The Digital Currency Revolution
We live in an age of technological disruption. It’s everywhere. Transportation, space flight, manufacturing, retail… everything’s about to change. Some of the changes are happening where you’d least expect it. Even the way we spend, save and invest. Money and currency is going through its own technological revolution, and digital currency is the way of the future.
Bitcoin surged past 9,000 over the weekend. As of right now it’s at 9,750 and moving towards 10,000 per coin faster than analysts and algorithms can keep track of it. It took just seven days for this digital currency to go from 8,000 to 9,000. Coinbase, the largest bitcoin exchange in the US, added over 100,000 accounts JUST IN THE LAST WEEK. All these stats are unprecedented, and they’re only from the past seven days.
In January Bitcoin was at about a 1,000 dollars per coin. It went on to hit EIGHT different 1,000-point milestones this year alone. We’re looking at a 900% increase.
These stats are just for Bitcoin, but all digital currencies are now at all-time highs. Ethereum, Litecoin… they’re all climbing. Now I’m not telling you how to invest your money, and all this could come crashing down any minute. BUT, this appears to be more than just a fad. The technology behind digital currencies is changing the way people are banking all over the world. Blockchain technology is opening up possibilities that were simply unavailable LITERALLY just a few months ago. People with no access to banks can now invest, trade, and spend anonymously, AND they can do it from the comfort of their own personal handheld device. Don’t like banks and bankers? Blockchain and digital currency enables you to be your own. Whether you live in Manhattan or a village in Liberia.
This is all new technology, and - like everything new and startup - it comes with risk. Invest in only what you don’t mind losing immediately. Treat it like going to Vegas, because all of this could take a serious nosedive at any given moment. But change is occurring. Disruption is happening whether we like it or not. Transportation, space flight, manufacturing, retail, and now currency. The time to prepare is now.
The Pelosi Disconnect
Which matters more – principles or power?
It’s easy to say “principles,” when you’re not in power. But for those who are in power, how many can actually say, backed up by their actions, that principles come first?
Is it better to have power, in order to accomplish some really important things for the good of the country, even if it means you violate some principles along the way? A lot of Republicans and Democrats would answer yes.
A year after the presidential election, this continues to be the disturbing trend in America, this win-at-all-cost attitude. We’re leaking principles Left and Right trying to play king of the mountain.
We have an 88-year-old Democrat from Michigan, John Conyers Jr., the longest-serving member of Congress, who gets to secretly settle a sexual harassment complaint, with taxpayer money, and the worst consequence he may face is stepping down from the House Judiciary Committee (which he did yesterday). A second woman has also accused him of sexual harassment.
A couple Democrats have called for him to resign from Congress, but so far Conyers says he won’t. In fact, he plans to fight the sexual harassment allegations against him and regain his spot on the Judiciary Committee. Why? Because winning – power – is more important than principles.
Then we have House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Meet the Press yesterday, awkwardly defending Conyers because he’s an “icon.” I’m not sure being an icon is the best defense to use here.
She also said Conyers deserves “due process.” That’s true – due process is vital. I’m just trying to figure out why “due process” is appropriate in Conyers’ case, while accusers in other cases seem to be taken at their word.
Pelosi went on to say that you can’t equate the Al Franken and Roy Moore sexual harassment allegations. Why is she defending Conyers and Franken? Because power matters more than principles.
What matters most? I’ve been focusing on that question a lot lately. Our principles certainly matter, because they form the bedrock that our free society is built on. When that bedrock of principles fractures, the whole thing crumbles. And we’re feeling the effects of those fractures now.
The Girl Scouts Just Jumped the Shark
You’re a bad parent.
How do I know?
You insisted that your daughter hug her grandma and grandpop when they came over for Thanksgiving dinner.
Bad parent!
Did you know that you are teaching your daughter that she “owes” people physical affection? She will grow up thinking she owes anyone and everyone a hug…or more!
First she’s hugging grandma and then she’s on the streets selling herself!
That’s the ridiculous advice from the leaders of the Girl Scouts, anyway.
They wrote a post over the weekend titled “Reminder: She Doesn’t Owe Anyone a Hug. Not Even at the Holidays.”
They continue: “Have you ever insisted, “Uncle just got here—go give him a big hug!” or “Auntie gave you that nice toy, go give her a kiss,” when you were worried your child might not offer affection on her own? If yes, you might want to reconsider the urge to do that in the future. Think of it this way, telling your child that she owes someone a hug either just because she hasn’t seen this person in a while or because they gave her a gift can set the stage for her questioning whether she “owes” another person any type of physical affection when they’ve bought her dinner or done something else seemingly nice for her later in life.”
In light of the Hollywood sexual harassment claims, the Girl Scouts are trying to get you to start a conversation about consent with your children. It’s up to you to take their advice or not. Every family dynamic is different, but as a parent, it is up to you to decide whether little Tina is just being rude to Uncle Tom by not saying hello and hugging him or your child is uncomfortable for some reason.
If you choose to take the Girl Scouts advice, consider the other side, also. You are making hugging family members and close friends a taboo act and creating fake hysteria about your child’s affection with loved ones.
I have my own advice for the Girl Scouts. Let the parents decide and stick to what you do best. And by that I mean make cookies.
