Recession, in simple terms, is a significant, widespread contraction in economic activity over a period of time. In my adulthood, I’ve experienced three recessions: the “dot-com bust”, the Great Recession, and the COVID-19 pandemic-induced recession. Of these, the Great Recession, which spanned from December 2007…
Inflation 101: What You Need to Know
Who’s the richest person in US history? The answer is John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937). By the time of his death, his net worth was $1.4 billion, representing 1.5% of the entire US economy’s output then. Adjusted for inflation, his fortune would be worth $410 billion…
Glow, Greed, and Deceit: The Tale of The Largest Gold Mine
“Have you ever dreamed of striking gold? We’re not talking about the garden-variety treasure chest filled with gold coins—no, that’s too mundane. We’re talking about the literal, physical act of striking gold buried deep underground in the thick jungles of Busang, Indonesia. Poised to start…
Confessions of An Ex-Corporate Hamster
I quit on February 29th, 2024. My last day as a corporate hamster was on Good Friday, March 29th. For almost 28 years, I was a diligent, reliable hamster, scrambling faithfully along an invisible moving platform called the Corporate Ladder. I didn’t recall when it finally…