As you start making progress on your New Year's Resolutions and 2010, I thought I'd share these two videos to put last year in perspective and chronicle some of its happenings.
One of the new technologies to generate a buzz last year was Google Wave. Even if you don't understand what it can do, you can appreciate how it's used here.
Finally, JibJab brings a little humor its retrospective.
Compare the original to the Muppets' version and a parody. Some things are classic. Some things are good enough to stand-up no matter who performs it. You be the judge.
The song is a parody of a
rock opera and has a very unusual musical structure for a piece of
popular music. Its three different sections have no chorus but both a
cappella and heavy metal arrangements. Despite this, it was released as a single and became a huge commercial success, marking a decisive point in Queen's
career.
The single was accompanied by a
groundbreaking "promotional video", which helped establish the visual
language of the modern music (and helped make the music video a must have accessory for any performer).
Muppets - Video of Bohemian Rhapsody:
The Muppets have created their own version of Queen's classic song and video. This version has very quickly gone viral, as people around the world flock to see it.
The Muppets released their version of Bohemian Rhapsody as a funny and endearing tribute marking the 18th anniversary of Freddie Mercury's untimely death.
While there will never be another Freddy Mercury, neither will there be another Gonzo, Fozzie Bear nor Miss Piggy. Here is their attempt at rock opera:
Bohemian Bankruptcy - A Tragedy by Drag Queen.
This, completely different, take on the classic is a witty parody of our economic times.
The Original: I Saved the Best for Last.
Here is the original. After all this time, it still speaks for itself.
A decade ago, I couldn't have conceived the way we use trading technology today. The scope and scale of what's possible would have seemed like an improbable science fiction plot.
And that is the point. Some things seem like nonsense (or magic), until they become science and way things are done.
New Version 4 of Shift Happens Video
Fascinating presentation of facts, stats, and insights about how technology (like the internet) has been changing the world. Some of the tech that we take for granted is now at an inflection point because of the sheer mass of late-adopters.
It is worth watching and thinking about ... as someone living in these
changing times ... and in terms of how these changing times shift the
game and create a whole new set of opportunities.
While similar to the post on how Social Media is changing everything ... this presentation focuses on the bigger picture and has a more general business tone.
I like the new
design and the added content; yet, found the music a bit distracting.
We are moving forward more quickly than ever. What you thought you knew about the
economy, technology, innovation, and the world are probably
out-of-date. I can't wait to see what comes next.
I wanted to create a list of the coolest iPhone apps. However, cool doesn't necessarily mean useful. Instead, this is a list of the applications that I use most.
Even if you don't have an iPhone, check-out the links to see what is available. I am amazed at how much of my computing and basic research are now done on a Smartphone.
That's it for now. Let me know if I forgot your favorite or you found something worth sharing.
Listen to the clever word-play in this Louis Armstrong and Danny Kaye duet and you'll hear the seeds from which a bunch of modern music sprouted from ...
If this doesn't make you feel better after you watch it, please contact me and I will send the fun police by your house!
I'm so glad I found Snagit. It is one of the un-sung heroes that I use all the time but don't think about because it is so reliable and stable that I forget how good it is.
What Can You Do With Snagit?
Capture anything you see on the screen. Edit and combine those captures. Add text, arrows, or highlights to make the image better. Then share them through your favorite applications. Organize and find them again later.
I end-up using it several times a day. It is my default image editor. I use it to create or edit the graphics for the blog, presentations and e-mails. I use it to capture and annotate certain financial transactions ... and to get or give tech support. Bottom-Line: the more you use Snagit, the more ways you'll find to use it.
Here is a two-minute video that will give you a quick overview of some of the things Snagit can do for you.
Techsmith makes several other cool tools too. I'm not affiliated with them, other than as a satisfied client. Just thought it was worth sharing. Hope it helps you too.
Rolling Stone is not where I typically read insightful Market commentary. Nonetheless, Matt Taibbi wrote a piece for them you should read. The article is called "The Great American Bubble Machine", and it details Goldman Sachs' role in engineering every major market manipulation since the Great Depression. Take a look.
This chart caught my eye. It shows the top-ten residential real-estate markets, and let's just say none of them are around here. Click the picture to go to Reiden's site for more data.
I guess Goldman Sachs isn't the only one who can create Bubbles.
Also, I'm hearing a lot more rumblings from experienced traders about buying a little gold. Richard Russell, of Dow Theory fame, says: “The way the world is going, ‘gold will be the last man standing’. Gold will be wanted because unlike everything else, gold can not go bankrupt. Gold has no debt against it, gold is not the product of some nation’s central bank. Gold is pure intrinsic wealth. It needs no nation to guarantee it. Gold is outside the paper system.”
Confidence In the U.S. Equity Markets.
The VIX closed at 25.93 today, down more than 16% from Monday’s close of 31.17 to the lowest closing level since September 12, 2008 – the last trading day before the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy was announced. A rise in volatility from these levels would likely be bearish.
Bespoke notes that the Michigan Confidence joins the growing number of indicators that are now at or better than Pre-Lehman levels. It is currently at its highest level since January 2008. This month's reading is also the fourth consecutive month-over-month increase in confidence.
Market Metaphor?
This NYC hotel claims that one of its rooms is not only a tourist attraction, but is “art”. Art that starts to smell bad in warm weather.
I found this strangely compelling and fun to watch.
Been there, want to go there, hadn't even heard of there ... I've flown over 4 million miles, and enjoyed realizing I haven't even scratched the surface, yet.
Why watch a video of a guy doing his happy dance in various places around the world? See for yourself.
Some of my greatest accomplishments seemed almost effortless when they happened.
Some people call it "Flow" while others call it "Being-In-The-Zone". You've probably experienced the same thing.
Genius may be related to that. As I think of it, some of my best ideas seemingly came to me fully-formed.
For example, in 2003 I had a breakthrough discovery resulting in an algorithm now used in a series of trading systems. Leading up to that point, I had spent quite a long time thinking about every little aspect in detail; and the progress had come slowly and painfully. Then, whoosh, it's like the whole thing came all at once. I say (and I believe) that it came to me, through me, and from me. But I still don't know how or why it happened. It is almost like I was television
or radio receiver that somehow got turned into a channel broadcasting something worthwhile.
Since then, I've tried to re-create the environment, my work process, anything to bring back that feeling of inspiration, innovation and progress. And I have had moments like that from time-to-time.
The Ted Talk Video on Genius:
This video is about the process I described above. It is about "Genius" and whether it's something you "Have" or something you "Are".
While this video does not provide answers, hopefully it will stimulate a thought process and provoke some ideas and discussions that you find helpful and enjoyable. I know it did for me.
Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat, Pray, Love, muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius.
Capitalogix Commentary 06/28/09
Also, here is a link to the text of the article.
Other Asset Classes.
This chart caught my eye. It shows the top-ten residential real-estate markets, and let's just say none of them are around here. Click the picture to go to Reiden's site for more data.
I guess Goldman Sachs isn't the only one who can create Bubbles.
Also, I'm hearing a lot more rumblings from experienced traders about buying a little gold. Richard Russell, of Dow Theory fame, says: “The way the world is going, ‘gold will be the last man standing’. Gold will be wanted because unlike everything else, gold can not go bankrupt. Gold has no debt against it, gold is not the product of some nation’s central bank. Gold is pure intrinsic wealth. It needs no nation to guarantee it. Gold is outside the paper system.”
Confidence In the U.S. Equity Markets.
The VIX closed at 25.93 today, down more than 16% from Monday’s close of 31.17 to the lowest closing level since September 12, 2008 – the last trading day before the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy was announced. A rise in volatility from these levels would likely be bearish.
Bespoke notes that the Michigan Confidence joins the growing number of indicators that are now at or better than Pre-Lehman levels. It is currently at its highest level since January 2008. This month's reading is also the fourth consecutive month-over-month increase in confidence.Market Metaphor?
This NYC hotel claims that one of its rooms is not only a tourist attraction, but is “art”. Art that starts to smell bad in warm weather.
Room Covered In Melted Cheese
Business Posts Moving the Markets that I Found Interesting This Week:
Lighter Ideas and Fun Links that I Found Interesting This Week
Posted at 08:43 PM in Art, Current Affairs, Ideas, Market Commentary, Trading | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
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