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Rove Resigns

Top White House aide Karl Rove has said he will resign at the end of August.

* Having trouble with this video? Try the QuickTime version
* Make life easier by subscribing in iTunes

Further information on topic discussed:

• Telegraph's Report
• Great background information from the BBC

You can now view all episodes past and present and listen to some great tunes provided by Nosaj Thing @ opensermo.tv

News Corp. Clinches Dow Jones

A majority of the controlling Bancroft family has voted in favor of News Corps $5 billion buyout offer for Dow Jones.

* Having trouble with this video? Try the QuickTime version
* Make life easier by subscribing in iTunes

More information on this discussion:

• Reuters - Dow Jones OKs 5bln...
• Business Standard - Dow Jones confirms takeover...
• Reuters - Dow Jones Director Leslie Hill resigns...
• The New York Times - The Side Deal in the Deal...
  

Update: The amount News Corp offered Dow Jones was mis-reported in this broadcast as $5.6 billion, when in fact it was $5 billion even.


You can now view all episodes past and present and listen to some great tunes provided by Nosaj Thing @ opensermo.tv

Raided by the FBI: 83-Year-Old Senator

Senator Ted Stevens' home was raided by the FBI and IRS in order to obtain documents relating to an ongoing Federal Investigation.

* Larger version available on iTunes and also for download here.
*Mp3 here

Further information on topic discussed:

• The Washington Post
• Update: Timeline of Stevens Investigation
  

You can now view all episodes past and present and listen to some great tunes provided by Nosaj Thing @ opensermo.tv

The Worst Thing On The Planet

Malaria will infect over 500 million people in 2007.

* Larger version available on iTunes and also for download here.
*Mp3 here

How to Help
Against Malaria
Track the progress of donated bed nets, from their manufacture to their delivery to communities in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation
This foundation helps CDC scientists distribute bed nets and address other health needs for people in sub-Saharan African countries.

Population Services International (PSI)
PSI annually delivers millions of nets, insecticide kits, and malarial treatments to more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia, and South America. The nonprofit is one of the largest distributors of insecticide-treated nets in the world.

Malaria No More
This organization supports net distribution, education, mosquito spraying, and antimalarial drugs in Africa.

Nothing But Nets
Nothing But Nets, affiliated with the UN Foundation, cooperates with the Measles Initiative to get nets where they're needed. The Measles Initiative distributed almost 20 million nets in ten African countries during 2006.

Article on topic discussed:

• National Geographic

Congress Creates Team to Size-Up Iraqi Army

The US Congress has created a team of retired senior Military and Police Officers to independently evaluate Iraqi Security Forces this summer.

* Larger version available on iTunes and also for download here.
*Mp3 here

Articles on topic discussed:

• Financial Times
  

You can now view all episodes past and present and listen to some great tunes provided by Nosaj Thing @ opensermo.tv

Sacred Shiite Mosque Attacked...again

Insurgents have destroyed the two remaining Minarets of the sacred Al-Askari or Askariya mosque, further threatening U.S. plans and Political accord.

* Larger version available on iTunes and also for download here.
*Mp3 here

Articles on topic discussed:

• KTUU
  
• Counter Terrorism Blog
  

You can now view all episodes past and present and listen to some great tunes provided by Nosaj Thing @ opensermo.tv

GM's Electric Car Charges Ahead

General Motors has announced suppliers for the Chevy Volt's rechargeable batteries.

* Larger version available on iTunes and also for download here.
*Mp3 here


Update: The Small Combustion engine would be used to recharge the batteries if needed, and would not actually propel the car.

Articles on topic discussed:

• Cnet News
• Wheels24
  

You can now view all episodes past and present and listen to some great tunes provided by Nosaj Thing @ opensermo.tv

Coke Goes Water Neutral

Coca-Cola has announced plans to become totally water neutral.

* Larger version available on iTunes and also for download here.
*Mp3 here

Article on topic discussed:

• Environmental Finance

You can now view all episodes past and present and listen to some great tunes provided by Nosaj Thing @ opensermo.tv

China in Pursuit of Nuclear Subs

The Pentagon has released a report stating China is developing 5 Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarines.

* Larger version available on iTunes and also for download here.
*Mp3 here

Article on topic discussed:

• Financial Times

You can now view all episodes past and present and listen to some great tunes provided by Nosaj Thing @ opensermo.tv

New World Bank President?

President Bush nominates Robert Zoellick for World Bank President.

* Larger version available on iTunes and also for download here.

Article on topic discussed:

• Monsters and Critics
  

openSermo Episode 2

This weeks episode covers: Daimler slings Chrysler, US Students and US History; not so much, Immigration and Innovation.

* Larger version available on iTunes and also for download here.

*Update: The NAEP or National Assessment of Education was actually established in 1969 not 2001. However the misunderstanding deals with the No Child Left Behind Act which was enacted in 2001.

Mp3 download here.

Further Info on topics discussed:
1. Daimler slings Chrysler

• USA Today
  
• WTOL
• abc12

2. US Students and US History; not so much

• Washington Post
• Freep
• Cleveland
  

3. Immigration and Innovation

• Herald
• rediff
• Money Control
• IBN

openSermo Episode 1

openSermo is launching a weekly podcast to help school the world. Read more here and here, or just hit play.

This weeks episode covers: Sarkozy as President, Supreme Court on Patents and News Corp. in Pursuit of Dow Jones.

*A Larger version is available for download here; you should be able to subscribe in iTunes soon, so please do so.

Mp3 download here.

Reading on topics discussed:
(All links to articles will be posted here and not at opensermo.tv)
1. Nicolas Sarkozy as President

• USA
  
• St.Pete
  
• Times

2. Supreme Court on Patents

• Dark
  
• CNJ
  
• ITweek
  

3. News Corp in Pursuit of Dow Jones

• Reuters
  
• Bloom
  
• Taipei
  

BerkshireHathawayVille

We interrupt our constant stream of stories (all 1 per month) to break for a quick synopsis of this weekends Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. Being a first time attendee, it was a most epic journey.

Waiting outside at 5:30 am. Saturday morning, in the rain, when doors open at 7:00 could be called crazy, is this some sort of revival concert? That’s a big negative. Thousands of us, all eager to grab good floor seats from which we will proceed to sit for the better part of nine hours listening to the wit and wisdom of one Warren Buffett (76) and Charles Munger (83).

Opening the day was about a 40-minute video, in detail here, which stared a competition between Lebron James and Warren, brought on by a disagreement over ones favorite drink, Lebron for PowerAde and Warren for Cherry Coke. Warren states: "Lets settle in in the courts." Lebron: "In Court?" with a worried look on his face. Warren: "The basketball court." Warren wins at horse, Lebron at 1-on-1, which leads to an all or nothing, make or brake final hook shot from the half court sideline, which Warren swooshes after a Lebron miss, break to ESPN where Stuart Scott proclaims this is the largest upset in the history of sports. Proceeded by a plug for the Buffet vs. Ariel Hsing (11-year old U.S. table tennis champion) “Rumble in the Mall” taking place the next day outside of subsidiary Borsheims.

After the video an announcement proclaims, please welcome the brilliantly gifted, intelligent, honest, (insert 10 more positive adjectives) and handsome Mr. Buffett. Which is then preceded by an entrance by none other then… Jimmy Buffett. Jimmy states, “Who were you expecting? ... I’ve never performed this early in the morning and your not paying so bear with me.” Jimmy delivered a remake written that morning he proclaimed, overtop Margaritaville with the hook as “Wastin’ away again in Berkshire-Hathaway-ville.”

Then strolls in the Buffett everyone has been waiting on, accompanied by Mr.Munger. Without getting into a lot of detail about the Q&A, which you can read here, lets just say these two men are on the ball. People of all ages, from all over, asking just about anything for a total of 6 hours, with only a short 40 minute break for lunch. Usually Warren proceeds to answer and then says “Charlie?” Who may just remain silent, slide in a “nothing further to add” or have an utmost wise remark. When Charlie speaks, no words are wasted. In response to someone’s question on ethanol, Charlie remarked something along the lines of, “Utilizing food for fuel, has got to be one of the dumbest ideas I've ever heard.” Followed by Warren “Were now going to be sleeping outside the state of Nebraska tonight.” (Being that NE is a big endorser of Corn based ethanol.) One of the most graphic remarks by Charlie followed a general thought on opportunity cost and went something along the lines of “It would be like someone offering you a mail order Bride with AIDS.” Did he really just say that? Hey, he’s 83.

Check out an interview with Buffett in the exhibition hall here. The exhibition hall consisted of booths populated by Berkshire subsidiaries. The booth’s displays ranged from RV’s to Bulls. All were offering information on exactly what they do and most gave shareholders an opportunity to purchase.

The closing of the meeting was mainly a 45 minutes discussion about Berkshire’s holdings of PetroChina and the genocide currently taking place in Darfur, Sudan. You can read about Berkshire’s position on the matter here. The outcome was an overwhelming majority of shareholders voting against the resolution detailed here.

After the meeting it was off to subsidiary Nebraska Furniture Mart for some Mexican fanfare, live band under the tent, and oh yeah…shareholder discounts. Nebraska Furniture Mart is situated on a massive 77-acre spread comprised of the a store which sells over 50,000 items, - guaranteed in stock, at guaranteed lowest prices - a massive customer pick-up drive through attached to a warehouse and a flooring warehouse.

The following day was shopping day at Borsheims and Buffet Vs. Hsing. Bill Gates appeared before Warren Buffett and had a few volleys with someone unnamed. Then Ariel Hsing entered the ring and then came Warren who proceeded to do a few pushups. The match seemed rather short and not possessing a great view the outcome of the match remains uncertain, if anyone has details please add in the comments, thanks. Afterwards Bodyguards escorted Gates and Buffett to a Bridge table with Bob Hamman (world champion Bridge player). They played for a bit and then Buffett disappeared and Gates remained for another 20 minutes before departing.

820 words cannot truly express the mystique that encompasses the Berkshire weekend. It’s a one of a kind event that will always hold a special place in ones heart, and mind.

All photographs are property of EMB Networks.

Who really wins?

So Google will gobble DoubleClick for $3.1 billion in an all cash purchase (not stock as was the case in the YouTube acquisition). Word on the street is Microsoft was also in hot pursuit for DoubleClick. But it seems Google won this round. Or did they?

Microsoft has $28.8 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments vs. Google’s $11.2 billion. The Google machine currently spits out $3 billion of profit per year vs. Microsoft’s $12.6 billion. DoubleClick’s customer base and entrenched network could have provided Microsoft’s Internet profit engine a badly needed booster shot. Granted Google will also reap benefits here, but Microsoft’s utility curve is much steeper then Googles in this regard.

It appears Microsoft wasn’t prepared to pay an insane valuation even if they needed DoubleClick more then Google. And Google was prepared to any price to protect its dominance in Internet advertising. Maybe Microsoft saw this as not only an opportunity to gain if they did end up purchasing DoubleClick, but also a gain if they made Google pay foolishly.

(Disclosure: Ethan Bloch has no affiliation, nor does he posses any material investment (ex. Common stock) in either Google Inc. or Microsoft Corp.)

The News

Slightly funny, a bit scary; maybe not pure truth but definitely worth a hit.

What We Call the News | Send To Friends | Funny Animations at JibJab

Focus

I have arrived at this decision through some hard-fought self-actualization. There was such a solid response to the post, The Rebirth (which if you haven’t yet read, please do so) due to its overflowing enthusiasm and originality that the post Guess Who's Back was a tad on the boring side…maybe. Okay, Guess Who’s Back was definitely news worthy, but it was quite the typical piece one could find almost anywhere (not openSermo worthy).

At openSermo we are still discovering our proper footing (live 1 month); considering our free time or lack there-of, we now realize we must focus on the quality of our pieces and not quantity of pieces. Forthcoming we plan to only write about the topics that are mentally busting from the seams. This new strategy will cause us to have an infrequent and sporadic posting schedule (case now?), perhaps only a few posts per month (a few hard to deny amazingly good posts per month). So please do not despair, we are finding our way.

This is our pledge and I hope you feel it…

Email subscription here.

Guess Who’s Back

Not that he actually ever left, but as of today, founder and Chairman Michael Dell, following the resignation of Kevin Rollins, will assume the position of Chief Executive and dive back into the day-to-day operations at Dell Inc. ("Dell"). Insiders and stockholders are hoping Mr. Dell, with his oozing charisma and vision, can usher in a new era, helping breath fresh life into a company that had sales of $56 billion in fiscal 2006.

Speculation of Mr. Rollins ouster has been in the air for months. Throughout his tenure Mr. Rollins did prove to be a valuable asset, most notably devising a marketing strategy that created separate units to target Dell’s separate markets (healthcare, big business, etc.), helping Dell achieve dominance in the 90’s. But every dog has his day and after the 2006 embarrassments (atomic laptop batteries, HP surpassing Dell in PC sales, missed growth in laptops etc.) combined with semi-flopped growth ideas (one of which was Mr. Rollins strategy to utilize Dell’s lean-mean-fighting machine of a supply chain and powerful Brand to expand into consumer electronics) combined with a flagging stock price for the better part of a decade proved to be enough for Mr. Dell to show Mr. Rollins the door.

Mr. Dell is back and that’s great but the question still remains: Can Michael Dell teach his 23 year old baby new tricks? Acting as chairman Mr. Dell did negotiate and close on the acquisition of Alienware last year, a smart move up market (this won’t make a dent in sales, but it will help margins a bit and give increased efficiency to Alienware, which I may add was badly needed). Mr. Dell also had input on the roll out of Dell’s XPS line of computers, another move up market in search of higher margins. I bet Mr. Dell probably had something to do with Dell's decision to finally carry AMD based machines. That’s one huge party Dell arrived super late too, being all gung-ho about their monogamous relationship with Intel (ooops!). Mr. Dell also believes there are still a ton of efficiencies to be wrung out of their direct-to-consumer business model.

Whatever ushering in Mr. Dell does, I do wish him and his crew the best of luck. Dell is still a giant in the commoditized market of PC’s. On one hand, growth prospects are still very attractive internationally (think BRIC), although competition with the likes of Lenovo, HP and Acer (wait, did someone say Acer?) will continue to be brutal. On the other hand, driving growth inside America will prove extremely difficult considering the degree of PC saturation, but hopefully increased efficiencies and new product offerings will help deliver this needed growth at home.

Michael Dell is back. And at this point all we can do is wait and see...

openSermo extras - Interesting things on February 1st.

(Disclosure: Ethan Bloch has no affiliation, nor does he posses any material investment (ex. Common stock) with Dell Inc.)


Update: It seems as though this so called monogamous relationship between Dell and Intel wasn't so legit. It has recently been reported that Dell was receiving what amounted to billions of dollars a year in rebates from Intel to stay away from AMD. Shareholders have filed for class action status against Dell for misreporting these rebates in what they allege was illegal and for lying about the condition of operations as insiders sold off billions in stock.

The Rebirth

Broadcast News is dead. The three-letter News broadcasting houses that were given the right to educate and inform the public have lost, lost, lost their marbles, forgotten their roles and ran askew.

Thankfully, respectable News sources still exist, many of which do a great job delivering quality content through the print and online mediums; but in terms of a quality TV News broadcast, good luck (Clearly the sources aren’t the problem, the News agencies are doing their job quite well, it is the delivery that’s terrible ie. three-letter News broadcasts). If one combines these respectable News sources with simple News aggregation (Google News), Digg, digg-a-likes, cautious Blogosphere navigation and Blog aggregation (Technorati, Techmeme), a very healthy News diet can be achieved (the more the merrier). The issue here is the tens of millions of people who still rely on a TV News broadcast as their main, if not sole source of information (things like this help one sleep at night).

It is understandable that watching a TV News broadcast is less taxing then reading and digging - not changing anytime soon - so here lays the predicament. The solution lies in a new form of TV News broadcast. If TV News broadcasts were delivered in a similar light to Pardon the Interruption, you would have a wider viewer base that’s better informed and maybe even engaged in some self thought (not saying they’re not today, but saying they’re not today). Granted there are many topics you can only sexy up so much, and others that would be just plain wrong to sexy up, there is still plenty that could be done to create a more engaging, fulfilling and informing News broadcast. It would be very difficult however, for any three- letter News house to try and create this internally. These three-letter TV News broadcasts still draw millions of viewers and in turn don’t feel any pressure to change; they feel no sense of urgency.

Screw urgency! We need something more. This something more will be done by outsiders, from the ground up. Considering the low cost of current technology used to create and widely distribute video, now is a riper time then ever for the birth of new News broadcasting (a rebirth). Another rebirth has been full steam ahead in the text based realm of News delivery; visible in the services I previously mentioned (which are just a few). But video is the cake to eat all cakes. Intelligently delivered engaging news, in video format which is and will continue to become easily consumed on any medium one sees fit, is king!

A video podcast like Diggnation is proof of what’s to come for more mainstream audiences. Diggnation does a tremendous job of staying entertaining, getting a point across, and at times proving educational. Unfortunately Diggnation isn’t going to replace the any o’clock news anytime soon (I know), but it does give us hope. In order to rebirth broadcast News for mainstream audiences the delivery needs to spread this reenergized enthusiasm and color of opinion onto a vast array issues and world on goings, while still housing enough acceptance standard deviations to remain widely viewed (coming soon).

Help push the rebirth! We here at openSermo challenge you. Talk it up with your friends and family and get their opinions on the current state of the three-letter broadcast. Feel free to share your thoughts, opinions or ideas concerning this tragic state in our comments. Please get informed, think for yourself, tip well and hopefully one day we will have something to proudly call, our broadcast News.

openSermo Extras – January 19^th , other important moments in history.

The Story

Sometime not long ago, Ethan had an epiphany of sorts. A realization in fact, that mainstream TV news broadcasts blew fat elephant trunk. Come to think of it, Ethan didn't even watch any broadcast news, because every time he built up the courage to tune in, it was the same rubbish, “Blood, death, top of the hour...thanks for tuning in...hope your day was good!" These dreadful fear mongering robo anchors with their poor reporting metrics have overwhelmingly infected our TV news broadcast arena.

Ethan was sick of the fear mongering robo anchors, poor metrics and puppets. So instead of just sitting on the sidelines and complaining, Ethan decided to create his own Network, one that would help school the world and aid the broadbased present day rebirth of the News (small goals). This so-called rebirth has been growing strong as of recent, fueled by low barriers to entry, cheap computing power, widespread broadband and a bunch of creative potatoes (to be discussed in an upcoming post) who are making a bunch of creative services and products. All that was left was a name…

It was a name and not just any name Ethan needed, but a most sticky name. A sticky name that would help convey his corest intentions: lively, engaging, all encompassing discussion about blazing issues and world on-goings; active and open participation; the avoidance of trifling conversation (mouthful?). But Ethan was having difficulty discovering his shiny sticky meaningfully intelligent name; he kept wandering back to the two words open and discussion. But openDiscussion was not nearly sexy enough. So Ethan spent a few minutes perusing the internet's Latin dictionaries and stumbled upon 'Sermo'.

Hooray! And openSermo was born.