As many of you know, I am a practicing vegetarian and, except for the occasional croissant or slice of cheese, vegan. The reasons are numerous: the environmental impact of breeding, feeding, killing, processing, and transporting animals and animal products; the health impact of (cancer-causing) processed meats; and my own spiritual beliefs (I practice Hinduism). I … More What I’m Reading Now
In response to a blog comment/question (which I cannot locate now, for some reason) I wanted to offer some insights into what makes a rewarding, relaxing, and enjoyable vacation. My apologies for misplacing the comment. And thank you, dear reader, for the inquiry. First, I would suggest that you really do some soul-searching first. This … More The Old Money Vacation
I recently had coffee with a friend who is a few years younger than me. He had returned from a vacation abroad with mixed emotions. Alas, the experience had not been all he’d hoped for. Yes, he had seen memorable monuments and enjoyed some exotic cuisine. He’d slept late at a luxury hotel, a much-needed … More Not The Demographic
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
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