Bubble Trouble and Tech Treasures

Good Morning Bro,

It's finally Friday. We're now entering the first full weekend of the new year, and we're ready to take on whatever challenges come our way, no matter how chilly it gets. After all, we're not going to let a little adversity sink us as Rose did with Jack in Titanic - but we'll touch on that later. Grab your coffee and let's roll.

In Today's Morning 6 - 9:

• It's Getting Bubbly Brotha - state of real estate, auto, and higher education

• Consumer Electronics Show - our top picks

• Cultural Happenings: In Case You Missed It (But Your Morning Bro Didn't)

• Bro-tastic Memes

Bubble Trouble

If it looks like a bubble, smells like a bubble, and if Michael Blurry is betting against it...chances are it's a bubble. Still, I think it won't be as bad as everyone thinks it will be, below I will explain why.

The Rundown:Sectors across the US are starting to feel a shift in Demand and Supply due to many factors e.g. War, inflation, supply chain issues, geopolitical tensions, and rising interest rates - but you probably already knew this.

Real Estate - Morgan Stanley has predicted a 10% drop in housing prices in the US between June 2022 and 2024. San Francisco, Seattle, and San Diego are among the cities where prices are expected to drop the most. A housing shortage and unsustainable growth in the market are among the factors contributing to the price decrease. Just a little cooling off from all the insane growth we've seen lately. Still, might be a good time to hold off on buying for a bit if you can. Renters probably won't see much relief though. But hey, at least homeowners might not have to worry as much about losing their pads.

Automotive - as we uncovered last week about Carvana's recent woes and rumors of bankruptcy, the Automotive retail space is primed to also come down back to reality. Looks like car prices might finally be coming down in 2023. New car prices could drop by up to 5%, while used car prices could drop by 10-20%, according to J.P. Morgan. However, rising interest rates might offset the price decline, so we'll have to see how it all shakes out. Used car prices have already fallen a bit, with the average used car going for $27,156 in November. New car prices are still pretty high, with an average transaction price of $47,681. And if you're financing your car, be prepared to pay some record-high interest rates - the average interest paid in November on a new car loan was $8,436, and $10,204 on a used car loan.

Higher Education - Higher education is like the 2008 mortgage crisis all over again. The cost of education is sky high, funded through borrowing, and marketed as something that'll pay off in the long run (but like, it doesn't really anymore). The government backs banks that lend money for education, just like they did for mortgages. But the prices for education are going up faster than inflation and predatory lending practices are all too common in higher education. The average cost of going to college has increased by as much as 2700% in some cases, about 4.6 times the rate of inflation over the last 50 years. Don't get me wrong, education is super important, but with enrollments dropping, universities need to think about how much students are willing and able to pay.

Here Are Our Top 5 Favorite Gadgets from CES Thus Far

CES is where all the cool new tech gets shown off. It's the ultimate tech bro event happening this weekend, where all the biggest brands come to flex their innovation and meet new partners. It's basically a tech industry paradise. (I wanna go) Here are our favorite things thus far:

Samsung's new Premiere projector, - It's an ultra-short throw projector, which means you can put it right up against the wall and it'll project a huge image, like 150 inches diagonally. And it's got built-in speakers and Dolby Atmos so you can fill a room with sound and light. I am one of those people who dislikes having TVs in rooms so I may snag this.

German Bionics has developed a new exoskeleton suit called the Apogee, which is designed to help workers who do a lot of lifting and walking by taking up to 66lbs of weight off their lower back when lifting and helping them last longer on their feet. It is also powered by AI, which provides real-time data readouts, and is accompanied by the Smart SafetyVest, a lightweight vest that monitors and analyzes ergonomic performance. Amazon factory workers are drooling right now, but so are wanna-be supervillains.

 Icoma's Tatamel bike is a cool electric motorcycle that can fold up into a portable suitcase-sized square. It has a solid range of 18 miles and a top speed of 25 mph. It also has some extra features like USB and AC output to charge other devices. It's currently still in development and is expected to be released to the public later this year. I have a feeling we will see these all over NYC.

Samsung also showcased its Flex Hybrid at CES 2023, a foldable prototype with a screen that can change size and aspect ratio. - It's interesting to note that while many companies focus on the METAverse side of things, Samsung is constantly improving its folding tech.

The Fufuly is a super innovative breathing cushion developed by the geniuses at Yukai Engineering. It uses some fancy technology called "respiratory entrainment" to sync up your breath with the cushion's rhythm, In order to reduce stress and increase alertness. Watch offices start handing these out to employees...although I would gladly take one

2023 - the year of the flying car at least that's what the company Aksa is saying. Yes, another flying car is making its debut. Except this one costs an easy $789,000. Aren't flying cars really just helicopters anyway?

Cultural Happenings

Sony has announced that the PlayStation 5 shortage is over and that it should now be easier for consumers to find the console at retailers globally.

Ken Block, rally car driving champion, action sports star, and DC Shoes co-founder died at the age of 55 following a snowmobile accident in Utah. Block is survived by his wife Lucy and three children, including his 16-year-old daughter Lia, who is also a driver. RIP.

Damar Hamlin, a player for the Buffalo Bills, is recovering well after suffering cardiac arrest during a game on Monday, according to Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott.

Emily Ratajkowski has spoken out about the "unfair" ways in which independent women are perceived by men, particularly when it comes to dating, and how men can struggle to handle strong women and their own emotions. But Emily has never Dated a morning bro so this remains to be seen. 🤥 Hot take: Pete Davidson seems like a good guy.

Two men accidentally set themselves on fire after attempting to burn down an immigration center in California by dumping an accelerant on the building and trying to light it on fire.

Time is just a social construct - or so researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are saying. The team is working on developing atomic clocks that can keep time to within one quadrillionth of a second 👀, ensuring accuracy for communication and transportation, and potentially leading to a shift in our understanding of time.

Bro-Tastic Memes

Thank you for reading, but more importantly, thank you for being you. We hope you found this edition informative and enjoyable. Be sure to follow us on social media for even more Culture, Tech, and Business insights and updates @TheMorningBro