Welcome to this week’s Strategic View.
This week we note that the bugs are biting – perhaps due to the wonky weather. Delivery systems for medical marijuana, online gaming and more stuff to be cynical about.
Are you ready for this week’s curiosities?
Bugs of the Biting Type
Let’s talk bugs. Yuck. Unusually warm weather has brought the earliest spring season in recent memory across much of the U.S. While many folks are delighted by the early warm weather, mosquito control experts are already warning about the onslaught of biting mosquitoes that is sure to follow.
“Mosquito breeding season typically begins with the onset of warmer temperatures,” said Jonathan Cohen, mosquito control expert and president of Summit Responsible Solutions, which makes Mosquito Dunks®, a biological mosquito control product. “Because of this year’s early spring, mosquito populations will be increasing sooner and faster. This summer could become the worst mosquito summer ever in the U.S. and Canada.”
More mosquitoes mean more of the pesky, painful mosquito bites. Not only do mosquito bites bring uncomfortable itching and swelling, but mosquitoes also transmit diseases such as West Nile virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis and canine heartworm disease.
This is why one G has the sense to live mostly indoors in the Northwest while the other G is a slower learner.
The Scoop on Car Sales
Car buying? We have seen many times where the middle of the model year will see dealers adjusting discounts depending on how sales are going. Watching some of the headlines in the auto industry can therefore be useful if you’re shopping a new ride.
Toyota had sales over 200,000 units in the US in March while Kia had an all-time sales record. Mazda checked in with the best months since 2008, Audi set a 15th monthly record, and Volkswagen reported a 34.6 percent increase for the month.
Bottom line? If you’re car-shopping, don’t expect to be cut much slack. Demand is up so watch for incentives and use online tools to comparison shop so that you make sure you’re not being screwed.
Medical Marijuana for One and All?
Medical marijuana is getting to be more respectable – among investors: Medical Marijuana Inc. (OTC: MJNA) is pleased to announce it has signed contracts with a European-based Pharmaceutical company for the purchase and development of a patented cannabinoid drug delivery product.
The delivery method, in the form of a non-smoked product, will be able to provide benefits of cannabinoid-based healthcare research to medical professionals and patients seeking such innovative products. The product can be formulated in different dosage levels to be used for the majority of illnesses that cannabis has been shown to be affective with.
This cannabinoid delivery method will greatly expand MJNA’s portfolio as the firm seeks to develop the Company’s presence into the medical delivery system marketplace. Many European and Middle Eastern countries have decriminalized and approved marijuana for medicinal purposes. The future of the Cannabinoid industry lies in developing delivery methods that are socially and medically acceptable. Delivery methods include oral administration (tablets, liquids), intravenous therapy, topical gel-type application, lozenge and many others. Products will be available in the US in the coming months as MJNA establishes a licensing and manufacturing base with state licensed companies.
No jokes about how “high” the stock will go, please.
The National What?
Seems like everything as a “National Day” – and now April 5th is National Caramel Day. A Kellogg’s press release notes that 57% of Americans pronounce caramel “car-a-mel.” They watch such things because of their new Crunchy Nut Caramel cereal.
Just what we need – more sugar.
Dreaming of a Vacation to Mexico
Vacationing? The readers of About.com have spoken and the results are in: The ROYAL Playa del Carmen is voted as The Best All-Inclusive Resort in Mexico, beating out all other competitors.
The About.com Readers’ Choice Awards showcases the best in hundreds of categories across About.com, from technology to hobbies to travel. About.com asks its readers to nominate their favorites in seven different categories of Mexican Travel. From the many nominations five finalists were selected in each category. Readers then voted for their favorites among the finalists. Thousands of votes were cast, and the winners were determined.
In naming The ROYAL Playa del Carmen as Mexico’s Best All-Inclusive Resort About.com reported, “”The ROYAL Playa del Carmen is a beautiful resort. The second you step into the main lobby, you know that you are in paradise. The resort has the most breathtaking views, provides excellent service 24/7 and has the friendliest staff ready to fulfill your every need. This is truly a 5 star resort.”
Best part of that area is the underground cave-diving which George is still going on about more than 15-years later.
Literacy in the Halls of Government
The World Literacy Foundation has urged leaders of governments and education to pledge support for the new Oxford Declaration announced today at the World Literacy Summit in Oxford, United Kingdom.
The CEO of the World Literacy Foundation Mr. Andrew Kay said, “We have created a pathway which its main purpose is to eradicate illiteracy by the year 2020. Clear evidence shows if we are to reduce poverty then we need to address illiteracy”.
No, they didn’t mention the level of discussion in national politics, but maybe the level of television programming, political discourse and advertising has something to do with it.
Online Games, Gambling and Stress Relief
Not often we will print a big chunk of a press release, but we found this one – about how people spend their gambling money when times are tight, particularly interesting.
ArcadeWeb, a highly-trafficked site where casual gamers play for free and can compete to win daily cash prizes, today released key findings from a national survey of its online gamers. Recently conducted among 1,435 casual, tournament players at its site, the survey was specifically designed to provide insight into how the current economy is impacting diverse aspects of casual gamers’ behavior – whether time spent playing, or their current and planned online gaming spend.
“The online casual gamers we surveyed clearly indicate that a still-tough economy is having a significant impact on their current gaming behavior. Not only do they report playing more – which is great news for the industry – it seems to be fueling the momentum behind the hottest, fastest-growing gaming category, ‘freemium’ or free-to-play models,” said Adriano Parrotta, VP, Social Games, ArcadeWeb.com.
Key Findings:
Post-Recession? Not According to Gamers
While pundits talk of economic recovery, it’s apparently not being experienced by the casual gamers surveyed: 82% claim they have as many (35%), or more (47%), financial challenges than they did two years ago.
Bad Economy Increasing Time Spent Gaming
The majority (53%) of gamers surveyed report that current economic conditions are directly impacting their gaming habits, with 66% (of that majority) reporting that the economy has led them to spend more time with online gaming in general. More men (62%) than women (48%) – and more people in the western U.S. (58%) than any other region – claim the economy has changed their gaming behavior.
Gamers Seek Stress-Relief, Free Entertainment and To Win Money
The site’s casual gamers were polled on why they’re playing more now, and the top three reasons were:
1) stress relief (32%), 2) it’s free, fun entertainment (29%), and 3) because free, new tournament sites allow me to compete to win money (25%).
So, for more than half of gamers surveyed, the “free” aspect is driving increased time-spent-gaming. One in four reports that it’s the rise of free sites, where they can also compete to win money, that’s increasing their time spent playing. “Stress relief” generally ranked higher for older gamers, while “free entertainment” and the rise of more “free, new tournament sites” ranked highest for the young, under-24 set.
The State of Virtual Currency Purchases:
The survey measured virtual goods purchasing patterns by age, gender and region. Overall, 68% report they have never spent money on virtual currency/credits at online gaming sites (while 32% have). And while these new findings concur with other recent research showing that younger and male gamers were more likely to purchase virtual currency, the age/gender gap was not as wide as is typically reported.[2]
1 in 3 Have Bought Virtual Currency – No Major Age or Gender Gap
Overall
Men
Women
Age 18-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
Have Purchased
32%
36%
30%
34%
39%
28%
30%
Thirty percent of female, and 36% of male gamers – and 34% of those aged 18-34, and 30% aged 55-64 – have made virtual currency purchases. Gamers in the West (41%) were most likely to have ponied up for virtual currency, while the Midwest (27%) and Southeast (29%) regions reported the lowest rates of virtual currency purchases.
Gamers Plan Big Spending Cuts
Gamers who reported they currently spend money on online games (whether virtual currency, subscriptions, etc.) were asked about their plans for the year ahead. Fifty-eight percent reported they plan to cut their online gaming spend (49% significantly), with only 7% projecting they would spend more.
Planned Virtual Currency/Online Gaming Spend – 2012
Significantly Less
Somewhat Less
Same
Somewhat More
Significantly More
49%
9%
35%
4%
3%
And for both men and women – all age groups from 18 to over-64 – and across all U.S. regions, at least 40% of gamers surveyed plan “significant” online gaming spending cuts in 2012.
We’re still wondering if the federal budget is counted as gambling, but let’s get back to that question somewhere down the road.
Summing It All Up
Another week has passed with the MSM reporting the same old drivel. Oh well . . . we all need a good laugh from time to time. Back to our regular programming on Sunday.
Hang on and enjoy the ride,
The Two G’s – George & Gaye
. . . Your comments welcome here and at The Electric Tribe.
Check this out . . .
Strategic View - Volume 5
Strategic View - Volume 4
Strategic View - Volume 3
Spotlight Items: Living a Strategic Life includes having strong primary defenses. Here are some items to consider as you build up your fortress.
Keypad Deadbolt: Need a good strong lock? With this, you will never have to worry about locking yourself out plus, you can secure the deadbolt from inside the house.
Uniden Bearcat 200-Channel Portable Scanner: A hand scanner with ham band for less than $100. Very portable.
Two-Way Radios and Scanners For Dummies: Gaye thinks she is a dummy (she is not) but likes the “dummies” books none the less.
Sabre Family Home & Property Protection Pepper Spray: This small fire extinguisher-style pepper spray delivers a strong blast covering an entire doorway. Offering extremely practical protection, SABRE provides distance from your threat with its 30 foot range. I like that it includes a wall mount. About $36.
Security Decals – 4 Pack: Security surveillance camera system warning decals/stickers. Increase security whether you have a system or not -no one will know but you. Less than $10.
Dorcy LED Wireless Motion Sensor Flood Lite: Not a bad deal. Runs for a year on 3 D size batteries. About $20.
Defender Security System with 4 Indoor/Outdoor Night Vision Cameras: This will give you a good start on an exterior video system. Eight cameras are even better but this will certainly be a good start.
Motorola FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radios: There are lots of good uses for the these radios. Handy while hiking, traveling, or simply keeping in touch with your partner while out shopping.
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Strategic View Volume 7 is another awesome article brought to you by George and Gaye at Strategic Living.