June 30, 2010
Old Spice
I hate any thing that tries to mask odors like scented anything, but these ads are great. Can wait to see the making of....
June 29, 2010
The Four Bad News Bears
The big difference between the current Great Recession and the Tech recession of the early 90's was the creation of the housing bubble. The bubble pulled us out of the Tech recession? What's going to pull us out of this recession? China? Asia? The Emerging Markets? Or Not.
June 25, 2010
Toy Story 3 - A Must See
It's better than TS 1 & 2, and in 3D. And guessing from all the trailers for kid movie opening this summer 3D is here to stay. A mess'o 3D films are slated to be released. Parents should start adjusting your entertainment budget, at $15 a pop. It's the next technology induced wave of revenues for theaters and studios.
But the movie was worth it. It takes you to the edge of your seat as Woody and the gang come close to death, and then takes you to an emotional close. The lady sitting behind me was balling. Typically, only films that start A-list actors that can evoke such emotions. With the help of Pixar, 3D and Tom Hank's voice, animation films have come a long way, basically from cartoons to full length summer blockbusters pictures.
But the movie was worth it. It takes you to the edge of your seat as Woody and the gang come close to death, and then takes you to an emotional close. The lady sitting behind me was balling. Typically, only films that start A-list actors that can evoke such emotions. With the help of Pixar, 3D and Tom Hank's voice, animation films have come a long way, basically from cartoons to full length summer blockbusters pictures.
June 19, 2010
"Did Someone Order Eight Jews?"
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Jonah Hill | ||||
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Since last October, when I kinda started thinking about getting a job, my interest in films waned. Granted, I was mostly watching depressing, foreign, realism flicks like "Turtles Can Fly" and "The Song of Sparrows" at home. The former is about a Kurdish kid living in Iraq under Sadam Hussein before the Americans arrived and destroyed the country. And the latter is about an Iranian farm hand, who gets fired from his job after an ostrich escapes from the farm. And believe it or not, but Iranian filmmakers are at the top of their game, American Independent filmmakers are not. Granted I like foreign films, but my true intrigue with film definitely derived from American Independent Films like "Clerks", "Brothers McMullen", "Annie Hall", etc.
Someday good American Independent Films may return, but I doubt it. People under the age 30 don't watch Independent Films. They're busy texting and chatting on their IPhones, surfing the web or playing video games. And if they do view a film it's an "event" movie or Hollywood blockbuster with lots of special effects and pop songs. American Independent Films have clearly declined from their pinnacle in the early 90's and have opened art house theaters once again to foreign films, like in the 60's and 70's.
Another reason my interest in film has waned, I'm coming to realize, is that I stopped watching films in theaters. There are no good theaters in Newark. However, after this past week, I popped into the theater after work, located in none-the-less a mall and checkout out "Getting Him to the Greek". While it was not as good as "SuperBad (my recent favorite movie) and "Hangover" it was good. I laughed. And so did the couple seated behind me. Watching Iranian loosing-their-job flicks on my 1990's box TV in my apartment clearly isn't the same as watching a film in a dark theater with an audience.
I have three other scripts outlined. They are all much more commercial than the previous scripts I wrote. Who knows maybe in my spare time, I'll start writing again, it's nice to have a dream, but first I need to get up to speed at work and make a good impression. Things are going well at work, very well. I hope it lasts. When things are well in my life I have no desire to drink.Prior to Memorial Day, while job searching, I was downing a 40 a day. Since Memorial Day, I've only had two beers.
My Apartment Got Robbed
They didn't take much, because there wasn't much to take. Just a old IPod (version 3), my SLR camera, and about $20 in changes, plus my pillow case.
June 16, 2010
June 13, 2010
First Week Complete
My first week in the office flew by, like most first weeks do. My hours are basically 9 to 6, but most days I got there early and left late. What else do I have to do with my life right now, except work. I've done most everything else I've wanted to do over the past five years. I'm back in work mode, clearly. Going forward in my spare time, I plan to continue updating my risk management and statistics skills. To date, I've read the Base SAS manual twice and I'm half way through the Advanced manual twice. I need to finish it.
Plus, I've also read a lot on Basel II, economic capital and credit risk, since January, and this past week I've spent a lot of time learning the internal databases, methodologies and procedures at my new job. While doing so, I've identified a number of areas my where my skills will come in handy. And to underscore how boring my life really is, right now, this past week I was in bed by 9 pm and up at 5 am, fully rested. Before work, I'd either go for a run (about 5 miles, fending off the office excess) or study or surf the web, mostly economic sites.
My housemates in Stamford are great. In the past, I lived in group houses. And generally, I tend to do well in them. Granted not all group houses were great experiences, but many were. The good experience do out weighted the bad, however. This time I see a positive experience transpiring. What I like most about group houses is the potential of meeting and getting to know people from different backgrounds and/or have a different view of the world. I don't need to live with people who mimic my views, I prefer someone to challenge my views.
I stumbled on this group house after three potentially disastrous apartment shares. One apartment was located in the hood, which I don't have a problem with, expect that I would have been sharing the apartment with the female owner and her boyfriend, which again is fine, but there wasn't any furniture in the living room and they lived in the apartment for four years. Who lives in an apartment for four years and doesn't buy living room furniture? And I'm not talking sparely furnished. I'm talking nothing. Another apartment share that I looked at was a very, very tiny apartment and I would have had to share it with a 300 lb. lady. There was two small bedrooms and a shared bath. The bell near the toilet was not a good sign. Plus the apartment was filled with clutter. The kind of clutter one purchases at those curio store filled with scented candle in the mall. Every mall has one.
The third apartment I checked out had some potential. It was only a ten minute walk to my work. However, when the landlord opened the front door of the apartment and a cloud of smoke poured out. The other tenant that I'd be sharing with was within the apartment at 3 pm on a Tuesday afternoon lounging about, watching TV. The floor populated with empty beer cans and trash everywhere. Apparently the landlord didn't give the tenant a heads up. He seemed a bit surprised. However, the guy seemed okay, but the mess and the drug paraphernalia scattered about. Suits smelling like weed generally aren't great comments on performance reviews.
Anyway, I rented the master bedroom on the second floor of a condo with my own bath. With me on the floor are two twenty-somethings, who both seem really cool. They share the hall bath. A third condomate lives in the lower-level basement bedroom. The condo is exceptionally clean and nicely furnished. It seems perfect for me, since I'll only be staying there during the week. Plus it's only a twenty minute walk from my office. Weekends I'll be in Newark, my vacation apartment.
Plus, I've also read a lot on Basel II, economic capital and credit risk, since January, and this past week I've spent a lot of time learning the internal databases, methodologies and procedures at my new job. While doing so, I've identified a number of areas my where my skills will come in handy. And to underscore how boring my life really is, right now, this past week I was in bed by 9 pm and up at 5 am, fully rested. Before work, I'd either go for a run (about 5 miles, fending off the office excess) or study or surf the web, mostly economic sites.
My housemates in Stamford are great. In the past, I lived in group houses. And generally, I tend to do well in them. Granted not all group houses were great experiences, but many were. The good experience do out weighted the bad, however. This time I see a positive experience transpiring. What I like most about group houses is the potential of meeting and getting to know people from different backgrounds and/or have a different view of the world. I don't need to live with people who mimic my views, I prefer someone to challenge my views.
I stumbled on this group house after three potentially disastrous apartment shares. One apartment was located in the hood, which I don't have a problem with, expect that I would have been sharing the apartment with the female owner and her boyfriend, which again is fine, but there wasn't any furniture in the living room and they lived in the apartment for four years. Who lives in an apartment for four years and doesn't buy living room furniture? And I'm not talking sparely furnished. I'm talking nothing. Another apartment share that I looked at was a very, very tiny apartment and I would have had to share it with a 300 lb. lady. There was two small bedrooms and a shared bath. The bell near the toilet was not a good sign. Plus the apartment was filled with clutter. The kind of clutter one purchases at those curio store filled with scented candle in the mall. Every mall has one.
The third apartment I checked out had some potential. It was only a ten minute walk to my work. However, when the landlord opened the front door of the apartment and a cloud of smoke poured out. The other tenant that I'd be sharing with was within the apartment at 3 pm on a Tuesday afternoon lounging about, watching TV. The floor populated with empty beer cans and trash everywhere. Apparently the landlord didn't give the tenant a heads up. He seemed a bit surprised. However, the guy seemed okay, but the mess and the drug paraphernalia scattered about. Suits smelling like weed generally aren't great comments on performance reviews.
Anyway, I rented the master bedroom on the second floor of a condo with my own bath. With me on the floor are two twenty-somethings, who both seem really cool. They share the hall bath. A third condomate lives in the lower-level basement bedroom. The condo is exceptionally clean and nicely furnished. It seems perfect for me, since I'll only be staying there during the week. Plus it's only a twenty minute walk from my office. Weekends I'll be in Newark, my vacation apartment.
June 12, 2010
Government Satisfaction Index
Take the test here: here. And see how other segments of the U.S. population scored. Interesting to see that whites lean to the dissatisfied, and blacks and hispanics lean to the satisfied, but only by a little. And as expected conservatives are more dissatisfied and progressives are more satisfied.
My biggest gripe is that the government spends to much. The last administration racked up a huge war price tag and humongous financial institution bailout. And this administration keeps spending on stimulus packages and continuing the wars.
June 11, 2010
June 09, 2010
"The Fall of the Incumbent"
Coming to a voting booth near you this fall - both GOP and Democratic incumbents. Nos vemos.
June 07, 2010
Double Dip Recession?
It seems very likely … if not, then at minimum zero growth in late 2010...
Fannie Mae Economist "expect the home-building industry to be tested until early 2013 before demand will catch up with the large supply of houses on the market". There are too many houses. The market clearly needs to clear.
The "Financial" Crisis turned in to the "Fiscal" Crisis with Europe at the center of it. Expect Greece to default and get kicked out of the EU or the only alternative is the EC creates a single Central Bank, which is highly unlikely.
China real estate bubble is deflating FAST …..taking down China's financial and real estate equities, and world commodity prices….
And the demand for temporary help in the US has dwindled, along with many small businesses still reluctances to hire, claiming bleak opportunities.
Fannie Mae Economist "expect the home-building industry to be tested until early 2013 before demand will catch up with the large supply of houses on the market". There are too many houses. The market clearly needs to clear.
The "Financial" Crisis turned in to the "Fiscal" Crisis with Europe at the center of it. Expect Greece to default and get kicked out of the EU or the only alternative is the EC creates a single Central Bank, which is highly unlikely.
China real estate bubble is deflating FAST …..taking down China's financial and real estate equities, and world commodity prices….
And the demand for temporary help in the US has dwindled, along with many small businesses still reluctances to hire, claiming bleak opportunities.
First Day at the New Job
Haven't polished these suckers in 5 years 4 months. From my rented room it's about a 20 minute walk to my office. In between is the town center /shopping mall with two cineplexes and an art house theater. I know what I'll be doing after work and the gym.
June 06, 2010
Where Will the Oil End Up, Maybe?
Hey what's a little oil? It comes from the earth anyway. No big deal. More Pics.
June 05, 2010
Using Parsley and Garlic to Flavor Lamb
I love lamb. Next to squid it's my favorite meat. I often walk to the other side of the tracks (literally) about 10 blocks to get grilled "meat" as the locals call it (but it's really lamb) from Mimi's African Restaurant. I stopped buying meat and cooking it myself (because mostly for weight reasons, yes, I'm obsessed with my health), but sometimes (about once or twice a week, when I have a craving) I venture out to a neighborhood restaurant to purchase it already cooked. Uncooked meat really kinda grosses me out.
Oh this is cool. Searching for Mimi's African Restaurant, I stumbled on this website. They write: "The goal of this journey is to find cuisines from every United Nations member state, within New York City limits, in alphabetical order." Wow, that's impressive.
Here's what they wrote about: Mimi’s African Restaurant (55 William Street, Newark, NJ 07102).
Just a little bit outside of downtown Newark’s commercial district, Mimi’s shared a quiet block with an electronics shop displaying Nollywood DVDs in the window and a hair salon. Two women were grilling corn and shish kabob on what looked like a Weber outside. We guessed that the restaurant itself might have been a converted Chinese place because the seating area was a small square with a few table and because the menu was displayed on a back-lit board above the counter. French commentators were deconstructing the triumphs and failures of Fidel Castro on the television set mounted in the corner.Very accurate.
Count Down
My three biggest changes: corporate attire, a regular hair cut at a barber shop, and the gym.
In reverse order, during the past five years my schedule allowed me to frequent the gym during off peak hours. Upon starting my new job, my gym visits are limited to before or after work, during peak hours. Not sure, which will work out better. But I'm determined not to gain back the "working-in-an-office" weight that once adorned around my midsection. I purchased a scale and plan to step on it each and every morning, and eat accordingly. I was about 25 lbs. heavier when I left work in 2005.
Yeap, a haircut every two weeks in a barber shop, that's my goal. At Cornell, I learned to cut my own hair, which I did - successfully and unsuccessfully - for almost 15 years. I paid a barber a cent while living in DC. I cut my hair myself. Prior to my first interview a couple months back, I visited the Ecuadorian barber on the corner of my multi-cultural block. Nice guy. I almost look presentable again.
And lastly, the dress code at my new job is corporate attire, except during the summer when it is business casual. I dry cleaned all my dress pants and purchased 10 new dress shirts, 10 new ties, new t-shirts, underwear, etc. At the end of summer, I expect to purchase a few more new suits. I can't believe I'll be wearing a suit and tie everyday to work again. I also plan to walk to work. It's only a mile from where I'll be living. Google says 25 minutes.
Who knows, I might even start carrying a wallet again…..
In reverse order, during the past five years my schedule allowed me to frequent the gym during off peak hours. Upon starting my new job, my gym visits are limited to before or after work, during peak hours. Not sure, which will work out better. But I'm determined not to gain back the "working-in-an-office" weight that once adorned around my midsection. I purchased a scale and plan to step on it each and every morning, and eat accordingly. I was about 25 lbs. heavier when I left work in 2005.
Yeap, a haircut every two weeks in a barber shop, that's my goal. At Cornell, I learned to cut my own hair, which I did - successfully and unsuccessfully - for almost 15 years. I paid a barber a cent while living in DC. I cut my hair myself. Prior to my first interview a couple months back, I visited the Ecuadorian barber on the corner of my multi-cultural block. Nice guy. I almost look presentable again.
And lastly, the dress code at my new job is corporate attire, except during the summer when it is business casual. I dry cleaned all my dress pants and purchased 10 new dress shirts, 10 new ties, new t-shirts, underwear, etc. At the end of summer, I expect to purchase a few more new suits. I can't believe I'll be wearing a suit and tie everyday to work again. I also plan to walk to work. It's only a mile from where I'll be living. Google says 25 minutes.
Who knows, I might even start carrying a wallet again…..
Gay? Whatever, Dude
Via NYT. The times are a changing...
Even more interesting...
1. For the first time, the percentage of Americans who perceive “gay and lesbian relations” as morally acceptable has crossed the 50 percent mark. (You have to love the fact that they still use the word “relations.” So quaint.)
2. Also for the first time, the percentage of men who hold that view is greater than the percentage of women who do.
3. This new alignment is being led by a dramatic change in attitudes among younger men, but older men’s perceptions also have eclipsed older women’s. While women’s views have stayed about the same over the past four years, the percentage of men ages 18 to 49 who perceived these “relations” as morally acceptable rose by 48 percent, and among men over 50, it rose by 26 percent.
Even more interesting...
... there is a growing body of research that supports the notion that homophobia in some men could be a reaction to their own homosexual impulses. Many heterosexual men see this, and they don’t want to be associated with it. It’s like being antigay is becoming the old gay. Not cool.
June 02, 2010
What I Do to Preserve Land Fills
Return my plastic (not the paper) Chinese takeout food containers to the restaurant. (I can't guarantee they don't throw them out after I return them.)
Try not to "buy" things. However, I want to buy a new iPhone and TV, but I struggle with what do I do with my old phone and TV. They still work. Craigslist? Or maybe Salvation Army.
In furnishing my new room, I'm trying to purchase as much as I can on Craiglist and Salvation Army. We'll see how that goes.
I went to the Salvation Army Store yesterday to purchase a scale, coffeemaker, coffee cup and umbrella. All I got was the coffee cup.
Sew my old clothes (e.g. T-shirts, socks, buttons, etc.) instead of buying new clothes.
The conversion of DVD/CD to digital has reduced my waste significantly. I might research buying a Kindle to reduce my tree usage.
I never take plastic spoons, forks or knives, if I'm going to eat takeout at home.
Only use cloth napkins and towels at home instead of paper napkins or towels. I do use toilet paper, however.
Try to buy as much produce fresh or dry good in bulk, and reuse the clear plastic bags. I always bring reusable grocery bags with me to the store.
Use a cardboard box as an indoor garbage bin. I refuse to buy a plastic one.
I hate buying things, taking care of them, and eventually having to throw them out. I rather just not buy "things". I don't like the responsibility.
Yes, I'm a whack job, thank you.
Try not to "buy" things. However, I want to buy a new iPhone and TV, but I struggle with what do I do with my old phone and TV. They still work. Craigslist? Or maybe Salvation Army.
In furnishing my new room, I'm trying to purchase as much as I can on Craiglist and Salvation Army. We'll see how that goes.
I went to the Salvation Army Store yesterday to purchase a scale, coffeemaker, coffee cup and umbrella. All I got was the coffee cup.
Sew my old clothes (e.g. T-shirts, socks, buttons, etc.) instead of buying new clothes.
The conversion of DVD/CD to digital has reduced my waste significantly. I might research buying a Kindle to reduce my tree usage.
I never take plastic spoons, forks or knives, if I'm going to eat takeout at home.
Only use cloth napkins and towels at home instead of paper napkins or towels. I do use toilet paper, however.
Try to buy as much produce fresh or dry good in bulk, and reuse the clear plastic bags. I always bring reusable grocery bags with me to the store.
Use a cardboard box as an indoor garbage bin. I refuse to buy a plastic one.
I hate buying things, taking care of them, and eventually having to throw them out. I rather just not buy "things". I don't like the responsibility.
Yes, I'm a whack job, thank you.
June 01, 2010
Meet the Sloths
We saw these critters from a distance in the Amazon River Basin in Peru. So cute, and sloooowwww.
My top three places that I've traveled to view animals: 1) Serengeti, Kenya & Tanzania (lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, etc.); 2) Australia (kangaroos, koala bears, fruit bats, crocodile, etc.); 3) Galapagos Islands (iguanas, giant tortoise, seal lions, birds, etc.); and 4) South Georgia (penguins, seals, whales, etc). Yeah, it's four. I know. I'm getting old, it's called reminiscing. I have vivid memories (with the help of pictures late at night downing a bottle of wine) of the animals in each of these places, plus the underwater life along the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia.
12th Annual Memorial Day Weekend
Are these kids tired or what? Once a year, I travel deep into the bowels of suburbia to hang with my undergrad friends. And this past weekend was that weekend. It was the12th annual gathering of it's kind. I haven't attended all the gatherings, but I try, here and there, when I can muster the courage. The next morning, Monday, actual Memorial Day, I cycled a 50 mile loop in west Jersey to shed the weekend's food and drink! I should not have eaten so much artichoke dip!!
"I have known more men destroyed by the desire to have wife and child and to keep them in comfort than I have seen destroyed by drink and harlots." -W.B. Yeats
Every time I hang with my undergrad friends, I feel like I'm visiting my racist, homophobic, sexist, unexplored past. A time when I didn't understand multiculturalism and the opportunities the world outside the U.S. and New Jersey has to offer. It's nice to visit my past, but I never want to live there again, metaphorically. I like change. I like adventure. I like learning new things.
Worse Summer for Young Workers
For summer jobs, this will probably be the worst year since the Great Depression.Source Calculated Risk.
This graph shows the unemployment rate for workers 16 to 24 years old (from the BLS), and the headline unemployment rate (blue). The unemployment rate hit a record 19.6% in April for this group.
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