Englishman in New York

One of the great things about living in New York (technically, I live 1.5miles to the west) is that you can find just about anything and if you work it right you can live in a neighborhood or interact completely with people from your own land. In my case, there are numerous opportunities to bond with fellow English (or Greater England) in bars and stores in lower Manhattan. On Saturday afternoon, I visited my favorite corner shop for a few pork pies, sausage rolls and some bangers. As a quite considerably displaced English person (via Thailand, New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii), I can still remember the first time I walked into Myers of Keswick. (This is not a good picture). I almost expected Ronnie Corbett to to be standing behind the counter. (Thankfully the shop assistants are considerably better looking). At Myers, you can find everything from Flake and Crunchie bars to Ribena to Branston Pickle all of which are favorites of mine. A side effect of the limitation on traveling with liquids has been a significant reduction of my direct importation so I am lucky to have Myers.

At the store, I also found out for the first time that a number of local West Village stores are attempting to designate the area bordered by W14th, Greenwich Avenue and W10th as “Little Britain”. The campaign was undertaken by Tea and Sympathy (a tea shop) and is also supported by Virgin who bring loads of us back and forwards from the UK. There does seem to be some support for the idea. If you navigate to the ‘map’ segment on the web site you will find all the local ‘little Britain’ attractions. Highlights are Myers, A Salt and Battery and The Spotted Pig.

Following my shopping visit to Myers, I wandered around the west village neighborhood and at one point joined a crowd outside a full pub named The Red Bull where the group were watching South Africa attempt to match the incredible 40 over total of Australia (377 and they won). Standing outside in a group of about 20 were people from England, South Africa and New Zealand all joined by their interest in Cricket. At the same time on a TV screen further inside the bar England were dismally performing something closely resembling football. I love New York.

Krakoff Dies

From PaidContent.org: Bob Krakoff died suddenly last night at the age of 72. Krakoff, had recently taken over the VNU business media properties in the wake of the Nielsen privatisation. In his sucessful media career, Krakoff ran many of the Reed Business magazines and reference companies and rose to vice-chairman at RE.

Paidcontent.org.

Harlequin: An Augmented Man Is Good to Find

If you happen to be in Toronto this weekend and you are male you may want to try out for the open 'casting call' to be a cover model. Apparently, they are having difficulty finding the right sort of bloke and are going to look beyond the typical modeling agency fodder and take walk-ins. The modelling agency hurdle had always been my biggest obstacle but sadly I am not able to make it to Canada this weekend. Regardless, the rather sizable 'alternate lifestyle' community of Toronto should have some fun with this one. From The National Post:

"Ms. Reynolds also said Harlequin, which typically relies on a male protagonist of chiselled physique for its titles such as Slow Hand Luke and Jack & Jilted, is often looking for more muscular models that her agency typically wouldn't carry. "It's difficult because we only have a limited pool of guys who might be able to--even if they're slightly augmented -- look right. It's easier for us to provide the James Bond guy or the New York, sophisticated-businessman guy."

"Peter Duck, a professor in Ryerson University's School of Fashion, said he was not surprised to learn Harlequin is facing a shortage of manly models, given trends in the fashion industry. "The agencies, I'm sure they're getting this look that's been popular for the last few years, which is very skinny, tall and young."

I swear that was the first cover I came across.

Pearson Teams With Google

Educational publisher Pearson has linked up with Google Video to offer students quick video programs of educational programs.

Lecture and Test Prep videos for seven additional Martin-Gay titles from Pearson Prentice Hall will be available for download by summer 2007, covering basic college mathematics, introductory algebra, and, intermediate algebra. Students can purchase sections of the Lecture Videos for $0.99 each; a chapter of the Test Prep videos for $1.99; and a full chapter of the Lecture Videos for $3.99.

The quick video content is designed to support in class and text material and a 'great way to get extra support'. Parents may anti-up for the videos but I wonder whether the kids will. How soon will the videos be available for free on YouTube? You do have to recognize that Pearson comes up with these interesting ideas to extend content into different distribution channels and to go where the customers are.

Also, it being Friday and there being excitment over Wolters Kluwer, the Pearson plc stock is up (again) this morning on speculation of a break-up.

Wolters Kluwer in Divestiture Talks

According to (Dutch) BNR newsradio Wolters Kluwer has entered into exclusive talks with investment fund Bridgepoint for the sale of its Education unit. This would seem to confirm that the front runner Pearson is not in the running to acquire this business. Speculators commented that the price PE were willing to pay was simply too much for Pearson. Bridgepoint have invested in media in the past but nothing this large; there other investments span industries.

The IHT is also reporting that the unit will be sold for as much as €775million. First out of the gate with a sale agreement, this sales price sets a high mark that may lead to high sales values for Thomson Learning and Harcourt.

Reuters

Bertelsmann Speculation (Deuce)

No sooner was the press conference over that announced the launch of an equity fund than speculation resumed over an purchase of Thomson Learning by Bertelsmann. No news from the company naturally. Reuters. Stay tuned.

Fund
Speculation

Barnes and Noble Report Full Year

Barnes and Noble announced their full year results this morning and in the previous press release providing full year guidance the company indicated they would be at the lower end of the EPS range of $2.20-2.30. They are coming in at $2.18 and the market will not be too happy with that performance.

Here is the press release
Here is a financial chart reflecting their performance
Here is my prior post on this subject
Here is a webcast