Gas prices, and what you can do about it

I don't commute, I quit traveling as much, and I drive as if gasoline were dear and limited (like it is).

Don't do as the Europeans and protest without real action. Will angry screams and threats make one more drop of oil come from the ground? Russia, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, and the other oil countries can't hear your cries for the clamoring of buyers after their product. You could weaken the US companies by increasing their tax. You could nationalize the European companies. But, you'll do nothing but limit the built-in efficiencies of business seeking profit. They are delivering the oil as close to the price you're governments can squeeze out of them. Protests accomplish nothing but create hysteria, and there's nothing good that comes of that.

Posted in current events | economy | personal change jasonn's blog | read more

Annenburg Math Illunimated

Math Illuminated "is a thirteen-part series for adult learners and high school teachers."

I'm going to try to get my kids on this, and read it myself (my math skills could use some improvement). And, then I'll report here regarding our progress. However, it's a good thing to check out. The Annenburg project is a great source of learning material (hint hint, school systems).

Posted in personal change jasonn's blog

Why Not Use the Free Information?

Business owners buy books. We sometimes pay too much and often buy books we don't read. I'm in a new phase I call wise. I don't like wasting money on things I can get elsewhere either cheaper or free.

Acting on advice in a podcast I listened to tonight, I am reading a book by Amar Bhidé called The Origin and Evolution of New Businesses. Although Amazon has several copies available through used retailers, from his website, completely free.

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Good Magazine

I found Good Magazine while waiting on my daughter's lightening delayed plane to dock and let her off at the Birmingham (AL) Airport. Airport reading material usually reflects an odd coupling of mindless pop-culture dribble and cutting edge, thought provoking periodicals. I picked up this periodical because the cover caught my attention - an AK-47 sketch in black on an orange background with "GOOD" in big bold block letters at the top. I thought "yeah, that's a good design."

Posted in business | culture | media | personal change jasonn's blog | read more

Day 2: Lower Carb Diet

I'm fat. I say this so you understand. I'm really fat. And, I'm sick (literally) and tired of it. The only thing I've ever tried that gave me a modicum of success in adulthood was Dr. Atkins' diet. Dr. Atkins wasn't clear enough, in my opinion, in proclaiming the segregation of his intent and what some of his followers did to his diet in extremes. Obviously, drastically cutting carbs and doing so for elongated time periods will help you lose weight. So, obese people praise this approach when it works for them. But, that's not really the approach Dr. Atkins taught in his program.

Posted in health | personal change jasonn's blog | read more