They say the United States has a “mixed economy.” It combines elements of a command economy, where government or central authority regulates economic activity, and a market economy where prices respond to supply and demand. Economists with a more historical perspective describe the evolution of our economy from agrarian to industrial, to today’s economy based … More The Zip Tie Economy

We were talking to our friend and financial advisor the other day. It wasn’t a long conversation because there is not that much to discuss. Nevertheless, it’s good to have the best maps available for navigating the treacherous and unknown waters of this strange and less than wonderful economy. At the end of the conversation … More Here Be Dragons

“Sometimes the very young do not do as they’re told.” -Anteaus of the Nox When you reach an uncertain age, you begin to realize that your parents were right about many things. This will occur sooner or later, like it or not, depending on how well you have been paying attention to your own life. … More A Message For The Very Young

A good friend moved to the area recently and told me about his ordeal sorting the disjecta membra from decades living in the same house. He was astonished by the volume of “stuff” purged before the move, and the number of things that had to be sorted, transported and stored. I believe a construction dumpster … More Odds and Ends

“Watch where you put your feet.” Excellent advice for an area prone to the surprise slither of rattlesnakes and copperheads when you least expect them. It was advice often repeated by my father as we were growing up, and I knew where he heard it for the first time the day my laughing grandfather said … More A Wise Man Walks

We love animal stories. Whether we consider ourselves animal lovers or not, and even if we have never gazed into the soulful eyes of a loyal canine, cuddled with a cat or been honored by the love of a good horse, most of us have a soft spot when it comes to our furry friends. … More All Creatures

There are interesting parallels between the world of today and the Gilded Age of the Robber Barons. When I say, “interesting,” I mean ironic, sometimes amusing and often discouraging, as in the subtle and sardonic Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times.” During the Gilded Age of the late 19th century, wealth was concentrated … More Careful As We Grow

Every culture, and every subset of humanity down to the family unit or small group of friends, can and does develop its own narrative, its own mythology, customs and jargon. Each can share its own exclusive brand of humor and its own taboos. Every culture has its childhood stories, fairytales and legends. Some are archetypal … More Pull My Finger

During the early 1800’s, about 3% of the world’s population lived in cities. In the year 2007 for the first time in human history, most of the population was urban. That percentage is around 55% today, and the migration continues: By 2050 it is projected to be around 75%. Here in North Georgia, we know … More Assimilated

Human nature provides us with an almost unlimited capacity for complexity and drama. The wheel of history turns, sometimes repeating, sometimes rhyming, but always powered by the same engine. After several generations of relative peace and prosperity at home in the US, our wheel has hit a pothole not uncommon in the historical record. We … More Hydraulically Fractured