I have never been one to be quiet about my opinions, and with the email I received this morning from set-top video on demand provider VUDU has me once again thinking… “how does this benefit me?” (more…)

In times of crisis or uncertainty, or so we are told, many people run scared.  But as someone who has dealt with adversity time and time again, that isn’t an option for me.  Sure, the doom and gloom that has struck Wall Street could have had us running to our bank and withdrawing all our money, but that just doesn’t make sense.  In a time when many have lost confidence, isn’t it an opportunity for success if you have (or at least outwardly display) confidence?

I haven’t extracted all of our funds from our local branch office in the last two days, instead I have come up with an economic plan to sooth the dismay.  Some may call it gutsy and others may cringe, but here is my simple two step plan for combating the downturn on Wall Street. (more…)

Over the past few weeks (and months) I have heard more and more companies talking about their digital media strategy.

I recently read a Sapient survey of more than 200 chief marketing officers (CMOs) and senior marketing professionals, all of whom are either directly or indirectly responsible for managing digital marketing budget allocation across multiple channels.  The survey showed what these executives wanted from their agencies today, not next year.

What struck me is that “nearly half (45 percent) of the respondents have switched agencies (or plan to switch in the next 12 months) for one with greater digital knowledge or have hired an additional digital specialist to handle their interactive campaigns.”  This number was staggering as it told me that the opportunity is great for those that understand the space and grim for those that do not. (more…)

Hot doughnuts… The craze that swept the nation only six years ago might soon be a relic of the past.  There is nothing that matches (while equally unhealthy) the taste of a glazed doughnut right off the “assembly line.” That experience, though, is soon to be a forgotten memory, only shared in fireside chats with your children and grandchildren – reliving the past glory of the glazed doughnut.

I can remember waiting in anticipation as the Krispy Kreme location 3 minutes from my home in Austin, TX was slowly built.  Equally clear was the “Hot Now” sign that stayed lit for nearly a year straight.  (more…)

I recently read a post written by Christopher Griffin in which he was discussing Ron Conway’s views from an angel panel at Techcrunch50. The takeaway for Griffin was clear: “if you aren’t moving to the Valley, you can’t complain about a lack of capital.”

Whoa, hold on there. First, everyone has a right to complain – the question is if the complaint is valid – and I believe that it is.  Why?  Because I believe that there is a fundamental flaw in thinking that entrepreneurs should just “get moving.”

Certainly, I agree with the statement that there is a large talent pool, investable dollars, and a plethora of big companies situated in the Valley, but I disagree with the thinking that a company’s success in raising venture capital funding is based upon their ability to move to where “everyone else” is. (more…)

As far back as I can remember I was always told by my parents not to shove anything up my nose.  Of course, as a school aged child, everyone knew the one kid that put some kind of object – blunt or shiny – in their nostrils for the enjoyment of their peers.  Then, in college, there was always the road trip that brought the usual pranks among your friends – for us it was one generous snorer who had a penchant for pencils, pens and straws in his nose without his consent.

Those were certainly the days.  But Avery?  No.  You never should put anything in your nose!

Well, that is where the story begins.  The other night, while lying in misery due to my clogged sinuses, Colleen has this brilliant idea.  She called it the “Neti Pot,” and according to her, it was the solution to life’s greatest questions.

What do I have to do was the inevitable question next in the queue.

“You just lean over the sink and pour warm, salty water in one nostril and it will drain and clear out the other.”

“Huh, what?” was my response.

That’s right.  The kid that was taught to not put things in his nose and who preaches it to his own child was about to shove a miniature watering can in one side of my nose in the hopes that it will come out the other side.

Surely this was a prank.  I mean, can’t I get the same solution by being made to laugh and squirting milk out of my nose?  At least, at that point, nothing will have purposefully entered my nasal cavity and we’d get a good laugh in the process.

Alas, it was no prank.  I gave in to the claims of “wonderous” and “I swear by it,” only to be greeted by water streaming out of my eye and a distinct feeling that I had just drank a glass of ocean water.

Note to self.  Don’t put anything in your nose again.

It has been over two years since I have contemplated a new design here on Goldblatt.info.  Now folks, it is on its way.

While its foundation is built upon what you see here on the site today, it also draws inspiration from some of the best web designers in the world.  The new design will more fully incorporate activities that I partake in around the web, including Twitter and Facebook, but will not lose the main focus of content – which we will bring more of to you.  There have been late nights and it is still a work in progress as my Photoshop, XHTML, CSS, and AJAX-y skills were in need of some dusting, but it is coming… soon.

I’ve thought about this post numerous times. In fact, I have actually begun writing it a couple of those numerous times that I thought about it.  It has been a while since this blog has seen life, and it is time that changed.  There have been broken promises – to myself and to you, our readers – about getting back into it.  For those that follow me on Twitter you’ll know that I am active – sometimes. While I put together this new template that is better suited to aggregate everything that we do around the web, I ask that all seven of our monthly unique visitors hang tight and see what the future brings.

I can understand that the prospect of losing your title as the most decorated Olympic swimmer/athlete in single Games is traumatizing, but give it a rest.  It is no longer about you. Your feats from Munich in 1972 will live on in history as the first, but no longer the greatest.

How about giving credit where credit is due, Mr. Spitz?  You were the standard, now Phelps is poised to surpass you. You, yourself, said back in July to the Agence France-Presse that “Records are made to be broken, including mine. Thirty-six years is a long time.”

Quite true, Mr. Spitz, records are meant to be broken.  We can attest to that, considering the plethora of records that have fallen from their perches over the past six months alone.

We can certainly give you the benefit of the doubt because you obviously do appreciate the potential historical significance of Phelps’ accomplishments.  But to ask why you should observe Phelps’ exploits on your dime and to truly believe that it is demeaning to you and your own accomplishments?  Surely you jest?

You also mentioned, “He’s almost identical to me. He’s a world-record holder in all these events, so he is dominating the events just like I did. He reminds me of myself.”

Does it bother you that Phelps just wants to be the “first Michael Phelps” not the “next Mark Spitz”?

This is not the first time that your comments have ruffled feathers this year.  Your innuendos recently that world record holder Ian Crocker, and I am paraphrasing here, needs to wake up and stop feeling sorry for himself, were not taken well.

Phelps even went so far as to pay homage to you and your era with his Fu-Manchu leading up to these very Games.  The least you could do is show your respect and be here in Beijing when, and if, history is achieved. You do know that the Olympics take VISA?

Pat Forde said it best, “… see ya later, Mark Spitz. Here’s a hankie. Now stop crying about nobody flying your smug self over here. History is unfolding just fine without you.”

As a Jewish athlete, you inspired me.  You gave me hope that I could one day achieve greatness.  But there is solace, Mr. Spitz, you are still the greatest Jewish Olympian in history – I can say that without shadow of a doubt.  But I would add that Jason Lezak might, now, be infinitely more popular than you ever were.

See you in Beijing Mr. Spitz.

Update: The Baltimore Sun’s Kevin Van Valkenburg wrote his own version of a letter to Mark Spitz.

History. Greatness. Phenomenal. There is a language full of superlatives that you can use to describe Michael Phelps’ accomplishment.  The text message Michael received Wednesday morning prior to his races said it as straightforward as any single person can. The message read, “Time to be the best ever.”

But how does he do it?

“I don’t believe that it is the quest for eight gold medals,” head Men’s coach Eddie Reese said describing Phelps’ desire. “If he can win something, he’s gonna go for it… First half of the race he’s gone. It’s amazing… There’s nobody in any sport that can win like he wins.”

Disregarding all conventional wisdom, Simon Burnett told Reese that he believed he has found the legend behind Phelps.  “I’ve figured out Michael Phelps,” Burnett said. “He’s not from another planet, he’s from the future.  His father in the future made a time machine ‘cause 60 years from now, he is only an average swimmer. But he sent him back here to mop up.”

When asked to explain just how amazing his accomplishments were Phelps so eloquently described it as “When you have an Olympic gold medal, it stays with you forever. You know, your birthday happens every year, Christmas happens every year, but you only have so many chances to be a gold medalist.”

But what does it feel like to be the best ever?

For a man that always seems to know what to say, all Phelps could get out was, “I think I am almost at a loss for words… To be the most decorated Olympian of all time, it just sounds weird saying it. I have absolutely nothing to say. I’m speechless.” The tears welling in his eyes during the 200-meter butterfly awards ceremony told us of the appreciation he has finally found for his accomplishments. Later, Phelps admitted that being the “greatest ever” was actually a “pretty cool title.”

Yes, it is.