Articles from 2020
743 articles · browse by month or scroll through the year.
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A Word to the Wise
ineluctable (adjective)
Ineluctable (in-uh-LUK-that-bul) means inescapable; unable to be resisted or avoided. As Bill Bonner used it in the above essay: “And now, despite the irrefutable math and ineluctable financial debacle, the…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Only Two Presidents Impeached Before Trump
Impeachment (which is basically a charge of misconduct made against the holder of a public office) is rare. The House has initiated proceedings against top U.S. civil officials more than 60 times, but only 17…
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Worth Reading
The Oral History Of American Pie
For a little comic relief… “The Oral History of a 1999 Comedy Movie” in The New Yorker LINK
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Readers Write
An email from RN
I’ve read through Ready, Fire, Aim. I loved it, and in 2019 built a 7-figure… business based on the strategies you teach.
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Fun and/or Interesting
ABC News Anchor's Leaked Comments On Epstein Investigation
Leaked ABC News Insider Recording EXPOSES #EpsteinCoverup "We had Clinton, We had Everything" -
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Setting Stretch Goals Without Unrealistic Business Expectations
“There is no intellectual merit in holding conventional ideas but there is sometimes wisdom in doing so.” – Michael Masterson Have You Given Your Business “Stretch Goals” for 2020? “Double your revenues with…
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A Word to the Wise
prestidigitation (noun)
Prestidigitation (pres-tih-dish-jih-TAY-shun) is sleight of hand, magic tricks performed for entertainment. As I used it today: “The combination of genuinely innovative technology, marketing hyperbole, and…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Side Hustles For The Cautious Entrepreneur
Thanks to the internet, it’s getting easier and easier to be a “chicken entrepreneur.” By being a “chicken entrepreneur,” I mean starting a side business in your free time… while you still have the security of…
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Worth Reading
Forget the Fads: This is the Only Diet Tip You Need” in Dr. Eifrig’s Health & Wealth Bulletin
Dr. Eifrig, a friend and colleague, has come to the same conclusion I have: The Mediterranean diet has the most science behind it, and the Keto diet, while good in some respects, is not sustainable and…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Evolution's Hidden Nurturing Instinct Rivals Fight Or Flight
We are, indeed, cousins... and nurturing is as much an evolutionary instinct as fighting or "flighting."
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
So… You Want to Get Rich? Really?
“When I was a child I dreamed as a child. When I became an adolescent I stopped dreaming and gave up my soul to desire. I became a man when I gave up desire and began to take action.”– Michael Masterson So……
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Fun and/or Interesting
More Facts About Millionaires
* 86% of millionaires have a college degree. * 75% of millionaires work. One out of four is retired. * 86% of millionaires are married, including 65% in their first marriage. * 66% of millionaires own at least…
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A Word to the Wise
prophesy (verb)
To prophesy (PRAH-fuh-say) is to foretell or predict. As used by Winston Churchill: “I always avoid prophesying beforehand because it is a much better policy to prophesy after the event has already taken place…
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Worth Reading
US-Iran Tensions: From Political Coup to Hostage Crisis to Drone Strikes” on History.com
This brief review of US-Iran relations over the last 70 years provides a depressing picture of how difficult it is to try to control the activities of other sovereign nations – particularly when you have…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Why The New Old People Will Disappoint
Why the new old people are going to suck...
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Notes From My Journal
The Language Police Are At It Again!
“Be careful that what you write does not offend anybody or cause problems…. The safest approach is to remove all useful information.” – Scott Adams The Language Police Are At It Again! Last year, according to…
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A Word to the Wise
officious (adjective)
Officious (uh-FISH-us) means meddlesome; asserting authority in an annoying, domineering way. As I used it today: “Lest you continue to unwittingly offend, the (anonymous) author of this article officiously…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Why Only The Monkey Wears Clothes In Animal Crackers
Since 1902, 37 different kinds of animals have been featured in Nabisco’s Animal Crackers – and the only one wearing clothes has been the monkey. This bizarre fact has been a topic of conversation on the…
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Worth Reading
The Best Way to Profit From Government Stupidity
In this article, Doug Casey makes a compelling case for having some gold in your portfolio. LINK
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Readers Write
An email from FB
I regularly read this blog…. Mark’s writings have inspired me to get into copywriting and taking my marketing job more seriously. Instead of endless, pointless meetings, I have shifted my focus to planning…
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Fun and/or Interesting
This Guy Is Genuinely Hilarious
This guy is funny...
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Notes From My Journal
James Altucher's Essential Writing Tips And Books
“I hate writing. I love having written.” – Dorothy Parker In a very good and very readable recent essay – titled “Ruin Your Life” – James Altucher chronicles his journey as a writer. His advice to wannabe…
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A Word to the Wise
bafflegab (noun)
Bafflegab(BA-ful-gab) is pretentious and wordy language. As used by Peter Shawn Taylor in an article titled “Donald Trump: America’s First Millennial President”: “Conversations that would once have been…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Why September Births Dominate The Birthday Calendar
Nine of the 10 most common birthdays are between September 9 and 20. That’s a lot of Virgos and a lot of New Year’s romance.
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Worth Reading
The latest issue of AWAI’s Barefoot Writer — January 10, 2020
In the January issue: * 7 Ways to Kick-Start 2020 as a Well-Paid Writer * Become a Double Threat: A Writer With Bonus “Art Skills” * The Top 10 Lessons I Learned From a Year of Productivity
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Fun and/or Interesting
The Typewriter Artist — January 10, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svzPm8lT36o&feature=youtu.be
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Notes From My Journal
Mark's Unconventional Approach To Setting 2020 Goals
“A sense of purpose is both the fuel and the compass one needs to move through confusion.” – Michael Masterson Not every successful person sets yearly goals at the New Year. Just 90% do. If you are among the…
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A Word to the Wise
sanguine (adjective)
Sanguine (SANG-gwin) means cheerfully optimistic; hopeful. As used by Vincent Okay Nwachukwu: “That ‘God will provide,’ is a sanguine statement laced with faith. He does not bring one out in the dark and…
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Fun and/or Interesting
The Original Meaning Behind Unraveling Clues
A clueoriginally meant a ball of thread. Thus “unraveling clues.”
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Worth Reading
Climate Change Isn't A Matter Of Belief
In a short article on Medium.com titled “I Don’t Believe in Climate Change,” Duncan Riach makes a good point – that it’s a mistake to frame the issue as a black-and-white, true-or-false argument. Climate…
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Fun and/or Interesting
The Overlooked Argument Against Drug Prohibition
I was aware of the ineffectiveness of the war on drugs. It never made any sense. But I never heard this argument. It made me feel dumb.
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Notes From My Journal
Twenty-Two Books That Shaped My Year
“A man’s mind is known by the company it keeps.” – James Russell Lowell I try to read a book a week. In 2019, I read more than that – some for the second or third (or more) time. Here are the 22 of the best…
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A Word to the Wise
replete (adjective)
Replete (ruh-PLEET) means filled or abundantly provided with something. As I used it today in my mini review of Midnight in Chernobyl: “Replete with vivid detail and sharply etched personalities, this…
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Worth Reading
The latest issue of Independent Healing: “Infinite Immunity
A Nobel-Prize-winning discovery shows that our bodies have the natural ability to destroy all illness. But modern life is sabotaging our in-born defense against disease. In this issue, you’ll discover how to…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Nicaragua Emerges As Top Winter Escape Destination
According to Yahoo Lifestyle, Nicaragua is “The Warm-Weather Winter Travel Destination of 2020.” You can read the entire article – including yet another great review of Rancho Santana – here.
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Readers Write
An email from JS
It was a pleasure reading your book Great Leads. I am a big fan of your ideas and have implemented a couple in my businesses.
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Fun and/or Interesting
New Year Weight Loss Strategies Worth Trying
If you are trying to lose weight in 2020, take a look at this...
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Notes From My Journal
The Robot Babysitter Revolution Arrives By 2040
Santa gave Francis, our four-year-old grandson, a toy named Cosmo. From a distance, Cosmo looked like a cheap plastic stocking stuffer shaped like a tractor. But it moved in what seemed to be a purposeful way…
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Worth Quoting
Joan Baez On Living With Purpose And Intention
“You don’t get to choose how you’re going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you’re going to live. Now.” – Joan Baez
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A Word to the Wise
slubber (verb)
To slubber (SLUH-ber) is to work hastily and carelessly; to perform in a slipshod manner. As used by Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice: “I saw Bassanio and Antonio part; / Bassanio told him he would make…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Nicaragua Emerges As An Underrated Beach Destination
The Daily Beast recently published a great review of Rancho Santana. You can read the entire article – “Forget the Caribbean. Nicaragua Is Your Next Beach Getaway” – here.
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Worth Reading
Emily Dickinson, Freelancer” in The New Yorker
Emily Dickinson was one of America’s great poets. If you’re familiar with some of her better-known poems, you’ll enjoy this...LINK
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Fun and/or Interesting
The 2020 edition of Bob Bly’s daily desk calendar: “Words You Should Know to Sound Smart
In a review of last year’s calendar, Amy F. says: “In the age of auto correct, I realized my language skills were becoming substandard. Now, through assiduous lucubration of my new vocabulary, my friends don’t…
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