Pockets of credit: 19th Century Banking Makes a Comeback
Love The Economist and they tend to be on the money in their analysis. Agree that we need more lenders providing capital to the real economy. But, big miss here is that funds like Golub and Medley lend to middle-market buyouts. They finance the trading of companies between owners, not the creation of real value and that is what fundamentally needs to change for banking to better serve society.
To the 53%-ers, please see the following if you think this is all about “work hard and don’t complain”
(via Income Inequality Hits Record Levels, New CBO Data Show: — Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)
Beginning in 1981, top marginal tax rates in the US have declined to near all-time low levels while the top 1% in America have expanded their share of wealth to all time highs. Though wealthy Americans believe they shoulder more than their fair share of the nation’s tax burden, their opportunity to amass such wealth came through the relaxation of their historical responsibilities to society.
Of note, the last time the top 1% contributed so little in taxes and controlled so much wealth, they brought the US the Great Depression.
A tourist from Texas arrives in Boston and hops into a cab. Having heard about the delicacies to savor in the venerable city, he asks the cabbie, “Say, where can I get scrod?” The cabbie turns around in his seat, regards the man carefully, and replies, “Buddy, I’ve been asked that a million times, but never before has anyone asked it in the pluperfect subjunctive.
The tomatoes release their sugary, tart juice, the olive oil emulsifies in for rich, slippery body, the onion gives a little push, and the cheese lends this very young, very fresh dish the gravity of age. The flavors swirl as you slurp it all up, bouncing from bright and clean to deep and savory, and once all the pasta’s gone, you’ll still have a nice little scoop of the best tomato salad you’ve ever had sitting in the bowl.
Perfect Five-Minute Raw Tomato Pasta Recipe
Great writing is great writing. I had to clip this.
Where does Android go now?
With Google’s purchase of Motorola Mobility, what happens to Android’s attractiveness as a platform? Can handset manufacturers commit to a platform which is controlled by a direct competitor?
G+ Cooking School!?
G+ is awesome!
MOVE (by Rick Mereki)
as long as a generation of Republican politicians feel entitled to hold a gun to the head of the credit of America to secure their political ends – disaster will never be far away.
Instead of pushing products and services at customers with the attitude of “You take what we make!”, Apple and Amazon proceed from the view, “We are want to understand and solve your problems.
Why No Apple In The Food Industry? - Steve Denning - RETHINK - Forbes
Why is it that journalists always hold up Apple as a shining knight of consumer friendliness? While I don’t deny the author’s premise that Apple and other “transformational” “innovative” companies typically succeed by “delighting” their customers, I think it’s inaccurate to describe Apple as a shining example of flexibility and consumer mindedness.
At Apple, the iTunes store is decidedly designed to make money. In fact, MP3 players were not greatly successful until someone attached a money making business model to them. The entire user experience across Apple products are a “you take what we make!” proposition. No flash, broad Apple control third party applications, counter cultural design/UI decisions (single button mouse, the death of the scrollbar).
Yes, Apple is very good at understanding its customers’ needs, and much of its success can be attributed to resonance with consumers. But, Apple is an exception, not a model. It produces a superlative product and wins market share simply because more often than not its “innovative” choices are right. Apple deserves much credit, but I’m tired of journalists grasping for unrequited love and looking to Apple as a their knight in shining armor.
