Archive for September, 2008

Chargers vs. Raiders: In-game commentary, discussion

By: Loren Nelson —  September 28th, 2008

We’re typing this in the shadow of Oakland’s football stadium, where, at precisely 10:43 a.m., Raiders owner Al Davis arrived in a black (of course) stretch limousine.

Although it took Davis considerable effort to get out of the front seat of the limo, he showed he still has some fire in the belly. He made some comments about “Committment to Excellence” to the 200 or so fans on hand to witness the spectacle of Davis shuffling 50 yards in to the stadium’s suite entrance.

“We want to do this for you,” he told the fans as he moved, slowly, with the help of a walker. “We want to win.”

I suppose he does. Wanting, alone though, doesn’t get it done.

If you have comments about Davis, the Raiders, the Chargers, Todd Marinovich, Bo Jackson, the Holy Roller or anything else, leave them here.

Invitrogen Completes Applied Biosystems Financing

By: Bradley Fikes —  September 26th, 2008

Amidst all the financial chaos of the Wall Street meltdown, Invitrogen Corp. closed the $2.65 billion financing needed to complete its purchase of Applied Biosystems, announced in June.

Carlsbad-based Invitrogen says the financing was “in line with expected terms.”

The combined company, to be headquartered in Carlsbad and named Applied Biosystems, will have as its chairman and CEO Greg Lucier, who’s now Invitrogen’s chairman and CEO.  The new Applied Biosystems expected to be an even more formidable competitor in supplying biotech and biological research products and tools.

Here’s my story on the merger announcement.

“The Impulse Factor: Why Some of us Play it Safe and Others Risk it All,” Nick Tasler, Fireside Books, $24.95

By: Jeff Rowe —  September 26th, 2008

A lifetime fascination with human behavior led the author first to bachelors and masters degrees in psychology and then to a think tank called TalentSmart where he works on developing new psychological assessments.

Such applications are increasingly useful to businesses. Skills can be assessed quantitatively. However, the psychological and emotional orientation someone brings to work is harder to measure, but can be even more critical to the ultimate success of the company. In sports and business, highly talented teams often are beaten by lesser-skilled teams that have been coached to work together to maximum effect.

Tasler says one in four Americans possess a genetic quality that makes them more impulsive, better decision makers under pressure, more inclined to ignore risks and twice as likely to become entrepreneurs. They’re also more likely to suffer from attention deficit disorders, alcoholism and other behavioral problems.

The book explains how to manage and channel implusive behavior; it also examines how to nudge cautious manager to make better risk assessments and better decisions under pressure.

Acadia Jumps

By: Bradley Fikes —  September 23rd, 2008

Shares of Acadia Pharmaceuticals jumped more than 16 percent this morning, with shares just before 9 a.m. up nearly 14 percent, at $3.03 per share.

San Diego-based Acadia announced today it has filed a registration statement for its capital infusion from Kingsbridge Capital Limited.

From the press release:

Under the terms of the CEFF, ACADIA has access, at its discretion, to up to $60 million in capital from Kingsbridge over a three-year period through the sale of newly-issued shares of ACADIAs common stock. The funds that can be raised under the CEFF over the term will depend on the then-current price for ACADIAs stock and the number of shares actually sold, which may not exceed an aggregate of 7,072,364 shares. ACADIA was required to file the S-3 registration statement to cover the shares issuable pursuant to the CEFF and the up to 350,000 shares that may be exercised pursuant to a warrant, which was issued to Kingsbridge upon the signing of the CEFF. The effectiveness of the S-3 registration statement is a condition to Kingsbridges obligation to purchase shares under the CEFF.

ACADIA currently has no specific plans for the CEFF and is not obligated to utilize any of the $60 million available under the CEFF.

Chargers vs. Jets: In-game commentary, discussion

By: Loren Nelson —  September 22nd, 2008

Brett and the Jets have arrived for their Monday night showdown with the Chargers.

Share your thoughts on the game, the Philip Rivers-Brett Favre showdown, the state of the Chargers defense, the ESPN broadcast, Suzy Kolber, Ed Hochuli — whatever you want — right here.

SD Tech Coast Angels Finance Drug Startup

By: Bradley Fikes —  September 22nd, 2008

San Diego’s branch of the Tech Coast Angels has kicked in $289,000 of a $781,000 Series A financing round for Amplyx Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Menlo Park-based drug development company.

Amplyx’s strategy is to developed improved versions of existing “small molecule” drugs. These drugs are popular because they’re usually orally administered. That’s opposed to drugs made of proteins, such as monoclonal antibodies. These drugs are broken up in the digestive system, so they’re usually given intravenously.

The company’s technology helps these small molecule drugs work better by improving how well they are absorbed, distributed in the body, metabolized and excreted. Called SLF, the technology consists of attaching another small molecule to the drug, a non-toxic molecule that has a long “half life” in the body. The combined new drug is patentable, nice for companies whose drugs have or will soon be going off patent.

“Amplyx has created a unique, simple solution to a huge problem,”  Jack Florio, San Diego TCA member and lead TCA investor in the Amplyx funding, said in a press release announcing the funding. “The company’s platform technology has the potential to improve a large number of drugs, including numerous drugs with billion-dollar markets.”

For more information about Amplyx, listen to this episode of the Frank Peters Show, which documents the activities of angel and venture capital investors.

Bailout reaction

By: Zach Fox —  September 22nd, 2008

The Bailout has arrived. The $700 billion plan to buy up distressed mortgage securities is being touted by author Henry Paulson as the bailout to end future bailouts.

Whether it does that is up for debate. Local real estate agent Jim Klinge, aka Jim the Realtor, argues on his blog that this does nothing for distressed homeowners or potential home buyers and therefore will do little for the real estate turmoil we face.

Klinge is probably right. While it won’t help Joe Home Buyer, it could put an end to the Wall Street madness we’ve seen over the last two weeks. However, it seriously lacks oversight or transparency. Check out Paul Krugman’s enraged column or the Calculated Risk blog for the reasons why and some ideas on how the Bailout could/should be improved.

Also of local interest, Voice of San Diego’s Rich Toscano, author of the prescient piggington.com, has been railing against the latest bailouts.

Blackout lifted; L.T. practicing

By: Sports Admin —  September 19th, 2008

 The Chargers just announced that the local television blackout has been lifted and that Monday night’s game with the New York Jets will be seen in San Diego.

Channel 10 will pick up the telecast so San Diegans who don’t have ESPN can still view the game, which kicks off at 5:40 p.m. (Yeah, not 5:30, but 5:40).

Also, running back LaDainian Tomlinson (toe) is practicing this afternoon for the first time this week.

In fact, with Tomlinson and offensive tackle Marcus McNeill (neck) both on the field today, this is the first occasion since training camp began that every player (excluding players on injured reserve) has been fit enough to participate in at least a part of practice.

 

“Making Your Point: Communicating Effectively with Audiences of One to One Million,” David Bartlett, St. Martins Press, $24.95

By: Jeff Rowe —  September 19th, 2008

In a world where what you say can live forever in e-mail trails and websites, choosing the right words is more important than ever before.  Just ask Barack Obama, who will be explaining his remarks on guns and religion for the rest of his political career.

In this concise (259 pages), easy-to-skim book full of practical tips, Bartlett shows how to:

* Overcome the challenges of getting others to pay attention to what you say, believe in what you tell them and remember what you have said.

*Appeal to each particular audience

*Use blogs. podcasts and YouTube to promote your message and enhance your profile.

Bartlett has a solid communications resume —- he is past president of the Radio-Television News Directors Association.

Peavy to miss start…

By: Dan Hayes —  September 19th, 2008

Padres starting pitcher Jake Peavy will miss tonight’s scheduled start to attend the birth of his third child. The right-hander was slated to make the first of two final starts in Washington tonight but has left the team a source confirmed. There’s no word yet whether or not Peavy will rejoin the team in Washington or wait until they return on Monday. Dirk Hayhurst will start in Peavy’s place.

Peavy is 9-11 with a 2.77 ERA this season and could wind up with a losing record in the year after he unanimously won the National League Cy Young award.