The Amazon Effect is a name that economists have given to the trend in which many brick-and-mortar stores are closing.  To be honest, the brand owning companies are closing their primary retail stores in major shopping malls but continue to sell their products through factory outlet malls and their Websites.

Edward and I have been watching the American election in growing alarm and appall this year.  It's just too disgusting to imagine.  On the one hand you have clearly the most visibly corrupt politician in American history running as the Democratic nominee and on the other hand you have the most fascist and racist politician running as the Republican nominee.

Seasons are periods during the Earth's solar year when the weather patterns are mostly the same because temperatures stay in the same ranges across most of the planet.  Our plants and some animals have adapted to the changes in seasons through long eons of evolution.

I consider myself a political moderate but in these highly contentious times it has become almost impossible to find common ground with the leadership of the Republican Party.  They have taken up such ridiculous positions on so many issues it is almost impossible for any centrist to not look like a liberal Democrat these days.

Every story has a beginning and an end.  One of the great things about the life we live is that we don't really know the end of the story.  I like to read biographies about successful business people because they inspire me to strive toward that same kind of success.  You don't have to become a business person yourself.  A great artist can be successful.  Look at all the not-so-great actors, artists, and writers who succeed in life.

George and I have been reluctant to wade into the politics of the 2016 US Presidential election but it is beginning to look like the two front-runners are Democrat Bernie Sanders and Republican Donald Trump.  Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush are almost forgotten in the headlines, except where they find themselves immersed in controversies.

The vast majority of muslims around the world agree that the beliefs and practices of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, known most popularly as ISIS in the west and Daesh among Arabic-speaking peoples, do not represent legitimate Islamic practice and belief.  That makes the followers of ISIS a cult.

I have noticed something disturbing lately.  When I have questions about various topics I usually Google them to see who has provided answers.  More and more I find that Google shows me really bad articles from blogs and news sites that are just throwing up articles.  Some of the worst offenders make you scroll through slideshows to find anything helpful.  I almost never read an article that uses a slider any more.

George and I have worked hard to establish ourselves as freelance writers.  I wish I could say we are getting rich but the truth is that we don't always make so much money.  It's hard work but you get a sense of freedom from not having to go into the office or factory every day.

Programmed trading or auto trading is "an automated process whereby ... a third party [makes] transactions on [a trader's] behalf". The third party can be an outside broker giving orders to your broker or it can be a software program you run on your computer and hook up to your online brokerage.