Don't Fret An Apple Stock Drop

To all those shareholders of Apple, don't sweat the small stuff.  We have seen a huge uptick in Apple's price per share of stock so it is not unreasonable to expect some profit taking.  But just because the stock is down 4%, it still has too much upward potential to not remain optimistic.  By the end of this year, we should see the release of the next iteration of the iPhone, and everyone expects it to be called the iPhone5.  Second there is talk of a smaller screen sized iPad to compete with Kindle and the Nook.  Third comes the release of the secretive TV many assume will be called the iPanel.  And whether it comes end of this year or next, it is in the pipeline.

But perhaps most exciting is what Apple could do with its access to company credit cards, an aggregated platform for apps, and a product line capable of making quick purchases.  "The person with hundreds of millions of stored credit cards wins big. There are only two people on the planet who have stored over a hundred million active credit card numbers that I can think of: Apple and Amazon.  One is in commerce and one isn't -- yet.  Apple iPay "  That could be the next Apple homerun!

RIP Chris Lonergan

I am very saddened to read the news of Chris Lonergan's passing late last week.  He has been an important staple in the cable industry and someone who I met very early in my cable days.  As a fellow programmer, I knew him as a fellow traveler, at cable shows, at system visits, and at association meetings. And the more I got to know Chris, the more I respected him.  He was always well liked, and passionate about his work.  He was a rock, the ideal embodiment of what a successful affiliate guy was meant to be.  But his true character emerged as he learned about his medical issues and dealt with his problems.  Brave and hopeful.

When I last saw him at a cable show, after he had bounced back and hoped to be in remission, he maintained a headstrong attitude that he was going to beat this thing.  Outwardly he may have looked weak and tired, but inside he had a resolve and will that could not be missed.

His family has lost a good man; the cable industry has lost someone that made a lasting impact on everyone he  touched.  I am proud to have know Chris; I wish I had known him better for he made me a better cable guy in trying to match his energy and work ethic.  With his death, the world is worse off.