Michael HowellDr Michael J. Howell has worked in finance for over 30 years. Formerly Research Director at Salomon Bros where he developed the concept of 'Global Liquidity'. He is author of 'Investing in Emerging Markets' (1995) and 'Capital Wars' (2020). ncG1vNJzZmirpZfAta3CpGWcp51kjaStz6KrmqSnlr%2B0

I’m going to watch “The Blind Side” tonight. I’ve seen it a few times over the years, and it’s not my favorite “football-as-a-metaphor-for-humanity” movie (that goes, and must always go, to “Brian’s Song,”) but it’s a feel-good reminder of the miracles that happen when we pay attention. Quick summary : Michael Oher, a talented but homeless Black teen is adopted by a white family in Texas that gives him a home, a place at their Thanksgiving table, and a chance at football glory.

Sprinkling salt across the door frame. Stitching ancestral symbols into quilt squares. Using herbs and roots to heal common ailments. Placing a bay leaf and a $20 bill in your wallet to attract money. Using the color blue to ward off bad juju. That’s all hoodoo. Hoodoo, or rootwork, refers to using herbs, roots, and other natural objects for spiritual and medicinal purposes. It’s a spiritual practice deeply aligned with using the earth to heal and protect oneself and one’s community through striking spiritual balance or connecting with one's ancestors through worship.

"Those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them." For scouts, looking at their past evaluations is an essential practice. Prospect grading is a combination of art, science, research, and luck. The luck aspect can always factor in, where externalities or unforeseen developments derail or stymie a player's growth. Still, relying on luck is bad practice, especially when trying to come up with guidelines for how to engage in the science and research aspect.

Today I’m thrilled to be running a Q&A with puberty gurus Cara Natterson, M.D., and Vanessa Kroll Bennett, the authors of the fantastic new book This Is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained. I have a 12-year-old, so I practically inhaled the entire book in one sitting, but I recommend it for parents of all school-aged kids, because puberty now spans so much of childhood (more on that in a minute).