Paul Smalera

Last week at the WNYC studios in Soho I talked with Bob Garfield, host of NPR’s On the Media about my Boxee/Hulu story for The Big Money. Bob wanted to know what the future holds for a tiny company like Boxee going up against behemoths like NBC, FOX and Comcast. The answer is, it’s going to be a long road, but possibly a fruitful one, depending on how Boxee plays the game. Comcast is new to defending its turf from dot-com upstarts, unlike the music and movie industries. Boxee, at its heart is a classic startup, used to playing the role of disrupter. That sets the stage, but I still can’t tell you what’s going to happen. Click to listen!

On The Media: Transcript of “Boxed In” (February 27, 2009).

Roland W.?

• Took Senate appointment from corrupt governor with Elvis haircut.
• Despite warnings far and wide that he would not be seated, acted his part in the political kabuki of being turned away from the Senate swearing-in ceremony.
• Called himself a Senator in the media even before flying to Washington, DC, not a Senator-Elect or even Senator-Designee.
• Last won an Illinois election in 1995. Has lost several since then.
• Has been endorsed for the seat by Bobby Rush, the Black Panther who beat Obama in his first Congressional Race.
• Told the throng of reporters today that he “wasn’t looking for drama,” as a phalanx of Capitol Police cleared a path for him to have his credentials denied.

I do have a bit of a love affair with Vegas. After three days there, I get sick of it, but I invariably find myself wanting to return. So I was thrilled when I had the chance to to the back page “Room with a View” for May’s issue of Condé Nast Traveler, the Hot List issue. I wrote the blurb for an awesome picture of a suite I’ll probably never stay in: The Cherry at Red Rocks Resort. $10,000 a night, can you afford it? Room with a View: Condé Nast Traveler. (NB: This was a nice gatefold, and bylined, in the printed issue; c’est la vie.)