May
19
Bailout Investments? Where are My Returns?
May 19, 2009 | Comments Off
Some banks are returning the money they got from government. Promised returns may not show up. Should the government invest Taxpayer’s money?
We do invest already, in a variety of ways. First of all, let’s define the bounds of the idea of investing. Dictionary.com first definition is “the investing of money or [...]
Jan
6
XO Laptop Dream …. Just a Dream
January 6, 2009 | Comments Off
I had heard a lot about Negroponte’s XO Laptop project, but had not touched one until this last summer (picture attached). The machine sure is cool and shows a lot of ingenuity. The fact that it costs under $200 is amazing, and the hope that it can teach computing skills to a kid on a [...]
Jul
15
iPhone Economy
July 15, 2008 | Comments Off
It turns out that the iPhone is sold out in 21 states. To me, it could only mean one thing: consumers feel that their ability to pay for the extra communications expenses is still very good. Where is the gloom and doom everyone is telling about?
Unfortunately, the iPhone is not sold out on Massachusetts yet. [...]
Jul
10
Miles and Award Travel Keeps Depreciating
July 10, 2008 | Comments Off
A promise is a promise until someone decides to break it. That is exactly what could happens and could keep happening with travel loyalty programs (miles and points).
For business travellers like me, hoarding miles may not be such a great choice. Last week Delta decided to charge ‘fuel surcharge’ on award travel. [...]
Jun
27
BUD is the only one up… Maybe I should take a hint
June 27, 2008 | Comments Off
Anheuser Busch (BUD) seems to be the only stock going up today. Maybe I should take a hint and drink a cold one. Or maybe I should understand that in a recession/depression or any sad time,vice is a good bet. People spend their money trying to eliminate their feelings (or at least hide them).
They [...]
Jun
18
Visas for Home Buyers? Just an Idea.
June 18, 2008 | 1 Comment
I am no sure why no one has mentioned it earlier. Maybe due to the political sensibility. But yesterday, it occurred to me that we may have a solution for the housing crisis that may help on the Immigration front also. Grant residency to the next million foreigners that buy a house over $100,000 USD, [...]
May
4
Where do you think they will get money from?
May 4, 2008 | 2 Comments
Banks have not been doing well lately. They got caught into a sub-prime mess of their own co-creation (the American Consumer, and overseas mortgage backed investors being their accomplices). They have also co-created a secondary mess: credit cards.
In the Old Days banks got money from charging Interest. In the 90’s and 2000’s they got money [...]
May
2
Real Shareholder Activism – Where is It Now?
May 2, 2008 | Comments Off
Back in 2000, when we discovered many of the Executives (CEO, CFO, CIO, CxO) where either directly cooking the books or looking the other way when their subordinates did so to please them, many shareholders felt they needed to take more control over the companies where they invested.
Generally, shareholders can exercise some control over the [...]
Apr
25
CDC Says Smoking Hurts Productivity
April 25, 2008 | 1 Comment
“CDC: Smoking hurt productivity.
Early deaths caused by smoking cost the nation about $92 billion in
lost productivity from 1997 to 2001… Smoking reduces life
expectancy an average of about 14 years by way of lung cancer, heart
disease, and other illness….” Found in USA Today, Friday 1st of
July 2005.
Statistics are just that… statistics. But more, and more frequently [...]
Apr
17
NEED is a Four Letter Word
April 17, 2008 | Comments Off
Humans need air, potable tap water, food, and warm shelter. Humans want a TV, designer jeans, a 4,000 sqft. house, an iPod, and a Nissan Pathfinder.
There is nothing wrong in wanting something. It is natural to work hard to acquire or do the things you want. Buy what you want, just don’t fool yourself.
How many [...]
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