This week’s highlights: Renting your dog, The next phase of e-commerce, and the X-plan for your kids.

Food for Thought:

1. FT – American Carnage.  The crack epidemic peaked at a death rate of 2 per 100,000.  Opioids are currently at 10.3 per 100,000 – and the statistics are still waiting on 2016’s data which will no doubt be higher due to surging use of fentanyl.
2. NYT – In Silicon Valley, a Voice of Caution Guides a High-Flying Uber
3. The Atlantic – Kellyanne’s Alternative Universe.  Will the truth ever catch up with Trump’s most skilled spin artist?.  Not a partisan piece really, but an interesting look at her backstory.
4. Bloomberg – I’m Renting a Dog?  Can purebreds on leases democratize credit? The Nevadan behind Wags Lending thinks so.
5. HBR – The Busier You Are, the More You Need Quiet Time

Business/Economics:

1. Economist – Citigroup’s decade of agony is almost over.  The recipient of America’s biggest bank bail-out has overhauled its capital base and its profits. Now it needs to grow.
2. BV – Ackman’s Investors Won’t Get Their Yachts
3. SC – Investing in dots, not lines
4. WWD – E-commerce Faces Wave of Consolidation. The buzzy digital companies that took backing at high valuations are now looking for their next step.
5. Medium – The Future of Family Office Investing 

Culture/Tech/Science:

1. Engadget – HIV breakthrough may help scientists kill sleeping virus cells.  A “biomarker” protein hangs out on T-cells where the virus hides from treatment.
2. Bert F – X-Plan: Giving your kids a way out.  “How many of you have found yourself in situations where things started happening that you weren’t comfortable with, but you stuck around, mainly because you felt like you didn’t have a way out?”
3. LS – The Post-Luxury Consumer Today, individuals in higher income categories no longer feel the need to consistently upgrade into luxury as income and wealth rises. It’s a concept known as “post-luxury” and Wealth-X’s Winston Chesterfield explains.
4. OW – Why I left Mac for Windows: Apple has given up
5. HBO – Talking Funny  – Ok, so not an article, but Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Louis CK and Ricky Gervais reflecting on the challenges and art of stand-up is worth your time.  Like all 4, a little PG-13 in places.