Most mornings, after my workout, I sit on a barstool and drink my fruit smoothie while reading the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and the Financial Times (FT). I like to compare American and British views on current issues, politics, and business. I glance through the headlines for snippets of …
How Much is Enough?
When I was in my early twenties and had just started my first professional job, I thought about how much money would be needed when I retired. Although I was young and three to four decades away from retirement, I believed it was important to start planning for this eventuality. The large company …
Grieving a Spouse
This past week, the world has witnessed a grieving nation: the crowds, flower memorials, processions, dirges, and miles of people walking past a coffin. Although I am not British nor living in the Commonwealth, the photos evoke sorrow after the death of a person who lived a remarkable life. The …
Queen Elizabeth II
In June of 2013, my wife and I, along with three other couples, attended Royal Ascot. Ascot Racecourse is in Berkshire, six miles west of Windsor Castle. It is a circular grass track used for thoroughbred horse racing. Each of the five days of Royal Ascot (Tuesday to Saturday) begins with the Royal …
Longtermism
I studied Chemical Engineering during the 1970’s and we did not discuss climate change. It was a well-known fact that depositing hydrocarbons into the atmosphere, waterways, and soil was harmful. But the fact that burning hydrocarbons in vehicles or for electricity generation would contribute to …