A properly diversified portfolio will normally contain some amount of bond, or bond fund exposure. Bonds are contracts between an entity, i.e. company, municipality, or government and an investor that lends money to that entity. The entity agrees to pay the investor interest over an agreed upon time period and at the end of that period, the entity agrees to repay the investor’s principal in full (as long as the entity is solvent and able to do so).
Going to college is an important time of transition both personally and intellectually. As young adults, we try to settle on a major field of study (sometimes changing majors multiple times) while trying to figure out who we are as individuals, which values and beliefs define us and how our future careers can utilize the absolute best of who we are. We try to maintain a few connections with old friends while enthusiastically building new friendships, joining clubs, socializing, getting a college job and experiencing new things. Some choose to move away from home and stay in residence halls; others commute to campus or take courses online. Older students going back to finish a degree or pursue a career change enter a new stage in life as they step back into the classroom, accepting all of the challenges and family sacrifices that go along with their decision.
The month of May I can live with. It isn’t a summer month, and the kiddies are weeks ahead of escaping school. But if the Powers That Be in Hollywood really want to kick off the “summer” movie season in May, as they have in recent years … then okay. The line is drawn.
In 1971, Memorial Day was designated by Congress as a national holiday to honor all Americans who died while defending the United States and its values. However, before Memorial Day was declared a national holiday, Americans had been honoring fallen soldiers for many years. In May 1868, three years after the Civil War ended, the Grand Army of the Republic established this day as a way to honor those who died in the war by decorating their graves with flowers. Originally it was called Decoration Day. The month of May was a natural choice as most of the country has flowers blooming in May.
My family is Italian. Super-Italian. Like, we own red and white-checkered tablecloths, everyone has at least three garments bearing an Italian flag, and growing up I thought it was normal to eat spaghetti on Thanksgiving. It was what they served at Plymouth Rock, right?
The bees’ll buzz. Kids’ll blow dandelion fuzz … and people will look to buy a new house in Suummmmerrrrr! I live in Michigan and my daughters have made me watch “Frozen” over ten times, so I thought a quote from Olaf’s song was appropriate. It’s that time again – when people give in to their itch to put the house up for sale and upgrade their castles!
Philanthropy is not the act of a rich person helping a poor one, but a private initiative for public good, for the dignity, liberty and happiness of individuals at large. It supports institutions essential to human growth and upward mobility like schools at any level, museums, high art, religion … all to enrich the human spirit.
For me, spring officially kicks off every year with Humane Society of Genesee County’s “Paws on Parade” champagne brunch. As I was getting ready for this year’s event, I suddenly realized it would be my tenth time serving as emcee. I am honored to be asked to return every year, but what is most humbling about this annual Sunday outing are the people who repeatedly turn out to support it.
The unofficial anthem of North American baseball was written in 1908 by lyricist Jack Norworth and composer Albert Von Tilzer, neither of whom had ever seen a professional baseball game before penning it.
Film is supposed to entertain and enlighten; it isn’t created to make you hungry, although with The Search for General Tso, that is a plus.
I love it when Mother Nature melts away the wintery blanket of snow on my lawn to reveal all of the stuff I should have cleaned out of my garden before the first flake flew. I always have the best of intentions for a fall clean-up in preparation for winter. Somehow, it always magically seems to snow before I get around to clearing away the dead flowers and cleaning out the large planters on my deck and front porch.
In a written letter, Benjamin Franklin quipped, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Surprise! Tax time has rolled around again.
