How Apple Could Win the Day

Sirius and Sprint have announced a deal whereby Sprint mobile users would be able to access Sirius satellite radio content on their phones. I've talked about this before, but the ultimate convergence device for mobile entertainment would be an iPod that receives satellite radio content and would be able to access the Internet, including podcasts, via satellite bandwidth. Just program your iPod to download the podcasts you want during the course of the day and they download automatically by logging on to a satellite-based network whenever you have a clear line of sight to the sky.

If there are any Apple folks reading, know that I'd go out and replace my iPod Mini tomorrow if I knew I could get access to satellite in this way. So hurry up and ink a deal with Sirius, XM or both. While you're at it, sign a deal with my old client PanAmSat to deliver IP-based content. This would solidify Apple's market leadership position in mobile entertainment for years to come.

Babies R Me

Did a lot of interesting things this weekend, including building a Beirut table and trying to figure out what's wrong with my Corvette and why it won't start. Sunday was a swimming day, and the gang came over to barbecue and cool off in the pool. So we had Kayla, Colin and new addition Ella in the kiddie contingent, which means we spent a good deal of time making googly faces and fussing over the infants. Colin even went in the pool with Daddy Dennis for a bit and took to it rather well.

I'm a bit "babied out," though, with all the discussion about breast-pumping, dirty diapers and epidurals. Sister Kim is due in November, so it won't be long before the pitter patter of little feet invades my own household. Wish me luck.

OMMA West Recap

I'm back from OMMA and putting out fires in the office now, after taking the redeye back from SF last night/this morning. I've never been good at the whole sleep-on-the-plane-and-go-right-to-work thing, so I'm a bit out of it today. And I can't even sleep on the train on the way back to Wading River tonight because my flight was late and I had to drive to work this morning. Ugh! The conference was a blast, and I got to catch up with plenty of old friends, including Matt de Ganon (former president and chairman at K2, now working for The Weather Channel), fellow Spin writers Mark Naples, Cory Treffiletti, and Seana Mulcahy, Bill McCloskey, Robert Tas, Tom Jenen, Seashal Morse and many more.

I also got to meet some people face to face that I've only exchanged e-mail with, like Sean Cheyney from Accuquote, Bob Heyman from Mediasmith, and some people who had responded to my Spin columns on the Spin Board.

I moderated a panel on Data Overlays on Monday. The panel was a bit underattended, but we made it fun anyway by electing to have "class outside" and we abandoned the PA system and conference room for sitting outside in the garden and having a more intimate, conversational panel.

Tuesday was quite busy. In the morning, I moderated a panel on integrated planning and buying with a few old friends - Aimee Reker, Robert Davidman and Jeremy Helfand among them. In the afternoon, we did an uproarious panel with all the Spin writers, Geoff Ramsey from eMarketer and John Battelle. I hadn't met new Spin writer Shelley Palmer until the panel, but it was a blast riffing off of one another on the stage.

In between panels, I was taking potential clients out for meals and drinks, finishing up two proposals and a media plan, and generally running around like crazy. I'd never had a conference that was so fast-paced. (Jon Whitfield and Nick Friese from Mediapost and I were cutting deals for a potential client on Monday, in between sessions.)

All in all, it was terrific fun, but I am worn out and looking forward to my bed in Wading River.

Getting Behind Soybeans

On my way to the airport Sunday morning, I was listening to a talk radio program about biodiesel and its advantages. And I can't seem to find a significant downside. The U.S. is the largest grower of soybeans, with more than half the value of the soy crop exported to foreign markets. Soybeans are the #2 cash crop in the country and the #1 crop in terms of value of exports. We grow this stuff in amazing abundance.

Soybeans are just one crop we can use to manufacture biodiesel, which can be burned in diesel engines without the need for any modifications. The engine may lose a mile or two per gallon, but biodiesel can actually increase the power a typical diesel engine can generate. Pollution and hydrocarbons are significantly reduced when this fuel is burned, as compared to diesel fuel distilled in the normal way. Just about the only downside I can think of is that biodiesel doesn't have the distribution infrastructure in place that we have for gasoline and normal diesel fuel. But if that could be corrected, this country could have a renewable, clean energy source that can be produced domestically.

Indeed, many municipalities and commercial fleets have introduced biodiesel, with the only disadvantage being its current price (perhaps 10-15 cents per gallon higher than regular diesel). But investing in the infrastructure would correct this cost issue. My bud Legislator Dan Losquadro has introduced it to Suffolk County's fleet of diesel vehicles, ensuring a reduction in pollution.

Soybeans can be used for a lot more. Not only are they a valuable export, but they can be used domestically for animal feed and even people food. Personally, I've been a fan of edamame for years. Typically served as an appetizer in Japanese restaurants, edamame is a steamed soybean often served with a light coating of salt. It's healthy, high in protein and delicious (I often eat it instead of popcorn when watching a movie at home). A 60-pound bushel of soybeans can be processed into about 48 pounds of protein-rich meal and 11 pounds of oil.

So where's the downside?

I've already made up my mind that my next vehicle will be a diesel truck. Imagine what things could look like 10 years down the road if we made an investement in infrastructure to produce and distribute biodiesel made from soybeans...

Supposed people stopped giving a shit that Hummers get only 10 miles to the gallon because its fuel is produced cheaply, domestically and it doesn't pollute like petroleum. Imagine that biodiesel helps us to wean ourselves off foreign oil. Imagine that we produce this fuel and export it to other nations because soybeans are grown in such abundance.

Imagine that soybeans make an impact on our poor diets here in the U.S. and people start eating it as a healthy, nutritious and yummy snack. (I even have an edamame recipe book my mom brought home from the bookstore and I plan to try out several of the recipes.)

But look at what we have now. Biodiesel is used only sparsely due to the infrastructure problem. For some unknown reason, you can't get edamame outside of specialty and health food stores (and Japanese restaurants). What is it going to take to get us to realize the benefits of this amazing crop?