Flipping through the channels and stumbled into our favorite CNN Headline News - 20 something years back when Ted Turner introduced the concept of Live news round the clock and update every half hour - Finance, Sports, Weather- very innovative from the daily dose of 30 minute anchored Network news.
So when I saw a News Break flash on the CNN Headline News- my immediate reaction was may be there is a breaking News- NO - it was just a regular News "Break" for 30 seconds- and back to "REGULAR" program on HeadLine News...Whata concept - NewsBreak on Headline News- Leave anything to Time Warner and they know how to commercialise it and let people forget why they tuned to the channel in the first place- lets see how Ted Turners concept was trashed into a half-baked annoya-tainment( entertainment in the form of annoying nuisance!)
- from news every 30 minutes round the clock it became news every 15minutes round the clock ..mmmm....now try breaking 15 minutes into World news, local news,finance,sports,weather,traffic- mmm...really 3 lines of news in every segment repeated every 15 minutes- started getting stale slowly
- next bravery came in the form of introducing Local News segment given to the local Cable station- wow that takes close to 7-8 minutes in a 30 minute segment - and try breaking it to 12 minute Headline News segment- there goes any meaningful repeatable News format initially - Brilliantly formed by Mr Turner
- then came entertainment in the Form of Nancy Grace- who likes to do some detective work on her own - making the concept of reporting a thing of the past ( remember that poor mother of a child who commited suicide when Grace tried to gracefully accuse her of kllling her own kid??)
- and then Mr.G!! Dont even know what this one is all about- a sick form of commedy ?
Well - my sincere request to the Management of Time Warner-Dear Mr Parsons please change the channel name to something else if you want to go down the path your News staff are taking HEadLine News- because the Road your staff is taking is not even close to being News - let alone HeadLine News.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Waterfall Grille?
Interesting that Buick and Chevy are trying to create a eyecatching standard Grille- Hopefully it will be for the long run!
May be for the first time a car company is actually advertising based on the Grille of the car- see my privious write-up on possible rationale behind keeping the look the same for generations to retain its glamour. I saw a print ad for Buick Lucerne - may be the comback model for the old aged Buick- and they even have given it a name- Water Fall Grille. The Grille in itself has a unique shape - may be not that attractive and if you have a name for it and explained why it looks the way it does - mmmm..not bad for a first step in the right direction.
Also of notable mention is a silver ribbon across many of the new Chevy models- actually spreading from the standard front ribbon from the checy trucks to the back ribbon of a couple of newer models- may be intentional to retain a lasting imagery that can be carried over model year after model year?
Looks like GM is serious about this turn around strategy they are implementing this time around! Bravo and Good Luck GM!
May be for the first time a car company is actually advertising based on the Grille of the car- see my privious write-up on possible rationale behind keeping the look the same for generations to retain its glamour. I saw a print ad for Buick Lucerne - may be the comback model for the old aged Buick- and they even have given it a name- Water Fall Grille. The Grille in itself has a unique shape - may be not that attractive and if you have a name for it and explained why it looks the way it does - mmmm..not bad for a first step in the right direction.
Also of notable mention is a silver ribbon across many of the new Chevy models- actually spreading from the standard front ribbon from the checy trucks to the back ribbon of a couple of newer models- may be intentional to retain a lasting imagery that can be carried over model year after model year?
Looks like GM is serious about this turn around strategy they are implementing this time around! Bravo and Good Luck GM!
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
More means to communicate!
Thank God there is no pager anymore! VOIP, Skype, Cell, IM, blackberry data-line,landline, office line,efax - all for one person and we are not done yet? Growing up had more time and more people to talk to- with a good attitude too. However it was tough to find a phone or a calling card to use cheaply. As I get older I find I have more means to communicate and less people willing to listen to!
Monday, April 9, 2007
Fair & Reasonable - Thank you Nokia!
I walked into the new ATT Wireless shop and started browsing at the new offerings from Nokia in the cell phone market. Finally I picked up the Blackberry look alike and walked upto the sales person to pay. I was told to write my name in the sheet and wait my turn. Fair enough I wrote my name waited my turn. Finally a Sales Person called my name and I walked up to the counter. I told the sales person the model that I was interested in. The model was brought and activated to work with my number. I took out my wallet and pulled out a $10.00 bill and laid on top of the counter as I picked up the phone from the counter. The sales person stared me down and grabbed the phone from my hand as he started asking what the hell was that all about? I told the sales person that I thought $10.00 was a Fair and Reasonable rate for the phone as I started pulling out the press statement from Nokia on their recent Qualcom dispute and how Nokia was handling the situation by paying a unilateral fair and reasonable price for using Qualcom's technology in their phones. Well needless to say - it didnt work for me as the sales person said that I might want to try it with a good set of lawyers on my side! Is this just an exception or a pattern that we can expect from EuroZone companies against American companies in the years to come? With what is happening with Microsoft & Apple and other Eurosone interventions it is very possible this might be the beginning of a trend.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Fear of Tomorrow!
In one of my meetings with my start-up Advisor we were discusing what motivates people and makes certain people take the plunge into the Start-up world. We came up with may be a handful of compelling reasons that might qualify as traits for a successful start-up experience...but One point that stuck to my mind is about Tomorrow and Lack of Fear for Tomorrow. At first it appeared very flimpsy and superfluous - but the more and more I thought about it I started seeing why those butterflies in the stomach can be very useful at times but can also handicap a person's ability to take risk. Fear inhibits creativity even though it has the ability to bring seriousness to any activity.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Picking those flyers!
As I was walking out of an electronics shop - I picked up those pamplets & University catalogues. I dropped them in my back seat near the old ones I had picked up previously. As I started the car I realized that I have been doing this for the past 10 years or so - some times I browse through the schedules and course outlines from basic guitar to Learning chinese to ball room dancing & Architecture- but most of the time just throw them only to be replaced by the latest edition. I have never gone past the browsing stage- not even try to see where the nearest classes are- but without fail I pick them up every time I see them no matter where and what time. I turned the car and parked and got out of the car. I picked up those catalogues/books including the old ones. Walked back to the store and put them back where they belonged- Hopefully this time they will not sit in the back seat of a car.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Modern Mail- Pleaze stop them!
US Mail delivers once a day - and some times even on Saturday; I can pick them up when I want and decide to read when ever! The sender doesnt expect an immediate reply!
Fed EX: If some one is willing to pay they can be there when you want it and how you want it. Still you can read when you want it and there is no rush to reply. Nobody gets hurt by not replying.
Phone Mail: If someone calls you can choose to ignore the call and the message- still can decide to call them when you want to . People expect you to respond some time but never immediate!
eMail/IM : what is wrong with this world - every one wants every one to read and reply IMMEDIATELY! Every one wants to have 10 different emails- each flowing real time and aimlessly knowick on people's life to tell them that they have a mail from viagra ads to from some one near and dear. From outlook to Blackberry every one wants to see the mail and respond NOW! Why? Imagine your postman knocking every ten minutes to tell you you have a mail and keeps reminding you that the sender is expecting a reply!
What is wrong with every day mail and everyday email? Do we need it in our phone & in our lap top & in our PDA and may be tomorrow in our fridge & microwave? WHY ??
Fed EX: If some one is willing to pay they can be there when you want it and how you want it. Still you can read when you want it and there is no rush to reply. Nobody gets hurt by not replying.
Phone Mail: If someone calls you can choose to ignore the call and the message- still can decide to call them when you want to . People expect you to respond some time but never immediate!
eMail/IM : what is wrong with this world - every one wants every one to read and reply IMMEDIATELY! Every one wants to have 10 different emails- each flowing real time and aimlessly knowick on people's life to tell them that they have a mail from viagra ads to from some one near and dear. From outlook to Blackberry every one wants to see the mail and respond NOW! Why? Imagine your postman knocking every ten minutes to tell you you have a mail and keeps reminding you that the sender is expecting a reply!
What is wrong with every day mail and everyday email? Do we need it in our phone & in our lap top & in our PDA and may be tomorrow in our fridge & microwave? WHY ??
Once every 100 Years or so....Re-inventing America!
Its exactly 100 Years ago that Ford Motor company & Henry Ford revolutionized the way cars were manufactured and how cars became an integral part of every day America. Also what is amazing is how the cost of car was slashed in half in 1909 and again slashed in half in 1924- Sharing of wealth with workers in the form of $5 a day and attracting the best of breed talent - set the tone for the Industrilization and eventual global dominance of the American Automotive Industry- which spread like wild fire into other Industries. This so called Innovation engine keeps re-inventing itself one Industry after another.
The back drop for Mr Kerkorian and his Investment firm Tracinda couldnt have been better. A time when America is in a stateless war with a terrorism, witheroding global dominance in both economy & popular culture - the American car companies after 100 plus years of global dominance have started faltering and imploding the last decade or so. Japanese cars - what started off as a cheap alternative to American cars are threatening to overtake the great American cars and may take othe manufacturing industries with it.
Mr Kerkorian's failed attempt to give a shock treatment to General Motors if giving him and Chrysler another chance to make America a dominant force again. This move by Tracinda corp with the labor participation will re-ignite the American Automotive Industy in the form of renewed enthusiam and innovation with participative labor and management force. With GM well on its way to reviving its financials and image with consumers with renewed branding in the like of Cadillac and Buick - its will be only a few months befor Ford starts delivering as well.
It is a welcome sign that UAW has endorsed Tracinda corporation's ESOP - a significan move as most of the current trouble can be attribuited to the split in the management & labor force in the form of legacy cost issues and labor pool during forced lay offs. This might be the begining of a new eara where the old and once dominant Manufacturing industrieas will take a leaf from the newer world of Technology - sharing wealth through equity participation making productivity and innovation sky rocket.
Given Mr Kerkorian's track record this is one for the history - as THIS IS THE NEW BEGINNING FOR THE RENEWAL OF AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE & MANUFACTIRUNG DOMINANCE!! Thank you Mr York for fulfilling Mr K's and my dream to come true!
The back drop for Mr Kerkorian and his Investment firm Tracinda couldnt have been better. A time when America is in a stateless war with a terrorism, witheroding global dominance in both economy & popular culture - the American car companies after 100 plus years of global dominance have started faltering and imploding the last decade or so. Japanese cars - what started off as a cheap alternative to American cars are threatening to overtake the great American cars and may take othe manufacturing industries with it.
Mr Kerkorian's failed attempt to give a shock treatment to General Motors if giving him and Chrysler another chance to make America a dominant force again. This move by Tracinda corp with the labor participation will re-ignite the American Automotive Industy in the form of renewed enthusiam and innovation with participative labor and management force. With GM well on its way to reviving its financials and image with consumers with renewed branding in the like of Cadillac and Buick - its will be only a few months befor Ford starts delivering as well.
It is a welcome sign that UAW has endorsed Tracinda corporation's ESOP - a significan move as most of the current trouble can be attribuited to the split in the management & labor force in the form of legacy cost issues and labor pool during forced lay offs. This might be the begining of a new eara where the old and once dominant Manufacturing industrieas will take a leaf from the newer world of Technology - sharing wealth through equity participation making productivity and innovation sky rocket.
Given Mr Kerkorian's track record this is one for the history - as THIS IS THE NEW BEGINNING FOR THE RENEWAL OF AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE & MANUFACTIRUNG DOMINANCE!! Thank you Mr York for fulfilling Mr K's and my dream to come true!
SOX Impact on Earnings!
Q2 earnings are around the corner- Starting next week we will see a parade of companies reporting their March ending period's performance.
In the past several years we have seen most of the S&P 500 companies and almost all Bell weather companies report their numbers during the 2nd and 3rd week of the month after the period. Options expiry being on the third Friday usually works well for those speculative investorys trying to make a buck or two before Options expiry!
Well, Well, if last quarter - if it was not just a year end event, was any indication- gone are those days. No option play for the earnings season with a 24 hrs expiry options anymore.
We have started seeing companies reporting period spreading past the usual two week window and slipping into the 4th & 5th week after the quarter ends- well past the 3rd Friday.
May be SOX reporting & compliance requlations are making it tough on companies to report quickly - or its just a temporary phenomenon till the programs and reportings are updated to reflect the new regulations.
Till then - if you want to play the Options before earnings season - got to go a lot longer and may be a bit deeper in the pocket too!
In the past several years we have seen most of the S&P 500 companies and almost all Bell weather companies report their numbers during the 2nd and 3rd week of the month after the period. Options expiry being on the third Friday usually works well for those speculative investorys trying to make a buck or two before Options expiry!
Well, Well, if last quarter - if it was not just a year end event, was any indication- gone are those days. No option play for the earnings season with a 24 hrs expiry options anymore.
We have started seeing companies reporting period spreading past the usual two week window and slipping into the 4th & 5th week after the quarter ends- well past the 3rd Friday.
May be SOX reporting & compliance requlations are making it tough on companies to report quickly - or its just a temporary phenomenon till the programs and reportings are updated to reflect the new regulations.
Till then - if you want to play the Options before earnings season - got to go a lot longer and may be a bit deeper in the pocket too!
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Ted Turner - We Really need a NEWS Channel!
I never thought I would turn to Fox News to get news these days! What ever happened to Ted Turner's dream of 24 hour live news round the clock?
It was trending towards that when he has still in charge of the News Network Management and not managing the news production!
What was news worthy a couple of years agao is not news worthy anymore- Lets take a look at where we are today-
CNN/CNN Headline News: Time Warner is trying to make a non-biased news channel into another Sex in the City or a News of the HBO world- Nancy Disgrace/G! dont even know why in the world we call this channel 24 hr news channel- What are we trying to see? Sitcom style production?
Anderson360 - and other productions on CNN - they call it live : good thing most of the time they are not time sensitive so it really doesnt matter whether it is rerun or live! Mr Dobbs - the bad luck streak is still running from his dot com bust days- please stick to your expertise and may be we will come back! Yes immigration & border crossing is important - but every day ? every show? to a point most of the time it looks like reruns.
MSNBC: Might as well call it the contemporary History Channel. From Microsoft to NBC/GE ownership didnt quite do any good. Is there any news content here?
FOX: the no spin news channel from the FOX knows how to sensationalise news- 60seconds clip and everything Republican - they know how to make a lost election a hopeful recount! Where did they round up all the characters- from Greta to No spin hero Bill? Interestingly enough this seems to be the only channel that even has a news reel once in a while.
CNBC: YEs Financial reporting channel - used to be independent prior to GE-NBE/WSJ take over. Now its not about reporting - its more editorial type of broadcast- PLEASE we dont need to have the same WSJ/Barrons opinion pushed every hour in the tube as well. All the programs that we have in CNBC is moving towards stock picking and sensationalism- what ever happened to Bloomberg style unbiased 'REPORTING' on financial NEWS happening in Wall street and around the globe? Oh well - somebody has to pay the bill - may be more shows like Kramer and Kudlow will do it.
What is the story behind all this- Hey may be the 24 hour news networks have had their hey days like the Dot com boom- Now we better turn back to 6 O'clock news to the network channels and the morning programs from the usual 3 networks for a clean news and some editorial with some class!
Or we just pray that Mr Turner gets pissed off and comes back and starts the News Channel all over again!!!!!
It was trending towards that when he has still in charge of the News Network Management and not managing the news production!
What was news worthy a couple of years agao is not news worthy anymore- Lets take a look at where we are today-
CNN/CNN Headline News: Time Warner is trying to make a non-biased news channel into another Sex in the City or a News of the HBO world- Nancy Disgrace/G! dont even know why in the world we call this channel 24 hr news channel- What are we trying to see? Sitcom style production?
Anderson360 - and other productions on CNN - they call it live : good thing most of the time they are not time sensitive so it really doesnt matter whether it is rerun or live! Mr Dobbs - the bad luck streak is still running from his dot com bust days- please stick to your expertise and may be we will come back! Yes immigration & border crossing is important - but every day ? every show? to a point most of the time it looks like reruns.
MSNBC: Might as well call it the contemporary History Channel. From Microsoft to NBC/GE ownership didnt quite do any good. Is there any news content here?
FOX: the no spin news channel from the FOX knows how to sensationalise news- 60seconds clip and everything Republican - they know how to make a lost election a hopeful recount! Where did they round up all the characters- from Greta to No spin hero Bill? Interestingly enough this seems to be the only channel that even has a news reel once in a while.
CNBC: YEs Financial reporting channel - used to be independent prior to GE-NBE/WSJ take over. Now its not about reporting - its more editorial type of broadcast- PLEASE we dont need to have the same WSJ/Barrons opinion pushed every hour in the tube as well. All the programs that we have in CNBC is moving towards stock picking and sensationalism- what ever happened to Bloomberg style unbiased 'REPORTING' on financial NEWS happening in Wall street and around the globe? Oh well - somebody has to pay the bill - may be more shows like Kramer and Kudlow will do it.
What is the story behind all this- Hey may be the 24 hour news networks have had their hey days like the Dot com boom- Now we better turn back to 6 O'clock news to the network channels and the morning programs from the usual 3 networks for a clean news and some editorial with some class!
Or we just pray that Mr Turner gets pissed off and comes back and starts the News Channel all over again!!!!!
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