Slow Drive Home

I'm really not a fast driver. I'd hover on that 60-80 KPH range whenever I'm out in open highway. But when I reach my street, my driving becomes a little more "deliberate". You see, for the past 5 years or so, the steet has become rockier and rockier. If there was a bank in our street and someone robbed it, they wouldn't be able to make a clean getaway. If they tried, they'd probably lose a muffler or totally wreck their shocks.

Oh well. One of these days, I'll take shots and post it here. I guess this is why I didn't vote for any incumbent local policitians during the last election.

Serial Killer

 

I was reading about how eHarmony plans to integrate VOIP services into online dating.  It seems unnecessary.  If you think he's such a serial killer, then just keep chatting.  Don't give him your number. Besides, people you meet online could really turn out to be scary looking.

 

http://money.cnn.com/2007/07/16/technology/pluggedin_mehta_eharmony.fortune/index.htm?section=money_latest

Private Parties

In the past couple of weeks, since I started force feeding myself with current information again, I keep reading articles describing the massive growth of private equity.  That means what?  Instead of financing expansion via the erstwhile sexy IPOs, companies are now seeking funding from groups of investors instead.  It runs counter to some finance principles I picked up from Bobby O (my old finance teacher). For example, the pricing should be more appropriate if you have a big market (like to public).  If I remember right, that was the problem with private funding; the pricing (or interest rates) are not at market.

I should've known though that we normally gravitate towards the more sinful route.   So in the past years, when corporate governance became a byword with the 101 corporate scandals, companies began shying away from the public market.  Who wants the greater accountability, right?  And even then, one of the biggest knocks on being a public company is the public accountability.  These stringent standards paved the way for the Private Parties.

While I was reading a Business Week article though,  it seemed like this party has all the makings of a bubble.  I was reading an Asian Crisis book in one of my Bathroom Meditation Sessions (BMS) and some familiar words jumped at me while reading the Business Week Article. 

"...high-risk debt used to finance private equity deals, but banks have also loosened their lending requirements, helping to drive the record volume of leveraged buyouts (see BusinessWeek.com, 6/4/07, "The Private Equity Effect"). The interest rates paid on bank loans dropped to all-time lows."

High-risk debt, loosened lending requirements and high liquidity.  Those are the condititions that make one want to spend, regardless of prudence.  Interesting isn't it? 

I'll read up more in the coming days.  If the story had you raising some eyebrows, it's just because I'm out of practice (disclaimer in hand). 

With references made to this article:

http://businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jul2007/db2007079_282879.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_best+of+bw

Sunlight

One of my old wholesome fantasies is solar energy.  The concept has always fascinated me.  Why can't we gather the heat to power our homes?  It seemed like an easy enough concept.  Maybe even for cars.  You can always have dual sources: gas and sunlight.  It should shave a few bucks from your gas money, right?  How expensive can solar panels be, right?  They certainly look cooler than shingles.

So naturally, when I came upon a CNN article that they're planning to have massive solar farms in California, it intruiged me. Then I turned to a few more websites to see what the developments are.  Apparently, there is a fad towards alternative sources of energy.  Why not?  Still, I couldn't find the commercial backing that I was looking for.   Naturally, feasibility should translate to profits.  If it ain't happening in Wall Street, it ain't happening. Turns out there's a Chinese solar cell company that's registering awesome sales growth.  Well, maybe this fantasy isn't so far away after all.  In the meanwhile, I have a lot of other fantasies that I may, or may not share to the public. 


http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/07/09/solar.california.reut/index.html?eref=rss_mostpopular
http://www.geek.com/solar-cells-with-63-efficiency-by-2020/
http://energy.seekingalpha.com/article/40427
http://www.rttnews.com/sp/breakingnews.asp?date=07/03/2007&item=71&vid=0

The Game is Back!

I just read the announcement.  Triple H is about to return to the WWE.  It's water spitting time again!

License

More about Never Give Up.  I downloaded a WMA file and it asked me for a license.  I was given an option to do so.  I haven't quite figured out how that works.  Because I feel that at some point, I may no longer be able to play the file, I figured I'd convert it.  So I looked for a WMA to MP3 converter.  I haven't found a good one as of press time.  I wonder if the concept is sound though: that if I convert the file, I can skirt around the license requirement.  I shall investigate shortly...

Never Give Up

 

I've finally been able to download a copy of Amy Holland's Never Give Up.  It's one of my childhood favorites and I've been looking for a digital copy for years now.  You know, in fact someone e-mailed me recently about this.  I can't remember which e-mail address the person used.  If you happen to come across this post, I have it!