May 2025 Friday’s e-links: A “Cautionary Tale”

Every once in a while, (and sometimes each day) I listen to a great podcast, enjoy an article, or see a good video that I want to share with you. These are my e-links.

Last updated 5/23/25

This week, I especially enjoyed a Cautionary Tales podcast from economist Tim Harford. Focusing on the origins of the Panama Canal, it grabbed me from beginning to end. More than a canal, the narrative is really about a man. Because Ferdinand De Lesseps had immense success building the Suez Canal, he expected to replicate it with his Panama project. Instead, as one catastrophe after another unfolds, we learn about the tragedies that the man and his family endure. Only Part One, the concluding 41 minutes (with the Canal’s completion) just uploaded. I look forward to listening to it tomorrow.