A day-long mobile money shutdown will test the effectiveness of Zimbabwe’s new bank notes. Zimbabwe is desperately trying to stem inflation but also has a mobile money shutdown problem.
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A Venmo glitch revealed the spat between banks and fintech companies. PNC Bank cut customers' access to Venmo, then suggested that they switch over to its rival payments platform Zelle.The Wall Street Journal
Flying home fore the holidays?
Leave your knives at home. A security team at Vilnius airport in Lithuania created a contraband Christmas tree made from all the scissors, boxcutters, lighters, nail clippers, and bullets they confiscated from holiday travelers.Quartz
Limitations can enhance creativity and inspiration can be found anywhere, even in a seemingly dull gig, as a team of airport security workers in Vilnius, Lithuania have just proven.
Their unique and artistic Christmas tree made of confiscated items is delightful, I think. Not everyone agrees.
Trump gets his day in court
Drought strikes small Mexican farms
US and China de-escalate their trade war
Houston, we have a trade deal. US President Donald Trump and Chinese officials have approved a "phase one" trade agreement that will prevent further tariff increases and see Beijing increase purchases of American agricultural products. Trump also tweeted that "phase two" trade negotiations will begin immediately.CNBC
Is the UK facing a crisis of democracy?
The UK’s electoral system is a disaster for democracy. Britain’s “first-past-the-post” system means that just a 1.2% increase in popular vote share nationwide led the Conservative party to gather 48 more seats in parliament (out of 650) compared to the last election.Quartz
Here’s how proportional representation would change UK parliament. A Quartz analysis shows what the House of Commons might have looked like if the number of seats a party won was proportional to the percent of the national vote they received.Quartz
The first past the post system isn't perfect but it places priority on the ridings with the expectation that the elected members will prioritize the riding so members leaving their party is not uncommon. If the member doesn't pay attention then come the next election defeat is a definite option.
As
The first past the post system isn't perfect but it places priority on the ridings with the expectation that the elected members will prioritize the riding so members leaving their party is not uncommon. If the member doesn't pay attention then come the next election defeat is a definite option.
As political parties are not enshrined ( though it seems they are as permanent as a gothic gargoyles) the voters don't have to worry about members of parliament who aren't directly elected.
Under proportional representation the political parties themselves are established in a political position between the voters and parliament.
Another danger is when coalition governments become the norm the party that actually gets the most votes can be excluded from power and fringe parties with extreme or radical views can exert influence.
While first past the post has obvious limitations consider it was the conservative members of parliament that rebelled against their party leader(s).
I am sure others will disagree but that alone is what makes democracy work.
The fashion pages
This was the year everyone wanted to dress like eboys and VSCO girls. More people than ever were interested in niche outfit inspiration this year, according to Google Trends. These very online aesthetics are a testament to the power social media and the internet now wield in defining fashion.Quartz
Well, that didn't take long. Less than a year after closing down its massive flagship location, Lord & Taylor is returning to New York just in time for the holidays with a pop-up store to showcase its new clothing rental service.CNN
It would be so interesting to see how this performs. It definitely makes me sad not to have the L&T windows this year - it really does mark the end of an era south of the NYPL.
60% of startups don’t have a woman on the board
Part of the problem is the scarcity of female venture capitalists... A new study finds that investors occupy more than half of private company board seats. So a lack of women in VC investing hurts female representation on boards.Crunchbase News
120 of the top 200 venture-backed companies have zero women on their Boards. A total of 1,265 men serve on these Boards..and just 101 women. I'm one of a handful of women that serve on two or more of these Boards, so the actual number of unique women is even lower! As someone making a career in venture-backed
120 of the top 200 venture-backed companies have zero women on their Boards. A total of 1,265 men serve on these Boards..and just 101 women. I'm one of a handful of women that serve on two or more of these Boards, so the actual number of unique women is even lower! As someone making a career in venture-backed tech, this is just embarrassing. As the authors point out, these companies are the ones driving innovation and creating US jobs. We should have another 582 women on these Boards (not to mention the lack of women and men of color...). Making that happen will influence the future of products, services and the economy. If you're among the hundreds (thousands?) of women who are qualified for these roles: call the VC you know best tomorrow and tell him that you're interested in serving on these Boards; or ask a friend to introduce you to a VC, then take him for coffee and ask him for a seat at this table.
How politics works
There’s a world beyond shareholder returns
We got our management history wrong—and capitalism is worse for it. An intrepid research duo has uncovered several “inconvenient truths” about the foundational management theorists so often cited in business textbooks.Quartz
What would an “employee obsessed” startup look like? The recent scandal at the trendy luggage company Away raises important questions about what happens when well-being and company culture aren’t considered measures of success.Quartz
We are only as strong as our employees. We have to create an environment where all of our employees can be brave, not perfect - where they can feel comfortable discussing a new idea that can boost production and discussing why they need a mental health day or a sick day. We are at our best when our employees
We are only as strong as our employees. We have to create an environment where all of our employees can be brave, not perfect - where they can feel comfortable discussing a new idea that can boost production and discussing why they need a mental health day or a sick day. We are at our best when our employees are at their best and so we have to take care of them and give them space to take care of themselves as well.
Your people are your key differentiator. Especially in a client services industry, if you don't take care of your employees, they can't take care of your customers. Not only are they your most important advocates for creating change inside and outside your org, they're the face of your brand and responsible
Your people are your key differentiator. Especially in a client services industry, if you don't take care of your employees, they can't take care of your customers. Not only are they your most important advocates for creating change inside and outside your org, they're the face of your brand and responsible for your reputation in the market.
Stripe is trying to rewire the attention economy
Planning for the holidays
Hallmark holiday movies are big business. Each November and December, Hallmark consistently becomes the most-watched and highest-rated US cable channel, with the Christmas season accounting for a full third of the company’s annual advertising revenue. How many Hallmark movies have you seen?Quartz
And here's my first Quartz Obsession! I thought this was a good way to share one of my lesser-known interests: the Hallmark holiday movie marathon—yes, it's literally 24/7, I've seen some well into 2AM. I've watched many movies with family (and will see endless more through New Years). And I learned
And here's my first Quartz Obsession! I thought this was a good way to share one of my lesser-known interests: the Hallmark holiday movie marathon—yes, it's literally 24/7, I've seen some well into 2AM. I've watched many movies with family (and will see endless more through New Years). And I learned many facts when researching for this Obsession!
Some neat stuff: Hallmark will not take a script that doesn't have snow involved. They tape their films within 15 days, all through the year, with some even in production in November to be released that December. I forgot Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle was in one. Their reputation in supporting the creativity and career development of women is superb, but still can be better. And CEO Bill Abbott's podcast interview on diversity (linked) is one to listen to.
Patrick’s obsession is not only among my very favorites, it inspired me to write a fairly detailed synopsis for a Hallmark movie. It took me about 40 minutes, and I’ll report back if they buy my script.
This is everything I want in an obsession: information I didn’t know, packaged in a fun way, that
Patrick’s obsession is not only among my very favorites, it inspired me to write a fairly detailed synopsis for a Hallmark movie. It took me about 40 minutes, and I’ll report back if they buy my script.
This is everything I want in an obsession: information I didn’t know, packaged in a fun way, that sends me down an extracurricular rabbit hole. And...I kind of want to even watch some of these movies.
That's the end of the run
Holiday travelers, take note of this airport security art project
Quartz
SCOTUS grants Trump’s request for review in financial records cases
Quartz
Impeachment exists to protect the US, not to punish its president
Quartz
Why we geek out over sleek interface designs
Quartz
Scientists want to rewrite the evolution of walking—but should they?
Quartz
Drought is crippling small farmers in Mexico—with consequences for everyone else
Quartz
2019年、ビル・ゲイツが語った、読書、教育、経済のこと
Quartz
The UK’s electoral system is a disaster for democracy
Quartz
Here’s what the UK parliament would look like under proportional representation
Quartz
What Cardi B’s Lagos and Accra visits say about travel and media representations of Africa
Quartz Africa