August 2008
18 posts
Helping the filthy rich
I’ve met very few rich people with good taste (to be honest: I’ve met very few really rich people - period), real good old fashioned taste. The kind that appreciates the smaller things in life: grass-fed beef, a well-made espresso, a nap in the sunshine, wasting a whole day just strolling along side a beautiful beach, re-reading A Moveable Feast et cetera.
No, most of the nouveau...
Farmers Markets - Cheaper than Whole Foods,... →
Reunion
I met up with two friends from High School last night and it was a really fun reunion. I hadn’t seen Heather since July 4, 1985 - the day when all of us exchange student returned back to our native countries. Lina I’ve meet up with every 5th year or so.
It was a fun walk down memory lane, something that I’m not known to do very often. But that year I spent in Los Angeles was...
WatchAn excellent stats-of-the-nation assessment. The real estate prices needs to go down more to increase transactions. And I think they dollars rise might be the catalyst. Once the greenback gets more expensive for foreigner so will the real estate. The bubble is still bursting.
The State of The Market
Looks like we might have a bear market rally on our hands over the next few weeks / months. 1260 support for the S&P 500 is holding nicely, TNT is failing it’s bullish breakout and VIX is below 21. The dollar keeps getting stronger and CL is failing it’s bounce. Looks like $122.50 is the roof for now.
The market will break out one way or the other once a trading range is...
Weekly Briefing
Back on the bike after a week in Kentucky and Colorado. Ready to start biking every day. Might go for the bridge today as we have blue skies. I’m starting to feel the flow and am sleeping like a newborn.
Made Coq au vin (or rather poulet) and Crêpe Suzette for the first time the past weekend. Turned out pretty good!
Made butter sauteed halibut with Panzanella salad yesterday. Fantastic!
...
“Wrestling is not rigged, Wall Street is not rigged and the Laser Printer...”
– Take That, Stupid Printer!
Off-Season Travels for the Seasoned Traveller
The sky prepared for battle as I left our pad this morning on my way to the Ferry Building. The bi-weekly (or whenever we are in town) early Saturday morning visit to the Farmers Market has become a joyful must. Today I found great black figs, skirt steak and basil part from the usual staples. About an 1-hour venture to shop groceries for the whole week… That saves both time, money and...
In the pursuit of health and happiness
Everyone from the british philosopher Bertrand Russell to a friends 90-year old Greek grandmother agree; the path to a happy, long and healthy life is the following:
Healthy, well-balanced foods
A physically active life
A great social network
A strong purpose of being
The challenge is that capitalism doesn’t really support this lifestyle. It’s cheaper to buy corn-based products...
In the Blazing Saddle
Took my Klein for a ride today over to Fort Point by the Golden Gate Bridge, the third ride in about a week. My hip has been acting up again, preventing me from taking my long daily walks. I’ve always enjoyed biking and am enjoying this opportunity to get back in the saddle as the weather is getting nicer. The bike season should last until at least Thanksgiving.
And despite the...
“It’s difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary...”
– Upton Sinclair
Wine Musings
We are very fortunate to be living in a major wine region. I can’t think of any other cosmopolitan city within an one-hour driving range. But the best about Northern California is not Napa, Russian River or Sonoma but the excellent supply and very competitive wine prices on wines from across the world. Our favorite store is K&L Wines down in SOMA. Their staff picks are good and their...
A little bit of this, a little...
This week’s achievements:
Read Sway, The Logic of Life and Confessions of a Subprime Lender
Barbequed fish and lots of great meat at the cabin
Successfully traded in and out of OIH, RIG and GS; missed the rockin’ of the cubicles
Went on one very enjoyable job interview for a sr mgmt position - very inspirational and intellectual CEO (too far between)
Successfully set up the...
WatchExcellent housing conclusions: room for another 5-15% drop in Case/Schiller, repricing process takes longer than stock market and bottom formation in 2009-2010.