Oddly Relevant Nov-5-2012

Oddly Relevant Nov-5-2012

Saving the country from deflationary spiral through deficit spending: Voters are getting impatient on the pace of economic recovery—why is the recovery still not here? Key is, as the debt-financed housing bubble burst, the private sector as a whole furiously pay down debt and increase saving, even at 0 interest rate. Without private borrowing, the economy is at a standstill and faces deflationary spiral. The government must step in, borrow, and spend in private sector until the private borrowing starts again. [Note: We just need another technological break-through, or another bubble]…Source: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/b1dfd2f0-243e-11e2-94d0-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2BIfgY0PC

Opinion: America could do better than Obama, but Romney does not fit the bill: While the president stopped things from being a lot worse, handled the Iraq/Afghanistan issues well, and introduced the much needed healthcare, he continued to allow the government’s fiscal irresponsibility. On the other hand, Romney’s fiscal plan does not add up either—and America might just stick with the devil it knows, and re-elect Obama. [Note: Obama free of re-election stress can accomplish a lot, mind you]…Source: http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21565623-america-could-do-better-barack-obama-sadly-mitt-romney-does-not-fit-bill-which-one

The tradeoff in product engineering: Dependent on too many extrinsic factors, a product’s lifespan becomes harder to predict as modern technology stretches the boundary of efficiency—a tradeoff against reliability. Multiply this trade-off among hundreds of different parts, say airplanes, you have a delicate equation to balance between (1) overengineering to avoid catastrophic outcome (it crashes!) and (2) excess baggage for reliability (fuel efficiency). [Note: Entropy is so degrading, isn’t it?]…Source: http://www.wired.com/design/2012/10/ff-why-products-fail/all/?utm_source=farnamstreetblog.com

Bacterial medicine is starting to emerge: While we know that the 100 trillion bacteria in our gut is essential to our health, it is not until recently such insight is medically harnessed. Correctly disposed treatments, such as foodstuff like yogurt or genetically engineered bacteria and faecal transplant, can effectively rein in the harmful microbes scourge, often caused by antibiotic treatments. [Note:  As a Chinese I believe firmly in this]…Source: http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21565586-bacterial-medicine-starting-emerge-bugs-system

Discount razor service is a hit: After raising $1 mm from KPCB in April 2011, Dollar Shave Club, a company that mails you razors at bare-bone prices, recently attracted $9.8 mm funding from Venrock. The company looks to expand into Canada and providing other men’s deliverables. [Note: In case you haven’t seen it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUG9qYTJMsI. Hilarious]…Source: http://www.wired.com/business/2012/11/dollar-shave-club/