February 2020
63 articles published this month.
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Notes From My Journal
Five-Star Hotels Banish Smokers To Dingy Corners
“The best work is done with the heart breaking or overflowing.” – Mignon McLaughlin I’m sitting on the edge of a dirty planter box at the back of the five-star London hotel in West Hollywood. I have to sit…
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A Word to the Wise
wokeness (noun)
Wokeness (WOHK-ness) is the quality or state of being woke – of being aware of social injustice. As I used it today: “LA, in its evolved wokeness, provides sanctuaries for illegal immigrants and humiliation…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Nigeria's Film Industry Rivals Hollywood's Output
Next to the USA, Nigeria (a.k.a. “Nollywood”) produces more films than any other country in the world – more than 2,500 a year.
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Worth Reading
Why Sanders Will Probably Win the Nomination” by David Brooks in the NYT
In this opinion piece, Brooks explains how Sanders and his fellow progressives have induced large parts of the Democratic Party to “see reality through the Bernie lens.” LINK
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Fun and/or Interesting
Why Marketers Should Read This Sequel
A good, quick review of a book that's as good as the original. It is also, perversely, a good primer for marketers.
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Understanding the Optimum Selling Strategy
A sneak peek at a chapter from the upcoming new and revised edition of Ready, Fire, Aim… Understanding the Optimum Selling Strategy Why It Is Critical for Your Start-Up Business In launching a business, the…
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A Word to the Wise
litmus test
Chemically, the litmus (LIT-mus) test is used to determine whether a substance is acidic or alkaline. The test is performed by placing a small sample onto red or blue litmus paper. Red paper turns blue when…
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Worth Quoting
Adrienne Rich on Deception Through Silence
“Lying is done with words, and also with silence.” – Adrienne Rich
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Fun and/or Interesting
Walmart Ranks Third Among World's Largest Employers
The largest employers in the world are: * The US Department of Defense: 2.87 million * China’s People’s Liberation Army: 2.35 million * Wal-Mart: 2.3 million
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Fun and/or Interesting
The Economic Case Against Unnecessary Incarceration
An interesting argument for reducing the expense of unnecessary jailing...
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
What is the biggest challenge facing internet marketers today?
“I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn’t know how to get along without it.” – Walt Disney What is the biggest challenge facing internet marketers today? This is one of the questions I…
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A Word to the Wise
viridity (noun)
Viridity (vuh-RID-ih-tee) refers to youth, innocence, inexperience. Example from Theodore Edward Hook: “What intellectual viridity that exemplary creature possesses!”
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Fun and/or Interesting
What The US President Actually Earns
The salary for the US president is $400,000 per year.
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Worth Reading
What happens when you give up gluten, sugar and dairy?” from the Easy Health Options website LINK
This is good, basic advice about healthy eating. (No, I don’t always follow it myself – but if it weren’t for hypocrisy, I’d have no good advice to give.)
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Readers Write
An email from EM
I’m on step one in your book Automatic Wealth, and just had to put the book down to send you a quick email to say that we’ve come to the same conclusions about wealth. I can’t wait to implement your ideas.
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Fun and/or Interesting
Rancho Santana's New Hilltop Chapel Officially Consecrated
On Saturday, February 15, our new chapel at Rancho Santana, Capilla de Santa Ana, was consecrated by two local priests. The chapel stands on a high hill overlooking the clubhouse and horse stables and a…
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Argentina's Economic Paradox: Sophistication Meets Systemic Dysfunction
“The ultimate purpose of economics, of course, is to understand and promote the enhancement of well-being.”– Ben Bernanke What You Should Know About Argentina Argentines are sophisticated people. They have…
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A Word to the Wise
insidious (adjective)
Insidious (in-SID-ee-us) means stealthily treacherous or deceitful. As I used it today: “In a recent essay, Bill Bonner provided an excellent quick history lesson in the insidious and unintended effects [of…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Affordable Art Knockoffs From North Carolina Factories
If you love but can’t afford to buy the works of Picasso, Keith Haring, or Frida Kahlo, no problem. You can buy works “in the style of” for practically nothing. “In the style of” sounds fancy, but what it…
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Worth Reading
Jonathan Haidt On The Moral Roots Of Politics
Add Jonathan Haidt to your list of contemporary nonfiction writers that know how to stay on top of topical subjects (Malcolm Gladwell, Michael Lewis, Stephen Dubner, et al.). In this TED Talk – “The Moral…
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Fun and/or Interesting
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I…
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did...
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Notes From My Journal
Contrarians And Mainstream Thinkers In Eternal Debate
“There are things I can’t force. I must adjust. There are times when the greatest change needed is a change of my viewpoint.”– Denis Diderot In a recent post, I talked about the growing “demonization” of…
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A Word to the Wise
pragmatism (noun)
Pragmatism (PRAG-muh-tizm) is a practical approach to thinking of or dealing with problems, rather than using theory or abstract principles. As I used it today: “I like to think of myself as an individualist…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Washington's Warnings We Chose To Ignore
In his farewell address, George Washington warned against future threats to the newly formed nation, including “entanglements” in foreign wars and the rise of political factions. He was smart to warn us. Too…
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Worth Reading
The Dead
The Dead is considered to be one of Joyce’s most important and also most revealing works. It is a novella – more than a short story but less than a novel. Even if you’ve read it before, it’s always worth…
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Fun and/or Interesting
How Absurdity Became Our New Normal
Two funny videos: One is about marriage counseling. https://youtu.be/qaeM9k7nm78 The other is about precocious toddlers. Both are connected in my mind. It’s something about how, in this last decade or so…
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Why Customer Surveys Often Lead You Astray
“It’s much easier to fool yourself than to fool others.”– Michael Masterson A Quick Little Marketing Lesson: The Problem with “Listening” to Your Customers “Don’t make assumptions about what your customers…
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A Word to the Wise
supersede vs. supercede (verb)
To supersede (soo-per-SEED) is to take the place of a person or thing previously in authority or use. Supercede is a misspelling… and has been a common mistake for centuries. As I used it today: “[Direct…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Leonardo Da Vinci's Surprisingly Modern Inventions
The parachute is only one of many inventions attributed to Leonardo Da Vinci that seem to have more to do with modern technology than that of the Renaissance. A few examples… * the aerial screw – which…
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Worth Reading
The latest issue of AWAI’s Barefoot Writer — February 17, 2020
In the February issue: * Recipe for an ‘A-Level’ Writing Career That Gets You Noticed, Makes You Wealthy, and Keeps You Happy * 5 Ways Life Changes Can Revamp and Revive Your Writing * The Secret Business…
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Readers Write
An email from AA
This was long due. Just want to thank you for every issue you put together. Your articles are truly classy, informative, and a catalyst to my performance at work and home. No frills and fancies, Just plain…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Can Adults Ever Outgrow Silly Humor?
Is it possible to refine one's sensibilities to such a point that one is no longer a happy consumer of puerile humor? Or is it just impossible for me?
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
The Bizarre Rationale Behind Private Equity Funds
Vanguard, that folksy company that has so successfully catered to middle-income investors for most of my adult life, is opening a private equity fund. It’s part of an attempt to “broaden the company’s appeal……
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Fun and/or Interesting
The Bloody Origins Of Valentine's Day
You probably know that Valentine’s Day commemorates the death of St. Valentine, who was executed by Emperor Claudius II on February 14 sometime in the 3rd century. But you probably don’t know why he was…
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Worth Quoting
Charles M. Schulz On Love And Chocolate
“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” – Charles M. Schulz
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A Word to the Wise
coup de foudre (noun)
Coup de foudre (koo duh FOO-druh), a French expression, literally means thunderbolt. It is often used to describe a sudden unforeseen event – in particular, love at first sight. As used by Susan Choi in My…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Is This Even Legal Today?
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Notes From My Journal
Idea for a New Book
“Human energy is a limited resource. It’s better spent laser-like on important things you can change than diffused on unimportant things you cannot.” – Michael Masterson Idea for a New Book What Do You Think?…
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A Word to the Wise
axiomatic (adjective)
Axiomatic (ak-see-uh-MAT-ik) means self-evident, obvious. As used by Charles Theodore Murray in Mlle. Fouchette: “Like most generalizations, the statement that a woman cannot climb a tree is not an axiomatic…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Test Your Knowledge Of Classic English Idiom Origins
“Beating around the bush”… “Getting the short end of the stick”… “The apple of one’s eye”… “Throw down the gauntlet”… “Red-letter day”… “You’ve got to be cruel to be kind”… Test yourself on the origins of…
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Worth Reading
Metropolitan Life
A collection of smart and witty essays about life in the Big Apple as a young writer. Part Patti Smith. Part Sex and the City. She has this thing she does with lists…
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Fun and/or Interesting
I need more text to write an accurate headline. You've only provided the beginning of a sentence. Please share the complete post
One of my favorite songs when I was a teenager...
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Principles of Wealth #36
“Compound interest is the 8thwonder of the world.”– attributed to Albert Einstein Principles of Wealth #36* Most wealth seekers believe they understand “the miracle of compound interest” – how saved money…
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A Word to the Wise
ancillary (adjective)
Something that’s ancillary (AN-suh-lare-ee) provides necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization institution, industry, or system. As I used it today: “Understanding the…
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Fun and/or Interesting
The Surprising Power Of Daily Doubling
If you took a single penny and doubled it every day for a month, you would end up with more than $5 million.
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Worth Reading
The February issue of Independent Healing LINK
In this issue, you’ll discover the real reason more of us than ever are suffering from chronic stomach troubles. You’ll learn: * Why foods that are bright white in color wreck your digestion * The real cause…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Hard To Believe This Guy Is 70
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Notes From My Journal
Why I’m Giving Away My Money
“If you're going to live, leave a legacy. Make a mark on the world that can't be erased.”– Maya Angelou Financial planning is a serious business. What you do and how you do it very much depends on your…
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A Word to the Wise
tranche (noun)
A tranche (TRANTSH) is a portion of something, especially money. As I used it today: “Since I want [the investments I’m making in my family, friends, and various charities] to continue after K and I die, I’m…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Ancient DNA Reveals Neanderthals Interbred With Humans
For a long time, the consensus of scientific opinion was that modern man descended from a single species, Homo sapiens. Neanderthals were thought to be a distant cousin that died out. But in the past decade or…
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