From April 2012 (note the irony):
steps to mental wellness and avoid information overload:
-cut the fat and minimize
-grow your own content to synthesize should view
-measure portions and time limits
-forgive yourself for slips
-abandon the screen when possible
-financial cliff coming up Jan 1 2013- deficit reduction and bush era tax cuts ending
From 4-24-12:
-unemployment claims on the rise
-legislation pending to replace dollar Bill with dollar coins
-arguments for: coins last longer, save money, vending machine, costs .15 lasts 30 years. Arguments against: cheaper to make, does not last as long, coin jar effect(people don’t like to use coins as much as bills)
3. Important goal in life be a good parent.
7 triggers to “fascinate” audience:
7. Trust. People do not necessarily want the best products, but they want familiar things. Runs in opposition to “Vice” or rebellion
From 3-13-12:
-important to take a long, medium and short range views on life. long range-what I am doing now will determine where I will be in ten, twenty years; ten years looking backwards seems like a short time, ten years looking forward seems like a long time–both are the same, it’s about perspective
-medium range view-at the end of the day evaluate the actions of the day. Becoming conscious of mistakes prevents future mistakes and improved mind and character;
-short range-importance if regimented daily routines. Mind naturally shrugs having to do work…have to instruct and train it to follow rules. Same goes for body. Body naturally wants to rest and not do much work–have to train to be comfortable with physical and mental exercise
From 3-13-2012:
-For ways to succeed in the new economy: 1. Stay on top of technological change. 2. Specialize. 3. Buffer against unexpected economic shocks that are inevitable. 4. Offer something at a premium that no one else can.
-As of Dec, Jan and Feb 2012 economy adding 200k jobs a month. Very optimistic about the recovery, but cautious optimism.
From 2-28-12:
-Greece economy projected to shrink by 7% in 2012. Bad number. In Great Recession, U.S. economy shrank by about 4%
-View of government spending from economics perspective: government spending necessary for public goods: lighthouses, defense, security, autopsies, etc (criteria for public good- no marginal cost, no exclusivity) Post office not a public good according to economists.
-many things that government provides are no common goods. politcs vs. economics
From Feb. 2012:
-Geniuses tend to arrive in clusters; Athens during Plato’s time; Florence (population 70,000) during da Vinci’s time
-Meta-structures can encourage genius clusters in societies (things like patent system, education system, etc.) even in times of war, societal unrest.
-United States already produces genius clusters in the way of athletes. Topeka, Kansas, e.g., can produce a brilliant athlete every few years b/c of sports structure valued in U.S.
From 2-27-2012:
Solutions for countries to get out of debt.
-Four traditional ways: Forgiveness, Inflation, GDP growth, Default
-”Jubilee” loan forgiveness: ancient idea that loans should be forgiven in 50 years
-Debt to GDP ratio indicates a country’s solvency. Debt to GDP ratio of 90 is high limit; Greece anticipated to get up to 160 debt to GDP ratio by 2020. Not good.
-Private Equity firms: buy companies; take out loans to bring those companies to profitability; PE firms put money down and use profits to pay off down payments.
Book Summaries. Less than 272 words.