Friday Fun

Atlas likes to poke fun at the Federal Reserve from time to time because it employs so many PhDs yet doesn’t have complete mastery over how the economy behaves.  One only needs to think about the “transitory” period of inflation as an example of their limited power.  You may recall that Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Open Market Committee, used the term for mont

California has been the birthplace of many cultural and economic trends that have rippled across the globe.  From the laid-back style of skate culture to the free-spirited boho chic, and the timeless cool of the denim jacket, California's influence on fashion is undeniable. California is the state that made black turtleneck shirts cool for a little while.

Shrink is an interesting word.  For a simple, monosyllabic word, it has many meanings.  More and more, it is used frequently in the fields of economics and finance.

The Federal Reserve (Fed) is currently grappling with a significant dilemma reminiscent of the classic Trolley Problem, where any decision carries considerable consequences.  This predicament stems from the Fed's dual mandate: to achieve maximum employment and maintain stable prices, specifically targeting low inflation which they have determined is 2.0 percent on a trending basis.&nbs

Thistles are plants that can spread rapidly across a landscape.  They are a resilient weed that have evolved to survive in some of the harshest conditions.  A thistle is thorny and can cause discomfort if one is not careful.  Before we paint them with too broad a brush, however, its worth noting that they have some redeeming qualities.  They provide a food source for some wi

Ghosts are typically associated with negative connotations.  Only Casper the Friendly Ghost comes to mind as an apparition with a positive reputation.  Unlike his spooky peers, this one is kindhearted, seeking to befriend people, not scare them.  Banks can sometimes get a bad rap as well.  After all, their reputations haven’t fully recovered from the frightening episod

Many resources are thrown at solving the last-mile problem.  Logistics firms spend countless dollars trying to optimize the final phase of a delivery.  The same challenge haunts public transportation in many metropolitan cities.  Once a rider exits the train or bus, how do they efficiently get to their end destination?  Global Positioning System (GPS) technology has helped b

Do you have a favorite constellation?  I do: Orion.  I cannot explain why, but it brings me so much pleasure when it begins appearing in the night sky each year.  The formation has been on my mind lately because it is starting to say goodbye until reemerging in the fall.  On Wednesday it dawned on me that Betelgeuse was back to full brightness after an event now known as the

There are endless choices of kids’ entertainment these days, so Atlas will opt for a more timeless cartoon to illustrate the point we’re trying to make: Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner.  It’s all about the chase.  Unfortunately for Mr. Coyote, it happens to come with many missteps, often leading to a cascading outcome.

Inflation hurts most those who can afford it least.  Just ask the poor Tooth Fairy.  This mythical creature has been keeping up with the cost of living for a long time.  Despite the great dental plan her job comes with, she doesn’t seem to earn enough to retire.  Instead, she doles out money every night to kids as they sleep after their teeth fall out, no matter the ca