Posted on

Paper Portfolio – February 2022 Update

As always, this is not investment advice! Please do your own due diligence and take your own financial situation into account. Everyone has a different financial situation, which means different tolerances for risk and ability to take risk. What is appropriate for me may not be appropriate for you.

What a start to the year.

The selloff that began in late November and accelerated in December…continued to accelerate throughout January.… Read the rest “Paper Portfolio – February 2022 Update”

Posted on

Tidbits #70 – Collapsing Bridges, EV Batteries, Virtual Humans + More

Hello, hello! 👋🏻👋🏻

Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

🗺 World Affairs + Geopolitics

#1 Biden Administration Faces Growing GOP Opposition on China Bill

Biden administration officials are attempting to stem growing Republican opposition to high-priority legislation aimed at bolstering U.S. competitiveness with China and aiding domestic semiconductor production.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #70 – Collapsing Bridges, EV Batteries, Virtual Humans + More”
Posted on

Tidbits #69 – China Easing, Drinking Glue, Depressed AIs + More

Hello, hello! 👋🏻👋🏻

Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

Drinking Glue

In Internet culture, #69 is supposed to be a funny number. So I guess that’s supposed to make this edition special. Edgelords like Elon Musk can somehow masterfully insert 69 (and 420) into random situations to conjure up billions of dollars in market cap (and personal wealth).… Read the rest “Tidbits #69 – China Easing, Drinking Glue, Depressed AIs + More”

Posted on

Tidbits #68 – Antiwork, Rate Hikes, Autonomous Tractors, Pig Hearts + More

Hello, hello! 👋🏻👋🏻

Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

🗺 World Affairs + Geopolitics

#1 North Korea Claims Successful Test Of Hypersonic Missile

North Korea said Wednesday its leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a successful flight test of a hypersonic missile he claimed would remarkably increase the country’s nuclear “war deterrent.”

… Read the rest “Tidbits #68 – Antiwork, Rate Hikes, Autonomous Tractors, Pig Hearts + More”
Posted on

Tidbits #67 – World’s Factory on Break, Kazakh Chaos, Deltacron, Bividend + More

Hello, hello! 👋🏻👋🏻

Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

With the first week of the year all wrapped up, 2022 seems to be as wild as 2021 and 2020 so far…

🗺 World Affairs + Geopolitics

#1 Xi’an Lockdown Rattles World’s Largest Chipmakers

Samsung Electronics and Micron Technology are experiencing staff shortages at their manufacturing sites as the city imposes strict controls on people’s movement amid its worst outbreak.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #67 – World’s Factory on Break, Kazakh Chaos, Deltacron, Bividend + More”
Posted on

Paper Portfolio – January 2022 Update

As always, this is not investment advice! Please do your own due diligence and take your own financial situation into account. Everyone has a different financial situation, which means different tolerances for risk and ability to take risk. What is appropriate for me may not be appropriate for you.

First off – Happy new year! May we all live in less interesting times in 2022.… Read the rest “Paper Portfolio – January 2022 Update”

Posted on

Tidbits #66 – Data Security, Elon, More Elon, TikTok on SNL, Log4j…+ Even More Elon

Hello, hello! 👋🏻👋🏻

Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

Hope you had / are having an enjoyable holiday break! 🎄🎄🎄

Although we spend most of our waking moments thinking mostly about what’s going on in our world and our work, what matters most is almost always our family, friends, and loved ones.… Read the rest “Tidbits #66 – Data Security, Elon, More Elon, TikTok on SNL, Log4j…+ Even More Elon”

Posted on

Tidbits #65 – Economic Alliances, Bitcoin Dumpster-Diving, Metaverse Marriages + More

Hello, hello! 👋🏻👋🏻

Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

🗺 Geopolitics

#1 Proposal Would Allow E.U. to Retaliate Against Economic Pressure

The European Commission, the bloc’s executive branch, put forward what it called an “anti-coercion instrument” relating to what it views as unfair trade pressure, arguing that new tools were necessary because of the “weaponization of trade for other geopolitical purposes.”

… Read the rest “Tidbits #65 – Economic Alliances, Bitcoin Dumpster-Diving, Metaverse Marriages + More”
Posted on

Tidbits #64 – Omicron, Powell, AI Paintings, Life-like Robots + More

Hello, hello! 👋🏻👋🏻

Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

🗺 Geopolitics

#1 U.S. And EU Signal “Converging” Views On China

The U.S. and the European Union are adopting “increasingly convergent” views on the threat posed by the Chinese government, according to senior Biden administration officials, deepening a trend that could tilt the scales in an era of great power competition.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #64 – Omicron, Powell, AI Paintings, Life-like Robots + More”
Posted on

Paper Portfolio – December 2021 Update

As always, this is not investment advice! Please do your own due diligence and take your own financial situation into account. Everyone has a different financial situation, which means different tolerances for risk and ability to take risk. What is appropriate for me may not be appropriate for you.

I’m currently on holiday (at a nice warm beach) and I assume you were / are / will be, too, so I’ll keep this short (and because there really isn’t much to say anyway!).… Read the rest “Paper Portfolio – December 2021 Update”

Posted on

How the Metaverse and Digital Twins Can Accelerate Innovation

This is Part 2.

In Part 1 – Competition, Experimentation, and Progress – I discuss why the positive benefits of technological and societal Progress alone are not enough to encourage people to pursue it, why Competition and Experimentation are both necessary to create Progress, and how to look for areas of potential Progress in the coming years.

In Part 2 – How the Metaverse and Digital Twins Can Accelerate Innovation – I discuss the the potentially transformative power of the metaverse and digital twins, and why societies and companies that successfully harness this technology could see rapid periods of Progress.… Read the rest “How the Metaverse and Digital Twins Can Accelerate Innovation”

Posted on

Tidbits #63 – Still Stuck in the Metaverse / Web3

Hello, hello! 👋🏻👋🏻

Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

Maybe we’re all starting to wind down for the year…there isn’t much going on beyond a very narrow range of items centered around the concept of the Metaverse. Speaking of the Metaverse, there’s clearly a titanic struggle from several different groups for control of what comes next in tech / internet.… Read the rest “Tidbits #63 – Still Stuck in the Metaverse / Web3”

Posted on

Tidbits #62 – Playing the Real Game, Metaverse Mania

Hello, hello! 👋🏻👋🏻

Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

While lining up the articles below for this week’s edition, I am struck by how many different games are being played. People tend to discuss differences in strategy (whether personal, professional, or competitive), but strategy cannot be objectively evaluated without knowing the specific game that is being played.… Read the rest “Tidbits #62 – Playing the Real Game, Metaverse Mania”

Posted on

Tidbits #61 – PAX, Booritos, Meta + More

Hello, hello! 👋🏻👋🏻

Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

Happy Halloween 🎃🎃🎃

I wish I could carve a pumpkin like these!

Source: Parade

Source: Pinterest

🗺 Geopolitics

#1 Gen. Milley calls Chinese weapon test ‘very concerning’

China recently conducted a “very concerning” test of a hypersonic weapon system as part of its aggressive advance in space and military technologies, the top U.S.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #61 – PAX, Booritos, Meta + More”
Posted on

Paper Portfolio – November 2021 Update

As always, this is not investment advice! Please do your own due diligence and take your own financial situation into account. Everyone has a different financial situation, which means different tolerances for risk and ability to take risk. What is appropriate for me may not be appropriate for you.

In the blink of an eye, the year is almost over as we head into the final stretch.… Read the rest “Paper Portfolio – November 2021 Update”

Posted on

Competition, Experimentation, and Progress

This is Part 1.

In Part 1 – Competition, Experimentation, and Progress – I discuss why the positive benefits of technological and societal Progress alone are not enough to encourage people to pursue it, why Competition and Experimentation are both necessary to create Progress, and how to look for areas of potential Progress in the coming years.

In Part 2 – How the Metaverse and Digital Twins Can Accelerate Innovation – I discuss the the potentially transformative power of the metaverse and digital twins, and why societies and companies that successfully harness this technology could see rapid periods of Progress.… Read the rest “Competition, Experimentation, and Progress”

Posted on

Tidbits #60 – Hypersonic Missiles, Cyberthreats, Trump SPAC’d, M1 Max, + More

Hello, hello! 👋🏻👋🏻

Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

This edition is super packed…so I’ll skip the random opening thoughts and dive right in.

🗺 Geopolitics

#1 China conducted two hypersonic weapons tests this summer

The Chinese military conducted two hypersonic weapons tests over the summer, raising US concerns that Beijing is gaining ground in the race to develop a new generation of arms.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #60 – Hypersonic Missiles, Cyberthreats, Trump SPAC’d, M1 Max, + More”
Posted on

Canary in the (Supply Chain) Coal Mine

Since the beginning of this year, Capital Flywheels has written about global supply chain issues on several occasions, including the Suez Canal blockage, auto chip shortage, and potential supply chain stress from China’s energy crisis.

In isolation, each of these incidents are more than manageable.

But together, repeated stress will eventually lead to breakage.

The way things break is not always obvious because we live in a non-linear world.… Read the rest “Canary in the (Supply Chain) Coal Mine”

Posted on

Tidbits #59 – Space Force, Taxes for the Digital Age, Tether?, Governance + More

Hello, hello! 👋🏻👋🏻

Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

🗺 Geopolitics

#1 White House plans 30-country meeting on cyber crime and ransomware -official

Top U.S. national security advisers will gather officials from 30 countries this month with plans to combat the growing threat of ransomware and other cyber crime, President Joe Biden said on Friday.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #59 – Space Force, Taxes for the Digital Age, Tether?, Governance + More”
Posted on

Tidbits #58 – AI Machine Guns, Collapsing Supply Chains, TikTok + More

Hello, hello! 👋🏻👋🏻

Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

How Comedians May Rule the World

Generally, I consider myself to be a fairly (long-term) optimistic person (but near-term realist). I’m generally more optimistic than almost anyone I meet or know.

Even with that starting disposition, the more I think about the sudden shocks from COVID-19, supply chain stress, and dramatic global geopolitical changes unseen in decades, the more I feel the need to tone down my medium-term optimism.… Read the rest “Tidbits #58 – AI Machine Guns, Collapsing Supply Chains, TikTok + More”

Posted on

Cloudflare Aiming for the King

You come at the king, you best not miss.

Omar Little, The Wire

So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.

Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Almost two years ago, Capital Flywheels added Cloudflare to the Paper Portfolio shortly after Cloudflare’s IPO. For a while, the market overlooked Cloudflare and largely assumed Cloudflare to be fairly undifferentiated vs other CDN companies like Fastly and Akamai.… Read the rest “Cloudflare Aiming for the King”

Posted on

Paper Portfolio – October 2021 Update

The Paper Portfolio returned -5.68% during September vs -4.66% for the S&P500. This brings YTD returns to 9.90% for the Paper Portfolio vs 15.91% for the S&P500.

September saw a number of extraordinary and unexpected events. While Capital Flywheels anticipated some volatility around the potential announcement of Fed taper (check), Capital Flywheels did not foresee an energy shortage in China that is now feeding investor concerns around further supply chain stress and potential inflationary impact.… Read the rest “Paper Portfolio – October 2021 Update”

Posted on

Tidbits #57 – Babel-ing, Crackdowns, Reunifying Media + More

Hello, hello! 👋🏻👋🏻

Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

Tower of Babel

Sorting through all the things happening around the world recently has become a challenge in coherence.

Although we all live on one world, increasingly it feels like we live on multiple worlds. Sometimes these worlds touch and intersect, and sometimes they do not.… Read the rest “Tidbits #57 – Babel-ing, Crackdowns, Reunifying Media + More”

Posted on

How Shifting Consumer Preferences Could Threaten “Buy Now, Pay Later”

This is part of an on-going series exploring the “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) space.

Part 1 “Buy Now Pay Later” and What Might Be Coming Next discusses why BNPL adoption is likely to surprise to the upside…and why BNPL must ultimately merge with commerce to survive.

Part 2 “Buy Now, Pay Later” and the Coming “Closed Loop” discusses Square’s acquisition of Afterpay…and why BNPL is a credible threat to the current payment network landscape.… Read the rest “How Shifting Consumer Preferences Could Threaten “Buy Now, Pay Later””

Posted on

Tidbits #56 – New Frontiers

Hello, hello! 👋🏻👋🏻

Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

Less “news” in this edition, but a lot of thought-provoking think pieces that outline how society’s tectonic plates are shifting.

People are really thinking outside of the box!

Indeed a time for change. Perhaps COVID-19 has reminded us of how short life is, and there is never a better time to pursue ideas and dreams.… Read the rest “Tidbits #56 – New Frontiers”

Posted on

In Pursuit of the Investment Edge Mirage

You probably know that “FANG” have been pretty good investments over the last 10 years.

But “pretty good” would be an understatement.

In reality, “FANG” has been fantastically good.

Leaving aside Netflix (which had truly staggering returns even relative to its highly successful tech peers) and Facebook (which had equally good returns but did not go public until 2012), a modified “FANG” group of Apple, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft not only materially beat the S&P500 but also the Nasdaq / QQQ.… Read the rest “In Pursuit of the Investment Edge Mirage”

Posted on

Tidbits #55 – Cryptolending, Dark Content, Shopee, and Exponential Age + More

Hello, hello! 👋🏻👋🏻

Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

👻 Cryptocurrencies + NFTs

#1 Bitcoin to Bucks: Crypto Fans Borrow to Buy Homes, Cars—and More Crypto

Crypto enthusiasts such as Mr. Anderson are tapping their holdings to buy homes, cars and, often, more crypto. They are getting these loans from upstart nonbank lenders and automated, blockchain-based platforms.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #55 – Cryptolending, Dark Content, Shopee, and Exponential Age + More”
Posted on

Tidbits #54 – CryptoPunks, Quantified Self, India Tech, “I am Groot!” + More

Hello, hello! 👋🏻👋🏻

Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

In Search of Power

The world has changed a lot in the last few decades.

The world has changed a lot in the last few centuries.

The world has changed a lot in the last few millennia.

But regardless of how the world changes – how people live, what they want – the thing that never changes is the quest for status and power.… Read the rest “Tidbits #54 – CryptoPunks, Quantified Self, India Tech, “I am Groot!” + More”

Posted on

Paper Portfolio – September 2021 Update

The Paper Portfolio performed well during the month of August. The Paper Portfolio returned 6.00% vs the S&P500’s 2.98%.

This brings the Paper Portfolio’s YTD performance up to 16.52%, still slightly lagging the S&P500’s 21.57%.

The capital markets are currently in a tricky place. “Investors” have likely never been more risk-seeking than they are now compared to any other time in the last decade.… Read the rest “Paper Portfolio – September 2021 Update”

Posted on

Tidbits #53 – Million Dollar Rocks, Invisible Rocks, Burn Burn Burn🔥🔥🔥! + More

Hello, hello! 👋🏻👋🏻

Welcome back to another edition of Tidbits covering all the recent things worth talking about in business, media, and technology.

🗺 Geopolitics

#1 Intel Lands Pentagon Deal to Support Domestic Chip Making

Intel Corp. INTC 1.43% said it would provide commercial foundry services in the first phase of a broader Defense Department program that aims to build up domestic design and production of cutting-edge chips.

… Read the rest “Tidbits #53 – Million Dollar Rocks, Invisible Rocks, Burn Burn Burn🔥🔥🔥! + More”