No Bombshells in Warren Buffett’s 2020 Letter to Shareholders [Editor’s Note: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway (“Berkshire”), or any other entity referenced. Edina Realty is a subsidiary of Berkshire.] Unless “steer clear of bonds” is a news flash, Warren Buffett’s just-released 2020...Read More
Greater and Lesser Fools Grizzled investors will tell you that if you feel euphoric after a trade, it wasn’t a good one. You should feel awful and be second-guessing yourself. That’s the sign of a great trade.” –Andy Kessler, “A Stock-Trading Dupe is Born Every Minute”; The Wall Street Journal (2/21/2021). Admittedly, three weeks does seem...Read More
England and America are two nations separated by a common language.” –George Bernard Shaw. One hardly needs to be British to enjoy “Last Tango in Halifax,” the terrific comedy-drama that debuted in 2012 (and that my wife and I recently binge-watched — who says that the pandemic doesn’t have any silver linings??). As a service...Read More
“Ball & Chain” vs. Source of Stability/Emotional Support A “contronym” is word that is its own antonym. Examples include the word “left” (“the gentlemen have left and the ladies are left”); “off” (“to turn off,” but also “activate,” as in “the alarm went off”); and “sanction” (both “approve” and “punish”). So, what do you call...Read More
Why No One’s Rooting For FREE* Ice Cream Once upon a time, people in the Twin Cities knew that when the thermometer dived, ice cream at local favorite Sebastian Joe’s went on sale. So, when the thermometer dipped to -17º below last night, the corresponding discount would be a cool (sorry) 25%, per the chart above....Read More
“Cold Enough For ‘Ya?,” or “Go West North, Young Man” I’m sure that other people have their own preferred definitions of what constitutes a “true Minnesotan” (Growing up knowing how to sheetrock? Ice skating before you could walk?). But here’s mine: “A true Minnesotan is someone who heads north, not south, whenever they have vacation or a...Read More
