Venture Capitalist

It sounds like a really cool profession, and I've been told that it brings you a lot of money, so I did some research on it. My general impression on it has a huge tradeoff: risk. Venture capitalists, although equipped with certain analytical, statistical methods to evaluate new companies and products, would always need to take the risk of losing their investments. The risks are often high compared to other types of investments. Also, I've come to realize that a lot of people don't like them because they think venture capitalists are just a bunch of rich people making profits out of others' hard work. I think their role is important because it brings new service and products to the society, that it funds such process so new things can enter the market. Without it, the market would be drastically different and inadequate.

Americans are renouncing their citizenships

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323977304579002780562003814.html?mod=trending_now_3

The number of Americans renouncing their citizenships has been steadily increasing and mostly due to taxes. With certain legislative reform, the wealthy would need to take an additional look at their tax returns, because a fraud or noncompliance would lead to a penalty worth 50% of one's account balance.   Although it is technically a civil duty to pay taxes, I personally think it's undesirable to see such a trend, especially when the rich are important sources of the tax money. The idea of taxation is redistribution, yet if the ones who are giving in more stop doing so, the system itself will deteriorate. Difficult situation here I hope I were able to help, but some people in our school don't even file their US tax reports. ;)

WIll the Oil Industry remain as a free cash generator

Two major American oil companies, Exxon and Chevron, have published their net profits in the second quarter, and both of which are negative. Exxon spent 2 billion more than its income, while Chevron spent a billion more. There is no guarantee that there extra spendings will turn themselves into profits in the future, as the global oil supply is dwindling and the costs for reserve discovery and extraction are skyrocketing. This would mean so much more than a crisis for the oil industry, for it's so so fundamental that even a slight change in oil price would greatly affect the market. In the era where green technologies are hitting a ceiling in R&D and traditional energy sources are becoming scarce. A lot of the factors in the most complex economic model we call the real market are changing drastically and unpredictably. The world is crowded and the resources are scarce. The equilibrium has shifted and the people will be the one to face the consequences.