Real time Delegate tracker & GOP race update:

http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/primaries/delegates

Bottom Line:  By now you know it was Mitt's night last night.  A clean sweep in D.C., Maryland and Wisconsin.  By the delegates Mitt won 85 delegates last night to Rick Santorum's 6.  That makes the current score 655 to 278 delegates.  To put it another way...  Romney needs only win 42% of the remaining delegates to reach the magic number of 1144.  Rick Santorum needs to win an overwhelming 74% of outstanding delegates.   We now have a break in the action until April 24th.  I think there is at least a 50% chance Rick scales down his campaign (if not outright conceding) before we get there. 

Google offers $10 Starbucks card for $5 today:

http://mashable.com/2012/04/03/starbucks-gift-card-google-offers/

Bottom Line:  This has been offered by other deal sites with huge success previously so if you want a $10 Starbucks gift card for $5 - I'd go to Goggle offers early today.

The biggest US security risk (hint it's not terrorism):

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/biggest-threats-u-national-security-142943020.html

Bottom Line:  I feel like the Verizon ad guy.  Can you hear me now?  For years I've been warning about the unsustainable spending rate of our Federal Government and have preciously predicted the problems with our debt and the outcome of these issues (QE, weaker dollar, inflation).  This isn't a political statement - it's a statement of economic fact based on every economic model I've used for the next ten years...  The President's proposed budget would certainly mean the economic destruction of the United States as we'd collapse under the weight of our own debt. 

Lest people think I still can't be trusted how about this latest development...  The President of the Council of Foreign Relations identifying debt as the greatest National Security Threat in the United States.  It's deplorable the way we've been sold out by elected officials.  It's disgusting that the President and Senate haven't engaged in their constitutionally mandated duty and pass a budget.  The Senate and President have the right to disagree and debate the Paul Ryan plan passed in the U.S. House but the have an obligation to every citizen to pass a budget.  Instead it's simply divisive politics from the President.  To put this another way...  Due to his actions, if debt is the greatest security threat in the US, what does that make the President in this scenario? 

Chinese buyers are snapping up US real-estate:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/story/2012-04-03/us-homes-lure-chinese-buyers/53977638/1

Bottom Line:  The emerging middle class and rising upper class in China is not only quickly aiding China in becoming the world's top economic force (the recently passed Japan for number two), it's also leading to it's citizens becoming big international players in the economy as well.  Chinese people are now the second largest foreign buyers of US real-estate.  They're aided by the declining value of the US dollar against their currency as well. 

LinkedIn's new features:

http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2012/04/04/linkedin-launches-new-group-search-features/

Bottom Line:  You're seeing the business oriented social service work in more traditional social media features with added group options and now better conversation based search results.  It would appear that LinkedIn's strategy is to become the predominant social media site among it's users as it fears Facebook taking to much attention away from it's users (as increasingly people are keeping up with fewer social media sites).  It's a tight balance because many if not most LinkedIn users really do just want the business professional experience. 

New airline trend?  Carry on baggage fees:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/story/2012-04-03/Allegiant-Air-starts-charging-for-use-of-overhead-bins/53980070/1

Bottom Line:  Just when we perfected efficient carry-on packing a couple of airlines are going to hit us for fees there too.  Spirit has already added in carry-on baggage fees but now Allegiant Air is adding the carry fee as well (starting today).  It's cheaper to pay online that at the gate (prices range from between $15 to $35).  My fear is that this trend catches on with the others.  In the meantime be advised that if you fly Allegiant or Spirit you can't avoid some kind of baggage fee. 

Instagram for Android is now available:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57408672-94/instagram-for-android-is-now-available/

Bottom Line:  Many Droid users have wondered when they'd have access to the most popular app to edit and upload to a variety of social media options.  That time has come. 

PS3 can now stream Amazon Prime content:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7-57408709-221/ps3-gets-amazon-instant-streaming-video-app/

Bottom Line:  Sony and Microsoft continue to vie for the console to provide the most streaming content.  Yesterday Amazon teamed with Sony's PS3 as a distributer of Amazon Prime streaming content.  This is a win for all three parties.  All three you say?  Sony, Amazon and you and me (if you own a PS3).  There are now enough options available to use a combo of a couple of streaming services to account for most of your entertainment desires at a much lower cost.