Here is a list of what I read this week. All the book title links refer to the Amazon website. Feel free to purchase if you choose; I do not participate in any affiliate links; therefore, I receive no remuneration for the referral. Unfortunately, all articles from the Wall Street Journal will require a subscription (sorry) for you to read. Any blog posts I cover have piqued my interest enough to include them for one reason or another.
I've decided to change the blog format, switching from a simple title, date, and author format to a description of what I found interesting about the article. In addition, I conducted a video conference call last year with a small group of co-workers, outlining how I use the news to make decisions. When asked, I clarified what I look for in books and articles. First, I want to fill knowledge gaps. Then, hopefully, what I read provides that new piece of information. Someone's opinion doesn't count; predictions don't count. However, the author's explanations of their rationale for their forecast or opinion do matter, and I often find suitable tools for thought in these selections.
Second, the term I refer to as "threads" matter the most. Threads are short for discussion threads or strings of thought. The best articles for me are those that provide new information that I can connect with my existing knowledge base. Does the essay answer a question, challenge my current reasoning, or move the discussion along?
I handle Books similarly, although I often read novels for pleasure and will take long breaks before completing a more technical book or memoir. I'll continue to include my current reading completion percentage; however, I will add any ideas or thoughts I find of interest as a reference.
Books
I, Asimov: A Memoir by Isaac Asimov. Reading 63% complete.
Younger Next Year by Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge. Reading 51% complete.
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini. Finished. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars was a very enjoyable read over the holidays. With a whopping 826 pages of starships, space battles, and alien super suits, it held my attention while I took a break from reading the news and writing blog essays. I give it a five-star rating.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab. Started. 14% complete.
Articles and Blogs
Biden's Classified Document Stash. by The Editorial Board. Jan 10, 2023 (WSJ). You can't make this stuff up. In my initial blog essay regarding my change in blog writing, I promised not to become political. I will stick to that promise and list the items I found interesting. First, according to The Editorial Board of the WSJ, Vice Presidents have no authority to declassify documents, and second, Vice Presidents receive no protections under the Presidential Records Act.
Regulator of the Week. By James Freeman. Jan 10, 2023 (WSJ). Author James Freeman gives Chairman Jerome Powell kudos for staying in his lane and recognizing that the Federal Reserve's role is "price stability," and not to inject political agendas into bank supervision. "We are not, and will not be, a 'climate policy maker.'" ~ Jerome Powell
When Having It All Means It's All Falling Apart. By Rachel Feintzeig. Jan 9, 2023 (WSJ). I have an ongoing discussion thread about "having it all." This article provided two interesting perspectives worth noting. First, "Messy days, and tragic and scary moments too, are part of having a full life." and "When we have a life that has a lot of meaning and purpose, it's often quite uncomfortable."
Nelson Peltz Plans Proxy Fight Against Disney. By Lauren Thomas. Jan 12, 2023 (WSJ). Activist investors generally create compelling reading as they "encourage" change in their target companies. I have an ongoing discussion thread about the massive problems with streaming services; I hope something new and exciting gets on the table from Trian.
Retail investors have sold all of the stocks they bought during the pandemic trading boom. By Mathew Fox. January 14, 2023 (Yahoo Finance). According to Goldman Sachs, "retail investors," in other words, individual investors, have sold essentially all the single stocks they purchased during the "2019 to 2021" period. This information connects nicely with a December 30, 2021, article in which Yahoo Finance states, "There is more power in the hands of individual investors than there ever has been." I commented in 2021 that individual investors are finicky, reckless, and horrible long-term investors.
Egg Prices Have Soared 60% in a Year. Here Is Why They Are So Expensive. By Patrick Thomas and Jaewon Kang. Jan 14, 2023 (WSJ). As the owner of a small chicken flock, we have held our prices steady at $3.00 per dozen. So I was surprised to hear someone comment that local store prices were $7.00 a dozen over the holidays.
This 3-D Printed Icelandic Fish-Gutting Machine Contains the Secret of a Future, Less-Globalized Economy. By Christopher Mims. Jan 14, 2023 (WSJ). Also referred to as “additive manufacturing,” 3-D printing is a disruptive technology to the manufacturing industry. The article provides an excellent example of an Iceland manufacturing plant that prints over 100 parts (in-house) used in their fish-processing machines.