Google Profiles

Yep, there's lots and lots of places for an online profile, but I just set up my "Google Profile" and found it really easy and kind of fun. One aspect that I like is that Google Profiles aren't explicitly related to other applications such as the case with LinkedIn or Twitter. It's basically a simple landing page for you to show a little about yourself publicly then link to your contact info and other online places.

And given that it's hosted by Google, I'm sure that there's some SEO placement should someone be searching for you.

Here's my profile:
http://www.google.com/profiles/scottsambucci

Even Google is Paranoid!

Given Google's new found paranoia, it gives me a certain amount of comfort to know that the laws of the free market and capitalism are still alive and well, even during a time where government programs and institutions are pushing a more socialist environment on the social side of our country's development.

Back in September, I wrote "Viva Monopoly!" about the importance of monopolies in a free economy. They offer an incentive for free enterprise to efficiently capitalize on a new innovation. Seems Google is noticing that annoying little dog nipping at it's heels:

http://valleywag.gawker.com/5291274/googles-new-paranoia

NPR Interview from May 4

More fun stuff... NPR was looking for some to talk expertly about the national real estate market and the recent March numbers released from the National Association of REALTORS. Instead, they got stuck with me...

Here's a link to the short segment - Scott Sambucci on NPR.

Quoted in Business Week article

This is kind of neat, and in the spirit of vanity (or more likely to help my self-esteem), thought I'd point out the article published on BusinessWeek.com this weekend where I was quoted:

Zip Codes with the Biggest Listing Price Gains by Prashant Gopal

We (meaning Altos Research) helped him out in his research by providing some real-time real estate market data.

John Hussman on the Banking & Housing Markets

From John Hussman, of Hussman Funds, this article provides one of the most lucid descriptions of why the poorly constructed (I hate using the word "toxic"...) mortgage assets on bank balance sheets pose such as problem, and a clear set of solutions that would probably work if implemented. Hussman explains why allowing the banks to charge the negative assets to existing bank bondholders instead of using government cash infusions is a more natural plan, and why we're not even close to getting out of the woods in the housing market:

http://hussmanfunds.com/wmc/wmc090330.htm