So NextStep co-founder, Edward Kim, is up to something new these days in New York City. Simple.PR is his newest creation and he is focusing on the power of the local web. All too often small companies; restaurants, service providers, theatres, etc are left with few if any ways of publicizing their “news”.

Typical news wires are just too big for these small fish, and a classifieds ad can get lost in the mix. Ed’s simple concept is to provide a service where “local” companies can distribute their news to “local” media. The companies need the exposure, and the media need access to stories — intersecting at Simple.PR.

Ed and his team, including the Scott Ballantyne here in Shanghai, have built the first application for the concept that connect Twitter accounts to the Simple.PR platform by incorporating a basic #pr or #simplepr to pool together all the chatter about companies and their news.

From there they will build a host of applications and services. Check out the site and show your support. The project is currently focused on the US, but there is no stopping you from using it for Shanghai and beyond.

So as the war rages on in the United States to fix the most broken health care system in the developed world, two American educated entrepreneurs steam ahead building the Expedia of health care portals for China, Meiloo.com. With 280,000 unique visitors just last month, Meiloo is marching to a new tune for getting the most out of the health care system.

Currently focused on elective treatments, Meiloo.com has solid revenue models through percentages of all surgeries and consultations booked through their platform. Obviously there are some potential holes here, but a good start in a $9billion a year business in China.

So the question we have to ask ourselves, will the answer to our health care issues in China, the US and across the world be answered by the best and brightest entrepreneurs who seek profit by caring for the tired, the sick, and the huddled masses? Or should we not leave it in the hands of small and big business, as we have seen the shortcomings in the US over the past thirty-five years?

Please leave your thoughts and ideas here.

Across my Tweetdeck came a message, “rumors Apple puts offer up for Twitter”. Now if I were @biz stone and the gang over in Twitter-world I would be putting my company on the auction block. The hype behind twitter today is nothing less than amazing — CNN, NYTimes, celebrities–all hyping Twitter as  the best thing since sliced bread.

It is great, it is informative, and it has a lot of room for growth opportunities. But remember this folks, pigs get slaughtered!

If the money is on the table and it is a fair value for the company — take it. I love taking risk, but this is like looking a gift horse in the mouth. My three reasons to sell today-

1. The hype will fade before a monetization model is produced. Have a look at Yammer.com. They have already figured out how to monetize the Twitter interface, and they have beat Twitter to the game.

2. It’s like Allstate Insurance, “Your in good hands with” Apple & Google

 3. I must repeat…Pigs Get Slaughtered!