Category Archives: Technology

Urban Mining Gone Wild

Posted on April 17, 2011 by macromon

The increase in theft of catalytic converters is really starting to make headlines across the country.  Toyota SUVs and trucks appear to be the prime targets as their catalytic converters contain more of the three precious and rare earth metals … Continue reading →

Posted in Commodities, Gold, Rare Earth Elements, Technology | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Apple Defying Gravity in Today’s Downdraft

Posted on March 4, 2011 by macromon

CNET does a good job summing up why the market is all lathered up over Apple.  Even after yesterday’s $7 plus move the stock is only down 0.20 percent as the overall market gives it up.   Lucky for Issac Newton … Continue reading →

Posted in Apple, Technology, Video | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The 50 Most Innovative Companies

Posted on February 23, 2011 by macromon

MIT’s Technology Review ranks the 50 most innovative companies.  The list is divided into public and private companies. A123 Systems Why: Lithium-ion batteries make electric cars possible at mass-market prices. Key innovation: Nanostructured electrodes result in lithium batteries more durable … Continue reading →

Posted in Apple, Clean Tech, Electric Vehicles, Nonlinear Thinking, Technology | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Trend Reversal in Apparel Prices?

Posted on February 14, 2011 by macromon

Good piece in the USA Today about the headwinds the clothing industry is facing and the  expected reversal of the almost 20-year decline in apparel prices. The USA Today/AP reports, Clothing prices have dropped for a decade as tame inflation … Continue reading →

Posted in BRICs, Charts, China, Commodities, Economics, Technology | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Nonlinear Thinking: 3D Printing To Revolutionize Manufacturing

Posted on February 11, 2011 by macromon

The Economist has a great piece out today on the coming revolution in manufacturing with 3D printing, which could have as a profound impact on the world as the factories once did. It works like this. First you call up … Continue reading →

Posted in BRICs, China, General Interest, Japan, Nonlinear Thinking, Technology | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Nonlinear Thinking: The Future of Ag?

Posted on January 18, 2011 by macromon

As food prices spike and the Malthusian noise grows louder let’s take a look at what the “victory garden” of the future may look like.   Indoor Ag and hydroponics are already huge in the the production of the number one … Continue reading →

Posted in Clean Tech, Commodities, Equities, General Interest, Nonlinear Thinking, Technology | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Nonlinear thinking: Going Gaga Over Transformative Tech

Posted on January 10, 2011 by macromon

One of the great problems of asset bubbles is not only the creation of too much capacity, but the misallocation of resources.   Our good friend and market guru extraordinaire, Barry Ritholtz, wrote of one such case back in 2005,  during … Continue reading →

Posted in Apple, Black Swan Watch, Demographics, Employment, Equities, Technology, Video | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Nonlinear Thinking: Synthetic Palladium

Posted on January 3, 2011 by macromon

Linear thinking dominates economics and finance and was one of root causes of the recent financial crisis.  It is clear to us, the economy and financial markets are nonlinear systems.  In hindsight,  the collapse of the financial system showed risk … Continue reading →

Posted in Apple, Clean Tech, Commodities, Economics, Policy, Rare Earth Elements, Technology | Tagged , | Leave a comment