Friday, November 23, 2007
It's the day after Thanksgiving -- the busiest shopping day of the year. Fox Business Network showed scenes from a mall where people were lined up at 1AM to wait to be the first in the store when it opened at 6AM. Apparently, they have special deals that sell out quickly, so you have to get there early.
That is, unless you value your time at more than the $10 you will save on the loss-leader. If I saw any of my employees in that segment, I would call them in on Monday and explain that I will no longer be paying them for their services. If they value their time at next to nothing, why should I pay top dollar?
That is, unless you value your time at more than the $10 you will save on the loss-leader. If I saw any of my employees in that segment, I would call them in on Monday and explain that I will no longer be paying them for their services. If they value their time at next to nothing, why should I pay top dollar?
Monday, November 19, 2007
On Climate Change (Part II)
I like how most people go through life without exercising any critical thinking. This would include all of the people who purchase carbon offsets to reduce their CO2 footprint. I have given this about 8 minutes worth of thought, and come to the conclusion that either CO2 offsets are a scam, or global warming is not a problem. The math doesn't lie, folks.
Consider:
Carbon offset can be purchased for between $5-$40 per ton. This site is selling them for $10.
According to the EPA, a gallon of gas produces 19.4 pounds of CO2.
That means you can completely offset each gallon of gas you burn for $0.10 ($10 per ton / 2000 pounds per ton * 19.4 pounds per gallon).
The federal gasoline tax is 18.4 cents per gallon.
That means by applying a little more than half the gas tax towards carbon offsets, we could COMPLETELY negate the CO2 of ALL CARS IN THE UNITED STATES.
So which one is it? Is this not really a problem, or are you a fool for buying carbon offsets?
[*In response to your anticipated criticism that the price of the offsets would shoot up in response to massive demand, blah blah new entrants, blah blah technology improvements, blah blah economies of scale. blah. And don't lie to me, you didn't even think of that.]
I like how most people go through life without exercising any critical thinking. This would include all of the people who purchase carbon offsets to reduce their CO2 footprint. I have given this about 8 minutes worth of thought, and come to the conclusion that either CO2 offsets are a scam, or global warming is not a problem. The math doesn't lie, folks.
Consider:
That means by applying a little more than half the gas tax towards carbon offsets, we could COMPLETELY negate the CO2 of ALL CARS IN THE UNITED STATES.
So which one is it? Is this not really a problem, or are you a fool for buying carbon offsets?
[*In response to your anticipated criticism that the price of the offsets would shoot up in response to massive demand, blah blah new entrants, blah blah technology improvements, blah blah economies of scale. blah. And don't lie to me, you didn't even think of that.]
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Hopefully Dr. Anthony Brown, who wrote this article for Reuters Health, is a better doctor than writer.
"NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In a nine-country survey released today, more than 40 percent of respondents did not understand that AIDS is always a fatal disease."
What does it mean that AIDS is always a fatal disease? What about all the people who have AIDS that will never die from it? I'm talking about all the people who die OF SOMETHING ELSE FIRST! If AIDS didn't kill them, is it always a fatal disease?
What if I told you that you tested positive for a virus that will kill you with certainty the day you reach your 200th birthday? It's a disease that is always fatal! And I have it! Oh no! Sob Sob Sob!!!
Now I'm not saying AIDS doesn't suck, because it really does. And not just because your pharmacist thinks you're gay.
"NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In a nine-country survey released today, more than 40 percent of respondents did not understand that AIDS is always a fatal disease."
What does it mean that AIDS is always a fatal disease? What about all the people who have AIDS that will never die from it? I'm talking about all the people who die OF SOMETHING ELSE FIRST! If AIDS didn't kill them, is it always a fatal disease?
What if I told you that you tested positive for a virus that will kill you with certainty the day you reach your 200th birthday? It's a disease that is always fatal! And I have it! Oh no! Sob Sob Sob!!!
Now I'm not saying AIDS doesn't suck, because it really does. And not just because your pharmacist thinks you're gay.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Venture Capitalist On A Date
She was a nice girl, but I could tell within a few minutes of meeting her that it wasn’t going to work out. She was a restaurant waitress, which is outside of my industry focus. Also, at 34 years old, I would really have to stretch to make it work for an opportunity that late-stage. But the real deal-breaker was her apartment in Brooklyn. A commute like that would make it difficult for me to regularly add value, which is the reason for my strict geographical focus.
I guess it’s OK though, because a recently written off long-term investment has left me with little dry powder, and it’s going to take a few months of drinking with my LP’s for me to be in a position to seriously consider new deals.
I know in my heart that I should’ve called her back with a quick explanation, but I’m a busy guy – and besides, what happens if she gets hotter?
She was a nice girl, but I could tell within a few minutes of meeting her that it wasn’t going to work out. She was a restaurant waitress, which is outside of my industry focus. Also, at 34 years old, I would really have to stretch to make it work for an opportunity that late-stage. But the real deal-breaker was her apartment in Brooklyn. A commute like that would make it difficult for me to regularly add value, which is the reason for my strict geographical focus.
I guess it’s OK though, because a recently written off long-term investment has left me with little dry powder, and it’s going to take a few months of drinking with my LP’s for me to be in a position to seriously consider new deals.
I know in my heart that I should’ve called her back with a quick explanation, but I’m a busy guy – and besides, what happens if she gets hotter?
