Monthly Archives: July 2019

07/12/19

The Trump Bump — Cryotocurrency

President Trump had some choice words to share in regard to cryptocurrency and the Libra (Facebook) cryptocurrency in particular.

They were not flattering.

The President is “…not a fan…” and suggests that cryptocurrency will “…facilitate unlawful behavior, including drug trade and other illegal activity.”

His full quote was:

“I am not a fan of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, which are not money, and whose value is highly volatile and based on thin air. Unregulated crypto-assets can facilitate unlawful behavior, including drug trade and other illegal activity.”

He had a lot more to say, but that is the money line.

The comments were magnified by those of US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell who said that he felt that cryptocurrency “…raises serious concerns.” [Hey, if you were casting a movie on the Fed Reserve — sexy action thriller kind of movie with Charlize Theron as a central banker — is this guy not the perfect Fed Reserve Chairman?]

Powell’s comments, though less widely reported, contained substantial beef as he noted that the existing regulatory scheme does not “fit digital currencies” which he indicated would have to be addressed before Libra could go forward. He specifically called out Libra thusly,

“Libra raises many serious concerns regarding privacy, money laundering, consumer protection, and financial stability.”

The President pointedly noted that if Facebook wanted to go forward with Libra they should get a bank charter. Your Big Red Car said the same thing some time ago.

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07/12/19

CEO Shoptalk — The List of Horribles

Nice day in the ATX. Nice day to talk about the List or Horribles.

The List of Horribles is something which a CEO of a startup or small business WILL encounter along the way to the finish line (pay window). These things — not all, but some — will happen.

“Come on, Big Red Car, really?” you say in that skeptical voice of yours, the one your mom used to call your “whiny” voice.

“Yes, dear reader, dear CEO, many of them will happen.”

Here is you (female CEO?) dealing with the List of Horribles. The guy with the helmet head is a Venture Capitalist finalizing the negotiations of a down round.

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07/11/19

When Journalists Do Their Job

No, this is not a screed about journalists being the “enemy of the people,” which I do not subscribe to anyway. This is a story about how journalists can illuminate a forgotten or overlooked story and thereby bring something of great importance to the public, and, in this instance, to the judicial system.

I speak, of course, of l’affaire Epstein. Jeffrey Epstein is a billionaire sexual predator who was able to use high powered lawyers and his own prominence in the social/financial world to obtain a sweetheart plea bargain that stomped on the rights of his many victims.

He had friends in high places. Friends who he took along on his travels — this chap 26 times — and who may have been available to put their thumbs on the scales of justice when he needed it. [Get it? The thumb?]

Image result for images jeffrey epstein bill clinton

Here’s Epstein in the company of famed Harvard prof Alan Dershowitz — one of his lawyers! This picture is from before Epstein pled guilty to his various nefarious deeds involving young women.

Image result for images jeffrey epstein dershowitz

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07/10/19

The Whine Line Protocol

The Whine Line Procotol, Big Red Car? Do tell.

So, your Big Red Car was engaged in a bit of  discussion and blog reading in which the subject of how to deal with problem hires or heretics — do not dig that word in this context — was bandied about.

A couple of things came to light, but the most important is this — dealing with employees both good and not so good is a normal part of CEOing.

Your generation did not invent sex or business; dealing with less than perfect employees is not a problem unique to your outfit. It is just a normal part of CEOing, and you got that gig.

Employees are dynamic. Your star marketing person may become your challenge and vice versa. Here are you and the employees on good days.

It is all just part of running a team, a company, CEOing. It is normal and you don’t need to be firing people for a little whining. The challenge is to keep the whining within a tolerable level.

That requires you to develop your own personal Whine Line Protocol.

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07/9/19

Senators Running For President

On the mournful day after Representative Eric Swalwell pulled the plug on his 2020 campaign, your Big Red Car is taken with the behavior of Senators running for President.

Here is the candidate on The View in better days. He is a pleasant, fresh faced chap from California and I am overtaken with sorrow at his decision.

PHOTO: Rep. Eric Swalwell visits the set of The View, June 4, 2019.

They — the Senators — change. The second they announce for President the behavior of Senate candidates change.

It is hard to be a successful candidate for President, if you have served in the Senate, because you have a track record upon which to run away from to be held accountable.

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07/9/19

The Pursuit of Happiness

With Independence Day in the rear view mirror, I am still taken by the most famous sentence in the history of the governance of mankind:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

It is a powerful statement filled with meaning for the world and Americans who have lived with it for 243 years. It inspired our country in rebellion, in the Revolution, and in the development of other similarly meaningful documents such as the United States Constitution. It is the core value of our national philosophy and governance.

Our countrymen fought to make it a reality.

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07/8/19

Austin — Tech Pros Love It

OK, so you are probably getting tired of your Big Red Car touting Austin, but allow me one more bit of apple polishing, may I?

Austin By God Texas has been identified as THE MOST DESIRABLE CITY for a tech pro to work in the United States.

Plus, you can swim at Barton Springs and swim laps in its 65F water temp, 1/8th mile length. Ahh, Austin!

Image result for images of barton springs

Surprised?

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07/8/19

Viking Rules

Never in history has your Big Red Car touted another’s blog. Not something I do. Don’t like a lot of other blogs.

But the other day one caught my eye and I want to introduce it to you.

It is called “Viking” and can be found at Viking.

The Viking writes about Startups, Search, Books, Music, and Travel. It is well written, pithy, and edgy. I like the tone and voice. [To be clear the use of the word “Viking” is not intended to signal any nationality, but rather the sense of adventure, like adventuring. Got it?

Image result for image of viking

What caught my eye was a post called The Rules from April 2019. Here is the Viking’s Rules. Put your startup hat and glasses on as you read this.

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