The New 'Fru'

As professionals, it is very easy to have all of our attention taken by the realities of today. The changes in tax laws. New best practices. The needs of our clients. But the reality is that we must also watch the more general trends in society and how they will affect us.

Things like the “Occupy” movement. The rising sales numbers for handguns and shotguns. The number of millionaires and billionaires who, according to the US Census Bureau, are fleeing the United States and taking their families and money with them. The not-so-rosy future for eBooks. Perhaps even changes in bridal fashions.

And maybe that’s a good reason for this magazine and this column to exist.

Reality Check

A compendium of ideas, products, rants and raves from the viewpoint of the author. Not that the author has no financial interests in any of the products mentioned. Feel free to disagree, or to share your ideas by sending them to davemcclure@cpata.com.

Internet Site of the Month.

Southeastern Institute of Research. (www.SIRresearch.com). As noted above in the column, CEO John Martin has some terrific research on the new frugality and coming generations – and what it will mean to the people of those generations. You may also want to invite him to your state CPA society meeting as a speaker.

– The Simple Dollar (www.thesimpledollar.com). Looking for a quick primer on the new frugality? Trent Hamm’s blog site, The Simple Dollar, lays it out quickly and easily. Pay special attention to “Trent’s 14 Money Rules” for a quick checklist.

– Internet Kill Switch. The Obama Administration is pushing for Cybersecurity legislation that would give the Federal government the ability to shut down the Internet and even private networks in a time of national unrest. Kind of like North Korea does. Really. Look for a bill to pop up in the Senate in 2012, and to meet fierce resistance.

– Pinterest (www.pinterest.com). Okay, admit it. You’ve never heard of this web site. But brace yourself, because this is the hottest new social media site on the planet, according to ComScore, which says it reached the 10-million-unique-visitors rate faster than any stand-alone web site. Ever. Still in beta, with its funky blend of pictures, products, retail sites and cupcakes. Facebook should be very afraid.

– Phony 4G Products. In mid-January, the IEEE finally approved the definition that will specify requirements for 4G devices. January?? You heard right. So what about all those “4G” products you’ve been buying for the past two years? Well, that was just a marketing gimmick to sell you 3G products under the 4G name. And that means that we won’t see real 4G products for months to come, if ever. Feel like a sucker yet?

– Microsoft’s Leap Year. On February 29, at the World Mobile Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Microsoft introduced the consumer beta version of its Windows 8 operating system. The Windows 8 Consumer Preview event timing would be consistent with an October release of the operating system. Why download the Preview? For starters, the famous Start Button is missing from this version…