October 2020
43 articles published this month.
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Notes From My Journal
Against All Odds: Denver to LA in a Vintage RV, Part III
“By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, one may unfailingly arrive at his chosen goal or destination.” – Christopher Columbus Against All Odds: Denver to LA in a Vintage RV, Part III I woke up…
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Worth Reading
A Halloween Tradition: Reading Poe's The Raven
It’s Halloween! I’m going trick or treating today with my four grandkids. We don’t know if any of their neighbors will be opening doors or setting out candy on their porches, but the kids want to observe the…
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Notes From My Journal
Against All Odds: Denver to LA in a Vintage RV, Part II
“When you go on a road trip, the trip itself is part of the story.” – Steve Rushin Against All Odds: Denver to LA in a Vintage RV, Part II 6:30: A clear and sunny morning. 29 degrees. Praise the Lord! It’s…
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Notes From My Journal
Against All Odds: Denver to LA in a Vintage RV
“An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered.” – Gilbert K. Chesterton Against All Odds: Denver to LA in a Vintage RV The alarm wakes me at 6:30. I check my weather app. It’s 18 degrees – 8 degrees…
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Worth Considering
Why Americans Must Fight Antisemitism
Earlier this month, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told CNN that COVID-19 spike clusters were “predominantly ultra-Orthodox.” This was in response to protests by the Orthodox Jewish community against social…
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Worth Considering
California's Bizarre Holiday Gathering Rules Explained
“Any fool can make a rule. And any fool will mind it.” – Henry David Thoreau California’s Happy Holiday Agenda Hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 in California are at their lowest levels in six months…
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
The 7 Best Gifts We Gave Our Children
“There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give to our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe The 7 Best Gifts We Gave Our Children There is a view of…
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Worth Watching
My Octopus Teacher Offers Unexpected Wonder
“My Octopus Teacher” on Netflix If you are looking for something to divert you from the ugliness of US politics and inspire you to… well, not hang yourself, this little documentary is worth watching. Directed…
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Worth Reading
Book of the Week
The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean, by Susan Casey I’m sure I would not have ordered this book had I not just finished watching “Octopus Teacher.” (See above.) I was deep in…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Amateur Pianist Tricks Classically Trained Musicians Into Duet
One of the social media rabbit holes I occasionally go into might be called “Amazing amateur piano players surprise others in shopping centers and malls!” I know. Can this really be a class of entertainment?…
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Why Your Broker's Departure Tests Client Loyalty
”There is a difference between listening and waiting for your turn to speak.” – Simon Sinek Why I Wasn’t “Loyal” to My Broker I called my broker but was connected to someone I didn’t know. She told me my…
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Arts & Letters
The Captivating Impressionism of Giorgio Morandi
The culture and business of art is largely chauvinistic. Ninety-eight percent of the art that is made in one country stays in one country. But there is a class of art that crosses borders: the work of artists…
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Voting As An Independent Thinker In 2020
“Not voting is not a protest. It is a surrender.” – Keith Ellison How to Vote If You Consider Yourself an Independent Thinker Most of the people I know have locked down on certain slogans that parade…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Why Dad Jokes Get Worse With Age
My father was a bright, well-educated college professor with a clever, sophisticated sense of humor. In his seventies, though, I noticed that his wit degraded noticeably. He delighted in what we, his children…
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Why “Profiting From Your Passion” May Be a Big Mistake
“Life is long. Success is difficult. Passion is fleeting.” – Michael Masterson Why “Profiting From Your Passion” May Be a Big Mistake When I first retired at 39, I bought a half-interest in an art gallery…
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Notes From My Journal
The Big Interrupter
“Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see.” – Edgar Allan Poe It’s generally agreed that Trump was uncontrolled in his debate against Biden and that he interrupted Biden constantly…. That’s…
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Worth Considering
Big News About COVID-19 Testing
According to the October 16 edition of The Washington Post, new coronavirus cases are spiking in the United States and Europe, with 13 states reporting record-setting numbers of infections over the past week…
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Why Business Plans Matter Less Than You Think
“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” – Lao Tzu Advice to…
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Readers Write
An email from TN
Thanks again for your feedback. You gave me a HARD NO on part of it... but in a world of grays, a black and white answer is a huge relief.
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Notes From My Journal
Baby Boomers' Legacy Of War And Economic Selfishness
“War does not determine who is right – only who is left.” – Bertrand Russell Baby Boomer Narcissism: It’s All About Us, and Our Game Is War On Zoom calls, my colleague Bill Bonner and I sometimes talk briefly…
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Notes From My Journal
6 Cuss Words I’m Trying to Include in My Conversations
“Do not say little in many words but a great deal in a few.” – Pythagoras 6 Cuss Words I’m Trying to Include in My Conversations I must be going through some sort of nostalgia phase. I’m watching old movies…
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Worth Considering
Greed Is Bad; Gold Is Good
David Forest, editor of “The Strategic Investor,” believes we are in the early stages of a “historic gold bull market.” Main Reason: Fed Money Printing – “Since the market crash in March, the Federal Reserve…
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Worth Reading
The latest issue of AWAI’s Barefoot Writer — October 9, 2020
In this issue: * What Writers Want Right Now to Get Through 2020 and Thrive Beyond * Life-Size Ace in Your Back Pocket * How to Stay Motivated in a World of Weirdness * Caples’ Kickoff Strategy for…
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Inside Paradise Palms Botanical & Sculpture Gardens
Inside Paradise Palms Botanical And Sculpture Gardens
A peek inside my palm tree garden… Situated on 10 acres in West Delray Beach, Florida, Paradise Palms & Sculpture Gardens has one of the largest and best-curated private palmetums in the world, as well as a…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Stumbling Upon The Internet's Last Mysteries
It happens very rarely in today's hyperconnected world, but when it happens it's fun to read about. Click here.
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Beyond Stocks And Bonds: Building Real Wealth
“The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.” – Michael Porter How to Make More Money Than Wall Street Wants You to Make The investment “advisory” business in America is a huge, multibillion-dollar…
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A Word to the Wise
punctilious (adjective)
Someone who is punctilious (pungk-TIL-ee-us) is extremely detail-oriented. As I used it today: “These characteristics rule out my involvement in a few perfectly good investment strategies. Strategies that some…
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Inside Paradise Palms Botanical & Sculpture Gardens
Inside Paradise Palms' Rare Tropical Plant Collection
A peek inside my palm tree garden… Situated on 10 acres in West Delray Beach, Florida, Paradise Palms & Sculpture Gardens has one of the largest and best-curated private palmetums in the world, as well as a…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Dog's Dramatic Weight Loss Transformation Inspires Healthy Living
I enjoyed watching this. It proves the if you are a dog and your owner puts you on the right diet and exercise program, you can lose a lot of weight and regain an active life. Of course, if you aren't a dog…
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Lessons From “Losing a Million Dollars
“People who lie to themselves about investing are the same as overweight people who blame their genes for their obesity.” – Robert Kiyosaki Lessons From “Losing a Million Dollars” Growing up in a family of…
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A Word to the Wise
sobriquet (noun)
A sobriquet (soh-bruh-KET) is an affectionate or humorous nickname. As I used it today: “In What I Learned Losing a Million Dollars, Jim Paul makes some very useful distinctions between 5 money-related…
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Worth Reading
The latest issue of Independent Healing — October 5, 2020
In this issue: “Discover the Ancient Health Practice That Researchers Believe May Offer a ‘Ray of Hope’ in the Fight Against COVID-19.” Click here to read the October issue
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Fun and/or Interesting
How Bubble Wrap Became An Accidental Invention
Bubble wrap was invented in 1957 by two engineers who were trying to create a textured wallpaper.
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Inside Paradise Palms Botanical & Sculpture Gardens
Inside Paradise Palms' World-Class Palm Collection — October 5, 2020
A peek inside my palm tree garden… Situated on 10 acres in West Delray Beach, Florida, Paradise Palms & Sculpture Gardens has one of the largest and best-curated private palmetums in the world, as well as a…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Stunning Photography From The World's Most Unusual Locations
Great photos of unusual places! Here
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Notes From My Journal
What Do You Know about COVID-19?
The US is known to have recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases at 7,241,000. Which country has the next highest? ___ China ___ India ___ Indonesia When talking about the virus, what does the “R number”…
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A Word to the Wise
comorbidity (noun)
Morbidity (mor-BIH-dih-tee) refers to having a disease or medical condition. Comorbidity (koh-mor-BIH-dih-tee) refers to the presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions in the same patient. As I…
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Worth Considering
Remote Work Reshapes The Commercial Real Estate Market
“We have decided we will not renew our lease when in January,” the email said. “Our employees have told us they like working at home and, as you’ve noticed from the monthly reports, the business hasn’t…
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Worth Quoting
Thomas Edison On Discontent And Progress
“Restlessness is discontent and discontent is the first necessity of progress. Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I will show you a failure.” – Thomas Edison
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Fun and/or Interesting
Wilson's Contradictions: Peace Advocate And Racial Segregationist
Woodrow Wilson initiated the League of Nations, but he opposed giving Blacks the right to vote and he supported the KKK.
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Readers Write
An email from BC
Your belief in me was the catalyst for never settling and forever growing. It’s the least I can do to forever pay it forward. It was the ONLY choice.
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Inside Paradise Palms Botanical & Sculpture Gardens
Inside Paradise Palms' World-Class Palm Collection — October 2, 2020
A peek inside my palm tree garden… Situated on 10 acres in West Delray Beach, Florida, Paradise Palms & Sculpture Gardens has one of the largest and best-curated private palmetums in the world, as well as a…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Japanese Pufferfish Create Stunning Geometric Underwater Art
I’ve noticed that the trout on our small lake at Paradise Palms dig shallow oval-shaped depressions at the edges of our lake during mating or birthing season. (I should find out.) But what the Japanese Blow…
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