EDUCATION

At the beginning of each semester, students ask what it takes to succeed in my class. I tell them attendance and note-taking are the foundation but real learning comes from having the ability to learn outside of the classroom. The only way this is possible is if the student is prepared and well organized.

To help with this, Jadrian Wooten and I developed a toolkit for our students. The following items are not required in our courses but are strongly suggested. These items should help any student get on the path to success.

If you have any suggestions on what to add to this list please let me know. …

Poetry

For Christmas this year, Kimberly Tierney bought me a writing guide from 2011 titled 642 Things to Write About, introduction by Po Bronson at the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto.

This year, I plan to use the prompts to post more by writing in the guide and reposting here with no editing. The prompt will serve as the title of the post.

Let’s see what we create.

You can doubt yourself.

In a tiny second, all inspiration can go away; every idea can seem stupid.

“No one wants to read that!”, “You’re not an expert in this!”, …

Economics

My aim each semester is to inspire students to continue exploring economics. If I’ve accomplished that goal, I consider the semester a success.

One way I can measure success is by the number of students who request further readings. Each semester, a handful ask for more information on the Fed, behavioral economics, or several other economic topics.

Over the years, I’ve added to a list of books I’ve read that I recommend. You can find many of the books below and more on Jadrian Wooten’s Top Popular Press Books for Economics Students. Along with his coauthor, Jared McEntaffer, Wooten reached out to faculty and “received responses from 117 different individuals who recommended 150+ books.” They then reported the top 10. His list is excellent, and I continually send out his link along with the other books mentioned below. …

ELECTION COVERAGE

I enjoy gambling. On sporting events, at the poker table, or an election. Heck, give me some odds on the number of claps this post will get, and I’ll make a bet.

In the betting world, the more likely event is called the favorite, whereas the less likely event is called the underdog. Over the past 36 hours, the betting markets for the next president of the United States have been all over the place. …

ECONOMICS

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released the first estimate of the 3rd quarter’s gross domestic product this morning — referred to more commonly as GDP, a topic covered at length in my macroeconomics classes.

GDP was reported to increase at a seasonally and inflation-adjusted 33.1% annual rate, a record increase. However, many will misinterpret this number. It does not mean that, since the last quarter, overall production in the United States has increased by a third. If you look at the data, you’ll see a 7.4% improvement compared with the prior quarter — much different than 33%.

Well then, James, what does it mean? …

HUMOR

Overpaid consulting firm that helped Medium choose the new logo, please lend me your ears. Mainly to listen to my concerns but also because I don’t have any.

I’m not here to complain, as you take the good with the bad when you’re chosen to be part of a significant brand remake. Just ask any genitalia about the 2014 AirBnB fiasco. I know you chose me to be your model because the ant is the strongest creature relative to its size and you, Medium, are the strongest writing community on the planet. …

SATIRE

Washington DC — In an attempt to clean up university campuses and further infringe on the rights of adults, two members of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform’s Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy wrote a letter to CDC Director Robert Redfield to approve a tabasco-free policy that would ban the use of all tabasco products on all college campuses by January 1st, 2021.

“Tabasco use has been on the rise in recent years as it is seen as being ‘cool’ and ‘hip’ to ruin your tastebuds,” Senator Dick Durbin said Monday. …

Humor

Is this process supposed to take this long?

What was that noise? Is that normal?

How often should I make sure my operating system is up to date?

Could it have a virus?

Do you think I need to press and hold the on/off button to make this go faster?

I wish I knew more about electronics.

I feel like this has been stuck at 77% for quite some time after skipping forward from 56%. That doesn’t make sense.

What’s holding this up at 77%?

It just restarted itself and it’s still at 77%. …