Archive for May, 2008 Page 2 of 7
May 22, 2008 5:10PM
By Alexis Glick
Ever met, interviewed or talked to a true pioneer? Today I talked to a man who is revolutionizing the way we use technology. He is fascinating and utterly brilliant! His name is Nagesh Challa, the CEO of Ecrio.
Nagesh’s company, created ten years ago, has changed the way we use our cell phones. He has been granted 21 patents for his creations in the semiconductor, software, and mobile technology business. Unbelievable, if you think about it!
Nagesh grew up in India and moved to the U.S. to get a PhD in physics at Purdue University. He first created a company called NexCom Technology where he began changing the way technology is used. He has since developed products like Push-to-Talk, a voice-based internet-messaging system. From there he created Push-to-X which allows someone to speak into a microphone and leave a voice-recorded message for someone else… the recipient can respond with voice software, email back or text back. You can even send a video link!
Now he has created something called MoBeam, a program that allows a cell phone user to store their credit card information and beam it through the bar code to the retailer. No need for a wallet anymore! You’ll be able to store bar codes in your phone. No need for movie tickets, boarding passes or coupons!! Companies like Visa are investing in his technology but they’re not the only ones. NTT DoCoMo, Mitsubishi, Sony Ericsson and NEC have also been investors.
In Japan, Nagesh’s technology is in 30 million cell phones. Now, he has turned his attention to the U.S. This morning I interviewed him on The Opening Bell. Keep an eye on him. He will reinvent the way we communicate and do business!
May 22, 2008 3:57PM
By Alexis Glick
Heard the news about Senator Ted Kennedy and an inoperable brain tumor? Heard about Senator Arlen Specter’s reccurence of Hodgkin’s Disease? 
Ever wondered how much government funding is dedicated to cancer research? We did!
This morning on Money for Breakfast, I interviewed Daniel Smith, president of the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network. Did you know that $4.8 billion is given to the Cancer Institute? The budget for Health and Human Services is about $70 billion. Did you know that that number has not increased in five years, yet 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will get some form of cancer? Three-thousand people a day are diagnosed with cancer! All of us have lost someone in our lives from cancer.
How does that $4.8 billion number compare to defense spending? We are projected to spend $479.5 billion on defense in 2008. The total discretionary spending for the government is $941.4 billion.
Will cancer funding get another look given the two very highly regarded Senate leaders and their individual battles with cancer? Take a look.
May 22, 2008 3:13PM
By Alexis Glick
If you read my earlier blog, you know how psyched I was that David Cook won American Idol. This morning, I got a chance to interview him live on Money for Breakfast.
We talked about his reaction to last night’s win, his favorite musical mentor this season and what he plans to do next. He’s a great guy! I wish him the very best and can’t wait to buy his album (when it comes out :))!
May 22, 2008 3:08PM
By Alexis Glick
Are the airlines in jeopardy? Will an airline or multiple airlines face bankruptcy risk this year? Are you angry about the American Airline news and having to pay $15 to check your luggage? Think it couldn’t get worse? Better yet, how much worse could it get?
A LOT UGLIER, ACCORDING TO MY GUESTS THIS MORNING!!!!!!
This morning on Money for Breakfast, Ray Neidl of Calyon Securities and David Gaspar, a former American Airlines director joined me to talk about what they think happens next. IT AIN’T PRETTY! Ray believes the airline industry will cut back service on 20% of its routes, at minimum!!! David thinks several airlines are at risk of bankruptcy if fuel prices don’t decline. (Check back for this interview later on!)
Alex Wilcox, one of the founders of Jet Blue and now CEO of Jetsuite, a private jet company, says more routes in regional areas will get cut. In his 20 years in the business this is most reminiscent of the late 80s and may be one of theworst periods in history for the airline industry.
Wilcox said oil is hitting the airlines hard. “Labor used to be the biggest single cost to airlines, airlines have really trimmed their labor forces but they can’t do anything about the price of oil except renewal their fleets and I think that’s what’s got to go on.”
He also expected things to get a little more crowded on board.
“I think you’re also going to start seeing a lot less room in coach, they’re going to start stuffing a lot more people into the airplanes, you’re going to see the depreciation of the value of your frequent flyer miles, upgrades will be harder to get, free tickets will be harder to get. I think you’re going to see smaller communities losing air service, and those that keep it are going to lose regional jets that they’re flying, which are fuel inefficient and seeing more turboprops.”
Click here to watch my interview with Alex Wilcox
May 22, 2008 6:05AM
By Alexis Glick
OH MY GOD….COOK WON!!!!! I’m FREAKING out!!!! A friend emailed me in the middle of the night to ask what I thought about Cook? All of a sudden my heart starting beating really fast. I fell asleep at 9:30pm last night. Couldn’t keep my eyes open. Went back to the Tivo this morning and COOK WON!!!!! I am so psyched. He was my FAVORITE all year.
Think about it: 97.5 million votes. Did you see that show? Seal, Bryan Adams, Donna Summer, Jonas Brothers, ZZ Top, the guy from Crosby, Stills and Nash, George Michael (major flash back…..loved those songs growing up). How about Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr, and Ben Stiller with Gladys??? I thought the performances were fantastic. American Idol did a brilliant job with the finale!!! Brilliant. Hats off to them after everybody talking about declining ratings. Yes, the Wednesday night shows have to be fixed but this contest is AWESOME. Call me a nerd….I LOVE IT!
Worst part, though, I go back to watch on my Tivo at 4am and see the last half hour. My Tivo went exactly two hours right to where Ryan says “and the winner is David Cook!” That’s it! I only see David lift his head. Dying to see how he reacted? I’d be crying my eyes out! I told you guys yesterday Simon was wrong about a knockout! Yeah!!!!!
Can’t wait to buy his album. Believe me, both guys won and they were the best finalists in American Idol history. Can’t wait for next year!!!!! Six months…..what am I going to do :)!
May 21, 2008 6:14PM
By Alexis Glick
So you know me by now! When I fall in love, I don’t hold back my feelings :). This morning I interviewed Earl “The Pearl” Monroe. Talk about a class act! I was so captivated by his warmth and generosity that I didn’t want to let him go during the commercial break.He came on to talk about the NBA finals, his career, which includes being the CEO of Reverse Spin Records, co-producing Black Magic, a movie about the history of basketball in historically black colleges and becoming a spokesperson for a cause that he has dedicated the past three years to, BPH. Getting diagnosed with BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia or enlarged prostate) is VERY common. In fact men nearly half of all men between the ages of 51 and 60 years old are diagnosed with BPH. Monroe joined us to talk about the One Week Challenge. It’s a national campaign aimed at increasing awareness about the condition and it encourages men to go to their website and see if they have the symptoms and if they do, get a checkup. The Web site is oneweekchallenge.com. Please recommend it to all the men that are hitting their 50s. He’s doing a great thing by speaking out about his condition.He also talked about the NBA finals and how the game of basketball has changed. Do you think so? The other night a group of us down in New Orleans debated the old days of Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordon. I guess they’re not really the old days. The game seems like it’s different though. Now it’s about one star, maybe two. It used to be about the team and finding the free man. Don’t get me wrong….the NBA is making a comeback and Pierce, Garnet, Bryant, James, they’re some of the greatest players in the history of the game but their style is different!
Take a look. Earl talked about the changes. During the commercial break we talked about Kobe. He grew up with Kobe’s dad in Philadelphia. He’s picking the Lakers to win it all. Do you agree? 
May 21, 2008 3:27PM
By Alexis Glick
Hi Greta Fans!
I read your comments and I’m glad to hear that you are so fired up about the primaries last night. I did get a chance to listen to Clinton’s speech. Didn’t hear Obama’s although I read about itthis morning. I know many of your are disappointed or frustrated about the calls for Clinton to exit the campaign and yet others have comfortably fallen into the Obama camp. I just met up with a prominent New York politician who supports Clinton. She’s concerned that a loss for Clinton is a step back for women. She’s concerned about the amount of female elected officials and feels that their voice needs to be heard. What kind of signal does it send when a woman cannot make it into the White House. She did also say that she does not think Obama will pick Clinton as a VP candidate.
As far as I’m concerned there are now two issues for the Democratic Party to work out. How can Obama appeal to the voters, like women, who have supported Clinton? Can the Democratic Party unite behind Obama and help choose a VP that will pull from the constituency that have not been voting for Obama?
Enough about politics. Did you see last night’s American Idol? I LOVED the boxing theme. If you see my 9a.m. show, it’s all about the boxing themes. I loved Michael Buffer for the introduction and Jim Lampley for the color commentary. Thought that was a brilliant idea! I have been a big David Cook fan although I do think David Archuleta won. I loved the U2 and Collective Soul songs although Simon Cowell was right David (Sr) should have played “Billy Jean” or “Hello.” Those were two of his best performances this season. The problem David (Jr) knocked the cover off the ball. He can sing The Beatles, Elton John, you name it and he sounds like silk. Great finale! I wouldn’t call it a knock out like Simon did but I do think they will both have HUGE careers.
I also had no idea that Ruben Studdard sang the theme song this year. I loved him when he won and thought he sounded terrific last night. Apparently, he doesn’t have a record label. Oh well….he’s still great!
Clearly I’m an obsessed Idol fan :)!! Are you?
