Archive for the 'Economy' Category
Household Debt Surpassed Record Level Reached During the 2008 Financial Crisis
May 18th, 2017Via: CNBC: The New York Federal Reserve reports that household debt across the nation has hit a dubious milestone in the first quarter: It surpassed the peak debt level of 2008 at $12.7 trillion. Household debt — including mortgages, auto and student loans, and credit cards — rose $149 billion compared with the last quarter […]
Firm Thinks Solar Will Attract More Investment Funds Than Coal, Gas and Nuclear Combined in 2017
May 16th, 2017Disclosure: I sell solar power systems in New Zealand. — Via: PV Magazine: A new report by analyst firm Frost & Sullivan projects that in 2017 solar PV will attract more investment than coal, gas and nuclear power combined. The report, titled the Global Power Industry Outlook 2017, examines power market trends, including investment and […]
FDA Approved Drugs Have Nearly 1 in 3 Chance of Having a “Significant Safety Issue”
May 16th, 2017Oh sure, it’s a surprise. *wink* Via: Los Angeles Times: Almost one-third of new drugs approved by U.S. regulators over a decade ended up years later with warnings about unexpected — sometimes life-threatening — side effects or complications, according to a new analysis in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. Researchers looked at potential […]
New Zealand: High Levels of E-Coli Found in Creek that Runs Into Treasured Springs
May 14th, 2017Disclosure: I am involved with the effort to bring attention to the pollution and water take issues at Te Waikoropupu Springs Reserve. — There is video of the manure slurry feeding into the crystal clear water over SOSGoldenBay.nz. Scroll down to the 28 April entry, if you dare. Via: Stuff: High E-coli levels have been […]
Here Comes the War for Commercial Drone Dominance
May 14th, 2017Via: Bloomberg: At some point in the not-too-distant future, fleets of commercial drones are expected to swarm across American skies. Companies in a wide range of industries will employ unmanned vehicles for tactical advantage—inspecting infrastructure, surveying crops, maybe even estimating how much your new roof will cost. And when these drones fly, a torrent of […]
In Cashless Sweden, Even God Now Takes Collection Via an App
May 14th, 2017Reverend Wayne’s Pearly Gates open 24/7. Via: Bloomberg: In the most cashless society on the planet, even God now accepts digital payments. A growing number of Swedish parishes have started taking donations via mobile apps. Uppsala’s 13th-century cathedral also accepts credit cards. The churches’ drive to keep up with the times is the latest sign […]
Europe: How Billions Vanish Into the Security Industry Black Hole
May 9th, 2017Via: The Correspondent: The European Union spends billions on research into advanced technologies meant to make society safer. But our investigation – with 22 journalists in 11 countries – shows that the generous subsidies are mostly good for one thing: filling the coffers of the security industry.
More Robots, Fewer Jobs
May 8th, 2017Via: Bloomberg: Are you about to be replaced by a robot? The question has broad implications for the U.S. economy, especially the manufacturing sector. Industries that robotize tend to increase output. But robots can have dire consequences for workers. Two economists recently concluded that both jobs and wages fall in parts of the U.S. where […]
Macron Elected French President
May 7th, 2017Via: AFP: Pro-European centrist Emmanuel Macron resoundingly won France’s landmark presidential election, first estimates showed Sunday, heading off a fierce challenge from the far-right in a pivotal vote for the future of the divided country and Europe. The victory caps an extraordinary rise for the 39-year-old former investment banker, who will become the country’s youngest-ever […]
Tesla Loses $13,000 Per Car Made Ahead Of Model 3 Launch
May 4th, 2017*meh* Amazon lost money for years. Now look at it. With Tesla, the Model 3 might be a make or break moment, but fear of repeating the Model X debacle was ingrained from the start. They might not blow it again. That said, having to get that new assembly line up and running from nothing […]
