November 2021
29 articles published this month.
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
In Praise of Useless Information
I have, in the past, argued that though you may need an MBA or other technical degree to be accepted for certain jobs, it’s really a waste of time. As I explained in one essay: “Anything you learn will be…
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Notes From My Journal
A Better High-School Reading List
JM sent me this article from the National Review… and I thought it was great. “In their enthusiasm for children to read the classics,” say the editors, “school curricula often kill love of literature in…
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Postscript
Scientist Interview Reveals Unexpected Research Insights
A fascinating interview with a fascinating scientist….
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Notes From My Journal
Bits and Pieces — November 28, 2021
Inflation: What the latest numbers mean to you You have probably heard the Republicans criticizing the Biden administration for goosing up inflation. And you may not know if it’s true. Or, if it is true, how…
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Postscript
Students' Vaccine Mandate Hypocrisy Exposed
For these students, it’s “my body, my choice” – until it comes to the vaccine mandate…
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Notes From My Journal
Two Poems About War… and Death
Ah! Here’s something! A response to the November 13 issue, where I talked about how much I liked Alan Ginsberg’s poem Howl, and how it had a powerful effect on me when I first read it in my late teens. The…
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Postscript
Hilarious UFC Vlogger Channels Joe Pesci Energy
On a lighter note… BW sent this to me: a video commentary on Khamzat Chimaev, an amazing new UFC fighter. But as great as Khamzat is, the vlogger – whoever he is – is even more entertaining. His comments are…
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
What Would You Do?
Equal vs. Equitable, Part I You have two adult children. Alissa and Tony. They are twins. At the time of their birth, you had set up a trust account designated to go to them when they turned 30. They are 29…
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Postscript
A peek inside Paradise Palms Conservatory and Gardens…
A peek inside Paradise Palms Conservatory and Gardens… Coccothrinax alexandri This species of fan palm, with dark green leaves that are silvery on the underside, is endemic to eastern Cuba. It grows on Cuba’s…
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Notes From My Journal
Bits and Pieces — November 20, 2021
Okay, Just Between the Three of Us, I Was Disappointed… It’s happened again. I recently discovered that a rule of grammar I’ve been dutifully obeying all my life has been rescinded. I’m talking about the usage…
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Postscript
Billy Sunshine's Unconventional Birthday Song Request
A friend, “Billy Sunshine,” whose birthday will be celebrated soon, asked his guests to sing “Happy Birthday” this way:
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Worth Watching
Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now Originally released in 1979 Now available on various streaming services, including Netflix and Amazon Prime Directed by Francis Ford Coppola Starring Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, and Martin…
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Worth Reading
Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters
Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters By Steven Pinker 432 pages Published Sept. 28, 2021 by Viking His name kept coming up in conversations. Good conversations. “I’ve never read him,” I…
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Postscript
The Karen Who Demanded A Refund For Oxygen
One of my favorite “Karen” videos…
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Notes From My Journal
My Old-World Perspective on Investing
I am a happy member of two discussion groups: The Mules, a book club, which meets monthly, and Whiskey Wednesdays, a sort of old-fashioned conversation salon, that meets weekly. One of the many topics we come…
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
A Bird in the Hand
My Approach to Building Wealth When I think about investing – whether it is investing my time or my money – I begin by asking myself: What sort of thing is it that I’d be investing in? Is it a business – like…
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Postscript
Backhoe Operator's Impressive Feat Of Precision
At first I thought this was yet another entry for The Darwin Awards. In fact, it’s a demonstration of how adept some people are in managing backhoes.
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Worth Reading
Howl and Other Poems
Howl and Other Poems By Allen Ginsberg 57 pages Originally published by Lawrence Ferlinghetti (City Lights Books) in 1956 After church service, but before we were allowed to go out on Sundays, my mother…
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Worth Watching
Bright Star
Bright Star Initially released in 2009 Now available on various streaming services, including Netflix and Amazon Prime Directed by Jane Campion Starring Abbie Cornish, Ben Whishaw, Paul Schneider, and Kerry…
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Postscript
British Colleague References Paul The Octopus
A British colleague, commenting on surprisingly good marketing results last quarter, said, “Who needs Paul the Octopus (RIP).” I had no idea what that meant. So I looked it up. Pretty interesting! Click here.
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Bits and Pieces — November 11, 2021
The Orient Express: Then and Now Several summers ago, K and I took a train ride from Paris to Vienna. The goal was not to get to Vienna, but rather to experience the train ride itself. We were travelling, you…
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Postscript
Test Your Knowledge Of Fictional Dogs
How much do you know about fictional dogs? Click here to take this little self-test from the Quiz Daily website. (I got all but one correct. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.)
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
You Say You’re Proud to Be a Liberal, but You Don’t Act Like It!
You believe in equality. You believe in helping those that can’t help themselves. You believe in universal health coverage, free university education, a $20 minimum wage, and mandatory employee benefits like…
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Postscript
Why Fast Food Chains Pick Their Neighborhoods
“How Popeye’s and Church’s Choose Restaurant Locations” I’ve been following this guy on YouTube. He’s crazy and bravely funny.
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Notes From My Journal
Bits and Pieces — November 6, 2021
Get Ready for – and Profit from – Higher Fuel Prices When it comes to large-scale and long-term investment trends, I pay attention to three colleagues I’ve been following for three decades: Bill Bonner, Tom…
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Postscript
The Only Way To Eat A Mango
The only way to eat a mango…
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Why Do We Have 9 Supreme Court Judges?
You probably know that the current US Supreme Court has a conservative bias. Thanks to RBG’S death and Trump’s appointments, 6 of the 9 justices are considered conservative. This, the Democrats don’t like…
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Notes From My Journal
Is Nike Tapping Into Our Hopes… or Our Fears?
Take a look at this Nike commercial: A colleague sent it in, saying: The tone and content speaks directly to their key audience of children/ teens (and the parents of children and teens), but the message…
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Postscript
Do Animals Show Genuine Compassion Across Species?
This is remarkable… animals saving other animals… even outside their species. There is nothing in evolutionary theory that accounts for this, is there?
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