Coping: Where New Technology Comes From

I thought you’d get a kick out of seeing how the futures gets to us… Last weekend my son (George II) was off skydiving at Lake Chelan (WA) testing new mesh network gear as a beta tester for www.gotenna.com. A couple of pictures he sent me will give you a sense of how much fun … Read More

Led by the Fed: Why We’re All Dead?

FedSpeak, as we call it around here, is what happens between FOMC meetings.  The regional Fed chieftains (and chiefettes) go on the rubber chicken circuit where the pronounce upon all things economics. Off in the background, though, we’d point to two rather uncomfortable facts. These will give you “cause to pause” and wonder what the … Read More

Coping: BTCs versus “News Polarization”

A reader was wondering why our Peoplenomics.com column Wednesday didn’t focus on the firing of FBI whozzit James Comey. The answer is simple.  But it deserves some discussion here. That’s because Peoplenomics is about making money, getting a sustainable lifestyle going, and getting good value in return for the hard work you put into life.  … Read More

DRM has a Bead on DIY

Say someone goes out and creates something.  Perhaps it’s an engine control system for a vehicle.  Maybe they write a piece of music… How often, and how long, should creators be paid for that?  Welcome to the squishy world of Digital Rights Management. That and a look at future price of Bitcoins today as we … Read More

Dream of “Revolution” and the Warning Meme

I awoke this morning about 2:30 AM from a dream that was quite troubling.  As you know, I occasionally have dreams that are of a precognitive nature, the most spectacular of which was an exact hit published 18-hours before the fact of the offshore oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. The one overnight involved … Read More

Coping: Ad Blockers & the Sunset of the Internet

Things are going from bad to worse when we look at the future of the Internet, as we have been doing since I wrote my book Broken Web. The problem was underscored in Monday’s column when I explained how Texas Governor Greg Abbott went “consumer-direct” in his signing of the new Texas law that forbids … Read More

Ahead, Weakly

Not much of a Monday morning, when comes down to it. A few words about the French election in the Coping section since it’s more opinion than “straight news.”  (Unlike some, we do try to differentiate a bit…) Other than getting the lawnmower out today the rest of this week will be about as non-exciting … Read More

Coping: Slow TV

While living in the internet-driven “now” it’s a paradox, indeed to read about long-form television. Yet here we have again how CBS is reporting on the evolution of “slow TV” on YouTube. There are lots of reasons for it – and some of them are worth a bit of deep thinking because they tell us … Read More

Dear (Rich) Millennial

Today we tackle on of the simplest of all questions in the world of investing:  Which is more important in the pursuit of becoming “rich?” a)  Having a big pile of money when young, or… b)  Having a plan for modest returns over a very long timeframe? If you can look up from texting for … Read More

Locking Up the Monetary Brakes

What is possibly MORE important than even this morning’s job numbers – which we will get to in a sec.? The answer is the Federal Reserve standing on the brakes of easy money and shortly this should result in move of interest rates up and perhaps a decline in stocks. What I’m about to show … Read More

Coping: The Landsman’s Manual (i)

Everyone – at least those in the fracking lands – knows that a landman (land-man, no ess) – is the person who goes out and negotiates land leases for oil and gas outfits. But a landsman (with the ess) is a different critter and one of the few places I’ve seen signs for such folks … Read More

Buy the Numbers

Although stocks were on hold for the middle of this week, we expect to see a return to bullishness to end the week now based on the latest data. As you know, the ADP Hiring report for April showed a gain of 177,ooo jobs. But wait till you read the Challenger job cuts report just … Read More

Coping: Transfer Payments and Income Taxes

There was a very important piece in Peoplenomics Wednesday that I’d draw your attention to: ” Home Runs -About Them Borders: Two notables: First is a DoJ report that says one in four in the federal iron bar hotels was born NOT HERE. ” (continues) One of our brighter readers sent in a great comment … Read More