Category: Big Problems

Impact Lab > Big Problems
Analysis, Big Problems, Health & Fitness, Science & Technology News

30 most sleep-deprived cities in the U.S.

sleepdeprivedincleveland

A federal study concluded in 2008, certain states have higher incidence rates of sleeplessness than others.

Functioning on a few hours of sleep isn’t just miserable, it’s dangerous, as recent news has suggested.  Several air-traffic controllers were caught sleeping on the job last month, prompting the FAA to fire a few. Recent studies have proven that sleep deprivation can make people more unethical, less attractive, and can weaken problem-solving skills.

 

Continue reading… “30 most sleep-deprived cities in the U.S.”

Big Problems, Breakthrough Thinking, Education, Entertainment, facebook, Historical Perspectives, Hot Issues, Internet

How to stop Facebook from tracking you across the Internet

fbdisconnect

Get a hold on your privacy with Facebook Disconnect.

If you want to use Facebook, but don’t want Facebook’s tendrils extending all over the internet and following your account, you’ll want this. A product called Facebook Disconnect completely blocks the social network’s ability to track your account around the web…

Continue reading… “How to stop Facebook from tracking you across the Internet”

Analysis, Big Problems, Business, Corporate Manipulation, government, Latest Trend

Nevada’s big bet on ‘shell’ secrecy

nevada

Nevada is a magnet for businesses seeking secrecy.

In Nevada, the business of registering businesses is booming and the consultants in this thriving industry, many who are former felons, are aiding companies in seeking to avoid liabilty and disclosure.  But many of these consultants are former felons.   All of this comes at a time when Washington is calling on other nations to enforce greater transparency of financial flows.

 

Continue reading… “Nevada’s big bet on ‘shell’ secrecy”

Analysis, Big Problems, Corporate Manipulation, Economy, Money Talk

The aristocracy on Wall Street got $1.2 trillion in secret loans

wall street

Citigroup and Bank of America were the reigning champs of finance in 2006.

The reigning champions of finance in 2006 were Citigroup Inc. (C) and Bank of America Corp. (BAC).   As home prices peaked, they were leading the 10 biggest U.S. banks and brokerage firms to their best year ever with $104 billion of profits.

 

Continue reading… “The aristocracy on Wall Street got $1.2 trillion in secret loans”

Analysis, Big Problems, Latest Trend, Science & Technology News

OECD warns quality of patents ‘falling dramatically’

patents

Companies are filing overly broad patents on obvious ideas in the hope that one day the technology will become feasible.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development reports that “the quality of patent filings has fallen dramatically over the past two decades. The rush to protect even minor improvements in products or services is overburdening patent offices. This slows the time to market for true innovations and reduces the potential for breakthrough inventions.”

 

Continue reading… “OECD warns quality of patents ‘falling dramatically’”

Analysis, Big Problems, Business, Corporate Manipulation, Crazy Stuff, Culture, Current Events, Education, Historical Perspectives, Hot Issues, Latest News

Patent Trolls costing an astronomical $500 Billion

patent 2354435234

Another reason the patent system is so difficult.

Last month, Google stepped up to defend Android coders against notorious patent troll Lodsys. Apple fought the company a few months earlier on behalf of iOS developers. Patent reform is a hot topic right now, especially after President Obama just signed legislation that means the U.S. is shifting to a “first to file” (over “first to invent”) system. This won’t help much with the patent troll situation, which Boston University researchers James Bessen and Mike Meurer say have cost publicly-traded defendants $500 billion since 1990…

Continue reading… “Patent Trolls costing an astronomical $500 Billion”

Analysis, Big Problems, Latest Trend

Beware red light camera scam steals your identity

red light camera

This new scam will have you seeing red.

Some people may manage to escape the fines from traffic light cameras but most of us simply pay up without thinking about it or questioning whether the charge is valid.  Tricky scammers are taking advantage of that lazy human tendency, making a handful of money and stealing identities in the process.

 

Continue reading… “Beware red light camera scam steals your identity”

Big Problems, Business, Crazy Stuff, Culture, Current Events, Entertainment, Historical Perspectives, Latest News

Netflix’s price hike to cost the company one million customers

Torn-netflix-envelope-rrrr

How have you changed your Netflix account?

Apparently people weren’t messing around when they were complaining about Netflix’s recent price hikes: Netflix says the company expects to lose one million customers because of the pricing change. One million!

Continue reading… “Netflix’s price hike to cost the company one million customers”

Discover the Hidden Patterns of Tomorrow with Futurist Thomas Frey
Unlock Your Potential, Ignite Your Success.

By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.

Learn More about this exciting program.