Brian Gongol
June 14, 2015
"Why I defaulted on my student loans"
A writer who is at least in his mid-50s and who has published five books thinks it isn't his job to pay his student loans. And he "is writing a memoir about money", according to his New York Times biography. This is not an individual who has anything constructive to add to the discussion about student loans. He's simply taking pride in his own irresponsibility.
Fiat Chrysler really, really wants another merger
A good example of the needless waste of human potential in American corrections
Marriott will launch Netflix access in 100 hotels by year-end
Hotel guests' tastes have changed; one wonders why this has taken so long
A collection of productivity tools
Finland's economic situation -- not so grand
Those who have fallen all over themselves for a long time to praise the Nordic social economies might want to reconsider. There are certain specific circumstances under which a strongly socialized economy can be sustained, but when important elements go missing, the system falls apart.
Show notes - Brian Gongol Show on WHO Radio - June 14, 2015
June 13, 2015
Some interesting insights on US household net worth
Under authoritarianism, everyone's time runs out sooner or later
A former security chief is going to prison for the rest of his life. Never be surprised when there's a purge under an authoritarian regime.
Are skyscraper architects just getting high together?
The silly-looking proposal for Two World Trade Center really begs the question whether skyscraper architects are even serious anymore
Twitter is eliminating its character limit on direct messages
They're going from 140 characters to 10,000 (which is effectively unlimited, for all intents and purposes). This positions them to potentially provide a sort of trusted alternative to email.
Show notes - WHO Radio Wise Guys - June 13, 2015
June 12, 2015
Generation X gets the worst of things when it comes to money
Bad luck hasn't done much to help them
Someone needs to start thinking hard about what happens if ISIS/ISIL/QSIL/Daesh manages to permanentize as a state
No sensible person wants it to happen, but what's the roadmap to keep it from happening? Nobody seems to know, and that's a big problem. And what happens if they manage to make it permanent?
A commercial-scale hydroponic garden is working in Omaha
Right in the middle of the Midwest, someone is working on a precursor to vertical farming. That might suggest that the future of vertical farming is much more likely than it may at first appear.
China's military is growing
We don't have to be allies and we don't have to be rivals, but we shouldn't ignore where they're investing heavily
NBA and Nike: A $1 billion, 8-year deal
Adidas is walking away from its relationship with the league in 2017
June 11, 2015
100,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean to escape Libya
Has the US really lost a decade's worth of economic growth?
Snoop Dogg sues Pabst
He claims breach of contract over the sale of the Colt 45 line
Whatever happened to rotating restaurants on big hotels?
Satellite imagery showed the NWS that the Lake City tornado track was different from initial impressions
June 9, 2015
The oddities of May weather
It was the wettest May on record for a not-unsubstantial portion of the US
GE is speed-racing out of the financial-services market
Getting back to manufacturing, in part because of the pain caused to the company back in 2008/2009. But de-conglomeratizing isn't always a great idea. If your company is run by people who are really good at allocating capital, then it's highly efficient to be in lots of different businesses that have different economic cycles, so the capital-allocators can take advantage of good opportunities when they arise.
Is Apple Music the main "big deal" out of Apple's latest conference?
$10 a month to stream. Supposedly they'll have some channels that will be "curated" by people, rather than picked by algorithm.
June 8, 2015
Why it's unpleasant to be the most competent person in the office
Or, as the title of an Atlantic Monthly article puts it, "Being a go-getter is no fun".
Free-trade agreements as a tool of American strength
Condoleezza Rice: "Free trade is no substitute for military strength or for giving voice to those who still seek liberty", but "trade is an essential element" of peace
Apple's announcements at developers conference
Show notes - Brian Gongol on WHO Radio - June 8, 2015