http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2012/02/12/us/12entitle-graphic1.html:
From
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2012/02/12/us/12entitle-graphic2.html:
Feb 15, 2012
Economics: US Government Spending (Per Capita and Beneficiaries)
From
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2012/02/12/us/12entitle-graphic1.html:
From
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2012/02/12/us/12entitle-graphic2.html:
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2012/02/12/us/12entitle-graphic1.html:
From
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2012/02/12/us/12entitle-graphic2.html:
Feb 12, 2012
Finance: Personal Savings Rate vs. Years-To-Retirement
I think the lines correspond to investment rate of returns.
Chart from:
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/01/13/the-shockingly-simple-math-behind-early-retirement/
Economics: Target Federal Funds Rate Equation (Mankiw)
Federal funds rate = 8.5 + 1.4 (Core inflation - Unemployment)
pic and equation from:
http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2012/01/liquidity-trap-may-soon-be-over.html
pic and equation from:
http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2012/01/liquidity-trap-may-soon-be-over.html
Jan 7, 2012
Random Movies
GOOD:
Hanna
R
The robber
Win-Win
NOT BAD:
Attack the block
Colombiana
Death Proof
Eames: The Architect & The Painter
Thor
X-men First Class
BORING:
Captain America
Meek's cutoff (only watched half)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Hanna
R
The robber
Win-Win
NOT BAD:
Attack the block
Colombiana
Death Proof
Eames: The Architect & The Painter
Thor
X-men First Class
BORING:
Captain America
Meek's cutoff (only watched half)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Random Music
GOOD:
Adele - 19
Adele - 21
NOT BAD:
Christina Perri - Lovestrong
Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
Lana Del Rey - Collected
Morcheeba - Blood Like Lemonade
OK Go - Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky
Pink Martini - Hang on Little Tomato
Pink Martini - Sympathique
Radiohead - Greatest Hits
Radiohead - OK Computer
Radiohead - The Bends
Shiny Toy Guns - Season of Poison
Adele - 19
Adele - 21
NOT BAD:
Christina Perri - Lovestrong
Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
Lana Del Rey - Collected
Morcheeba - Blood Like Lemonade
OK Go - Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky
Pink Martini - Hang on Little Tomato
Pink Martini - Sympathique
Radiohead - Greatest Hits
Radiohead - OK Computer
Radiohead - The Bends
Shiny Toy Guns - Season of Poison
Dec 24, 2011
Dec 17, 2011
Dec 15, 2011
Nov 23, 2011
Economics: Economics Expert Panel
from:
http://www.igmchicago.org/igm-economic-experts-panel
"About the IGM Economic Experts Panel
http://www.igmchicago.org/igm-economic-experts-panel
"About the IGM Economic Experts Panel
This panel explores the extent to which economists agree or disagree on major public policy issues. To assess such beliefs we assembled this panel of expert economists. Statistics teaches that a sample of (say) 40 opinions will be adequate to reflect a broader population if the sample is representative of that population.
To that end, our panel was chosen to include distinguished experts with a keen interest in public policy from the major areas of economics, to be geographically diverse, and to include Democrats, Republicans and Independents as well as older and younger scholars. The panel members are all senior faculty at the most elite research universities in the United States. The panel includes Nobel Laureates, John Bates Clark Medalists, fellows of the Econometric society, past Presidents of both the American Economics Association and American Finance Association, past Democratic and Republican members of the President's Council of Economics, and past and current editors of the leading journals in the profession. This selection process has the advantage of not only providing a set of panelists whose names will be familiar to other economists and the media, but also delivers a group with impeccable qualifications to speak on public policy matters.
Finally, it is important to explain one aspect of our voting process. In some instances a panelist may neither agree nor disagree with a statement, and there can be two very different reasons for this. One case occurs when an economist is an expert on a topic and yet sees the evidence on the exact claim at hand as ambiguous; although we try to word the statements carefully to avoid this, it will no doubt happen at times, and in such cases our panelists vote "uncertain". A second case relates to statements on topics so far removed from the economist's expertise that he or she feels unqualified to vote. In this case, our panelists vote "no opinion"."
Nov 17, 2011
Nov 13, 2011
Nov 5, 2011
Oct 31, 2011
Oct 27, 2011
Health: Dementia Frequency By Age
from http://www.vanguardblog.com/2011.10.17/aging-and-financial-decisions.html:
Prevalence of dementia in North America:
| Age | Rate |
| 60–64 | 0.8% |
| 65–69 | 1.7% |
| 70–74 | 3.3% |
| 75–79 | 6.5% |
| 80–84 | 12.8% |
| 85–89 | 30.1% |
Source: Ferri et al. 2006.
Random Movies
| GOOD: |
| Inside Job |
| Somewhere |
| The lincoln lawyer |
| The Take |
| True Grit |
| NOT BAD: |
| Battle LA |
| Carancho |
| Cedar Rapids |
| Fast Five |
| Father of My Children |
| Jane Eyre |
| Limitless |
| Rabbit Hole |
| Source Code |
| The Adjustment Bureau |
| The Way Back |
| BORING: |
| A Somewhat Gentle Man |
| Blue Valentine |
| Paul |
| Uncle Boonmee: Who Can Recall His Past Lives |
Sep 13, 2011
Finance: Evidence of Index Funds Outperforming Active Funds
Historical Performance Data:
http://www.standardandpoors.com/indices/spiva/en/us
http://spwfe.fpanet.org:10005/public/Unclassified%20Records/FPA%20Journal%20February%202006%20-%20The%20Difficulty%20of%20Selecting%20Superior%20Mutual%20Fund%20Performance.pdf
https://institutional.vanguard.com/VGApp/iip/site/institutional/researchcommentary/article/InvResindexmyths
https://personal.vanguard.com/us/insights/article/fund-performance-08042011
Expense Ratio is most important determinant of performance:
https://advisors.vanguard.com/VGApp/iip/site/advisor/researchcommentary/research/article/IWE_NewsMorningstar
Expense ratio calculator to see the effect of high expense ratios on returns:
http://www.moneychimp.com/articles/index_funds/expenses.htm
http://www.standardandpoors.com/indices/spiva/en/us
http://spwfe.fpanet.org:10005/public/Unclassified%20Records/FPA%20Journal%20February%202006%20-%20The%20Difficulty%20of%20Selecting%20Superior%20Mutual%20Fund%20Performance.pdf
https://institutional.vanguard.com/VGApp/iip/site/institutional/researchcommentary/article/InvResindexmyths
https://personal.vanguard.com/us/insights/article/fund-performance-08042011
Expense Ratio is most important determinant of performance:
https://advisors.vanguard.com/VGApp/iip/site/advisor/researchcommentary/research/article/IWE_NewsMorningstar
Expense ratio calculator to see the effect of high expense ratios on returns:
http://www.moneychimp.com/articles/index_funds/expenses.htm
Sep 5, 2011
Aug 31, 2011
Aug 15, 2011
Computers: Firefox Bookmark Add-on
Add Bookmark Here ²:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/add-bookmark-here-2/
Among other things, expands add-to-bookmark window size.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/add-bookmark-here-2/
Among other things, expands add-to-bookmark window size.
Aug 8, 2011
Aug 2, 2011
Jul 17, 2011
Jul 9, 2011
Jul 4, 2011
Random Movies
GOOD:
Animal kingdom
Let me in
The Fighter
The King's Speech
The Man from Nowhere
NOT BAD:
Buried
Catfish
Get Low
Heartbreaker
Ip Man
Muay Thai fighter
BORING:
Black Swan
Nowhere boy
Unstoppable
Wasteland
Animal kingdom
Let me in
The Fighter
The King's Speech
The Man from Nowhere
NOT BAD:
Buried
Catfish
Get Low
Heartbreaker
Ip Man
Muay Thai fighter
BORING:
Black Swan
Nowhere boy
Unstoppable
Wasteland
Random Music
GOOD:
Morelenbaum (2)/Sakamoto: Casa
The Brilliant Green - Complete Single Collection '97-'08
Verve Jazz Masters 09 - Astrud Gilberto
Verve Jazz Masters 13 - Antonio Carlos Jobim
NOT BAD:
Aiko – Best
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Radiohead - The King of Limbs
Rodrigo y Gabriela - 11:11
Rodrigo y Gabriela - Live in Japan
Rodrigo y Gabriela - Live: Manchester and Dublin
Rodrigo y Gabriela - re-Foc
Rodrigo y Gabriela - Rodrigo y Gabriela
The Best of Suzanne Vega - Tried And True
BORING:
Lady Gaga - Born This Way
Morelenbaum (2)/Sakamoto: Casa
The Brilliant Green - Complete Single Collection '97-'08
Verve Jazz Masters 09 - Astrud Gilberto
Verve Jazz Masters 13 - Antonio Carlos Jobim
NOT BAD:
Aiko – Best
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Radiohead - The King of Limbs
Rodrigo y Gabriela - 11:11
Rodrigo y Gabriela - Live in Japan
Rodrigo y Gabriela - Live: Manchester and Dublin
Rodrigo y Gabriela - re-Foc
Rodrigo y Gabriela - Rodrigo y Gabriela
The Best of Suzanne Vega - Tried And True
BORING:
Lady Gaga - Born This Way
Jun 26, 2011
May 30, 2011
May 29, 2011
May 27, 2011
Finance: Low Dividend Yields and Future Performance (Vanguard)
Conclusion section from https://institutional.vanguard.com/VGApp/iip/site/institutional/researchcommentary/article/RetResLowerDiv:
"The dividend yield on the broad U.S. stock market
has fluctuated significantly over time and is now
below its long-term historical level (see Figure 1).
Although researchers differ in their explanations
for the drop, several possibilities exist. From a
corporate finance perspective, there is no difference
between dividends and share repurchases as a way
of transferring corporate assets to shareholders.
However, managements may tend to prefer
repurchases. From the investor’s standpoint, total
return (before tax) should be unaffected by which
method is chosen, but there may be reasons for
taxable investors to prefer share repurchases.
The total-return investor should consider both
dividends and capital appreciation: Over the long
run, the returns equity investors earn will come
both from direct payments and from increases in
the value of a productive enterprise. The fact that
dividend yields are lower now than in the past does
not, on its own, imply that total returns on stocks
must be lower going forward."
May 23, 2011
May 15, 2011
Photo: Dust on Sensor (Point and Shoot)
Use a vacuum cleaner hose with a toilet paper roll tube on the extended lens of the point and shoot camera (not SLR). Apply scotch tape to the front of the lens to keep the lens cover leafs from flying off. Check for dust on photo of a white card.
May 14, 2011
Apr 26, 2011
Apr 22, 2011
Economics: US Debt Snapshot 2010 (Pimco)
"What an unbiased observer must admit is that most of the publically issued $9 trillion of Treasury notes and bonds are now in the hands of foreign sovereigns and the Fed (60%) while private market investors such as bond funds, insurance companies and banks are in the (40%) minority. More striking, however, is the evidence in Chart 2 which points out that nearly 70% of the annualized issuance since the beginning of QE II has been purchased by the Fed, with the balance absorbed by those old standbys – the Chinese, Japanese and other reserve surplus sovereigns. Basically, the recent game plan is as simple as the Ohio State Buckeyes’ “three yards and a cloud of dust” in the 1960s. When applied to the Treasury market it translates to this: The Treasury issues bonds and the Fed buys them. What could be simpler, and who’s to worry? This Sammy Scheme as I’ve described it in recent Outlooks is as foolproof as Ponzi and Madoff until… until… well, until it isn’t. Because like at the end of a typical chain letter, the legitimate corollary question is – Who will buy Treasuries when the Fed doesn’t?"
from:
http://www.pimco.com/EN/Insights/Pages/Two-Bits-Four-Bits-Six-Bits-a-Dollar.aspx
Apr 3, 2011
Computer: SearchMyFiles
Windows 7 file search is kind of annoying. I miss the old XP file search. Here's a portable alternative:
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/search_my_files.html
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/search_my_files.html
Apr 1, 2011
Random Movies
GOOD:
Easy A
Exit through the gift shop
The town
NOT BAD:
Aruitemo Aruitemo
Despicable me
Fish Tank
Machete
Megamind
Mesrine
Mother and child
Red
Salt
Secretariat
Solitary Man
The American
The Girl Who Played With Fire
The other guys
Y tu mama tambien
BORING:
Let it rain
Micmacs
Soul kitchen
Easy A
Exit through the gift shop
The town
NOT BAD:
Aruitemo Aruitemo
Despicable me
Fish Tank
Machete
Megamind
Mesrine
Mother and child
Red
Salt
Secretariat
Solitary Man
The American
The Girl Who Played With Fire
The other guys
Y tu mama tambien
BORING:
Let it rain
Micmacs
Soul kitchen
Random Music
GOOD:
Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse - Dark Night of the Soul
Florence + the Machine - Lungs
Janelle Monáe - Metropolis- The Chase Suite
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid
Kings Of Leon - Come Around Sundown
NOT BAD:
Azure Ray - Drawing Down the Moon
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Up From Below
Eminem - Recovery
Esperanza Spalding - Chamber music society
Freelance Whales - Weathervanes
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Linkin Park - A Thousand Suns
Muse - The Resistance
BORING:
Girl Talk - Feed the Animals
Girl Talk - Girl Talk Murders Seattle
Girl Talk - Night Ripper
Girl Talk - Secret Diary
Girl Talk - Unstoppable
Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse - Dark Night of the Soul
Florence + the Machine - Lungs
Janelle Monáe - Metropolis- The Chase Suite
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid
Kings Of Leon - Come Around Sundown
NOT BAD:
Azure Ray - Drawing Down the Moon
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Up From Below
Eminem - Recovery
Esperanza Spalding - Chamber music society
Freelance Whales - Weathervanes
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Linkin Park - A Thousand Suns
Muse - The Resistance
BORING:
Girl Talk - Feed the Animals
Girl Talk - Girl Talk Murders Seattle
Girl Talk - Night Ripper
Girl Talk - Secret Diary
Girl Talk - Unstoppable
Mar 27, 2011
Mar 20, 2011
Mar 6, 2011
Feb 28, 2011
Finance: Vanguard Cost Calculator
https://personal.vanguard.com/us/whatweoffer?at-cost-vanguarding
Click "Learn more about at-cost investing" drop down.
Click "Learn more about at-cost investing" drop down.
Feb 25, 2011
Feb 22, 2011
Art: Banksy Quote
"Art is not like other culture because its success is not made by its audience. The public fill concert halls and cinemas every day, we read novels by the millions, and buy records by the billions. 'We the people' affect the making and quality of most of our culture, but not our art.
The Art we look at is made by only a select few. A small group create, promote, purchase, exhibit and decide the success of Art. Only a few hundred people in the world have any real say. When you go to an Art gallery you are simply a tourist looking at the trophy cabinet of a few millionaires."
-Banksy (Wall and Piece)
The Art we look at is made by only a select few. A small group create, promote, purchase, exhibit and decide the success of Art. Only a few hundred people in the world have any real say. When you go to an Art gallery you are simply a tourist looking at the trophy cabinet of a few millionaires."
-Banksy (Wall and Piece)
Jan 23, 2011
Jan 16, 2011
Finance: Indexing Myths Debunked (Vanguard)
https://institutional.vanguard.com/VGApp/iip/site/institutional/researchcommentary/article/InvResindexmyths
Description:
"Although the indexing strategy has proven to be successful since its beginnings in the 1970s, indexing has also been continually criticized. These criticisms have given rise to a number of misconceptions, which persist despite research that has refuted them and despite the historical performance of index mutual funds. Primarily because of their low-cost structure, indexed investments have generally offered long-term outperformance relative to a majority of actively managed funds, regardless of asset class or market segment."
Description:
"Although the indexing strategy has proven to be successful since its beginnings in the 1970s, indexing has also been continually criticized. These criticisms have given rise to a number of misconceptions, which persist despite research that has refuted them and despite the historical performance of index mutual funds. Primarily because of their low-cost structure, indexed investments have generally offered long-term outperformance relative to a majority of actively managed funds, regardless of asset class or market segment."
Computer: Sandboxie
http://www.sandboxie.com/
Description from site:
"Sandboxie runs your programs in an isolated space which prevents them from making permanent changes to other programs and data in your computer.
* Secure Web Browsing: Running your Web browser under the protection of Sandboxie means that all malicious software downloaded by the browser is trapped in the sandbox and can be discarded trivially.
* Enhanced Privacy: Browsing history, cookies, and cached temporary files collected while Web browsing stay in the sandbox and don't leak into Windows.
* Secure E-mail: Viruses and other malicious software that might be hiding in your email can't break out of the sandbox and can't infect your real system.
* Windows Stays Lean: Prevent wear-and-tear in Windows by installing software into an isolated sandbox. "
Description from site:
"Sandboxie runs your programs in an isolated space which prevents them from making permanent changes to other programs and data in your computer.
* Secure Web Browsing: Running your Web browser under the protection of Sandboxie means that all malicious software downloaded by the browser is trapped in the sandbox and can be discarded trivially.
* Enhanced Privacy: Browsing history, cookies, and cached temporary files collected while Web browsing stay in the sandbox and don't leak into Windows.
* Secure E-mail: Viruses and other malicious software that might be hiding in your email can't break out of the sandbox and can't infect your real system.
* Windows Stays Lean: Prevent wear-and-tear in Windows by installing software into an isolated sandbox. "
Jan 2, 2011
Random Movies
GOOD:
An education
City Island
Harry Brown
Jean-Michel Basquiat : the radiant child
The good the bad the weird
Winter's bone
NOT BAD:
Drag me to Hell
Get him to the greek
Scott Pilgrim vs. the world
The Chaser
The kids are all right
Toy Story 3
BORING:
Big Fan
Ironman 2
The Last Station
Volver
An education
City Island
Harry Brown
Jean-Michel Basquiat : the radiant child
The good the bad the weird
Winter's bone
NOT BAD:
Drag me to Hell
Get him to the greek
Scott Pilgrim vs. the world
The Chaser
The kids are all right
Toy Story 3
BORING:
Big Fan
Ironman 2
The Last Station
Volver
Random Music
NOT BAD:
Arcade Fire - Funeral
Armin Van Buuren - Mirage
Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Lady Gaga - The Remix
K'naan - Troubadour
RJD2 - The Colossus
The Chemical Brothers - Further
Underworld - Barking
Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Arcade Fire - Funeral
Armin Van Buuren - Mirage
Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Lady Gaga - The Remix
K'naan - Troubadour
RJD2 - The Colossus
The Chemical Brothers - Further
Underworld - Barking
Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Dec 25, 2010
Dec 22, 2010
Economics: Realtime CPI (Inflation)
http://bpp.mit.edu/
from the above website:
"The Billion Prices Project is an academic initiative that collects prices from hundreds of online retailers around the world on a daily basis to conduct economic research. We currently monitor daily price fluctuations of ~5 million items sold by ~300 online retailers in more than 70 countries.
This webpage showcases examples of average inflation indexes that we created to illustrate the type of statistical work that can be done with this data. Our team is currently working on developing econometric models that leverage the data to forecast future trends and conduct economic research."
from the above website:
"The Billion Prices Project is an academic initiative that collects prices from hundreds of online retailers around the world on a daily basis to conduct economic research. We currently monitor daily price fluctuations of ~5 million items sold by ~300 online retailers in more than 70 countries.
This webpage showcases examples of average inflation indexes that we created to illustrate the type of statistical work that can be done with this data. Our team is currently working on developing econometric models that leverage the data to forecast future trends and conduct economic research."
Dec 12, 2010
Finance: Timing the Market (Empirical Evidence)
The following is quoted from:
http://www.indexuniverse.com/publications/journalofindexes/joi-articles/8243-wise-investing-made-simpler.html
"There is a large body of evidence suggesting that trying to time markets is highly likely to lead to poor results. For example, one study on the performance of 100 pension plans engaged in tactical asset allocation (TAA: a fancy term for market timing, allowing the purveyors of such strategies to charge high fees) found not one single plan benefited from their efforts—an amazing result, as randomly we should have expected at least some to benefit.6
Another study also found some amazing results. For the 12 years ending in 1997, while the S&P 500 Index on a total return basis rose 734 percent, the average equity fund returned just 589 percent, but the average return for 186 TAA funds was a mere 384 percent, about half the return of the S&P 500 Index.7
A third example of the futility of trying to time the market is the finding from a Morningstar study. They found that investors in mutual funds, on average, significantly underperform the very funds in which they invest. The dollar-weighted returns of investors are below the time-weighted returns of the funds in which they invest.8 The reason for this seemingly strange outcome is investors tend to buy after periods of strong performance and sell after periods of weak performance. Buying high when greed takes over and selling low when panic sets in is not exactly a recipe for financial success. Unfortunately, it is the way most investors act."
"
Endnotes:
6 Charles Ellis, Investment Policy (Irwin Professional Pub 2nd edition 1992).
7 David Dreman, Contrarian Investment Strategies (Simon & Schuster 1998), p. 57.
8 Morningstar FundInvestor (July 2005). "
http://www.indexuniverse.com/publications/journalofindexes/joi-articles/8243-wise-investing-made-simpler.html
"There is a large body of evidence suggesting that trying to time markets is highly likely to lead to poor results. For example, one study on the performance of 100 pension plans engaged in tactical asset allocation (TAA: a fancy term for market timing, allowing the purveyors of such strategies to charge high fees) found not one single plan benefited from their efforts—an amazing result, as randomly we should have expected at least some to benefit.6
Another study also found some amazing results. For the 12 years ending in 1997, while the S&P 500 Index on a total return basis rose 734 percent, the average equity fund returned just 589 percent, but the average return for 186 TAA funds was a mere 384 percent, about half the return of the S&P 500 Index.7
A third example of the futility of trying to time the market is the finding from a Morningstar study. They found that investors in mutual funds, on average, significantly underperform the very funds in which they invest. The dollar-weighted returns of investors are below the time-weighted returns of the funds in which they invest.8 The reason for this seemingly strange outcome is investors tend to buy after periods of strong performance and sell after periods of weak performance. Buying high when greed takes over and selling low when panic sets in is not exactly a recipe for financial success. Unfortunately, it is the way most investors act."
"
Endnotes:
6 Charles Ellis, Investment Policy (Irwin Professional Pub 2nd edition 1992).
7 David Dreman, Contrarian Investment Strategies (Simon & Schuster 1998), p. 57.
8 Morningstar FundInvestor (July 2005). "
Dec 4, 2010
Nov 7, 2010
Oct 23, 2010
Finance: Buffett Gold Quote
from http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/18/pf/investing/buffett_ben_stein.fortune/index.htm:
"You could take all the gold that's ever been mined, and it would fill a cube 67 feet in each direction. For what that's worth at current gold prices, you could buy all -- not some -- all of the farmland in the United States. Plus, you could buy 10 Exxon Mobils, plus have $1 trillion of walking-around money. Or you could have a big cube of metal. Which would you take? Which is going to produce more value?"
"You could take all the gold that's ever been mined, and it would fill a cube 67 feet in each direction. For what that's worth at current gold prices, you could buy all -- not some -- all of the farmland in the United States. Plus, you could buy 10 Exxon Mobils, plus have $1 trillion of walking-around money. Or you could have a big cube of metal. Which would you take? Which is going to produce more value?"
Oct 17, 2010
Oct 14, 2010
Oct 13, 2010
Oct 2, 2010
.gif)
Random Music
GOOD:
Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You
Regina Spektor - Far
NOT BAD:
Beach House - Devotion
Beach House - Teen Dream
Lily Allen - Alright, Still
Massive Attack - Heligoland
Nikki Yanofsky - Nikki
Regina Spektor - Begin To Hope
Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise
Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You
Regina Spektor - Far
NOT BAD:
Beach House - Devotion
Beach House - Teen Dream
Lily Allen - Alright, Still
Massive Attack - Heligoland
Nikki Yanofsky - Nikki
Regina Spektor - Begin To Hope
Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise
Random Movies
GOOD:
A prophet
Ghost writer
Into the wild
Kick-Ass
Tell No One
The girl with the dragon tattoo
The road
NOT BAD:
Dear Frankie
Departures
District 13-U
District B13
Greenberg
Inception
Owl and the sparrow
The Art of the Steal
The book of Eli
The young Victoria
Thirst
Youth in revolt
BORING:
Date night
Terribly happy
Tokyo sonata
A prophet
Ghost writer
Into the wild
Kick-Ass
Tell No One
The girl with the dragon tattoo
The road
NOT BAD:
Dear Frankie
Departures
District 13-U
District B13
Greenberg
Inception
Owl and the sparrow
The Art of the Steal
The book of Eli
The young Victoria
Thirst
Youth in revolt
BORING:
Date night
Terribly happy
Tokyo sonata
Sep 6, 2010
Computer: Windows 7 God Mode
create new folder with the following name:
GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
Aug 29, 2010
Aug 25, 2010
+2008.jpg)
Jul 10, 2010
Music: Audiotool (Web App)
Reason-like web application:
http://www.audiotool.com/
Youtube tutorials here:
http://www.youtube.com/AudiotoolTutorials
http://www.audiotool.com/
Youtube tutorials here:
http://www.youtube.com/AudiotoolTutorials
Jul 3, 2010
Random Movies
GOOD:
Sherlock Holmes
NOT BAD:
Avatar
Bad lieutenant
BandSlam
Crazy Heart
Daybreakers
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Flame and Citron
Invictus
Seraphine
The Baader Meinhof complex
The Informant!
The messenger
Up in the Air
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Where the Wild Things Are
BORING:
Crank
Red cliff
Revanche
The good shepherd
Sherlock Holmes
NOT BAD:
Avatar
Bad lieutenant
BandSlam
Crazy Heart
Daybreakers
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Flame and Citron
Invictus
Seraphine
The Baader Meinhof complex
The Informant!
The messenger
Up in the Air
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Where the Wild Things Are
BORING:
Crank
Red cliff
Revanche
The good shepherd
Jul 1, 2010
Random Music
GOOD:
Eminem - Curtain Call - The Hits
Kings Of Convenience - Declaration Of Dependence
Santigold - Santigold
NOT BAD:
BT - These Hopeful Machines
Eminem - Relapse Refill
KRS-One & Buckshot - Survival Skills
Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster
Marie Digby - Breathing Underwater
Tiësto - Kaleidoscope
BORING:
George Winston - Love Will Come - The Music of Vince Guaraldi Vol 2
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Eminem - Curtain Call - The Hits
Kings Of Convenience - Declaration Of Dependence
Santigold - Santigold
NOT BAD:
BT - These Hopeful Machines
Eminem - Relapse Refill
KRS-One & Buckshot - Survival Skills
Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster
Marie Digby - Breathing Underwater
Tiësto - Kaleidoscope
BORING:
George Winston - Love Will Come - The Music of Vince Guaraldi Vol 2
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Jun 28, 2010
Jun 20, 2010
Jun 9, 2010
May 9, 2010
Glasses: Buying Glasses Online
This is where I bought from. It takes about 2-3 weeks for delivery (from china).
http://www.zennioptical.com/home.php
Here is a decent write up of what u need to do to order glasses:
http://glassyeyes.blogspot.com/2007/10/online-eyeglasses-how-it-works.html
And, these are the articles on how to measure papillary distance:
http://glassyeyes.blogspot.com/2007/09/illusive-pd-and-how-to-wrangle-yours.html
http://glassyeyes.blogspot.com/2007/09/illusive-pd-and-how-to-wrangle-yours.html#comment-9169561774097153045
http://www.zennioptical.com/home.php
Here is a decent write up of what u need to do to order glasses:
http://glassyeyes.blogspot.com/2007/10/online-eyeglasses-how-it-works.html
And, these are the articles on how to measure papillary distance:
http://glassyeyes.blogspot.com/2007/09/illusive-pd-and-how-to-wrangle-yours.html
http://glassyeyes.blogspot.com/2007/09/illusive-pd-and-how-to-wrangle-yours.html#comment-9169561774097153045
May 6, 2010
Finance: Commission-Free Trading of Vanguard ETFs
http://vocuspr.vocus.com/vocuspr30/newsroom/Query.aspx?SiteName=vanguardnew&Entity=PRAsset&SF_PRAsset_PRAssetID_EQ=578788&XSL=PressRelease&PublishType=Press+Release&Cache=True
http://www.indexuniverse.com/hot-topics/7547-vanguard-joins-crowd-offering-commission-free-etf-trades.html
http://www.indexuniverse.com/sections/blog/7548-wholl-pay-for-vanguards-free-etf-trades.html
http://www.indexuniverse.com/hot-topics/7547-vanguard-joins-crowd-offering-commission-free-etf-trades.html
http://www.indexuniverse.com/sections/blog/7548-wholl-pay-for-vanguards-free-etf-trades.html
May 5, 2010
Finance: Vanguard Fund Out-Performance
The following pics portraying relative fund performance are taken from the following link:
https://personal.vanguard.com/us/insights/article/fund-performance-04272010?link=topStories&linkLocation=Position3
.jpg)
.jpg)
https://personal.vanguard.com/us/insights/article/fund-performance-04272010?link=topStories&linkLocation=Position3
.jpg)
.jpg)
Apr 29, 2010
Economics: China vs. USA (Graphs)
The pic below is from the following link:
http://www.billshrink.com/blog/8482/the-us-vs-china-economies-head-to-head/
http://www.billshrink.com/blog/8482/the-us-vs-china-economies-head-to-head/
Apr 28, 2010
Video: The Raven (Ricardo de Montreuil)
Awesome 6 minute short movie, all done for $5k.
http://vimeo.com/11099712
director's wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_de_Montreuil
http://vimeo.com/11099712
director's wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_de_Montreuil
Finance: Emerging Markets
The following figures are from the following link:
https://institutional.vanguard.com/VGApp/iip/site/institutional/researchcommentary/article?File=InvResInvestEmerging
The following charts shows that there is little correlation between GDP growth and stock returns.
The following chart shows the percent of US corporate earnings derived from overseas. Now, it's at 40%.
https://institutional.vanguard.com/VGApp/iip/site/institutional/researchcommentary/article?File=InvResInvestEmerging
The following charts shows that there is little correlation between GDP growth and stock returns.
The following chart shows the percent of US corporate earnings derived from overseas. Now, it's at 40%.
Apr 24, 2010
Tech: Lithium-Based Battery Care (BatteryUniversity)
How to prolong life of battery:
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm
Apr 21, 2010
Finance: US Indices Breakdown (Vanguard)
.jpg)
the pic above came from the Vanguard paper located below:
https://institutional.vanguard.com/VGApp/iip/site/institutional/researchcommentary/article?File=RetResDetAppBench
Finance: Deficits, the Fed, and Rising Interest Rates - Implications and Considerations for Bond Investors
.jpg)
The historical yield curve chart above is located in the Vanguard paper from the link below:
https://institutional.vanguard.com/VGApp/iip/site/institutional/researchcommentary/article?File=InvResDeficit
Apr 18, 2010
Apr 15, 2010
Apr 13, 2010
Apr 1, 2010
Random Movies
GOOD:
Hunger <---- this one was tough to watch
Moon
Sin Nombre
The Hurt Locker
Zombieland
NOT BAD:
(500) Days of Summer
Brick
City of Men
Cold Souls
In the Loop
Inglourious Basterds
The Blind Side
The Damned United
The Hangover
Whip It
BORING:
A Serious Man
Duplicity
Lorna's Silence
Moscow, Belgium
Two Lovers
World's greatest dad
Hunger <---- this one was tough to watch
Moon
Sin Nombre
The Hurt Locker
Zombieland
NOT BAD:
(500) Days of Summer
Brick
City of Men
Cold Souls
In the Loop
Inglourious Basterds
The Blind Side
The Damned United
The Hangover
Whip It
BORING:
A Serious Man
Duplicity
Lorna's Silence
Moscow, Belgium
Two Lovers
World's greatest dad
Random Music
GOOD:
(500) Days Of Summer Soundtrack
Ingrid Michaelson - Everybody
The Raveonettes - In And Out Of Control
NOT BAD:
AK1200 - Weapons Of Tomorrow
Chris Botti - Chris Botti in Boston
Dave Seaman - This Is Audio Therapy Vol 2
Esperanza Spalding - Esperanza
Jack Johnson - En Concert
Nicola Conte - Rituals
Paul Van Dyk - In Between
Paul van Dyk - Volume - The Best of...
Peace Division - Coast2Coast
The Raveonettes - Chain Gang Of Love
BORING:
Robyn - Robyn
(500) Days Of Summer Soundtrack
Ingrid Michaelson - Everybody
The Raveonettes - In And Out Of Control
NOT BAD:
AK1200 - Weapons Of Tomorrow
Chris Botti - Chris Botti in Boston
Dave Seaman - This Is Audio Therapy Vol 2
Esperanza Spalding - Esperanza
Jack Johnson - En Concert
Nicola Conte - Rituals
Paul Van Dyk - In Between
Paul van Dyk - Volume - The Best of...
Peace Division - Coast2Coast
The Raveonettes - Chain Gang Of Love
BORING:
Robyn - Robyn
Mar 25, 2010
Computer: General PC Security 101
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5574&review=Internet+Safety+Guide+How+to+Protect+Yourself+Online
For many, this stuff is common sense, but it is decently written and can be useful for those not so computer savvy.
Btw, i don't use McAfee Site Advisor tool. I use the WOT firefox plugin.
For many, this stuff is common sense, but it is decently written and can be useful for those not so computer savvy.
Btw, i don't use McAfee Site Advisor tool. I use the WOT firefox plugin.
Mar 23, 2010
Finance: Elements of Investing (Free PDF Book)
Follow the links at the following site:
http://www.mymoneyblog.com/archives/2010/03/free-book-download-elements-of-investing.html
Semi-direct link:
http://lto.libredigital.com/?VanguardTheElementsofInvesting
If this book is anything like Random Walk, it should be very informative and definitely worthwhile reading.
http://www.mymoneyblog.com/archives/2010/03/free-book-download-elements-of-investing.html
Semi-direct link:
http://lto.libredigital.com/?VanguardTheElementsofInvesting
If this book is anything like Random Walk, it should be very informative and definitely worthwhile reading.
Finance: US Tax Maps
from http://www.mymoneyblog.com/archives/2010/03/state-tax-rate-maps-how-does-your-state-compare.html
Original map source:
TaxFoundation.org
Original map source:
TaxFoundation.org
Economics: US Food Production Maps
from http://contexts.org/socimages/2010/03/10/food-production-in-the-u-s/:
Maps originally sourced here:
http://www.radicalcartography.net/
Maps originally sourced here:
http://www.radicalcartography.net/
Mar 21, 2010
Finance: Warren Buffett Interview Transcript
Interview starts here:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/35641059/
Full transcript download here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/27725494/Ask-Warren-Buffett-Complete-CNBC-Squawk-Box-Transcript-2010-03-01
http://www.cnbc.com/id/35641059/
Full transcript download here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/27725494/Ask-Warren-Buffett-Complete-CNBC-Squawk-Box-Transcript-2010-03-01
Mar 17, 2010
Feb 22, 2010
Feb 20, 2010
Feb 16, 2010
Feb 14, 2010
Feb 6, 2010
Feb 3, 2010
Jan 28, 2010
Computer: Average Gaming Computer (Steam Hardware Survey)
Monthly survey results from Steam on what most gamers have on their PCs.
http://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey
http://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey
Jan 7, 2010
Jan 6, 2010
Finance: Mutual Fund Average Expense Ratio (Asset-Weighted)
The following image is from the following site from the ICI Research Fundamentals publication (Vol. 18, No. 3) dated April 2009:
http://www.ici.org/pdf/fm-v18n3.pdf
http://www.ici.org/pdf/fm-v18n3.pdf
Jan 4, 2010
Dec 26, 2009
Random Movies
GOOD:
District 9
Frost/Nixon
Nothing But the Truth
Up
Who Killed the Electric Car?
NOT BAD:
Adventureland
Away From Her
Dawn of the Dead
I Love You, Man
Next
Night at the Museum
Push
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
Venus
BORING:
Assault on Precinct 13
Coraline
Ghost Town
Man on Wire
Monsters vs. Aliens
The Class
The Wind That Shakes the Barley
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Watchmen
District 9
Frost/Nixon
Nothing But the Truth
Up
Who Killed the Electric Car?
NOT BAD:
Adventureland
Away From Her
Dawn of the Dead
I Love You, Man
Next
Night at the Museum
Push
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
Venus
BORING:
Assault on Precinct 13
Coraline
Ghost Town
Man on Wire
Monsters vs. Aliens
The Class
The Wind That Shakes the Barley
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Watchmen
Random Music
GOOD:
DJ Krush - Holonic: The Self Megamix
DJ Krush - Meiso
DJ Krush - Milight
DJ Krush - Zen
DJ Krush & Toshinori Kondo - Ki-Oku
Imogen Heap - Ellipse
Lykke Li - Youth Novels
Marie Digby - Unfold
Owl City - Ocean Eyes
The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust
The Raveonettes - Pretty in Black
The Raveonettes - Whip It On
NOT BAD:
Danny Tenaglia - Futurism
Diana Krall - Quiet Nights
DJ Krush - Code 4109
DJ Krush - Jaku
DJ Krush - Kakusei
DJ Krush - Krush
DJ Krush - OuMuPo 6
DJ Krush - Reload: The Remix Collection
DJ Krush - Stepping Stones: The Self-Remixed Best
DJ Krush - Strictly Turntablized
DJ Krush - The Message at the Depth
Miguel Migs - Coast 2 Coast
Röyksopp - Junior
Utada Hikaru - This is the One
Various - Gatecrasher Classics 2
BORING:
Blue October - Approaching Normal
Blue October - Foiled
Paul Oakenfold - Perfecto Vegas
DJ Krush - Holonic: The Self Megamix
DJ Krush - Meiso
DJ Krush - Milight
DJ Krush - Zen
DJ Krush & Toshinori Kondo - Ki-Oku
Imogen Heap - Ellipse
Lykke Li - Youth Novels
Marie Digby - Unfold
Owl City - Ocean Eyes
The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust
The Raveonettes - Pretty in Black
The Raveonettes - Whip It On
NOT BAD:
Danny Tenaglia - Futurism
Diana Krall - Quiet Nights
DJ Krush - Code 4109
DJ Krush - Jaku
DJ Krush - Kakusei
DJ Krush - Krush
DJ Krush - OuMuPo 6
DJ Krush - Reload: The Remix Collection
DJ Krush - Stepping Stones: The Self-Remixed Best
DJ Krush - Strictly Turntablized
DJ Krush - The Message at the Depth
Miguel Migs - Coast 2 Coast
Röyksopp - Junior
Utada Hikaru - This is the One
Various - Gatecrasher Classics 2
BORING:
Blue October - Approaching Normal
Blue October - Foiled
Paul Oakenfold - Perfecto Vegas
Dec 16, 2009
Dec 6, 2009
Finance: 2010 Roth IRA Conversion
The most thoroughly written paper on the topic:
https://personal.vanguard.com/pdf/rpd21.pdf
A couple of other articles on the matter:
http://www.vanguardblog.com/2009.11.20/considering-conversion.html#more-250
https://personal.vanguard.com/us/insights/taxcenter/planning/is-a-roth-conversion-right
https://personal.vanguard.com/pdf/rpd21.pdf
A couple of other articles on the matter:
http://www.vanguardblog.com/2009.11.20/considering-conversion.html#more-250
https://personal.vanguard.com/us/insights/taxcenter/planning/is-a-roth-conversion-right
Nov 26, 2009
Music: I Heart House Music
from http://entertainment.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/73404/
edited:
as pointed out by commenter, the original file comes from here:
http://ales-kotnik.deviantart.com/art/I-LOVE-HOUSE-MUSIC-102490296
great pic!
edited:
as pointed out by commenter, the original file comes from here:
http://ales-kotnik.deviantart.com/art/I-LOVE-HOUSE-MUSIC-102490296
great pic!
Nov 21, 2009
Finance: Capital Gains and Tax-Loss Harvesting (Vanguard)
A really clear and concise explanation of the above...
http://www.vanguardblog.com/2009.11.17/time-to-think-about-year-end-tax-moves.html#more-262
http://www.vanguardblog.com/2009.11.17/time-to-think-about-year-end-tax-moves.html#more-262
Nov 8, 2009
Nov 1, 2009
Misc: Daylight Savings Time
The pic below is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time_around_the_world. The countries that observe DST are in blue.
DST is stupid. Here is a quote from the great Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time#Energy_use):
"DST's potential to save energy comes primarily from its effects on residential lighting, which consumes about 3.5% of electricity in the U.S. and Canada.[8] Delaying the nominal time of sunset and sunrise reduces the use of artificial light in the evening and increases it in the morning. As Franklin's 1784 satire pointed out, lighting costs are reduced if the evening reduction outweighs the morning increase, as in high-latitude summer when most people wake up well after sunrise. An early goal of DST was to reduce evening usage of incandescent lighting, formerly a primary use of electricity.[7] Although energy conservation remains an important goal,[32] energy usage patterns have greatly changed since then, and recent research is limited and reports contradictory results. Electricity use is greatly affected by geography, climate, and economics, making it hard to generalize from single studies.[8]
* The U.S. Dept. of Transportation (DOT) concluded in 1975 that DST might reduce the country's electricity usage by 1% during March and April,[8] but the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) reviewed the DOT study in 1976 and found no significant savings.[37]
* In 2000 when parts of Australia began DST in late winter, overall electricity consumption did not decrease, but the morning peak load and prices increased.[40]
* In Western Australia during summer 2006–07, DST increased electricity consumption during hotter days and decreased it during cooler days, with consumption rising 0.6% overall.[41]
* Although a 2007 study estimated that introducing DST to Japan would reduce household lighting energy consumption,[42] a 2007 simulation estimated that DST would increase overall energy use in Osaka residences by 0.13%, with a 0.02% decrease due to less lighting more than outweighed by a 0.15% increase due to extra cooling; neither study examined non-residential energy use.[43] DST's effect on lighting energy use is noticeable mainly in residences.[8]
* A 2007 study found that the earlier start to DST that year had little or no effect on electricity consumption in California.[44]
* A 2007 study estimated that winter daylight saving would prevent a 2% increase in average daily electricity consumption in Great Britain.[45]
* A 2008 study examined billing data in Indiana before and after it adopted DST in 2006, and concluded that DST increased residential electricity consumption by 1% to 4%, primarily due to extra afternoon cooling.[46]
* The U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) concluded in a 2008 report that the 2007 U.S. extension of DST saved 0.5% of electricity usage during the extended period.[47]
Several studies have suggested that DST increases motor fuel consumption.[8] The 2008 DOE report found no significant increase in motor gasoline consumption due to the 2007 U.S. extension of DST."
DST is stupid. Here is a quote from the great Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time#Energy_use):
"DST's potential to save energy comes primarily from its effects on residential lighting, which consumes about 3.5% of electricity in the U.S. and Canada.[8] Delaying the nominal time of sunset and sunrise reduces the use of artificial light in the evening and increases it in the morning. As Franklin's 1784 satire pointed out, lighting costs are reduced if the evening reduction outweighs the morning increase, as in high-latitude summer when most people wake up well after sunrise. An early goal of DST was to reduce evening usage of incandescent lighting, formerly a primary use of electricity.[7] Although energy conservation remains an important goal,[32] energy usage patterns have greatly changed since then, and recent research is limited and reports contradictory results. Electricity use is greatly affected by geography, climate, and economics, making it hard to generalize from single studies.[8]
* The U.S. Dept. of Transportation (DOT) concluded in 1975 that DST might reduce the country's electricity usage by 1% during March and April,[8] but the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) reviewed the DOT study in 1976 and found no significant savings.[37]
* In 2000 when parts of Australia began DST in late winter, overall electricity consumption did not decrease, but the morning peak load and prices increased.[40]
* In Western Australia during summer 2006–07, DST increased electricity consumption during hotter days and decreased it during cooler days, with consumption rising 0.6% overall.[41]
* Although a 2007 study estimated that introducing DST to Japan would reduce household lighting energy consumption,[42] a 2007 simulation estimated that DST would increase overall energy use in Osaka residences by 0.13%, with a 0.02% decrease due to less lighting more than outweighed by a 0.15% increase due to extra cooling; neither study examined non-residential energy use.[43] DST's effect on lighting energy use is noticeable mainly in residences.[8]
* A 2007 study found that the earlier start to DST that year had little or no effect on electricity consumption in California.[44]
* A 2007 study estimated that winter daylight saving would prevent a 2% increase in average daily electricity consumption in Great Britain.[45]
* A 2008 study examined billing data in Indiana before and after it adopted DST in 2006, and concluded that DST increased residential electricity consumption by 1% to 4%, primarily due to extra afternoon cooling.[46]
* The U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) concluded in a 2008 report that the 2007 U.S. extension of DST saved 0.5% of electricity usage during the extended period.[47]
Several studies have suggested that DST increases motor fuel consumption.[8] The 2008 DOE report found no significant increase in motor gasoline consumption due to the 2007 U.S. extension of DST."
Oct 27, 2009
Finance: Currency Primer / ETFs
Btw, I am not advising investing in currency ETFs. This is just a good article.
http://www.indexuniverse.com/publications/journalofindexes/joi-articles/6745-currency-the-overlooked-asset-class.html?tmpl=component&print=1&Itemid=11
http://www.indexuniverse.com/publications/journalofindexes/joi-articles/6745-currency-the-overlooked-asset-class.html?tmpl=component&print=1&Itemid=11
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