By analyzing each of his paintings pixel by pixel and creating a height map to mimic his brush strokes, scientists have produced what they believe to be a painting Rembrandt could have painted himself. With powerful data analysis and computer graphics technology, the creators actually manufactured this new, real-life “Rembrandt” portrait with a 3D printer. Would Rembrandt be happy with this? …
How would you feel if you hired an architect to custom-design your dream retirement house, but it turned out looking like everyone else’s house in your neighborhood? Not good, I’m assuming. Can you believe this happens every day in the world of retirement and estate planning? Folks think their “custom plan” is truly personalized… but …
If you’re like me, the unity of your family is important! Inheritances may not be everyone’s favorite subject, but planning now will yield can greatly benefit the whole family in the future. So what does Paris Hilton have to do with it? Well, we cringe when we see what Paris Hilton and others have done with …
In the 1983 hit film, Trading Places, starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy, Aykroyd’s character, Winthorpe, is haggling with a pawnshop owner over the value of the watch he is desperately trying to pawn in order to get cash. When the pawnshop owner offers $50 dollars, Winthorpe indignantly says, “This is a Roche Vouceau. The …
Due to failing health in old age, Groucho Marx’s family decided that they should make his decisions for him. The story goes that family took him to court and wrestled decision-making control from him. For the rest of his life, his decisions were not his. He lost flexibility. He lost control. Worse, he lost personal …
In the good ole days, when your car was on the fritz, your mechanic needed a trained eye and ear to figure out the problem. Today, they need mechanical and computer training. The engines and systems are much more complex. Your engine needs to be hooked up to a computer to properly diagnose hidden issues …
If you have ever been laid off, you know what it feels like when the paychecks stop. If you are retired, your paychecks must come from your capital. And they must last a lifetime… through up and down markets. Through good economic times… and bad. Through good health… and bad. Reliable, predictable income in retirement …
Soulful singer Adele can belt out beautiful songs. She can also grow facial hair. Ever since she had a baby. Weird. It seems that she is not the only one who has had odd side effects from pregnancy. Here are a few other strange effects some women experience from pregnancy: Hair can change colors, typically …
The habit of “beginning with the end in mind” was introduced 25 years ago by Dr. Stephen R. Covey in his groundbreaking bestseller, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. This means that you should have an image of the end of your life as your frame of reference, so you can evaluate what you …
If you know someone who lived through World War II, they can give you some good ideas for living frugally. Of course, they had no choice back then, and much of what they would suggest might seem over the top now. Let’s look at a few of those frugal suggestions: Use food cans as drinking …