Gibraltar’s Airport-Looks kind of cool, a runway intersecting a public road.
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My name is Tyler Fonda and I'm thinking, reading, listening and looking. This blog is the output of those inputs.
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Really interesting thoughts on piracy. In particular the idea that a buyer of a fake Rolex is simply not a buyer of a real Rolex. However, the aspiration to be affiliated with that brand is there and that’s the heart of the issue for a brand. Pirate producers and the buyers of their goods are simply stoking the the interest and meaning of your brand.
More tough 21st century questions.
I remain petrified about “too big too fail”. It is a massive systemic risk that must be dealt with and soon. Our country will not grow on the back of “financial innovation”. These innovations are simply zero sum games aimed at rewarding risk averse and financially insulated groups of people. The fact that these institutions, having been bailed out by taxpayers are once again talking of massive bonuses based on their profitability is more than offensive, it’s a huge problem. Innovation must come from sectors of our economy that can grow our capital base in real and sustainable ways.
Let’s all keep our eyes on the ball here.
"Discomfort is an investment"
— Suketa Mehta - Author of Maximum City
"Until the U.S. gets its fiscal house in order, relations with countries like China will be fundamentally insecure."
— David Brooks
Hand someone an iPhone and just watch
Amazing observations
Recently I’ve met a bunch of people that have never used an iPhone before. I hand them mine and I watch. It’s an interesting experience.
Few observations:
1. The iPhone camera is easier to understand that a typical point & shoot. How many times have you asked a stranger to take your photo with your camera. I’ve done it dozens of times in my life. Everytime, the other nice person says, “which button should i push?” Doesnt leave much confidence but it says a lot about the UI of your every day digital camera.
On the other hand, I’ve given my iPhone to a number of people that have never used one. And I dont have to tell them anything. They know which button to press. Everytime.
2. People know how to pick up the iPhone and access what they need. No manual needed. Not true of 99% of consumer electronics.
3. Constraining the user interface to one physical navigation button on the iPhone is genius. When in doubt, click home. It’s a big deal. TiVo has a “home button” too. When in doubt click the TiVo button and it brings you home. More user interfaces need that ‘go home button’.
4. It’s quite amazing to watch a young child use an iPhone. My three year old knows exactly how to get swipe, flick, double tap and tilt.
And he knows if he’s ever lost, just press the home button.
Accabonac Harbor at Sunset
So Put on Your Frogskins and Let’s Get Down
My brother is back with a fresh set of great tunes, be sure to click through and check them out. Happy 4th of July holiday to all.
Consider the components of equity returns
This is an infinitely interesting graph and also speaks to the profound effects of leverage on the returns of the past 20 years. Seeing as much of that dividend growth was a function of leverage fueled securitization, m&a and the rest of it. Makes you wonder if it’s possible for us to live successfully in a delevered world. I know that we cannot abide the wall street madness, but I also know that 2% capital growth is not enough.
Perhaps the answer is that as the network economy develops and the efficiencies of the network take hold we will see a flip flop of capital growth and dividends. Where perhaps our profit margins aren’t so fat that we’re throwing off big dividends, but the inexorable growth of our networked economy drives a rapid increase in our capital base. I have no idea, just thinking out loud.
This is Radio Moscow singing “Lucky Dutch”. I’m not sure how this song found it’s way into my library, but I’m incredibly pleased that it did. I think you’ll enjoy it.
This is a simple start to a compelling question. Does Detroit have a future? I don’t have an opinion since I know very little about it, but I’ll be more aware of what’s happening there and continue to post on it’s development or demise.
This bill keeps popping up as the model for a moderate response to solving the healthcare problem. If you’re following the health care saga, and you probably should, this bill is good info to know. Perhaps we can pressure our congressmen to do something intelligent and long range.
This is “Repetition” by the Black Ghosts remixed by Diplo. As the song title would indicate the song relies on repetition, so the complexity is not really there, but I really like the beat they’ve got going on here, so listen to it, even it is just for the first few repetitions.
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