Tag Archives: Business

Photography: How Kodak Invented The ‘Snapshot’


Vox (September 20, 2024): In 1888, Eastman Kodak patented roll film, and the company’s business model of selling film, and then processing and printing the photos taken on that film for their consumers, made photography available to the masses for the first time.

Before the Kodak No. 1 box camera debuted, photography was a complicated process involving chemistry and expertise on big, bulky equipment. When Kodak introduced the Brownie and sold it for a dollar in 1900, photography went fully mainstream. The company dominated the film sales and development market during the 20th century and successfully marketed its automatic cameras as crucial to capturing fleeting moments — at home and on vacation.

But digital camera sales began to outpace film camera sales in the early 2000s, and Kodak failed to keep up. They filed for bankruptcy in 2012 but do still exist and sell film, albeit to a much smaller market.

Finance Preview: Barron’s Magazine – Sept. 16, 2024

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BARRON’S MAGAZINE (September 14, 2024): The latest issue features

America’s Housing Crisis Isn’t Going Away—Even With Rate Cuts and Help From D.C.

America’s Housing Crisis Isn’t Going Away—Even With Rate Cuts and Help From D.C.

Rate cuts and subsidies from Washington may help, but homeownership is likely to remain out of reach for millions of Americans. What’s ahead for buyers and builders.

A Guide to the Different Flavors of Financial Advisor

We rank independent advisors in this special report. Here are the other types of professionals that provide financial advice, and where to find them.

The Fed Is Ready to Cut Rates. What to Do Next. 

The stock market is about to get what it’s waiting for.

How Long Do You Expect to Live? It Pays to Make an Educated Guess.

Heading into retirement with a clear-eyed sense of your longevity is crucial to figuring out how much you can really spend.

Finance Preview: Barron’s Magazine – Sept. 9, 2024

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BARRON’S MAGAZINE (September 7, 2024): The latest issue features ‘The New Nuclear Age’ – AI and EVs are devouring America’s electricity supply. Nuclear energy, long out of favor, may wind up saving us.

Get Ready for the New Nuclear Age. It Could Help Solve America’s Electricity Problems.

Get Ready for the New Nuclear Age. It Could Help Solve America’s Electricity Problems.

Long out of favor, nuclear power is suddenly facing a much brighter future. The bull case for Constellation Energy and Vistra.

Retirees, It’s Time to Give Yourself a Raise. How to Keep the Cash Flowing for Decades.

A 5% withdrawal rate now looks “safe” for retirement savings. Using buckets for cash, income, and growth can keep it all afloat.

China’s Troubles Are Hitting Home for U.S. Companies

Multinationals like Starbucks and Marriott are taking a hard look at their Chinese operations—and tempering their outlooks.Long read

Music: Selmer Saxophones History & Craftsmanship

Insider Business (September 6, 2024) – Henri Selmer Saxophones was founded in Paris in 1885. Today, the company is synonymous with high-end saxophones. The most popular saxophone it sells, the Series II alto, starts at about $7,000, but a Selmer can cost you as much as $30,000, depending on the customization and finishes like gold plating.

John Coltrane, one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time, used Selmer saxophones in his performances. He recorded his magnum opus, “A Love Supreme,” on a Mark VI. One of his Mark VI tenor saxophones is on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

Musicians are willing to pay for a Selmer for a variety of reasons: the familiar sound, the history behind the brand, the craftsmanship and attention to detail, and the playability.

Finance Preview: Barron’s Magazine – Sept 2, 2024

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BARRON’S MAGAZINE (August 31, 2024): The latest issue features ‘Are Kids Too Expensive’ – The rising cost of child-rearing is driving more Americans to say “No, thanks.” Why that’s a problem for the U.S. economy…

Parenthood Has Become Too Expensive. That Imperils Economic Growth.

A population decline stemming from falling birthrates and tighter immigration policies could derail America’s prosperity. Politicians of both persuasions are promising to help families.

Don’t Make This Retirement Savings Mistake. It Pays to Be Consistent.

Job-hoppers often cash out of 401(k) plans. Doing this instead could sharply boost your savings.

The Stock Market Is in the Homestretch of 2024. Where to Invest Now.

The markets are at a critical juncture, with a rate cut and presidential election looming. How to position your portfolio.

Finance Preview: Barron’s Magazine – August 26, 2024

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BARRON’S MAGAZINE (August 24, 2024): The latest issue features..

Story About the Economy. Where It Matters Most.

Beating Donald Trump would flip the idea that the Biden years have brought nothing but pain.

There’s a Good Case for Waiting to Claim Social Security. Most Recipients Aren’t Interested.

Some 43% of respondents to a recent survey said they planned to file for Social Security benefits before age 67, the full retirement age for Americans born in 1960 or later.

Trump and Harris Hear From the Megadonors. What the Big Money Wants in Return.

The money flows to down-ticket candidates as well. The top 100 donors have contributed $1.2 billion so far this campaign cycle, on track to surpass past records.

At Jackson Hole, Powell Hopes the Fed Hasn’t Waited Too Long to Cut Rates

The Federal Rerve is trying to get ahead of economic weakness.

Views: America’s Domestic Shift To Wine Production

CBS Mornings (August 17, 2024): The United States is the largest wine importer by volume and value, with most bottles in the country imported from European countries. But there’s a domestic shift underway, with regions around the U.S. growing in size and prestige to produce more local varieties. Nancy Chen has more.

Finance Preview: Barron’s Magazine – August 19, 2024

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BARRON’S MAGAZINE (August 17, 2024): The latest issue features..

Powell Will Set the Stage for Rate Cuts at Jackson Hole. What to Expect.

The chair will lay the groundwork for the Fed’s next phase of monetary policy. It will be the highest-stakes event for the economy and markets this fall.

Retirees Face Sticker Shock on Healthcare Costs if They Don’t Prepare

A 65-year-old retiring today can expect to spend an average of $165,000 in healthcare expenses throughout retirement, up nearly 5% from last year, according to Fidelity.

Harris Is Veering Away From Econ 101. It Makes Political Sense.

The vice president’s speech in Raleigh puts her squarely to the left of President Joe Biden, Barron’s ideas editor writes.

Jackson Hole Agenda Speaks to the Economy’s Unusual Strength

Economists and policy makers at the Federal Reserve symposium will probe the effectiveness and transmission of monetary policy, which took unorthodox turns in the past 15 years.

Harvard Business Review – September/October 2024

September–October 2024

Harvard Business Review (August 12, 2024) – The latest issue features Embracing Gen AI at Work: How to get what you need from this new technology…

Tom Brady on the Art of Leading Teammates

In this article, NFL great Tom Brady and Nitin Nohria, of Harvard Business School, present a set of principles that people in any realm can apply to help teams successfully work together toward common goals.close

When our society talks about success, we tend to focus on individual success. We obsess about who is the “greatest of all time,” who is most responsible for a win, or what players or coaches a team might add next season to become even better.

Where Data-Driven Decision-Making Can Go Wrong

Let’s say you’re leading a meeting about the hourly pay of your company’s warehouse employees. For several years it has automatically been increased by small amounts to keep up with inflation. Citing a study of a large company that found that higher pay improved productivity so much that it boosted profits, someone on your team advocates for a different approach: a substantial raise of $2 an hour for all workers in the warehouse. What would you do?

AI Won’t Give You a New Sustainable Advantage

History has shown that technological innovation can profoundly change how business is conducted. The steam engine in the 1700s, the electric motor in the 1800s, the personal computer in the 1970s—each transformed many sectors of the economy, unlocking enormous value in the process. But relatively few of these and other technologies went on to become direct sources of sustained competitive advantage for the companies that deployed them, precisely because their effects were so profound and so widespread that virtually every enterprise was compelled to adopt them. Moreover, in many cases they eliminated the advantages that incumbents had enjoyed, allowing new competitors to enter previously stable markets.

Finance Preview: Barron’s Magazine – August 12, 2024

The Stock Market's Wild Week: Lessons, How to Protect Your Portfolio, and  What to Do Now - Barron's

BARRON’S MAGAZINE (August 10, 2024): The latest issue features..

The Stock Market’s Wild Week Was a Wake-Up Call. What to Do Now.

The Stock Market’s Wild Week Was a Wake-Up Call. What to Do Now.

Long-term investors shouldn’t be spooked by a one-day rout or the market’s churning. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq are still up more than 11% on the year.

The Market Is Scary. These Stocks and Bonds Can Protect Your Portfolio.

Adding defensive stocks can allow investors to stay invested while protecting themselves if the economy goes into recession.

As Robo-Advisors Top $1 Trillion in Assets, Banks Pull Back

Robo-advisors continue to pull in new assets, but the revolution has hit a snag. Plus, our latest ranking of best robos.

Chinese Companies Are Everywhere Now—and Setting Off Alarms

Behind China’s export push is increased competition and slowing growth at home, and a move by its leaders to use exports to boost the economy.