I now understand derivatives (kinda)
I love Michael Lewis's books and articles. I wouldn't put The Big Short at the top of the list, but it's still pretty good. The reason it's not at the top is that it's incredibly complex, and yet it's still about the most coherent description I've found of what really went wrong with the subprime market (and hence, the rest of everything else). Outside of any individual, Lewis lays the blame for the crisis on two key factors: 1) the decision in the 1980s on Wall Street to take the investment banks public. With the shareholders essentially footing the bill, Read more…
If instead of buying an Apple, you bought stock in the company …
The first Apple product I had was an iBook from 2002. It cost $1500. That same amount of money spent on Apple stock would be worth $32,819 today. Crazy.
On a totally different note
My friend Angela has an article in US Catholic right now on why it matters to be Catholic. http://www.uscatholic.org/whyitmatters I know I have many Catholic readers who will identify with her essay.
A Long Post Explaining Why I Think “Kick Ass” Is An Awful Movie
I was intrigued by the idea of Kick Ass, till I read Ebert’s review that called it “morally reprehensible.” His review contained things that made me think, “I wouldn’t like this movie.” Then a lot of people twittered about how great it was, I got an email about how great it was, and then an invitation to see it. So we went. Mary walked out 20 minutes in. I stayed. Perhaps because I wanted to write this post having seen the whole thing. Ebert was right. I think “morally reprehensible” is about right. Watch an 11 year old girl get Read more…
Good news for the Foss and the Bay!
Meanwhile the City of Tacoma’s annual report on its efforts to monitor and control polluted stormwater flowing into the Foss is showing positive results. In some of the stormwater outfalls that flow into the waterway, chemical pollution has been reduced by 60 percent in the past eight years, according to Lorna Mauren, manager of the surface water group in the city’s Public Works Department. via thenewstribune.com
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