Winter is the season of death, and it was all I could do to survive this past one. Our compulsions to work and eat the way we do in warmer and healthier times always seems to conspire against us during the coldest months, leaving us sniffly, feverish and bedridden. I suppose either we choose rest or nature chooses it for us – or at least so it was for me in February, the worst part of the Tokyo winter. But from every death comes new life, and the opportunity for that life to be better than the one that preceded it. Eventually, though too late, I listened to the dictates…
This Saturday I tested out the green room at Youtube Tokyo with my colleague from OmokageDevTV. My manager is going to kill me for dressing like “a homeless” and not fixing my hair, but who knew I was going to be doing an interview?! In reality we just had some fun in front of the screen and I will share what Omokage-san comes up with (he’s a budding effects enthusiast) – make sure to check him out and subscribe even if you don’t speak Japanese – learn Japanese and support the blue belt community! So this week we ran into some PC problems, delaying the release of “Flipper Girl”, but…
After a couple exciting weeks (see here and here) and an impromptu music video last week I got back to some basics this week and continued work on some ongoing projects. I also peeled about a kg of almonds – of course after soaking them overnight in salt water. For those who are wondering the almond’s skin is difficult to digest and contains most of the phytic acid which binds the nutrients in the almond. The Ayurvedic way is to soak the raw almonds and peel by hand before eating – this retains the most nutrient content. But so as to knock out a whole kg in one sitting (whilst…
“Sell in May and walk away” is the catch phrase of the weak season for equities we have just embarked upon. According to the linked article, returns since 1950 during the May-October period have been .3% annualized, while the remaining 6 months have averaged 7%. The largest market crashes, including the 15%+ selloffs of the QE era (2010 and 2011) have all occurred during this season. With the S&P at all-time highs, sentiment starting to pull back from prolonged elevated levels, the Fed reducing stimulus, and various potential sources for geopolitical conflagaration, it is difficult to argue against this being another rocky season. GMO identifies other reasons for concern in…
In the last weekly I discussed my general approach to trading (EVT analysis) and some trading opportunities in the current market. I define trading (speculation) as going long or short a security with the intention of exiting when the position shows a sufficient profit. Investing, on the other hand, is buying a security that is undervalued with the intention of selling it when it becomes overvalued.1 I look at trading as a modern-day form of hunting – through living a disciplined life and sharpening certain analytical weapons, I aim to meet my basic needs for survival. Just as we do not expect to amass wealth by playing the slot…
Since the last edition of my weekly in September 2013, not a great deal has changed in the markets. This is supportive of my belief that the markets rarely warrant looking at, except as a form of occasional entertainment. Here is a look at some then and now numbers in various markets of interest: Still, I have continued to follow the markets on a weekly basis, partly out of habit and partly to look for trading opportunities. One aim of my blue belt life is to cover a portion of my living expenses using the skills I developed over my 9 years as a bond trader. One of the problems…
