Decisions based on lack of knowledge, why would that be? This was the question running through my mind after reading one of Nick Butler’s more recent posts, as well as the pleasing feeling I had after the realization that more and more people are becoming actively aware of the fact that non-renewable energy sources really don’t replenish: the extinguish. There is much potential for growth in the renewable energy source field, as the world becomes increasingly dependent on energy sources, and begin to look to the future to see that a change is in need.

As many activists have been calling out for decades, the planet we live on is being exhausted of resources. So why not use more of the ones that don’t disappear once used?

Nikita Puri discussed Snapchat’s rejection of Facebook’s offer to buy the company for $3bn, her view of which I completely agree on. I remember first seeing the news on newsmap, and wondering why on earth Snapchat would refuse such an offer. But then again, this is a company that in two years became worth nearly $1bn. Initially one would think such a move is too bold for such a company, which doesn’t even make any revenue. However, the company’s value increased nearly tenfold when they released their IPO, so who knows, maybe they have a plan up their sleeve to make them worth more than $3bn as well?

There are a numerous amount of reasons why people are pro or anti gay marriage, but a new side was revealed earlier this year with the new protests in the USA. A new side has been more and more openly stated; that gay marriage is good for the economy. As stated by the CEO of Goldman Sachs, “equality is good business”, which is completely coherent as if more marriages are allowed to happen, more money will be spent on such weddings, which brings in more money to individual businesses. But what about in the larger picture? 

In Washington state alone, tax revenue is projected to increase by $8m alone, and as individuals, same-sex couples are estimated to have spent $500 000 more than married couples, just because their marriage was illegal. If there are only such great benefits, to the individuals as well as the over all society, why isn’t marriage an option for everyone?

We all like having more things, but we don’t want all of our stuff to take up so much space and weight. No wonder everyone buys Macbook Air’s instead of desktops, and have apps for calculators and flashlights on our smartphones. But is there a limit to who much can still be downsized?

A newly launched company, Coin, plans to launch a card which can hold eight cards, and can control the card from an app on one’s smartphone. Although one can see the point: I know I always misplace or forget to always have whatever vast amount of cards I posses with me, their marketing strategy is to advertise another way of losing weight from one’s bag. When I noticed thing, I was baffled as to why that would be the strategy, why not market the fact that by fitting eight cards into one; your life could be a lot simpler as with Coin, if you have eight cards, on you, it means you actually have 64, and you wouldn’t have to carry all those cards around.

Coming to a new continent has brought forth many surprises, one especially which pertains to airlines. As I was booking my flight to DC, I was highly confused about the “upgrades” available at extortionate amounts: one of the offers being more leg space. Am I supposed to pay double my ticket price (or more) to receive 12.5cm more leg space? To continue my astonishment, I further found out that I have to pay extra for in flight meals, as well as to check my bag in, but I wouldn’t have to pay these charges if I upgrade to first class.

Thinking in terms of profit-maximization, this all makes sense. If there’s less leg space per person: overall there’s more space for more rows, ergo more passengers, hence more opportunity to make more profit. But why would non-North American airlines then include such things, which are labeled as benefits here, in the original price? That would depend on the vision the company has to keep going: North Americans seem to rather make more money now, when airlines from other parts of the world would rather have satisfied customers, who then return to their services.