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

Evolution’s Built-in Security: Nature’s Two-Factor Authentication

Evolution's Built-in Security: Nature's Two-Factor Authentication

As a climate scientist, I spend a lot of time thinking about how systems change and adapt. It’s often in response to pressures, like shifts in climate or the arrival of new challenges. Recently, I’ve been struck by a fascinating parallel between biological evolution and a concept we’re all very familiar with: two-factor authentication, or … Read more

Las Vegas: A Digital Ghost Town or Just a Temporary Glitch?

Las Vegas: A Digital Ghost Town or Just a Temporary Glitch?

The phrase “Has hell frozen over?” often gets tossed around when something utterly unexpected happens. Well, some are starting to whisper that about Las Vegas. Reports suggest tourism in the city, long a beacon of bright lights and big spending, might be in a bit of trouble. As someone who’s spent a career watching how … 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

Big Money, Big Tech: Why Crypto is Louder Than Ever in Washington

Big Money, Big Tech: Why Crypto is Louder Than Ever in Washington

It seems like everywhere you turn these days, cryptocurrency is in the news. But beyond the price charts and the occasional headline about a new digital coin, there’s another story unfolding – one about influence. I’ve spent my career in the tech world, watching how innovation intersects with policy, and I’m seeing a familiar pattern … 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

The Unhappiness Epidemic: Why Are Young Americans Struggling?

The Unhappiness Epidemic: Why Are Young Americans Struggling?

It’s troubling to see the latest World Happiness Report, which shows Americans under 30 ranking surprisingly low. This isn’t just a statistic; it points to a deeper societal shift that we need to understand. As someone who’s spent a career in technology, I’ve watched firsthand how rapidly our world has changed. We’re more connected than … Read more