Dec
11
BEC
Trying to make the numbers work and getting it wrong 99% of the time
Oct
11
First time I see a graph on this commonly admitted but never demonstrated trend that computer’s energy efficiency is decreasing in reverse proportion to chip density.
Graphic from The Economist (c)
Oct
6
A man died yesterday
A man died yesterday. From an illness there is no cure.
This must be a reminder that:
- we spend more money in developing new weapons and waging wars than on searching for new drugs to cure diseases that have plagued humankind forever,
- we spend more money in creating derivatives markets than on global programs to eradicate easily and cheaply curable diseases,
- we spend more money on advertising pet food than on R&D for paediatric drugs.
The list could go on for pages.
Aug
28
Aug
24
Strategic Thinking is a Competitive Advantage
I think that the startup ecosystem is definitively taking over the economy in more than a direction. Marc Andreesen’s now famous “software is eating the world” is one of these (although it has a major flaw in the fact that it is based on the assumption that underlying technologies and energy will always be there in unlimited supply to fuel the growth of software).
Another domain where startups are taking the helm from the incumbent’s hands is in strategic thinking. Strategic Thinking relates to all the activities aiming at creating, designing and implementing new business ideas.
Mar
23
Social Mathematical Insecurity
I stumbled upon this article in La Tribune about how great and marvelous and fantastic is the French Social Security in reducing its abysmal deficit by cutting costs and increasing efficiency mainly through increasing technology usage.
The journalist (I have no word to describe the person who wrote this piece, except for Propagandist may be) glorifies the Social Security for actually reducing its own costs from 3,6% of spendings in 2005 to a mere 3,07% in 2010. That is great. Everybody applause. Our people are doing good work here. We’re saved.
Jan
21
Propaganda and miscalculation
La Tribune today runs a nice story about how much rich the French people are. According to the Ministry of Finance, their assets doubled since 2001 to reach 10 000 billion euros. That is 8 years of revenue or 5 years of National Income.
Nice thing is that 61% of this incredible wealth is in real estate. Logically, big brains in Bercy (the ugly place where the French Ministry of Finance is) start to brag about taxing more real estate. It’s easy with such an illiquid asset and it’s rewarding.
Dec
7
Que dire à nos enfants?
Une réflexion issue d’une conversation récente avec une personne avec qui je travaille et que je respecte beaucoup:
En France, il n’y a plus de place pour ceux qui veulent créer quelque chose, entre les X/ENA qui règnent sans produire et les RMI qui ne travaillent pas.
Sep
28
Looming Disaster
French (official) public debt is above 1,600 billions euros. In order not to add more insanity in here, I leave aside the unaccounted but very real 900 billions euros of future pensions for civil servants.
Let’s pretend it’s just 1,600 billions euros.
Sep
18
“Tous les paquets naissent et demeurent libres et égaux en droits.”
Marc Brandsma (@tedesign)
Jul
29
“Un célèbre buveur, étant à l’article de la mort, pria un de ses amis, qui était à côté de son lit, d’y faire apporter un verre d’eau, en disant:—A la mort, il faut se réconcilier avec ses ennemis.”
Dictionnaire des Calembours (gratuit sur iBook)
Jul
23
Nanotechnologies on a different scale
While the Brits aim for foreclosure of the majority of their nanotech sites:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10728357
The French proudly promote the development of their own centers:
This would make me scratch my head if I didn’t knew that the French always use taxpayer’s money with prodigality until reality hurts and forces painful changes. Expect some slight adjustments in France’s public support to nanotechnologies.
The future is hard to predict, applied
Almost a year ago, I favorited a twit from my friend @ourielohayon that had a nice potential for future controversy, the kind of enjoyment I like. Here’s the twit:
OurielOhayon 10 startups i think will be acquired soon: evernote, posterous/tumblr, twitter, animoto, tweetdeck/seesmic, stardoll, etsy, apture. agree?
Jul
20
NetJetSet Tips
By popular demand, a complete list of the tips for the wannabe Net Jet Setter:
#NJStip 12: always put “great”, “super”, “amazing” and “awesome” in ur twit, you’ll only need a few more words to complete it to 140c.
#NJStip 10: always infer that your “friend” Vladimir Putin came to this conference to meet you, not to address the crowd.
#NJStip 9: the status of your mailbox is more important for people to know than the actual revenue numbers of your business.
#NJStip 8: always say “interesting” about something that bores you to death. Perpetual smile is mandatory.
NetJetsetter tip #7: never disclose anything substantial about things previewed to you. The interesting part in the discusion is YOU.
NetJetSetter tip #6: You’re always previewed works of mainstream artists (?). Underground is the enemy of your personal brand.
NetJetSetter tip #5: always RT very high profile people as if it was a private message to you. There are people higher than you, so far.
NetJetSetter tip #4: always mention at least 2 famous people while namedropping. Celebrities flock around you all the time.
NetJetSetter tip #3: always put “great” before “lunch” in your tweets. It is impossible that you eat shit in a lame place.
NetJetsetter tip #2: always tease online, whatever you do next. Except for going to the loo. You ought to have privacy, fcs.
NetJetSetter tip #1: always start your tweets with “awesome”. You don’t live the same life as the others.
The good people amongst you will have noticed that the NJSTip number 11 is missing. Here it is:
#NJSTip 11: always put obvious holes in whatever you publish, so that your “audience” can jump in and create a “conversation”, that it is about void doesn’t matter.
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