Surrounded by a sea of red as the Schu-fosi revel in the local boy's win. There might be a few Ferrari fans in there, but make no mistake that here it is all about Michael. And the local kids are happy.

Not the most exciting race ever - Kimi lost it pretty much right off the bat with an early pit stop, and Jacques New Town did his (sigh) standard "I'm out" move about halfway through.

But watching the Schumi Army - thousands of them, with flags from dozens of countries in view - party hearty is surely a sight to see.

The boys are at it, aiming for position in tomorrow's race. Hot here in Hockenheim, but cooler than yesterday.

The session has already been red flagged with the American Scott Speed wiping out quite nicely. Second time in as many races - he lost it in France last time, and hurt his back.

Should have aimed for Nascar, maybe. Bud and ribs, all 'round!

;-)

That Wife of mine is one smooth operator. Not only did she pull one over on me with a surprise party that lasted an entire weekend with guests from across the Country, but she *also* managed to pull off arranging a trip to Europe without me knowing.

We are sitting in a breakfast spot in Prague (posting via 'berry on the T-Mobile CZ lightning fast Edge network), after visiting the gorgeous spa town of Karlovy Vary and before spending the weekend at the German F1 Grand Prix in Hockenheim. All a complete surprise to Yours Truly.

Maybe being 40 doesn't suck after all!

Oh, wait. It still does.

Sorry for the uber-lame post, but I turn 40 in a week and my wife and best friend managed to completely pull one over on me and I'm am sitting at a cottage on Georgian Bay with a bunch of guys from all over the continent who mean a lot to me, drinking beer and single malt and enjoying the best sunset of the year.

This is - without doubt - the best present I could imagine.

Okay, so I know that the to-do over Rocketboom is frankly silly and tiny, but I still find it remarkable that, with all the interest in this story and where Andrew is taking it next, they are a day late putting their next show up there.

As they say, "enquiring minds want to know" (extremely apt saying on this occasion, as that's about the level of importance this thing has) and from a business perspective, I'd say missing the hugely-anticipated re-launch is likely not a good call, no?

Update: Rocketboom 2.0 beta ;-) is up, and I have to say I found it quite entertaining. And the interim host, Joanne Colan, is pretty strong too. Congrats!

Tags: rocketboom, goatrodeo

Those wacky kids at travel meta-search site Kayak.com look to be all set to burn through a pile of VC money trying to build awareness and reach with what I think will be their first TV creative. Apparently set to run on cable in the US, these spots feel more like an attempt at a viral web thing than a serious TV campaign, yet apparently they are really set to air them.

I could spend a whack of time outlining why they are far off the mark, or why they are clearly more about the agency O.D.-ing on their own self-declared brilliance, or how they seem to have zero relationship to anything close to a meaningful consumer insight, but you know what? I won't. Heck, given that these spots make the frickin' Travel'O'City gnome look like a stroke of brilliance I'm not going to waste the keystrokes.

Next.

Tags: kayak

Why?

Why would he do that? Why would someone with such a stellar career have *that* as the final punctuation? I mean, the Italian guy said something offensive, but c'mon. "Your Coq ain't really all that Sportif" or "Ta mere wears army boots" or ANYTHING can't possibly justify a nasty head butt and a frankly appropriate red card.

But with all that was on the line, with the strong likelihood of penalty kicks and Zizou's freakish skill in that regard...well, it's unfathomable that he would have done that.

Tags: zidane, fifaworldcup

At a backyard bbq for the FIFA final. Mey the best team win, and my that team be France.

I can't help but have this really sinking feeling that we are entering the twilight of the current online boom(let). The froth feels like it is hitting a rolling boil, and I fear the end is nigh. Why? Well, there are a bunch of examples:

~ Lots of the glitterati of the current boom(let) are punching out to "do their own things".

~ The enormous row over the whole "Web 2.0 TM" thing.

~ The seeming gobs of new VC money looking for a home, any home, in the absence of any really compelling exit opportunities and atop crappy track records to boot.

~ Gawker laying off staff to get out ahead what they fear as a coming crash.

~ Conferences, conferences, conferences!!!

~ The current Rocketboom firestorm.

~ And, most definitely the growing hum that "it's different this time."

Well, you know what? It ain't different this time. Like it wasn't different last time. It's just smaller.

I fear it's time to roll up the tent and await Web 3.0. This party is smelling like it's winding down.

(photo credit: http://www.lightbox5.com/likeitmatters/50100138_76bd65c296-2.jpg)

Tags: web20, jumptheshark