Tag Archives: finance

Things I Learned this Week

Among the things I learned this week:
* “On average, citizens in the European Union made 189 electronic transactions a year in 2013, the most recent figures available. In Greece, the average was just 17 per citizen.” (Courtesy: NYT; the article has many interesting aspects)

* About six percent of Syrian refugees contacted by the United Nations in Jordan and Lebanon during the last half of November were interested in relocating to Canada. (Courtesy: NYT)

* Canada, and presumably other countries, have privatized refugee resettlement by requiring sponsors and minimum capital reserves. (Courtesy: NYT).

* The United Nations coordinates relocation with refugees, at least in part, via text. (Courtesy: Globe and Mail)

* B-52 bombers used to have ashtrays. (Courtesy: NYT)

* Werner Kelmperer and John Banner appeared in a show together before their roles as Colonel Klink and Sergeant Shultz in Hogan’s Heroes. (Courtesy: Alfred Hitchock Presents)

* Paintings from before the 18th c. usually did not have titles. (Courtesy: New Republic)

Things I Learned this Week

Among the things I learned this week:
* DVR users’ commercial skip rates, which vary primarily by time of show (e.g., primetime, daytime). (Courtesy: Thomas Rogers on Bloomberg Radio)

* About 98 percent of Bitcoin transactions occur off the blockchain (Courtesy: a16z Podcast)

* Tap music developed out of American slavery, an outgrowth from Irish and West African dancing. Ella Fitzgerald’s Apollo debut was going to be a tap dance, but she decided to sing at the last minute out of nerves. (Courtesy: Harper’s review of What the Eye Hears: A History of Tap Dancing)

* Smarties are vegan. (Courtesy: NYT)