The New Economy

Three of the most innovative American companies in the world today are Amazon, Apple, and Google.

The Economist magazine recently noted that Apple, Amazon, and Google together employ 113,000 people--which is less than 1/3rd as many as a single American success-story from the prior generation, GM, employed in 1980.

The economy is changing and with it comes a new set of employment challenges.

Absurdity

Hilarious:

The Crazy Ones

Steve Jobs on the Crazy Ones:

PEOPLE ARE AWESOME

Title of the video says it all:

Social Media

Stunning:

Driverless Car

A crazy concept that could soon become reality:

New Series - Moonshiners

All new Discovery Channel show:

7 Billion

The world at 7 billion:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-15391515

iCloud

The future???

Stunning the Music World

Blind and Autistic and a stunning talent:

380,000 Legos

Simply amazing:

Steve Jobs

The complete interview from 60 Minutes:

60 Minutes - Steve Jobs

Online Convention

The future of politics:

American Elect

New Showtime Documentary

Army/Navy Football Documentary:

Rising Power

Women and Leadership Positions:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/lesliebradshaw/2011/08/04/why-women-having-a-seat-at-the-table-is-not-enough/

BREAKAWAY WEALTH

A must read:

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2011/09/wp-report-on-breakaway-wealth/

Higher Ed Change

The Master’s is now the fastest-growing degree:

The New Bachelor's

iPads in Cost-Cutting Move

How a small town is using some new technology to save some cash:

iPad as a cost saver

Deficit

Every wondered how it got so big:

Deficit

We'll Always

The newest iPad commercial:

Summer Camp

You won't believe how some people are arriving at summer camp:

Summer Camp

Regan's Tax Increases

Look who the Democrats are using as an ally:


Democratic Ally

Vegas Novelty Bets

Want to bet on the Oscars? It might be legal in Vegas very soon:

Vegas Novelty Bets

Obesity Rates in US

Troubling news:

Adult obesity rates increased in 16 states during the past year, and none of the 50 states showed any decline in their rates of obesity, a study shows.

Obesity rates have doubled in seven states since 1995 and increased by 90% in 10 other states; 22 states saw obesity rates increase by as much as 80%, the report shows.

The state with the lowest obesity rate today, Colorado, would actually have had the highest rate in 1995, according to the study.


From: http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20110707/obesity-rates-are-increasing-in-16-states

NOW

Conan

A spectacular commencement speech:

The Future of Studying

iPad in the classroom:

The Future of the Book

Textbook of the future???

Viral Images

The images that went viral in 2010:

http://thefuturebuzz.com/2010/08/02/viral-images-2010/

Modern Man

George Carlin:

3 Things

What do you learn when the world flashes before your eyes:

A $6,400 Toilet

In case you were interested in what $6,000 buys you in a toilet:

http://kohler.com/numi/#comfort.html

Rent v Buy

A great chart depicting the state of the rent vs buy debate in cities all across the nation:


http://explore.trulia.com/datavis/rentvsbuy/Q2-2011/

Surprise, Surprise

The rich are getting richer:

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2011/04/12/surprise_surprise_rich_get_richer/?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed3_HP

iPad II

The newest iPad has a redesigned ad campaign to accompany its launch:

Where Americans are Moving

The newest census data has some striking info about the changing landscape of the American population:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110330/ts_yblog_thelookout/new-census-data-shows-which-areas-of-america-are-growing-shrinking

Wisconsin

All the talk of the stripping of union rights in Wisconsin has led to a large movement to attempt to recall the Republicans in power. Check out a comercial from the creators of the movement:

Rally

Amazing tennis rally:

A gallon

What do our favorite products cost per gallon??

Might make you re-think that gas is expensive...

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Gallons-on-Gallons-575x852.jpg

My Blackberry

Absolutely hilarious:

What is Typical?

National Geographic:

7 Billion: Are You Typical? — National Geographic Magazine @ Yahoo! Video

Ripping Paper??

I wish I found it this funny:

Unequal

Quite the collection of charts:


http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110223/ts_yblog_thelookout/separate-but-unequal-charts-show-growing-rich-poor-gap

Middle Class in the USA

Great parody video:

Middle Class

In 1988, the income of an average American taxpayer was $33,400, adjusted for inflation. Fast forward 20 years, and not much had changed: The average income was still just $33,000 in 2008, according to IRS data.

Meanwhile, the richest 1% of Americans -- those making $380,000 or more -- have seen their incomes grow 33% over the last 20 years, leaving average Americans in the dust.


From: http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/16/news/economy/middle_class/index.htm

Awesome

Inspirational. It's a long video but it is well worth it:

Family Feud

A clip for the ages:

It's Here

Tomorrow the iPhone goes on sale at Verizon stores all across the country:

Greatest Mini Golf

Could be the greatest mini golf  shot ever:

Upscale ZipCar

BMW and Mercedes are testing the idea of CarSharing (think ZipCar) in Europe:


http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/30/mercedes-and-bmw-test-car-sharing/

Walking Speed = Life Span?

Quite the study:

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/blog/dailydose/2011/01/slow_walkers_do.html?p1=Upbox_links

Quite the View

If you are in the market for a penthouse, and have a couple million to spare:

http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/30/eight-dreamy-penthouses-for-sale/

Free Diamond Rings

All for 6 inches of snow???

Find out how: http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/30/smallbusiness/snow_jewelry_full_refunds/

Holidays by the Numbers

Quite the graphic on the 2010 Holiday season:

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/holidays_infographic.jpeg

Most Expensive Things Sold At Auction 2010

Get out your checkbook (and your friends, and your familes, and your whole town, and pool it all together):

http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/30/most-expensive-things-sold-at-auction-2010/

Blizzard of 2010: Social Networking

The potential to address mother nature with social networking:

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/12/use-social-media-to-escape-snowmageddon/68613/

2010 Quiz

How well did you pay attention to the news in 2010:

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/12/27/quiz-year-in-review.html

11 for 2011

Here are my 11 predictions for 2011.

Please use the comments section to let me know what you think of my predictions and most importantly add your own predictions for the coming year.

1) The global economic worry of 2010 was the shaky balance sheets of European countries. The global economic worry of 2011 will be the unstable balance sheets of US States.

2) Global tensions will stay in the headlines with Iran, North Korea,  and Pakistan continuing to dominate the news stories however cyber crimes will gain more press as people worry about a debilitating financial attack.

3) The Republicans ran and won in the mid-term elections on the principle of deficit reduction (then pushed for a tax cut that added $700 billion to the deficit???). In 2011 it will become extremely clear that campaign promises will go unfulfilled and they have no serious plan or intention to reduce the deficit.

4) The economic landscape will begin to show real signs of improvements in 2011. Unemployment will remain high but it will be mainly due to new people entering the workforce due to improved prospects. There will be meaningful private sector job creation.

5) The student loan business will be in focus for deceptive practices in the same way the mortgage lenders have been scrutinized recently. Additionally, for-profit colleges will be in the cross-hairs of Washington for increased legislation due to their sales practices.

6) Apple will continue to make major strides in the smartphone and tablet industries. A iPhone for Verizon and a second generation iPad will be the highlights of a stellar 2011. Multiple news stories will focus on corporations and educational institutions utilizing the iPad with great success. No other company will come close to the sales numbers of the iPad with their tablet attempts.

7) 2011 will continue what will be regarded in the future as the "Decade of the App". Buying software a-la-carte will replace the old method and iTunes will lead this category long into the future.

8) With gas prices rising the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf will be major news stories as the electric car becomes a reality in many homes across America.

9) The sports headlines will be dominated by the potential for lockouts in either the NFL or NBA. Sports teams will continue to have difficulty filling seats as the convenience of watching at home in surround sound HDTV trumps the experience of being at the game for many fans.

10) The best place to invest in 2011 will be large-cap, dividend paying, US equities. This group has underperformed recently and it will see a resurgence in 2011.

11) President Obama will see his approval rating rise sharply in 2011. The Republicans will spend the year attempting to find a unifying force to lead them in the 2012 presidential election. Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin's names along with many others will be tossed around but by the end of the year it will be clear that the Republicans have no viable candidate that can deny Obama re-election.