First off, condolences to DJ AM's family. Adam you had a true talent to make any night a great one. You will be missed in LA, Vegas, and anywhere you spun.
Songs
Celebration - Madonna
She's back with a dance track that sounds like something out of her older stuff but it's Madonna so it'll play in the clubs and her fans will grab it
Uprising - Muse
Great intro and rock beat, I can see this song it tons of video montages the next few months or a hockey skate in song
Party in The USA - Miley Cirus
So I missed this one a few weeks ago, great summerific song that's beyond catchy, nice to have writers and people on instruments when you are a billion dollar franchise
I'm Alive - Kenny Chesney & Dave Matthews
The biggest artists on tour get together for a track, track is mellow and slo but it'll be all over country radio 'cause it's Chesney
Whatcha Say - Jason DeRulo
Another mediocre rap/dance song to waste time on the dial
Only Way You Can Love Me - Keith Urban
Good track, imagine some peeps in Nashville will have their first dance to this song in the upcoming months
Outside My Window - Sarah Buxton
The $80 music video with a cute girly song taht you Colbie Caillat fans will enjoy
House of Daggers - Raekwon, Ghostface, & Method Man
Wow! Wu-Tang Clan isn't back per say but at least reminds me of their heyday, would be all over radio if they played real rap, summer driving anthem although I'm not responsible for any speeding tickets
One Day - Matisyahu
Your Jewish like me and I loved your first album, but this song is underwhelming if that's even a word
Albums
Persona - Queen Latifah
Let Jamie Foxx and Will Smith be the true triple-threats, I'm out on this one
Artwork - The Used
The band seemed to disappear for a bit, but I wanted them be back just not so hard I need my hearing for shuffleboard in the old age home later in life
Rabbit - Collective Soul
Can't believe they are still around, but hey more power to them
Shaka Rock - Jet
I'm in on this one, love this band and you should be too, they aren't just some band they play in beer commericals
Props to Jay-Z on his $50 a seat 9-11 show at MSG
Monday, August 31, 2009
Why The Internet Is Killing Newspapers (Baseball Post I Promise)
The time is now 12:25 Eastern and Andy Roddick is still playing tennis in New York. He's up 2 sets but he is still playing. Additionally Justin Upton just hit a HR to tie the Dodgers-D'Backs game. I wanted to write this post about 45 minutes ago but as a baseball guy I waited until midnight to weigh in on the Thome-Garland-Contreras deals and more maybe. Most east coast newspapers have deadlines long before midnight so none of Roddick's match or last minute MLB deals will make the earlier editions of any paper let alone the late editions. I don't want to get into the newspapers today but maybe later this week.
Jim Thome - Congrats your in the NL back with Manny again, the guy hasn't played 1B in 4 years but still is great to watch during BP because he can mash, nice addition by the Dodgers and they apparently aren't paying all of his salary
Joe Mauer - Best hitting catcher of all-time, sorry Yankee fans, he's the MVP and potentially the best hitting catcher of all-time if he keeps this up, Twins fan enjoy him because he has Yankee written all over him in a few years
Jon Garland - Mr. Valencia is coming home and it's free for the Dodgers, huge upgrade over Padilla, and just read he literally walked across the field to join the Dodgers, how surreal growing up just minutes from the stadium, has had 32 starts a year every year since '02, will replace Wolf in rotation in '10 with a hometown discount after they buyout the option first which I now found out will be funded by AZ
Albert Pujols - I love the new commercial about fathers telling their kids about seeing the legends, the NL MVP until he gets injured, and be sure I'll be telling my kids
Zach Greinke - give him the CY Young now please even though his team stinks: lead American in ERA, ERA+, CG, Shutouts, WHIP, HR/9 and is 2nd in SO and K/BB
Dayton Moore - almost worked with him in Atlanta before I headed to the Dodgers, his deal reminds me of the Wall Street bonuses from last year though if you catch my drift
Brad Penny - Headed to the Giants behind Lincecum-Cain-Zito-Sanchez, if a team can make the playoffs without bats it's this one
Jose Contreras - Now a Rockie to replace Aaron Cook, Coors is not the place to be "figuring out" your stuff" but hey they can have Cuban baseball night next year
Matt Kemp - Been a huge fan for years, next year the whole country might actually know him because he's going to be first round in fantasy, he's a special athlete and a heck of a nice guy too, him and Ethier make Manny (Mr. DH) the worst OF in LA
Scott Kazmir - Welcome to Cali! The Angels grabbed you to replace John Lackey next year and if you pitch like you use to it'll be a great deal because it was a salary dump
Billy Wagner - Why didn't you almost not drop your no-trade clause? Hapless Mets or playoff bound Sox
Yadel Marti - Hope everything is OK with you getting American citizenship because it would have been nice to see you pitch down the stretch here
Question of the night: The best rotation for the month and the playoffs? 5 games in the first round is going to make the playoffs fun (Newbies in bold)
Lee-Hamels-Blanton-Happ-Pedro/Moyer
Billingsley-Kershaw-Wolf-Garland-Padilla/Haeger (DL-Kuroda)
Lincecum-Cain-Zito-Sanchez-Penny
Carpenter-Wainwright-Pineiro-Smoltz-?
Jimenez-Marquis-Hammel-De La Rosa-Contreras (DL-Cook)
CC-Burnett-Joba-Pettitte-Mitre
Beckett-Lester-Wakefield-Buchholz-Tazawa
Verlander-Washburn-Jackson-Porcello-Robertson
Lackey-Santana-Saunders-Weaver-Kazmir
Note I'm finishing up here at 1 AM with Roddick closing out and the D'Backs-Dodgers in extras, thank you Internet
Jim Thome - Congrats your in the NL back with Manny again, the guy hasn't played 1B in 4 years but still is great to watch during BP because he can mash, nice addition by the Dodgers and they apparently aren't paying all of his salary
Joe Mauer - Best hitting catcher of all-time, sorry Yankee fans, he's the MVP and potentially the best hitting catcher of all-time if he keeps this up, Twins fan enjoy him because he has Yankee written all over him in a few years
Jon Garland - Mr. Valencia is coming home and it's free for the Dodgers, huge upgrade over Padilla, and just read he literally walked across the field to join the Dodgers, how surreal growing up just minutes from the stadium, has had 32 starts a year every year since '02, will replace Wolf in rotation in '10 with a hometown discount after they buyout the option first which I now found out will be funded by AZ
Albert Pujols - I love the new commercial about fathers telling their kids about seeing the legends, the NL MVP until he gets injured, and be sure I'll be telling my kids
Zach Greinke - give him the CY Young now please even though his team stinks: lead American in ERA, ERA+, CG, Shutouts, WHIP, HR/9 and is 2nd in SO and K/BB
Dayton Moore - almost worked with him in Atlanta before I headed to the Dodgers, his deal reminds me of the Wall Street bonuses from last year though if you catch my drift
Brad Penny - Headed to the Giants behind Lincecum-Cain-Zito-Sanchez, if a team can make the playoffs without bats it's this one
Jose Contreras - Now a Rockie to replace Aaron Cook, Coors is not the place to be "figuring out" your stuff" but hey they can have Cuban baseball night next year
Matt Kemp - Been a huge fan for years, next year the whole country might actually know him because he's going to be first round in fantasy, he's a special athlete and a heck of a nice guy too, him and Ethier make Manny (Mr. DH) the worst OF in LA
Scott Kazmir - Welcome to Cali! The Angels grabbed you to replace John Lackey next year and if you pitch like you use to it'll be a great deal because it was a salary dump
Billy Wagner - Why didn't you almost not drop your no-trade clause? Hapless Mets or playoff bound Sox
Yadel Marti - Hope everything is OK with you getting American citizenship because it would have been nice to see you pitch down the stretch here
Question of the night: The best rotation for the month and the playoffs? 5 games in the first round is going to make the playoffs fun (Newbies in bold)
Lee-Hamels-Blanton-Happ-Pedro/Moyer
Billingsley-Kershaw-Wolf-Garland-Padilla/Haeger (DL-Kuroda)
Lincecum-Cain-Zito-Sanchez-Penny
Carpenter-Wainwright-Pineiro-Smoltz-?
Jimenez-Marquis-Hammel-De La Rosa-Contreras (DL-Cook)
CC-Burnett-Joba-Pettitte-Mitre
Beckett-Lester-Wakefield-Buchholz-Tazawa
Verlander-Washburn-Jackson-Porcello-Robertson
Lackey-Santana-Saunders-Weaver-Kazmir
Note I'm finishing up here at 1 AM with Roddick closing out and the D'Backs-Dodgers in extras, thank you Internet
TV This Week
Fall Premiere Weeks:
CW: 9/8 so next week I'll peek at their fall lineup
NBC: 9/13
ABC & CBS: 9/21
Fox and everybody else: scattered so they'll go last next month
as for this week....
Greek (Monday 9 on ABC Family) - a hidden gem of cable for all you people who are bored without Gossip Girl, Desperate Housewives, and 90210 is back for its season premiere
Ultimate Cake Off (Monday 10 on TLC) - For those of you who like "Ace of Cakes" here's a new show for you
Shaq VS (Tuesday 9 on ABC) - Why? Why? Why? Why? (I sound like Nancy Kerrigan I know) but seriously who wants to see this I'd take a comedy or reality show from Shaq but you wonder why TV execs have such a short life
SYTYCD (Wednesday 8 on FOX) - So You Think You Can Dance Greatest Hits, FOX filler until new shows come out later this month
Buried Alive (Thursday 9 on NatGeo) - How to get out of an avalanche, good to know if you are not part of the 50% dead on contact
Dog Whisperer (Friday 9 on NatGeo) - I've seen this show before and if you haven't just watch it once, good for dog lovers
At The Movies (Syndicated) - NY Times AO Scott & The Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips bring back the all important two movie thumbs
Reality Hell (Saturday 10:30 on E!) - OK it's a fake reality show (they all are I know), a bit mean in all, but worth 22 wasted minutes for the reaction when the reality "stars" find out they've been punked
CW: 9/8 so next week I'll peek at their fall lineup
NBC: 9/13
ABC & CBS: 9/21
Fox and everybody else: scattered so they'll go last next month
as for this week....
Greek (Monday 9 on ABC Family) - a hidden gem of cable for all you people who are bored without Gossip Girl, Desperate Housewives, and 90210 is back for its season premiere
Ultimate Cake Off (Monday 10 on TLC) - For those of you who like "Ace of Cakes" here's a new show for you
Shaq VS (Tuesday 9 on ABC) - Why? Why? Why? Why? (I sound like Nancy Kerrigan I know) but seriously who wants to see this I'd take a comedy or reality show from Shaq but you wonder why TV execs have such a short life
SYTYCD (Wednesday 8 on FOX) - So You Think You Can Dance Greatest Hits, FOX filler until new shows come out later this month
Buried Alive (Thursday 9 on NatGeo) - How to get out of an avalanche, good to know if you are not part of the 50% dead on contact
Dog Whisperer (Friday 9 on NatGeo) - I've seen this show before and if you haven't just watch it once, good for dog lovers
At The Movies (Syndicated) - NY Times AO Scott & The Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips bring back the all important two movie thumbs
Reality Hell (Saturday 10:30 on E!) - OK it's a fake reality show (they all are I know), a bit mean in all, but worth 22 wasted minutes for the reaction when the reality "stars" find out they've been punked
Last Minute Fantasy Football Notes (I'M BACK!)
Kickoff for the season is just 10 days away and I know some people are drafting this weekend. I always thought it was fairest to draft the last weekend because it's takes out injuries from preseason (Matt Cassel) and allows for position battles to get settled. Most importantly it takes out the possibility of a waiver wire champ. This is the guy in the league who everybody hates because you draft one month out and every time some move is announced he's all over that guy. I posted my review 2 weeks ago here on my blog, so look to the right toolbar for "fantasy football preview".
Here's some nuggets you should know before you draft:
Brett Favre & Michael Vick - have jobs now and are moving up draftboards (Why you'd draft them who knows?)
Donald Brown - Getting a ton of carries in Indy and Joseph Addai is getting old
Brandon Marshall - my fellow UCF Knight has gone crazy, but I already knew that and his draft status if falling daily so a huge risk/reward
Domenique Hixon - NY Football Giants #1 WR
Edgerring James - Now with Seahawks, might get goal-line carries
Michael Crabtree - sign already, no contract so worthless for now, draft Josh Morgan instead
Ahmad Bradshaw - Grab him in the 10th, returning kicks and playing the Derrick Ward role great late value
Antonio Bryant - TB QB stinks no matter who it is and I heard the word "scoping" and it involves his knee
TB & NO RB's - I'm out on all them both have announced a 3 ring circus at RB which will kill their fantasy value
Glen Coffee - Mr. Preseason at RB at least wrestles some carries from Gore
Ray Rice - Becoming "the man" in Baltimore plus great for PPR leagues
Brady Quinn - he's starting in CLE so if you play in 2 QB leagues he's now draftable
As a follow-up to last week's article here's a great read advocating a WR friendly draft from Jamey Eisenberg at CBS (http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasyfootball/story/12125935) where he notes that "By our count, only seven teams won't use a tandem or running back by committee going into the season (Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Houston, Jacksonville and St. Louis). Every other team will use at least two running backs in a prominent role. " so that means draft Cedric Benson, Matt Forte, Kevin Smith, Ryan Grant, Steve Slaton, MJD, and Steven Jackson because outside of that everybody is sharing so grab Smith, Grant, and Benson because they go outside the first and are great picks for your team.
PS If you are still playing baseball (1st, 1st, 3rd - thank you) Brad Penny is a Giant and worth a flyer due to the division and park. Also Gutierrez is closing in AZ now.
Here's some nuggets you should know before you draft:
Brett Favre & Michael Vick - have jobs now and are moving up draftboards (Why you'd draft them who knows?)
Donald Brown - Getting a ton of carries in Indy and Joseph Addai is getting old
Brandon Marshall - my fellow UCF Knight has gone crazy, but I already knew that and his draft status if falling daily so a huge risk/reward
Domenique Hixon - NY Football Giants #1 WR
Edgerring James - Now with Seahawks, might get goal-line carries
Michael Crabtree - sign already, no contract so worthless for now, draft Josh Morgan instead
Ahmad Bradshaw - Grab him in the 10th, returning kicks and playing the Derrick Ward role great late value
Antonio Bryant - TB QB stinks no matter who it is and I heard the word "scoping" and it involves his knee
TB & NO RB's - I'm out on all them both have announced a 3 ring circus at RB which will kill their fantasy value
Glen Coffee - Mr. Preseason at RB at least wrestles some carries from Gore
Ray Rice - Becoming "the man" in Baltimore plus great for PPR leagues
Brady Quinn - he's starting in CLE so if you play in 2 QB leagues he's now draftable
As a follow-up to last week's article here's a great read advocating a WR friendly draft from Jamey Eisenberg at CBS (http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasyfootball/story/12125935) where he notes that "By our count, only seven teams won't use a tandem or running back by committee going into the season (Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Houston, Jacksonville and St. Louis). Every other team will use at least two running backs in a prominent role. " so that means draft Cedric Benson, Matt Forte, Kevin Smith, Ryan Grant, Steve Slaton, MJD, and Steven Jackson because outside of that everybody is sharing so grab Smith, Grant, and Benson because they go outside the first and are great picks for your team.
PS If you are still playing baseball (1st, 1st, 3rd - thank you) Brad Penny is a Giant and worth a flyer due to the division and park. Also Gutierrez is closing in AZ now.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Blogcation
Back on August 31st with a full week of posts as I'll traveling to to the "Black Rock"(ville), Hartford for college, and AC this week while daddy stays home with mommy...
Friday, August 21, 2009
Time for Basterds
First off, the Avatar trailer is out and Mr. Cameron it looks like a kids movie. I'll see it when it comes out anyways, it's James Cameron people.
Inglorious Basterds - I'm all for Holocaust movies because I think as the survivors die off it's important to remember as Jew and human what happened but a Tarantino-Nazi movie seems too interesting to pass up like I think I'll have to see
Post Grad - the girl from Gilmore Girls (Alexis Biedel) in the easily written girl moves home after college to find job, man, and life story
Shorts - a kiddie movie about a boy with a wishing rock
X Games 3D - heard this movie was cool, but really who is going to take the time
The Marc Pease Experience - Ben Stiller and Jason Schwartzmann star in a movie about a kid in the high school musical who never grows up wish they had the marketing budget to get the movie a bit bigger pub
World's Greatest Dad - a Robin Williams comedy, wow he's fallen off the map but hey this why there's NetFlix to catch up with our lost comedic heroes
Inglorious Basterds - I'm all for Holocaust movies because I think as the survivors die off it's important to remember as Jew and human what happened but a Tarantino-Nazi movie seems too interesting to pass up like I think I'll have to see
Post Grad - the girl from Gilmore Girls (Alexis Biedel) in the easily written girl moves home after college to find job, man, and life story
Shorts - a kiddie movie about a boy with a wishing rock
X Games 3D - heard this movie was cool, but really who is going to take the time
The Marc Pease Experience - Ben Stiller and Jason Schwartzmann star in a movie about a kid in the high school musical who never grows up wish they had the marketing budget to get the movie a bit bigger pub
World's Greatest Dad - a Robin Williams comedy, wow he's fallen off the map but hey this why there's NetFlix to catch up with our lost comedic heroes
Safe Stocks for the Long Haul
In the interest of full disclosure I'm not legally certified to be giving out stock advice, but it's the Internet, why not? I did work at UBS for a semester in school and have been playing the market for 13 years. I'm not sure what shape this posting will take each week but I'll focus on upcoming IPO's I know for sure and give out general investing advice. Today I picked a few for the long term.
The best stock search program on the net is Kiplinger's stock finder program. It allows you to search up to 10 criteria including PE ratio, rolling earnings, dividends, and so much more for every stock out there. If you have the time to "play" on it you probably don't have much use for a broker except to let you know about newer companies. Today, I punched into Kiplinger looking for the following criteria:
Dividend greater than 3%
5 year annualized return more than 10%
Consecutive years of earnings growth greater than 5
and I found a whopping 3 companies
Chevron (CVX) - 4% dividend, 11% annual return, and 6 years of earnings growth
oil baby its a neverending cash cow and with that dividend it'll pay you to keep it that way
Darden Restaurants (DRI) - 3.1% dividend, 12% annual return and 12 years of earnings growth
Red Lobster, Oliver Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse and more plus they support UCF
NSTAR (NST) - 4.7% dividend, 10% annual return and 7 years of earnings growth
MA based energy company that you've probably never heard of, good work Sox fans
The best stock search program on the net is Kiplinger's stock finder program. It allows you to search up to 10 criteria including PE ratio, rolling earnings, dividends, and so much more for every stock out there. If you have the time to "play" on it you probably don't have much use for a broker except to let you know about newer companies. Today, I punched into Kiplinger looking for the following criteria:
Dividend greater than 3%
5 year annualized return more than 10%
Consecutive years of earnings growth greater than 5
and I found a whopping 3 companies
Chevron (CVX) - 4% dividend, 11% annual return, and 6 years of earnings growth
oil baby its a neverending cash cow and with that dividend it'll pay you to keep it that way
Darden Restaurants (DRI) - 3.1% dividend, 12% annual return and 12 years of earnings growth
Red Lobster, Oliver Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse and more plus they support UCF
NSTAR (NST) - 4.7% dividend, 10% annual return and 7 years of earnings growth
MA based energy company that you've probably never heard of, good work Sox fans
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The World Is aTwitter
So I figured I'd have to weigh in on Twitter. For the longest time I was against the whole thing. I kept saying all it was is an AIM away message for all to see. They have over 50 million users worldwide so I wanted to see what the fuss is about. I joined to much chagrin and suffice to say I get it but it's not for me. It's cool to follow some celebs and writers. I like the idea and the concept, but my daily actions are not important enough to update constantly nor so do I care what Ryan Seacrest or Ashley Tisdale are doing right now (well Ashley's plans can include me if she wants) This was coming at some point we live in a 24-7 newscycle filled with Blackberries. I think Twitter was onto something but I think they are headed for some troubles down the road.
Read this...
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/07/16/
and scroll half way down the page to the Twitter post
First off, as I reminder never make your password to your server password if you are a big company. Secondly, I do think Microsoft-Google-Yahoo-Facebook will duplicate the technology or attempt a buyout real soon. They can't compete with the big boys. They have constant outages and much like Facebook haven't monetized their product yet. Somebody will buy them and figure out how to make some dough off it or if Twitter gets smart they'll call the SEC tomorrow to IPO their little company in order to compete.
I'm going to go and update my Twitter. No really I'm not, but if you care to follow me it's davidesimmons for your 5 tweets a week. Twitter-like apps are here to stay, I just won't be an active participant.
PS http://twitterholic.com/ for all the top Tweeters
Read this...
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/07/16/
and scroll half way down the page to the Twitter post
First off, as I reminder never make your password to your server password if you are a big company. Secondly, I do think Microsoft-Google-Yahoo-Facebook will duplicate the technology or attempt a buyout real soon. They can't compete with the big boys. They have constant outages and much like Facebook haven't monetized their product yet. Somebody will buy them and figure out how to make some dough off it or if Twitter gets smart they'll call the SEC tomorrow to IPO their little company in order to compete.
I'm going to go and update my Twitter. No really I'm not, but if you care to follow me it's davidesimmons for your 5 tweets a week. Twitter-like apps are here to stay, I just won't be an active participant.
PS http://twitterholic.com/ for all the top Tweeters
Favre signs for 25 million dollars
I wasn't suprised to see the Brett Favre unretired for the 3rd time. The thing that did suprise me was the dollar values. I'm not a big business of football guy (baseball is my sport) but was still suprised by the dollars. Brett wanted to play there and only there. I would have given him a $3 million dollar base pay and $500,000 per start personally. They took a huge risk on the field because of the "calcification of labrum" as they called it during the press confrence. I dug a little deeper to find that next year isn't guaranteed but then again neither are most NFL deals. This is why I also said the best sport to be an agent is baseball due to no salary cap and guaranteed contracts. The Favre deals calls for $6 million guaranteed and another $6 million if he plays. He could get injured in which they just cut him. So $12 million for 1 season of Favre assuming he's healthy.
From a business standpoint this looks to be a fiscal home run so far. I know that the team could have probably made the playoffs without him. But, I would make the argument you'd have to sign him due to the Bears getting Cutler could lead to knocking out the Vikings and that's why they "had to do it" from a football standpoint not just a business standpoint.
The Vikings are at $3 million and counting in tickets so far it's been reported
3,000 FSE x 10 games x $73 average ticket price = $2.19 million in season tickets
10000 individual tickets x $73 = $730,000
Plus Sponsorship
Plus Merchandise
Plus Suite Revenue
Plus the ancillary income (concessions and parking) of the above tickets
and the potential postseason kicker
The Vikings will sell out every game, have the #1 selling NFL jersey, be on TV more than ever (NBC flex will add them), and plus have a legitimate shot at the Super Bowl. This is going to really well for business side no matter what because the Vikings will collect all the money and breakeven before the first snap but I question from a football standpoint how good a 39 year old with a messed up labrum can do for you over the 5 month NFL season. The Vikings rolled the dice and for that I give them props for that.
From a business standpoint this looks to be a fiscal home run so far. I know that the team could have probably made the playoffs without him. But, I would make the argument you'd have to sign him due to the Bears getting Cutler could lead to knocking out the Vikings and that's why they "had to do it" from a football standpoint not just a business standpoint.
The Vikings are at $3 million and counting in tickets so far it's been reported
3,000 FSE x 10 games x $73 average ticket price = $2.19 million in season tickets
10000 individual tickets x $73 = $730,000
Plus Sponsorship
Plus Merchandise
Plus Suite Revenue
Plus the ancillary income (concessions and parking) of the above tickets
and the potential postseason kicker
The Vikings will sell out every game, have the #1 selling NFL jersey, be on TV more than ever (NBC flex will add them), and plus have a legitimate shot at the Super Bowl. This is going to really well for business side no matter what because the Vikings will collect all the money and breakeven before the first snap but I question from a football standpoint how good a 39 year old with a messed up labrum can do for you over the 5 month NFL season. The Vikings rolled the dice and for that I give them props for that.
The problem with green startup companies
There are 3 things you need to run a successful startup company:
1. Good idea
2. Money
3. Business talent
It's very tough to find any of these 3 attributes in a startup company. As as an entrepreneurship major, I look around the landscape and find many people with great ideas but they are mom and pops without any money. I see people throwing money at green ideas that just don't work. The worst are companies who actually have a good idea and solid backing but yet lack the business acumen to bring it to the forefront. I do not want to sit here and rip on some companies because I believe in what these companies are doing and hope they can find there way.
I don't think the greenboat has left the yard yet. The industry is still an infant and calling in to get their flight plans. As I mentioned a few weeks back most Americans can't name a pureplay green company. I think it's going to take a few IPO's to catch to really get the ball rolling. Hoepfully, with the sucess of the OpenTable and Rosetta Stone IPO's in the recent months the heyday for IPO's will come back.
Two companies I'm looking at to IPO soon are solar panel maker Solyndra and smart grid company Silver Spring. Solyndra recently secured a $535 milion loan guarantee from the government in March. Not bad for a 4 year old company from Fremont. They use a propietary technology to make the best solar panels and have opened offices in Munich and Taiwan. Silver Spring Networks is fixing the smart grid. They have the Kleiner Perkins stamp of approval. There software and services will reduce carbon emissions and increase this countries energy efficiency. Here's to hoping the "green collar" economy is our new economy.
1. Good idea
2. Money
3. Business talent
It's very tough to find any of these 3 attributes in a startup company. As as an entrepreneurship major, I look around the landscape and find many people with great ideas but they are mom and pops without any money. I see people throwing money at green ideas that just don't work. The worst are companies who actually have a good idea and solid backing but yet lack the business acumen to bring it to the forefront. I do not want to sit here and rip on some companies because I believe in what these companies are doing and hope they can find there way.
I don't think the greenboat has left the yard yet. The industry is still an infant and calling in to get their flight plans. As I mentioned a few weeks back most Americans can't name a pureplay green company. I think it's going to take a few IPO's to catch to really get the ball rolling. Hoepfully, with the sucess of the OpenTable and Rosetta Stone IPO's in the recent months the heyday for IPO's will come back.
Two companies I'm looking at to IPO soon are solar panel maker Solyndra and smart grid company Silver Spring. Solyndra recently secured a $535 milion loan guarantee from the government in March. Not bad for a 4 year old company from Fremont. They use a propietary technology to make the best solar panels and have opened offices in Munich and Taiwan. Silver Spring Networks is fixing the smart grid. They have the Kleiner Perkins stamp of approval. There software and services will reduce carbon emissions and increase this countries energy efficiency. Here's to hoping the "green collar" economy is our new economy.
Consumer Confidence - My LA Recessional Barometer
Contrary to reports coming from Washington, the recession is not over. Yes, the stimulus spending money is slowly trickling out. Most companies are reporting earnings greater than expected. The economy is in better shape now than a year ago and two years ago when this recession began but we aren't back yet.
The recession is not over until you can't get a reservation at Koi or a tee time at Hillcrest. The recession is not over until people start sending their children to LA for a year with a blank check. The recession is not over until the beach is packed only on the weekends. The recession is not over until the empty windows on Wilshire disappear. The recession is not over until people are investing in startups again. The recession is not over until actors can find solid work. The recession is not over until the big premieres and parties are back. The recession is not over until there isn't a sale at every store. The recession is not over until people find their confidence.
People in this town have money but are not spending it. When the money starts flowing again the economy will really be back. LA is fortunate to house Hollywood and a ton of tourists that will keep it going. Hollywood and software are truly the only American made goods anymore. Until LA's swagger comes back we will be in a recession in this town. Keep an eye on the little things and little people in this town and you'll know when you see it. The confidence and swagger that define this town are coming, but they aren't here yet.
The recession is not over until you can't get a reservation at Koi or a tee time at Hillcrest. The recession is not over until people start sending their children to LA for a year with a blank check. The recession is not over until the beach is packed only on the weekends. The recession is not over until the empty windows on Wilshire disappear. The recession is not over until people are investing in startups again. The recession is not over until actors can find solid work. The recession is not over until the big premieres and parties are back. The recession is not over until there isn't a sale at every store. The recession is not over until people find their confidence.
People in this town have money but are not spending it. When the money starts flowing again the economy will really be back. LA is fortunate to house Hollywood and a ton of tourists that will keep it going. Hollywood and software are truly the only American made goods anymore. Until LA's swagger comes back we will be in a recession in this town. Keep an eye on the little things and little people in this town and you'll know when you see it. The confidence and swagger that define this town are coming, but they aren't here yet.
New Music Tuesday (sort of)
Third Eye Blind "Ursa Major" - first new album in 6 years, boy I missed these guys, it's all over the Internet after a big leak, it wasn't me but I'm glad I got to hear it
Arctic Monkey "Humbug" - this is probably the best band you never heard of, their first album is one of the top 10 rock albums of the decade as I recall they outsold the Beatles in England but for some reason never really caught on here
Colbie Caillat "Breakthrough" - more of the same love song, girl goodnesss (Yes I just said that, what's she's talented makes songs for girls)
Matisyahi - a jewish reggae artist that if you haven't heard of you should check out
Songs
So Fine - Sean Paul sounds just like himself I'm over the dancehall reggae but if your not you'll love this track
I Look To You - Whitney Houston she's back after 7 years and now is the time for her as hopefully she can fill a niche on the radio with those ridiculous pipes
Harry Patch - Radiohead leave it to them to release a orchestra track but if anybody can do it they can
Arctic Monkey "Humbug" - this is probably the best band you never heard of, their first album is one of the top 10 rock albums of the decade as I recall they outsold the Beatles in England but for some reason never really caught on here
Colbie Caillat "Breakthrough" - more of the same love song, girl goodnesss (Yes I just said that, what's she's talented makes songs for girls)
Matisyahi - a jewish reggae artist that if you haven't heard of you should check out
Songs
So Fine - Sean Paul sounds just like himself I'm over the dancehall reggae but if your not you'll love this track
I Look To You - Whitney Houston she's back after 7 years and now is the time for her as hopefully she can fill a niche on the radio with those ridiculous pipes
Harry Patch - Radiohead leave it to them to release a orchestra track but if anybody can do it they can
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Draft Deadline Winners and Losers
Winners
Washington Nationals - sign Strasburg to a 4 yr/15 million dollar deal, if they wait until May 5th next year to call him they'll up they would have him for 7 years and pay him about $40 million good work Scott and the Nationals
Diamondbacks - 15 top 10 round picks, all signed
Scott Boras - New records have been set for the largest bonus ($7.5 million by Stephen Strasburg), largest guarantee ($15,107,104 by Strasburg), largest bonus for a high schooler ($6.25 million for Donavan Tate) and largest bonus for a high school pitcher ($4.7 million by Jacob Turner) Scott represents each of those players
CAA - 7 of the top 49 picks, all signed mostly overslot, not bad for a "startup" sports agency, OK it's 3 years and they are holding their own with WMG and SBC
Tigers - as always go overslot like they have on Andrew Miller, Cameron Maybin, Rick Porcello, love the strategy
The big bad bottom three - Pirates-Padres-Nationals locked up most of their picks and spent what they needed to to compete
Losers
Draft system - 12 first rounders go overslot, change is coming in the new CBA
Rangers - failed to sign first round and supp first pick, lack of cash flow or poor draft management?
Blue Jays - failed to sign supp first, 2nd and 3rd round pick, this is not how you catch the Yankees and Sox, pretty sad considering 2 of those guys were Canadian bye bye JP try again
Rays - Lost first two picks, weird for a franchise that has been so "on" lately on the baseball and business side
Mets & Phillies - in the bottom 10 in spending but top 5 in team revenues, I know the picks were lower but all 3 teams have easy sales pitches, go overslot if you want to stay where you are or you'll slowly fall off your perch
Washington Nationals - sign Strasburg to a 4 yr/15 million dollar deal, if they wait until May 5th next year to call him they'll up they would have him for 7 years and pay him about $40 million good work Scott and the Nationals
Diamondbacks - 15 top 10 round picks, all signed
Scott Boras - New records have been set for the largest bonus ($7.5 million by Stephen Strasburg), largest guarantee ($15,107,104 by Strasburg), largest bonus for a high schooler ($6.25 million for Donavan Tate) and largest bonus for a high school pitcher ($4.7 million by Jacob Turner) Scott represents each of those players
CAA - 7 of the top 49 picks, all signed mostly overslot, not bad for a "startup" sports agency, OK it's 3 years and they are holding their own with WMG and SBC
Tigers - as always go overslot like they have on Andrew Miller, Cameron Maybin, Rick Porcello, love the strategy
The big bad bottom three - Pirates-Padres-Nationals locked up most of their picks and spent what they needed to to compete
Losers
Draft system - 12 first rounders go overslot, change is coming in the new CBA
Rangers - failed to sign first round and supp first pick, lack of cash flow or poor draft management?
Blue Jays - failed to sign supp first, 2nd and 3rd round pick, this is not how you catch the Yankees and Sox, pretty sad considering 2 of those guys were Canadian bye bye JP try again
Rays - Lost first two picks, weird for a franchise that has been so "on" lately on the baseball and business side
Mets & Phillies - in the bottom 10 in spending but top 5 in team revenues, I know the picks were lower but all 3 teams have easy sales pitches, go overslot if you want to stay where you are or you'll slowly fall off your perch
Monday, August 17, 2009
My Fantasy Football Preview
In the interest of full disclosure, my expertise is in fantasy baseball. I've played football the past few years and never been really bad or all that good. It comes during the heart of busy season at my old job. On the bright side, I'm funemployed right now so I've had a little bit more time to prepare. I won't bombard you with lists but a few links) or player by player previews because that's been done. I'll just put my strategy out there for the season and run through some sleepers.
First off let's get everybody some links:
www.fantasyfootballcalculator.com (Great for ADP)
www.fftoolbox.com (Updated Depth Charts)
www.rotoworld.com (News on everything)
www.kffl.com
http://www.fantasyrundown.com/Football.html (THE LINK OF LINKS!!!)
OK, so before you do any research check your leagues rules. Some have 10 teams which means you don't need a QB as early. Some start 3 RB or WR making them more or less valuable. Others are PPR making players like Steve Slaton and Reggie Bush even more valuable.
From there, print off a grid for the draft of all teams to fill in (this is especially helpful if you pick on the swing during a snake draft) and just one big board to track all the players.
Now, time to strategize for this year. RB-RB strategy is dead. Sorry I just don't trust the guys going late first and in the 2nd rounds. I'm talking about Chris Johnson (loses goaline), Steven Jackson (injuries and garbage team), LDT (what's left of him), D'Angelo (one year wonder?), plus old favorites like Westbrook and Portis. 2008 later round picks included Brandon Jacobs (3rd round), Michael Turner (4), Thomas Jones (5), Matt Forte (6), D'Angelo Williams (8), and Steve Slaton (9+). If you do not pick in the top 5 to get ADP, MJD, Michael Turner, Matt Forte, or Steve Slaton then pick a WR then maybe even another one. Rounds 3-6 are littered with potential RB breakouts.
You have 15 rounds to get players so working backwards now you'll grab a kicker (15), 2 defenses (14&13), and you know you have 12 spots to get players.
1 RB if top 5 or WR
2 WR (yes, again)
3 RB - Ryan Grant and Kevin Smith or WR if you didnt' get one in the first
4 RB - Darren McFadden and Derick Ward
5 TE - They are 4 good ones in Witten, Gates, Gonzalez, and Clark, otherwise wait for awhile a long while and grab a RB
6 QB - Romo, D-Mac, and the Matt's will be available here
7 RB - Ray Rice, Felix Jones, and Cedric Benson
8 RB - Donald Brown, Jamal Lewis, and Julius Jones
9 QB - Matt Part 2 (Hasselbeck and Cassel)
10 WR - Derrick Mason, Ted Ginn Domenick Hixon, Josh Morgan, Justin Gage
11 WR - Grab 1 of the guys above, all #1 receivers on their teams or the #2 guy for your QB
12 RB - Grab 1 more so pick a backup of a team you think's start will get injured
There is no mathematical difference week to week after the big 8 or 9 WR's so try to grab two elite guys early and let everybody else waste picks on middling WR. Same goes for TE, 4 biggies and crap. RB is a complete crapshoot so grab bunch 4 in the first 8 rounds. Getting a QB in the 6th is nice but hedge it with a 9th just in case.
So here is a big list of players I like in relation to their ADP: Matt Schaub (7), Trent Edwards (11), Ryan Grant (3), Kevin Smith (3), Darren McFadden (4), Derick Ward (5), Ray Rice and Felix Jones (6), Cedric Benson Donald Brown and Jamal Lewis (7), Julius Jones and LeSean McCoy (8), Fred Jackson (9), Lance Moore Devin Hester Bernard Berrian Donnie Avery (7), Kevin Walter Percy Harvin (8), Derrick Mason Ted Ginn (9) Dominque Hixon and Josh Morgan (10) Owen Daniels (8) Vincent Shiancoe (13)
If you are in my league and reading this I don't really care but this isn't linked to a particular player or draft position. Please looke at tiers of players this year. There are 5 RB, 9 QB, 8 WR, 4 TE and everything else is going to be the same. Do you best to grab as many of these players as possible. All the dual RB systems are killing fantasy teams. We live in pass happy NFL league, so draft accordingly. Good luck to all, have fun, and if you win big off this post please share in the winnings because Barack only give me so much.
First off let's get everybody some links:
www.fantasyfootballcalculator.com (Great for ADP)
www.fftoolbox.com (Updated Depth Charts)
www.rotoworld.com (News on everything)
www.kffl.com
http://www.fantasyrundown.com/Football.html (THE LINK OF LINKS!!!)
OK, so before you do any research check your leagues rules. Some have 10 teams which means you don't need a QB as early. Some start 3 RB or WR making them more or less valuable. Others are PPR making players like Steve Slaton and Reggie Bush even more valuable.
From there, print off a grid for the draft of all teams to fill in (this is especially helpful if you pick on the swing during a snake draft) and just one big board to track all the players.
Now, time to strategize for this year. RB-RB strategy is dead. Sorry I just don't trust the guys going late first and in the 2nd rounds. I'm talking about Chris Johnson (loses goaline), Steven Jackson (injuries and garbage team), LDT (what's left of him), D'Angelo (one year wonder?), plus old favorites like Westbrook and Portis. 2008 later round picks included Brandon Jacobs (3rd round), Michael Turner (4), Thomas Jones (5), Matt Forte (6), D'Angelo Williams (8), and Steve Slaton (9+). If you do not pick in the top 5 to get ADP, MJD, Michael Turner, Matt Forte, or Steve Slaton then pick a WR then maybe even another one. Rounds 3-6 are littered with potential RB breakouts.
You have 15 rounds to get players so working backwards now you'll grab a kicker (15), 2 defenses (14&13), and you know you have 12 spots to get players.
1 RB if top 5 or WR
2 WR (yes, again)
3 RB - Ryan Grant and Kevin Smith or WR if you didnt' get one in the first
4 RB - Darren McFadden and Derick Ward
5 TE - They are 4 good ones in Witten, Gates, Gonzalez, and Clark, otherwise wait for awhile a long while and grab a RB
6 QB - Romo, D-Mac, and the Matt's will be available here
7 RB - Ray Rice, Felix Jones, and Cedric Benson
8 RB - Donald Brown, Jamal Lewis, and Julius Jones
9 QB - Matt Part 2 (Hasselbeck and Cassel)
10 WR - Derrick Mason, Ted Ginn Domenick Hixon, Josh Morgan, Justin Gage
11 WR - Grab 1 of the guys above, all #1 receivers on their teams or the #2 guy for your QB
12 RB - Grab 1 more so pick a backup of a team you think's start will get injured
There is no mathematical difference week to week after the big 8 or 9 WR's so try to grab two elite guys early and let everybody else waste picks on middling WR. Same goes for TE, 4 biggies and crap. RB is a complete crapshoot so grab bunch 4 in the first 8 rounds. Getting a QB in the 6th is nice but hedge it with a 9th just in case.
So here is a big list of players I like in relation to their ADP: Matt Schaub (7), Trent Edwards (11), Ryan Grant (3), Kevin Smith (3), Darren McFadden (4), Derick Ward (5), Ray Rice and Felix Jones (6), Cedric Benson Donald Brown and Jamal Lewis (7), Julius Jones and LeSean McCoy (8), Fred Jackson (9), Lance Moore Devin Hester Bernard Berrian Donnie Avery (7), Kevin Walter Percy Harvin (8), Derrick Mason Ted Ginn (9) Dominque Hixon and Josh Morgan (10) Owen Daniels (8) Vincent Shiancoe (13)
If you are in my league and reading this I don't really care but this isn't linked to a particular player or draft position. Please looke at tiers of players this year. There are 5 RB, 9 QB, 8 WR, 4 TE and everything else is going to be the same. Do you best to grab as many of these players as possible. All the dual RB systems are killing fantasy teams. We live in pass happy NFL league, so draft accordingly. Good luck to all, have fun, and if you win big off this post please share in the winnings because Barack only give me so much.
TV for the Week
Top Gear - season premiere in on Monday on BBC, always heard good things so I'll throw it on the Tivo
Top Chef: Las Vegas - recommended to me by my friend who cooks (I still can't) , it's funemployment why not Wednesday night on Bravo
Projcet Runway: Los Angeles - it's on Lifetime now and girls sweat this show hardcore, OK I use to live with 2 girls and have to admit I get it, but it's not for me
Jockeys - a new reality show about you guessed it "Jockeys" on Animal Planet on Friday nights, enough said
Extreme Bodies - Saturday on Discovery with a show about tall people this week, I can only imagine the next shows will be about
And I couldn't resist on this one, the Food Network gave Brian Boitano a cooking show? There are really way too many programming hours in a week just look at the list above. I know it's summer time, but yuck. This would be a good week to rent some old DVD's of past seasons television like Mad Men, Prison Break, 30 Rock, Arrested Development, and maybe even Homicide: Life On The Street.
Don't worry Fall TV previews begin next week because this post is as short as the average lifespan of a new TV show.
Top Chef: Las Vegas - recommended to me by my friend who cooks (I still can't) , it's funemployment why not Wednesday night on Bravo
Projcet Runway: Los Angeles - it's on Lifetime now and girls sweat this show hardcore, OK I use to live with 2 girls and have to admit I get it, but it's not for me
Jockeys - a new reality show about you guessed it "Jockeys" on Animal Planet on Friday nights, enough said
Extreme Bodies - Saturday on Discovery with a show about tall people this week, I can only imagine the next shows will be about
And I couldn't resist on this one, the Food Network gave Brian Boitano a cooking show? There are really way too many programming hours in a week just look at the list above. I know it's summer time, but yuck. This would be a good week to rent some old DVD's of past seasons television like Mad Men, Prison Break, 30 Rock, Arrested Development, and maybe even Homicide: Life On The Street.
Don't worry Fall TV previews begin next week because this post is as short as the average lifespan of a new TV show.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Popcorn or Twizzlers?
I'll take both, please. This week has a lot of new movies for everybody to choose from.
District 9 - Reminds me a lot of Cloverfield. No stars and great viral marketing. It looks like the movie will do $30 million and make back all of the money it cost to make in just 3 days.
The Time Traveler's Wife - Odd movie concept where a man literally drops in and out of somebody's life. The guy is married to Rachel McAdams in the movie, why would you ever leave her side?
The Cove - documentary on Japanese fishherman killing dolphins for tuna, I love tuna so I don't think I can make this one
The Good: Live Hard, Sell Hard - Jeremy Piven plays "Ari" in a movie about car salesman, the previews look like it'll be a funny flick, plus it has the writers from Talladega Nights
Bandslam - Vanessa Hudgens of HSM fame gets upset with the boys to start her own band, see-able for the little kids
Ponyo - animated Disney movie, need I really say anymore
District 9 - Reminds me a lot of Cloverfield. No stars and great viral marketing. It looks like the movie will do $30 million and make back all of the money it cost to make in just 3 days.
The Time Traveler's Wife - Odd movie concept where a man literally drops in and out of somebody's life. The guy is married to Rachel McAdams in the movie, why would you ever leave her side?
The Cove - documentary on Japanese fishherman killing dolphins for tuna, I love tuna so I don't think I can make this one
The Good: Live Hard, Sell Hard - Jeremy Piven plays "Ari" in a movie about car salesman, the previews look like it'll be a funny flick, plus it has the writers from Talladega Nights
Bandslam - Vanessa Hudgens of HSM fame gets upset with the boys to start her own band, see-able for the little kids
Ponyo - animated Disney movie, need I really say anymore
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Vick an Eagle, Catch 22 in Sports
I know you've heard the news already and suffice to say I'm torn. Part of wants to give props to the Eagles for doing what 29 other teams wouldn't do. They took a gamble and a huge one. Vick is a ridiculous talent and can help any team on the field. Is it worth the off the field distractions? What does it say about a company that signs the guy? Are you giving him a 2nd chance or openly supporting his actions? I don't really know where I fall.
The human being in me raised by a Jewish mother (good luck in surgery tomorrow mom) says to not sign him because it sends the wrong message. It sends the wrong message to the fans and the kids. The Eagles now support someone who did horrible things. While he served his time, he went to jail and admitted his actions. Do the Eagles want to deal with all the questions? Did the drive to win it all do this? Do companies compromise their values in efforts for winning? Do you as a fan care if you win with steroid users, players who commit adultery, or is it really all about winning? Are people "rooting for clothes" in the words of Jerry Seinfeld?
I thing values and sports are a catch-22 waiting to happen. Having worked for a sports team I understand the "need" to win. Players and winning sell tickets and bring in revenue for your company. Vick is a great player and give the Eagles a better chance to win than they had yesterday. Try being a defensive coordinator defending Vick, Westbrook, McNabb, and Maclin. But, doesn't it tarnish the championship if the Eagles go all the way. For me I think I'd rather lose every year on a team with good people then win with bad people. Vick will get a reality show, The Eagles will win, and people will forget. I hope that I can forgive him with time. We all make mistakes, most are not as big and jail-able. I'm not ready to forgive him just yet, but in time like Goodell hopefully I can and will. For now, best of luck to him and the Eagles. Here's to second chances and hoping your team is winning the right way both on and off the field.
The human being in me raised by a Jewish mother (good luck in surgery tomorrow mom) says to not sign him because it sends the wrong message. It sends the wrong message to the fans and the kids. The Eagles now support someone who did horrible things. While he served his time, he went to jail and admitted his actions. Do the Eagles want to deal with all the questions? Did the drive to win it all do this? Do companies compromise their values in efforts for winning? Do you as a fan care if you win with steroid users, players who commit adultery, or is it really all about winning? Are people "rooting for clothes" in the words of Jerry Seinfeld?
I thing values and sports are a catch-22 waiting to happen. Having worked for a sports team I understand the "need" to win. Players and winning sell tickets and bring in revenue for your company. Vick is a great player and give the Eagles a better chance to win than they had yesterday. Try being a defensive coordinator defending Vick, Westbrook, McNabb, and Maclin. But, doesn't it tarnish the championship if the Eagles go all the way. For me I think I'd rather lose every year on a team with good people then win with bad people. Vick will get a reality show, The Eagles will win, and people will forget. I hope that I can forgive him with time. We all make mistakes, most are not as big and jail-able. I'm not ready to forgive him just yet, but in time like Goodell hopefully I can and will. For now, best of luck to him and the Eagles. Here's to second chances and hoping your team is winning the right way both on and off the field.
MSFT Word Banned from sales and fined
For those of you who haven't heard a Toronto company sued Microsoft and won. No that is not a typo. A small company beat the almighty Microsoft in court. Microsoft owes $240 million and is banned to selling Word in 60 days over copyright infringement. MS Office is a $3 billion dollar property for Microsoft and they are appealing the ruling. I don't foresee this having any effect on MSFT as they have good management. They'll pay the fine and it'll be over.
Next week there will be patch from Microsoft circumventing the court ruling. As I type this there are people working in Seattle to work themselves around the lawsuit. They used the same tactic around a European lawsuit a few years back.
Moreso, I was just proud of i4i, Inc for beating Microsoft in court. Large firms have great lawyers and wads of cash so things like this do not happen. Congrats to i4i,Inc and good luck to anybody suing Microsoft in the future.
Next week there will be patch from Microsoft circumventing the court ruling. As I type this there are people working in Seattle to work themselves around the lawsuit. They used the same tactic around a European lawsuit a few years back.
Moreso, I was just proud of i4i, Inc for beating Microsoft in court. Large firms have great lawyers and wads of cash so things like this do not happen. Congrats to i4i,Inc and good luck to anybody suing Microsoft in the future.
A Dozen Green Companies To Keep An Eye On
Tesla - Electric cars based out of NoCal, just got half a billion from Barack
First Solar - leader in solar power in US
Vestas - #1 in wind power
AC123 - has batteries that run most electric cars
Loomstate - 100% organic clothing line based out of NYC
Preserve - turns recycles into useful products
Innovest - the S&P for green companies
Bloom Energy - fuel cells from ambient air and hydrogen
Kotak - #1 in solar in India
Silver Spring Networks - utilities for SmartGrid
RecycleBank - points for rewarding recyclers
Verdiem - green PC's
Miasole - thin solar panels
First Solar - leader in solar power in US
Vestas - #1 in wind power
AC123 - has batteries that run most electric cars
Loomstate - 100% organic clothing line based out of NYC
Preserve - turns recycles into useful products
Innovest - the S&P for green companies
Bloom Energy - fuel cells from ambient air and hydrogen
Kotak - #1 in solar in India
Silver Spring Networks - utilities for SmartGrid
RecycleBank - points for rewarding recyclers
Verdiem - green PC's
Miasole - thin solar panels
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Unemployment Stats
Currently unemployment rate is 9.7% in this country which represents 14.5 million people. California is at 11.6%. This and many other stats come out once a month from the BLS. (Bureau of Labor Statistics) I recommend taking a peek at their site at www.bls.gov/ They have some crazy data there. The unemployment rate is based on 60,000 Americans from 2200 census workers phone calls. Many people lie and say they are employed and can't be reached because they are out looking for a job. The other flaw with the data is that if you have been out of work for more than 1 months you are no longer considered a worker. Plus, if there are people in college in need of jobs or older people who want to go back to work they aren't counted as unemployed.
I think that some hybrid of unemployment and payroll should be developed. Paging Nate silver, paging Nate Silver. The numbers above are only a sliver. Somebody from MIT should be able to figure out the true information because the data above isn't correct. Hopefully in the next week I can track it down, but for now only a post about my dissatisfaction with the data out there.
I think that some hybrid of unemployment and payroll should be developed. Paging Nate silver, paging Nate Silver. The numbers above are only a sliver. Somebody from MIT should be able to figure out the true information because the data above isn't correct. Hopefully in the next week I can track it down, but for now only a post about my dissatisfaction with the data out there.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
New Music Tuesday (sort of)
It's not a busy week again for CD's as George Strait's new album came out today and not much else. If you like Ashley Tisdale for anything more than her looks her one is out and is you still around Sugar Ray drops this week too.
A few new tracks:
Welcome to The Future - Brad Paisley
Good upbeat summer country song, I like his acoustic slower stuff personally
Love Drunk - Boys Like Girls
Ashley Tisdale in the video, good thing because the song is mediocre
Maybe - Ingrid Michaelson
Good girly guitar music
Holy Are You - Rakim
The man can still rhyme after all the years, but unfortunately for him the radio won't play this song
Run This Town - Kanye, Rihanna, and Jay-Z
This militant sounding song will be on the radio the next month as Jay-Z returns (again) for The Blueprint 3
Concert Calendar:
8/22 Kings of Leon @ The Forum
8/23 Warped Tour @ Honda
8/25 Green Day @ The Forum
8/27 Pete Yorn @ The Fonda
8/27 Franz @ The Palladium
8/29 Katy Perry @ The Palladium
9/1 & 9/2 John Legend @ The Greek
9/9 & 9/10 DMB @ The Greek
9/15 Actic Monkeys @ The Palladium
9/16 Phoenix @ The Greek
9/19 Leann Rimes @ LA County Fair
9/22 Miley @ Staples
9/23 Britney @ Staples
9/17 & 9/18 Blink @ Verizon Wireless
9/16 The Killers @ The Bowl
A few new tracks:
Welcome to The Future - Brad Paisley
Good upbeat summer country song, I like his acoustic slower stuff personally
Love Drunk - Boys Like Girls
Ashley Tisdale in the video, good thing because the song is mediocre
Maybe - Ingrid Michaelson
Good girly guitar music
Holy Are You - Rakim
The man can still rhyme after all the years, but unfortunately for him the radio won't play this song
Run This Town - Kanye, Rihanna, and Jay-Z
This militant sounding song will be on the radio the next month as Jay-Z returns (again) for The Blueprint 3
Concert Calendar:
8/22 Kings of Leon @ The Forum
8/23 Warped Tour @ Honda
8/25 Green Day @ The Forum
8/27 Pete Yorn @ The Fonda
8/27 Franz @ The Palladium
8/29 Katy Perry @ The Palladium
9/1 & 9/2 John Legend @ The Greek
9/9 & 9/10 DMB @ The Greek
9/15 Actic Monkeys @ The Palladium
9/16 Phoenix @ The Greek
9/19 Leann Rimes @ LA County Fair
9/22 Miley @ Staples
9/23 Britney @ Staples
9/17 & 9/18 Blink @ Verizon Wireless
9/16 The Killers @ The Bowl
What A Week
Baseball season is a marathon. I don't care how good a player or team looks in March or April. This is a new era of baseball. The steroids are out of the game for the most part and the economy makes more decisions than any GM. The Yankees, Angels, and Nationals won basically all last week. The Yankees are now the best team in baseball for the week as the Dodgers lost 2 starters and seem to be in their first bad few weeks opf the season. Sidente, the Yankee-Sox Sunday game was the highest rated ESPN game in 2.5 years and what a game. A few quick hits for the week:
Junichi Tazawa - Welcome to the bigs, good luck you are going to need it this is no Japanese college league but the AL East
Jordan Zimmerman - out of for 18 months, poor Nationals, the clock is ticking on Strasburg, I think the Lerner's get it done at 6 years / 24 million with a $10 million dollar signing bonus prorated over the life of the deal
Alex Rios - No more Canadian taxes or healthcare, your contract pays you to be a 4 win player and I think you still are, my White Sox pick is looking better and better
Jason Schmidt - 14 years and $90 million, happy retirement
Jamie Moyer - your 45 in America, live in Philly and have a job, why are you complaining
Chad Billingsley - stop being injured your team needs you right now
Chris B. Young - back in triple A, hope he learns how to get on base, always been a fun player to watch
Pedro Martinez - I'm rooting for you but in the words of Randy Jackson "Sorry, dawg I'm just not feeling it"
Keep an eye on the deadline next Monday for players to get signed especially on Shelby Millers (STL), Donovan Tate (SD), Dustin Ackley (SEA), and of course Strasburg. The signings will all come in last minute as team's upset the commish to go overslot.
In a new post for the rest of the year, if the playoffs started today:
Detroit Tigers @ Yankees (Best Record)
Red Sox (WC) @ Anaheim Angels
Phillies @ Dodgers (Best Record)
Rockies (WC) @ Cardinals
This looks like a tough year to be a traveling secretary as the WC look to come out of the same division as the best team meaning a STL-PHI chase (loser plays LAD, winner play WC) and BOS-TEX chase will not allow the 2 best record teams to know who they play until a few days before even though they'll clinch 10 days before the postseason starts.
Junichi Tazawa - Welcome to the bigs, good luck you are going to need it this is no Japanese college league but the AL East
Jordan Zimmerman - out of for 18 months, poor Nationals, the clock is ticking on Strasburg, I think the Lerner's get it done at 6 years / 24 million with a $10 million dollar signing bonus prorated over the life of the deal
Alex Rios - No more Canadian taxes or healthcare, your contract pays you to be a 4 win player and I think you still are, my White Sox pick is looking better and better
Jason Schmidt - 14 years and $90 million, happy retirement
Jamie Moyer - your 45 in America, live in Philly and have a job, why are you complaining
Chad Billingsley - stop being injured your team needs you right now
Chris B. Young - back in triple A, hope he learns how to get on base, always been a fun player to watch
Pedro Martinez - I'm rooting for you but in the words of Randy Jackson "Sorry, dawg I'm just not feeling it"
Keep an eye on the deadline next Monday for players to get signed especially on Shelby Millers (STL), Donovan Tate (SD), Dustin Ackley (SEA), and of course Strasburg. The signings will all come in last minute as team's upset the commish to go overslot.
In a new post for the rest of the year, if the playoffs started today:
Detroit Tigers @ Yankees (Best Record)
Red Sox (WC) @ Anaheim Angels
Phillies @ Dodgers (Best Record)
Rockies (WC) @ Cardinals
This looks like a tough year to be a traveling secretary as the WC look to come out of the same division as the best team meaning a STL-PHI chase (loser plays LAD, winner play WC) and BOS-TEX chase will not allow the 2 best record teams to know who they play until a few days before even though they'll clinch 10 days before the postseason starts.
TV for the Week
Mad Men is back on Sunday on AMC. If you are not watching this show, you should be. It's now it's in third season. I still can't figure out what HBO was thinking when they passed on it a few years back. Can't wait for Sunday. Entourage, Hung, and Mad Men. Sunday is now the best night of TV for August.
Sunday on 60 minutes Michael Vick will be interviwed by James Brown. What took so long for Vick to do an interview? This guy has more PR work to do than anybody. It'll be interesting to see the reaction after the interview. It'll be a good bellweather for the reaction for somebody's fan base if they were to sign him. I think everybody deserves a second chance in life, but I'm not sure who will sign him due to the PR ramifications. He's a ridiculous athlete but I see him as a Milton Bradley type of distraction that is a ticking bomb that no team wants to deal with. From a business standpoint he can sell some tickets and buzz at least.
Man vs. Wild season premiere is Wednesday. I've seen this show. Look I think it's staged I don't care how many people says it's not,.I'm not watching it even though I know alot of you are enough said.
Househusbands of Hollywood premieres at 9 pm on Saturday. If I wasn't funemployed I probably wouldn't know or care. The definition of what one RS would call "living the dream"though. It's going on my DVR for 1 episode trial run.
For the girls, Khloe and Kourney take Miami series debut is Sunday night on E. And for you poker players 2 months, 2 milion debut on G4 that night as well.
Sunday on 60 minutes Michael Vick will be interviwed by James Brown. What took so long for Vick to do an interview? This guy has more PR work to do than anybody. It'll be interesting to see the reaction after the interview. It'll be a good bellweather for the reaction for somebody's fan base if they were to sign him. I think everybody deserves a second chance in life, but I'm not sure who will sign him due to the PR ramifications. He's a ridiculous athlete but I see him as a Milton Bradley type of distraction that is a ticking bomb that no team wants to deal with. From a business standpoint he can sell some tickets and buzz at least.
Man vs. Wild season premiere is Wednesday. I've seen this show. Look I think it's staged I don't care how many people says it's not,.I'm not watching it even though I know alot of you are enough said.
Househusbands of Hollywood premieres at 9 pm on Saturday. If I wasn't funemployed I probably wouldn't know or care. The definition of what one RS would call "living the dream"though. It's going on my DVR for 1 episode trial run.
For the girls, Khloe and Kourney take Miami series debut is Sunday night on E. And for you poker players 2 months, 2 milion debut on G4 that night as well.
Fantasy Baseball Young Arms Race
Kids are a great way to infuse your team whether it's an injury to your ace (Billingsley) or inconsistent starts. These guys are the best to say haha look what I got to your whole league.
Brian Matusz - Orioles - SP - 7-0 with a 1.55 ERA for Double-A Bowie and now starting for the O's
Chris Tillman - Orioles - SP - 8-6 with a 2.71 ERA and 99 strikeouts in Triple-A
Neftali Feliz - Rangers - SP but working as RP - K machine
Bud Norris - Astros - SP - Best pickup on this list, NL is nothing compared to the AL East
Junichi Tazawa - Red Sox - SP - Looked good in debut vs. Tigers tonight
All the guys are highly streamable vs. KC/PIT/WAS/SD/etc. but will not be guaranteed starts just yet.
Coming Soon:
Madison Bumdgardner - Yes the Giants have another one on the farm coming soon, could give the Jimenez-esque jump into the playoffs
Jarrod Parker - D'Back that I've been waiting for him to come up for awhile and with D'Backs faltering the day will be sooner rather than later
Carlos Carrasco - centerpiece of Cliff Lee deal, will have a very long leash with CLE
Jake Arrieta - the Orioles (again) have a great young staff and they are getting there
Brian Matusz - Orioles - SP - 7-0 with a 1.55 ERA for Double-A Bowie and now starting for the O's
Chris Tillman - Orioles - SP - 8-6 with a 2.71 ERA and 99 strikeouts in Triple-A
Neftali Feliz - Rangers - SP but working as RP - K machine
Bud Norris - Astros - SP - Best pickup on this list, NL is nothing compared to the AL East
Junichi Tazawa - Red Sox - SP - Looked good in debut vs. Tigers tonight
All the guys are highly streamable vs. KC/PIT/WAS/SD/etc. but will not be guaranteed starts just yet.
Coming Soon:
Madison Bumdgardner - Yes the Giants have another one on the farm coming soon, could give the Jimenez-esque jump into the playoffs
Jarrod Parker - D'Back that I've been waiting for him to come up for awhile and with D'Backs faltering the day will be sooner rather than later
Carlos Carrasco - centerpiece of Cliff Lee deal, will have a very long leash with CLE
Jake Arrieta - the Orioles (again) have a great young staff and they are getting there
Catching Up
Sorry I had a friend in town, 4 posts are going up tonight to make up for my few days off. Here on out is the blogging "schedule":
Monday: Fantasy Baseball (Football coming in September) & TV
Tuesday: Baseball and Music
Wednesay: Economy and Green
Thursday: Sports Business and Technology
Friday: Movies and Stocks
Thanks for reading it, send me feedback via e-mail. FYI, I know my posts are all over the map, but I I'm trying to stay current during my funemployment. Let's be honest, your author can be all over the map a bit too. Plus, I enjoy doing the research on all the topics above.
DES
Monday: Fantasy Baseball (Football coming in September) & TV
Tuesday: Baseball and Music
Wednesay: Economy and Green
Thursday: Sports Business and Technology
Friday: Movies and Stocks
Thanks for reading it, send me feedback via e-mail. FYI, I know my posts are all over the map, but I I'm trying to stay current during my funemployment. Let's be honest, your author can be all over the map a bit too. Plus, I enjoy doing the research on all the topics above.
DES
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Grab Your Popcorn
I was never a big movie guy, but in LA I feel like you have to be. With so many people working within the industry, movie are constant water cooler talk so if you haven't seen a movie you at least sort of need to to act like you have. This section of the blog will appear on Thursdays and review what's coming out this weekend. Since this is my first movie blog, I'll backdate some of my picks.
SEE
500 Days of Summer - This year's Juno, your gonna love it plus it has the kid from 30 Rock sort of grown up
The Hurt Locker - A war movie with great reviews, who would have thought
SEE-ABLE
Funny People - Funny for 90 minutes, then it gets serious, best viewed intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, tons of Jewish and male sexual organ jokes
G-Force - For kiddies what else is out
Harry Potter - I don't get the fascination in 700 page books about wizards but people love the guy
This Weekend
GI Joe - Transformers Part 3, bad acting and lots of things blowing up, great special effects make it see-able
Julie and Julia - Great counterprogramming from Sony while the boys see GI Joe, Meryl Streep and Julia Child is a match made in heaven for women in their 50's
A Perfect Getaway - How many times can Hollywood make same movie? Scary honeymoon trip movie, I'm out on this one
SEE
500 Days of Summer - This year's Juno, your gonna love it plus it has the kid from 30 Rock sort of grown up
The Hurt Locker - A war movie with great reviews, who would have thought
SEE-ABLE
Funny People - Funny for 90 minutes, then it gets serious, best viewed intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, tons of Jewish and male sexual organ jokes
G-Force - For kiddies what else is out
Harry Potter - I don't get the fascination in 700 page books about wizards but people love the guy
This Weekend
GI Joe - Transformers Part 3, bad acting and lots of things blowing up, great special effects make it see-able
Julie and Julia - Great counterprogramming from Sony while the boys see GI Joe, Meryl Streep and Julia Child is a match made in heaven for women in their 50's
A Perfect Getaway - How many times can Hollywood make same movie? Scary honeymoon trip movie, I'm out on this one
The Green Challenge
Can you name 1 pureplay green company? I'm waiting, still waiting, OK you give up. You probably named GE, Shell, or IBM but these companies aren't setup as green pureplays. I’m a huge fan of green companies. I wrote my senior thesis in college on greener automobiles. I think this will be the sector where it’s at for investing, jobs, and the next Steve Jobs’ of the world. People continuously fight over green projects and it always seems to bother me. There is only planet that is habitable so why are we ruining it by polluting and stopping measures that are good for everyone? We created the problem so we can fix it.
These companies are small and will be the next Googles and Microsofts. There is a ton of information on the Internet. Use it to invest, attend trade shows, find a job, learn how “hypermile”, change your lightbulbs, or sound cool at drinks tonight. Everybody in this town has the next great actor, next great voice, next great movie, next great show, or next great restaraunt. Here's some links to help you learn a bit more about my favorite "passion project":
http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/
www.autobloggreen.com
www.treehugger.com
www.thedailygreen.com
www.huffingtonpost.com/green
http://www.kpcb.com/portfolio/portfolio.php?greentech (Save for their IPO days)
Today's Green Grants: http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/NEWS/PDFs/battery_awardee_list.pdf
These companies are small and will be the next Googles and Microsofts. There is a ton of information on the Internet. Use it to invest, attend trade shows, find a job, learn how “hypermile”, change your lightbulbs, or sound cool at drinks tonight. Everybody in this town has the next great actor, next great voice, next great movie, next great show, or next great restaraunt. Here's some links to help you learn a bit more about my favorite "passion project":
http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/
www.autobloggreen.com
www.treehugger.com
www.thedailygreen.com
www.huffingtonpost.com/green
http://www.kpcb.com/portfolio/portfolio.php?greentech (Save for their IPO days)
Today's Green Grants: http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/NEWS/PDFs/battery_awardee_list.pdf
Cash For Clunkers: Good For The Economy?
Much has been talk about this new goverment program to hlep our slumping auto business. Suffice to say the program is working as the first billion is gone and 2 more billion are on the way. The program is a great band-aid for our slumping carmakers in this county. The program guarantees you $3000-4500 for your old car in trade in value for a greener car. This is a cash infusion for a dying industry. Although, are the people taking advantage of this program buying greener cars or is something they do would have done it anyway?
The other question becomes how GM and Ford spend the funds raised by this program in the long-run to see if the program has any true effect. Most people are simply trading in their 2nd and 3rd old cars for newer ones so I really question how "green" the program really is. My only hope is that money is not taken away from research programs that could have long-term effects to help our environment and automobile industry. The additional $2.4 billion in electric vehicle grants will sure go a long away in greening our country and stimulating our economy announced today will help the auto industry in the long-term. I think $5.4 billion there would have been a better solution, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Thanks to Barack for doing something to help the auto industry. Outside of software and movies, what other products are actually made here anymore. Here's to hoping this is the beginning of the renewal of a few iconic American car companies.
The other question becomes how GM and Ford spend the funds raised by this program in the long-run to see if the program has any true effect. Most people are simply trading in their 2nd and 3rd old cars for newer ones so I really question how "green" the program really is. My only hope is that money is not taken away from research programs that could have long-term effects to help our environment and automobile industry. The additional $2.4 billion in electric vehicle grants will sure go a long away in greening our country and stimulating our economy announced today will help the auto industry in the long-term. I think $5.4 billion there would have been a better solution, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Thanks to Barack for doing something to help the auto industry. Outside of software and movies, what other products are actually made here anymore. Here's to hoping this is the beginning of the renewal of a few iconic American car companies.
Handicapping the Pennant Race
With a mere two months left in the season, the MLB playoff race showing whos' got a shot and who doesn't. I'll run through the divisions with my picks for the rest of the year and postseason. Here's what we'd have if the playoffs started today
AL East: Yankees (My pick: Red Sox)
They are making the playoffs, just a question of whether or not the WC or division winners. I think that the Sox bullpen depth will help them overcome the Yankees in the long run in the division but these two teams will meet for the LCS. Poor Rays who don't have enough pitching this year, but more is on the way. The best 3 of the 5 best teams in baseball play in this division.
AL Central: Tigers (My pick: White Sox)
This is the toughest race to pick but if Peavy is throwing anywhere near what he's capable of the last 6 weeks then I see CC&Brewers-esque charge. The Twins, Tigers, and White Sox are even on paper. Here's to betting the gutsiest move of the deadline pays off.
AL West: Angels (My pick: Angels)
The Angels are 4.5 up and charged through July without Vlad and Torii Hunter. The Rangers aren't there yet but will catch them next year when they get full years out of Smoak, Feliz, and Holland.
Division Round
Red Sox vs. White Sox (Red Sox win)
Yankees vs. Angels (Yankees win)
Note: Bud Selig will be ecstatic if this happens because of it'll be the top TV markets in the AL
LCS
Red Sox over Yankees in 7
A
NL East: Phillies (My pick: Phillies)
They are up 5 now over the Marlins and Braves trailing close behind. They added Cliff Lee to pair with Cole Hamels in the playoffs. They are going to be very good for awhile.
NL Central: Cardinals & Cubs are basically tied (My pick: Cardinals)
The Cardinals went all in and I think it'll pay off. Matt Holliday is headed for the playoffs and a big payday.
NL West: Dodgers (My pick: Dodgers)
They have too much depth to falter in the regular season, the postseason is a different story.
Wild Card: Colorado & SF tied (My pick: Giants)
At the end of the year, the Giants will squeeze in by throwing Lincecum-Cain-Sanchez-Zito into a 4 man rotation that'll lead them to the promise land. Sorry Cubs fans, I think you are out.
Divisional Round
Dodgers vs. Cardinals (Pujols vs. Manny)
Giants vs. Phillies (Damn, that pitching is nuts Lincecum-Cain vs. Hamels-Lee in a short series)
Picking the NL is a complete crapshoot moreso then I can ever remember. I'm not picking because it's not going to matter. I could easily see any of the 4 teams losing the World Series to the Red Sox and as much it pains me to say the Yankes would too as well.
Keep an eye on the Cuban named Yadel Marti having a difference down the stretch, he's that good. Plus I'd expect Garland and Doug Davis to move as well.
AL East: Yankees (My pick: Red Sox)
They are making the playoffs, just a question of whether or not the WC or division winners. I think that the Sox bullpen depth will help them overcome the Yankees in the long run in the division but these two teams will meet for the LCS. Poor Rays who don't have enough pitching this year, but more is on the way. The best 3 of the 5 best teams in baseball play in this division.
AL Central: Tigers (My pick: White Sox)
This is the toughest race to pick but if Peavy is throwing anywhere near what he's capable of the last 6 weeks then I see CC&Brewers-esque charge. The Twins, Tigers, and White Sox are even on paper. Here's to betting the gutsiest move of the deadline pays off.
AL West: Angels (My pick: Angels)
The Angels are 4.5 up and charged through July without Vlad and Torii Hunter. The Rangers aren't there yet but will catch them next year when they get full years out of Smoak, Feliz, and Holland.
Division Round
Red Sox vs. White Sox (Red Sox win)
Yankees vs. Angels (Yankees win)
Note: Bud Selig will be ecstatic if this happens because of it'll be the top TV markets in the AL
LCS
Red Sox over Yankees in 7
A
NL East: Phillies (My pick: Phillies)
They are up 5 now over the Marlins and Braves trailing close behind. They added Cliff Lee to pair with Cole Hamels in the playoffs. They are going to be very good for awhile.
NL Central: Cardinals & Cubs are basically tied (My pick: Cardinals)
The Cardinals went all in and I think it'll pay off. Matt Holliday is headed for the playoffs and a big payday.
NL West: Dodgers (My pick: Dodgers)
They have too much depth to falter in the regular season, the postseason is a different story.
Wild Card: Colorado & SF tied (My pick: Giants)
At the end of the year, the Giants will squeeze in by throwing Lincecum-Cain-Sanchez-Zito into a 4 man rotation that'll lead them to the promise land. Sorry Cubs fans, I think you are out.
Divisional Round
Dodgers vs. Cardinals (Pujols vs. Manny)
Giants vs. Phillies (Damn, that pitching is nuts Lincecum-Cain vs. Hamels-Lee in a short series)
Picking the NL is a complete crapshoot moreso then I can ever remember. I'm not picking because it's not going to matter. I could easily see any of the 4 teams losing the World Series to the Red Sox and as much it pains me to say the Yankes would too as well.
Keep an eye on the Cuban named Yadel Marti having a difference down the stretch, he's that good. Plus I'd expect Garland and Doug Davis to move as well.
New Music "Tuesday"
In the past when people bought albums, Tuesday was a big day. I know it's Wednesday but my first week is a day ahead of schedule. Tuesday will be my new music today moving forward. With the huge growth of the Internet the music industry has shifted to a singles, ringtone, and touring model. The album is lost. How many times have you listened to an entire album in the past few years ? I'll try do this post every Tuesday to highlight to albums but I feel it'll be skewed to singles.
New Albums
Modest Mouse - from the band that had such its as "Float On"comes to their new EP, the video for "Rat King" is anti-whaling animated video inspired by Heath Ledger, haven't heard it yet but I've always liked this band
New Tracks
Down - Jay Sean F. Lil Wayne
This song is the definition of a summer Miami dance song, it'll be all over the clubs in no time. Also, I feel bad whoever is Lil' Wayne's agent assistant who has to book him out to work on every song on the radio. The man is a machine.
Make Her Say - Kid Cudi F. Kanye & Common
From the guy who brought you "Day & Nite", he's back with a new single. It's a decent beat and Kanye's verse is good too. The song is a rap version of Weird Al song was the rappers mock alot of songs out on the radio.
Toes - Zac Brown Band
ATL is representing again with another Kenny Chesneysound a like track. If you are into that type of music, you'll enjoy it. Chicken Fry is still a great track.
United States of Eurasia - Muse
This song wreaks of Queen, I imagine the acoustic and stripped down version will be ridiculous.
Set Your Goals - Few That Remain
Too loud for my ears.
Weightless - All Time Low
Best new track this week, you might have heard it on KROQ
Good Girls Go Bad - Cobra Starship F. Leighton Meester
So I watched the Youtube just for everybody's favorite gossip girl and the song is actually prety good. Leighton is coming out with own CD soon that sounds just like Britney's latest album.
Sexy B*tch - David Guetta
Wow my first curse in the blogosphere. Song is will get play in the clubs for a bit and fade.
One Time - Justin Bieber
Some Canadian kid blows up on YouTube, gets Usher in his video, and probably can't even drive. This is one is for you Zac Efron fans.
Fugitive - David Gray
"Babylon" is back and this is why you love him. Hopefully he can in the limelight a little longer with his comeback album
PS Who knows how to embed links on here for tracks, e-mail me
New Albums
Modest Mouse - from the band that had such its as "Float On"comes to their new EP, the video for "Rat King" is anti-whaling animated video inspired by Heath Ledger, haven't heard it yet but I've always liked this band
New Tracks
Down - Jay Sean F. Lil Wayne
This song is the definition of a summer Miami dance song, it'll be all over the clubs in no time. Also, I feel bad whoever is Lil' Wayne's agent assistant who has to book him out to work on every song on the radio. The man is a machine.
Make Her Say - Kid Cudi F. Kanye & Common
From the guy who brought you "Day & Nite", he's back with a new single. It's a decent beat and Kanye's verse is good too. The song is a rap version of Weird Al song was the rappers mock alot of songs out on the radio.
Toes - Zac Brown Band
ATL is representing again with another Kenny Chesneysound a like track. If you are into that type of music, you'll enjoy it. Chicken Fry is still a great track.
United States of Eurasia - Muse
This song wreaks of Queen, I imagine the acoustic and stripped down version will be ridiculous.
Set Your Goals - Few That Remain
Too loud for my ears.
Weightless - All Time Low
Best new track this week, you might have heard it on KROQ
Good Girls Go Bad - Cobra Starship F. Leighton Meester
So I watched the Youtube just for everybody's favorite gossip girl and the song is actually prety good. Leighton is coming out with own CD soon that sounds just like Britney's latest album.
Sexy B*tch - David Guetta
Wow my first curse in the blogosphere. Song is will get play in the clubs for a bit and fade.
One Time - Justin Bieber
Some Canadian kid blows up on YouTube, gets Usher in his video, and probably can't even drive. This is one is for you Zac Efron fans.
Fugitive - David Gray
"Babylon" is back and this is why you love him. Hopefully he can in the limelight a little longer with his comeback album
PS Who knows how to embed links on here for tracks, e-mail me
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Summer TV = Big Bummer
Why is it that summer TV is so bad? I never got why the networks just laid down and said it's summertime, no new TV for everybody. In business, you want to be constantly putting your companies in the minds of your clients. Why wouldn't NBC want to put on quality shows so that maybe I'd have a better shot at watching their shows in the Fall. By taking a quick peek at last week's Nielsen's: reality TV is dominating along with reruns of L&O plus CSI x 3. Can't the networks come up with anything better. Maybe a best of their libraries all summer or movies every night. With all the money that is going to the people who run these TV stations you'd think somebody might take the road less traveled and go big, but don't hold your breathe for it.
At least we have Entourage on HBO. It's only 22 minutes a week but its appointment viewing for myself and just about everybody in this town. Plus, this new show Hung is great on HBO that comes on as well on Sundays. If you are not watching this show, you should be.
In the next weeks, I'll fill you in on some new shows premiering in September by running through a couple of networks a week leading up until the time your DVR goes to work. New highly anticipated shows I'll fill you in on are: Community (NBC), Cougar Town (ABC), Glee (FOX), and Modern Family (ABC). This looks to be a weak year for newbies, but you never know.
At least we have Entourage on HBO. It's only 22 minutes a week but its appointment viewing for myself and just about everybody in this town. Plus, this new show Hung is great on HBO that comes on as well on Sundays. If you are not watching this show, you should be.
In the next weeks, I'll fill you in on some new shows premiering in September by running through a couple of networks a week leading up until the time your DVR goes to work. New highly anticipated shows I'll fill you in on are: Community (NBC), Cougar Town (ABC), Glee (FOX), and Modern Family (ABC). This looks to be a weak year for newbies, but you never know.
Trading Deadline Fantasy Baseball Hangover
This year the deadline seemed to a bit crazier than in the past. I think it's part the 24-7 media cycle we live in. Our "TMZ" society demands we know more more and more about everything. I'll run through some players who got traded with my thoughts and drop some knowledge on guys you should grab if you haven't already.
Winners
Matt Holliday - hitting behind Pujols, enough said
Trevor Crowe - starting in CLE now, keep an eye on him
Justin Masterson - starting in CLE now, streamable vs KC, BAL etc.
Brett Wallace - can start and is playing where he belongs in AL
Victor Martinez - lineup protection
Aaron Poreda - pitching at Petco, K and GB pitcher will love it there, grab him
Jim Johnson - Closing in BAL now
Losers
Cliff Lee - Flyball pitcher goes from CLE to PHI, will take advantage of NL lineups but him starting at home against LAD, CHI, MIL, or COL would scare me a bit
Jarrod Washburn - pitching AL Central not AL West
Jake Peavy - PETCO to AL, poor guy, at least he can win now
George Sherill - Dump him
Waiver Wire
Brian Matusz & Chris Tillman - Just promoted, O's future aces, Tillman has more K-ability
Neftali Feliz - WOW! Joba Part 2, great pickup if you are starting poor SP you a better off with him
Jonny Gomes - 10 HR in 2 months
Josh Willingham - .345 and 9 jacks in the past 2 months for the Nats
Joel Piniero, John Lannan, and Jordan Zimmerman - NL pitchers, been hot lately
Erick Aybar & Orlando Cabrera - if you need average
Mat Latos - Top SD pitching prospect sporting a 0.89 WHIP the past month
Winners
Matt Holliday - hitting behind Pujols, enough said
Trevor Crowe - starting in CLE now, keep an eye on him
Justin Masterson - starting in CLE now, streamable vs KC, BAL etc.
Brett Wallace - can start and is playing where he belongs in AL
Victor Martinez - lineup protection
Aaron Poreda - pitching at Petco, K and GB pitcher will love it there, grab him
Jim Johnson - Closing in BAL now
Losers
Cliff Lee - Flyball pitcher goes from CLE to PHI, will take advantage of NL lineups but him starting at home against LAD, CHI, MIL, or COL would scare me a bit
Jarrod Washburn - pitching AL Central not AL West
Jake Peavy - PETCO to AL, poor guy, at least he can win now
George Sherill - Dump him
Waiver Wire
Brian Matusz & Chris Tillman - Just promoted, O's future aces, Tillman has more K-ability
Neftali Feliz - WOW! Joba Part 2, great pickup if you are starting poor SP you a better off with him
Jonny Gomes - 10 HR in 2 months
Josh Willingham - .345 and 9 jacks in the past 2 months for the Nats
Joel Piniero, John Lannan, and Jordan Zimmerman - NL pitchers, been hot lately
Erick Aybar & Orlando Cabrera - if you need average
Mat Latos - Top SD pitching prospect sporting a 0.89 WHIP the past month
Monday, August 3, 2009
The Recession
We are living through the worst recession since the great one in the 1930’s and hopefully the last one I ever see. It’s really sad and at the same time an uplifting reality check. It’s definitely horrible to hear of everyday people, families, and companies getting laid off or fired to no fault of their own. Foreclosures are now commonplace. It’s sad to say that I have friends graduating college who can’t get jobs. I got let go last week. This is why we go to college to get a job (the other stuff is good too). On the far end you have people with graying hair who now have to work another 5 or 10 or 20 years.
I think we all want a fix. Something we can just plug in, download, or buy to make it all go away. Unfortunately, it’s not going to just go away for the next decade. Our new President is being proactive in the matter and that is good thing. In business you should always do something to stop a down cycle rather than companies that sit there and act like we are living in 1999. Those companies are the ones going bankrupt. They overbudgetted their sales, let their overhead go overboard, but most importantly companies lacked vision to see this coming or how to react.
View this recession as an opportunity. An opportunity to be better at what you do and what you want to do. I agree, what’s done is done. Stop dwelling on your dwindling 401K. Take a class at the gym, learn a new language, attend networking events, make new friends, move to a new place, go back to school, or live abroad because it’s cheaper than LA. Keep learning and at some point, we’ll again party like it’s 1999. For me I've started blogging, heading for a Mexican Spanish immersion classes, and I'll finally start putting on some pounds at the gym hopefully.
Until next time,DES
Time To Pop My Blog's Cherry
Now that funemployment has begun, I've taken up blogging to keep me in touch with the world. I will attempt to do 2 posts a day every day for your reading pleasure. I will blog about topics not blogging to blog so my writing is precise and not all over the place. Nothing personal is on here, so don't expect crazy Hollywood stories or for your name to show up here if we hang out. For those of you reading this know me personally know that my passions are diverse and I'll blog accordingly. I'll keep the following blogging schedule effective next week.
Monday: Fantasy Baseball & TV
Tuesday: Music and Baseball
Wednesday: Business and Green
Thursday: Videos from the Web and Movies
Friday: OFF
For this week, push everything ahead one day. Feel free to e-mail if you like or if it blows too.
ENJOY!
DES
Monday: Fantasy Baseball & TV
Tuesday: Music and Baseball
Wednesday: Business and Green
Thursday: Videos from the Web and Movies
Friday: OFF
For this week, push everything ahead one day. Feel free to e-mail if you like or if it blows too.
ENJOY!
DES
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