Jul 03 2009
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Hyperinflation Nation Part 1/3 (via InflationUS)
Jun 24 2009
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“ When Facebook took action against two third-party ad networks for displaying ads the company felt deceptive, other networks and app developers quickly toed the line. In that ecosystem, Facebook has the power to take away their business with a few strokes of a keyboard, but in the broader ecosystem, media is fragmented, and the threat of legal challenges not strong enough. Almost every player knows that some action will ultimately happen, but they will get hit whether they run it or not, and in the past, the most ultimatley profitable action has been to get while gettin’ is good. You might pay a fine and have to change your ways, but you’re better off having that pool of funds. Those gains then act like an internal VC fund to provide the company a runway for going more legitimate.
Jun 16 2009
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Lamar Odom | The Journey Completed
Waited a long time for this to happen!
May 24 2009
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“ I haven’t had a break for three years now, and the team’s been leaning on me,” Bryant said. “And you need support too, and Pau gave me the support I needed for about three straight plays. I didn’t have anything [left]. I just laid on the baseline side and just tried to rest and Pau made some big shots — and bought me some time.
May 22 2009
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Advertising gone wrong.
Why would I want to “get involved”with a restaurant?!
May 11 2009
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“
Take the experienced arbitrager on the other hand, and from decision to inception, it might take two to three days. If the hypothetical window for running is four weeks, they have an opportunity to use almost all of it. That sense of urgency and speed to action is perhaps their most distinguishing trait. There are no product meetings, no wondering whether to pull the trigger, and no hemming and hawing over the cost to build or test. Just action and getting it done because someone else is probably doing the same. And the CPA Networks have evolved to support this fast acting, higher risk taking behavior.
The problem is not arbitrage but the arbitrage at all costs attitude that has arisen. Those who find traffic pockets and take the financial risk serve a very valuable role and deserve to make money off it. When thaat discovery runs afoul of all laws and ethics, when they are so morally lost they would need a map to find out where to go, they don’t just endanger themselves. They are a speedboat, gone into the distance before than can be identified, the victims being those left in their big wake. Those victims are all of performance marketing.
May 08 2009
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How Stressed is B. of A.?
Yahoo Finance reports that BAC has a market capitalization of $69 billion, last night the Treasury reported that the bank will need an additional $35 billion. It looks to me that the stock is down about a buck, which is nothing in my book after such a dramatic announcement.
BAC, WFC and PNC were three banks that were the “go to” guys for the Treasury when Rome was burning. BAC bought Merrill at gunpoint, WFC bought Wachovia and PNC bought National City. All of these banks will need capital. It really does pay to play ball with the government doesn’t it? At the end of the day big government usually chews you up and spits you out, this saga is still in motion, it will be interesting to see where it all lands.
My advice to those that are long financials? Get out while you have the chance. Not because of the BAC news, that doesn’t help, but because their entire business model has vaporized, of course if paralyzing dilution is your thing, then start taking out offers. Careful out there.
