Recently in General Category

I know that I haven't really kept up with this blog over the last year.  There have been times that I have thought about writing but just haven't.  I thought it was about time that I get back to it and since I wasn't happy with the old design; I figured we could start things off with a new look and feel.

A listing that showed up on Craig's list not too long ago:

What am I doing wrong?

Okay, I'm tired of beating around the bush. I'm a beautiful
(spectacularly beautiful) 25 year old girl. I'm articulate and classy.
I'm not from New York. I'm looking to get married to a guy who makes at
least half a million a year. I know how that sounds, but keep in mind
that a million a year is middle class in New York City, so I don't think
I'm overreaching at all.

Are there any guys who make 500K or more on this board? Any wives? Could
you send me some tips? I dated a business man who makes average around
200 - 250. But that's where I seem to hit a roadblock. 250,000 won't get
me to central park west. I know a woman in my yoga class who was married
to an investment banker and lives in Tribeca, and she's not as pretty as
I am, nor is she a great genius. So what is she doing right? How do I
get to her level?

Here are my questions specifically:

• Where do you single rich men hang out? Give me specifics- bars, restaurants, gyms
• What are you looking for in a mate? Be honest guys, you won't hurt my feelings
• Is there an age range I should be targeting (I'm 25)?
• Why are some of the women living lavish lifestyles on the upper east side so plain? I've seen really 'plain jane' boring types who have nothing to offer married to incredibly wealthy guys. I've seen drop dead gorgeous girls in singles bars in the east village. What's the story there?
• Jobs I should look out for? Everyone knows - lawyer, investment banker, doctor. How much do those guys really make? And where do they hang out? Where do the hedge fund guys hang out?
• How you decide marriage vs. just a girlfriend? I am looking for MARRIAGE ONLY

Please hold your insults - I'm putting myself out there in an honest
way. Most beautiful women are superficial; at least I'm being up front
about it. I wouldn't be searching for these kind of guys if I wasn't
able to match them - in looks, culture, sophistication, and keeping a
nice home and hearth.

And the first response ...

Dear Pers-431649184: I read your posting with great interest and have thought meaningfully about your dilemma. I offer the following analysis of your predicament. Firstly, I'm not wasting your time, I qualify as a guy who fits your bill; that is I make more than $500K per year. That said here's how I see it.

Your offer, from the prospective of a guy like me, is plain and simple a
cr@ppy business deal. Here's why. Cutting through all the B.S., what you
suggest is a simple trade: you bring your looks to the party and I bring
my money. Fine, simple. But here's the rub, your looks will fade and my
money will likely continue into perpetuity...in fact, it is very likely
that my income increases but it is an absolute certainty that you won't
be getting any more beautiful!

So, in economic terms you are a depreciating asset and I am an earning
asset. Not only are you a depreciating asset, your depreciation
accelerates! Let me explain, you're 25 now and will likely stay pretty
hot for the next 5 years, but less so each year. Then the fade begins in
earnest. By 35 stick a fork in you!

So in Wall Street terms, we would call you a trading position, not a buy
and hold...hence the rub...marriage. It doesn't make good business sense
to "buy you" (which is what you're asking) so I'd rather lease. In case
you think I'm being cruel, I would say the following. If my money were
to go away, so would you, so when your beauty fades I need an out. It's
as simple as that. So a deal that makes sense is dating, not marriage.

Separately, I was taught early in my career about efficient markets. So,
I wonder why a girl as "articulate, classy and spectacularly beautiful"
as you has been unable to find your sugar daddy. I find it hard to
believe that if you are as gorgeous as you say you are that the $500K
hasn't found you, if not only for a tryout.

By the way, you could always find a way to make your own money and then
we wouldn't need to have this difficult conversation.

With all that said, I must say you're going about it the right way.
Classic "pump and dump."
I hope this is helpful, and if you want to enter into some sort of
lease, let me know.

And the second response ...

Dear Pers-431649184:

Your also came across your posting with great interest. I am a 28 year old Wall Street trader who qualifies as an eligible suitor under your $500k/yr rule. In fact, I make over a million and can usher a woman into a comfortable, true middle class lifestyle (not like those 500k lower-middle class chumps who have to make do with the junior two-bedroom).

I am sympathetic to your goal in finding a rich man to marry. The milk needs to be sold by the expiration date. But since this is premium milk, why would you settle for less than premium prices? I would like to address some of the questions that were previously missed by the other gentleman and provide constructive advice on where to find your match.

I also do believe in the efficient market theory, and am surprised that $500k hasn't found you yet. There are plenty of rich lawyers, investment bankers and hedgies to go around in this city. What gives? I think the problem might be that you have not been sufficiently focused in your search efforts.

The culprit, I believe, may be that you are also looking for qualities aside from money - such as looks, personality, and a sense of humor. However, men who have those qualities learn at an early age that they do not need money to attract quality women. As the saying goes, if you can get the milk for free, why pay up for the cow?

What you need to look for is someone who is long money, and short the other aspects. They are not easy to spot, since you are biologically wired to overlook and ignore them. However, the next time that you are at a expensive black tie event, and you are introduced to the short, bald, overweight man who fidgets nervously whilst making conversation with you, pay special attention to him.

Here's an inspirational story for you. An acquaintance of mine who was also an classy and articulate woman as yourself was able to land that guy - who also happens to be one of the top ten guys at Google. This is the type of stuff that gold-digging moms read to their gold-digging daughters at bedtime. Perhaps you need to make a location change to Silicon Valley - miracles like these happen almost everyday in a land where you can randomly throw a rock and hit a rich nerd squarely in his Kim-jong Il glasses.

And as far as his deficiencies go, they turned out to be not so bad. With hundreds of millions in the bank, she's been able to clean him up and give him a little sophistication. Think of it as a fixer-upper project with a massive budget (and yourself as a visionary real estate developer!). Although, I must warn you, it is a fine line you are flirting with - you must not overdo it lest he begins to attract younger women who are hotter than yourself. The trick is, you need build him up enough to be presentable, while simultaneously manipulate him into believing you are the best that he will ever do! That and having kids will be your insurance against your depreciation (or as I prefer to use the term, milk going sour).

I wish the best of luck on your sales project. As for me, I am also available for a short-term lease. However, for marriage I wouldn't consider a woman unless she can bring beauty, brains and self-motivation to the table. I do not want to dilute my gene pool and end up raising a bunch of Paris Hiltons.

The funniest part about this post is her claim of, "I'm articulate and classy." Anyone who actually was classy would not be posting this message on Craig's list or anywhere else.

I've been visiting friends in Chicago for the last few days and have had many good times. I'll write about them more later but as St.Patrick's day is coming to a close I thought I would share some Irish toasts with you all. Here they are:

Saint Patrick was a gentleman,
Who through strategy and stealth,
Drove all the snakes from Ireland,
Here’s a toasting to his health.
But not too many toastings
Lest you lose yourself and then
Forget the good Saint Patrick
And see all those snakes again.

---

May the light always find you on a dreary day.
When you need to be home, may you find your way.
May you always have courage to take a chance
And never find frogs in your underpants.

---

Here's to lying, stealing, and cheating!
May you lie to save a friend;
May you steal the heart of the one you love;
and may you cheat death.

---

As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.

---

Here's to the old lady up the hill.
If she won't drink it, I will!

---

Here's wishing you the top o' life without a single tumble.
Here's wishing you the smiles o' life and not a single grumble.
Here's wishing you the best o' life and not a claw about it.
Here's wishing you the joy in life and not a day without it.

---

May Christ and His Saints stand between you and harm.
Mary and her Son.
Patrick with his staff.
Martin with his mantle.
Brigid with her veil.
Michael with his shield.
And God over all with His strong right hand.

---

May the sun shine all day long,
Everything go right and nothing go wrong.
May those you love bring love back to you
And may all the wishes you wish come true!

---

Walls for the wind
And a roof for the rain,
And drinks beside the fire.
Laughter to cheer you
And those you love near you.
And all that your heart may desire.

A friend sent me these stories of the top idiots of 2006. They're pretty amusing so I thought I would share them all with you, enjoy!

Number One Idiot of 2006

I am a medical student currently doing a rotation in toxicology at the poison control center. Today, this woman called in very upset because she caught her little daughter eating ants. I quickly reassured her that the ants are not harmful and there would be no need to bring her daughter into the hospital. She calmed down and at the end of the conversation happened to mention that she gave her daughter some ant poison to eat in order to kill the ants. I told her that she better bring her daughter into the emergency room right away.

Number Two Idiot of 2006

Early this year, some Boeing employees on the airfield decided to steal a life raft from one of the 747s. They were successful in getting it out of the plane and home. Shortly after they took it for a float on the river, they noticed a Coast Guard helicopter coming towards them. It turned out that the chopper was homing in on the emergency locator beacon that activated when the raft was inflated. They are no longer employed at Boeing.

Number Three Idiot of 2006

A man, wanting to rob a downtown Bank of America, walked into the Branch and wrote "this iz a stikkup. Put all your muny in this bag." While standing in line, waiting to give his note to the teller, he began to worry that someone had seen him write the note and might call the police before he reached the teller's window. So he left the Bank of America and crossed the street to the Wells Fargo Bank.

After waiting a few minutes in line, he handed his note to the Wells Fargo teller. She read it and, surmising from his spelling errors that he wasn't the brightest light in the harbor, told him that she could not accept his stickup note because it was written on a Bank of America deposit slip and that he would either have to fill out a Wells Fargo deposit slip or go back to Bank of America. Looking somewhat defeated, the man said, "OK" and left. He was arrested a few minutes later, as he was waiting in line back at Bank of America.

Number Four Idiot of 2006

A motorist was unknowingly caught in an automated speed trap that measured his speed using radar and photographed his car. He later received in the mail a ticket for $40 and a photo of his car. Instead of payment, he sent the police department a photograph of $40. Several days later, he received a letter from the police that contained another picture, this time of handcuffs. He immediately mailed in his $40.

Number Five Idiot of 2006

A guy walked into a little corner store with a shotgun and demanded all of the cash from the cash drawer. After the cashier put the cash in a bag, the robber saw a bottle of Scotch that he wanted behind the counter on the shelf. He told the cashier to put it in the bag as well, but the cashier refused and said, "Because I don't believe you are over 21." The robber said he was, but the clerk still refused to give it to him because she didn't believe him. At this point, the robber took his driver's license out of his wallet and gave it to the clerk. The clerk looked it over and agreed that the man was in fact over 21 and she put the Scotch in the bag. The robber then ran from the store with his loot. The cashier promptly called the police and gave the name and address of the robber that he got off the license. They arrested t he robber two hours later.

Idiot Number Six of 2006

A pair of Michigan robbers entered a record shop nervously waving revolvers. The first one shouted, "Nobody move!" When his partner moved, the startled first bandit shot him.

Idiot Number Seven of 2006

Arkansas: Seems this guy wanted some beer pretty badly. He decided that he'd just throw a cinder block through a liquor store window, grab some booze, and run. So he lifted the cinder block and heaved it over his head at the window. The cinder block bounced back knocking him unconscious.

It seems the liquor store window was made of Plexi-Glass. The whole event was caught on videotape.

Electricity is an amazing thing. I tend to take how incredible it is for granted. It makes our entire lifestyle possible. Without it we would still be stuck in the dark ages, literally :)

If you have been reading my blog lately you will know that I have been having some electrical problems with my house. I was nervous that it was going to cost a fortune to find and fix. I had visions of tearing all the wire out of my house and having to rewire the whole thing. Fortunately it did not turn out to be that.

It turns out that the problem was the circuit breaker that covers most of the house--a two pole 100amp circuit by Federal Pacific Electric (FPE). The breaker was loose and had burned the contacts such that a tight connection was not possible. It turns out that FPE went out of business a number of years ago because their circuit breakers do not reliably trip when they are supposed to. So this adds another item to the list of things one should check for when purchasing a home. If the home is older (1985 or older) then check if the circuit breakers on the house are by FPE. If they are then you should be aware that if any of them need to be changed then it will be expensive because only one company makes a circuit breaker in a similar shape. And you should also know that they probably are not going to provide much protection to the house. If you can get the owner to change them out with newer, more reliable circuit breakers that would be a very good thing!

I've owned my home for nearly 2 years now. It's been a fun experience to own but it's also been a lot more expensive than I imagined. It seems like there is always something going wrong. In November the thermostat on the stove went out, unfortunately the stove was so old they no longer made the replacement part. That was one brand new stove which also sparked a kitchen remodel. Then in December the pipes started backing up. Not to mention the disgusting nature of the backup it took two visits from a plumber (of whom are not cheap) to straighten out. Now it is January and the electric has decided to act up. Who knows how much an electrician is going to cost to straighten it all out.

They say when it rains, it pours. I definitely feel the truth of that statement right now. I'm not sure how homeownership is going to work out in the long run. I have to believe that in the long run it is the only thing that makes sense because landlords are in the business to make money and they have all the expenses a homeowner does. But, it sure does feel like it is costing me a fortune to own this place.

If nothing else it has been an educational experience. Before I bought my home I read that owners should plan on having about 1% of the total value of the home in annual maintenance costs. This number seemed high to me but so far has been fairly close to the true costs of ownership. To be on the safe side I would budget this amount for maintenance. If it turns out to be less then your happy. If it turns out you need that much then your happy you had planned for it!

Relationships are a difficult thing to maintain; at least for me. I wish I could say that developing them and making them work came with ease for me; but, it doesn’t. I feel like they are something that I have to fight for. I wonder if everyone feels that way or if it’s just me.

One particularly difficult part for me is understanding how a position of authority works. It’s not something that I ever remember being taught. My personality is such that when I see something being done that I believe is wrong it is not difficult for me to speak up and say something. As I’ve learned the hard way too many times this can be a problem in relationships.

I guess some would call it selling out; giving into to the "man." In case you haven't noticed I have signed up for google adsense and placed three ads on the each of the pages in the site, one at the top, one on the side and one on the bottom. I don't think they are too intrusive and I am intrigued by the revenue earning potential.

My primary focus for this website is not to turn a profit but to have an avenue to publish my thoughts and maybe someone will find them useful. However, I don't see any harm in making a few dollars along the way. If it turns out to be a disaster, no big deal, I can take the ads off anytime I want. On the other hand if it turns out to provide some slightly useful information to users by showing them alternative content they may be interested in and can generate a few extra dollars a month then I think that's awesome.

I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts on the subject--positive or negative.

Yes, I am still alive. It's been a long 2 months since my last post. I have finally decided to devote some time to this site so I can post some videos I really like but also so I can put up some tutorials I've been planning to write.

Be looking for the changes, and oh yeah, how do you like the new look? I was sick of the old one, so we usher in the new year with a new look.

Yeah, I know it's been forever since I last posted, i just haven't had much motivation till recently to post anything.  I will soon ... real soon, I promise.