Gauging the nation’s mood swings
The new Wall Street Journal/IHS Markit U.S. Social Sentiment Index measures mood swings on Twitter by tracking comments on a wide range of issues. An algorithm measures whether individual tweets are positive or negative, and tracks words and icons such as hearts or frowning faces. Among other things, the analysis is designed to recognize and account for sarcasm.
Each tweet is scored and aggregates the millions of individual tweets into this fascinating index. The scores of individual tweets are combined each hour into a fascinating index value updated on WSJ.com every hour. The measure allows “for a close look at how broadly the mood of Twitter is changing, allowing comparison of the magnitude of the reaction to different news events.” The index can also capture the mood state by state.
Hopefully, the U.S. is in a positive mood today.
The Smear
Sharyl Attkisson, the author of Stonewalled, has a new book out titled The Smear: How Shady Political Operatives and Fake News Control What You See, What You Think, and How You Vote. The publisher, Harper Collins, describes the book as “pulling back the curtain on the shady world of opposition research and reveals the dirty tricks those in power use to influence your opinions.
Behind most major political stories in the modern era, there is an agenda; an effort by opposition researchers, spin doctors, and outside interests to destroy an idea or a person. The tactic they use is the Smear. Attkisson exposes the diabolical tactics of Smear artists, and their outrageous access to the biggest names in political media—operatives who are corrupting the political process, and discouraging widespread citizen involvement in our democracy.”
What Tom’s saying – The Phoenix Business Journal
Tom, Liz Shabaker, and other experts participated in a Phoenix Business Journal panel that addressed why it’s important to educate and prepare future generations for managing family wealth and protecting legacies. Click here to read the in-depth article.
Tom Connelly is the President and Chief Investment Officer at Versant Capital Management, Inc. His background is not only financial – he has considerable interests other than just making money. His broad curiosity informs and inspires Tom to create an expansive context to investment numbers, which leads to deeper and more strategic conversations with clients.
