Financially Forward: Gerald Harris

Years ago, journalism was a respected profession.  A prominent journalist then was typically a blend of muckraker, public advocate, whistleblower, and protector of the weak - a mixture of Clark Kent and Perry Mason. Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but as a group, reporters, editors, and newscasters cared about the truth.  They tried to protect the public, wanted it to be informed, and in some cases risked their necks to break a good story.  

It can truly be said that in the record business, what goes around comes around.  And if you don’t believe that, just look at what’s happening with vinyl records: They’ve defied the experts’ assertions and made a huge comeback.     

Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) the best technology ever developed or is it morphing into the world’s worst nightmare?  It’s too early to know for sure, but some experts are becoming worried.   

Opinions may vary, but this much is certain.  AI already can enable machines to “think” like humans, solve the seemingly “unresolvable,” and learn from its mistakes.  

One of the people I remember from my days as a kid on the Lower East Side was a rav who survived the camps.  People who understood these things considered him a tremendous talmid chacham. Unfortunately, his horrendous experiences in the camps took a toll, and long after the war was over he was incredibly cynical.  It was unmistakable.  Whatever he talked about – whether it was the then-current-events, politics, family – everything was oozing with cynicism.  

In order for a book to be published, it needs to be well-written, tell a good story, and either share insights into human nature or provide entertainment to readers.  But these days, one more component is required: political correctness.  And those that are not may be edited, pulled from library shelves, or banned entirely.  This applies not only to new tomes but even to those published decades ago – including some considered classics.

Most people would agree that the current banking crisis is very complicated. But there’s one aspect of it that’s especially confusing: the very differing investment advice we are getting.  Some experts are recommending that investors “buy gold,” while others urge them to “buy silver,” and still others say, “buy commodities,” “buy Bitcoin,” “buy the dip,” or “don’t buy anything at all.”  How can anyone not be confused?