Take a close look at the infographic below, one I created for this article. Stew on the statistics a while, then read on.(See end notes for sources).Now let's consider the unknown implications of these facts. Many of these people are and always will be labeled as criminals, carrying with it not only the stigma, but the likelihood of diminishing their opportunities for employment. Some have their family lives destroyed and some must struggle unnecessarily to overcome the barriers our … [Read more...] about You and Your Kids Should Probably be in Jail
A Stark Lesson in the Crushing Economic Impacts of Government Regulation
Thank you once again Uncle Sam for doing everything within your power to stifle innovation. With the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act - HIPAA, you may have well reached the pinnacle of unnecessary, burdensome hurdles for an industry that needs innovation more than any other. I realize it's been around a long time, but until I was confronted with it from the technology side, I wasn't aware of how badly HIPAA has affected the medical profession, and by extension, our own health … [Read more...] about A Stark Lesson in the Crushing Economic Impacts of Government Regulation
Social Media Swarm Theory
I recently published a novel titled Canine Plague. The premise of the book is based on a flawed medical study, which becomes viral on social media, causing a near collapse of our social structure . I dedicated a chapter where the protagonist, Steven Bryant, describes to a neighbor how virality in social media sometimes takes on a life of it's own. He posits a theory that suggests a correlation between viral social media stories and swarm theory. Below is the content of that chapter. It's an … [Read more...] about Social Media Swarm Theory
The Microeconomic Impact of Facebook: The “Killer” App
Disruption, although now a cliché in the world of startups, still has powerful meaning. In the entrepreneurial community, disruption describes how a new entrant can exploit vulnerabilities in a specific industry to a degree it can turn its marketplace upside down. This explains why venture and angel investors love to find disruptive technologies and companies. Disruption can occur with small niche industries as well as ones that touch nearly everyone's lives. Having been involved in technology … [Read more...] about The Microeconomic Impact of Facebook: The “Killer” App