Heard a familiar parable today and thought it applies nicely to the conundrum of web-video and digital disruption:

Two campers are relaxing around the fire, intoxicated from a long meal and lots of beer. All of a sudden, a young, hungry, bear appears. The two campers look at each other. It’s clear that they’re about to become bear food. The first camper starts to lace up his shoes. The second camper says: “what are you doing? You can’t outrun the bear!” to which the first camper responds: “No. But I can outrun you.” (more…)

My recent post “Economic Constipation and Digital Malnutrition” was an attempt to critically analyze Mark Cuban’s provocative May 4th post entitled “The Ala Carting of Video on the Net - Will it lead to disaster?”.

Incidentally, it was my most trafficked day and much to my surprise, I received a comment from one of my favorite bloggers, Hank Williams, who writes the influential whydoeseverythingsuck.com?”

Mark’s post has sparked a debate that has spilled over from the circle of web video bloggers into a broader conversation. Next week I’m in New York for the Advertising 2.0 event and plan to bring Mark’s position, and my rebuttal, to the panel on which I’m speaking. (more…)

Few things are as ominous as waking up to the sound of gushing water coming from your basement. When the sun has barely risen and you find yourself, in pajamas, pre-caffeination, next to your wife, broom in hand, ankle deep in a flooded laundry room sweeping waves of what you should have been showering in out into the backyard, you have to ask yourself, “How did I get so lucky? To whom do I owe this pleasure? What did I do to deserve this?” (more…)

Wrong. Very wrong. Unless you like train wrecks. The disconnect between the actors’ guild and the studio positions on new media is one of the major issues gumming up the current (non)negotiations. The AMPTP / SAG talks aren’t getting the kind of press outside of LA that the widely covered writer’s guild strike received, but the concern amongst the theatrical and TV creative communities is widespread. Casting is dead on life-support, actors are at home (not David Lawrence), studio projects are on hold and an agent friend of mine said he is telling actors that “their job is to call their SAG reps and demand that the union give up their losing fight and close a deal.” (more…)

Given that I’m just wrapping up my first week of blogging, thought this article from today’s New York Times was of interest. I can see how the blogger lifestyle can be problematic especially if you’ve just launched a company and have a full-time job. I’ve been giving this a lot of thought and plan to write about my reflections on Week One in a post later today. But first I’m going to go for a run, nibble some rice cakes and schedule a preemptive angioplasty.

(more…)

They say that the path to wealth is through writing and I believe them.

It makes sense. If you can write put your thoughts on paper then the value of your ownership goes from something ethereal to something tangible.
They also say that being left-handed is an economic advantage. That makes less sense, but then I met Steve de Souza and I was convinced.

(more…)