Still, I notice, having been in the industry since it was about mainframes and punch cards and having seen some of the earliest data communications protocols established.
Bernanke and the FOMC have maintained that such action will only be taken when warranted by data, but there appears to be enough of an expectation that the punch bowl will at least be drained (albeit not taken away) to jar the market.
There is no analytic data behind writing this piece, simply that these are five startups that have packed my life with a bit more punch and spice than before while simultaneously connecting us all together and inspiring other enterprising entrepreneurs to think outside of the box.