Money Rot
Once you strip away the illusion created by decades of inflation mismeasurement, assets may not be worth what we think.
History
The Story of Target Date Funds
The Target Date Fund, now a staple of 401(k) plans, has a surprisingly colorful origin—emerging from academic theory, shaped by pension consulting, and even brushing up against Star Wars and Kubrick. Behind its quiet ubiquity lies a story of mathematical elegance, financial innovation, and unexpected creativity.
Greater Fools
The greater fool is an economic term. For the rest of us to profit, we need a greater fool — someone who will buy high and sell low.
Bancor
Bancor was a supranational currency proposed in 1944 to facilitate international trade by balancing global liquidity and preventing chronic trade deficits and surpluses through an International Clearing Union.
Finfluence
Social media influencers have not only altered the way financial information is consumed, but the markets themselves.
The Risk-Free Risk
Bond markets are the referee for economic discipline, raising an eyebrow to reckless borrowing and sternly saying, “Behave, or I’ll raise your yields.”
The Spock Market
How would Spock invest in the stock market?
Baseline: A Steady Diet Of Nothing
From straight-edge hardcore punk to modern wellness social media influencers, it’s been a long journey to make clean living cool again.
1987: The Year U2 Broke The Big 80s
It’s difficult to appreciate now, but from an audio production standpoint, almost everything about “The Joshua Tree” was antithetical to the prevailing norms of 1987.
Professional Advertising Is Dead. Long Live Advertising.
About eight years ago, I started to notice a bizarre phenomenon. I was paid by people to make things look “professional,” yet I repeatedly noticed that consumers were suspicious or oblivious to much of the visual language that was established by the past century of professional ad design. I looked around for some theorist to … Continue reading Professional Advertising Is Dead. Long Live Advertising.
When The First Amendment Is The Poison
If I were a head of state in a western style “free market democracy” right now, I would probably secretly resent constitutional clauses that would restrict my government’s ability to censor the media. Faith, which is the essence of our financial system, had a fighting chance before our media outlets doggedly reported that we were … Continue reading When The First Amendment Is The Poison
Health Care: Why is it so damn expensive?
My brother, Adam emailed me this morning about a whopping hospital bill he received for a recent visit to the ER… “Eighteen-Hundred freaking dollars for an IV and a gurney???” Absurd, isn’t it? We all know horror stories like this. A simple visit to the hospital because of a real emergency (like severe dehydration, in … Continue reading Health Care: Why is it so damn expensive?
The End of Internet 1.0
Net Neutrality: there has been a lot of talk about this movement recently and an equal amount of misunderstanding. When I first heard about the NN bill, it was after it had already been voted down in the house.The same newspaper reportalso explained that the defeated bill was trying to prevent Internet Service Providers (ISPs) … Continue reading The End of Internet 1.0
Humble Beginnings
In 1982, my father took me to a coworkers home to examine an electronic device called the TI-99/4A home computer. The coworker was a reseller of these systems and Dad was interested in purchasing one. I recall going down into the tan and brown decor finished basement of the man’s home, complete with wood paneling … Continue reading Humble Beginnings
Tornado Season
Tornadoes and strong storms flattened homes and businesses acrossSumner county, leaving a trail of destruction several miles long, and at least 167 homes were destroyed in the Gallatin area alone. At least seven people injured in the storm were being treated at Hendersonville Medical Center. Hospital spokeswoman Marissa Murphy said the hospital was operating on … Continue reading Tornado Season