Ted's Take

Here are my major predictions for the New Year…

1. The economy gets a lot worse in 2008. Credit card companies report lots of write downs from bad consumer debt and the real estate/mortgage industry crisis worsens. Consumer confidence is really shaken by year end as associated industries touched by the meltdown in housing and real estate industries start to feel the pressure. 2. China Inc makes several big investments in traditional US-based industries. A China-based company acquires a big brand name US-based company during the year sparking lots of US Government outrage and media sturm und drang. 3. There is a huge merger in the Web 2.0 space, something big and landscape-altering. The US government tries to intervene but the merger gets approval in 2009.  4. Users revolt against too much ad targeting within social networks. The US Government calls to task the social networking companies to explain their tactics. A brokered legislative peace is negotiated. 5. Consumers and voters demand change and elect someone that isn

This article highlights what I guarantee you will see as a major trend in the New Year - a new kind of ad network - a social app and/or widget network. This development is the next logical step in the Web 2.0 build out: atomizing and syndicating particles of web sites; creating cross-promotion networks; and then aggregating up inventory. That is "smart" and massive to sell as targeted inventory to savvy advertisers. Google will be there. Facebook will be there. Many startups will be there and I am pleased to say that Clearspring Technologies will be there and will be seen as a leader as we helped pioneer the field and are shipping products to many major customers today. You will witness the birth of a major new industry/revenue stream in 2008, all built around widgets and social apps as media.

When the Skins lost the game against Buffalo by a field goal, the media and many self-professed experts said the season was over. Joe Gibbs should retire. The team couldn’t recover from the death of Sean Taylor and its ongoing set of injuries. So here we are about a month later and with last night’s win, all the Skins have to do is win at home next week against the Cowboys and the Skins are in the playoffs. They will be one of the hottest teams in the NFL and the season will be a success and one to remember.

When the Skins lost the game against Buffalo by a field goal, the media and many self-professed experts said the season was over. Joe Gibbs should retire. The team couldn’t recover from the death of Sean Taylor and its ongoing set of injuries. So here we are about a month later and with last night’s win, all the Skins have to do is win at home next week against the Cowboys and the Skins are in the playoffs. They will be one of the hottest teams in the NFL and the season will be a success and one to remember. Sports are such an interesting social experiment. The players and coaches get bunkered down. They get to playing for themselves and one another and shut out all distractions. They get some wins and some momentum and great things can happen. I am very happy for the Washington Redskins. Our city needed this good news and the team has responded with class, dignity, passion and confidence. Go Skins.