Nellie Bowles – Silicon Valley braces itself for a fall: ‘There’ll be a lot of blood’

A sharply dressed French investor is leaning against a doorway, arms folded and his expression slightly bemused. Philippe Suchet is considering the latest raft of hopeful new technology entrepreneurs that have presented at 500 Startups – a major hothouse for up-and-coming Silicon Valley talent. There’s no shortage of enthusiasm and ideas in the valley, but Suchet is sceptical. “Things have …

Derrick Jensen- Sustainable Development is a Lie

“Sustainable development” is a claim to virtue. The word “development” used in this sense is a lie. The word “develop” means “to grow,” “to progress,” “to become fuller, more advanced.” Some synonyms are “evolution, unfolding, maturation, ripeness,” and some antonyms are “deterioration, disintegration.” And here is a real usage example from a dictionary: “Drama reached its highest development in the …

Energy Stew – Susan Stiffelman – 10.30.15

The journey of parenting can be overwhelming and most of us were very surprised how big a learning curve it became once our cute little darlings arrived.

There’s so much we can be unprepared about and it sure helps to have some expert advice. Susan Stiffelman has been writing and teaching about the intricacies to become better parents no matter what age our children are.

Her recent book, “Parenting with Presence” is packed with wonderful strategies and advice from someone who really understands the difficulties. Be sure to tune in and gain some valuable insights for better parenting.

Alternative Visions – Dissecting US 3rd Quarter GDP Numbers Today – 10.30.15

Jack Rasmus looks beneath the surface of today’s announced preliminary figures for third quarter 2015 GDP, which slowed sharply at 1.5% from the previous quarter’s 3.9% official growth rate. Jack predicts the US economy is headed, once again, in early 2016 for another ‘relapse’ with US GDP collapsing to zero or near zero growth—for the fifth time of a single quarter collapse since 2011. The US economy is on a ‘stop-go’ trajectory of periodic single quarter ‘relapses’ followed by short, shallow recoveries. Jack notes a similar process globally has been occurring in Europe and Japan, where ‘recessions’ instead of ‘relapses’ occur. 3rd Quarter US data show problems in business spending on inventories, business structures and equipment investment. Problems in US manufacturing and exports continue and will worsen, he argues, and housing growth will remain tepid based on high end residences and apartments. Jack challenges claims by media and economists that US consumer spending will continue to prop up the US economy, citing recent negative wage growth, deflating prices, and rising household debt. Look for 4th quarter growth no better than third, then a ‘relapse’ in 2016 as the likely trajectory. In the second half of the show, Rasmus discusses how US multinational corporations like Apple, Google, Starbucks and others manipulate global tax loopholes, how Wall St. manipulates the pharmaceutical companies, and how US consumers pay for pharma-bank profits and multinational corps taxes. Why politicians in office, and running, will do nothing about it—and pass even more tax cuts for US corporations after 2016 elections.

Glynis Sweeny – Are Your Smart Devices Spying on You?

Smart devices have become the latest target in an anti-electronic backlash that has swept the nation in recent years. Spurred by conspiracy theorists, dubious YouTube videos and social media, the public is being led to think smart devices are akin to artificial intelligence spying on our personal lives. While there may be some concerns about electronics that capture or share …

50% of the World’s Wildlife Gone in Just 2 Human Generations

Anyone accustomed to Openhand knows that our approach is to fearlessly embrace the truth, even if that makes us unpopular. Why? Because only the truth can truly set you free. There’s so much deception and distortion abound on the planet. We must intuit and feel for ourselves the true landscape and where this is all really heading. For only then, may we …

7 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Gratitude

The number one thing that mentally strong people don’t do is waste time feeling sorry for themselves. And while it can be hard to avoid self-pity at times, choosing to exchange self-pity for gratitude could be one of the most instrumental things you can do to improve your life. Whether you choose to write a few sentences in a gratitude journal, or …

Anxious people more apt to make bad decisions amid uncertainty

New brain evidence provides insight into why highly anxious people are worst at making decisions when things get unpredictable Credit: Illustration by Ian Smiley Highly anxious people have more trouble deciding how best to handle life’s uncertainties. They may even catastrophize, interpreting, say, a lovers’ tiff as a doomed relationship or a workplace change as a career threat. In gauging …