Would That Be Interesting To You?: August 2016

Saturday, August 20, 2016

The reason behind Trump's presidential run

Trump doesn't want to release his tax returns not because it would show him not paying any taxes (which he probably doesn't), but rather it would expose how far his wealth hyperbole is from reality and thereby damaging his brand.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/21/us/politics/donald-trump-debt.html

At the core of Trump "empire" is his "brand" and his ability to sell it to partners and debt holders. His presidential run promotes this brand, whether he wins or not. I bet that he will comment how, once he has lost the election, he actually won as the run didn't cost him much money, that he reaped major business deals from it, and that the exposure he got made him richer.

So, when Trump says something that resonates with people, it isn't because he believes it, it is because it gathers support for the Trump brand. That is why he is short on details but high on claims; he is the master of selling sizzle over steak...

This is also what makes an eventual Trump win dangerous: a narcissistic man willing to do whatever is necessary to build his persona. We have example of those types of men leading nations right now in Russia, China, North Korea.

That would not be a recipe for a stable world, nor for a great America...

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Samsung S7, iPhone6+, and Sony RX100 M2 Low-light shootout

We set out to compare the new Samsung S7 with the iPhone 6+, adding the Sony RX100 M2, and the Canon GX7 for reference. Unfortunately, some problems with the lens on the GX7 forced me to exclude its shots (basically, pictures taken were blurry even in broad daylight).

In any case, it seems that Samsung now takes the prize for best low-light Smartphone camera, and we are getting very close to the day when there will be no need to carry around a good-quality point-and-shoot to get decent night shots.