What I have learned today [2105/6/24]

1.Fake bomb detector scam kills many in various countries. This is what I call heinous...I never condone crimes but this is really bad...

2. Rural US is having drug outbreak. We should really start treating the addicts. Busting will not be as effective. Treating the addicts and giving reasonable jobs could help. Let's pray for the Rural US areas.

3. Moderate workout promotes healthy life. Yup, encourage your neighbors and friends to walk a bit and do some push ups :D

4. Pension funds underperform....well, when people manage other people's money and there are no severe consequences...this is what happens. It is not that pension fund managers are evil, it is just that the incentives are not well aligned. Also, it is uncertain where the pension investment officers would be 20-30 years from now when their investment decisions are fully unraveled. Furthermore, the pension investment officers have a point that hedge fund do well in certain occasions. However, do remember that most hedge funds underperform after fees.

5. Nobody knows why we still sneeze when see bright light.



From Snapshot Serengeti

What I have learned today [2015/5/18]

1. Dissertation provides excellent review of the literature given that its the master piece of the PhD program. So read dissertations for more details :D

2. There are over 116 million age of 80+ and 15 million over 90+ and 426,000 age of 100+.

3. Pilgrim, Sanderson Farms, Tyson and Perdue dominate the chicken industry.

4. Chicago has huge unfunded liability problem. Time to raise taxes and cut costs.

5. Solar panels installed at home at least cost twice as much as gas energy without the subsidies. We need to lower the subsidies and use that money instead on developing more efficient solar panels.

6.Avian flu is hurting egg producers.

7. Carl Icahn was a philosophy major and he started making money in options and arbitrage.





*From Floating Forests

What I have learned today [2015/5/17]

1. Airplane flight system can be hacked through Inflight Flight System.

2. Sony Walkman upgraded its audio for serious audiophiles at a price of $1,200. Well, good sound is good but...still too expensive...and people want to carry less not more.

3. Hershey is 3D printing chocolate. Customized chocolate sounds like a good idea.

4. Antipsychotic drugs have unintended long term consequences and should be taken as a last resort.

5. Bill Gates has lot of real estate but this small compared to his equity positions. The lesson? Buy good real estate property and it will rise with time :D

6. Women like to be complemented about their shoes. Hmmm...got it.

7. Defined benefit pension plans existed since the 1850s.




*From Penguin Watch

What I haved learned today [2015/5/16]

1. Sriracha is made in CA by Huy Fong. Siracha sales has increased every year for 30 years. And there is a supply risk because Siracha only buys from one supplier.

2. Sriracha was originally created in Thailand and it's called Siraja. For a short documentary of Sriracha, please see  Sirracha on Amazon Prime.



3. Chinese hackers have been hacking US universities that do research for the US government. Wow...really?! We have to draw a line somewhere. You can't just attack anywhere you want just because you can. This really shows that we really have to increase the cybersecurity and also have more ethics. If they are willing to hack schools what else are they doing?!

4. There are not many pension papers than I expected...hmmm

5.  The war on drugs has perverted the cop's incentives as they could fill their arrest quotas more easily by booking people on drug charges rather than investigating crimes. As a result, other crimes such as burglary, theft, and fraud are less likely to be investigated, leading to increase in these types of crimes. 

6. Some hedge funds keep changing names...hmmm...I wonder why? Should investigate this phenomenon

7. Times goes by fast when you enjoy your coffee in the morning :(



*From Snapshot Serengeti

What I have learned today [2015/4/24]

1. According to HFR, there are 10,149 hedge funds. Hmmm...there can't be so much alpha with so many hedge funds. I predict that hedge funds are more likely to underperform with so much crowding. Time to take money of out HFs.


2. Many S&P500 firms being adversely affected by Venezuela's economic crisis including Coca Cola and Pepsi.

3.Pension footnotes are a whole new adventure...

4. There is always a reason to be lazy and procrastinate... :(

5. When investing in Lending Club loans, do your due diligence by checking if the reported income reasonable for the reported job. Sometimes you get wildly high number, which makes you wonder...




*From Floating Forests

What I have learned today [2015/4/5]

Man...yesterday was busy due to deadlines but I did manage to learn some new things :D


1. Ants travel more efficiently by going at a constant speed and not overtaking each other. Well, we actually kind of knew this...everyone just abided by the laws, traffic would be much better but it is those people who drive like they are in Fast and Furious just screw the system. Today, I saw a car stop in a middle of a 4 way intersection. Wow...thank God nobody crashed.

Ohh by the way, traffic will be worse in 30 years with more people driving. Time to raise gas prices, car prices, build public transportation, and sharing rides...

2. CA coming back to senses about the impending water crisis. It is great that people are starting to save water but really? People from other countries saved water since well...quite a long time. But it is great that people are realizing that water is not cheap and without water Cali is screwed. Now would people please stop buying bottled water....

3. Pension footnotes are really difficult to comprehend. I felt like I was being punished for whatever sins I have committed...actually, it is just mostly convoluted accounting and let's-give-you-a-headache disclosure.

4. Jesus died for our sins and resurrected because He had no sin. I have learned that this is true grace. God sacrificing His own son to save us all. I knew this fact with my head but now I know it with my heart more :D