Capitalism 2.0: Welfare

While I do not believe in a welfare state, I do think the welfare has a role to play in Capitalism 2.0. I have always felt that welfare should be the absolute last resort, and still stand by that point of view. Nonetheless, that last resort is a necessary piece of a sustainable system. >>>

Yahoo!’s Godot-like Wait for a Compelling Vision

Like its peer Google, Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO) seems to be suffering from the window-shopping phenomenon that has touched online consumers as was reflected in yesterday’s Q1 results announcement. >>>

Deal Radar 2009: Tangle.com

Today’s Deal Radar company, Tangle.com, creates social networking tools for the faith-based and ‘family-friendly’ marketplace. Founded as GodTube.com, a video-sharing site for Christians, the company changed its name to Tangle.com in February 2009. The rebranding process came about when CEO Jason Illian decided to move from a video-sharing site to a full-fledged social networking site. >>>

Prospering Amidst the Real Estate Meltdown: Trulia CEO Pete Flint (Part 7)

SM: Are you seeing a lot of transactions in very inexpensive real estate?

PF: The annualized transaction rate is 5 million units right now. That compares to 7 million at the peak. It is a fairly steady pace. In certain regions 80% of all transactions are distressed, meaning they are either short sales or foreclosures. >>>

Capitalism 2.0: Spending

NY Times reports, “In a series of comments in recent weeks, Mr. Obama has begun to sketch a vision of where he would like to drive the economy once this crisis is past. His goals include diminishing the consumerism that has long been the main source of growth in the United States, and encouraging more savings and investment. He would redistribute wealth toward the middle class and make the rest of the world less dependent on the American market for its prosperity. And he would seek a consensus recognizing that an activist government is an acceptable and necessary partner for a stable, market-based economy.” >>>

Deal Radar 2009: xTuple

Cost-cutting is still at the top of many an executive’s mind as the recession continues. Today’s Deal Radar company, xTuple, uses open source enterprise resource planning (ERP) to help enterprises streamline their operations at a lower cost without a vendor lock-in. Its main products, xTuple ERP: PostBooks and Standard and Manufacturing Editions, include capabilities for accounting, customer relationship management (CRM), sales and purchasing, inventory control and warehousing. ERP is designed to help companies to gain better control over operations, increase productivity, and produce measurable growth across all areas of their businesses. >>>

Private Consultation With Sramana For First 10 Book Reviewers

As Sramana has announced, her new book Bootstrapping: Weapon of Mass Reconstruction (Entrepreneur Journeys, Volume 2; $16.95 paperback) is now available to be pre-ordered from Amazon. The book officially goes on sale June 1, 2009. >>>

Prospering Amidst the Real Estate Meltdown: Trulia CEO Pete Flint (Part 6)

SM: Newspapers are definitely struggling, especially with their top classifieds such as jobs, travel and real estate.

PF: That market is absolutely gone for them. Most of it has moved online; some of it has evaporated. Total spend has come down. We provide free to list. >>>