The Truth About Cryptocurrencies: A Clearheaded Guide to the Crypto World

Work on this article began when Bitcoin was trading at $60,000. Today (6/18/22) it has fallen below $20,000. Ethereum has, proportionately, taken an even bigger hit. And except for some well-backed stable coins, most cryptocurrencies are at the moment cratering. With inflation high and a recession looming, cryptocurrencies are now being dismissed as an example […]

80 min read

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Expensivity Decelerated: Comparing the Ten Most Economical 2022-Model Electric Cars with their Gasoline-Powered Alternatives

As competition in the electric vehicle (EV) market grows, the prices are starting to come down. The lowest-priced EVs aren’t as economical to buy as the least expensive gasoline-powered vehicles, but they’re certainly not out of reach for anyone looking for a late model car. Given tax incentives and the potential for lower operating costs […]

22 min read

How to Create Non-Fungible Tokens Without Cryptocurrency

“Or How to Create NFTs on eBay That Confer Real Ownership” This talk was presented at the COSM.technology conference, November 10, 2021, in Bellevue, Washington. The simultaneous slideshow presentation is available here. [DISPLAY SLIDE 1] 1 The Buzz About NFTs This summer I wrote an article titled “How Non-Fungible Tokens Work: NFTs Explained, Debunked, and […]

16 min read

The Price of McDonald’s in Every Country

Fifteen cents. That was the price of Dick and Maurice McDonald’s centerpiece hamburger when they opened a stand selling just nine menu items, back in 1948.  The McDonald’s affordable hunger-buster brought the customers in. And by focusing on a limited menu, the brothers ensured the hamburger and its sides tasted exactly the same every time. […]

4 min read

Best downtowns in the Northeast

The Nicest Downtowns in the Northeast

From a bustling metropolis to the smallest of fishing villages, the best of America is on display in the northeast. With vibrant big cities, but also, sleepy, rustic hamlets, nowhere is this more true than in the diverse downtowns that make this area so special. Maybe you’re planning a trip to the northeast, or looking […]

19 min read

Expensivity by the Square Foot: Palaces, Castles, and Mansions

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan a stately pleasure dome decree… How do the abodes of today’s ultra-rich compare with the established residences of royalty? If you’re looking for splash and pizzazz, especially with respect to raw square footage, today’s ultra-rich mostly don’t measure up to the royal families and rulers of yesteryear. On the other […]

45 min read

The US Pizza Index

America’s love story with pizza is 75 years old – and Americans started flirting with pizza pie well over a century ago. Lombardi’s, in New York City, is most commonly cited as America’s first pizzeria – this Little Italy joint opened in 1905. Pizza-chomping Italians had entered the States before the turn of the 20th […]

4 min read

Tax Havens Made Clear: A Comprehensive Guide

The Problem of Taxation Taxes. They’re the bane of the existence of honest and hard-working people everywhere. We’d much rather preserve our capital for the benefit of our families and for important charities than pay the bill for all manner of government waste and inefficiency—often in the service of projects we would rather not support. […]

3 min read

The Top 11 European Tax Havens

Extending from western Europe into the Caucasus, countries as diverse as Switzerland and the Republic of Georgia host a variety of tax havens. These countries provide a refuge from income taxes, capital gains taxes, and corporate taxes. In consequence, they have attracted a variety of tax refugees, including large companies and private investors, seeking to […]

24 min read

Bitcoin: Once A Diamond In The Rough, Now A Treasure

Share this graphic on your site! Source: Expensivity By mid-February 2021, Bitcoin hit an all-time high of over $53,000 — To understand where cryptocurrency is today and where it’s headed, an overview of its tumultuous history is in order The Meteoric — And Bumpy — Rise Of Cryptocurrency The Rises & Falls Of Bitcoin 2009: […]

3 min read