Last week, the Census Bureau reported that an estimated 1 out of 7 Americans is now living in poverty, which is the same level we had in 1994. I started digging around the figures and found that the government definition of poverty for a two-adult, two child household (4 people) is $22,050 in annual income. How the hell can two working adults - or even one working adult - earn less than that in a year?! I mean, I have one relative who was pulling down roughly $20,000 to $30,000 a year in … [Read more...]
Don’t Spend Money to Feel Better About Yourself
September 17, 2010 By 4 Comments
I happened to be reading a forum for venture capitalists and investment bankers and there was a section for people new to the industry who work in major financial centers such as New York. We're talking about first year analysts earning between $60,000 and $90,000 including signing bonuses, and, if they are lucky, a $50,000 to $100,000 bonus depending upon annual profits, living in a majorly expensive city, who probably have significant student loans. Some of the people were advocating that … [Read more...]
Counterpoint Clears My Head
September 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
I took a break, had a ham & cheese sandwich from Subway for dinner and ran home to eat it before going back to work. Before I left, though, I sat down to the piano to practice for a few minutes. My iPhone was in my pocket so I put it up on the edge of the piano and pressed record. It helps me clear my head almost like a "reset" button because I think it activates some other part of my brain. If I'm burnt out from reading 10K's or annual reports, something about trying to force myself … [Read more...]
Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina by Il. Padre G. B. Martini
September 7, 2010 By 8 Comments
One of my all time favorite pieces of music is Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina (translation: Lord, My God, Assist Me Now), by Il. Padre G. B. Martini, who lived from 1706-1784. Personally, I like it with string quartet, not piano and a bigger choir and the tenor line almost staccato not legato (the "smoother" versions are like saccharine - they make me hostile because they defeat the entire point). I wish I could find a fantastic, flawless performance for you - especially one that was … [Read more...]
Kiton Suits Literally Take My Breath Away …
August 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
I have seen bespoke heaven and it is Kiton. If this is how women feel about shoes, I now understand them. I saw pictures of Kiton suites and was reading an article about them. My heartbeat began to accelerate, I got warmer and I wanted to scream. That is how amazing and happy they made me feel. They are made specifically to your body so that every movement, every fabric is designed to your tastes. Oh, you mark my words, when we go into hedge fund mode in a few years, this is what I will … [Read more...]
Mental Model: Goldovsky Errors
July 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment
How can a dead body hang in a tree for nearly 14 hours and not be noticed by a town? How can experts at one of the world's top scientific institutions miss an easy-to-spot mistake for almost 30 years yet a 5th grader spots in 2008 after only a few seconds? Why can't you remember the name of someone from your kid's karate class if you run into them in the bank or supermarket? Congratulations! You just discovered Goldovsky errors and how they play into context. There are special types … [Read more...]
I Have *MAJOR* ADHD Today … This Is Not a Recipe for Success
July 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment
You know those days where you struggle to focus? Where you have a ton of stuff to do but you just. can't. make. it. happen? Yeah. Today is one of those for me. I've been looking for any distraction I can not to work because I'm just burnt out on this manuscript. So, I decided to go get a cup of coffee. Instead, I pass the piano and thought, "Why not try and figure out the chords to 'Summertime' just for the heck of it?" So I sat down, flipped on the Mac, and hit record. The quality … [Read more...]
This Is Why I Love Jay Chou
June 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Jay Chou is one of my favorite musical artists (even though iTunes doesn't have much of his music on it the last time I checked). Anyway, at roughly 2:20 into the video ... most of America's pop royalty lack the musical education and technique to do this. The clip is from the film The Promise. The two characters are having a piano duel with one playing something and the other having to repeat it or best it. Here is some of his more popular pop-music / adult contemporary: … [Read more...]
The Gladiolus Project
June 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Instead of paying a local florist to provide fresh flowers to the office, Aaron has been toying with mastering the art of gardening gladiolus and other flowers. It gave him a challenge (he is also mastering the piano works of French composer Erik Satie), plus he figured he could save us thousands of dollars each year. This is the first bloom from his batch, which he cut and had put in my investing office. I was indifferent to the plan in the beginning, but after seeing the fruits of his … [Read more...]
Dan Dare (Pilot Of The Future) – Rare Elton John Song
March 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment
I can't stop listening to this ... I think it is the syncopation in the piano rhythm that I appreciate. Something about it reminds me of the Tumbleweed Connection album a la "Son of Your Father". … [Read more...]
I'm a private investor who loves architecture, furniture, clothes, history, philosophy, books, cooking, and music as much as I do finance. 
