Oct 1

• One of the many blogs I subscribe to had a good post about leadership this week. It was a good reminder of what we can each do, every day, to practice leadership in our own ways. I found it inspiring and perhaps you will too! Summed up nicely it states

Three things to remember, for continuous learning:

• Raise your self-awareness regarding your leadership effectiveness
• Get out of your comfort zone, try new things and learn from your mistakes
• Be curious and learn from others

What have you done today to raise your self awareness? What could do out of your comfort zone?

Sep 30

• Chicago for 2016 Olympic summer games? The four cities bidding to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games - Rio de Janeiro, Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid - are ramping up their bids for a Friday decision. The Obama's arrive in Copanhagen today and tomorrow to lobby. This WSJ article highlights Chicago Mayor Daley's take, and his swaying stance on how the city will cover any losses for the games. Given the finalists, its likely Chicago or Rio will be chosen IMO. I'm all for it and would be there in 2016. Follow progress on GameBids.
• Speaking of Olympics, I am looking forward to my own trip to 2012 in Vancouver BC in February 2010. Lots of hockey and speedskating in my future. I couldn't fork up the $500+ per ticket for figure skating, sorry Canadian relatives.
• What are the top 10 attractive cities for youth? WSJ reports Washington/Seattle (tie), followed by NYC, Portland, and Austin. San Jose made #6. Congrats to my bro and my friends in San Jose! Interesting article as why even 11% unemployment city like Portland still has appeal.

Sept 29

• September always flies by, but this was fast. Hello, October (well almost)
• Google's YouTube finds Money in Analytics

Sept 23

• More info on the Google Advertiser Exchange, this time starring Neal Mohan

Sept 22

• More updates on the Adobe/Omniture deal. Omniture CEO Josh James gives his commentary to MediaPost today. He has some good ideas on integration and how it will benefit and automate the industry. I think we are all up for that.
• Netflix announced its $1M prize winner for improving its movie recommendation system. I remember when this was announced about 6 months ago, and it seems like a cool idea. I'm a big Netflix fan, so I'm looking forward to getting more accurate recommendations myself!
• Gearing up to explore Napa and dine at the CIA this weekend. That's Culinary Institute of America to you and I. I have never been to the CIA, but I'm very excited to have an amazing lunch on Saturday, with my food scientist Seattle friend Joanne. Of course, I'll have to stop at Jessup, my Yountville based wine club for a tasting and a wine pick up. I'm 2 shipments behind!

Sep 21

• Omniture partners with comScore to deliver "unified audience measurements" to publishers and advertisers. What does this mean for you? As CMO Linda Abraham comments, "The initial phase of the partnership will provide publishers with a turnkey solution for inclusion in comScore Media Metrix 360 measurement. This means that publishers who are already Omniture clients will be able to leverage the beacons that are already in place to quickly bypass the normal beacon implementation process for Media Metrix 360. Additionally this partnership opens the door for joint product initiatives that will leverage the granularity of the Omniture site-specific data with the Web-wide view of Internet user behavior provided by comScore."

• I completed the Santa Cruz triathlon yesterday. My race was great. The most daunting part is the swim around Santa Cruz pier. After a dip to get 'acclimated' to the 60' water, it didn't seem half as bad. I had my best time yet for olympic distance, and even won a beach towel. It's a beautiful course, and fortunately it stayed foggy and cool for all of us.

• I got giddy when I found this article today. It's siking me up for my upcoming *big* holiday - biking through Croatia with VBT.

Sept 18

• Google Launches the DoubleClick AdExchange today.

Sept 17

• A new, innovate adserving platform launched this week called 5to1. The founders, a team from myspace and Fox Interactive, have a great approach to network advertising - pick your ads a la carte, itunes shopping style. From this WSJ article, it sounds like a helpful model for publishers, to ensure and control what runs on their site. If they've figured out the mechanics of how it works, it should be a success. Good luck, 5to1!
• Simulmedia is out of the bag. Dave Morgan, founder of 2x7 and Tacoda networks, announced his latest startup that will "help programmers, distributors, advertisers and, ultimately, viewers, manage an ultra fragmented television marketplace." Given Dave's success on past initiatives, this should be welcomed by the TV industry as a new approach to improve media buys.
• Google to buy Brightcove? Mediapost reports on the rumors...

Sept 16

• The big news of the day, Adobe buys Omniture for $1.8B. Omniture's CEO will join as new SVP of the business unit. This was an unlikely pairing but makes great sense for both companies and will ultimately help "accelerate the ability to deliver on vision of enabling customers to optimize their digital interactions."
• Google Fast Flip launched! Try out Fast Flip to browse a la 'magazine' style. Checking out a news story? Try the flip and see what you can peruse and find. Is it easier? Faster? More info?

Sept 15

• This weekend I finished my MS Waves to Wine Ride. Over 2 days, myself and 2000+ other riders cycled 150 miles from San Francisco to Lake Sonoma over 2 days. It was a great ride, and the cool temperatures kept pushing us onwards. Thanks again to everyone who contributed to my fundraising. I raised $1450 total which I'm very excited about.

• My former employer, France Telecom, popped up in the news today. Apparently, FT is doing its part to end suicides and "stop the infernal spiral" of suicides among workers at the former state-owned monopoly, including surveillance and counselling programs. The WSJ claimed suicides at FT (100,000+ workers) were not out of proportion to the general population. The gesture is a thoughtful one, but also seems a bit out of place, no? At the very least FT can help bring awareness to the issue, sponsor conseling, or other means to talk about issues to avoid this morbid avenue.
• Speaking of suicides, today's other announcement of Rockefeller's investment manger/NYSE board member James McDonald committed suicide at 56. Everyone declined comment when asked questions relating to the story. It makes me wonder what and why someone would take their own life when they appear to have so much on the outside.

Sept 11

• Today, I awoke restless and had some energy to burn. Never mind the next 2 days of riding 150 miles for MS. I ran a 4.5 mile loop down to the ball park and around the beautiful and serene waterfront to the ferry building. When I got to the ball park, I was greeting by an unexpected 9/11 memorial

• Living in San Francisco, the annual 9/11 anniversary is never as stark as when it passed in NYC. It was great to see this today, and I paused to remember that terrible day and how much everything changed.

Sept 3

• I just saw this video on YouTube featuring my brother's software audio visual graphics for rapper Soulja Boy/Kiss me through the phone video. You can't see them that well except for a few pan-outs, but they're there in the background after Whopee's intros!
• TechCrunch has an interesting insight - apparently the Onion is bubbling up to the top of Google News Search Results. The Onion's satire is always amusing, and could even be relevant. Will it stay in search results? I say yes.

Sept 2

• Happy September. Without as many visulal queues as I used to have on the east coast, it's hard to believe September is here. September is always a busy time of year for most folks, and marks the start of my favorite season. Even without rustling leaves and brisk breezes, I still enjoy it, especially on the west coast with the hottest months of the year.
• Only 2 more weeks until my 150 mile bike ride for MS. I've raised $1400 to date. Thanks for all your support. I am feeling somewhat ready as I've been doing weekly training rides and also training for my 3rd olympic triathlon this year the Santa Cruz Triathlon. After September, it will be nice to take a few weeks off!