Posts
Control of the Net must go
In authoritarian regimes across the world, government control and regulation of the Internet is a given. Here in the U.S., we’ve managed to keep our online world relatively free from any bureaucratic oversight. That changed in 2015, based on a mandate from President Obama, when the Federal Communications Commission voted to classify Internet Service Providers…
Canada Can Lead The Way On Pot, Vapes and Plain Packs
The world is paying attention to Canada right now. Two very important pieces of legislation on consumer products are being debated, which could provide many lessons for the world. House Bill C-45, the world’s most extensive cannabis legalization and the first for a country in the G7, successfully passed on November 28 and goes to…
The Innocents Abroad Eps 17: Understanding Sports
What qualifies as a sport, and why do people enjoy them? Some thoughts on understanding sports and the philosophy behind them. Bonus: Yaël explains NASCAR, Todor hates on dart players, and somewhat of an agreement is reached on whether golf is an elite sport. theinnocentsabroad.com
Vice: To sell, or not to sell:As Bitcoin hits the $10,000 mark, investors need to make a game-time decision
I was quoted in a Vice article on the latest Bitcoin milestone. You could speed up a transaction, but that would cost you an extra fee — at times, 10 percent of the amount you’re trying to transfer, which, given today’s prices, simply don’t make sense for the average retail investor. “I bought a coffee…
The Vienna Survival Guide for Health
I had the privilege of writing a chapter in Metropole’s latest book. The book is the Vienna Survival Guide for Health, to be released on December 1st. “Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about health care, doctors, insurance, and medical treatment in Vienna. We answer the questions you’d never think to ask. Plus, get a…
The Marshall Plan: How Austria Benefited 70 Years ago
With an entire continent in ruins, the Marshall Plan planted the seeds for a peaceful, prosperous Europe As the Second World War finally ground down to an end in Europe, Austria lay devastated, its economy in shambles, its territory carved up by the victorious Allied powers into zones of authority for the U.S., France, Britain…
Trudeau Should See NAFTA Renegotiation As His Biggest Priority
By Yaël Ossowski | Huffington Post Trump needs to be shown that protectionism south of the border hurts American and Canadian consumers as much as it helps hand-picked American producers. At this point in the Donald Trump presidency, it’s become clear that protectionism is become the ruling mantra. Whether it’s tariffs slapped on Bombardier jets…
The Innocents Abroad Episode 16: Whiny Baker-Miller Pink Millennial
Is this whole “digital nomad millennial life” just fake? Is Elon Musk a hero or government grant gargling villain? Will his innovations last? Are the Baltics the best part of Europe? And what the hell is Baker-Miller pink? Tune in this week for another take on life and society abroad with The Innocents Abroad. 23.…
Congress shouldn’t dictate how water pipes are rebuilt
By Yaël Ossowski | Washington Examiner With a slew of agenda items in front of President Trump, there is one more which requires the utmost attention: infrastructure. Bridges, highways, electric grids, water, and sewer systems — all of which are aging — have fallen off the national agenda because of gridlock in the Capitol. If…
Why should banks pay taxes while credit unions get a break?
In Springfield, Missouri in August, President Donald Trump laid out the core motivation of his comprehensive tax plan: fairness. If Congress and the administration are serious about making America’s tax structure fairer, their first action should be to end the free ride enjoyed by large credit unions at the expense of banks and taxpayers. While…