Awareness

Sunset on the balcony

How do people do it?

It’s not hard to look around and be amazed. You hear about your co-worker’s most recent trip to Hawaii. Your friends post on Instagram a gorgeous sunset taken from the middle of the South Pacific. And then you move on … Read MoreRead More

Flooded street

I don’t understand European bathrooms

Having just come back from two weeks in Europe (as part of my one new country per year challenge) I had a myriad of different experiences. Most of them were positive, though a few were unfortunate and of my own making. … Read MoreRead More

Approved/denied stamps

Does your bank know you’re traveling?

If you’ve got international travels planned, I bet you’re excited for them. You might want to throw all of your stuff in your bag and just get to the airport as quickly as possible. I know the feeling. I just … Read MoreRead More

Tennis Shot

It’s okay, you were never taught

I run a discussion group in Portland called the Portland Integrative Finance Community. It’s been tremendously satisfying for me, but the feedback I’ve gotten from attendees so far has been remarkable. Many people have mentioned how positive it was to … Read MoreRead More

Hands in the air

Tony Robbins’ finance app, or how the end of history is already happening

I talk about the problems with tying the contents of a book to an online service, using the example of the Tony Robbins Master The Game app. I got on a bit of a rant when I talked about the end … Read MoreRead More

VCR

How to prevent the end of history

Hidden among the latest catastrophes and tragedies was a little-heralded story about how the last VCR was finally being produced. “I didn’t even know that VCRs were still being made,” said mostly everyone. Indeed, it’s been a while since I’ve … Read MoreRead More

Blurry people

Even if I wanted a smartphone, how would I use it?

Smartphones aren’t evil, but for me, the cons far outweigh the pros. I don’t need a map to get around, I don’t need email everywhere I am, and apps don’t seem like they would qualitatively add to my life. For … Read MoreRead More

Newspapers

Is it time to turn off the news?

My mom assures me that this is a true story. Around the age of 5 or so, reflecting on the content on the local news show on TV, I asked my mom why they didn’t call the show “Bad News” … Read MoreRead More

Lightning in the desert

Would I have done college differently if I had wanted to avoid debt?

I’m annoyed when I think about debt. It’s a thing that I want to get away from, like a snoring person in the room, or a screaming baby on the plane. I want it gone. When I was in high school, … Read MoreRead More

You really can move to a new place

I’ve written about how you can and should love where you live. I sometimes get some push-back on this that feels like excuses. People spend a lot of time defending their own unhappy inertia, that circumstances simply prevent them from … Read MoreRead More