My Time Warner technician visited. He replaced my cable modem, sold me a $5 a month upgrade, from normal RoadRunner to RoadRunner Turbo – up from a guaranteed 10 megs/second down to 15 megs down. He pronounced me “cured.” Not exactly, but that’s another story, one bound up with some technical changes at Time Warner.
My Time Warner technician visits oodles of people each day in Manhattan. He reports their mood has substantially improved. Six months ago, they were all “gloom and doom.” Now they feel much, much better.
I have an apartment I rent in New York. My tenant is leaving and I’m about to rent it to a new tenant for 20% more. That’s better than a slap in the belly with a cold fish. (Disgusting Australian expression.)
The “better” is also reflected in much improved corporate earnings, climaxed by today’s news that Goldman Sachs’ profit soared 91%. That higher profit reflected the improved economy as much as it reflected Goldman’s extraordinary trading skills and general self-focus. The Goldman press release is semi-helpful. Click here. Goldman thanked its clients. It would be nice if they stopped taking their fees until the value of my investments with them rose above what I paid for them. But that’s not the world we live in.
See yesterday’s warnings on dealing with Wall Street.
In short, don’t.
Can you time the market? No. Is that an excuse for being fully invested all the time? Absolutely not. Here’s our rule:
+ Get out when you’re 15% down.
+ Get back in when the market rises by 15%.
Those rules would have worked handsomely in 2008 (heavily down) and 2009 (heavily up).
End of story.
Wait for the next iPhone. Postpone your new iPhone until the new one comes out this summer. The new one will have a better screen, a front-facing camera, a much better back-facing camera, a bigger battery for longer life, a faster processor, and better software. Usual super Apple improvements.
The Wall Street Journal interviewed one of my favorite comedians, Lewis Black. They talked about the economy, the Tea party, taxes, the iPad and what Lewis enjoyed in life. His answer: Food, my friends, walking around New York and golf.
Why golf? Replied Lewis, “I’m allowed to hate myself more there.” For Lewis Black’s wonderful video, click here.
Standup desks are good for your back? The New York Times argued on the weekend that standing was actually “exercise.” Sitting is a disaster, both for exercise and for my back.
Why not work standing up? Google “standup” desk. You hit a company called StandupDesks.com that sells things like this:
Note the metal bar at the bottom to rest your leg. I’m mulling this major decision. How high the thing should be is a major issue. Perhaps 44″? Anyone use one?
Harry Newton, who biked through the cherry blossoms and other flowering trees now in great abundance in New York City. Please come visit. It’s glorious outside. Come biking with me. I have an extra bike I can lend you.
Cherry blossoms on Roosevelt Island at 7:00 PM last night. Manhattan seen over the East River. Perfect biking weather.
Hi Harry,
The standup desk looks like a fancy drafting table.
I had a drafting table several years ago.
The work surface was adjustable – flat to slanted.
Very useful for all sorts of projects and easy on the back.
I regret selling it when I moved years ago.
Decent quality drafting tables and chairs are adjustable.
Cost about $200- up.
Also, look at 'treadmill desks'.
Price range $400-$4,000.
Our credit union has one for the employees to use.
The desk surface is flat, rather than slanted.
Harry,
I used a “stand-up” desk for about 2 years, and recently took it down. more precisely, I built “risers” for my regular desk (they were put under the pedestals) and raised the desk to about 40″ high. I am in sales, I found I had more energy when I made my calls standing up.
I didn't gain/lose any weight though (I have a few lbs to lose!), so I would tend to doubt claims that it has any positive effect on calorie burn or metabolism.
Stand up desks….maybe better for your back??? Definitely harder on your elbows.
love the cherry blossom photos – take more!
Let's see…fight cost CA to NY, travel time…hmmm…bike ride and cherry blossoms in NY versus rain on way to SoCA,,,wait I'm still thinking!
Okay, I'll be there Thursday at 2pm. Can you pick me up at JFK? ; – 0
About stand-up desks: Hemingway was fond of them. So was Donald Rumsfeld (who doesn't belong in the same universe with Mr. H). I'm told on good authority that stand-up desks burn twice your normal calories. Some writers say it adds a sense of “urgency” to their prose. Because it's harder to stand than sit, one tends to write more concisely. I don't use a stand-up desk, but I do notice that when I fill out forms at the DMV or other such noxious places, I write more quickly and without a hint of self-consciousness. I bring you back to Hemingway: A FAREWELL TO ARMS and TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT, novels written standing up.
Every city is beautiful in Springtime! You have the perfect life, Harry, keeping yourself busy with work by day, riding around the city at twilight on your bike and, of course, tennis whenever you can. All that and a loving family. I'd say you've got it made.