We need to learn quickly to keep up with the massive change around us so we don't get run over. We need to outrun change.
Orbital Sciences Corp. had a successful test of their privately designed, funded and built spaceship. Their lifting vehicle made it to orbit and the cargo pod successfully separated. See Private company succeeds in test launch of rocket that will carry cargo ship.
They are one of two companies that will be providing lift capability to NASA: Continue reading “2nd private company gets space cargo ship operating”
Check out these startup plans described by Michael Wolfe: What are some of the most ridiculous startup ideas that eventually became successful?
Suppose any of these will last longer than their first round of VC funding?
Check out this video – Profits in Space! Entrepreneurs Are Scanning the Cosmos for Big Money. Glenn Reynolds interviews Chris Lewicki, CEO and Chief Asteroid Miner at Planetary Resources.
A few highlights: Continue reading “Interview with an asteroid miner – Yeah, I did say mining of asteroids and it’s coming from the private sector”
February production averaged 779,032 barrels per day. That is up 5.57% over January. It is only up 3.9% over October, which reflects the impact of bad weather this winter.
Spring thaw means load restrictions from what I’ve read. That means production will slow again soon.
Here’s my graph of monthly production:
(click to enlarge)
The Houston Chronicle has a nice photo shoot of fracking operations underway in Colorado. You can find it here.
Great shots.
(Hat tip: tweet from BakkenBlog News)
With the ground in Williston this morning having a sandwich of freezing rain underneath with a lot of snow in the middle and sleet on top along with many of the interstates closed in western North Dakota, I think I’ll really enjoy my warm-because-the-furnace-is-running-occassionally, dry, bright accounting office in Southern California with a rare, light drizzle outside.
I’d rather wear a short sleeve shirt instead of ear protection, long johns and a parka underneath slickers for a 12 hour shift. Our economy will thrive because of the great teams that are willing to do that. Thanks guys and gals.
When Amazon conceded on collecting tax on sales to people in California in 2012 they gained a phenomenal advantage – they could finally open up distribution centers in the state.
Previously, they didn’t have any warehouses in California. Now there is one in San Bernardino, at the eastern edge of the huge Los Angeles metropolitan area. There are others further north.
What can they do now? Have next day delivery. Do you suppose they will move toward same day delivery? Can you picture the bold type comment “Order in the next 2 hours for delivery today” on the screen as you shop early in the day?
The frontier in higher education is wide open.
How ‘bout starting a college in your basement with $100k seed money?
That’s what Mr. Tim Cook has done with Saxifrage School. He wants to radically cut the cost of college education. His idea is to combine learning a trade or other productive skills along with traditional humanities classes that teach you to think.
Check out the status so far, according to Startup Takes Aim at Old-School Ways in the Wall Street Journal: Continue reading “Start a college in your basement”
An investment manager, The Boston Company, has a paper out which explains from an investment perspective why Peak Oil is dead. The paper starts with an explanation of the concept:
For decades, pundits have been trying to predict a tipping point for Peak Oil – when a sustained and unabated climb in oil prices sparks a near-collapse of the global economy. According to Peak Oil theory, the rate of petroleum extraction will crest and then begin an immutable decline, pushing oil prices ever higher as demand for this finite resource permanently exceeds supply.
You can find End of an Era: The Death of Peak Oil at their website.
They cite several causes for the passing of the late Peak Oil.
Continue reading “Yet another analysis why the Peak Oil concept is dead – #22”
Who Has the Right to Mine an Asteroid gives an overview of the legal issues involved in getting minerals and water from asteroids. The discussion is from Professor Glenn Reynolds, of course.
What’s the payoff?
Here’s the possible yield from mining asteroids: Continue reading “Space frontier is open – legal analysis of mining asteroids and private round-trip supply runs”
Privacy on the Internet is gone. It’s toast.
That is the point of Bruce Schneier’s post, Our Internet Surveillance State.
We leave crumbs of data spread around every time we use our computer or smart phone. With the cost of storing data essentially zero, every provider keeps a record of everything you do. And why not? The cost is zero to record your last Internet search or which cell tower has connection to your phone this moment.
Our privacy is shot when you put huge numbers of crumbs together.
Continue reading “Surveillance society, or, there is no privacy on the ‘net”
As a CPA, I frequently get requests for names of other professionals who could assist with particular needs.
As a public service, I thought it would be helpful to publish a list of the firms I mention most often.
Attorneys:
Continue reading “Professional referrals”