Stream of Reading (Prepare to be Forwarded) – An Archive of What I'm Reading
Ian Berry/Magnum PhotosNigel Farage canvassing for ‘Leave’ votes during the Brexit campaign, London, May 2016. He resigned as leader of the UK Independence Party on July 4, shortly after the referendum. Back in the old neighborhood in North West London after a long absence, I went past the local primary school and noticed a change….
A “death put” on a certificate of deposit means that the bond matures immediately upon the bearer’s death, rather than when its term runs out: they’re used as a form of life-insurance, cushioning the blow to loved ones from unexpected death, and they can be held jointly, so that the bearer’s heirs and a third…
An exclusive investigation by reported.ly has traced the manufacture and shipping of bomb components from the European Union to the United Arab Emirates, and also discovered the use of bombs made by the European manufacturer in attacks by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, where potentially unlawful civilian deaths have been documented. The Germany-based manufacturer of the bomb components, Rheinmetall AG, is…
As experienced pros are replaced by passionate up-and-comers, will diners notice a change in seasoning? If I hadn’t gone to cooking school or spent six years working in Toronto kitchens, I wouldn’t be who I am today: a writer, not a cook. Cooking is a wonderful art, skill, trade and craft. But as a career,…
John Maynard Keynes wrote in 1930 that “if economists could manage to get themselves thought of as humble, competent people on a level with dentists, that would be splendid.” Almost a century later, he’s getting his wish. Economists tend to be a grandiose bunch. They advise presidents and billionaires. They are generally unashamed about offering…
Leading figures in the hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party are calling for a ‘Dexit’ – Deutschland out of the EU – vote in the wake of the Brexit victory in the UK. Branding Brussels a ‘bureaucracy monster’ the party which trounced Angela Merkel’s conservatives in vital regional polls in the spring, AfD heavyweights say…
As venture capitalists exercise more caution and place fewer bets, they’re leaving media startups behind. Venture funding to media-tech companies slid for the third consecutive quarter to $91.7 million, the lowest amount since mid-2013, according to data from industry researcher CB Insights. Investment activity followed a similar trend, declining to the fewest number of deals…
Debt is an unwelcome guest at the table in many American households. The average U.S. household with debt carries $15,310 in credit card debt and $132,086 in total debt. It’s easy to say we should simply pay off our balances and free ourselves of the burdens — financial and emotional — that come with…
Citibank reported holding $175.6 billion in consumer credit in its 2016 Q2 earnings. – Justin Sullivan/Getty Images U.S. banks are lending to consumers at the fastest rate since 2007 and the increasing debt is causing concern given the slowing economy, the Financial Times (subscription required) reported this week. Lenders issued $18 billion in debt debt for card loans…