Why does the “save” icon continue to look like a floppy disk? Why do we offer a handshake to people we meet? It’s the same reason that virtual “trash” icons look like real-world trash cans, why car turn signals make a clicking sound, or why we use “tin foil” in the kitchen when it’s made … More Social Vestigial Structures
The word “startup” conjures images of brash young founders, state-of-the-art technology, and creating “the future of” something. Let’s look back a century or two and review the “startups” of that time. Can you guess the company? Startup #1: deliveries and communications are slow because workers want to spend time with their families. That’s why we … More 19th Century Startup Pitches
I spoke with someone the other day who had no idea about the “Enron” I referenced in conversation. And although most of the group did recognize Enron, few knew about Arthur Andersen. Whether you recognize both names or have no idea what I’m talking about, here’s a refresher on the infamous scandal that toppled them … More Enron and the Crux of Credibility
In business and in war, logistics crowns the victor. And sometimes, logistics comes in the form of ice cream! Back in WWII’s Pacific Theater, intrepid US soldiers used high-altitude flights to transform rations into delicious ice cream. The recipe was simple: attach small propellers to ice cream cans for “churning”, load them up with canned … More Ice Cream Wins Wars
I’ve been thinking back to how experiences that used to be so common have shifted over the past couple decades. Some of the changes have been gradual, while others seemed to happen overnight. Here are a few that stick out: Dry Cleaning I have fond memories of going to a local dry cleaner with my … More Rise and Fall: Childhood Experiences
Whether it’s private institutions like the “Ivy Plus” elite (Ivy League, Stanford, UChicago, etc.), powerful public schools (e.g. the University of California system), or those in secondary echelons of selectivity, millions of students dream of one day calling a top institution their alma mater. What makes these name-brand schools so interesting goes beyond education — … More What’s in a (college) name?
I’ve heard about NFTs. You’ve heard about NFTs. Maybe even your older family members are asking about them, too. So what’s the deal with NFTs? An NFT (or “non-fungible token”) is defined as a unique (“non-fungible”) unit of data (“token”) stored on a blockchain (kinda like a database or digital list, generally decentralized, where you … More Welcome to the (Literal) Meme Economy
Zillow’s decision to shut down its iBuying division made waves in the online home-buying market. Most notably, Zillow lost over $500 million in the process, and as it winds down its division is selling thousands of houses at a loss. Why did this happen? After all, Zillow has a wealth of data on the entire … More iBuying Homes and the Market for Lemons
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) programs are nothing new, but the resurgence of installment-based programs in the early 2020s has generated interest not seen since the Great Depression. With retailers and third-party vendors alike getting into the BNPL business, it’s worth thinking through the ways these programs can benefit consumers, as well as the risks … More The Good and Bad of Buy Now, Pay Later
A year into a pandemic, and several stimulus packages later, various media pundits and economic/policy experts have begun to raise alarm about higher inflation. How we define inflation, and how much inflation actually occurs, are both important factors for how you could respond to these changes in the 2020s. Defining Inflation Inflation is the increase … More Inflation and the new Roaring 20s
Andrew Jabara 