If we could control time like a DVR... There is a saying that life emulates art, but being a self-proclaimed geek and knowing next to nothing about art, my life has always seemed to emulate technology. Have you ever stopped and thought about how great it would be to have a TiVo for your life? Do you buy cable TV and get all that life has to offer, or are you satisfied with what life...
Legacies That Matter: Reflections on Life and Loss Death is a subject we often avoid in conversation, yet it's the one certainty we all share. Rather than dwelling on its inherent sadness, I find myself reflecting on how our encounters with mortality can unexpectedly enrich our perspective on living. The Gifts of Goodbye I've been fortunate to have experienced relatively few losses in my life—a blessing I don't take lightly. Yet, those departures I have...
Is the Grass Really Greener? Reflections on Human Nature and Contentment Every day on my way to work, I pass cows eating grass in the fields of lovely Livermore, CA. Every morning, there is always at least one cow who has decided that the grass on the other side of the fence is greener and sticks his (or her) head through it. It is interesting because, like cows, humans don't want to be constrained by...
Tracking three decades of American mortgage debt and its impact on the housing market The story of U.S. residential mortgage debt is a reflection of America's economic journey over the past three decades. From the steady growth of the 1990s through the housing bubble and crash of the 2000s to today's post-pandemic reality, mortgage debt tells us about more than just housing—it reveals patterns in consumer behavior, economic policy, and financial resilience. As of Q1...