What is the Best Time to Go to Work?
source: Rich Moffitt via flickr Bob Slydell: You see, what we're actually trying to do here is, we're trying to get a feel for how people spend their day at work... so, if you would, would you walk us through a typical day, for you? Peter Gibbons: Yeah. Bob Slydell: Great. Peter Gibbons: Well, ...

Should You Get a Credit Card Payment Protection Plan?
source: mujitra via flickr Credit card payment protection plans offer relief when you are out of work or sick. Your entire balance may be waived, for instance, in one of these emergencies. The cost is usually a percentage of your monthly balance, on the order of 1 to 2 percent. ...

Voting Power in Israeli Judge Selection and the Shapley-Shubik Index
  source: ninjapoodles via flickr How many votes should be necessary for a decision? Is a simple majority sufficient, or should a higher standard be applied, such as a consensus? These are questions and circumstances we all face, whether as a voter or an organizer. Understanding voting theory can help you understand the ...

Take Fewer, Not More Risks with Your Money
image source: szlea via flickr Financial people often tell you to take more risks, especially when you're young. Why is that, and is the advice any good? The usual reasons I hear to take risks early are (1) you can't do it later (2) it's easier to recover from failure. But by ...

Why You Might Want to Burn Bridges
Image source: peasap via flickr Forget the advice "never burn bridges." There are many times that burning a bridge is not just beneficial, but absolutely necessary to accomplish a goal. "Never burn bridges" generally means don't leave a job or relationship on bad terms recklessly. While I agree with this particular ...

Should I Get a Dental Sealant to Prevent Cavities (and Save Money)?
Image source: yomi955 via flickr I'm an adult now, but for the first time in my life, my dentist found cavities. I didn't understand it, as I religiously follow all of the American Dental Association's guidelines for oral hygiene (brush twice, floss, eat balanced meals, visit dentist regularly). Why did I get ...

How Game Theory Solved a Religious Mystery
image source: marvinxsteadfast via flickr The Bankruptcy Problem A man owes debts of 100, 200, and 300, but dies with insufficient funds to pay everyone. How should his estate be divided? As we all know, there might not be one correct answer. Fair division is a concept that depends as much on logic as ...

Guest Writer: What’s Wrong With Storing Personal Information Electronically?
Editor's Note: The brain is made for thinking, not for memory. If you need to remember something important, why not write it down? Or better yet, why not store it electronically and access it later? This is a topic discussed by today's guest writer Lekan. What is the proper etiquette ...

What’s More Important than Your Career? The Answer is Right Under Your Nose
Image source: Jason D' Great via flickr People do a lot of things for their career, perhaps because they are told it's their most important asset. At Stanford, I once met someone who was simultaneously studying for finals, preparing for a business trip to Japan, and drafting a book. But some things ...

Make Saving Enjoyable, or How You Can Have Your Cake and Eat It Too
Image via evan at flickr When I talk to college graduates, they tell me they save to pay off loans, to buy a house, and to invest for retirement. These responses are good, but perhaps they confuse the goals of saving with the reasons for saving. For example, saving for a birthday ...

Understanding the Stag Hunt Game: How Deer Hunting Explains Why People are Socially Late
It's customary for people to arrive "socially late" to parties. In my social circles, this means arriving an hour after the stated invitation time. But customary does not mean correct. The practice of being socially late creates inefficiency only a government bureaucrat would be proud of. Arriving late means that people ...

Guest Writer: The Basics of Islamic Finance
Religion and money are joined in many ways. Discussing these issues can educate and improve understanding among followers and non-followers alike. Today is a discussion of Islamic finance from guest writer Asad. Guest writers discussing other religions to follow in upcoming weeks. Religion is a sensitive issue--please be sensible when writing ...