First Blog

  Of late, I’ve been lied to, cheated, and swindled. Stocks, bonds, crypto, health, and politics lead the pack. Politicians lead in all categories. For them, it’s downright institutional. Only the lies and corruption are keeping up with inflation – in some caes racing ahead. Hearing all this, day after day, make me want to spit. There are lots more spitting events. Here’s my short list. ·        The next time I hear we are in a recession (or not in one), I’m going to laugh. We are all hurting, the retired and poor the most. ·        The next time I hear these carrots or those apples are organic, when there is no verification (impossible BTW), I’m going to spit. ·        The next time I hear China is our friend, I’m going to grind my teeth. The Chinese are total snobs about everyone else – always have been. ·        The next time I hear BITCOIN is going way up, I’m going to groan. ·        The next time I hear inflation is good, I’m going to gag. ·        The next time I h

We take up the question as to what are some comprehension strategies that work well for you. First, note that comprehension is not an ah-ha moment. The ah-ha may come after mental preparation but never before. The stages of preparation are our message here today. Comprehension is more than learning a skill. We are not talking here about changing ink cartridges on your printer, but concepts like learning an accounting system, or legal and philosophical ideas. Big stuff. Comprehension is more-or-less a problem-solving event, another type of problem to be sure, but it involves all the big three components, understanding, belief, and acceptance. Mere problem-solving, on the other hand, requires only one of these. Steps I use in comprehension, though many are done simultaneously. They apply to all subjects. ·        Read the material, taking notes as needed. ·        Think about the topic over and over in your mind until you “think” you understand it. Carefully written notes are n

  Two great actor appeared on stage to discuss politics. Remarkably, both were brief. Actor A. People should not fear their government. The government should fear the people. Actor B. People should trust their government and government should trust the people. Fear vs Trust, the conflict of our day and of most days, with interludes fondly remembered in brief chapters on human progress.

 I'm often asked how I think about a new problem, like what come to mind.  A couple of thoughts come to mind when I first get a problem to solve. A. Comparison. Is this problem similar to problems I know how to solve? If yes, work to convert or transform the problem to one familiar. B. Simplify. If I simplify the problem some way, can I then solve it? If yes, then solve the simpler problem and try to work up to the actual problem. C. Eliminate. Learn how to eliminate solving ideas that will fail. Otherwise, you can get bogged down on a false trail. (Geniuses excel at this.) D. Read. If nothing rings a bell, I look at references about or related the problem and work from there. Hope for A or B. Yet, at any time reading up on materials can stimulate thinking. All in all, lots of problem solving experience is most important.

 10/5/22. This very day the national debt hit $31 trillion, comparable to credit card debt as there is no equity involved. Many discount this as insignificant, but is it? The total income to the government is about $4 trillion annually. This means the government owes almost 8 times its income. Forget the $4T is almost totally encumbered, i.e. spent. Let's now measure this debt in comparison to your debt. Suppose you make free and clear $100,000 annually.  Suppose you owe in credit card debt 8 times this amount. Your debt would be $800,000. (Your house and car, as equity, don't figure in.) Most people would consider a revolving credit card debt of $10,000 as huge to the max.  Now you have a personal idea of how much the government owes.  It also tells us why the Fed doesn't want to increase interest rates to curb inflation. An increase of just 2% in the prime rate requires the government to pay more than $600 billion in additional interest - each freaking year! Translated th

  All people want to feel good about themselves. Many are poor and many are rich, but all want that same feeling or sense of value, importance, independence, and well-being. These are the “highs” of life. Hard work, even if not well paid, gives these senses. Achievement gives the same. They allow the natural down turns and down days everyone has. Achievement modulates depression. Achievement stimulates well-being. Drugs give an artificial high without work, achievement, or anything else. It’s temporary and chemical. It ends quickly, but more drugs boost the spirits high again. A cycle. Welfare is similar. It gives the illusion of value simply because you can pay for food or other needs. Like a drug, you can become addicted to this easy cash*. Your sense of value disappears, and you become dependent on your provider. As you need more, you are re-cycled. *You may see this all around your world. My first experience was in grad school with Teaching Assistants, grad students teachin

  One fact never mentioned about inflation is this. Suppose by miracle, inflation goes to zero tomorrow and forever. The prices of goods, gas, utilities and all will remain about 12-13% higher than previously. To get back to 2020 levels we need to have huge negative inflation for a considerable period. Not likely.

Men's intelligence evolved by hunting the savage beast. Women's intelligence evolved by taming the savage beast. Both difficult. Note: Savage beast may has two different meanings.  ------------------------------------- When you identify human kind as abstract objects struggling for survival, it becomes a cooperative, peaceful, and kind species. I guess humans are not abstract.

 A new currency is available. Have you invested?  It is available now only in Ukraine. Called " Ukraine Bucks ," you invest in dirt paying in blood.  However, in this market you can buy sell back the dirt for units of blood.  The exchange rate is not yet known, even though traders are active every day. So far, there's an ample supply of dirt, but the blood supply is somewhat depleted. You can also buy your way into this market paying in bullets, tanks, and other hardware.  If Ukraine bucks aren't your preference, look for "Taiwan bucks" - coming soon to your local exchange. Dirt for Blood for Bullets. Or is it Blood for Dirt for Bullets?  Let's call all this blood money, or maybe dirt money. 

  Things not free are things that require giving. For some, the price is everything. For some, the price is recurring. Experience Freedom Respect Peace Knowledge Security Happiness Excellence Consistency Independence Friendship Loyalty Love Leadership Power Fame (not the 15-minute variety)

 Many workers prefer working at home. They save money in several ways, from time saved to pure money. They can do the work just as well, lunch at home, and no travel.  So, what can be wrong? Let me count the ways.  The water cooler. First, you are no where near the water cooler, where office gossip from who's in and who's out is discussed - and everything so mundane but important in a working organization.  You miss day-to-day contact with co-workers. Don't misconstrue the importance of the social aspects of your job.  You lose the possibility of promotions, as your boss only sees your work and never you.  You lose learning of the possibilities of other jobs in the neighborhood. This diminishes probable  changes in your career.  Finally , and nobody talks about this because large scale work from home is so new... Gradually, over years, you slowly become detached from your company. You hardly know it's happening, but you know less about it, beyond your daily tasks. You s