Academic
Like Father..... Like Daughter?
We went to Raul's Wedding in Berkeley (Congratulations Raul & Jessica) and Liana and I posed for this photo op!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
We went to Raul's Wedding in Berkeley (Congratulations Raul & Jessica) and Liana and I posed for this photo op!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Riches of the World
Part 4 of the Forever Stamp:
Gabbie went to the post office and bought some forever stamps and gave me two. I'm so excited because these stamps are good forever! It is probably the most sound investment vehicle I have.
The text below is a fortune I got from a fortune cookie when we went to Mogolian BBQ. It's a true sign of my future value of my forever stamps.
Gabbie went to the post office and bought some forever stamps and gave me two. I'm so excited because these stamps are good forever! It is probably the most sound investment vehicle I have.
The text below is a fortune I got from a fortune cookie when we went to Mogolian BBQ. It's a true sign of my future value of my forever stamps.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Working......
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Guitar Zero?
So these guys in the video below took a Guitar Hero controller and hooked it up to a laptop for sounds. They then use the Guitar Hero controller and then play it like an instrument and formed a band from it.
Sure sounds like a simplified keyboard to me. Sorta like those cool 80's keyboards on a strap. Flock of Seagulls anybody......
Sure sounds like a simplified keyboard to me. Sorta like those cool 80's keyboards on a strap. Flock of Seagulls anybody......
Stamp Arbitrage Part 3
Okay I must of been on crack when I did the last stamp arbitrage model. Also addressing Ted and Gabbie's comments.
Lets try again:
One buys $1000 worth of $0.41 stamps today = 2,439 stamps
In 10 years assuming stamps go up $0.02 cents a year the $0.41 stamp is worth $0.61. (Also assuming that one can sell for $0.61, of course in reality the stamp would have to be worth like $0.63 a stamp so somebody would buy from you at $0.61. But we're guessing so lets assume.) So at $0.61 those same stamps 10 years later sell for $1,487 that is a gross profit of $487, less the ebay selling fees ($45.10, I looked it up and buyer pays shipping) for a total profit of $442 for a margin of 44%. The margin sounds good but over a 10 year hold is a whopping 4.16% IRR.
If stamps go up to $0.71 over 10 years (which could happen with inflation and the revenue loss to email, fedex, etc) then that profit is $688m, the margin is now 68%, and the IRR 6.0%.
Okay so that not so good and yes with inflation at 3% a year and the lost oppotunity cost of investing that $1,000 in a mutual fund you could make more over 10 years.......
Yes so forever stamp not the best investement, but if you're going to use 500 stamps for the rest of your life then buy them today......... well I guess the USPS could go out of business and you could be screwed.
Lets try again:
One buys $1000 worth of $0.41 stamps today = 2,439 stamps
In 10 years assuming stamps go up $0.02 cents a year the $0.41 stamp is worth $0.61. (Also assuming that one can sell for $0.61, of course in reality the stamp would have to be worth like $0.63 a stamp so somebody would buy from you at $0.61. But we're guessing so lets assume.) So at $0.61 those same stamps 10 years later sell for $1,487 that is a gross profit of $487, less the ebay selling fees ($45.10, I looked it up and buyer pays shipping) for a total profit of $442 for a margin of 44%. The margin sounds good but over a 10 year hold is a whopping 4.16% IRR.
If stamps go up to $0.71 over 10 years (which could happen with inflation and the revenue loss to email, fedex, etc) then that profit is $688m, the margin is now 68%, and the IRR 6.0%.
Okay so that not so good and yes with inflation at 3% a year and the lost oppotunity cost of investing that $1,000 in a mutual fund you could make more over 10 years.......
Yes so forever stamp not the best investement, but if you're going to use 500 stamps for the rest of your life then buy them today......... well I guess the USPS could go out of business and you could be screwed.
Monday, May 14, 2007
wikiHow
While using My Yahoo, I signed up for this news feed from wikiHow and it is both entertaining and helpful. I am not sure why everything now is "wiki" something but this website is a "how to do" stuff website and it sure has almost everything on it from throwing a curveball to replacing your tire.
This one caught my eye and it's pretty funny and true from those Pearl Jam and Rage Against the Machine Concerts.
http://www.wikihow.com/Mosh-in-a-Mosh-Pit
This one caught my eye and it's pretty funny and true from those Pearl Jam and Rage Against the Machine Concerts.
http://www.wikihow.com/Mosh-in-a-Mosh-Pit
Friday, May 11, 2007
Stamp Arbitrage Part 2
So, the Forever Stamp is coming to the Post Office this monday. For 41 cents you can lock in the price to send a letter FOR.........(wait for it).....EVER.
http://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10152&storeId=10001&categoryId=18401&productId=29351&langId=-1
Just as a reminder of the financial implications of this:
If you buy $1,000 worth of stamps you would get 410 stamps at $0.41.
If it goes up $0.02 a year, which is conservative, then in 10 years you could sell those same 1,000 stamps for $$1731.71, for a cool profit of $731.71 or a 30% margin or a 6.39% IRR.
Yes I know sounds stupid, but what about companies that send lots of mailers? How many Xmas cards do you send every year? US Treasuries only go up 3% a year and a 6.39% IRR is better than most apartment buildings get.
So get in line and buy as many as you can, or plan out your life and be set for all those xmas cards, birthday cards, mothers/fathers day, and invites to all your parties.
http://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10152&storeId=10001&categoryId=18401&productId=29351&langId=-1
Just as a reminder of the financial implications of this:
If you buy $1,000 worth of stamps you would get 410 stamps at $0.41.
If it goes up $0.02 a year, which is conservative, then in 10 years you could sell those same 1,000 stamps for $$1731.71, for a cool profit of $731.71 or a 30% margin or a 6.39% IRR.
Yes I know sounds stupid, but what about companies that send lots of mailers? How many Xmas cards do you send every year? US Treasuries only go up 3% a year and a 6.39% IRR is better than most apartment buildings get.
So get in line and buy as many as you can, or plan out your life and be set for all those xmas cards, birthday cards, mothers/fathers day, and invites to all your parties.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Home from above
Coming home from a flight I snapped this aerial photo of Pennisula flying into SFO. The red circle is where I think our house is in San Bruno!
Plastic Bin part 2
So head to Target and get your low cost flexible toy, but please don't use the lid.
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