The weekend is a great time to catch up on some posts that were either too long or simply didn’t fit in during the week. Hope you enjoy!

Investing

Howard Marks on why great investors need to be willing to be different (and wrong).  (Oaktree Capital)

Why do investors make bad decisions?  (Cass Sunstein)

For better or worse we are story-telling creatures.  (ThinkAdvisor)

ERP

The equity risk premium is seemingly shrinking over time. The question is why?  (SSRN)

On the challenges of managing a lump sum in a low ERP world.  (Aleph Blog)

Personal finance

Personal finance is a design problem that software can help solve.  (Mick Weinstein)

Why financial management fees are likely to “fall like a rock.”  (Morgan Housel)

Research into the how and why of 401(k) loans.  (Knowledge@Wharton)

Quantifying the value financial advisors can add.  (Vanguard)

Finance

Ashby Monk, “How did the financial services industry secure such a dominant position over its customers?”  (Institutional Investor)

A nice discussion with Justin Fox and Michael Covel talking The Myth of the Rational Markets.  (Trendfollowing Podcast)

Profiles

Lunch with T. Boone Pickens.  (Motley Fool)

Can Bill Gross make a comeback?  (Businessweek)

Business

Companies are turning their backs on their HR departments.  (WSJ)

The power of CEOs: to accept reality (or not).  (stratchery)

Where Vegas makes its money on gaming.  (Priceonomics Blog)

The inside story of how the CEO of American Eagle ($AEO) became the ex-CEO.  (Buzzfeed)

Startups

How an angel investor became a fully fledged VC on AngelList.  (Hunter Walk)

Why Silicon Valley is always the next Silicon Valley.  (The Atlantic)

The problem with profitless start-ups.  (NYMag)

These guys are trying to build an Excel for big data.  (Wired)

Transportation

Uber isn’t just a taxi company.  (Wonkblog)

Inside the plan to build a solar-powered plane to fly around the world non-stop.  (Economist)

Why we can’t help changing lanes in heavy traffic.  (Felix Salmon)

Why small airports are in big trouble.  (WSJ)

Health

Sleep is the new frontier in health.  (Time)

Are some of us genetically programmed to enjoy exercise?  (Well)

Going under anesthesia is not a benign procedure.  (Scientific American)

Psychology

Are extroverts really happier than introverts?  (Fast Company)

Data from eHarmony shows a clear pattern: “people are interested in people like themselves.”  (FiveThirtyEight)

Academia

What can you do with a humanities PhD?  (The Atlantic)

Running a philosophy department is pretty darn cheap.  (The Epicurean Dealmaker)

Sports

Inside the world of college football bag men.  (SB Nation)

How being ‘Mr. Irrelevant‘ inspired three football players.  (Sports on Earth)

On the use of running to help combat PTSD.  (Runner’s World via Slugball)

Baseball is becoming an exurban game.  (The Week)

Entertainment

What is late night television going to become after Letterman retires?  (Grantland)

Country is now America’s dominant radio format.  (NYTimes)

Don’t discount the power of Vice.  (Bob Lefsetz)

On the rapid rise and long influence of Tom Lehrer.  (Buzzfeed)

Books

Felix Salmon reviews Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt.  (Slate)

On the lost art of idleness, insights from Andrew Smart’s Autopilot: The Art and Science of Doing Nothing.  (Farnam Street)

Earlier on Abnormal Returns

Four building blocks for investment success.  (Abnormal Returns)

What you may have missed in our Friday linkfest.  (Abnormal Returns)

Mixed media

The American craft brewing revolution is 30 years old.  (The Guardian)

Is there a Wonk Bubble?  (Politico, Felix Salmon)

Why early childhood memories fade.  (NPR)

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