Prosper Vs. Kiva
Prosper is a peer to peer lending site. It has been coined the Ebay for loans. My issues with Prosper is how many Americans default on loans. I thought I would be getting an ROI of 11%, but it is closer to 1%. This causes me to think that my money is better in Kiva.org, where you lend to micro-finance operations around the world and give small loans to people who really need it. Even though I make no interst on the loans I have with Kiva, I have never had a default, and yet feel much better about lending to these people in real difficult situations, over those on Prosper who bought a McMansion and can't afford to pay their bills.
http://www.lendingstats.com/lenders/skitramp
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
My next car!
If my last post was too dreamy, here is one that may be more practical for you. This car should be here by 2010, and I will be in line to purchase it.
http://www.think.no/think/content/view/full/261
Enjoy
http://www.think.no/think/content/view/full/261
Enjoy
Dreams come true
The future of air travel
http://www.iconaircraft.com/index.html
With the new FAA sport flying regulations, this type of aircraft will quickly enter the market and come down in price. In my opinion, this will change the way America lives, literaly. Americans can now have homes hours from metro centers where the take off from lakes or private strips and commute to work. You save $200,000 by living far from metro areas on your home, and put $100,000 into aircraft, and you have yourself a deal. Sign me up (when I get the cash)!
http://www.iconaircraft.com/index.html
With the new FAA sport flying regulations, this type of aircraft will quickly enter the market and come down in price. In my opinion, this will change the way America lives, literaly. Americans can now have homes hours from metro centers where the take off from lakes or private strips and commute to work. You save $200,000 by living far from metro areas on your home, and put $100,000 into aircraft, and you have yourself a deal. Sign me up (when I get the cash)!
Sunday, December 30, 2007
The Future of UAV's for Commercial Use
My interest in UAVs (unmanned air vehicles) comes from the potential I see for their use in commercial applications. Flying Sensors, a company out of Salt Lake City, uses UAV's equipped with meteorological and chemical sensors that can be used to monitor the output on the plumes of oil refineries. They also have helicopters that are equipped with HD video cameras to allow an array of marketing possibilities to real estate owners, advertisers and the likes.
It is relieving to see this wonderful technology used for purposes other than defense. I think 2008 will bring many new viable uses of UAVs. Developers, architects, brokers, golf courses, city planners, and many other industries and individuals will come to find the usefulness and the economical advantage that a UAV can provide. UAVs will truly become a disruptive technology that commercial ventures cannot ignore, just as the military has learned not to ignore
My interest in UAVs (unmanned air vehicles) comes from the potential I see for their use in commercial applications. Flying Sensors, a company out of Salt Lake City, uses UAV's equipped with meteorological and chemical sensors that can be used to monitor the output on the plumes of oil refineries. They also have helicopters that are equipped with HD video cameras to allow an array of marketing possibilities to real estate owners, advertisers and the likes.
It is relieving to see this wonderful technology used for purposes other than defense. I think 2008 will bring many new viable uses of UAVs. Developers, architects, brokers, golf courses, city planners, and many other industries and individuals will come to find the usefulness and the economical advantage that a UAV can provide. UAVs will truly become a disruptive technology that commercial ventures cannot ignore, just as the military has learned not to ignore
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Labor vs. Leisure
Labor Economics teaches there are two types of individuals: Those who work more when they earn more, and those who choose to take more time off because they can afford to do so.
I didn't realize that while I was sitting in an otherwise boring summer course, I was learning the most valuable lesson of American life. We can choose to work or play. Not all nations have this choice, but for the most part North Americans do have this choice.
I am in full admittance that I am leisure driven. I know how much I need to make in a year to afford me time to play. If I can make $100,000 working for 6 months, or $200,000 working 12 months, I am likely to take the $100,000 and play the rest of the year, even if I have missed out on an extra $100,000.
I have never made $100,000, so I can't say that the greed factor wouldn't kick in, but I am pretty sure that it is all relative. It is easy for one to imagine what they would do if they made more money. Would you buy yourself more leisure or would you work more to make more.
I have discussed this with friends and most want to believe they value leisure, but where I use a per annum measurement, they use an entire lifetime. For example, they would choose to forgo leisure for the first half of their life to have it in the second half (retirement). From my experience this method is dangerous. After living a life of labor, you will condition yourself to labor even if unnecessary, and not to mention the ability to enjoy some of life's adventures with an aging body is more difficult.
I am not advocating a slothful hippie lifestyle. I am only stating that labor for the most part is something we would rather not do if we had the choice. If you labor because you love it, than it falls under the category of leisure. If a farmer or a medic loves what he is doing so much that it is what he would do given free time, then it is no longer labor in my opinion.
To sum up my thoughts here, I believe we should evaluate where we are on the labor/leisure scale and ask ourselves if I am where I want to be, and if not, make that change by either going somewhere for a few weeks to relax, or get a job.
I didn't realize that while I was sitting in an otherwise boring summer course, I was learning the most valuable lesson of American life. We can choose to work or play. Not all nations have this choice, but for the most part North Americans do have this choice.
I am in full admittance that I am leisure driven. I know how much I need to make in a year to afford me time to play. If I can make $100,000 working for 6 months, or $200,000 working 12 months, I am likely to take the $100,000 and play the rest of the year, even if I have missed out on an extra $100,000.
I have never made $100,000, so I can't say that the greed factor wouldn't kick in, but I am pretty sure that it is all relative. It is easy for one to imagine what they would do if they made more money. Would you buy yourself more leisure or would you work more to make more.
I have discussed this with friends and most want to believe they value leisure, but where I use a per annum measurement, they use an entire lifetime. For example, they would choose to forgo leisure for the first half of their life to have it in the second half (retirement). From my experience this method is dangerous. After living a life of labor, you will condition yourself to labor even if unnecessary, and not to mention the ability to enjoy some of life's adventures with an aging body is more difficult.
I am not advocating a slothful hippie lifestyle. I am only stating that labor for the most part is something we would rather not do if we had the choice. If you labor because you love it, than it falls under the category of leisure. If a farmer or a medic loves what he is doing so much that it is what he would do given free time, then it is no longer labor in my opinion.
To sum up my thoughts here, I believe we should evaluate where we are on the labor/leisure scale and ask ourselves if I am where I want to be, and if not, make that change by either going somewhere for a few weeks to relax, or get a job.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
