The Price of Cheap…Continued

We’ve already addressed the price some pay for the cheap clothing we’re able to purchase: enabling overseas companies to pay near-slave wages, or no wages if garments are produced in prisons by inmates, hazardous working conditions, and the physical toll these sweatshops take on their workers. We can add an environmental impact to that list, … More The Price of Cheap…Continued

My Recent Conversation With God

My conversations with Supreme Intelligence began a few years ago when I met ‘Mahesh’ at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. We were discussing the possibility of collaborating on what would become The Hindu Way To Wealth. While I can’t go into the circumstances or processes involved, for obvious reasons–everybody would want to … More My Recent Conversation With God

Update: Gallantry and Etiquette

In an earlier post, I relayed the differences between French and American traditions regarding etiquette, specifically, gentlemen opening the door for young ladies and entering before or after them. To my complete surprise, the post was read by one of my cafe comrades, a native of Paris, who then, to the amusement of all involved … More Update: Gallantry and Etiquette

Exemplars: Eleanor Roosevelt

It’s easy to look at the life of Eleanor Roosevelt and think to ourselves, ‘They don’t make them like that anymore.’ In one sense I agree, and in another I would only add, ‘Well, let’s certainly hope they do.’ We could use another Eleanor or two in the world. Happy Birthday, Mrs. Roosevelt.  As niece … More Exemplars: Eleanor Roosevelt

An Obituary in The London Times

David, one of our longtime readers and contributors, forwarded this, which appeared in The London Times. Enjoy… Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in … More An Obituary in The London Times

Clothing and Character

We frequently discuss clothing here–timeless style, function over fashion, style icons, back to school basics–but more often than not, we’re circling the issue of how your clothes reflect your values. What I don’t know is if we’ve ever explored this angle: do clothing choices come from certain (Old Money) values, priorities, and habits? Or can … More Clothing and Character

The Greek, The French, and Me

I recently read a short, interesting book by Yanis Varoufakis. He is a former finance minister of Greece and was an all-round thorn in the EU’s side during Greece’s financial collapse a few years ago. The book, Talking to My Daughter About the Economy – A Brief History of Capitalism, is worthwhile. The history behind … More The Greek, The French, and Me