What I have learned today [2015/7/9]

1. More humane or natural funeral services are being offered. Personally, I think we should respect the dead but not spend a fortune.

2. Russians miss cheese after economic sanctions. Free trade is the way to go. Hope Putin stops the empire building.

3. Caffeine simulates muscle contractions in the large intestines that can increase the urge to go to the bathroom. Not going to drink so much coffee, when I have important business :p

4. A Detroit doctor faces health care fraud where he even treated healthy patients with Chemo. This is just sad. Stealing is already bad but causing more harm by putting patients into Chemo? Wow...better pray for this doctor and his victims. Also, always go to at least three doctors before deciding to get critical treatment.

5. Russians cannot have enough Teslas. Well...I guess they have to showoff wealth someway...Wish the rich Russians spent their money on investments and helping the poor.

 

From Snapshot Serengeti

What I have learned today [2015/6/21]

1. E-cigarettes are not as safe as thought. However, I believe that it will get safer with time. But more importantly we should just cut down on smoking

2. Mr. Ben Sansum lives a 1946 life style. Wow, this is what I call passion and dedication.

3. Jim Rogers expects financial turmoil soon. I agree with Rogers and I would take a closer look at Russia.

4, Stop losses save investors from momentum crashes.

5.  Arkansas can put tenants in prison for not paying rent. Wow...this is really crazy. Talk about being inhumane and absurd. We really need to change this law for the people and the economy. Thank you Vice for the nice piece.




From Snapshot Serengeti

What I have learned today [2015/5/6]

1. Iran is one of the largest pistachio producers.

2. You can avoid high credit card utilization rate by paying off the balance before the statement is due and always increasing credit.

3. When in doubt about administrative issues or situations, ask the senior people. They will tell you what needs to be done.

4. Commercial wines are usually clear. And usually with time, the wine will become darker.

5. Russia is large but almost considered landlocked given that most rivers do not lead to the sea.

6. In investing, be ruthless in self-assessment. See whether your original thesis worked and be brutally honest.

7. Griffith Park has an abandoned zoo.




*From Floating Forests

What I have learned today [2014/3/31]

Another busy day but thank You God for giving me another beautiful day.

1. Enhance your speech for better outcomes. Get a deeper voice and speak clearly with not much agitation.

2. Before the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, stock exchanges had somewhat strict disclosure standards but they were rarely enforced. Yup, we need some regulation but not too much.

3. Discover Card has great customer service. They picked up my call, were cordial, and resolved my problem.

4. MyHabit.com, run by Amazon has great deals. Well, I shopped at MyHabit.com before but while I was shopping today, I realized wow, the products have been consistently getting better.

5. Book prices on Amazon drop pretty quickly! Whoa!

6. Putin may suffer a blow  in 2016 given his recent failures with Ukraine and the Russian economy. Well, time to think about investing in Russia. It is the cheapest BRIC by the way  :D

7. Reading the Genesis, I have learned that Jacob really worked hard under Laban yet God blessed Jacob so much!



*From Snapshot Serengeti

Why I am not investing in Russia right now...

Jim Rodgers, one of the best investors (plus, one of my heroes), is bullish about Russia.

I agree with  Jim Rodgers  but I am not going to invest in Russia right now for two reasons.

First, Putin...Yes, he has improved the Russian economy and brought back pride to Russia. But with his dictatorship style and corruption, I don't see a bright future in Russia in the near future. Bloomberg shows that many of those who oppose Putin were either incarcerated, kicked out, or killed. Now this is a big red flag!  Until Russia starts handling with its corruptions, establishes rule of law, and starts reforms, Russia will be crippled by corruption.


Second, Russia's economy is heavily dependent on energy. According to Wikipedia, Oil-and-Gas industry accounted for 16% of the GDP, 52% of the Federal Revenues, and 70% of exports. With the oil prices quite low, the Russian economy will not recover. Although the oil price ($50) is higher than the estimated Russian oil production cost ($40), the economy cannot grow and oil prices can stay low for quite sometime



Hence, although I remain optimistic about Russia (+10 year horizon), I will not invest in Russia until corruptions are somewhat addressed and oil price starts picking up.

Sleeping beauty....nope...just Radon poisoning

Wow...So there was a sleeping sickness going around in a remote village in Kazakhstan.

And it is Radon poisoning from uranium from old mines!!  It's a radioactive, colorless, odorless, tasteless gas.

And it causes cancer, the second most frequent cause of lung cancer.

First, reading this article made me pray for the village in Kazakhstan. I really hope they get better.

Second, the soviets really didn't care much about people or the environment, as this incidence shows. Also, now we have more mystery craters popping in Siberia releasing gas, which we have no idea why.

Third, I was thankful that I don't have any radioactive gas coming from the ground. We have pollution in LA but not radioactive gas...at least not yet.

Overall, let us be thankful for everything and help others who really need help.