Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Article: America the Strong

Follow the Fundamentals - New York Times:

Brooks spends some time reminding us that the American economy is stronger and more resolute than we might want to give it credit for.

" But as the Chinese will be the first to tell you, their dazzling prosperity is built on fragile foundations. In the United States, the situation is the reverse. We have obvious problems. But the foundations of American prosperity are strong. The U.S. still has much more to gain than to lose from openness, trade and globalization."

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Article: Wine and Music

NPR : Music Alters Wine's Taste, Vintner Insists

Who would have thought you ought pair your wine with your music. Interesting.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Article: The Dollar's Ways Well Explained

David Ignatius - The Discipline Of the Dollar - washingtonpost.com

Ignatius does a fantastic job of explaining what is going on with the dollar, why it is so week, and what Adam Smith might forecast.... and Jim Cramer as well.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Article: Wish We Coulda

Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda - New York Times

Excellent Friedman today... excellent. Too bad we just can't think that big. Worth the read.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Official Google Blog: Where's my Gphone?

Official Google Blog: Where's my Gphone?

After a lot of speculation Google explains what all these Gphone rumors have really be about, the software that makes your mobile go. As they suggest, it is certainly bigger than just a phone (though don't tell Apple cause it seems as though the iPhone is working out for them). But, if Google can create a platform for your mobile, and then, more importantly, the CARRIERS are willing to allow it, this will be big.

Clearly the US cell phone market needs some reform. Everything is so proprietary and mine, mine, mine. The better way is seen on the web, sure, Qwest, Comcast, however you get to the web, but once your are there you can do what you like, install what you like and expand your services as you like. Mobile phones need to get there too.

And on this, the iPhone set the stage. You just go to the store and buy one. No contracts, no 20 minutes with the cell phone store guy asking for this piece of credit history and your last 6 know addresses. You take your iPhone home, plug it in to iTunes (yuck) and it does the rest. The success of this automated process will change the way everyone buys phones.

The success of a open, mobile platform will change the way we use, and think of our phones.

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Article: Pay Your Bills

David Ignatius - Life in Budget Limbo - washingtonpost.com

While I have always been amused that congress can never seem to pass the budget on time I've never really fully considered how much that can impact the efficiency of the system. It is disappointing when one takes the time to realize what the government does to itself.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Article: Google Computer

Google PC At Wal-Mart for $200

The Tech Crunch headline sums it up. Think of it as a "Webtop" in that it runs Google Operating System and really only does the web, documents (via Google Docs), maps (via Google Maps), etc. Everything is happening on the web, not the local machine. Sounds strange now, but were ring tones mainstream 5 years ago?