The decade leading up to the Great Depression was a period of significant technological advancement, broad cultural achievement and well-documented economic prosperity. Often overlooked, however, was that it was also a period of deep grief in the wake of World War I, the greatest trauma the world had known up until that moment. This unique combination … Continued
“The problem with QE is it works in practice but it doesn’t work in theory.” – Ben Bernanke’s quip in his final public appearance as Chairman of the Federal Reserve One of the more dangerous phrases used in the investment world is ceteris paribus. All else is seldom equal and the market’s core narrative … Continued
“You wish to surrender to me? Very well, I accept.” – The protagonist Westley in the novel The Princess Bride In the novel The Princess Bride, later made into a cult film, The Dread Pirate Roberts is not one person but several characters who successively take the same name in turn. The arrangement thrives because … Continued
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” – Keyser Söze, from the 1995 film “The Usual Suspects” When censors first sat down and watched the movie Psycho, they deemed it to be too violent. In response, Hitchcock reviewed with them the violent scenes frame-by-frame. To their amazement, there was … Continued
“The arch of history is long, but it bends towards justice.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. The future doesn’t seem to be what it used to be. Global financial calamities last year, ranging from the ongoing European sovereign debt crisis to the unprecedented downgrade of our Treasury market, combined with the Japanese natural disaster, the … Continued
“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” – Albert Einstein Fictional narrative storytelling is one of the most memorable and effective ways to teach a lesson, capture a universal truth about the actions and consequences of human … Continued