Category: Aggregated

Methadone is a legal drug that is taken by former heroin addicts. It eliminates the “rush” that heroin offers, but it also eliminates withdrawal symptoms. It lets heroin addicts escape the need to buy the expensive illegal drug. Methadone is for heroin addicts who just cannot bring themselves to go cold turkey from an addictive drug that distorts their perception. That is what a 401(k) retirement plan is for middle-class workers. Most workers have no retirement program other than Social Security. About 55% of American workers are eligible for a 401(k) plan, but only about 38% participate. This, according to … Continue reading →

Have you ever shouted at the wireless when a guest on Today begins his first answer with the word so? Are you more shocked by greengrocers’ use of the apostrophe than by the cost of Little Gem lettuces? Do you never have less than seven items, but sometimes fewer? Were you annoyed by my use of the word wireless just now? Your answers will indicate whether you think there’s anything at all weird about Bryan Henderson, aged 51, having corrected the same ungrammatical phrase 47,000 times. He does not like the construction “comprised of ”, and changes it where he can. … Continue reading →

Bloomberg News finally did something useful this morning by publishing some startling graphs from McKinsey’s latest update on the worldwide debt tsunami. If you don’t mind a tad of rounding, the planetary debt total now stands at $200 trillion compared to world GDP of just $70 trillion. Source: McKinseyThe implied 2.9X global leverage ratio is daunting in itself. But now would be an excellent time to recall the lessons of Greece because the true implications are far more ominous.Today’s raging crisis in Greece was hidden from view for many years in the run-up to its first EU bailout in 2010 because the denominator of its reported … Continue reading →

The “perfect-storm” of geopolitical instability, diplomatic isolation, severe currency depreciation, and economic decline now confronting Russia has profoundly damaged Moscow’s international standing, and possibly for the long-term. Yet, it is precisely such conditions that may push the country’s leadership into taking the radical step that will secure its world-player status once and for all: the adoption of a gold-exchange standard. Though a far-fetched idea at first glance, many factors suggest that remonetization in gold may be a logical next step for Moscow. First, for years Moscow has been expressing its unwillingness to remain at the monetary mercy of the US … Continue reading →

It’s one of my personal frustrations that I am naturally terrible at remembering names. I place great value on truly connecting with other people, and I know one of the simplest ways you can make someone feel recognized is to remember and speak their name. Plus, let’s face it, blanking on someone’s name whom you’ve met before — or worse, just been introduced to — is borderline rude, and fully embarrassing. How many of us have been there, awkwardly trying to get someone to repeat their name so we can make a proper introduction, or using all sorts of nonspecific … Continue reading →

Without antagonists, there would be no protagonists. Without sinister evil doers, there would be no heroes. Without dark there is no light… you get the idea. History, whether in reality or on the big screen, shows us that a decent, believable bad guy (or gal) makes our tough-guy (or gal) lead that much more desirable. Who would Beowulf have proven himself with had there not been a Grendel? Here are ten of cinema’s most ghastly villains. 10. The Wicked Witch of the West From Dorothy’s initial arrival in Munchkin City, and the very fact that she’d landed smack on top … Continue reading →