On one of those Michigan perfect blue-sky days several years back, I was in my kayak on a Fenton lake. Letting my paddle go still for a few moments, I drew in a deep breath and decided to take in the beauty of the day. It was breathtaking – that is, until I glanced slightly to my right out of the corner of my eye and caught a white flash. Turning to see what it was, I was horrified to discover a used diaper floating in the water amongst the lily pads.
At the end of 2023, inflation appeared to be falling to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Inflation was 3.3% in December 2023 and was expected to be below 3% in January. However, inflation was higher than expected at 3.1% in both January and February. There is a strong possibility that inflation will continue to run above 3% rather than falling to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.
At the top of the tallest tower of Blarney Castle in Cork County, Ireland sits a stone with magical properties. Legend says that whoever places their lips upon the stone will have “the gift of gab” or “blarney” as it has been called. Thereafter, those who receive the gift are destined to speak with persuasiveness and eloquence to those engaged in conversation. Its powers have been bestowed upon professionals from all over the globe including Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Mick Jagger, Laurel & Hardy, and others. It is estimated that more than 400,000 people kiss the Blarney Stone per year. What brings so many people to the stone and how did it gain its powers?
While we’ve all been enjoying hot and hearty side dishes through the cold months, it’s time to start thinking about serving up some fresh flavors for spring. White beans are super-versatile – packed with vitamins and minerals including iron, they are also rich in antioxidants and dietary fiber, full of protein and have anti-inflammatory compounds that can help reduce inflammation in the body. We’re talking superfood here!
Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront of technological innovation, promising to revolutionize industries, reshape economies and redefine the human experience. But when we really dissect AI, a few questions linger: Is the current enthusiasm justified, or are we witnessing the inflation of another speculative bubble? We’ll explore both sides of the debate, presenting arguments for and against AI being a bubble, to shed light on this complex and consequential issue.
The federal government is set to add another $1.5 trillion to the national debt this year. To put this in perspective, note that one trillion is a thousand billion. A billion seconds is roughly 32 years – thus, a trillion seconds is 32,000 years. The national debt currently stands at $34 trillion. Counting to $34 trillion, assuming each number took one second to count, would take roughly one million years. The Great Lakes were not even formed yet one million years ago! The debt-to-GDP ratio is now at 120% – what it was during World War II. This is an unfathomable amount of debt.
Few things are as cute as a puppy. In fact, they are so lovable, there is an entire day – National Puppy Day – dedicated to the little fur babies on March 23. The day is set aside, in part, to remind people to adopt shelter puppies, especially given the prevalence of puppy mills. In reality, however, it is not puppies that have the toughest time in shelters.
With winter almost behind us, I find myself thinking about taking a vacation somewhere.
Many of us have childhood memories of reading books by Dr. Seuss. To honor the birthday of the famous children’s book author and cartoonist, March has been designated National Reading Month.
In Spring-Summer 2024, sustainability reigns supreme. We are constantly on the lookout for measures that have a positive impact on the environment and the local community.
