We all have people in our lives who have the admirable and sometimes irritable ability to dissect, analyze, compliment, and condemn with uncanny accuracy. Some are close friends or colleagues. Some are strangers to us and remain at a distance in the public sphere. Critics of art, literature, or film, fashion editors and media publishers, … More The Role of the Snob
It will come as no surprise to frequent readers that I have a healthy distrust of technology: inventions and innovations are only as good as their creators. We are human and therefore imperfect. The tools we construct will reflect this reality. Furthermore, with every technological advance, we must often find our footing rather quickly with … More Not So Smart With The Phone
A fascinating piece recently found in The Telegraph… https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/tax/inheritance/inherit-100m-im-giving-it-all-away/ I’m sure we’re going to have quite a few opinions on it. Personally, I’m not sure if inheriting more than $10 million in cash or its equivalent is really beneficial to most people. (Full disclosure: I inherited. The benefits and drawbacks have pretty much cancelled each … More Heir Not So Apparent
David, our steadfast foreign correspondent, recently brought this article to my attention. While I follow a vegetarian diet (vegan if it weren’t for croissants and pastries), I believe the suggestions presented below have merit. Enjoy, and thank you, David. No snacking and plain food: Why an upper-class diet is better for your health Do you … More The Upper Class Diet
In this digital age, it’s understandable that we feel overwhelmed by innovation and invention. We hardly become accustomed to one version of an iPhone when another version is released and relentlessly promoted. Software updates ding on our screens with annoying regularity. In a way, however, the constant infatuation with novelty is really nothing that new. … More The Role of Tradition
One of the most exhausting and sometimes confusing situations we can find ourselves in is when we have mixed emotions or conflicting agendas in our lives. We want to do one thing, but we find ourselves being obligated to do another. Or old habits prove too hard to break, and we sabotage our own plans … More The Importance of Alignment
One of the bigger challenges for those of us not raised by wolves is interacting with people who were. Like many of you, I was raised to be polite. To have an awareness of others and to be courteous whenever possible. I habitually open doors for people, usually ladies, but sometimes elderly men or people … More Being Polite in a Rude World
My apologies for the extended absence. My non-writing life has been quite a mixed bag recently, and my work has suffered as a result. But the issues have all been resolved, and a somewhat more structured work schedule can now resume. Earlier this year, I received an email from a young lady. She had been … More Back Among The Living
I returned to Paris last week and was lucky enough to catch up briefly with another American expat. He and I are about the same age and our backgrounds are similar, so conversation flowed easily. One topic we discussed was inflation was inflation: how it impacts people in different ways, depending upon their age and … More Inflation…and What We Remember
We are often told about the importance of making a good first impression. It is wise advice because it is timeless and often accurate: make a good first impression, and odds are you have a good chance to experience a productive social, personal, or professional relationship with the other party. Make a bad first impression … More The Last Impression