Articles from 2020
743 articles · browse by month or scroll through the year.
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Worth Quoting
Michael Masterson On Money And True Fulfillment
“Wealth is an advantage in almost every endeavor except the search for three things: honor, dignity, and personal satisfaction.” – Michael Masterson
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Worth Considering
Neither Snow Nor Rain Nor... Misinformation
There’s a lot of chatter going on about a nefarious plot by the administration to undermine the upcoming election by crippling the USPS. So I figured it might be a good idea to clarify some things about the…
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A Word to the Wise
nefarious (adjective)
Nefarious (nuh-FARE-ee-us) refers to something (typically an action or activity) that is wicked or criminal. As I used it today: “There’s a lot of chatter going on about a nefarious plot by the administration…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Recovered COVID Patients Show Strong Antibody Protection
“Evidence That Antibodies Block the Coronavirus” – Shockingly, the NYT reports on good news re the Corona Crisis: Getting sick and recovering does give you significant immunity. Click here to read the article
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Readers Write
An email from FM
I have followed you for years! I am completely convinced that Automatic Wealth is the absolute best actionable book about personal wealth building that has ever been written, and hey, I have read entire…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Stock Market Enthusiasts Explained With Gentle Satire
“Casually Explained: People Who Are Into the Stock Market” – An even-handed satire of pretty much the entire investment community…
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Sweden's High Taxes: Why Swedes Accept Them Willingly
“People everywhere enjoy believing things that they know are not true. It spares them the ordeal of thinking for themselves and taking responsibility for what they know.” – Brooks Atkinson Sweden’s Democratic…
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A Word to the Wise
mitigate (verb)
To mitigate (MIH-duh-gate) is to make less severe, serious, or painful. As I used it today: “[Sweden has] a national 25% sales tax that is built into the price of almost everything. To mitigate the effect on…
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Worth Considering
Welcome Aboard, Warren
“It doesn’t do anything but sit there and look at you.” Until recently, Warren Buffett’s opinion on gold seemed pretty clear. That seems to have changed a bit, though. Okay. So maybe he didn’t actually buy…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Swedish Taxation at a Glance
* Income Tax: 32% + 25% = 57% * Social Security Tax: 31.42% * Capital Gains Tax: 30% * Corporation Tax: 22% * National Sales Tax: 25% * No Property Tax * No Gift Tax * No Estate (Death) Tax
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Fun and/or Interesting
Sweden's Capitalism Problem, According To Bernie
“Sweden is more capitalist than Bernie Sanders says”
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
What Successful Cultures Know About Hard Work
On July 27 and July 29, we talked about Asian-Americans, pointing out that they are, as an identity group, the richest and most successful ex-patriots in the world. Comprised of at least a half-dozen…
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A Word to the Wise
exemplum (noun)
An exemplum (ig-ZEM-plum) is an example, especially one used to illustrate or support a point. As I used it today: “So, what, exactly, is the Nordic Model? And if Sweden is an exemplum of it, how, exactly…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Can You Name These Obscure Body Parts?
Do you know what these obscure body parts do? I scored a paltry 63% on this fun quiz. Click here to take the quiz and see if you can do better!
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Worth Watching
Space Force” on Netflix
A comedy series based on President Trump’s plan to create a new branch of the military? Maybe worth a few sketches on SNL… but a full-length comedy series? It sounded like a bad idea. Now I’m laughing out loud…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Cute Bordering On Corny But True
Cute bordering on corny, but true.
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Don’t Get Stuck at a Measly Million Dollars in Revenues
Note: The following essay is an excerpt from the upcoming new and revised edition of Ready, Fire, Aim. Don’t Get Stuck at a Measly Million Dollars in Revenues “Innovation is the specific instrument of…
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A Word to the Wise
senescence (noun)
Senescence (suh-NEH-suhns) is the condition or process of deterioration with age. As I used it today: “In my experience, [businesses are like] organisms that grow in organic ways. In infancy and childhood…
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Worth Considering
Mega Mansions Are Selling Like Hotcakes!
A five-bedroom house built in 1955 in East Hampton is up for sale. The price tag: $72 million. Nirav Tolia, the co-founder Nextdoor, is selling his San Francisco home in the Pacific Heights for $25 million…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Why Schools Stayed Open During The 1918 Pandemic
At the height of the 1918 pandemic, NYC and Chicago schools stayed open. Here’s why.
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Fun and/or Interesting
The New Yorker's Surprisingly Funny "Everyone Hates Me
“Everyone Hates Me” – a rare treat from the otherwise lifeless New Yorker.
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
Friendship: Who… What… Why… and How?
“Years ago,” AS said, “when we were in Myrtle Beach, I asked you how many real friends you had in Florida. You asked me to define friend. I said, ‘Someone you could ask to pick you up at the airport.’” I asked…
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A Word to the Wise
Draconian (adjective)
Draconian (dray-KOH-nee-un) means harsh or severe. The word refers to Draco, a 7th century BC Athenian legislator who created an extremely cruel code of law. (Even minor offenses were punishable by death.) As…
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Fun and/or Interesting
A Good Long Life of Work
Luchita Hurtado, an accomplished but pretty much unknown artist, died in her Santa Monica home on August 14. She was 99, and for 80 years she worked in a variety of styles and media, including paintings…
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Worth Reading
Two Things to Consider Before Hiring Your Family or Friends” by Joel Salatin
In reply to an essay I wrote about the danger of hiring family and friends, a fellow essayist wrote this, which I thought was quite good. Click here to read it.
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Fun and/or Interesting
Before and After: Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Hiroshima and Nagasaki - click here to see photos before and after the bombs.
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Notes From My Journal
Twenty Quotations On Living A Rewarding Life
“Experience, contrary to common belief, is mostly imagination.” – Ruth Benedict 20 Maxims for Life When I first began collecting beer bottles, a friend of mine warned me that the experience of collecting…
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Worth Considering
The Fake Problem of Imposture Syndrome
Here’s the thing about imposture syndrome. It’s not worth talking about. I just watched a TED Talk in which Elizabeth Cox posits that the way to relieve imposture syndrome is to talk about it. Talk to your…
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A Word to the Wise
fawn (verb)
To fawn (FAWN) is to display exaggerated flattery or affection, typically in order to gain favor or advantage. As I used it today: “[Maya] Angelou felt that she might not be the greatest American poet of the…
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Worth Reading
Escape Residences: Panama City Or Medellin?
“Panama City vs. Medellin” – I’ve spent time in both. If you’re thinking of getting an escape residence overseas, this is a good comparison of the pros and cons.
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Fun and/or Interesting
Can You Pass This Basic Grammar Test
You should be able to score at least a 9 on this basic grammar test.
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Fun and/or Interesting
Separating Myth From History: The Amazon Question
Did the Amazons really exist? Adrienne Mayor investigates…
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Notes From My Journal
When Traffic Lights Disappeared, Civility Took Over
“Progress is exactly that which rules and regulations do not see.” – Ludwig von Mises Is the Traffic Light a Menace to Society? Traffic was heavy when the traffic lights went out. With hundreds of cars on…
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A Word to the Wise
civility (noun)
Civility (suh-VIL-uh-dee) is formal politeness and courtesy. As I used it today: “Instead of relying on a traffic light to direct their stop-and-go decisions, [drivers] were using common sense and civility…
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Fun and/or Interesting
The amber light was introduced in the 1920s
* The amber light was introduced in the 1920s. With only a red and green signal, drivers didn’t have an interval to slow down. On busy and noisy intersections, that caused plenty of accidents. In 1920, the…
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Worth Reading
The latest issue of AWAI’s Barefoot Writer — August 12, 2020
In this issue: * The Money Parachute That Transports Writers From Crisis to Opportunity * How to Get Unstuck and Find Your Real Success * Is Your Chief Writing Tool Slowly Killing You? * Trading Joy for Joy…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Reconnecting With Grandma Through Collaborative Art
“Navin Rawanchaikul: A Family Reunion With Grandma” – a good family project for anyone that has a grandparent alive….
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
The Corona Economy: Assessing Unprecedented Economic Damage
“Collette said hope costs nothing. But it does. It costs the time you spend hoping.” – Michael Masterson The Corona Economy: How Bad Is It… Really? It’s time for another look at our Corona Economy. Time to…
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A Word to the Wise
egregious (adjective)
Egregious (uh-GREE-jus) describes something that is obviously and shockingly bad. As I used it today: “And on top of that are the problems with the way workers are classified. The most egregious: Those on…
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Fun and/or Interesting
How Badly Is the US Botching Its Response?
The US has been hit harder by COVID-19 than any other advanced economy. Have you heard that? It feels true. It’s what I’ve been reading and hearing in the media for the past several months. I just looked it up…
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Worth Considering
Coronavirus Cases Peak, Then Begin Their Decline
According to CDC data, the current wave of coronavirus peaked on July 25 (5-day moving average) nationwide and between July 22 and August 1 in the states that have accounted for the most cases: California…
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Worth Reading
The latest issue of Independent Healing — August 10, 2020
In this issue: How physicians are protecting themselves and their families during the pandemic. Click here to read the August issue.
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Readers Write
An email from OA
I just read your series on the Pareto Principle. Loved that you took the principle a notch higher with the “Masterson Mandate.” Great stuff. It’s fascinating that the 80/20 principle is almost as common as the…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Boxer Shuts Down Disrespectful Reporter With Wit
Watch how a boxer outsmarts a disrespectful reporter. This is great!
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Notes From My Journal
Ten Books That Made Me Feel Smarter
“There is creative reading as well as creative writing.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson 10 Books That Made Me Feel Smarter (They Might Make You Feel Smarter, Too) Some books make you wiser. Some books make you kinder…
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A Word to the Wise
phenomenology (noun)
Phenomenology (fuh-nah-muh-NAHL-uh-jee) is the branch of philosophy that deals with consciousness, thought, and experience. As I used it today: “[John Updike] takes a phenomenological approach to criticism.”
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Worth Considering
The Golden Rule: It’s Universal, but Is It Golden?
I’m sure you’ve noticed that most religions have, as a core principle, The Golden Rule: * Christianity – “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (the Bible, Matthew 7:12) * Judaism – “What is…
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Fun and/or Interesting
Twenty Billion Spam Emails Daily Worldwide
About 20 billion spam emails are sent out every day around the world.
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Fun and/or Interesting
How Easy It Is To Lie With Statistics
This is how easy it is to lie with statistics…
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From My Work-in-Progress Basket
The Innovation Myth
Note: The following essay is an excerpt from the upcoming new and revised edition of Ready, Fire, Aim. The Innovation Myth Innovation has nothing to do with how many R&D dollars you have…. It’s not about money…
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