Personal Economics 101

Business, technology, environmental and economic changes are a part of life, and they are coming faster all the time. All of these changes and advancements can be distracting and make us more vulnerable to cyber scams. That's why protecting your credit is a critical part of protecting yourself from cyber security threats. Security researchers have reported that hackers and scammers are using any opportunity or vulnerability to target both individuals and companies. You may have already seen these attempts in the form of fake emails or calls. Here are the top five questions Equifax ®  has received about how individuals can protect themselves from cyber security threats and help to improve your credit protection. 1. How can I better protect my credit? Check your credit reports frequently. You can get free credit reports from the nationwide credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian ®  and TransUnion ® ) at annualcreditreport.com. Check your credit reports frequently to closely...

The Texas Senate on Thursday approved a $500 million school choice bill mostly along party lines after hours of passionate debate. It will now head for consideration in the House, where members rejected similar proposals during the regular session. Senators passed Senate Bill 1 by a 18-13 vote, with one Republican joining all Democrats in voting against the measure. The bill will likely face steep resistance in the House, where Democratic members and many rural Republicans have vehemently opposed such proposals. School choice programs, also called education savings accounts or vouchers, use public money to help pay for a child’s private schooling. “We must recognize that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't fit the needs of our diverse student population,” said Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, who authored SB 1 and estimated the proposal could serve about 60,000 students. Texas has about 5.5 million children in public schools. Public schools have failed the American people, especi...

A new study by two scholars at the University of North Carolina and a professor at Texas A&M examined the impact of DEI programs in corporate America and found no evidence that these programs lead to higher returns. The study reported: “The business case for diversity” is the dominant rhetorical paradigm for how U.S. corporations debate actions and policies around racial/ethnic diversity. In this paper, we conduct an empirical test of the paradigm by gathering data on the race/ethnicity of the individuals shown on the leadership pages of S&P 500 firms’ websites as of mid-2011, 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2021, and then determining if any of nine measures of the racial/ethnic diversity of these executives reliably predict…their firms’ financial performance over the next fiscal year. We do not find reliable evidence that they do. As such, our results do not support the “business case for diversity” when the claim is assessed using 1-year-ahead financial performance metrics and multiple ...

Given the recent events in the Middle East, how dangerous is this Biden energy policy? Biden abused his power when he drained our Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an attempt to lower oil and gas prices, so his popularity wouldn't wane. While that didn't work, he has placed this country in a perilous position. As if his open borders wasn't threat enough. And it's also worth remembering that Chuck Schumer blocked Trump's request to buy 77 million barrels in March 2020, when lockdowns had pushed the spot price close to zero:

They used to embrace Stalin and Mao. So I'm not surprised... For nearly 100 years, the political Left prided itself on being the side of peace and anti-militarism. The Western left supported peace talks in the Middle East, backed a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, and called for noncombatant lives to be spared.  But over the past week, loud voices on the radical Left endorsed Hamas’ brutal and horrific terrorist attack on Israeli civilians. Several left-wing organizations released statements that appeared to condone the attack. The day after Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) held a protest “in solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to resist 75 years of occupation and apartheid.”  Thirty-four Harvard student organizations signed a joint statement excusing the murder and kidnapping of women and children. “The apartheid regime is the only one to blame,” the statement read. “The coming days will require a f...

1. Obstacles are opportunities Marcus mastered the art of turning every obstacle into an opportunity. Nothing was universally negative in his mind. In this vein, every hardship has at least one positive aspect. 2. Don't spend time worrying about what people think of you "Your energy and time are both limited, so don't waste them on what those inconsequential to your life are doing thinking and saying." 3. Focus on the present "Each of us lives only now, this brief instant. The rest has been lived already, or it impossible to see." 4. You are the architect of your perceptions "You have the power over your mind -- not outside events. Realize this and you will find strength." 5. Value the right things in life and your life will have value “A person’s worth is measured by the worth of what he values.” 6. No goal is out of reach “Because a thing seems difficult for you, do not think it impossible for anyone to accomplish.” 7. Be grateful for what you h...

 

The Richest Man in Babylon  is an absolute gem of a book that imparts timeless financial wisdom in a captivating and relatable manner. George S. Clason's storytelling takes you on a journey to the ancient city of Babylon, where simple yet profound financial principles come to life. This book is a masterpiece in teaching the art of managing money, showcasing principles like saving a portion of your income, investing wisely, and living within your means. Through relatable parables and anecdotes, Clason delivers valuable lessons that remain as relevant today as they were when the book was written. What sets this book apart is its ability to simplify complex financial concepts. The storytelling format makes it engaging and easy to understand, even for those who are new to financial literacy. As you follow the characters' journeys to financial success, you'll find yourself not only entertained but also inspired to apply the lessons to your own life. "The Richest Man in Baby...

You'll find these concepts of Stoicism in Meditations  by Marcus Aurelias , a Roman emperor from 161 to 180 AD and a Stoic philosopher.

Trillion Dollar Deficits as Far as The Eye Can See From Investopedia The Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives passed a funding bill on Saturday evening, avoiding a shutdown.  The bill will fund government operations through November 17, leaving the door open for future negotiations. It includes natural disaster relief, but there is no additional funding for Ukraine to continue fighting Russia. There is also no additional funding for border security, but it does have funds to keep the Federal Aviation Administration operational. The House bill received strong Democratic support after Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy reversed his stance on seeking bipartisan support. Lawmakers  worked to avoid the federal government's fourth partial shutdown in a decade, which was set to come into force at 12:01 a.m. Sunday (Oct 1). The Democratic-majority Senate passed the bill. The House voted 335-91 to continue funding the government for 45 days and received more support from Democr...