room was over 30 years old so it wasn't a room full of "wired" people.

So at the right time of day, with the right demographic in the right environment, we only saw three newspapers. This means that reading a physical newspaper is habitually becoming obsolete.

I do agree with Byron that the skills of reading the news, having good journalism and investigation of issues will never go away, but the way of consuming it will go to online, electronic readers like the Kindle, your cell phone, and become news all the time on demand everywhere.  Sites like True/Slant will build real audiences and it is easy with browser bookmarking to have these sites become habitual.  On my browser bar I have the following destinations, all of which I visit daily if not frequently through the day:

True/Slant

This Blog

Deadline Hollywood

All Things D

Fandango

Silicon Alley Insider

Facebook

Valleywag

Paid Content

KOL

The one positive thing, think how many trees we'd save when print newspapers go away!

Nabaztag Lives

Nabaztag is a rabbit, mine is called Ethel, and it is operated by the internet. This is my favorite thing at the moment.  My brother actually bought me the rabbit a couple of years ago, but I couldn't work out how to get it set up, (it is a bit of a chore), but about a month ago I had another crack and now it's y coolest favorite thing in my apartment.

Your rabbit comes with two ears that move depending on what you program her to do. My rabbit tells me how she's feeling, does ti-chi, delivers the weather twice a day and on demand, plays Virgin Radio from the UK, gives me stock market status, and overall is totally cool.

Check out their web site, if you're looking for a very unique an cool gift or just want to spoil yourself I truly recommend a rabbit.

I just realized ...

... I haven't written anything for days!!!!!!

Threadbanger - Here's how to do it on the web!

Many years ago, I took a lanky,  scruffy 16 year old in Miami, made him clean his teeth and brush his hair and made him a local TV star.  He was one of the hosts on a show I was producing in Miami called WAMI On Miami. He conducted the very fist TV interview with a then 15 year old pop star Britney Spears, interviewed  other pop star sensations like N*Synch, and help create the number one kids show in South Florida. As much as I am a guru and star maker, (insert laugh here), Rob Czar had and has a real talent in front of the camera. Instead of being a big head "I'm a star TV host", he decided when the show had run it's course to go to LA and follow a job in the entertainment field. Instead of joining the masses of wannabe TV hosts and actors, he got a job as an producers assistant. He then proceeded to work this job, learning production and how a show runs and worked his way up to be a casting assistant, then casting producer. I then lifted him out of casting to host a show for me on NBC for Discovery Kids. He was superb.  I am amazed at his ability to take on bigger and better things, so when I was at AOL, I contacted Rob for our teen service RED to host some pieces from the Warped Tour. Rob not only hosted, but he directed, shot, edited, and completely soup to nuts produced 75, 5 minute shows for RED.  He did this again, then took this one man band on the road through European music festivals.  Rob, who has no real ego that I have ever seen, has built himself up to be a real self made talent.  

When my friends Jed Simmons, Herb Scannel and Fred Seibert were setting up their new online video company Next New Networks, I had no problem telling them to speak to Rob. By this time Rob had found a wonderful partner Corrine, who also hosts, produces and edits, and looks a million times nicer than Rob on screen.  They designed a show aimed  at people who make their own clothes, or DIY clothing, (Threadbanger).  Their shows are superb and have become very successful, and now have 1,000,000 people a month watching them. In web terms this is very very good.  They have been featured on Rachel Ray's show twice, and now, on Wednesday they were featured on the CBS evening news. 

This is an example of true talent. Next New Networks is an example of doing targeted content in a smart way. Watch and enjoy! 

True Slant

When I was at AOL I had the pleasure of working with some really smart people. One of these people was a guy called Lewis Dvorkin, the head of AOL News. Lewis got news, he lived it, but also totally understood how to serve it up to people online. We had a tool at AOL called Omniture, which could show you who was clicking where on a page, and in Lewis's case, which story, which lead, picture or DL (dynamic link) was working. Lewis studied these results religiously, and could show you how the phrasing of a headline of a story would get more clicks that another. Lewis's new venture is True/Slant (www.trueslant.com), a very clean, unique way of delivering news, from opinionated journalist bloggers, who also interact with the audience reading their posts. It's a great idea, and as ever Lewis is right on target. Now he has another smart guy from AOL Dave Cautin working there, I can only imagine the business and dollars will follow. It's a great idea, check out the site, it's really worth a bookmark.

The Future of Inner City Transport?

Is this the future of inner city transportation? This electric "POD" from GM and Segway is supposed to be hitting the streets in 2012. It's a two seater, top speed of 35 mph and does 35 miles on a charge. Imagine in NY, parking would be easy, getting groceries home..easy, zipping up to Dinosaur BBQ from my garment district pad...easy. The only problem is, you would look a complete plonker! Talk about designing something that follows the Bauhaus "form follows function" ethos.  I like the idea of having zippy small, inner city electric cars... something that would cost little to store, better for the environment... but with all the designers in the world, and people looking to make innovative beautiful things...this is what GM could come up with?

Here's Video

Ok just when I thought there was nothing to write about...

My friend Zhanna posted THIS AMAZING VIDEO...enjoy!!!

Back from Vacation

but nothing to write about today!

Back from vacation!!!!

i hope you can see the label. This was a bottle of water I bought yesterday in Grenada airport. 

The AOL Hudsucker Proxy

So some would say, that someone should make a movie about the last two years of AOL, sinceJon Miller was ousted...well they did...it's called the Hudsucker Proxy...

Miller would be Waring Hudsucker

Falco would be Sidney Mussburger

Grant would be Norville Barnes

The basic premise, Hudsucker who had led Hudsucker Industries to major success, dies (or is ousted), the company is taken over by a misplaced ruthless and faceless leader Sidney Mussburger, who's downfall, is an employee, Norville Barnes who rises in the empire even though he has no experience, and fails at everything he does.

"When Waring Hudsucker, head of hugely successful Hudsucker Industries, commits suicide, his board of directors, led by Sidney Mussberger, comes up with a brilliant plan to make a lot of money: appoint a moron to run the company. When the stock falls low enough, Sidney and friends can buy it up for pennies on the dollar, take over the company, and restore its fortunes. They choose idealistic Norville Barnes, who just started in the mail room. Norville is whacky enough to drive any company to ruin, but soon, tough reporter Amy Archer smells a rat and begins an undercover investigation of Hudsucker Industries."

Amazing coincidence, or is this all a plot? Someone get Oliver Stone on the Phone!!!!