From Yahoo's Open Hack Day NYC

A list of unconfirmed rumors from Yahoo's "Open Hack Day NYC" - http://bit.ly/31TV9z.

Google Tightens the Belt a Bit

Eric and Sergey talk about belt tightening at Google, stock gains nearly 4% on the day. Coincidence? http://bit.ly/aGlkb

10 Best Real Estate Markets for Investment

From the "Shark Tank," Barbara Corcoran weighs in on the top 10 best real estate markets to invest in right now: http://bit.ly/TzX0F.

Sure, Blame it on Google

One more rant re: newspaper readership - if it wasn't Google, it would have been someone else: http://bit.ly/G8IUF.

ChicagoansForRio.com

In reading about Chicago's lost bid for the Olympics, was interested in seeing ChicagoansForRio.com, but it appears the site was taken down.

Twitter at $1 Billion - What's Next?

Twitter valued on $1B. Next: do they "monetize" with ads, sell for the $1B valuation, or go public? http://bit.ly/dTKF4

Use Your iPhone, Start a Company

A new iPhone app offers step-by-step instructions for starting your own company: http://bit.ly/yLR1M.

America's Culture of Entitlement

ABC News on public outbursts and the "culture of entitlement" in America. Is all publicity still good publicity? http://bit.ly/4qV2ti.

Sucker's Rally or a Powerful Rally With Legs

Two videos from Tech Ticker. A Sucker's Rally?



...or a powerful rally with legs?

The Devil's Dictionary - Financial Edition

From WSJ, The Devil's Dictionary - Financial Edition. Definitions of all those wacky terms in the news this past year: http://bit.ly/2NAYy.

Harvesting the Wind

Watched part of a PBS documentary on community-based wind energy today on a plane. More on "Harvesting the Wind:" http://bit.ly/CdIoT.

The 2010 Smartphone Shakeout

JMP analyst Samuel Wilson calling for a Smartphone "shakeout" in '10. $RIMM and $AAPL likely winners, joined by 1 more: http://bit.ly/uFTCp.

Why Banks Were Treated Differently Than Automakers

Interesting video:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

The banks were treated differently than the automakers because Congress actually understands what automakers do. Complex financial instruments used by the biggest banks to make money are beyond the comprehension of most in Congress.

Carol Bartz on Yahoo

Carol Bartz of Yahoo responds to a wide variety of questions during a lengthy interview with CNBC: http://bit.ly/tOjzb.

Google and Solar Technology

Google ($GOOG) is getting a lot more serious about solar energy technology: http://bit.ly/v1Tvz. Maybe they can develop the "killer app."

A New Ad Network for Jobs

Job board websites under pressure from social media sites and - now - ad networks? http://bit.ly/19jvKu

On Knowledge, Health and Personal Finance

Focusing on knowledge, health and personal finance puts you in a position to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.

When Will the Beatles Come to iTunes? Wednesday?

Okay, so are the Beatles going to iTunes on Wednesday or aren't they? Two links: http://bit.ly/4q7gB http://bit.ly/4BaA7Q

Major Wall Street Regulation? Not Likely.

Don't hold your breath or complain about Wall St. regulation. Figure out ways to profit from the LACK of regulation: http://bit.ly/ucZUm.

Netflix and the Complex Operation

Netflix may appear to have a very simple business model, but making it work actually involves a very complex operation:

 

The Topless Meeting

Has your company tried a "topless" meeting yet - no laptops, iPhones, BlackBerries or other interest diverters? Think about it...

StockTwits.com

Just started using StockTwits.com. More on the service from Tech Ticker: http://bit.ly/2SvhPV.

IPO Market Comeback?

IPO market to make a comeback of sorts with post-bubble tech companies going public? http://bit.ly/2kxWfB

Entrepreneurs Find Opportunity in New Orleans

Great little WSJ story on entrepreneurs doing start-ups in New Orleans, four years removed from Katrina: http://bit.ly/12mGbb.

Goldman May Face More PR Challenges

Goldman Sachs "Trading Huddles" likely much ado about nothing, but GS may still face PR problems at bonus time: http://bit.ly/2qwedn.

Founders at Work

Just started reading "Founders at Work" on the Kindle. Delivered in less than a minute from Amazon: http://bit.ly/39Qbig.

DVD-By-Mail Strong as Long as the Postal Service Stays Solvent

Aaron Kessler believes the DVD-By-Mail business may be strong for years. Guess that assumes the USPS remains in place: http://bit.ly/4fTRfh.

Kelly Slater Riding an Ironing Board

Someone once said I could rip on an ironing board - a compliment. Here's Kelly Slater basically RIDING an ironing board: http://bit.ly/pPSoh.

Yanks vs. Sox, and Why It's Always Important

Why is there so much interest in this weekend's Yankees/Red Sox series? Fox Sports counts the (many) reasons: http://bit.ly/iJ8C3.

Dina Kaplan on Traditional vs. New Media

blip.tv founder Dina Kaplan talks about content creators and their expectations of traditional vs. new media: http://bit.ly/zywHq.

Boom to Bust, Las Vegas Looks Toward a Comeback

Laughing out loud (yes, LOL) while reading the first paragraph of this extensive article on Vegas in Time: http://bit.ly/Bj1b1.

On Social Media, Newspapers and PR

PR experts who spend time downplaying the value of social media should spend at least as much time thinking about declining newspaper readership and the aging demographics of those who read papers.

Underpenetrated Smartphone Market Lifts All Boats?

RBC analyst - Apple, RIM, Palm all set to grow their smartphone biz as an "underpenetrated" market lifts all boats: http://bit.ly/3szCb.

Win a Trip to Hawaii This Fall

With several corporate partners, I just helped launch a big giveaway of 25 free trips for two to Hawaii: http://bit.ly/jbfHr.

"...capturing lightning in a bottle."

A new short film focuses on the making of the next Pearl Jam album, Backspacer. Turn your speakers up!

Pearl Jam - Backspacer Short

"Doctor's Hours?"

I'm no expert on what primary care physicians do, but am I wrong in estimating the doctor in this story only sees patients 20 hrs a week? http://bit.ly/YaoW0

The Decline of Dubai

If you're the type that takes any type of pleasure in bubbles bursting, check out this Fast Company slideshow on Dubai: http://bit.ly/1IwL1.

CubeGuard

From the "what can they think of next" bin comes CubeGuard. Doubt this would have stopped Bill Lumbergh in Office Space: http://bit.ly/39JAzO

Employment Outlook Improving, Slowly

Slowly, things are turning around on the jobs front, as employers prepare to unfreeze salaries and begin hiring again: http://bit.ly/vk2ko.

Another Zany Zappos Story

Tour Zappos and you're exposed to its zany culture. A just-as-zany story (somewhat) related to Zappos' sale to Amazon: http://bit.ly/urvRu.

Skateboarding Legend Tony Hawk on Branding

Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk shares his three simple tips for branding success in a Business on Main webisode: http://bit.ly/9cvKv.

The Changing Landscape of Hedge Funds

Interesting Tech Ticker discussion about Atticus Capital shutting down and the changing landscape of hedge funds: http://bit.ly/yjy6e.

FriendFeed's Real Value: Its Team

Seems what Facebook was really after in acquiring FriendFeed was its all-star roster of former Google employees: http://bit.ly/16DAFp.

2010 Chevy Volt: 230 City MPG?

GM believes the EPA estimate of 230 city miles per gallon for the $40,000 2010 Chevy Volt is actually conservative: http://bit.ly/rTXVI.

Mark Cuban on Selling Content Online

Blogger Mark Cuban provides some unsolicited advice to Rupert Murdoch on selling content on the internet: http://bit.ly/J0mT0.

Timmy & Monkee: Cats at Play

Okay, so I know that most of my posts offer links to oh-so-serious business stories. Time to lighten up a bit with video of my two one year-old black cats at play:

Jack Welch Works with Domino's Execs

Former GM CEO works with Domino's execs on attracting the best, brightest franchisees and appointing a "lunch czar:" http://bit.ly/JNdz9

OpenTable and a Moderately Successful IPO

OpenTable surprised many by pulling off a moderately successful IPO this Spring. Sarah Lacy talks to CEO Jeff Jordan: http://bit.ly/ixe06.

Twitter as CRM Tool

Comcast's Eliason on using Twitter as a CRM tool; that is when Twitter isn't experiencing a denial of service attack: http://bit.ly/4Cb9ZQ.

Diller/Silverman Venture Draws Plenty of Interest

Just returned from dinner with colleagues and chatting about the Barry Diller/Ben Silverman venture, then found this: http://bit.ly/tSygF.

PR Uses of Twitter by Businesses

Crisis management, conflict resolution, employee empowerment and Twitter - from the Wall Street Journal: http://bit.ly/3lD3HF.

Read This Before Joining a Reality TV Show

Ran across an article that's basically a "must read" for anyone considering joining the cast of a reality TV show: http://bit.ly/2UzsvO.

A Discussion on the Microsoft/Yahoo Search Deal

Erick Schonfeld, Nick Wingfield and Steven Levy discuss the Microsoft/Yahoo search deal on the Charlie Rose show: http://bit.ly/uX0eR.

Wall Street Journal to take on LinkedIn?

Could the Wall Street Journal be serious about putting together a serious competitor to LinkedIn? http://bit.ly/3nJkh9

Back in Honolulu

An omelete, some fruit, a nap, some tapping on my laptop, some Kindle reading and I'm back in Honolulu. Now...time to surf.

New Kindle Lawsuit

Just used my new Kindle to read about a lawsuit involving...a Kindle: http://bit.ly/19wFn5.

Why Did Oil Reach $147 in '08?

It's been a little over a year since a barrel of oil was selling for $147, and the debate still rages on as to why: http://bit.ly/43SNnH.

Kindle Makes for a Great Birthday!

Just got a Kindle for my birthday, ensuring I'll never not have anything to read again on a long flight. Stoked! http://bit.ly/9no6u

Microsoft/Yahoo Search Deal is Imminent

I missed my earlier prediction by a few days, but Microsoft & Yahoo ARE indeed coming together on a search deal: http://bit.ly/150NFf.

Google Sheds AOL Holdings

In the past several years, Google no doubt made money with its AOL deal, but certainly not because of AOL's value as a company:http://bit.ly/PqIRJ.

After Horror Story, Financial Systemic Risk Remains

The Wall Street horror story may be behind us. But Michael Hirsh says underlying systemic risk has yet to be addressed: http://bit.ly/535Wd.

LAX "B" Lot Home to Airline Crews

Lot B offers inexpensive parking at LAX. Those parking there may be surprised to find their flight crew LIVING there: http://bit.ly/E7gOh.

Market Bulls Emerging from the Woodwork

A lot of money still on the sidelines, but market bulls are emerging from the woodwork. Thinking of placing any bets? http://bit.ly/8Pwwz

Shark Tank

On the new ABC reality show "Shark Tank," entrepreneurs present their biz concepts to "ruthless" investors. Premieres 8/9: http://bit.ly/vFatr.

U.S. Housing Market Bottom? Not Yet.

From Barry Ritholtz, seven reasons why the housing market is yet to bottom out, including "shadow inventory:" http://bit.ly/14J4nW.

Robert Shiller on The Economic Crisis

From March 2009 - Yale econ prof Robert Shiller discusses aspects of the economic crisis in a series of McKinsey Quarterly video clips: http://bit.ly/B2j5l.

Microsoft/Yahoo Deal May Finally Get Done

Just finished reading a number of reports and I think that a Microsoft/Yahoo ad deal will be reached this coming week: http://bit.ly/qKjnT.

Alternative Energy Investment Risk

With questions marks about global warming and no real "killer app," Daniel Rice sees risk in alt energy investing: http://bit.ly/hvtkN.

On Krispy Kreme, Crocs, Fads & Brands

Are fads and brands a contradiction in terms? We saw what happened with Krispy Kreme. Will it happen again with Crocs? http://bit.ly/duSc3

A Bull vs. Bear on Tech Ticker

Tech Ticker brings you a market bear: http://bit.ly/oSAhJ, and a market bull: http://bit.ly/n20sq. Will let you decide who's correct.

iBidcondo: A New Approach to Getting Condos Sold

iBidcondo has an imaginative approach to selling condos. Will be interesting to see if this type of thing catches on: http://bit.ly/2AeOF.

IBM Revamps the 401k

Critics complained about IBM's 401k announcement 18 months ago. Not many are complaining now. Here's why: http://bit.ly/pp3A7.

Amazon/Netflix Deal Near?

Amazon has had a number of hits and misses over the years. Could a Netflix acquisition address a more recent "miss?" http://bit.ly/6AwlU

The Age of White Rage?

24 Hour "News" channels have ushered in the "Age of White Rage." Do these guys actually pull ratings? http://bit.ly/aNCZ8

Sony's Challenges

Sony's brand is strong, but it currently can't leverage synergies and faces numerous market share challenges: http://bit.ly/dMG8F.

MySpace Loses Key Execs, and Will Lose Ad Battle to Facebook

MySpace continues to bleed key execs (http://bit.ly/w3UPR) as Facebook ad revenue is poised to surpass MySpace (http://bit.ly/V9ZWW).

VCs and Exit Strategies

With venture capital liquidity falling 57% in a year, a survey of 138 VCs shows that the biggest concern is the exit: http://bit.ly/12Q1Q0.

Greg Carr and His Quest in Mozambique

Greg Carr is quite possibly the happiest, most hands-on philanthropist in the world: http://bit.ly/JPYof.

All Eyes on Twitter in Sun Valley

At Herb Allen's Sun Valley media summit, all eyes are on Twitter this week: http://bit.ly/7lEkw.

Newsweek: The Fall of Lehman Brothers

Interesting Newsweek story on the fall of Lehman Brothers, starring Hank Paulson, with co-star Ben Bernanke: http://bit.ly/vomDM.

Marc Andreessen's New Tech Venture Fund

Courtesy of @SteveCase, Marc Andreessen puts his money where his mouth is http://bit.ly/BjuCA (Fortune Magazine). Article on his new tech venture fund.

Maxed Out

Vegas real estate agent in Maxed Out, circa 2006: "If you look like you make money, I guess eventually you will." http://bit.ly/10dFk

I.O.U.S.A.

U.S. under mountain of debt as it celebrates Independence Day: http://bit.ly/V0EcL. A documentary on this topic: http://bit.ly/VQ3a.

Evite the Latest Struggling Company at IAC

A lot of Barry Diller's collection of companies at IAC have been struggling for some time now. Add Evite to this list: http://bit.ly/kKjoA.

How to Become Internet Famous

Surprised this took so long to show up on the home page of a major portal...how to become Internet famous: http://bit.ly/4zp58.

Bing Adds Twitter Posts to Search Results

Henry Blodget applauds Bing adding Twitter posts to search results. Wonder if Twitter will help with Bing SEO: http://bit.ly/IkIGR.

Bing Slowly Gains Search Share in June

Microsoft's Bing fractionally increases its share of the search market in its first month of existence: http://bit.ly/LJnwv.

Joost to Reinvent Itself - Again

Hype or not, it's tough being an online video startup. Joost to attempt another reinvention: http://bit.ly/2Ecbw.

Boom, Bust & Blame

Boom, Bust and Blame - the inside story of America's financial crisis, from CNBC. Good reading and video: http://bit.ly/o2JN.

The Story of Shiner Beer

It's no secret that Shiner Bock is @lancearmstrong's favorite beer. A Business on Main episode on Shiner's story: http://bit.ly/efEKN.

Post Offices Under Pressure

A sign of the times - nearly 10% of USPS post offices may be shuttered within the next several months: http://bit.ly/Zt8Uc.

Jack Welch and Connect by Hertz

Former GE CEO Jack Welch coaches Connect by Hertz execs through one of his legendary "workouts." http://bit.ly/19syWS

The Proposal

Went to see The Proposal last night. Good summer romantic comedy...pretty funny and selling lots of popcorn: http://bit.ly/MAxli.

Lisa Marie on Life with Michael

Lisa Marie Presley's blog post on MySpace provides a LOT of insight into her life with Michael Jackson: http://bit.ly/5wR7p.

Smart Phone Smackdown

On June 2 I tweeted about a "Smart Phone Smackdown." Now it's a headline on MSN. Hmm: http://www.msn.com.

Better Place, Hawaii

Great article about how Better Place is planning to set up its electric car infrastructure in Hawaii: http://bit.ly/2BhrS.

Golfers with Painter's Hats

Ricky Barnes struggled and lost the U.S. Open earlier this week. I'm wondering if the painter's hat had anything to do with it: http://bit.ly/VgL2P.

Linked In's Reid Hoffman on Entrepreneurship

Reid Hoffman on entrepreneurship: it's like jumping off a cliff and then figuring out how to assemble an airplane.

On Oahu

My day today: fly to Honolulu, surf, get some work done and prep for about 25 more hours of work in the next two days...

Rail Bumpin' in Waikiki

Sunday afternoon surf session at Canoes off Waikiki in what can best be called a traffic jam. Rail bumpin' fun!!!

Chris Matthews Watches Pink Panther II?

Was on the plane to Dulles with Chris Matthews of "Hardball" fame. Can't be 100% sure, but I think he was watching "Pink Panther II."

Jetty, Wedgy, Drainy

Friday evening surf session launched my short weekend. Head-high jetty, wedgy, drainy things. Good but you had to want it.

Cubs Game Next Thursday

Just got my Cubs ticket for next Thurs. Didn't get gouged too bad. STOKED to be going to Wrigley Field!!! http://tinyurl.com/n93gon

McKinsey's New Normal

McKinsey: the business landscape has changed considerably, and there's a "new normal." http://tinyurl.com/dngvom

The Facebook Name Claim is On

The Facebook "name claim" is on: this Saturday, "vanity URLs" become available: http://tinyurl.com/ml3s7h.

Time to Count Surgical Masks Again

This swine flu thing won't seem to go away. Am headed back to the airport on Sunday...will count surgical masks again: http://tinyurl.com/m8ule3.

Customer Service Hall of Shame

MSN Money just released its annual Customer Service Hall of Shame. We'll all recognize some of the selections: http://tinyurl.com/larogw.

The State of Surfrider

CEO Jim Moriarty checks in with a report on the state of the Surfrider Foundation: http://blip.tv/file/2162490.

Orlando in Summer

Talked to a colleague today who doesn't get the lure of Orlando in the summer. Found himself on the tee with a 7 iron in a lightning storm. Hmm.

Tim Floyd Resigns at USC

In college sports, it's said that if you're a coach and you're not cheating, you're not trying hard enough: http://tinyurl.com/kwsjgf.

Own the Car, Not the Battery?

Shai Agassi has a fundamentally different approach to the electric car challenge - own the car, not the battery: http://tinyurl.com/nknuvt.

Flea's Waimea Wipe

'Flea' Virostko has taken some of the heaviest wipeouts ever. Here's one from Waimea Bay a few years back: http://tinyurl.com/ledyls.

One and Done on Twitter

A few funny posts from the "One (Post) and Done" crowd on Twitter, courtesy of Slate: http://tinyurl.com/lljny7.

Wrigley Field Here I Come!

Just found out I'm going to be in Chicago next week and the Cubs are in town. Shopping for a seat at Wrigley, while avoiding "limited view."

Steve Ballmer on the Economy

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer on the current economy: "I tell our guys maybe we should think of today as normal." http://tinyurl.com/lscca9

Jose Canseco: MMA Comedy

An untrained Jose Canseco (unintentionally?) provides some comic relief at a recent MMA event in Japan: http://tinyurl.com/qmwvot.

Less Legroom on Airlines

Airlines cutting legroom on new planes: http://tinyurl.com/ofpesz. Am surprised more haven't followed United's lead with Economy Plus.

Long Rather than Tall

At what point did basketball players become "long" rather than "tall?" "Long" seems to be the hoops analysts' latest buzz word...

Angelo Mozilo - Criminal or Just Stupid

Angelo Mozilo's legacy will include an SEC investigation to determine whether he was a criminal or simply stupid: http://bit.ly/a4qGW.

Doogie Howser - First Blogger?

Got into a spirited discussion yesterday about whether or not Doogie Howser was the first blogger: http://bit.ly/m5yl.

National Doughnut Day

Just found out that today is National Doughnut Day. And my recent weight-loss program was going so well: http://bit.ly/iu8zr.

YouTwitFace

Conan O'Brien: In the future, YouTube, Twitter & Facebook will merge to form one giant, time-wasting web site: YouTwitFace.

Bulls vs. Bears

Market ultra-bears are saying the S&P goes to 400. In the meantime, ultra-bulls are saying S&P 5,000. Who's right? Neither.

Pearl Jam on Conan

Pearl Jam lights up Conan O'Brien's new Tonight Show studio at Universal. Here's the video: http://tinyurl.com/psvnt4.

Smartphone Smackdown?

Smartphone smackdown? "The (Palm) Pre eats iPhones for Breakfast" - Roger McNamee of Elevation Partners at the D Conference.

Twitter Grader

I believe it only takes about 80 followers to get into the top 10% tile on Twitter Grader: http://twitter.grader.com.

Zipcar & GM

Zipcar CEO Scott Griffith to CNBC: users have never made requests for any GM cars. Yeeouch! More on Zipcar: http://www.zipcar.com.

That's Why They Play the Games, Stu

Wonder if ESPN's Stuart Scott has apologized yet for basically congratulating Cleveland on winning the title after the Atlanta series.

Last Survivor of Titanic Dies

The Titanic's last survivor died in England at age 97: http://bit.ly/IkJ7h.

Notorious

Watched "Notorious," the sad story of talented artists who let things spiral needlessly out of control: http://bit.ly/uTbcA.

AllThingsD Conference Recap

AllThingsD recap on Tech Ticker. Long live Web 3.0, but what is Web 3.0? May have much to do with Smart Phones: http://bit.ly/1010vh.

Kai Barger: At Home on Maui

Here's what junior world surfing champ Kai Barger does at home on Maui when he's not riding waves: http://bit.ly/194y6W.

Kai Barger: At Home on Maui

Here's what junior world surfing champ Kai Barger does at home on Maui when he's not riding waves: http://bit.ly/194y6W.

Bing, The New Microsoft Search Engine

Apple co-founder Woz impressed by - and a "big fan" of - Bing, the new Microsoft search engine unveiled today: http://bit.ly/6CxNZ.

Rapid Fire Job Changes

Everyone keeps talking about how frequently folks are changing jobs. Do they realize that most 401K matches don't fully vest for 5 years?

Carlos Zambrano - Epic Meltdown

Blow-by-blow recount of Cub Carlos Zambrano's epic meltdown today. I've gotta find the video of this on YouTube: http://bit.ly/RbnaH.

Twitter at D Conference

Twitter CEO Evan Williams just interviewed on CNBC from D Conference. Twitter: 32 million registered users, up from 1.6 millon last year.

Facebook's New Valuation

After a new $200 million investment, Facebook now valued at $10 billion. Strong valuation but actually 33% below '07: http://bit.ly/5XDNj.

Back on the Road?

Rode 30 scenic miles along the Ventura coastline this morning on a rented $3,000 Specialized bike. Thinking abut getting a road bike...

AOL: Another Fresh Start

AOL seeks yet another fresh start with ex-Google exec Tim Armstrong at the helm: http://bit.ly/YKUc.

Whale Wars

Watch an episode of "Whale Wars" and ask yourself if the Sea Shepherd eco-vigilantes have gone too far: http://bit.ly/28V3x8.

Bruce Irons: Post WCT

Bruce Irons on the history of the North Shore's Volcom House, surfing Backdoor and becoming a father: http://bit.ly/amUxv.

The Secret Billionaires Club

The "Secret Billionaires' Club" meets in New York. Who was there, and what they were up to: http://bit.ly/180rku.

Anvil! The Story of Anvil

Is "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" a "This is Spinal Tap" for the 21st Century? http://www.anvilmovie.com

A Few Words on the Face Tattoo

Used to be that the ultimate "F-You" to society was the neck tattoo. Now that many necks are covered, the new thing may be the face tattoo.

The Future of Work

The cover story on the current issue of Time Magazine is a bit hard to swallow. Big changes on the way, apparently: http://bit.ly/10OzRY.

The Missing Link?

This is the "Missing Link"??? http://bit.ly/4dLde Hmmm.

Kelly Slater: No World Title This Year

As well as things went for Kelly Slater last year, they're going equally as bad this year. No world title #10 this year: http://bit.ly/KSh3l.

10 Dogs, 8 Buns, What Gives?

I've spent probably half a lifetime wondering why you go to the store and find 10 dogs in one package and 8 buns in another.

The Blood of My Brother

Watched a documentary called "The Blood of My Brother," which contains some terrifying, confusing urban war footage: http://bit.ly/pGP14.

Mowed at Ghost Tree

Tyler and Russel Smith (surfer and tow partner) get mowed in the latest installment of Surfline's Greatest Wipeouts: http://bit.ly/zparb.

Saturday Surf Session

Low tide makes for a challenging morning surf session, even in small waves. Not great but the water is SoCal is warming up...finally.

World's 10 Best Cities to Live

As measured by Mercer, an HR company, almost all of the "World's 10 Best Cities to Live" are in Europe: http://bit.ly/idUmC.

Jay's Last Guest

Appropriately enough, Jay Leno's last guest as host of the Tonight Show will be...Conan O'Brien: http://bit.ly/KjZG7.

Bankers and Pitchforks

Did Obama really tell bankers that his administration was the only thing standing between them and pitchforks? Ouch...

Indio vs. Absentee Homeowners (Banks)

Indio, CA officials threaten "absentee owners" (i.e. banks) with legal action if they don't maintain foreclosed homes: http://bit.ly/11GLKB.

Slabby Aussie Death Barrels

New video of more crazy Aussie death barrels on Surfline. Stay low boys!!! http://bit.ly/rAeM8

Kanye: Twitter Hater?

I've wondered if tweeting celebs are bothered by imposters. Kanye sure is, and he doesn't seem to like Twitter much either: http://bit.ly/yyRwo.

Perry Farrell Injured

Jane's Addiction's Perry Farrell tears calf muscle during show. He's not as young as he once was...neither are his fans: http://bit.ly/Y2k8p.

On the Red-Eye Tonight

Headed back to LA after a really good biz trip to Oahu & Maui. Tonight's red-eye is much more tolerable after a relaxing weekend.

Sunday Night at Kapalua

Night falls at Kapalua. Did an hour of stand-up paddle surfing and took a long drive up Maui's northern coast. Another perfect day : )

Spike and Kobe

Spike Lee has a new "joint," having followed Kobe Bryant for a day. Program airs next Saturday...clips: http://bit.ly/in8zt.

Greens and Blues in Kapalua

In Kapalua on Maui, marveling at the combination of greens and blues. There are places you'll always remember, and this is one...

Kapalua in May = Heaven

Just spent the past two hours swimming, bodysurfing and sipping cool drinks at D.T. Fleming beach in Kapalua on Maui. Basically heaven...

Manny Ramirez: Buzzkill!

Buzzkill!!! Dodgers ride Man Ram to record home start; Man Ram suspended 50 games for drug violation: http://bit.ly/28gXQ.

Airports, Airplanes & Surgical Masks

Flew from L.A. to Honolulu yesterday afternoon. Not nearly as many folks in surgical masks at LAX as I thought there might be.

Virgin America

I love Virgin America, and find it unusual that only the "low cost" airlines offer much in terms of differentiated service: http://www.virginamerica.com.

Dealing with the Taliban in Pakistan

Is it just me, or is it looking more and more like we'll be forced to deal with the Taliban in Pakistan: http://bit.ly/NZpAF.

August: Dot Bombs Remembered

Watched a movie called August. Josh Hartnett plays a Dot Bomb-era CEO with delusions of grandeur. Those were crazy times. http://bit.ly/tFUY

The Secret Life of Bees

Wife coaxed me into watching The Secret Life of Bees recently. Yeah, it's a Chick Flick, but the story is uplifting: http://bit.ly/bKXK

House of Cards

CNBC's "House of Cards" is the most comprehensive documentary released to date on the boom/bust of housing: http://www.cnbc.com/id/2889...

Facebook's 'Porn Cops'

Facebook's "porn cops" are a key to the site's growth in popularity with advertisers: http://bit.ly/g7x0k.

Twitter and the Sports World

The sports world is all a twitter: http://bit.ly/A1pjH.

Totally Stylin' Tattoo Barbie

Barbie's getting some ink, as in Totally Stylin' Tattoo Barbie: http://bit.ly/nqluz.

Sam George: Searching for Jan Michael Vincent

Interview with Sam George, who's working on a documentary surrounding the Hollywood surf flick "Big Wednesday." http://bit.ly/ugIwm

The Jedi Workout - No Joke

The "Jedi" workout? Fight fat with the Force? No joke. Where is Triumph the Insult Comic Dog when we need him: http://bit.ly/6qhBW.

The Clean Tech Conundrum

Paul Kedrosky weighs in on alternative energy's lack of a "killer app." The clean tech conundrum: no core platform. http://bit.ly/ZqGXF

Body of Lies

Ridley Scott's "Body of Lies" brings all the complexity, confusion and violence of the Middle East front and center: http://bit.ly/qz5Vv.

Montana Town Aspired to be Gitmo

From hotter than ____ to colder than a witch's ___, the Montana town that aspired to be the next Gitmo: http://bit.ly/nSa1M.

In-N-Out: California's Best Burger?

I think the Food Network's pick for Best Burger in California is weak. In-N-Out is good, but they could have found better: http://bit.ly/p91wk.

California Unemployment Picture is Ugly

No less than 12 cities in California reported unemployment rates above 15% in March. Ouch: http://bit.ly/12cMLH.

A Zany Visit to Zappos

One of the things I learned a little about during a recent visit to the Zappos headquarters in Henderson, NV was robotic product sorting/distribution. More details: http://bit.ly/5TnUr.

Hangin' with Gavin on the North Shore

Wanna see what it's like to hang out with Gavin Beschen on Oahu's North Shore? Check out Volcom's Episode 5: http://bit.ly/amUxv.

Joaquin Phoenix - Rapper

Joaquin Phoenix looks and behaves more like Jim Morrison these days than your average rapper. Is this all a prank? http://bit.ly/w0fZJ.

Will Greed Still Be Good?

Michael Douglas set to reprise role of Gordon Gecko in "Wall Street" sequel. 20+ years on, is greed still good? http://bit.ly/WzPGx.

Ice Melting, Globe Warming

New York City-sized ice shelf breaks apart off Antarctica. Global warming? You'd better believe it: http://bit.ly/v1qXx.

PWCs Creating Controversy in Hawaii

PWC use increasingly under the state microscope in Hawaii: http://bit.ly/ythwT.

Specter Now a Democrat

It's unusual - but always interesting - when a member of Congress switches parties mid-term. The latest: Specter. http://bit.ly/16fq8W.

From Surfline's Greatest Wipeouts...

When things go bad at Maverick's, they can go really, really bad. Proof from Surfline.com's Greatest Wipeouts: http://bit.ly/174UCA.

What Happens When a Bank Fails

Very interesting story on what happens when the FDIC takes control of a failing bank: http://bit.ly/13MVoE.

Flu, What Flu?

Spent an hour at my local gym last night, which was packed with folks who obviously are NOT panicking about getting the flu.

Most Wanted Billionaire?

Does someone get to be on Forbes' Billionaire list even if he's also on a country's "Most Wanted" list? Apparently so: http://bit.ly/LOvnc.

Dave, the Rappin' Southwest Flight Attendant

You gotta like Southwest for short-haul flights. Now there's even more to like: Dave, the rappin' flight attendant: http://bit.ly/YPKgT.

Industrial Scars

J. Henry Fair's images of "Industrial Scars" are compelling, and emphasize the over-consumption of natural resources: http://bit.ly/4TmfX.

Elton John at Caesar's

Like to spend some time in a (relatively) small room with rock royalty? Go see Elton John at Caesar's. Totally worth it: http://bit.ly/vwvcO

Sean Penn as Larry

What slapstick-loving guy hasn't been waiting for a modern-day "Three Stooges" film? But seriously, Sean Penn as Larry: http://bit.ly/KjP5n

Macy's - Buy Now, Pick Up Later & Save(?)

Was introduced to an unusual program at Macy's last night: buy now, pick up purchase later (like 4 days later) and save 25%. Seems odd.

Newt, Do You Get It?

Newt, maybe you're not getting it: climate change cannot be considered a political issue: http://bit.ly/qvezr.

Tesla Motors: Coming to SoCal?

Despite a challenging financial outlook, Tesla Motors is planning to manufacture its Model S electric car in SoCal: http://bit.ly/1bflV4.

What Does it Take for a Mall to Die?

Spent some time at a local mall on a recent Friday afternoon. Much of it was basically deserted. Could big malls really die? http://bit.ly/4u6NRi

Hulu vs. "Real" TV

I've been thinking: with fast cable modem connectivity, a nice, big monitor, and sites like Hulu, could I get rid of my TV entirely?

The Reader

Watching "The Reader." Guilt about the things in life you did - and didn't - do can be a heavy burden to bear: http://bit.ly/TTJyf.

Centro

Spring's here and I'm thinking about the surf "Down South." Centro is a movie about the developing scene in Nicaragua: http://bit.ly/2Jox70.

Training and Re-Training

My prof in a recent course I took at Stanford thinks that training (and re-training) will be a big industry for the next ten years. An example: http://bit.ly/tZuH.

Love, Save the Empty

Watching the Erin McCarley video makes me want to go to Paris. Man, what an amazing city! http://bit.ly/19pZew.

Touch the Top of the World

Watched Touch the Top of the World, the story of Erik Weihenmayer's quest to be the first blind man to climb Everest. http://bit.ly/2R0AQI

Condo Vultures

Watched a feature recently on a company called Condo Vultures. $130K Miami condos if you're into it: http://www.condovultures.com.

Best Performing Stocks

Best performing S&P stock in the past 20 years: EMC. Best Dow performer: P&G.

Monetizing Social Media Sites

Data storage is (relatively) cheap, but YouTube and other social media sites will have to "monetize" at some point: http://bit.ly/ZsdMm.

Zillow Zestimates

Tracking our home's "Zestimate" on Zillow during the bubble years was pretty fun. These days? Not so much: http://www.zillow.com.

Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards

Billabong's annual XXL Big Wave Awards went down last Friday night in Anaheim. Some stills and videos of the winning rides: http://bit.ly/Z32MA.

Slumdog Millionaire

Finally had the chance to see Slumdog Millionaire. Completely riveting and unforgettable: http://bit.ly/16lvKS.

MySpace and the Music Industry

MySpace turning to the music industry in an attempt to shore up the social media site's mediocre balance sheet: http://bit.ly/8IFLb.

The Superstars to Return This Summer

What's old is new again: ABC gearing up to bring back the popular 70's show "The Superstars" this summer: http://bit.ly/CA7MO.

International Telconfencing - For Free!

Just installed a Logitech QuickCam Pro for my laptop. My first international teleconference via Skype was held this week...cost absolutely nothing and it worked great!

Ireland Not Quite Iceland, but...

Paul Krugman's op-ed piece in NY Times on Irish economy reminds me in some ways of what's happened in California: http://bit.ly/n8hAx.

Somali Pirates Under Siege

Somali pirates under siege...even dolphins are getting into the act: http://bit.ly/BOgY.

The Narcissism Epidemic

Everyone's a winner? New book tracks the growth of narcissism in U.S., which roughly follows the growth of obesity: http://bit.ly/ebKVx.

Social Media & Marketing

According to a new study, Twitter is top social media tool used by marketers: http://bit.ly/32FYwH.

Earth Day

On Earth Day this week I was reminded of Thomas Friedman's important message: we're having a green party; it's not a green revolution until someone gets hurt.

Jamie O'Brien - Drop In, Pull In

Jamie O'Brien grew up in front of the world's most dangerous surf spot and makes a good living surfing it regularly: http://bit.ly/cjxVi.

U2 Can Have Issues with Real Estate

For one reason or another, the guys in U2 have gotten into some real estate hassles in recent years. Here's the latest: http://bit.ly/vxOH5

Mindreading Device Can Make Twitter Posts

Researchers use mindreading device to make Twitter posts. Huh? http://bit.ly/XhLSy

Venezuelan Petro-Dictatorship

Petro-dictatorship has Venezuela listed among "10 Countries in Deep Trouble." http://bit.ly/19EvoV.

South Swell in the Water

Head-high south swell in the water. Shape isn't great, but hey, it's overhead and I gotta go take my pounding ; )