Tuesday, June 15, 2010
How to be smart in life?
There's no certain way. Being smart is just living life in a way that makes sense. There are no shortcuts.
You learn things as you go along in life and being smart is in making the right choices based on what you have learned.
It is avoiding pitfalls, avoiding common mistakes. It is doing things that are important and valuable. It is being sensible, not being addicted to harmful thoughts and substances. It is having sound and balanced psych, maintaining good physical condition, being able to make friends and keeping them, being reasonable in inter-personal encounters and pursing hobbies that leads to above.
It is having reasonable goals and aspirations and the means to achieve them. It is taking measured risks and recovering from failures.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
More than a year has passed by since I last wrote anything here. There were lots to write about but not enough inclination to pen them. Now I the itch is back I can start writing again.
This past year I dabbled in investing, devoted enormous amounts of time and effort in pool, travelled to India and back and worked on a physical fitness routine that almost gave me a bronzed look. Yes, it has been an exciting year.
My last post was all about my immense optimism of getting rich in the stock market. Status update: things didnt work out as well as I had hoped. I am not a millionaire yet. In fact, I am a few thousand dollars poorer.
But, where I indeed lost in terms of money I hope I had traded them for wisdom. Because adversities are the fodder for sagacity. Every mistake made is an opportunity to avoid hundred others. Fair to say you wont find a whining looser here.
Optimism is still quite strong. I havent yet found a "perfect strategy" to trading yet. But, I am ever more cautious and patient.
I always wonder about this question: If I lost money in the stock market, who is the other person who took it away from me? That person may not be a single person but an entity composed of various market participants.
So, what happened to the money I lost. They must have gotten into the pockets of someone either in whole or in parts. Then, who is that awesome person? Is it Warren Buffett, the US government, China or something else?
If I could trace each and every dollar I lost to where they rest now, what would I find? If that someone is real then he does indeed know the "perfect strategy". This is where my optimism kicks in and says: "So that perfect strategy exists, and you can learn it!".
I am still searching.
This past year is also exciting because I picked up a new hobby: Pool. I am knee deep in it. It fascinates me and absorbs enormous amounts of my time. Besides playing regularly in a pool league I spend quite a bit of time practising it. I have reached a mid skill level ( a 5 in APA skill rankings ) and making rapid strides.
I also did some travelling. I went to India for a few weeks. It was nice to catch up with my family and friends. I wish I could do more of that but the distance is forbidding.
I will be updating more about these activities going forward...
This past year I dabbled in investing, devoted enormous amounts of time and effort in pool, travelled to India and back and worked on a physical fitness routine that almost gave me a bronzed look. Yes, it has been an exciting year.
My last post was all about my immense optimism of getting rich in the stock market. Status update: things didnt work out as well as I had hoped. I am not a millionaire yet. In fact, I am a few thousand dollars poorer.
But, where I indeed lost in terms of money I hope I had traded them for wisdom. Because adversities are the fodder for sagacity. Every mistake made is an opportunity to avoid hundred others. Fair to say you wont find a whining looser here.
Optimism is still quite strong. I havent yet found a "perfect strategy" to trading yet. But, I am ever more cautious and patient.
I always wonder about this question: If I lost money in the stock market, who is the other person who took it away from me? That person may not be a single person but an entity composed of various market participants.
So, what happened to the money I lost. They must have gotten into the pockets of someone either in whole or in parts. Then, who is that awesome person? Is it Warren Buffett, the US government, China or something else?
If I could trace each and every dollar I lost to where they rest now, what would I find? If that someone is real then he does indeed know the "perfect strategy". This is where my optimism kicks in and says: "So that perfect strategy exists, and you can learn it!".
I am still searching.
This past year is also exciting because I picked up a new hobby: Pool. I am knee deep in it. It fascinates me and absorbs enormous amounts of my time. Besides playing regularly in a pool league I spend quite a bit of time practising it. I have reached a mid skill level ( a 5 in APA skill rankings ) and making rapid strides.
I also did some travelling. I went to India for a few weeks. It was nice to catch up with my family and friends. I wish I could do more of that but the distance is forbidding.
I will be updating more about these activities going forward...
Monday, January 5, 2009
Getting rich
I am playing the stock market these days and I cannot but express my total amazement at myself.
I started off with a theory of how to make money out of the volatility of the market and thought I should put it to practice. I started nice and steady with a conservative investment of 5000$ and executing a series of trades according to the strategy. They went quite well, in fact too well I must say because I started making 100% profits every 3-4 days. I became a pattern day trader.
And then I became greedy, and started having dreams of becoming a millionaire by the end of the year. Uh Oh! that lead me to making trades that were no where within the ballparks of the strategy I was planning to execute and they went all wrong.
It took me almost a month to get from 5000$ to 30,000$. But, it only took a week for me to go the reverse direction to -2000$.
In retrospective, the stategy worked, but I didnt stick to it long enough.
Perhaps I need to factor into account that sticking to the strategy should be a part of the strategy. I am slowly climbing back and recupering my losses now.
I still hope to be millionaire by the "end of this year".
I started off with a theory of how to make money out of the volatility of the market and thought I should put it to practice. I started nice and steady with a conservative investment of 5000$ and executing a series of trades according to the strategy. They went quite well, in fact too well I must say because I started making 100% profits every 3-4 days. I became a pattern day trader.
And then I became greedy, and started having dreams of becoming a millionaire by the end of the year. Uh Oh! that lead me to making trades that were no where within the ballparks of the strategy I was planning to execute and they went all wrong.
It took me almost a month to get from 5000$ to 30,000$. But, it only took a week for me to go the reverse direction to -2000$.
In retrospective, the stategy worked, but I didnt stick to it long enough.
Perhaps I need to factor into account that sticking to the strategy should be a part of the strategy. I am slowly climbing back and recupering my losses now.
I still hope to be millionaire by the "end of this year".
Friday, April 4, 2008
Meaning of Life
What is the meaning of life? This is perhaps the singlemost important/worthwhile question a living being can ponder and everyone has different answers (no answer is an answer).
My version of the answer:
Life is living in contradictions where every essense is in contrast to themselves. A perhaps crude analogy would be a sea of contradictions with us somewhere in the middle. We can drown, swim, float or fly away.
Drowning is like suffering where every moment we are living in self-demeaning way, without purpose, lost and aloof. Where we are rendered helpless by the troes of dilemma. Where everything ends up backwards. Where we can't make ends meet.
Swimming is like, moving from one contradictory position to another, leaving deep questions underneath, going on with the everyday life, momentarily happy but stumbling on each new wave of contradiction. In short, living through life and taking what it throws.
Floating is like being at peace with the contradictions. Recognizing them but not knowing what to do about them. Realizing that its futile to struggle, but at the same time fearing that if we dont we won't get anywhere and we might drown. It borders on swimming and drowning and flying and it could go any direction any moment.
Flying is like enlightenment. We are free from contradictions, we have left them behind. We know what they are and we can see them from an unique angle. We also know the way out of them and how others can follow that way and where they stumble. It is like Nirvana. This is also where we end up for a short while when we die. But, in this case we might fall right back onto the sea.
My version of the answer:
Life is living in contradictions where every essense is in contrast to themselves. A perhaps crude analogy would be a sea of contradictions with us somewhere in the middle. We can drown, swim, float or fly away.
Drowning is like suffering where every moment we are living in self-demeaning way, without purpose, lost and aloof. Where we are rendered helpless by the troes of dilemma. Where everything ends up backwards. Where we can't make ends meet.
Swimming is like, moving from one contradictory position to another, leaving deep questions underneath, going on with the everyday life, momentarily happy but stumbling on each new wave of contradiction. In short, living through life and taking what it throws.
Floating is like being at peace with the contradictions. Recognizing them but not knowing what to do about them. Realizing that its futile to struggle, but at the same time fearing that if we dont we won't get anywhere and we might drown. It borders on swimming and drowning and flying and it could go any direction any moment.
Flying is like enlightenment. We are free from contradictions, we have left them behind. We know what they are and we can see them from an unique angle. We also know the way out of them and how others can follow that way and where they stumble. It is like Nirvana. This is also where we end up for a short while when we die. But, in this case we might fall right back onto the sea.
Goal
Any goal is reacheable. Only question worth asking is "how many failures will it take to reach it?".
If you reach a goal in the first try, it could mean that either the goal was too easy or you were just lucky. Such goals are not of great value.
Any goal worth reaching must atleast have a few number of failed attempts.
In the same vein, if it takes too many failures to reach a goal, it could be that the goal is unrealistic. It does not mean its not reacheable though!.
But, it might take away a significant amount of your time and energy. Time and energy which you could have utilized elsewhere.
So, goal setting is important. It would be prudent to budget your energy and time between goals.
If you reach a goal in the first try, it could mean that either the goal was too easy or you were just lucky. Such goals are not of great value.
Any goal worth reaching must atleast have a few number of failed attempts.
In the same vein, if it takes too many failures to reach a goal, it could be that the goal is unrealistic. It does not mean its not reacheable though!.
But, it might take away a significant amount of your time and energy. Time and energy which you could have utilized elsewhere.
So, goal setting is important. It would be prudent to budget your energy and time between goals.
Monday, March 12, 2007
The girl in the rain
Ravi was the quiet and reserved kind. Having lived through most of his life away from family and friends he had learnt to keep himself immersed in himself and his surroundings. He was keenly observant of the things around him and found unbridled amusement in the most mundane of things. But beneath the aloofness he had an intelligent mind and had done quite well academically. He spent his time preparing for the civil services examination.
He had a loving nature that endured him to many.The owner of the single bedroom that he occupied on the 1st floor of an old decrepit Benaras haveli were specially fond of him. Enduring the loss of their single offspring to a hapless accident years ago Mr and Mrs Kumar were now all but living through their meagre pension and the rent from Ravi. And they were grateful to him for staying with them. They occupied the rooms on the ground floor.
The haveli was old belying the glory of its heydeys. It was crumbling down and was almost beyond repair. The rainy days were specially bad as water seeped through the walls at many places. It had many rooms but most were unworthy of habitation without significant overhaul. Few people would want to rent this place. And so, they were happy to have Ravi staying with them who on the other hand was equally happy with the small rent. He could hardly afford anything more lavish then that.
Ravi was practically a family member of the Kumars. Kumar Auntie would cook all his meals and get his clothes washed by the maid. She would clean his room every morning and generally treated her like her own son. Ravi was grateful for this service as it freed him to concentrate on his studies.
There was one habit Ravi had formed through the years. He thoroughly enjoyed going out for a walk along the banks of the Ganges after dinner. It had a calming effect on him. The full moon nights were particularly special to him. And he did this without fail. Mrs Kumar observed that Ravi almost always returned peacefull and calm after such a noctural walk. She felt good for him and thought she should go herself sometimes, her arthritis permitting.
Time went by and the monsoon came in. But, Ravi's noctural walk did not give way. He insisted on going out even in the rain with an umbrella in hand. Mrs Kumar tried to discourage him on many occasions but finally had to give in to his adamance. She couldnt understand this behavior but did not think much of this at that time. Mr Kumar was quite aloof too. They dismissed it of as a strange insistance of some kind.
The first time she noticed something alarming was when she saw blood stains on his shirt one night. He was thoroughly drenched from the rain and the blood was smeared across his left sleeve. The umbrella he had carried was nowhere to be seen. At first she thought he must have been hurt. But he walked straight and showed no pain. In fact, he seemed to be in a strange trance like state. He gave no answers to her queries and headed upstairs to his room and bolted it.
The next morning Mrs Kumar decided to confront him. But she found him very quiet even by Ravi's standards. When she questioned about the previous night he could summon no recollection of what could have put the blood stains on his shirt. By his account it was just a routine walk with nothing interesting to report. But, yes he did come across a very beautiful girl in the rain! Then he went up to study leaving behind a very puzzled and concerned Mrs Kumar.
........contd...
He had a loving nature that endured him to many.The owner of the single bedroom that he occupied on the 1st floor of an old decrepit Benaras haveli were specially fond of him. Enduring the loss of their single offspring to a hapless accident years ago Mr and Mrs Kumar were now all but living through their meagre pension and the rent from Ravi. And they were grateful to him for staying with them. They occupied the rooms on the ground floor.
The haveli was old belying the glory of its heydeys. It was crumbling down and was almost beyond repair. The rainy days were specially bad as water seeped through the walls at many places. It had many rooms but most were unworthy of habitation without significant overhaul. Few people would want to rent this place. And so, they were happy to have Ravi staying with them who on the other hand was equally happy with the small rent. He could hardly afford anything more lavish then that.
Ravi was practically a family member of the Kumars. Kumar Auntie would cook all his meals and get his clothes washed by the maid. She would clean his room every morning and generally treated her like her own son. Ravi was grateful for this service as it freed him to concentrate on his studies.
There was one habit Ravi had formed through the years. He thoroughly enjoyed going out for a walk along the banks of the Ganges after dinner. It had a calming effect on him. The full moon nights were particularly special to him. And he did this without fail. Mrs Kumar observed that Ravi almost always returned peacefull and calm after such a noctural walk. She felt good for him and thought she should go herself sometimes, her arthritis permitting.
Time went by and the monsoon came in. But, Ravi's noctural walk did not give way. He insisted on going out even in the rain with an umbrella in hand. Mrs Kumar tried to discourage him on many occasions but finally had to give in to his adamance. She couldnt understand this behavior but did not think much of this at that time. Mr Kumar was quite aloof too. They dismissed it of as a strange insistance of some kind.
The first time she noticed something alarming was when she saw blood stains on his shirt one night. He was thoroughly drenched from the rain and the blood was smeared across his left sleeve. The umbrella he had carried was nowhere to be seen. At first she thought he must have been hurt. But he walked straight and showed no pain. In fact, he seemed to be in a strange trance like state. He gave no answers to her queries and headed upstairs to his room and bolted it.
The next morning Mrs Kumar decided to confront him. But she found him very quiet even by Ravi's standards. When she questioned about the previous night he could summon no recollection of what could have put the blood stains on his shirt. By his account it was just a routine walk with nothing interesting to report. But, yes he did come across a very beautiful girl in the rain! Then he went up to study leaving behind a very puzzled and concerned Mrs Kumar.
........contd...
Friday, March 9, 2007
Fiction to Fact
Here's an interesting BBC article about how scientists are now talking about robot ethics and their repercussions on human-robot interactions. Have we really reached that point yet when we could be sued for "inhumane" treatment of robots? Are we going to be seeing the surge of robot-rights movement in line with animal-rights movement? Not yet! I am sure but the real question is are we heading there faster than we can realize it? This article talks about moral, ethical questions that such an event will give rise to.
But, my question is not whether that will happen or not and if that happens what could be the result? My question is do we have a choice?
In my humble opinion, popular science fiction already determines what is going to happen and what is not. It points the direction in which scientific endeavour will advance in time and being popular ideas human innovation measures up to lead us there. The only elements of uncertainity I see in this is that of the idea getting unpopular through time, in which case science will change to the direction of a more popular idea (possibly another product of science fiction) or the amount of time it will take to reach there.
So, it doesn't surprise me that issues as those pointed out by the article are knocking our doors now. It will be with us even before we know it. Robots are here to stay!
Ever since they were made popular by Issac Asimov's novels the direction of science has been firmly oriented towards their invention and use. Indeed the last half century has seen immense progress in this direction. I am not an expert in this field but I do know from my engineering education that making robots walk was one of the biggest challenge in robotics. That was some 10 years ago and since then I have seen the bi-pedal robot from Honda named Asimo that not only walks with poise but also dances too.
And soon we are going to be having robots that can laugh at your jokes or cry at your insults. We better start learning robotiquettes !!!
But, my question is not whether that will happen or not and if that happens what could be the result? My question is do we have a choice?
In my humble opinion, popular science fiction already determines what is going to happen and what is not. It points the direction in which scientific endeavour will advance in time and being popular ideas human innovation measures up to lead us there. The only elements of uncertainity I see in this is that of the idea getting unpopular through time, in which case science will change to the direction of a more popular idea (possibly another product of science fiction) or the amount of time it will take to reach there.
So, it doesn't surprise me that issues as those pointed out by the article are knocking our doors now. It will be with us even before we know it. Robots are here to stay!
Ever since they were made popular by Issac Asimov's novels the direction of science has been firmly oriented towards their invention and use. Indeed the last half century has seen immense progress in this direction. I am not an expert in this field but I do know from my engineering education that making robots walk was one of the biggest challenge in robotics. That was some 10 years ago and since then I have seen the bi-pedal robot from Honda named Asimo that not only walks with poise but also dances too.
And soon we are going to be having robots that can laugh at your jokes or cry at your insults. We better start learning robotiquettes !!!
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