What are they reading!?

Ever look around the subway and try to catch a glimpse of what your fellow riders are reading? Of course you do.

Something interesting. I have recently met a few people involved in publishing and editing and sometimes they just have to read what the man says. So next time you see them reading a Vampire Romance novel, give them a break. As they give you their sheepish smile when noticed, just smile back, don't switch seats.

My Man Zakaria Writes High Profile Article

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19001200/site/newsweek/

Read it to understand something more about US foreign policy. It's nice and simple and fun filled with logic. Something that many people lack at times.

Jane Fonda Had to Get Her Some Colbert

I don't know why, but I thought this was just extra funny.

Fonda actually makes Stephen a bit nervous. Well done.

If you want the whole context you should watch this one first. The Ice Cream 3-Way

Then this is the one I'm talking about:
A Personal Interview

Latest Music Recommendation

Silversun Pickups - Carnavas

This CD just keeps getting better. My air guitar skills have gone up ten fold and I can't seem to turn the volume down... (Try out "Dream at Tempo 119").

To Better Know a Country: #1 France

Welcome to the first in a new series of what I'll call, "To Better Know a Country." The First one, France.

Today the French will elect a new leader to power and the country seems a bit divided. The polls suggest that Nicolas Sarkozy is most likely to win. He faces, the first would be woman President in France, Segolene Royal. She is the socialist candidate, concentrating on a new direction and a recall to more socialist policies. Sarkozy promises equally new amounts of change, but in the other direction. He claims to be able to pull the economy out of the doldrums and fix the current unemployment hanging around 8%.

Some main concerns that have arisen along the way; both candidates seem to love to discuss their feelings and themselves and not so much their qualifications and policies. This is especially true for Mrs. Royal who has been nicknamed Egolene... (comme Egoist). Sarkozy is not far behind in that camp, but he seems to pull it off with a more authoritative demeanor. During the last debates he was attacked by Mrs. Royal and managed to come of as the more level headed and prudent candidate. Wrapping up our brief critique of Royal is the well reported notion that she has absolutely no foreign affairs experience or direction. In this age of Globalization and increasing free trade, foreign affairs are more important than ever. This may indeed be her downfall.

Speaking of open borders, Sarkozy has faced a great deal of criticism from the French over his immigration policies. He holds a very hardline stance on immigration, promoting closed borders and a return to a more pure French state. During the car-burning rioting escapades of last year his tough stance on juveniles and immigrants disturbed many in the country and helped proliferate a rift between the French and their increasingly alienated immigrant population. Closed borders and rifts with a large portion of the population just won't do Mr. Sarkozy. Ultimately though the French will probably get behind this man because he does appear to be the more qualified candidate, and he promises more economic security. At the end of the day people still worry about their well-being, which is very influenced by the bottom line.

Something to consider though. France will be France, and despite all the tough talk of change France has proven remarkably resistant to change. And why not, the majority of their population enjoys a rich cultural lifestyle seeped in tradition. Craig Smith at the NYT says it well with Forget Who'll Win in France. Change Is a Loser.

Update: Sarkozy takes the Presidency (You can read about it anywhere)
Here is a good video

Next Series, Turkey...

Recent Articles Worth Reading

It's time for a new series! Recent articles worth reading. Enjoy. I'll add new ones every week or so.

-=Video=-
Jon Stewart on Bill Moyer's show. (Apr 30) (Politics)
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04272007/profile.html
It's Jon as usual, well spoken, well formulated ideas steeped in logic and presented with a twist of comedy.


-=News=-
The Move From Hell (Apr 16)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18108845/site/newsweek/
In the past four years, the Pentagon has sent 9 million tons of gear to Iraq. Getting it all back will take time. What I want to know is how to predict which company/s will get these contracts to move home all the war stuff.


-=Politics=-
Money Chooses Sides (apr 23)
http://nymag.com/news/politics/30634/
Speaks about the democratic hopefuls and their fund-raising/campaign strategies.


-=Business / Economics=-
Credit derivatives. At the risky end of finance (Apr 21)
http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9033348
Good article about fin. derivatives. Helps explain some of the recent losses in the sub prime industry. (Fairly technical, it's economist..)


-=Sports=-
Federer as Religious Experience
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/sports/playmagazine/20federer.html?ex=1313726400&en=716968175e36505e&ei=5090
"Almost anyone who loves tennis and follows the men’s tour on television has, over the last few years, had what might be termed Federer Moments. These are times, as you watch the young Swiss play, when the jaw drops and eyes protrude and sounds are made that bring spouses in from other rooms to see if you’re O.K...." This might help one to understand the love of tennis..

Viva Norman

I'm here in Norman for some time with friends. This past weekend was a blast, I got to enjoy my new tennis racquet and it's performance enhancing abilities against formidable opponents. Won some lost some, but all and all I'm sold on the K factor. Played several marathon days (4-5 hrs of tennis). Yesterday I played some golf and about 9 games of Basketball. Sports all day / parties all night, life in Norman is tough. That's why I'm staying an extra day...


Here are a few various photos:

Msft Word Tricks

I found a few of these quite interesting. I consider myself someone that knows a good deal about computers, and there were quite a few useful new tricks in this article.

MS Word Tricks

I am also going to add "bnet" to my links section. I have enjoyed the information the site has to offer.

Beauty Contests and Curious Workers

It was a productive night spent reading “Liar’s Poker” by Michael Lewis. It got me thinking…

Ever heard the workings of the financial markets described as a “beauty contest?” Keynes likened them to that very thing. I’m sure he enjoyed the models on the inside cover of the English papers just as much as the next man. The beauty contest reference comes from an old London newspaper in which readers were asked to pick not which models shown in the paper were the most beautiful, but which model they thought the rest of the people would consider most beautiful. Keynes said it works the same way with financial markets (stocks, bonds, currencies, etc); people are always rushing into the position that seems the most beautiful to the masses. If you get in before the big rush you make some money. Liar’s poker talks a lot about that very same idea, when the mortgaging and junk bonding of America took place. People, especially in the short term, were always after the next big thing. If something was new, and it was sold well, people would hop on the bandwagon and hope a rush of people follow and make them rich. There came a point that educated bond-traders consulted worthless charts that tried to predict what certain shapes meant to the future bond prices simply because so many of the buyers were doing it. The research was more about the buyers than the actual underlying investment; the buyer’s picks were speculation. Things haven’t changed all that much today.

The book talks about the wild world of finance in the 80’s, where people were making money as never before seen, a kind of golden age for finance (at least investment banks). That world is still happening, and now it’s on an even larger scale. Look at all the M & A activity that took place in 2006, these are exciting times.

The book left me with a good feeling at the end; one of justice, and optimism. I felt justice because the end fit the story (they get what they deserve), I felt optimism because the closing remarks reinforced a view that I carry. It (indirectly) enforced my view that every employee is responsible for his or her professional well-being. By that I mean each person is responsible for learning as much as possible and making themselves as attractive a future candidate as possible. I feel the working world will see higher turnover, and the first world will face greater unemployment pressures as change happens more rapidly than before. The average worker and our approach to ensure their continuing education could both use an upgrade. If you are naturally curious, always learning and getting involved with your career, there will always be a place for you somewhere in the field. Make yourself rare, rare things are in demand. A little curiosity, a desire to learn, and reasonable people skills will ensure there’s always food on the table and a roof over your head. When I look around (/turn on the TV) it’s remarkable just how rare that combination is.

Abdel Rahman al-Rashed on Terrorism

When waging peace, it is often difficult to accomplish the mission with only military forces. These forces play a mandatory role, but something we don’t hear enough about is the other types of forces that are required, the economic and political forces. These forces should dominate the stage, whereas military operations must play the supporting role.

Civil war across the region may be something on the horizon given the building tensions, but the USA had a civil war and came out the better for it. These wars are not often welcome but can address ideas that need to be taken care of. I don’t advocate allowing civil war to erupt, but I do say much of the problems in the region need to be addressed internally and that we should offer as much support as possible in facilitating diplomatic missions and free trade agreements.

An insider can shed real light on a topic.

Abdel Rahman al-Rashed (Pictured above) speaking about terrorism. Originally published in Al-Sharq Al-Awsat

“Self-cure starts with self-realization and confession. We should then run after our terrorist sons, in the full knowledge that they are the sour grapes of a deformed culture… The mosque used to be a haven, and the voice of religion used to be that of peace and reconciliation. Religious sermons were warm behests for a moral order and an ethical life. Then came the neo-Muslims. An innocent and benevolent religion, whose verses prohibit the felling of trees in the absence or urgent necessity, that calls murder the most heinous of crimes, that says explicitly that if you kill one person you have killed humanity as a while, has been turned into a global message of hate and a universal war cry… We cannot clear our names unless we own up to the shameful fact that terrorism has become an Islamic enterprise; an almost exclusive monopoly, implemented by Muslim men and women. We cannot redeem our extremist youth, who commit all these heinous crimes, without confronting the Sheikhs who thought it ennobling to reinvent themselves as revolutionary ideologues, sending other people’s sons and daughters to certain death, while sending their own children to European and American schools and colleges.”

Once again Friedman’s book The World is Flat inspires me to think about world issues…

Gipsy Kings - Greatest Hits

I have really enjoyed this greatest hits CD. It is an album that I'm sure everyone can appreciate. Maybe even learn a little Spanish. For a good Spanish guitar song listen to "Love and Liberte." The guitar sings the whole story all by itself.

I'll make a list of my top favorite albums that most people won't have listened to before. That's for a future post.

TVU Player

I thought I'd share this wonderful new program I found.

Link: TVU Player

This player allows you to watch a number of TV channels over the internet. It has comedy central, and some foreign language channels to help with language studies or to get foreign news. My favorite channel though, is the tennis channel! With the tennis being played in Miami right now this is especially useful, I won't ever miss a good match again! Reading about them is just not the same. There is also Gol TV for soccer, and Comedy Central.

I got a new racquet! ebay deal ooh baby... Ksix-One 95 (Same racquet as Federer, just a bit bigger).

Europe, Old and New /Their Economy

So I spent tonight going over investment ideas and reading stockpickr at thestreet.com. stockpickr is a great resource, for all levels of investing. Their forums are worth reading.

I found a few books I want to read (like Jim Cramer's books), but ultimately did not answer my question of whether or not I should invest in bonds when the MM Savings rates on cash are so good at the moment. I know I don't like a portfolio of 100% equities, but are bonds the way to go? And what about a preferred stock fund, is that a good substitute for bonds? I'll keep it in cash until I figure these things out.

One interesting thing I learned was that Vanguard offers a Pacific Stock ETF which is part of the MSCI EAFE Index (28% I think). It's the pacific part, VGK is the European part.

I'll leave with a few words about Europe. The article is about 50 years of the new Europe, this is a snippet I liked.

"Europe, Old and New" Published March 24, 2007 in the WSJ.

"Fortunately, the EU's power of attraction has been effective closer to home. What begun as a club of six has grown to 27. From Greece, Spain and Portugal in the 1980s to the new members from the old Warsaw Pact, the EU has smoothed the path from authoritarianism to free-market democracy.

The bloc's economic record is mixed. This is still a Europe of wasteful farm subsidies, low growth and high unemployment, with rising protectionism and a regulatory zeal unmatched anywhere in the free world. Yet the bad ideas tend to come from bad leaders. When the Brussels bureaucracy and dreams of creating a super-state are checked by a vigilant media and national governments, the Europe construct itself can be market friendly. In the past two decades, the EU on balance has done more to open the door to greater competition than provide a back door, as Margaret Thatcher feared, for welfare policies.

Why? Most crucially, the 1957 Treaty of Rome was inspired by free-market principles. The EU is the world's largest zone for the free movement of goods, capital and people. When individual countries have tried to blunt those freedoms, Brussels has often fought back with vigor. The euro, the world's most successful currency union, has lowered interest rates, promoted internal trade by removing exchange-rate risks and -- especially in the Latin countries -- made it impossible for governments to inflate their way out of trouble.

Europe's diversity and growing size are also strengths. For each dysfunctional Italy, there's a booming Britain or Estonia or Denmark showing how market-friendly policies pay dividends. In a wider Europe, good ideas squeeze out the bad. The Eastern Europeans have popularized low and flat taxes. Boom-town London is home to hundreds of thousands of Poles and Frenchmen, whose departure is an electoral issue in their native countries, where politicians are realizing they must compete to keep their brightest at home.

On the edges of the Continent, a half-circle running from Spain to Ireland to Finland and down to Eastern Europe is a zone of strong economic growth. In the middle, the big powers of France, Italy and Germany cry out for deeper overhauls. As long as those economies are weak, voters will be anxious about global competition and, in turn, skeptical about opening Europe further. This explains the current unease about further EU enlargement, particularly to Turkey, and the backlash against freeing trade in services and cross-border takeovers.

The Continent's leaders could do worse than use their Berlin party this weekend to send the message that Europe's traditional openness -- to trade, people, new countries -- is the cornerstone of a half-century of success. These first principles from 50 years ago are still worth fighting for."

3 Book Recommendations (Some of My Favs)

After I finish each book I typically write a little blurb about it. I had a conversation the other day that reminded me of people's interest in good book recommendations. Here are 3 good ones, with three pretty different subjects. They are Fiction / Escape Literature

Kite Runner by Khalled Houssini
Excruciating story in the beginning, the author poignantly conveys the emotions of the main character. Many books and stories go in your mind and are forgotten, this one is unforgettable. It is about a boy growing up in an Afghanistan rich with tradition and family. He later is forced from his homeland and moves to America, he struggles with what his national identity and returns on a quest which will help him make peace with himself.

A Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein
This book was incredible. It absolutely changed the way I saw the world for hours at a time after I stopped reading. It gave me the viewpoint of an outsider to the human society. Valentine Michael Smith a human baby raised on mars comes to Earth after years in a Martian society. This gives the author artistic freedom to convey his message. The book reflects on all the major topics of life, religion, happiness, needs, wants, and sexual freedom. It is fantastic. I think the author may indeed have Scandinavian origins, and has a good knowledge of French as well. It is rewarding to know either of those languages when you read the book.

Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
One of the best-told stories I have ever read. It is poignant and touching. This little book makes for a quick read but leaves an immense feeling in its wake. It captures the lifestyle of the American working south, with big ranches, long hours, and big American dreams. The dialogue, imagery, and characters are all well formulated to present this remarkably accurate account of a place and time that can, to a degree, still be seen today. More important to the story however is the struggle brought about by the main character Lennie’s lack of intelligence and the struggle of Lennie’s only friend and guardian George to fulfill their only dream; to have something they can call their own and live off the fat of the land!

Saving the Environment, One Swirly Bulb at a Time

Despite the recent media barrage, and the newfound celebrity hype of being eco-friendly, many people have yet to form an opinion on global warming. Most everyone has heard of it, but there are plenty of people that either don’t believe it, or feel that there’s really nothing they can do about it, so why worry.

In a conversation with a friend’s dad, the topic of climate change and CO2 emissions came up. This man had all but written off the idea as a liberal hoax, or some overblown unfounded idea to get people to buy those expensive swirly light bulbs. It wasn’t me who convinced him otherwise, and it wasn’t Al Gore. It was a national geographic documentary on TV that just happened to capture his attention at the right moment. He saw this documentary, saw the stranded polar bear and the ice caps melting, and as many decent Americans would, he thought what can I do about it? The realization just had to set in that all the hype is based on indisputable scientific evidence.

I had an answer for his question. Saving energy is a subject in which I am passionate, and one that will likely save you money. The easiest thing you can do is to change out all of your incandescent light bulbs for the new energy efficient fluorescents (Yeah, the swirly ones). They are being phased out in Australia; their government saw the value here… They end up costing you about $2.50 per bulb if bought in at least packs of three. It is better to replace these right away, just throw away the old bulbs working or not working. Even with cheap energy prices here in the south, the electricity savings over the life of the bulb will cover the cost of both bulbs (I did the math). There are plenty of other things you can do as well, including additional insulation, new windows, window tinting, efficient water heating, more efficient A/C and heating, or even just planting a well placed tree. All the information you need can be found by giving your household and energy audit. http://hes.lbl.gov you can also visit this site Energy Saving Ideas. The best thing is, these projects will save you money and you can feel good for helping the environment.

Individuals aren’t the only ones that realize the cost savings of an energy audit. Many top name corporations are tackling this in order to save money and get the added benefit of eco-friendly bragging rights. For the corporate side there is a comprehensive guide. Getting Ahead of the Curve: Corporate Strategies That Address Climate Change. My interest here was the case studies at the end of this guide. There are case studies on Alcoa, Shell and Whirlpool (among others) and they are worth a quick read (just to scan through them). There are still plenty of companies that could benefit from this, I just hope more of them take time to consider this information. Being efficient is profitable, think about it.

--------Afterthoughts-----------------

This came straight out of John Carey's article in Business Week

The white house and opponents of some of these energy saving measures have been known to claim that CO2 reductions would be costly and detrimental to the economy. A new analysis from Vattenfall and McKinsey Consulting published different results. "The cost is so low, the world would hardly notice," says Vattenfall CEO Lars Josefsson, an adviser to the German government.

The world must slash CO2 emissions by 27 billion tons by 2030 to keep overall warming to 2C, Vattenfall says. Five billion can come from steps like more insulation, higher mileage vehicles, and better lighting. The rest can come from cellulosic ethanol, solar and wind power, carbon capture at coal plants, and other approaches - all at a cost of $53 per ton of CO2. The bill in 2030 would be about 0.6% of global GDP. "For the first time, we know what to do," says Josefsson.