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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pretend for a moment it was the housing top in 2007 or the bubble top in 1929.  Would you have the balls (and economic justification) to sell your home, rent for a while, and then buy a much nicer home? The question is not so simple, turns out. First, though, a few news snips including … Read More

Yeah…sounds a bit Americentric and dramatic, and long too, but I always try to “call ’em like we sees ’em” around here. Our Global Aggregate Index is up a mere 124 points for the week so far, and as we have explained the index to subscribers to our premium www.peoplenomics.com service, there is only just so … Read More

Short texts equals shallow thoughts.  If any at all.  More often, it’s a regurge of another short/shallow/mostly-useless “claim” from elsewhere.  And yes, I mean it seriously. SMS is “short message service(s)” and its other name is texting. But there are some warning signs ahead that we have – as a Nation – taken a dangerous … Read More