Ethics
Knowing Debt and Credit Obligations during COVID-19
BBB Column As the COVID-19 crisis moves forward, with businesses closing temporarily and employee layoffs, many are wondering how they will manage their finances. Among these worries are how to handle credit and debt repayments. The CARES Act offers relief to those financially impacted by the pandemic. The new law requires lenders to report to…
Read MoreThe Peter Principle
I recently read “Undaunted Courage” by Stephen Ambrose. It recounts the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition which explored the Louisiana Territory in the early 1800’s. Meriwether Lewis was a tragic example of the “Peter Principle” which is named for Lawrence Peter’s book in the 1960’s which proposed the theory that large organizations such…
Read MoreThe First Phase US-China Trade Deal
The Trump administration recently signed a first phase trade deal with China after more than one year of negotiation. It’s about time! Previous Republican and Democrat administrations over the last 40 years have allowed China tariff free access to US markets without demanding equal access for US companies to export to China. As a result,…
Read MoreAvoiding Tax Identity Theft
BBB Column Tax season is upon us, and you have until April 15 to file your return. Scammers are also busy during tax season, hoping to steal money you earned. How will you know your tax return has been taken from you? When you go to file, you’ll get a written notice from the IRS…
Read MoreChanging Our Human Behavior
By this time in early February, many people are struggling to keep their New Year’s resolutions. The Wall Street Journal recently published an essay from the book “Tiny Habits” by Dr. Fogg, of Stamford University. He says behavior changes should be tiny changes that come easily and make us happy. I only made two New…
Read MoreTrade Show Tips
BBB Column The beginning of the year is a popular time for trade shows, and trade shows are great opportunities for businesses and consumers alike. For businesses, the shows allow you to display your products and meet potential clients face to face. Consumers are given the opportunity to shop around and compare different businesses in…
Read MoreWhat Happened to Common Sense?
I am amazed at the nonsense I encounter from TV news, email strings, newspaper articles and social media. The statements made are obviously propaganda, exaggerations or outright lies. I have an engineering degree and am well read up on numerous topics. However, you don’t need to know a lot to spot most of the nonsense. …
Read MoreThe North Beach Project
The Corpus Christi City council appointed a task force to recommend a solution to the North Beach Storm Water flooding problem. The problem is that most of North Beach is not high enough in elevation above sea level for storm water to drain into the bay. The task force has recommended a solution to flooding,…
Read MoreTips from your BBB on Handling a Data Breach
BBB Column for Padre Island Business Association Emily Gaines, PR Coordinator for Better Business Bureau serving the Heart of Texas Major companies have made headlines this summer after data breaches have left their customers’ sensitive information unprotected. While some consumers were compensated, many are left wondering what to do if they find themselves in a…
Read MoreOur Human Brain, Mind and Soul
One of my interests in retirement has been reading several books about our human brain. Medical scientists know a lot about the human brain, including the number of brain cells (about 200 billion plus). They know how brain cells are constructed and the chemical reactions conducted in each cell to produce the cell’s energy and…
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