tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73962065942496759612024-03-19T02:13:22.883-07:00Pashfiata Strategies...action conceived in balanced thought...pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-28190454631723591342011-05-21T13:51:00.000-07:002011-05-21T13:56:20.678-07:00Researchers create nanopatch for the heart | Brown University News and EventsThe optimal solution to the ever-increasing cost of health care can not be found in public/private pay systems, rationing, price transparency, and/or "patient choice". The problem can only be solved by innovation that targets cures rather than the management of chronic conditions/symptoms. Up to this point, most technological innovation created higher health care costs, not lower, because they were focused on diagnosis (i.e. expensive testing/imaging) and/or treatment/management of symptoms. This is "grossly inefficient", but this inefficiency will be dramatically reduced as we employ the use of greater control and understanding of the intricacies of life at the nanoscale. This story is an example of not only a medical "miracle", but of the "efficiencies" that will allow us to meet the health care needs of our society, within budget:<br /><br /><a href="http://news.brown.edu/pressreleases/2011/05/nanopatch"><span style="color:#33ffff;">Researchers create nanopatch for the heart Brown University News and Events</span></a>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-11537634776382889902011-04-23T11:42:00.000-07:002011-04-23T11:43:50.720-07:00Susan Lim: Transplant cells, not organs | Video on TED.comLife sciences technology is entering a new dawn of innovation, which is certainly exciting from a longevity and quality of life perspective, but it also has the potential for a profound impact on many of the economic "doomsday" scenarios that are so popular in today's media. The promise of stem cell (especially the less politically charged IPS variety) transplantation may provide a reduced medical cost windfall in the form of:<br /><br />1) Extended productivity (tax generation) from older, more highly skilled, higher earning workers that, rather than passing away and/or becoming a burden via disability/Medicare, continue a robust contribution to the economy.<br /><br />2) The shortening of interim treatment periods between onset, transplantation and health restoration will likely lead to greatly reduced costs.<br /><br />3) The combination of longer, more productive worker lives, and the reduced costs of treatment/cure, will likely "bend the cost curve" in a more rapid and favorable manner than most are currently expecting.<br /><br />The quality of life issue is also very important from an economic perspective. Many assume that the longer people live, the more that it will cost to provide them with needed financial support and medical care and that longer lives equates to deeper, less manageable social program funding costs. This is only true if the quality of those are lives are not improved to a greater magnitude than they are extended. We are increasingly a service/information society and physical strength is declining continually in importance with respect to the ability for one to contribute to society (and who is to say that with the advances in exo-skeletons that a 90-year old could not be a loading dock worker!). As maladies that impact the elderly most severely (i.e. cognitive/neurological, muscle/bone loss, visual acuity, hearing, etc.) become more treatable, the underlying desire that most people possess (to remain productive, active, involved and valued) will be allowed to blossom.<br /><br />The below link provides a quick glimpse into how far we have come and how far we may go:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/susan_lim.html"><span style="color:#33ff33;">Susan Lim: Transplant cells, not organs Video on TED.com</span></a>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-70315468132171997522011-04-22T19:27:00.000-07:002011-04-22T21:32:58.069-07:00Marcin Jakubowski: Open-sourced blueprints for civilization | Video on TED.comBelow is a link to a very powerful example of how "hi-tech" can, and will, make "low-tech" available to the masses. While Marcin didn't mention it, this type of project is even more potentially impactful if you consider blending in the ever increasing capabilities of 3-D printing that would enable open-source designs to include more sophisticated elements/parts.<br /><br />Once again the myth that advanced technologies only benefit the already wealthy and/or only increase the competitive advantage of already technologically developed societies is dispelled. There will likely always be a gap between the most advanced countries, and the least, but the real measure of progress will be in how that gap will narrow and how quickly the advances in the front of the innovation wave are transmitted to the back. Further, as information is more widely dispersed, and more people share their discoveries and insights, it is unlikely that the front of the innovation wave for any given technology will be lead by the same limited set of countries that dominate science/technology today, nor that the leadership will remain as stable as it tends to be today. As the competitive landscape becomes more dynamic and vibrant, it will generate greater, if not wholly unexpected, levels of global prosperity. The progress will be permanent and pervasive, but the source will be highly fluid and seemingly "spontaneous" from unexpected corners of the globe.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/marcin_jakubowski.html"><span style="color:#33ff33;">Marcin Jakubowski: Open-sourced blueprints for civilization Video on TED.com</span></a>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-13910463811402523752011-04-16T13:36:00.000-07:002011-04-16T13:49:57.256-07:00Janine Benyus: Biomimicry in action | Video on TED.comAs nanotechnology enables us to be more capable at manipulating matter, it is important that we don't "re-invent the wheel" that nature has already designed. By simultaneously using the discoveries of the future, in conjunction with the lessons "learned" by our planet, and it inhabitants, we can accelerate the pace of innovation, and support the virtuous cause of preservation. The following is an excellent "primer" on the power and promise of biomimicry: <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/janine_benyus_biomimicry_in_action.html"><span style="color:#33ff33;">Janine Benyus: Biomimicry in action Video on TED.com</span></a>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-76851530882235036672011-03-22T21:57:00.000-07:002011-03-22T21:57:01.467-07:00Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter ... | Video on TED.comOptimism doesn't always require cutting edge technology:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_kay_if_i_should_have_a_daughter.html">Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter ... Video on TED.com</a>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-88904956980989867892011-02-13T11:51:00.000-08:002011-02-13T15:43:17.360-08:00The End of "Reality"...The Dawn of Truth<span style="font-size:130%;">The fog of culture is beginning to lift, the bright rays of clarity are beginning to pierce through. As all things are deconstructed into their finest parts, their commonality is undeniable. Science is breaking the material world into its most fundamental essence, and in the process, it is empowering the technological advances needed to examine the most immutable aspects of what makes us human. We have wandered for millenniums in a hazy dream-world of culture and Newtonian physics, but now as we break the bonds of the macro world, we enter the sphere of our origin. Reality, as perceived by humans, has never really been real, or at the most, it has been a carnival fun house mirror reflection of what we really are. The basic needs for survival, the societal/religious constraints imposed to maintain order and the oppressive control of those that enjoyed a regional monopoly on knowledge, power and/or communications have imposed a barrier on our progress towards understanding ourselves without distortion.<br /><br />Man has never had the opportunity to truly pursue the truth in an unfettered manner because the "scarcity" of basic needs, education, knowledge, technology, free thought/expression, freedom, and of the access to others, as well as access of others to us. These limitations have all conspired to distract, restrain, inhibit, stigmatize, coerce, enslave, intimidate or eliminate those that attempted the "virtuous journey".<br /><br />The atomization of culture is upon us. The social alloy that our coming trials will render will be of such strength to make diamond appear as water, but with this atomization, disorientation is certain to occur. That is why now, more than ever, we must abandon petty battles, selfish interests and "zero sum game" mentalities. Life is not a "zero sum game", existence is an "infinite sum process". I do not believe we are just random packets of energy and matter swirling around in a stew of chaos, but I also believe we haven't begun to understand why the universe is not random and pointless.<br /><br />As we strive to move beyond the carnal, material and status-based societies that have stained our existence up to this point, we must understand that others will be unwilling to listen and unwilling to relinquish the comfort of the rudimentary, but familiar, "meta-self-awareness" that they currently embrace.<br /><br />We all have work to do with regards to adjusting our perspectives and promoting a cooperative framework to meet the challenges that our species will face in the coming "Near-Singularity" era:<br /><br />The politician must know they no longer occupy the throne of power, but a bubble of scrutiny.<br /><br />The tyrant must know their lies are transparent and their enemies united.<br /><br />The exploitive opportunist must know their gains are fleeting, but their reputation tarnished and memorialized across the globe in an instant.<br /><br />The leaders of religion must distill and refine the "truth glue" that has held their dogma together for so many years prior.<br /><br />The scientist must become a philosopher, and the philosopher a practitioner of the scientific method.<br /><br />The activist must not abandon their pursuit of justice, but they must learn tact, diplomacy and requisite patience. Do not your cause an injustice by imprudence.<br /><br />The conservative must accept that their "established way" was once "radical and new" and that change is what created that which they hold so dear and are so reluctant to change once more. Nostalgia is entertaining, but it is toxic to progress and nourishes extinction.<br /><br />To the rising poor, aspire to higher heights than the developed world, but avoid its lows at all cost.<br /><br />All things are threatened by this change that are not of truth. All those who prematurely claim to know truth are endangered. One should not fear truth for it has no enemies. Yet, its victims are self-selected by their lust for proving that they are "right" before and above all others.<br /><br />Step forward, together, in the virtuous journey with those you have previously disagreed, bath in the light & energy released by the atomization of culture, forge a social alloy born of symmetry and fit, but most of all, respect the path and pace of your fellow travelers. If you have the good fortune to make faster progress, leave a clear path for others to follow and perhaps a note saying "Keep going! You are going to make it! I will be waiting for you..."</span>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-44583264427875130342011-02-12T08:51:00.000-08:002011-02-12T09:00:15.710-08:00Advance could speed use of genetic material RNA in nanotechnology"Scientists are reporting an advance in overcoming a major barrier to the use of the genetic material RNA in nanotechnology -- the field that involves building machines thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair and now is dominated by its cousin, DNA. Their findings could speed the use of RNA nanotechnology for treating disease."<br /><p><strong><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110119125312.htm"></a></strong><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;">ScienceDaily (2011-01-19) -- ... <em>> <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110119125312.htm"><span style="color:#33ff33;">read full article</span></a></em></span></p>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-70588108012898806772011-02-12T08:42:00.000-08:002011-02-12T08:44:29.673-08:00Ray Kurzweil: A university for the coming singularity | Video on TED.comI have posted this video previously, but I am re-posting it in celebration of the premieres of the documentary "Transcendent Man" this month across the nation.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/ray_kurzweil_announces_singularity_university.html"><span style="color:#33ff33;">Ray Kurzweil: A university for the coming singularity Video on TED.com</span></a>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-80728891448088489262011-02-12T08:23:00.000-08:002011-02-12T08:29:42.384-08:00Cynthia Breazeal: The rise of personal robots | Video on TED.comNo, Cynthia is not related to me, but I certainly hope I have her genetics with respect to intellect!<br /><br />About this talk (from TED):<br /><br />"As a grad student, Cynthia <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Breazeal</span> wondered why we were using robots on Mars, but not in our living rooms. The key, she realized: training robots to interact with people. Now she dreams up and builds robots that teach, learn -- and play. Watch for amazing demo footage of a new interactive game for kids."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/cynthia_breazeal_the_rise_of_personal_robots.html"><span style="color:#66ff99;">Cynthia <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Breazeal</span>: The rise of personal robots Video on TED.com</span></a><span style="color:#66ff99;"> </span>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-39003719462215962202011-01-29T10:06:00.000-08:002011-01-30T09:18:25.794-08:00Episodic Correlations, "Knowing", Egos & a "P.S."Most professional investment managers constantly stress the importance of "diversification", yet very few ponder the real nature of what constitutes "diversification", or if they do, they have either a very "naive" or "lazy" approach. Most rely on "long-term, equilibrium correlation" statistics, but many significant losses can occur in the "short-term", during "disequilibrium" when their less than "parity" correlation assumptions rapidly approach parity and their much relied upon "low correlation" vaporizes right at the moment they need it most.<br /><br />Correlations are <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">fantastically</span> hard to forecast, but forecasting is not necessarily necessary if you are just willing to be open-minded and accept what the capital markets are trying to tell you. At any given time there are "paradigms" in place that create attractive correlation pairs. Over the past 5 years there have been two <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">major</span> paradigms: 1) Growth can only be found overseas in the emerging markets and 2) THE FEAR TRADE. In a past post, I described why I think #1 is simply silly and potentially dangerous to your brokerage statement ("Growth in the emerging markets is self-defeating, growth in innovation/technology is self-reinforcing."; this principal is rapidly being revealed at present, just pull a 3-year chart of the NASDAQ 100 (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">QQQQ</span></span>) vs. the Emerging Market Index (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">EEM</span></span>)). The second paradigm, THE FEAR TRADE, is running its course. A great way to see this visually is by the below 2-year chart of the gold <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">ETF</span></span> (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">GLD</span></span>) vs. the financial sector <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">ETF</span></span> (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">XLF</span></span>):<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFpMuxe4-UCRnIXvxjWwQnXux2xUAyBXxS2kIHYxs7KlwNYihanIE-sDNyQ3y_w_yT4g7FgnYuEeprjzCNabZx5iEBkfz8ODKtyWyI8xu2fBQI8h7QtXYmjRjJoRix977tKq35B33bfqp/s1600/blog.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 231px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567671153555819010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFpMuxe4-UCRnIXvxjWwQnXux2xUAyBXxS2kIHYxs7KlwNYihanIE-sDNyQ3y_w_yT4g7FgnYuEeprjzCNabZx5iEBkfz8ODKtyWyI8xu2fBQI8h7QtXYmjRjJoRix977tKq35B33bfqp/s400/blog.gif" /></a> The financial sector <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">ETF</span> has outperformed gold by about 30% over the past 24 months. This is interesting (but apparently not widely known or discussed), but that is not the point of this post. The truly interesting point is that gold and financial stocks had a very significant negative correlation during the crisis, and as a result, they offered an attractive "correlation pairing", but this pairing is transitory or as I like to describe it "episodic". During the middle of the last 2 years, gold and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">financial</span> stocks demonstrated a much more "positive correlation" (both rising), but now they appear to want to return to a negatively correlated relationship, to the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">detriment</span> of the price of gold. A few quarters or years from now, this negative correlation will likely be less robust because the "paradigm" of THE FEAR TRADE will have passed. Yet, probably thousands of financial <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">advisors</span></span>/planners will plug in "long-term, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">equilibrium</span> correlation" assumptions about gold/financial sector stocks that reflect this history that will indicate a far more effective diversification benefit than will really exist at that time.<br /><br />Correlations are cyclical and transitory, but that creates an opportunity for those that are a little more proactive and honest about how the world really operates.<br /><br />Over the next few/several years, I think it is quite possible that financial stocks will double in price, and the price of gold will get cut in half. There are certainly many who would take the "other side" of that trade, but whatever side of the table you are on, it is always prudent to look for what is the antithesis of your "winning trade" and reallocate 20-30% in something that you "know" will lose money, simply because you don't really ever really "know" anything. You can just skew your exposures to reflect the skews in your perception.<br /><br />There were certainly "gold bugs" who 2 years ago "knew" gold would perform well, and being up over 45% in 24 months would classify as "performing well". Yet, if they had invested 20% in financials, which they also "knew" would largely be "doomed", they would have increased their 2-year return by about 6% cumulatively. On the other hand, had financials fallen another 50% (rather than rising), they would have reduced their return down from 45% to around 25%. 25% is not bad, but do you really think gold would have been up only 45% if financials had fallen another 50% rather than rising around 75%? Probably not.<br /><br />The point is that if you want to make money, you can be tactical and still remain disciplined and diversified. If you want to be 100% "right"in order to feed your ego, there are far less expensive ways to boost your self-image (i.e. personal trainer, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nutrisytem</span></span>, sports cars, new clothes, hair replacement, liposuction, etc.) that have more limited downside and greater direct linkage to results.<br /><br />PS: For those that think I wrote this ignorant of Friday's market action, the riots in Egypt or the threat to the Suez canal, you are wrong. The events in Egypt are not an isolated event and they are likely to be just the current example of a long series of similar events that will occur in the coming years. The age of tyrants is coming to a close. They are going to be Tweeted, blogged and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">YouTube'd</span></span> into exile (tyrants can shut the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">internet</span> down for some period in time, but that just reinforces the mindset that regime change is necessary amongst the young who are most likely to revolt), but the communication age that make this possible will also make the visuals very discomforting. It is a bit like "making sausage", you don't want to watch the process, especially when the flesh that is being torn is human. The regime that will come into power next in Egypt may not be to our liking, but if they (whoever they are) do not respect the rights and desires of the citizens of that country, they are not going to have 30 years this time to enjoy their booty. Technology is accelerating and so is the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">time frame</span> in which change occurs, and that does not only apply to the feature size of components on the newest motherboard. We all want "change" that leads to a better world, but we need to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">develop</span> the stomach that is required to make or allow that change to happen. From an investment standpoint:<br /><br />"Queasy makes making money easy", so get some <span style="color:#ffffff;">Rolaids,</span> get "longer" as the videos get uglier and put 20% in something that is a "sure loser", in your mind.pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-34302297230299709862011-01-29T09:46:00.000-08:002011-01-29T10:00:18.841-08:00Artificial IntuitionArtificial general intelligence (AGI) was once thought to be achievable through the construction of a system of rules based on logic. Yet, as with almost every area of research, as you peel back a layer of onion, you not only find more layers, but a multitude of different varieties of onions, each with its own "N" layers of complexity. Monica Anderson, a "computer based cognition" researcher and entrepreneur, provides a very insightful and readable introduction into this fascinating exploration of how we "operate" at the most intimate level, within our own minds:<br /><br /><a href="http://artificial-intuition.com/index.html"><span style="color:#33ffff;">http://artificial-intuition.com/index.html</span></a>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-61230396556118536862011-01-16T18:13:00.000-08:002011-01-16T18:15:53.809-08:00The 3 A’s of awesome: Neil Pasricha on TED.comPashfiata Strategies focuses on issues surrounding nanotechnology, advancing/converging technologies, economics, capital market/investor behavior and investment/risk management, but its underlying purpose is to calm fears, increase awareness, promote fact-based thought and most importantly, "Build Hope & Optimism, One Atom at a Time!" Unfortunately, facts alone don't always promote optimism, perspective is the required "secret sauce". Here is a great TED video that will hopefully give some guidance on how to maintain a mindset that is fertile for optimism to take seed:<br /><br /><a href="http://blog.ted.com/2011/01/07/the-3-as-of-awesome-neil-pasricha-on-ted-com/"><span style="color:#ffffff;">The 3 A’s of awesome: Neil Pasricha on TED.com</span></a>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-62469110312021140702011-01-16T16:31:00.000-08:002011-01-16T18:27:10.378-08:00"Convergence Chain"The below link to the article "UNC researchers inch closer to unlocking potential of synthetic blood" is a good example of what I term the "Convergence Chain". In this example, nanotechnology is providing a means to develop a material to meet very specific characteristics that are necessary to advance life sciences research/development. Further, the future availability of synthetic blood would likely lead to lower health care costs, less exposure to donor-sourced contamination (i.e. contracting hepatitis or HIV from improperly screened/processed human blood), more effective treatments/therapy for blood disorders, less worker productivity losses and employment opportunities (i.e. synthetic blood manufacturing/distribution jobs, synthetic blood improvement research in performance enhancement for athletic/military applications, etc.).<br /><br />(Of course, there is always a downside. This will put pressure on cookie/orange juice sales as human blood donations will become obsolete and undergraduates will not be able to engage in plasma donation to cover tuition expenses or beer purchases.)<br /><br /><u><span style="color:#800080;"><a href="http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/4208/107/">http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/4208/107/</a></span></u><a href="http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/4208/107/"></a>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-71441511085658242872011-01-09T10:43:00.000-08:002011-01-16T17:56:19.810-08:00Scientists reverse aging in mice by lengthening telomeresWhile human immortality is likely quite a distant goal, the near-term "bridge" is achieving "escape velocity" from the rate of aging vs. the rate of "wellness lengthening". This link provides a source of hope for that outcome:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.humanpl.us/2010/11/scientists-reverse-aging-in-mice-by-lengthening-telomeres/">Scientists reverse aging in mice by lengthening telomeres</a>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-8129117787336403112010-12-03T17:06:00.000-08:002010-12-03T17:06:47.754-08:00The Future of Metabolic Engineering – Designer Molecules, Cells and Microorganisms « Berkeley Lab News CenterToday's paradigm of rapidly advancing technology is not only accelerating, but converging, self-reinforcing and merging. Metabolic Engineering is an excellent example of information technology, biotechnology, materials science and nanotechnology being blended to achieve an end result that none on an individual basis would likely achieve. We have been creating hybrid crops with desireable characteristics for many decades (if not centuries), but the difference here is that the intervention is much more direct, the end result more pre-defined and the organisms used go well beyond crops and different breeds of livestock. While there are certainly risks, and there will likely a multitude of unforeseen and undesireable results, we are entering an age where "hit & miss" will be increasing replaced with "aim & fire". Please see the following link for more background on metabolic engineering:<br /><br /><a href="http://newscenter.lbl.gov/feature-stories/2010/12/02/metabolic-engineering/">The Future of Metabolic Engineering – Designer Molecules, Cells and Microorganisms « Berkeley Lab News Center</a>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-10407943728996867702010-12-03T08:21:00.000-08:002010-12-03T08:21:35.013-08:00From Citigroup, a New Volatility-Linked ETNThe below article is promising in that the available <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">VIX</span>-related shares are issued as "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">ETNs</span>" and are therefore subject to the creditworthiness of the issuer (unlike <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">ETFs</span>), but the article indicates that there are more issuers coming to market and, as a result, some of the credit risk can be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">mitigated</span> via usage of more than one <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">VIX</span> sensitive <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">ETN</span> within a portfolio. The Citigroup offering is particularly interesting, but I think we need to see some trading history to get a better feel for how this hybrid structure should be used.<br /><br /><a href="http://news.morningstar.com/articlenet/article.aspx?id=360720">From <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Citigroup</span>, a New Volatility-Linked <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">ETN</span></a>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-89616578527544429612010-12-03T05:40:00.000-08:002010-12-03T05:58:12.397-08:00Good News & (less obvious) Better News<strong>Good News:</strong><br /><br />• DECEMBER 2, 2010, 10:42 A.M. ET<br />US Stocks Rise On Pending Home Sales, Hope In Europe<br />By Steven Russolillo<br />Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES<br /><br />“NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--U.S. stocks extended gains Thursday after pending home sales unexpectedly soared and investors mulled whether European officials can help stop the spread of the euro zone's debt crisis.”<br /><br />The combination of the two issues mentioned above will be supportive of the US Dollar should they continue their recently established trends.<br /><br />What I always find interesting is how things evolve in front of everyone’s eyes yet their perceptions are so slow to respond. Occasionally, I like to offer those who I communicate with an opportunity to win a friendly bet with their favorite “victim”. Ask your “target” the following question:<br /><br />“How much has the S&P Homebuilders ETF underperformed the Emerging Market Index ETF over the past 3 years in terms of price?”<br /><br />a) The Homebuilders ETF has underperformed the Emerging Market Index ETF between 15-24%<br />b) The Homebuilders ETF has underperformed the Emerging Market Index ETF by over 25-34%<br />c) The Homebuilders ETF has underperformed the Emerging Market Index ETF by over 35%<br />d) None of the above<br /><br />The answer: None of the above<br /><br />Below is a 3-year chart showing how the S&P Homebuilder ETF is effectively tied with the Emerging Market Index despite the “Rapid Rise of China” and the “Worst Real Estate Crisis Since the Great Depression!”:<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozuQcq-DY4Jx5JjZmzb2g0uabmtcAb35ZvGJkI6ekEdh7G0qkg2DAI_hFlxdmBlOv5Qi_U053-WPJWI3SWUl0m85c7q3uUht84unnNl0YxAK-cWGsGJUDoRDmn1lSUiFmZ_3N9DnSyUZ9/s1600/1+1+image.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 231px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546453965076453026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozuQcq-DY4Jx5JjZmzb2g0uabmtcAb35ZvGJkI6ekEdh7G0qkg2DAI_hFlxdmBlOv5Qi_U053-WPJWI3SWUl0m85c7q3uUht84unnNl0YxAK-cWGsGJUDoRDmn1lSUiFmZ_3N9DnSyUZ9/s400/1+1+image.gif" /></a><br /><br /><br /><strong>(less obvious) Better News:</strong><br /><br /><strong>"Breakthrough Chip Technology Lights the Path to Exascale Computing"</strong><br />December 2, 2010 by Editor </p><p><br />IBM CMOS Integrated Nanophotonics (IBM)</p><p><br />IBM scientists Wednesday unveiled a new chip technology that integrates electrical and optical devices on the same piece of silicon, enabling computer chips to communicate using pulses of light (instead of electrical signals), resulting in smaller, faster and more power-efficient chips than is possible with conventional technologies.<br />The new technology, called CMOS Integrated Silicon Nanophotonics, is the result of a decade of development at IBM’s global Research laboratories.<br />The patented technology will change and improve the way computer chips communicate — by integrating optical devices and functions directly onto a silicon chip, enabling over 10X improvement in integration density than is feasible with current manufacturing techniques."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.kurzweilai.net/breakthrough-chip-technology-lights-the-path-to-exascale-computing?utm_source=KurzweilAI+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=cd1c882696-UA-946742-1&utm_medium=email">http://www.kurzweilai.net/breakthrough-chip-technology-lights-the-path-to-exascale-computing?utm_source=KurzweilAI+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=cd1c882696-UA-946742-1&utm_medium=email</a></p><p><br /><br /><br />Now you have probably never heard of “nanophotonics”, and if you haven’t , don’t feel bad. It isn’t exactly holiday season cocktail chatter.<br /><br />The reason why this breakthrough is important is that the technology, and those similar to it, will enable the continuation of the rapid advancement in the computing power which in turn is vital to advances in many areas, but especially in the area of life sciences (i.e. healthcare).<br /><br />The greatest promise for curing the many diseases we are faced with comes in the form of enhanced molecular diagnostics, molecular synthesis and genetic information processing. These are all fantastically computationally demanding activities, but the bulk of healthcare costs come from the treatment of chronic diseases rather than actual cures. The breakthroughs in genetic sequencing, RNAi (a means to suppress undesirable genetic expression), and molecular analysis via digital means during the past decade are all just first steps in overcoming the healthcare & quality of life challenges we will face as we age.<br /><br />This development is not only good for the “N” (nanotechnology), the “B” (biotechnology) and the “I” (information) in my phrase “N.ew B.R.I.C.”, but also the “R” (robotics) and “C” (cognitive). As we improve our computer technology by the next 10-100 fold, we will start to approach the needed levels to achieve broader forms of artificial intelligence that will in turn propel both robotics and cognitive technologies to the next level. As we age as a species, we will not only have increased health issues, but also we will need assistance from robotics to overcome physical impairments, as well as cognitive innovation to treat/manage dementia related challenges.<br /><br />Most should not invest in “science projects”, and no, I am not recommending IBM as an investment, but it is important to remember our problems will not be truly resolved by easy money, government intervention or political debate. Our future is bright because of the same essential ingredient that Edison used to create the light bulb: curiosity, vision & innovation.<br /><br />So hopefully, as people take advantage of the house bargains that are available today they will have the option of living in that home for many years to come with little medical assistance and perhaps a very loyal “robo-dog” that not only doesn’t need to be walked, but can also prepare their tax return!<br /><br /></p><strong></strong><strong></strong>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-67659593375811319672010-11-27T06:59:00.000-08:002010-11-27T07:45:40.213-08:00How Wealthy is America?<span style="font-family:arial;">"How wealthy is the USA?" This is a critical question as it lies at the heart of so many other issues:<br /><br />"Can the US service its debt?"<br />"Can we afford health care for the Boomers?"<br />"What backs the US Dollar?"<br />"Is the US becoming a "banana republic"?"<br />"Should the US Dollar remain the world's reserve currency?"<br />"Will the US remain an economic superpower?"<br /><br />You could answer all of these questions in countless ways, but here is at least one quick perspective that may help those who are riddled with concern about the future of America:<br /><br />Per the most recent date from the Federal Reserve, U.S. Household Net Worth (assets less all mortgage, credit card or other debt) totals <em><strong>over $53 trillion.</strong></em><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/z1/current/z1r-1.pdf"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/z1/current/z1r-1.pdf</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Interestingly, per the World Federation of Exchanges, the total market capitalization of global equities is <em><strong>$52.7 trillion.</strong></em><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.world-exchanges.org/statistics/key-market-figures"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://www.world-exchanges.org/statistics/key-market-figures</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">So, the people of the U.S. collectively, theoretically, have <strong><em>sufficient wealth to buy all the publicly traded stocks in the world!</em></strong></span><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></em></strong><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Further, <strong><em>foreign currency reserves of China total under $3 trillion. U.S. households <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">possess</span> over $7 trillion in deposits.</em></strong></span><strong><em><br /><br /></em></strong><a href="http://www.safe.gov.cn/model_safe_en/tjsj_en/tjsj_detail_en.jsp?ID=30303000000000000,19&id=4">http://www.safe.gov.cn/model_safe_en/tjsj_en/tjsj_detail_en.jsp?ID=30303000000000000,19&id=4</a><br /><br /><br /><strong><em>When was the last time you heard someone say: "the citizens (not the government) of the US have more economic power than China."</em></strong> ?<br /><strong><em></em></strong>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-53750353954771645012010-11-26T09:24:00.000-08:002010-11-26T09:24:27.826-08:0010 Questions for Ray KurzweilAt the below link, Kurzweil answers a number of the key questions asked by those unfamiliar with the Singularity literature in a very brief form:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2033076,00.html">10 Questions for Ray Kurzweil</a>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-26007554898368511252010-11-24T09:31:00.000-08:002010-11-24T09:31:32.166-08:00There’s Nothing ‘Rapacious’ About America’s Income DifferencesOnce again Mark Perry slays the "rhetorical dragon" with some simple, but well presented data:<br /><br /><a href="http://blog.american.com/?p=22933">There’s Nothing ‘Rapacious’ About America’s Income Differences</a>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-23384510346067929532010-11-19T05:25:00.000-08:002010-11-19T05:47:21.533-08:00Growth in China is Self-Defeating; Growth in Innovation is Self-ReinforcingThe perception that growth can only be found in the emerging markets is slowly eroding. China is increasingly faced with high inflation, infra-structure challenges, a weak consumer segment, political pressures, environmental threats, unfavorable demographics and it is bidding against itself in the commodity markets. Technology/innovation ( nanotechnology, life sciences and information technology in particular ), on the other hand, is accelerating, converging and reinforcing itself. The below chart shows that the NASDAQ 100 (a proxy for innovation) has outperformed the Emerging Market Index (very sensitive to economic activity in China) over the past 3 years and I believe this will continue for several years to come:<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpIDvxlKCn93Lx7wRyVjGDc8n-j3P-BCesjrN6GMSNumXWQrnIlFAKuK-rqvTU3KHUfyFFI_XUNtSJQyn6_2iT_12iXoGd0uRZQqE4kCy4zDj7YaSWDw3YxdJ0UDeLVace_USgtateWB0/s1600/qqqq+vs.+eem.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 231px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541253793317651538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpIDvxlKCn93Lx7wRyVjGDc8n-j3P-BCesjrN6GMSNumXWQrnIlFAKuK-rqvTU3KHUfyFFI_XUNtSJQyn6_2iT_12iXoGd0uRZQqE4kCy4zDj7YaSWDw3YxdJ0UDeLVace_USgtateWB0/s400/qqqq+vs.+eem.gif" /></a><br /><br /><br />The above is not a recommendation of any particular security or investment strategy. It is simply a statement of personal opinion.<br /><br />Explore Nanotechnology !<br /><a href="http://www.nanularity.com/">http://www.nanularity.com/</a></p><p><br /><br /><br /></p>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-39585807549073201882010-11-18T08:12:00.000-08:002010-11-18T16:25:41.402-08:00Advantages in All-Cap Investing<a href="http://news.morningstar.com/articlenet/article.aspx?id=358248">Advantages in All-Cap Investing</a><br /><br />The above link should be read in conjunction with the "Is Domestic Really Domestic?" link. Together, the concepts they put forth, form a foundation for dismantling the dysfunctional, consultant-driven "style-box" mentality of the investment industry. If you want "true" growth, go small and/or to the emerging markets. If you want dividend income, go to the developed coountries (Europe in particular). If you want a value/contrarian play, go where the negative signs in front of the trailing, multi-year returns lead you, regardless of geography, size of company or newspaper headlines.pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-25444719022930403072010-11-18T08:10:00.000-08:002010-11-18T16:09:35.637-08:00Life Technologies Launches EZValidation™ Online Tool for Clinical Laboratory Market<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">EZValidation</span> is an example of how information technology is assisting in molecular diagnosis and helping to make costly research more efficient:<br /><br /><a href="http://news.morningstar.com/newsnet/ViewNews.aspx?article=%2FBW%2F20101117005334_univ.xml">Life Technologies Launches <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">EZValidation</span>™ Online Tool for Clinical Laboratory Market</a><br /><br />Many times the contribution from advances in one technology can have a profound impact on the profitability of another. For example, while it is great when a new compound is discovered <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">that</span> can cure a deadly disease, significant contributions can result from bringing the often cited "$1 billion and 10 years" investment to create a new drug down to say "$800 million and 8 years". This may not seem so dramatic as a cure for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">AIDS</span>, but any improvement in the calculus of ROI on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">health care</span> R&D serves to attract more investment dollars and increased potential for innovation. So, something as simple as simplifying <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">work flows</span> and coordinating clinical work can have profound benefit on the effort to improve the state of mankind as a result of that marginal dollar of investment that "tips" the odds toward a radical discovery.<br /><br />Please note: The above entry is not a recommendation of Life Technologies as an investment. It is an illustration of how technologies <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">reinforce</span> each other. I currently hold a position in the stock of the above company. I also owned the predecessor companies, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Invitrogen</span> and Applied <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Biosciences</span>, which merged into Life Technologies...it is a small world in many ways.pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-22787820685336590942010-11-18T07:56:00.000-08:002010-11-19T05:24:30.294-08:00Is Domestic Really Domestic?<a href="http://news.morningstar.com/articlenet/article.aspx?id=360276">Is Domestic Really Domestic?</a><br /><br /><br />Quote from above link:<br /><br />"Gauged according to underlying sales, after all, the S&P 500 isn't a domestic-stock index. It's an international benchmark, one whose companies streamed in 46.6% of their revenue from foreign shores last year, according to S&P's estimates. Approximately a third of that sum, moreover, was rung up in emerging markets."pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396206594249675961.post-88478068564385149712010-10-31T10:06:00.000-07:002010-10-31T10:06:58.758-07:00First Trust - www.FTPortfolios.com<a href="http://www.ftportfolios.com/Commentary/EconomicResearch/2010/10/29/the-v-shaped-nail-in-the-double-dip-coffin">First Trust - www.FTPortfolios.com</a>pashfiata strategisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01295920234482409643noreply@blogger.com0