If Dish Network co-founder Charlie Ergen could turn back time and give his much-younger self advice, he would tell himself to use sandbags to stabilize a trailer that delivered the first giant satellite dish to a Pagosa Springs customer in 1980. But had he done that, Ergen wouldn’t have one of the better stories of any entrepreneur to share with Denver Startup Week attendees Tuesday night when Ergen made a rare public appearance alongside Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Boulder venture capitalist Brad Feld. “It was about 4 a.m. near Walsenburg, and there was a gust of wind and I did, in fact, say, ‘Oh, (poop)!’ because the dish went into the median. We only had two dishes. I lost half the assets of the company,” said Ergen, CEO of the Douglas County satellite TV service. “It was almost the first day of the company, and honest to God, that (starting up) was the hardest part of the business. I found at the time that I had partners who would live with me even though I nearly … [Read more...] about Self-made billionaires Mark Cuban and Charlie Ergen share jabs, startup stories at Denver Startup Week
Indiana
Dish president Ergen stepping down to strategize with acquisitions
Charlie Ergen is moving behind the scenes at the satellite-TV company he co-founded three decades ago, stepping down as president and chief executive of Dish Network to focus on integrating a string of acquisitions that include video-rental giant Blockbuster. Douglas County-based Dish said Monday that former Sirius Satellite Radio chairman and CEO Joe Clayton will succeed Ergen effective June 20. Ergen, 58, will remain chairman of Dish and sister company EchoStar, a maker of set-top boxes. Clayton, 61, said he will handle day-to-day operations while Ergen works on a grand strategy for Dish. The company is at a crossroads of sorts, facing sluggish subscriber growth and increased competition for pay-TV customers from telephone companies and online-based services. “Charlie’s never going to be disengaged, but he won’t be burdened by having to worry about the day-to-day,” Clayton said. “He has a bigger role to play now than he ever had.” In addition to Blockbuster, Ergen’s … [Read more...] about Dish president Ergen stepping down to strategize with acquisitions
U.S. government doesn’t want to “cover up” UFO activity: Official
A top U.S. intelligence official on Tuesday said the government tries to remain as transparent as possible in its investigations of UFOs. The comments came during a House subcommittee hearing on government investigations of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), the term more frequently used by government officials. During the hearing, Ronald Moultrie , the Pentagon 's under secretary for intelligence, and Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence Scott Bray made statements about UAPs and fielded questions from House members. Democratic Representative Peter Welch of Vermont asked Moultrie how the Department of Defense could balance potential threats to national security with reports of extraterrestrial incidents. Moultrie responded that in terms of possible extraterrestrial activity, the Defense Department works in conjunction with NASA and others "engaged in looking for life" beyond Earth. Moultrie's description of the agency's … [Read more...] about U.S. government doesn’t want to “cover up” UFO activity: Official
Full list of 11 GOP senators who voted against Ukraine aid
The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly to advance a new aid package for Ukraine worth around $40 billion on Monday after passage of the measure was delayed last week . Senators voted 81 to 11 in favor of advancing Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022, but this may be just the first of three procedural votes required. All 11 senators who voted against advancing the aid package were Republicans , while a bipartisan group of eight senators were recorded as not voting on Monday. The senators who voted no were: Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, John Boozman of Arkansas, Mike Braun of Indiana, Mike Crapo of Idaho, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Mike Lee of Utah, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. The aid package passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support on May 10 and was opposed by just 57 Republican members. Senate Majority … [Read more...] about Full list of 11 GOP senators who voted against Ukraine aid