When Pixels Felt Like Cheating (and What That Means for Today)

When Pixels Felt Like Cheating (and What That Means for Today)

Hey, grab a coffee. I was thinking the other day about something that feels really relevant right now, but it happened years ago. It’s about cameras, actually. Remember film cameras? Maybe you’re too young, but for a good chunk of my life, that’s what photography was. You’d buy a roll of film, careful with each … Read more

Eating Our Way Through History: A Financial Perspective on Global Food Trends

Eating Our Way Through History: A Financial Perspective on Global Food Trends

You might think, ‘Kenji, what’s a financial analyst doing talking about food production?’ Good question. But if you’re serious about understanding global markets, you need to look beyond the balance sheets and crypto charts. You need to look at what drives human behavior, what sustains economies at their most fundamental level. Food is that level. … Read more

Echoes of the Frontier: A Historical Journey Through Northfork, Montana

Echoes of the Frontier: A Historical Journey Through Northfork, Montana

As a former history professor, my travels are often guided by the whispers of the past. This year, my journey took me to Northfork, Montana, a place that immediately resonated with the spirit of the American frontier. It’s not just a dot on the map; it’s a living testament to the layered history of this … Read more

Italy’s Garden of Monsters: Where Stone Giants Guard a Renaissance Duke’s Secrets

Italy's Garden of Monsters: Where Stone Giants Guard a Renaissance Duke's Secrets

As a historian, I’ve always been fascinated by the opulent displays of wealth and power during the Renaissance. But sometimes, these displays take truly unexpected forms. My recent travels brought me to a place that defies easy explanation: the Park of the Monsters, or as it’s formally known, the Sacro Bosco, in Bomarzo, Italy. Imagine … Read more

History Doesn’t Repeat, But It Sure Does Rhyme

History Doesn't Repeat, But It Sure Does Rhyme

You ever feel like the world is just a bit… loud these days? Like there’s so much information, so many opinions, so many things flying at you online, it’s hard to make sense of it all? Scrolling through social media, reading the news – it often feels like we’re living through something totally unprecedented. And … Read more

Korea’s Tiny Bump: Birth Rate Up, But What Does It Really Mean?

Korea's Tiny Bump: Birth Rate Up, But What Does It Really Mean?

It’s fascinating to look at the numbers, isn’t it? Early 2023 saw South Korea’s birth rate tick up by about 7%. That sounds like good news, a little flicker of hope. But here’s the thing, and it’s something I’ve seen play out in different ways throughout history, especially when technology starts changing things in a … Read more

New Data, New History: How Ancient DNA Reshapes Our Past

New Data, New History: How Ancient DNA Reshapes Our Past

As a financial analyst, I deal with data constantly. Every day, new market data comes in, challenging old assumptions and forcing us to re-evaluate strategies. What looked like a sure bet yesterday might be a losing play today, purely based on new information. It turns out, history works much the same way. For centuries, our … Read more

Feeling AI Déjà Vu? The 90s PC Boom Has a Story for Us.

Feeling AI Déjà Vu? The 90s PC Boom Has a Story for Us.

So, have you been following all the AI talk lately? It’s everywhere, right? From ChatGPT helping write emails to algorithms predicting pretty much everything. Some folks are saying it’s going to totally change the world, make us super productive, even usher in an era of abundance. Then, I saw this headline the other day: a … Read more

The Climate Crash: What Ancient Empires Teach Us About Risk

The Climate Crash: What Ancient Empires Teach Us About Risk

Most of us focus on quarterly earnings reports, interest rate hikes, or the latest crypto pump. But what about the really big picture? I’m talking about forces that wiped out entire civilizations. If you think macro trends don’t hit your portfolio, history has a few brutal lessons for you. We’re often taught that ancient empires … Read more