Gen X and Gen Y are cliches, and yet, like so many cliches, there may be something to them. Today, I am struggling with the usual existential crisis that makes managing money so hard: living for today versus saving up until age 100. In finance terms, it’s a matter of opportunity cost; we tend to… [Read More]
Blog
Somalia: Born in the Big Rains
The next country on the my list of African nations to learn about is Somalia. I was in New York City recently and went to the wonderful and amazing Strand Books and asked for books about Somalia, ideally something happy and upbeat. My choices were tales of war and destruction or Born in the Big… [Read More]
Scalawags, Spanish prisoners, and Nigerian scams
As part of my ongoing effort to learn about Africa, I read the book 419 by Will Ferguson. It’s about a Canadian who is caught up in the so-called Nigerian scam, and it is also about charity, crime, forgiveness, and retribution. The title comes from the section of the Nigerian legal code that handles punishment… [Read More]
Great info from the ASBPE Conference
Last week, I attended the ASBPE Conference – the American Society of Business Publication Editors – and learned a few new things. I learned a lot about making and editing smartphone videos. I have already put the information to work! A few things of general note: The sweet spot for story length is anything less… [Read More]
Paying for college: Protecting the investment in human capital
Gary Becker was a University of Chicago economist best known for his work on human capital. His research covered discrimination, compensation, family formation, birth rates, educational quality – pretty much anything that involved how people maximize the value of their time and talent. Paying for college is one way people invest in human capital. I… [Read More]
