 | | August 26, 2010
The May Report: 8/26/2010: SXSW panel votes due Friday the 27th; SmartBet Poker September 16th and more....
Editor and publisher: ron@themayreport.com, ronaldmay@aol.com, www.themayreport.com , 773-525-3944.
Assistant editor: Melanie Adcock, iPHONE: 312-259-0610, melanie_adcock@msn.com
If you missed an article, go here: http://www.tmronline.com/A55951/tmrarticles.nsf/vwFullNewsletter
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GP Ventures specializes in M&A advisory services for technology companies in a wide range of sectors.
NEW PROJECT: Business Development for Japanese electronics distribution company seeking new products in semiconductors, electronics, new energy, materials, sensors, etc. Please contact GP Ventures if you know of an electronics company seeking to establish or expand their sales network in Japan/Asia.
Other current projects include:
*Acquisition Program for publicly-traded IT Consulting firm, seeking firms in the Data Center, Managed Services, and IT Consulting (SAP, Oracle, etc.) sectors ($10 million to $100 million revenues)
*Acquisition Program for US PC Board Manufacturer seeking US PCB shops ($1 million to $30 million revenues)
*Sell Side Program for 40 million Euro Fiber Optics Company (based in Europe, now preparing materials)
Please contact GP Ventures to discuss sell-side projects, acquisition programs, and "grooming" consulting projects.
Tom Kastner
GP Ventures
847-431-3993
M&A Advisory Services for technology companies in EMS, PCB, Software, Defense, IT Services, Electronics, Distribution
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For information on how The Search Engine Store can bring your website more ROI contact The Search Engine Store at 312.455.1511 and ask for one of our Search Engine Specialists. Also, The Search Engine Store will also do a complimentary SEO website evaluation via their website at www.thesearchenginestore.com
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Scoop section:
-- Thursday, August 26, 2010 from 6:00 - 8:00pm: Media Preview of The Chicago Drink Deck at Trader Vic's
-- September 9: IIT Cloud computing event, Cloud Computing: CTO Panel Discussion
-- Jeff Willinger: South by Southwest Interactive Panel Picking
-- BIGfrontier needs your votes for our 2011 SXSW panel:
Interactive Marketing Horror Stories
-- TechAmerica - INPUT Breakfast Featuring Illinois' Top Technology Leaders - October 13 in Chicago
-- Michael Quintos: Prefers the Melanie May report
-- Smart Bet Charity Poker Tournament - September 16th
-- Chinese increasingly use microblogs to get news
-- Terry Howerton: Will you come play at SmartBet charity poker tournament?
[Editor's note: May here. Once again, time is an issue.
"My wife knows everything" more than "My wife doesn't know." What a horse race?!
There is an event tonight at 6pm and Friday is the last day to vote for panels in the SXSW conference in March 2011. M&A activity is busting out. July was the biggest month in 10 yrs with over $1B in transactions (is that right?), 80% of which was in cash emphasizing cloud computing along with mobility and storage. This info. comes mostly from C/NBC. M&A activity is picking up and is expected to continue through the next few quarters. Tech M&A deals in August were the biggest since 2008.
The drivers are that firms are flush with cash and security and storage are the focal point, around the cloud. They called this application service provision ten years ago, but the bandwidth was not there then.
Also, analytics and data management are hot and IBM and HP are big in these areas.
The firms most likely to do the acquiring are Dell and HP. Google and Amazon are really more software than nuts and bolts.
A slight correction: Rahm is not a stalking horse for potential Daley-backed candidates -- he is a stalling or blocking horse. He's the place holder that will keep others out who are not on Daley's list. And Tom Bennett tells me that City Hall is not happy with the lack of checks flowing from the 51st Ward, aka, The White House. The cash in general is moving too slowly.
A belated 73rd birthday anniversary wish to Bob Geras.
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Subject: Re: Bob, I forgot. Happy 73rd!
Date: 8/26/2010 7:52:02 A.M. Central Daylight Time
From: bob@vcbob.com
To: RONALDMAY@aol.com
Thanks, Ron. I prefer to call it the 34th Anniversary of my 39th Birthday!
Bob
How you doin' ?
On Thu, Aug 26, 2010 at 6:24 AM, <RONALDMAY@aol.com> wrote:
--
Bob Geras
LaSalle Investments
312-440-0040
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bob, remember your 70th? or would you prefer to forget that one?]
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Announcing Early Registration for 3rd Annual Business Innovation Conference October 4-6, 2010
Top-tier Innovation Conference Features Thought Leaders from Business, Government and Academe
WHAT: 3-day business innovation event with 6 high-impact workshops, 18 outstanding speaker presentations, and 5 compelling keynote addresses from a diverse range of industries and domains
WHEN: October 4-6, 2010
WHERE: IIT Rice Campus, 201 East Loop Road, Wheaton, IL 60189
The 3rd annual Business Innovation Conference is a premier educational and networking event bringing together leading innovation experts and practitioners from business, academia and government to exchange experiences and knowledge about the science of innovation. The conference focuses on the tools we now have to master innovation so that we can become continual thinkers, capable of innovating on demand, and managing innovation teams to predictable outcomes.
Attendees will also make invaluable professional connections and have opportunities to share ideas and experiences with other accomplished innovators from around the US and the world.
For more information, including registration instructions and sponsorship opportunities, please visit http://www.businessinnovationconference.com
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The Scoop section:
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Thursday, August 26, 2010 from 6:00 - 8:00pm: Media Preview of The Chicago Drink Deck at Trader Vic's
Subject: Drink Deck Event
Date: 8/26/2010 4:10:39 P.M. Central Daylight Time
From: melanie_adcock@msn.com
To: ronaldmay@aol.com
http://thedrinkdeck.wordpress.com/2010/08/25/medialaunch/
Complimentary Specialty Cocktails/Beer and Appetizers
$520 in savings to 52 of the best bars in Chicago
WHAT: Media Preview of The Chicago Drink Deck at Trader Vic's.
WHEN: Thursday, August 26, 2010 from 6:00 - 8:00pm
WHERE: Trader Vic's (@TraderVicsChi) : 1030 N. State St, Chicago, IL 60610
WHY: Join Drink Deck for complimentary PuPus and specialty cocktails as we launch the highly anticipated second edition of the popular deck of cards that serves as $10 gift cards to 52 of Chicago's best bars. A collective savings of $520, Drink Deck is the bar enthusiast's ultimate pocket travel guide to Chicago with no expiration date.
"I wanted to make it affordable for people to explore bars in new neighborhoods. I am thrilled to introduce the second edition of Drink Deck with 52 of Chicago's best bars," said Will Glass, creator of Drink Deck.
RSVP TODAY BY 4PM: ben.pavlovic@gmail.com OR @Pavlovic OR 312-961-3919
ABOUT: Founded in December, 2009, Drink Deck LLC has a mission of combining travel and discount guides in to a deck of playing cards featuring 52 of the best bar scenes for some of the best travel destinations in the United States. Drink Deck is available for purchase in 15 retail locations (and growing) and online at www.thedrinkdeck.com.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER - For more information, contact Ben Pavlovic, @pavlovic, at ben.pavlovic@gmail.com or by calling 312-961-3919. Please visit www.thedrinkdeck.com.
Melanie Adcock
iPHONE: 312-259-0610
DROID: 312-833-1825
E-Mail: melanie_adcock@msn.com
Facebook Fan Page: http://bit.ly/MelanieAdcockFacebookFanPage
Bio: http://bit.ly/MelanieAdcockARC
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/melanieadcock
Twitter: http://twitter.com/melanie_adcock
Facebook Profile: http://www.facebook.com/melanie.a.adcock
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September 9: IIT Cloud computing event, Cloud Computing: CTO Panel Discussion
Subject: Cloud Computing Event at Illinois Institute of Technology
Date: 8/26/2010 3:43:14 P.M. Central Daylight Time
From: pfeiffer@iit.edu
To: RONALDMAY@aol.com
Ron,
I would like to make you aware of a cloud computing event at Illinois Institute of Technology. Can you please share it with your readers. Thanks! Details below...
Cloud Computing: CTO Panel Discussion
Cloud Impact on Education / The Data Center of the Future / Enhancing Resilience
September 9 - 8:30-11:30 (8:00-8:30 - networking)
Illinois Institute of Technology (3440 S. Dearborn St, Chicago)
Free - advance registration suggested
Join us for The Security Board's quarterly CTO Panel discussion for a candid debate of the Impact of Cloud Computing in Education.
Expected CTO Panel/Participant Organizations to include:
AMD, Bank of America, SGI, Dell, HP, Liquid Ware Labs, SAP, Oakton Community College
Panel Discussion Topics Include:
School & Data Center of the Future
Incremental adoption strategies and reorienting to the "blended fabric"
Understanding the benefits and tradeoffs of physical/virtual, public/private, internal/external
Security, compliance, privacy and governance risks
Organizing for change: Roles, rewards and overcoming cultural resistance
Dealing with escalating management costs, lock in and other unintended consequences
Case studies and anecdotes on early adopters and emerging best practices
We will discuss Cloud Computing's Impact on Education and the Data Center of the Future, while enhancing the Regions Resilience. And, how IT leaders, can connect their company with innovative technology that will deliver value and, enhance the regions resilience, for many years to come while fostering the proper Educational Curriculum necessary to support your Cloud Technology Manpower needs for Today & Tomorrow!
We also will provide status regarding Cloud Test Bed - Midwest Academic and Resilience Cloud Computing Consortium (MARC³) - being stood up!!!
Executive Roundtable Agenda:
8:00 - 8:30 am - Networking and Registration
8:30 - 9:00 am - Welcome Remarks & Introductions
9:00 - 11:20 am - Moderated Roundtable discussion
11:20 - 11:30 am - Closing Remarks
RSVP Today to John Jones via email at john.jones@thesecurityboard.org
Seating is limited! http://groups.google.com/group/cloudcomputingcouncil
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Jeff Willinger: South by Southwest Interactive Panel Picking
Subject: South by Southwest Interactive Panel Picking
Date: 8/26/2010 4:16:40 P.M. Central Daylight Time
From: jwillinger@rightpoint.com
To: RONALDMAY@aol.com
Hi Ron! As you and your readers may be aware, the SXSW PanelPicker allows the community to have a significant voice in programming for the Interactive Festival. I am proposing a social technology panel featuring two Fortune 500 companies, moderated by myself around SharePoint and Social Computing. As companies become more disparate, it is increasingly more important to stay connected when collaborating on projects and day to day activities. My panel will explore best practices from an enterprise point of view on what can be done using SharePoint besides making it easier for people to work together. Using SharePoint your people can set up Web sites to share information with others, manage documents from start to finish, and publish reports to help everyone make better decisions. Please see the link here and vote:
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/7500
Jeff
......
Jeffrey S. Willinger
312.622.2300 cell
jwillinger@rightpoint.com
rightpoint
200 West Madison Street Suite 2240
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(312) 920-8390 office
(312) 920-8384 fax
www.rightpoint.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffwillinger
http://twitter.com/jwillie
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BIGfrontier needs your votes for our 2011 SXSW panel:
Interactive Marketing Horror Stories
Subject: SXSW panel voting info
Date: 8/26/2010 3:05:18 P.M. Central Daylight Time
From: slundin@bigfrontier.org
To: ronaldmay@aol.com
BIGfrontier needs your votes for our 2011 SXSW panel:
Interactive Marketing Horror Stories
We're calling on all BIGfrontier Midnight Missive readers to help us spread the word and save marketers from themselves! Your votes will help nominate our panel to present at the 2011 SXSW event. But to make it happen you'll have to register and vote before Friday, August 27, 2010. We have made this easy for you...
Register here
Vote and add comments here
What's it all about? Glad you asked!
Join marketing writers and humorists Steve Lundin, Ellis Booker (former editor of Crain's B-to-B and Richard Laermer , author of Punk Marketing and the CEO of RLMPR, for a rollicking tour through some of the most notable examples of interactive marketing programs gone awry. These incredible, disturbing, and (unintentionally) hilarious case studies will leave you scratching your head and wondering out loud: "someone actually approved AND paid for that?"
From Edelman's "WalMarting Across America" campaign that served to coin the phrase "Fake Weblog," to Pepsi's "Amp up before you score" social networking debacle, the world of interactive marketing has already yielded a rich crop of disasters to study. If anything can be learned from the numerous gaffes made by marketers, it's that mistakes are repeated. They're reported in the press and then disappear, rarely cited in marketing books or publications. Why? Because according to one panelist, "we don't like talking about the negative stuff." In short, as far as the world of marketing is concerned, "all is always well."
The lessons that these stories impart are invaluable and should not only be repeated, but analyzed (and hopefully never repeated again). Interactive Marketing Horror Stories provides an in depth look expensive mistakes, coupled with an explanation of why they happened and what we as marketers can do to avoid them. This fast moving, detailed and conversation provoking presentation will provide you with some of the most important information you can use: a way to avoid your own marketing nightmares.
Questions answered
1. How can I take steps to insure that the messages my campaign is putting into the market won't backfire and injure the brand?
2. What happens when marketers try and generate interest around a brand using subterfuge and deception?
3. What steps does a brand take to recover from an obvious marketing gaffe?
4. How do you know when an online branding campaign is steering off the rails into disaster?
5. Why do companies repeatedly green light marketing campaigns that are doomed to fail and cause embarrassment?
Don't deny the SXSW audience this great material - vote today!
register: http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/users/register?return=%2Fideas%2Fview%2F8219%23comment-new
Panel: http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/8219
Steve Lundin
Chief Hunter and Gatherer
Twitter: @bigfrontier facebook.com/steve.lundin
www.blogfrontier.org
Main: (312) 238-9308 Direct: (312) 602-2434 Cell: (312) 391-8007 Fax: (312) 602-2450
BIGfrontier Communications Group
211 W Wacker #1150 Chicago, IL 60606 www.BIGfrontier.com www.BIGfrontier.org
Producers of the BIG Idea Breakfast Events
Winner: 2003, 2004 BMA Tower Awards; 2003, 2006 League of Professional Communicators award of excellence, 2006 PCC Golden Trumpet; 2006 PRSA: WI Best of Show
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TechAmerica - INPUT Breakfast Featuring Illinois' Top Technology Leaders - October 13 in Chicago
Subject: TechAmerica - INPUT Breakfast Featuring Illinois' Top Technology Leaders - October 13 in Chicago - Register Now!
Date: 8/25/2010 2:34:19 P.M. Central Daylight Time
From: ed.longanecker@techamerica.org
To: Midwest@techamerica.org
PUBLIC SECTOR
State and Local Executive Breakfast Featuring Illinois Top Technology Leaders
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
7:00 am - 10:00 am CT
Omni Chicago Hotel, Chicago, Illinois
Join TechAmerica and INPUT for a State and Local Executive Breakfast featuring Illinois' top technology leaders. This seminar is an opportunity for technology vendors to network with peers and interact with state executives. The briefing will feature comprehensive presentations from key Illinois and Chicago government officials:
Greg Wass (bio)
Chief Information Officer
State of Illinois
Hardik Bhatt (bio)
Chief Information Officer
City of Chicago
Topics to be addressed include:
Innovation and technology challenges facing the City of Chicago and State of Illinois
The impact of the budget crisis and economic stimulus funds on state and city technology initiatives
Emerging technology initiatives in the State of Illinois and City of Chicago
The event also features Tim Brett, Senior Manager, State and Local Information Services at INPUT, who will identify major technology investments within the state of Illinois and top opportunities for technology vendors in 2011.
To view the agenda and other event details:http://www.techamerica.org/slgchicago-breakfast
Location:
Omni Chicago Hotel
676 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Go to Online Registration
Registration Fees:
TechAmerica Member: $65
INPUT Member: $65
Non-member: $95
Walk-in: $105
Government: $15
Sponsors:
Sponsorships are still available. Please click here to view sponsor levels and benefits.
Please contact Michael Kerr (mkerr@techamerica.org) for more information.
Best regards,
Ed Longanecker
Executive Director, Regional Vice President
TechAmerica
630-282-4332
ed.longanecker@techamerica.org
www.techamerica.org
AeA & ITAA have merged to form TechAmerica
Where the future begins
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Michael Quintos: Prefers the Melanie May report
From: Michael Quintos <michael@media-fuse.com>
Subject: Re: The May Report: 8/20/2010: Just in: Joshua Karp re-launches The Printed Blog: Groupon grosses $11MM selling $50 coupons at The Gap for $25 on a national basis, selling over 440k groupons, plus they crashed the server at The Gap -- a national deal a...
Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 05:21:10 -0700
To: The May Report <ron@themayreport.com>
The Melanie May Report would work better (in my humble opinion) as your goal is for it to be her blog now, put her name first.
Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 20, 2010, at 7:25 PM, The May Report <ron@themayreport.com> wrote:
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Smart Bet Charity Poker Tournament - September 16th
Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:12:24 -0700
From: groups-noreply@linkedin.com
To: melanie_adcock@msn.com
Subject: Smart Bet Charity Poker Tournament - September 16th
LinkedIn Groups
Group: Illinois Technology Association (ITA)
Subject: Smart Bet Charity Poker Tournament - September 16th
The Smart Bet Charity Poker Tournament will be held on September 16th at the Chicago Cultural Center in downtown Chicago. All proceeds benefit educational organizations who serve underprivileged students in Chicago. SmartBet features a no limit 'texas hold em' tournament, complete with food, open bar, and a professional staff of dealers. Sponsorships, tables, and tickets are available now! Visit http://www.smartbet.org to register now! And spread the word... it's a great cause and a great evening!
Posted By Mary Pat McGlynn
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Chinese increasingly use microblogs to get news
Subject: Chinese increasingly use microblogs to get news.
Date: 8/25/2010 12:55:23 A.M. Central Daylight Time
From: melanie_adcock@msn.com
To: ronaldmay@aol.com
Ron, here's an interesting article posted by Chris Rollyson on his Facebook Page.
Christopher S. Rollyson Not too shocking but still interesting http://bit.ly/cD5VZ4
Chinese increasingly use microblogs to get news.
Microblogs have become a popular way for Chinese to receive the latest news and information, according to a survey conducted by the China Youth Daily newspaper.
The survey had 3,282 respondents from 30 Chinese provinces, regions and municipalities.
The survey showed that 73.5 percent of respondents use microblogs to get the latest information while 66.6 percent use them to participate in online discussions. Some 52.1 percent of respondents use microblogs to keep in touch with friends.
The survey also showed that 73.7 percent of respondents consider microblogs as an "important" source of news because the information on microblogs is usually distributed quickly and widely.
Ding Jie, an employee of the China International Publishing Group, said she opened a microblog account a month ago. She has found using a microblog to be interesting and useful.
"Now, I do not have to go to news websites because I can get all news I am interested in from other microblogs," Ding said.
The survey revealed that 56.5 percent of respondents "generally believed" information on microblogs while 23.2 percent of respondents were uncertain about the credibility of the information. Some 20.3 percent of respondents thought the information was unreliable.
Prof. Kuang Wenbo of the Journalism School of Renmin University of China was quoted by the China Youth Daily as saying that "microblogs are grassroots media that anyone can publish information upon, making it difficult to judge the veracity of the information."
"Microblogs can only serve as a supplement to traditional media," Kuang said, according to the report.
Source: China Daily
Melanie Adcock
iPHONE: 312-259-0610
DROID: 312-833-1825
E-Mail: melanie_adcock@msn.com
Facebook Fan Page: http://bit.ly/MelanieAdcockFacebookFanPage
Bio: http://bit.ly/MelanieAdcockARC
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/melanieadcock
Twitter: http://twitter.com/melanie_adcock
Facebook Profile: http://www.facebook.com/melanie.a.adcock
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Terry Howerton: Will you come play at SmartBet charity poker tournament?
To: Name withheld although not requested
From: Terry Howerton \(ITA\) <terry@illinoistech.org>
Sent: 8/24/2010 6:41:26 PM
Subject: [Name withheld] will you come play at SmartBet charity poker tournament?
[Name withheld] -
The SmartBet Charity Poker Tournament has grown into a huge success for the Chicago tech community, and for kids that want to learn about technology and entrepreneurship.
Our 5th Annual event is September 16th at the Chicago Cultural Center, and more than 250 players and spectators will help raise money for three important charities to the local tech industry.
Will you sponsor a table? Or can I help you sign up for some seats in the tourney?
Like last year, the Chicago Academy of Advanced Technology (that's the high school we helped launch), Future Founders and i.c. Stars are three charities that receive the benefit of your generosity. You can learn more about the charities and the tourney at http://www.smartbet.org (mention ITA during registration for priority seats!).
The poker tournament is a great place to bring coworkers or customers, and it is a really fun networking event. If you're a serious poker player, you'll find challenging competition in a professionally run tournament. If you're new to the game, you'll still have a great evening.
Please let me know if you can join us next month.
-TERRY
TERRY HOWERTON
CHAIRMAN, Illinois Technology Association
TechNexus: 200 S Wacker, 15th Fl, Chicago, IL 60606
Office Tel: 312-924-1060
Cellular: 312-285-3779
http://www.illinoistech.org
http://www.terryhowerton.com
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