Rankings and research data indicate America wasn't the happiest of places before the pandemic. We'd been slowly but surely tumbling down the international happiness tables for years, and psychologists (and the surgeon general) were warning about climbing rates of loneliness and anxiety . Then a marauding virus upended all our lives. Very few of us are feeling more cheerful and optimistic than we were two years ago. All of which makes for a pretty grim opener for a column, but bear with me. This article is actually about optimistic news. In response to our national struggle to find our joy, Americans have been signing up for happiness classes in droves. Yale's most popular class ever teaches stressed-out young strivers how to be happier . The online version has been taken by millions. Other happiness courses regularly appear in lists of the most popular online courses . This proves Americans are desperate to be happier, but it doesn't say anything about … [Read more...] about Good News From New Research: Online Happiness Courses Actually Make You Happier
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40,000 Student Loan Borrowers Will Get ‘Immediate Debt Cancellation’ Automatically — But Questions Remain
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The U.S. Department of Education has indicated that tens of thousands of borrowers will be eligible for “immediate” student loan forgiveness following sweeping changes to key federal student loan programs. But questions remain about the actual timing and implementation of that relief. Biden Enacts Historic Changes To Student Loan Forgiveness and Income Based Repayment Programs Last month, the Biden administration announced sweeping reforms to federal student loan income-driven repayment (IDR) programs , which include Income Based Repayment (IBR), Pay As You Earn (PAYE), and other plans tied to a borrower’s income. Under IDR programs, borrowers can make payments on their student loans using a formula based on their income and family size. If any balance remains at the end of their plan’s repayment term (which is 20 or 25 years, depending on the specific plan), that loan balance would be forgiven. IDR plans have also … [Read more...] about 40,000 Student Loan Borrowers Will Get ‘Immediate Debt Cancellation’ Automatically — But Questions Remain
Why You Should Make Resolutions Even When You Know You’ll Fail
There are two truths to New Year's resolutions : Many people make them, and many people break them. Research suggests that nearly one in four Americans make resolutions, but in general, those resolutions don't stick. Studies show that as the days tick by in January and February, visits to the gym drop and visits to fast-food restaurants rise. January 1 inspires so much attention and encouragement--new year, new you! But before long, the energy we feel around the novelty of a new habit wears off. New year, same you. I've been studying happiness and good habits for years, and in my observation, many people have abandoned their New Year's resolutions by February 28--a day we could call Discouragement Day, though I've seen harsher terms such as Quitter's Day or Fall Off the Wagon Day used to describe the day of stopping. Consider the person who resolved to go for a daily run before breakfast. On January 1, and for a few weeks, this habit seemed new and rewarding. … [Read more...] about Why You Should Make Resolutions Even When You Know You’ll Fail
The Only 5 Money Apps You’ll Ever Need
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Technology has been hit or miss when it comes to our money. While fintech apps promise to make managing our money simple, if not even enjoyable, not all of them deliver. I've tested hundreds of personal finance apps and tools over the years. Here are 5 of the best money apps I’ve found to manage just about every aspect of your finances. Personal Capital Personal Capital is without question the overall best money app on the market. In fact, for many this could be the only finance app they use. For starters, it covers just about every aspect of one's financial life, from budgeting to investing to retirement. Personal Capital includes tools to evaluate whether you are on track to retire and the effect fees will have on your wealth over time. It does require users to link financial accounts. These accounts can include bank accounts, credit cards, retirement accounts and brokerage accounts. Personal Capital then imports … [Read more...] about The Only 5 Money Apps You’ll Ever Need
Berlin’s Fighting Spirit Proves It’s Still The Number One Post-Pandemic Destination For Artists And Creators
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin As the world slowly adjusts to the post-pandemic new world order, the promise of unrestricted travel—being able to go where we please, without restrictions, to see new places, new people, and new experiences—feels tantalizingly close. The travel industry is steadily bouncing back from near-total devastation; a recent report from the World Travel & Tourism Council predicted the global travel sector is on track to reach $8.6 trillion this year, just 6.4% behind pre-pandemic levels. Now, those of us fortunate enough to have the means to travel are remembering the transformative power of new experiences. The only question that remains is: where will we choose to go, now that we can go? Will we seek places we have visited before, that offer us comfort and emotional sustenance? Or will we seek entirely new adventures, opening ourselves up to experiences we may have once been too frightened to seek out? After more than two years … [Read more...] about Berlin’s Fighting Spirit Proves It’s Still The Number One Post-Pandemic Destination For Artists And Creators
What a brain-controlled computer might feel like
Imagine if you could control your iPhone with your mind. How would that actually work? Would sad emotions automatically pull up cute animal YouTube clips? Would you use your brain as a cursor to hit buttons? Would you type text messages by thinking words . . . and if so, how do you stop from thinking words *BUTTS* that you didn’t *ARMPITS* actually want to send? advertisement advertisement These are the questions both asked and answered in a new series of concept videos imagining a day in the life of having a brain-computer interface (BCI). We are on the precipice of computer chips being able to read sizable pieces of human thought while companies like Meta and Snap have funded research in this industry estimated to reach $3.3 billion by 2026. Just as designers needed to invent modalities like pinch-to-zoom to make touchscreen smartphones feasible, so too will they need to create new interfaces for us to focus our jumbled thoughts into organized … [Read more...] about What a brain-controlled computer might feel like
Learn the 7 Life Hacks of Really Wealthy People
During the long course of my life in business, I've had the opportunity to meet some very wealthy people . For the most part, I've found that they're just like you and me--with the added bonus that their bank accounts make mine look like a teeny-tiny mosquito, or maybe a gnat. And there's one more thing I've noticed about people who are truly wealthy--they have a different way of looking at the world than most of us. It's this different way of perceiving the world that allows them to see opportunities and convert them into successful businesses that build wealth. Try these seven hacks of really wealthy people and see what they do for your bottom line. 1. They truly love what they do. The really wealthy never settle-- they go after what they really love in life and pursue a career in a field that means something to them. They live the advice, " Choose the career that you will be excited to get up for every morning ." And if there's not a … [Read more...] about Learn the 7 Life Hacks of Really Wealthy People
More Controversy In The Bellwether Opioid Trial
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin In late April, I discussed what I felt were serious problems with Judge Dan Aaron Polster’s handling of the mass tort trial pitting two Ohio counties against Walmart WMT , Walgreens WBA , and CVS. (link here ). Since then, the jury findings against the three defendants seems to have been interpreted in peculiar ways by Judge Polster, given routine understandings of the tort concept of joint and several liability. Last week a planned two-week bench trial began in Judge Polster’s chambers, the purpose of which was to determine the amount that each of the three defendants would have to pay the counties, over a five year period. [Many other defendants have settled, but the three giant pharmacy operators strenuously deny that they wrongly caused any damage.] Daniel Fisher over at Legal Newsline recently described the bench trial. In brief, based on Fisher’s description, here are the relevant issues as I see them: … [Read more...] about More Controversy In The Bellwether Opioid Trial
Book Review: Dana Brown’s Entertaining and Insightful Memoir of Vanity Fair, ‘Dilettante.’
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Upon return from a family vacation three summers ago, economist Ike Brannon remarked at a subsequent lunch about an individual at the resort who was almost literally covered in tattoos. This was an expensive resort, and Brannon wondered how he and his family were sharing the same pool. To be clear, Brannon’s wonderment about the inked up vacationer wasn’t of the nose-upturned variety; rather he wanted to know what profession afforded so much individuality and disposable income. It turns out his poolmate was a chef. To younger readers, the mention of chef likely elicits a “so what?” response. For those born in the 1970s or earlier, the response is different. We remember . We remember when chef was a “dead end” job for, yes, people with tattoos. They were referred to as cooks then. It’s a long or short way of saying that the economic thinker in Brannon was celebrating a happy truth about prosperity: it elevates all manner of … [Read more...] about Book Review: Dana Brown’s Entertaining and Insightful Memoir of Vanity Fair, ‘Dilettante.’
GIIB terminates Wong Weng Yew as executive director
- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (May 19): GIIB Holdings Bhd (formerly known as Goodway Integrated Industries Bhd) announced on Thursday the termination of Wong Weng Yew as the group’s executive director with immediate effect. Wong, who was appointed as GIIB’s executive in March last year to oversee the finance and spearhead the group’s glove business, has been suspended from his role since March 28. Wong claims that the company’s management took action against him after he raised questions about several transactions that he found to be suspicious in nature. On the other hand, GIIB explained that the suspension was done to facilitate the investigation into Wong’s management and handling of the glove business and the company’s accounts. GIIB issued a show cause letter to Wong and suspended his employment on March 28, 2022 pending investigation. After Wong’s reply to the show cause letter, GIIB established an investigation committee to investigate the charges against him. The … [Read more...] about GIIB terminates Wong Weng Yew as executive director