The Blaisdell Blog

There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity.   Ignorance can be cured; stupidity just rolls on and on.   It is encumbered by neither elucidation nor modesty.   Stupidity is in love with itself.    Given your choice, you always want to deal with ignorance.   Ignorance does not love itself.   It is painfully aware of its condition and seeks remedy.   Thank goodness, the intelligent know that you can learn your way out of ignorance.   Nothing fixes stupidity.   This is how I know that the current administration and its war on science is seated in stupidity and not ignorance.   Stupidity is easily wounded.   It is made arrogant through fright and belligerent by fear of exposure.   So, let’s deal with ignorance instead and see if we can coax out a little illumination. First, science means money.   Every dollar spent on scientific research yields about $5 in economic progress.   From nanotechnology to...

Bonds don’t tap dance.   There is nothing sexy or flirtatious about bonds.   They are low, slow and share their joy only a little at a time over the long haul.   If you want a relationship that fulfills its promises and serves you well year after year, buy bonds.   Bonds are a good marriage, not a summer fling.   Read on to find out how American Treasury bonds, once the most secure asset in the world, changed from a society matron to a bar floozy. When you buy a bond, you are loaning the issuer money.   Like all loans, you expect to be repaid the full amount, plus a little extra, called interest.   Interest is the price we pay for money.   With bonds, that interest is called yield. Treasuries are sold for less than their face value, the difference between the price and par, being the yield, or interest.   For example, if you buy a $10,000 note, due in 10 years, you might pay $9,500 for it.   During those 10 years, the government uses...