The Fed’s Growing Balance Sheet

Over the last two weeks, the Federal Reserve has added over $500B a week to its balance sheet. Until March 2020, the largest weekly increase in the Fed Balance sheet was $292 billion (October 2008). There were two weeks in October 2008 that saw the Fed’s balance sheet increase more than $200 billion. Until March […]

Making Sense of the Unprecedented March 2020 Job Losses in the Hospitality Sector

The loss of hospitality jobs in March 2020 is unprecedented. When we have April data in a month, we’ll see the U.S. economy suffered more hospitality job losses in two months than during the entirety of the last recession. The leisure and hospitality sector includes businesses like hotels, restaurants, bars, casinos, amusements parts, museums. Some […]

When Nearly Every Astros Game from 2017 is on YouTube

As reported in the Wall Street Journal, Tony Adams watched 8,274 pitches thrown to Astros hitters during 58 home games from the 2017 season. He logged his results on signstealingscandal.com. Adams broke down every pitch to Astros hitters, noted if he discerned a bang, and included a direct link to each pitch.

Near-term LCD/OLED Disruption from Coronavirus

From Ross Young: In 2020, Wuhan is expected to account for 6% of worldwide mobile OLED capacity, 3% of mobile LCD capacity and 2% of LCD TV capacity. In 2021, these figures should rise to 9% of mobile OLED capacity and 4% of LCD TV capacity…Since the display industry is still in a period of […]

AI: Feature versus Architecture

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about where AI fits into corporate strategy and structure. Marc Andreessen recently suggested …there’s two obvious business models… one is to be a horizontal platform provider [or] infrastructure provider, analogous to the operating system or the database for the cloud. The other opportunity is in the verticals, the applications […]

Thursday’s Links

In 2020 we will see more disinformation. Deceptively edited videos and photos (“dumbfakes”). Synthetic media (“deepfakes”) will follow in the years to come. A deceptively edited video of Joe Biden signals what’s coming. Mind control for the masses – no implant needed Statement by T.S. Eliot on the opening of the Emily Hale letters at […]

U.S. Demographic Shifts

Earlier this week the Census Bureau released national and state population estimates. Some key take-aways: U.S. population continues to slow. U.S. Population increased 0.48% between July 1, 2018 and July 1, 2019. This is the slowest growth rates since 1918. Nature increase (births minus deaths) continue to slow. S. births fell 0.9 percent in 2019, […]

AI and Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Early detection and treatment can lower mortality rates. But clinicians still fail to identify breast cancer about 20 percent of the time (false-negative results). Clinicians also identify cancer, when there is no breast cancer present (false-positive results). Studies suggest 7-12 percent of women will receive […]

Friday’s Assorted Stats and Links

“87 percent of seniors age 65 and older, and 71 percent of those between 50 and 64, want to age in place” The mall as a retail destination is declining. But the mall as an experience center and assorted brand activation is rising in its place. The internet has taught us we shouldn’t tie retail […]