Latest news with #Occam'sRazor
Boston Globe
10-07-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Is it an office romance if it started with a BCC email?
My friend pointed out that I was BCC'd. My heart sank as I realized the email must have gone out to multiple other women at the same time. It seems like they were hedging their bets for a date. Should I still go on the date and confront them? Would I ever be able to find out who else received the email? ANONYMOUS Related : A. It's possible the person BCC'd just you . (Not likely, I'd think, but maybe.) Advertisement It's also possible that 10 people got that email. Regardless, if you want to date this former co-worker, why not follow up? You can ask them the most basic question: 'Can you tell me why I was BCC'd?' Maybe there's a good (or interesting) reason. Instead of filling in the gaps of this story, see what's what. Maybe they won't even respond, which would give you some closure. The thing is, if I were leaving an office and wanted to see who wanted to date me, I'd send separate emails to all of my crushes, just to make each one seem personal. One big BCC email seems like it would lead to unnecessary mess — and questions like yours! What's the incentive to do it this way? Advertisement Maybe this person loves emotional chaos. But you've liked them for a reason, right? Does this match what you know about them? I'm all for getting answers, to the extent you can. Ask and confront (calmly). If something sounds fishy, you can drop the whole thing. And if you don't mind chaos, you could ask around to see if anyone else got this message. But I wouldn't recommend it. It's the office, after all. MEREDITH Related : READERS RESPOND: Since you already were interested, it might be worth a reply. See how things go without getting your hopes up too much. Are you sure there's really romantic interest? Or was it just 'I'd like to stay in touch so maybe we can hang out sometime?' That might explain why he might have sent it to multiple people. LEGALLYLIZ2017 There could be many weird reasons for a BCC. Perhaps they sent the message to a personal account to retain a list of contacts. PENSUSE Dude's got game. Not very good game, but game nonetheless. BLISTERED-TOE You'll never know what the reason was if you don't ask. And what better time to ask then during your first date? You may find out your co-worker isn't too bright and thinks 'bcc' means encrypted or something. Or he (because this would definitely be a guy move) decided to shoot his shot with a few people. All that being said, did he send it from his work email or personal email? Hopefully personal because otherwise, how are you going to respond? THE-BLOG-CONSIGLIERIE Hard to give advice without clarification on the email. Did it have YOUR name in the email … like, 'hey Sue, you want to go out'? OR, did it not have your name? Advertisement BKLYNMOM Occam's Razor here. Maybe this guy just isn't very tech smart. But if you like him, why not just go on a date? EMPRESSETHEL To Whom It May Concern: I've always found you to be smart, and attractive. Now that I am leaving the organization, I would love to get to know you more and see if we have a connection outside of work. If you feel the same way, I'd love to take you to dinner at your favorite restaurant. Please acknowledge upon receipt. Sincerely, Your soon to be former colleague, in admiration. cc: me bcc: all the hotties at this dump. MAKATTACK Send your own relationship and dating questions to or Catch new episodes of wherever you listen to podcasts. Column and comments are edited and reprinted from .
Business Times
24-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Five dos and don'ts when investing in the stock market
[SINGAPORE] When you invest in the stock market, having the right mindset is crucial. The wrong beliefs can seriously hobble your ability to build long-term wealth. It would be a shame if that happens to you. History shows that stocks are one of the most effective tools for growing your money and securing a comfortable retirement. Yet, many people are scared off by the market's ups and downs, questioning whether stocks can truly deliver lasting returns. Others make impulsive decisions that sabotage their chances of achieving good long-term gains. To help you stay on track, here are five key dos and don'ts to keep in mind when investing in the stock market. Don't treat the market like a casino Far too many people approach the stock market like a get-rich-quick scheme. They chase rising stock prices, buying and selling frequently in hopes of hitting the jackpot. But stock prices are not just random numbers flashing on a screen; they represent real businesses that produce goods and services. When you buy shares, you are essentially buying a small ownership stake in a company. If that company performs well, its stock price tends to follow. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Unfortunately, some treat the market like a casino. These speculators often skip the research and focus only on timing the market – trying to buy low and sell high just to make a quick buck. What they overlook is that real wealth in the stock market takes time. It requires patience for a business to grow its profits, free cash flow and pay dividends. Jumping in and out of stocks without understanding the business is like playing poker without looking at the cards – it rarely ends well. No one can consistently predict short-term market movements. But over time, if a business continues to grow and generate more value, its stock price will typically rise in tandem. That is why adopting a long-term mindset is so important. Take the time to understand a company's true worth. With patience and discipline, your investments in strong, well-managed businesses will eventually pay off. Don't be overly sceptical when share prices rise Another common psychological barrier to investing is excessive scepticism. When share prices rise, I often hear friends say things like 'insiders must know something', implying that someone is manipulating the stock behind the scenes. Because there is no obvious news driving the price up, they assume foul play and conclude that the market is rigged. This belief stops them from investing altogether. But in such situations, it helps to apply Occam's Razor – the principle that the simplest explanation is usually the right one. Often, a rising share price simply reflects a healthy business. If a company is performing well, more investors want to own a piece of it, which naturally drives the price higher. Yes, there are rare cases – particularly with illiquid, thinly traded stocks – where a single shareholder may control enough shares to influence the price. This is known as 'cornering' the market. However, in the case of large, well-traded companies such as blue-chip stocks, it is extremely difficult for any single player to manipulate prices. The market's scale and liquidity make such scenarios highly unlikely. So, before jumping to conspiracy theories, consider the simpler explanation: Good businesses attract investor interest, and that reason alone is what pushes prices up. Don't take on debt to invest William Shakespeare once wrote in Hamlet: 'Neither a borrower nor a lender be.' Though penned more than 400 years ago, this advice still holds true – especially when it comes to investing. The line warns against borrowing or lending money, as both can lead to unnecessary financial and emotional stress. In the context of the stock market, you should avoid using leverage (borrowing money) to amplify your returns. Using debt to invest is tempting as it can boost your gains when share prices are rising. However, the knife can cut both ways: It also dramatically increases your risk. Should share prices fall, you could face a margin call, which forces you to either inject more cash or sell your shares – often at the worst possible time. That is the double whammy of leverage – not only do you suffer losses in a downturn, but those losses are locked in when your shares are sold at depressed prices, leaving you unable to benefit from any future rebound. Beyond the financial risk, investing with borrowed money can also take a psychological toll. The pressure of repaying a loan can cloud your judgment and lead to emotional, irrational decisions. Shakespeare's timeless advice serves as a powerful reminder: Steer clear of debt when investing. Patience, discipline and investing within your means will serve you far better in the long run. Do invest regularly using spare cash Stories about investors with six or seven-figure portfolios often spark a mix of admiration and envy. But what many people overlook is that these investors likely started with much smaller amounts. They built their wealth gradually, step by step, over time. The key takeaway is that just as Rome was not built in a day, neither is a strong investment portfolio. It is absolutely fine to start small by investing what you can afford. To use the analogy of building Rome, you can start by laying one brick at a time. As your income grows through bonuses or salary increases, you can steadily channel more money into the stock market. An effective strategy is dollar-cost averaging. This method involves investing a fixed amount regularly, regardless of market conditions. This approach removes the stress of trying to time the market and helps smooth out the impact of price volatility. By consistently putting your excess cash to work, your portfolio will naturally grow over time. Of course, patience is essential. Building meaningful wealth does not happen overnight. But if you stay consistent and keep investing regularly in high-quality, well-managed businesses, you will be well on your way to creating a portfolio that supports your financial goals. Do view the stock market as a long-term wealth-building machine Ultimately, the best way to approach the stock market is to see it as a powerful tool for long-term wealth accumulation. By investing in well-managed, high-quality companies, you give yourself the opportunity to enjoy steady capital growth over time. Historically, stocks have outperformed other investment options like bonds, and they deliver far greater returns than fixed deposits or savings accounts. Most importantly, investing in stocks helps you stay ahead of inflation, which gradually erodes the purchasing power of your money. Furthermore, savvy investors also harness the power of compounding – one of the most effective ways to grow wealth across generations. Compounding is simply the practice of reinvesting the dividends you earn back into the same stocks, allowing your returns to generate even more returns. Over the years, this creates a snowball effect that can result in substantial wealth and set you up for a comfortable, stress-free retirement. The writer is portfolio manager of The Smart Investor, a website that aims to help people invest smartly by providing investor education, stock commentary and market coverage
Chicago Tribune
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Asking Eric: My husband has fallen into a funk
Dear Eric: I have a good friend with whom I get together maybe twice a month or so. We disagree politically, sometimes passionately, but always end our conversation by telling each other that we are still friends and still love and respect each other. A few months ago, her daughter got engaged, and when my friend shared this news, she said that, of course, I would be invited. Whenever we met up, I would always ask about the wedding plans, and we would talk at great length about this. Recently we met for lunch with a third friend, and the subject of the wedding shower came up. Friend One handed Friend Three the shower invitation right in front of me, with no explanation to me. This seemed deliberately designed to be hurtful, and indeed I am hurt and confused. I can now assume I'm not invited to the wedding either. Do I say anything to Friend One? Should I assume that she's angry about my political views? Should I just ignore the whole situation and pretend I don't care? Or should I cut my losses and just withdraw from the friendship? – Uninvited Dear Uninvited: Unless something else happened between you and your friend, either around politics or the wedding, I'm inclined to take the Occam's Razor approach here. Is it possible that your invite got lost in the mail and she assumed that you already had it when she gave the shower invite to your other friend? Perhaps you've already thought of this, but it just seems overly involved and cruel for her to talk to you about the wedding for months, then go out to lunch with you and use that moment to humiliate you by inviting the friend. Especially since she hasn't given you any indication, from what I can see, that you've been taken off the invite list. Is it possible that the fractious nature of your political disagreements weighs heavily on you, even though you do make up with each other when you get into it? To assume that she's being vindictive about your opinions suggests that perhaps you don't actually think everything goes back to love and respect at the end of each debate. So, ask her. 'Are we OK? I haven't gotten an invite to the shower, and it would hurt to not be there and celebrate your daughter. But I want to check in with you to make sure I haven't misread anything or missed a cue.' Dear Eric: My husband who used to be active and social, has fallen into a funk. This has been going on for some time. He just sits all day and watches TV or is on his computer. I believe him to also be an alcoholic. He will pour a drink in the morning and drink all day. And for no reason his attitude changes – yelling for no reason and calling me names. I retired a year and a half ago and since then have become a housewife who pretty much does everything. He won't seek help. I have talked with a counselor to keep myself 'sane.' Any advice would be helpful. – Tired of Being Taken Advantage Of Dear Tired: It's good that you're talking to a counselor. Your husband's struggle with alcohol and his mood can bring you down, too. It's likely that it's already happening. Work with your counselor and/or a trusted friend or loved one on a plan to put some distance between what's happening with your husband and yourself. This doesn't have to be divorce or separation, if that's not something you're willing to consider right now. But for your peace of mind, your quality of life and your safety, it will help you to be out of the orbit of his booze-influenced behavior. You shouldn't have to do everything around the house if you don't want to. And it's unacceptable for him to yell at you or call you names. This is emotional abuse. One of the reasons it's important to put together a plan is so that you can be protected from this abuse and any escalation of his behavior. Also, please look into groups like Al-Anon or SMART Family Recovery, which can help you navigate this living arrangement and the hard feelings you're managing. Once you have a plan in place, tell him that this situation is not acceptable to you, a number of things need to change, and that if he won't seek help, you can't keep going as you have. It may help to have a friend or loved one with you for this conversation. You're in a dangerous situation and your husband has already refused to address the root issue. So, you have to do what you can to protect yourself and to help him to help himself.
Boston Globe
16-06-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Friend fears losing wedding invitation over politics
Recently we met for lunch with a third friend, and the subject of the wedding shower came up. Friend One handed Friend Three the shower invitation right in front of me, with no explanation to me. This seemed deliberately designed to be hurtful, and indeed I am hurt and confused. I can now assume I'm not invited to the wedding either. Get Love Letters: The Newsletter A weekly dispatch with all the best relationship content and commentary – plus exclusive content for fans of Love Letters, Dinner With Cupid, weddings, therapy talk, and more. Enter Email Sign Up Do I say anything to Friend One? Should I assume that she's angry about my political views? Should I just ignore the whole situation and pretend I don't care? Or should I cut my losses and just withdraw from the friendship? Advertisement UNINVITED A. Unless something else happened between you and your friend, either around politics or the wedding, I'm inclined to take the Occam's Razor approach here. Is it possible that your invite got lost in the mail and she assumed that you already had it when she gave the shower invite to your other friend? Perhaps you've already thought of this, but it just seems overly involved and cruel for her to talk to you about the wedding for months, then go out to lunch with you and use that moment to humiliate you by inviting the friend. Especially since she hasn't given you any indication, from what I can see, that you've been taken off the invite list. Advertisement Is it possible that the fractious nature of your political disagreements weighs heavily on you, even though you do make up with each other when you get into it? To assume that she's being vindictive about your opinions suggests that perhaps you don't actually think everything goes back to love and respect at the end of each debate. So, ask her: 'Are we OK? I haven't gotten an invite to the shower, and it would hurt to not be there and celebrate your daughter. But I want to check in with you to make sure I haven't misread anything or missed a cue.' Q. My husband, who used to be active and social, has fallen into a funk. This has been going on for some time. He just sits all day and watches TV or is on his computer. I believe him to also be an alcoholic. He will pour a drink in the morning and drink all day. And for no reason his attitude changes — yelling for no reason and calling me names. I retired a year and a half ago and since then have become a housewife who pretty much does everything. He won't seek help. I have talked with a counselor to keep myself 'sane.' Any advice would be helpful. TIRED OF BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF A. It's good that you're talking to a counselor. Your husband's struggle with alcohol and his mood can bring you down, too. It's likely that it's already happening. Advertisement Work with your counselor and/or a trusted friend or loved one on a plan to put some distance between what's happening with your husband and yourself. This doesn't have to be divorce or separation, if that's not something you're willing to consider right now. But for your peace of mind, your quality of life and your safety, it will help you to be out of the orbit of his booze-influenced behavior. You shouldn't have to do everything around the house if you don't want to. And it's unacceptable for him to yell at you or call you names. This is emotional abuse. One of the reasons it's important to put together a plan is so that you can be protected from this abuse and any escalation of his behavior. Also, please look into groups like Al-Anon or SMART Family Recovery, which can help you navigate this living arrangement and the hard feelings you're managing. Once you have a plan in place, tell him that this situation is not acceptable to you, a number of things need to change, and that if he won't seek help, you can't keep going as you have. It may help to have a friend or loved one with you for this conversation. You're in a dangerous situation and your husband has already refused to address the root issue. So, you have to do what you can to protect yourself and to help him to help himself. R. Eric Thomas can be reached at .
The National
03-06-2025
- General
- The National
Nigel Farage's Scottish conspiracy theories fit Reform UK's agenda
The shadowy fingers of this conspiracy first pulled the strings in Aberdeen on Monday, at an event which saw Farage take issue with Scotland's media – and The Herald in particular. They had, the Reform UK leader insisted, been 'involved' with the anti-racism protesters outside his press conference. Farage claimed that Reform UK had only told Scotland's press of the location, so protesters must have found it out through 'one of you'. He doubled-down on this on Tuesday, simultaneously expanding the conspiracy to claim that The Herald colluded with protesters with the 'deliberate intention of trying to provoke violence'. This garbled interpretation of events is transparently intended to whip up hysteria against the media – but it ignores several key facts. READ MORE: Nigel Farage hides from public and press in shambolic by-election campaign visit Firstly, campaign groups such as Stand Up To Racism, which organised the anti-Farage Aberdeen protest, use well-known methods to gather information. Hoping for a leak from the media isn't one of them. Secondly, it can't possibly have only been the media who knew about the location of the Aberdeen press conference. For starters, the venue had to be aware – and Reform had clearly informed a raft of supporters such as the Tory defector Duncan Massey, whose office obviously knew. Then there's the police, who had officers on site. If Reform didn't tell them where to be, who did? I am not aping Farage here and pointing fingers for an imagined leak, but simply highlighting that his so-called evidence for this anti-media conspiracy theory is full of holes. Reform went on to undermine their own shaky claims after protesters also turned out to demonstrate against Farage in Hamilton. Protesters turned out against Nigel Farage in Hamilton on Monday (Image: Jane Barlow/PA) This one saw Farage cower and hide rather than face activists, leaving members of the press waiting in a car park for an event Reform had organised and then surreptitiously cancelled. Speaking to Politico, Farage's allies in Reform UK claimed he had only dodged a 'large-scale protest' which they claimed had been organised by the SNP. So Reform UK's version of events is that the media conspired to see protests meet him in Aberdeen, and the SNP then arranged for protests to greet him in Hamilton. This is perhaps a time to deploy Occam's Razor, which says the simplest explanation is likely the correct one. Is it more likely that the Scottish media, anti-racism campaign groups, and SNP all conspired together to organise protests against Farage wherever he visited in Scotland? Or is it that the Scottish public organically decide to protest against racist populism without the need for some grand puppet-master pulling the strings? READ MORE: Steph Paton: Ash Regan's gaffe has revealed the sorry state of politicians In the world of Reform UK, the establishment stitch-up is the better option, so it is the one they will promote, regardless of the facts. Far-right conspiracies are, after all, well in Farage's wheelhouse. Just look at how Farage's party have campaigned in the Hamilton by-election, using race-baiting adverts and false quotes to try and convince people that Labour MSP Anas Sarwar is more loyal to Pakistan than to Scotland. And it didn't stop there. On Monday, Farage falsely claimed that Sarwar had said: "We are the South Asian community, we are going to take over the country, and take over the world." Let's call that what it is: racially-charged rhetoric calculated to stoke division and distrust. Is it any wonder that a grand conspiracy isn't needed to organise protests against that?
