Got corporations? I’m not showing any particularly sharp business acumen by predicting that this week’s news media will be dominated by bad news about the American corporation. Arthur Andersen and Enron were guilty in the mind of the American public way before any judge or jury became involved.

Overregulation Riffs: I have never pretended to understand the goings-on in Washington. I like what Sting sang about politicians: “They look like game show hosts to me.” They act a lot like game show hosts, too. And I’m more concerned than ever that these hosts, for some reasons, are very far away from asking the industry to “come on down.” Congress and various Beltway agencies are whipping the ad industry on two critical topics.

Omnicom Riffs: No business wants distractions. And the last thing the media business needs right now is an accounting distraction. Omnicom was forced to answer to some issues regarding a potential accounting disagreement among its board and suddenly we have people whispering the E-word (Enron) and assuming that accounting issues will make a long, hot summer for ad agencies.

Disney/OMD Riffs: There’s been a lot of trash talk lately about how media synergy and cross-platform deals don’t work. Someone forgot to tell Disney. I’m always suspicious of officially reported numbers, but if this deal is anything close to the reported $1 billion, you can’t tell me synergy doesn’t work. The long rumored deal apparently closed yesterday, giving OMD a lower CPM for the huge chunk of business.

Post Dot-Com Blues Riffs: Maybe I’m too sensitive. Maybe. But I’m starting to bristle at the never-ending conversation and stream of press pieces about all the lessons we’re all supposed to have learned from the “post boom” era (such as the one that appeared in Sunday’s NYT Magazine) Like a lot of people, I poured a fair amount of heart and soul into the new media revolution. Yes, it was ridiculous to think “scalable growth” would replace “percentage growth.”

New York Radio Riffs: Driving in to the Radio Mercury Awards in NYC yesterday, it struck me that the radio business doesn’t want me. Here’s why I feel left out: I’m on the young end of the 40-54 demographic. I don’t like talk radio because I find most of it so right wing that I get anxious about my personal safety.

Medical Journalism Riffs: I have decided that the toughest job in the world is no longer being Eminem's shrink. Or R. Kelly's lawyer. The toughest job in the world may well be planning and buying media in the pharmaceutical category. Information abounds. So does BS.

Airline Riffs: I think the airline business needs to forget about Wall Street and move uptown to Madison Ave. You will read a lot in the coming weeks about the sector's "elusive" economic recovery. Yesterday, Continental Airlines, which I think is an excellent brand marketer, announced that its estimated May system unit revenue fell six to eight percent.

Rebounding Riffs: Here's why I like NBA Commissioner David Stern. His sport has suffered the loss of the best athlete ever, and its about to find its stride again. And that stride is good news for media planners, because the NBA delivers urban markets like Nets point guard Jason Kidd delivers passes: right on the money.