Mark Cuban is nothing if not direct. FishbowlNY awhile back quoted a disgruntled employee talking about how HDNet, Cuban's newish venture, was very "makeshift." Cuban's response to us [video's above] at the Online News Association conference at the Capital Hilton in D.C.: The former employee was fired after one project, is "an idiot," and "needs to get a life."

As to the spit-and-glue image, he says, we should visit new employee Dan Rather's Manhattan offices. Rather, by the way, has "carte blanche," Cuban says, to do whatever he wants there.

The surprisingly accessible Cuban gave the keynote address before we pigeon-holed him. (When we asked why he was giving everyone who asked free business advice, he said, "Why not?") Some of his choice pointers from the keynote and Q&A: