Super Mario by Jeff Ryan

If you’re interested in business, gaming, or just good stories go pick up Jeff Ryan’s Super Mario. In it he details the story of the rise of Nintendo. It’s a crash course in the history of the modern gaming industry. Jeff brings forth the people that led Nintendo and who developed, arguably, the most recognizable video game characters in the world.

The Complexities of Environmental Policy

I recently read an article on Bloomberg about the coming use of the pesticide imidacloprid in Willapa Bay in an attempt to save the oyster industry there. Long story short the oyster industry surrounding this bay is in jeopardy due to the overpopulation of the burrowing shrimp that is native to the area. Recently the EPA and the Washington State Department of Ecology have approved the use of imidacloprid to eradicate the burrowing shrimp form the commercial fishing areas of the bay. Imidacloprid is a controversial choice because it comes from a class of neurotoxins called neonics, which have been implicated in colony collapse syndrome. Scientists also are not sure what effects the pesticide will have on the greater Willapa Bay ecosystem.

This story reminds me of how complex the world of environmental policy can be.

Being on the Same Team: Money and Marriage

I was talking to a friend of mine who recently started a budget. It is encouraging to see him make goals and work for them. He is enjoying the small steps he’s taking. Starting a budget has given him some financial freedom and relieved a lot of stress regarding his financial situation. Because he knows that I budget, we talk a good bit about what to do and how our budgets are going. Recently he made the comment that his significant other was about to take the little bit of money they had saved together to go shopping. After some further questions, it was apparent that the two of them are on the same page as far as budgeting, but not on the same page as far as what they are budgeting for.

This caused me to think about my own situation. As a newly married guy, my wife and I talk about finances often. We make our financial decisions together and have agreed upon goals that we are aiming for regarding our finances. But the more I talk to other people the more I realize that this is not the norm. If you are married or in a relationship, it is important that your finances are something you both agree on because:

1. Disagreements over money is the leading cause of divorce. Talking about your finances will help ensure your relationship stays healthy.

2. It is important to agree on the same goals. Like in my friends situation, they both agreed saving was a good idea, but they did not agree on what they were saving for. So they actually end up competing against each other instead of working with each other to achieve the end goal.

3. Due to different upbringings, people have different ideas about how to deal with their finances. Talking through these differences and coming to mutual decisions will not only strengthen your finances, but will also strengthen your relationship as you learn how to compromise and work through a situation.

4. People are selfish. Marriage is teaching me just how selfish I truly am. Agreeing on your finances will ensure that you are not out doing your own thing at the expense of your significant other. If you are not willing to set aside your selfish for the benefit of the relationship you probably shouldn’t be in that relationship in the first place.

The important thing to remember is relationships are like teams to an extent. When you’re on a team, sometimes you have to work together to achieve common goals. Same thing with your finances in a relationship. You should agree on common, and many times specific, goals and then work together to achieve them.

What are your thoughts on finances and relationships? How do you go about reaching financial goals within a relationship?

Cost and Storage Becoming Less of an Barrier for Solar Power

During my college career, one of the hot topics was solar power. Solar was seen as one of the solutions for decreasing fossil fuel emissions. We looked at many case studies on how solar has been implemented and why it was or was not successfully adopted on a large scale. There were always two main concerns when it came to solar energy. The first was cost. Due to the inputs and infrastructure needed, solar was more expensive than other types of energy production like nuclear and fossil fuel. The second issue was storage. In order for solar to be viable it needs a good storage system because weather and the daily cycle determines when solar can be produced. Thanks to economies of scale and technological improvements, these two barriers may not be as big as they once were.

Bloomberg reports that the cost of renewable energy is now comparable or lower than the costs of energy production by fossil fuels. Solar power on a large scale used to be cost prohibitive. But after years of research and new technology, it is reaching a point where it is actually economically viable: making it no longer just a pollution decision, but an economic decision.

Last night, Tesla announced their new “Tesla Energy” program. This new business venture for them will be a slate of batteries that will be used to store solar energy for homes and businesses. This could be a game changer as far as solar power storage goes, making it much easier to implement into everyday life. Elon Musk believes it will be big for the company.

With cost and storage becoming less and less of a barrier for solar power, it will be interesting to see how widely it is adopted in the coming years.