Len Penzo

By the time kids leave the 5th grade they should know how to calculate simple percentages, which is one of the most critical mathematical tools we have at our disposal after we become adults. Thanks to the longtime custom of tipping, restaurants are one of the most common places where this skill routinely comes into practice. That being said, let’s assume for a moment that I am a waiter.

Sitting on the edge of the Sonoran desert, along the main highway between Los Angeles and Palm Springs, lies Hadley’s, a popular fruit stand and tourist stop that sells, among other things, banana date shakes. I love ’em; they’re an incredibly tasty treat. Especially on hot arid summer days. Don’t tell that to my daughter, Nina. She hates banana date milkshakes; the mere sight of them makes her gag.

It’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy a little joe … Welcome to another rousing edition of Black Coffee, your off-beat weekly round-up of what’s been going on in the world of money and personal finance. I hope everybody had a wonderful week. And with that, let’s get right to this week’s commentary, shall we? Financial crises are like fireworks: They illuminate the sky even as they go pop. – James Buchan Credits and Debits Credit: Did you see this? Let’s start with some good-news-bad-news this week.