Shock Therapy: Day 3 of the frigid treatment

Today was a hot/cold day. I'm using an automatic shower which cannot be turned cold, so I am doing warm, not for lack of trying though.

So, well nothing to see here ...

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On thinking

Why do I believe what I believe? Why are my values what they are? Where do my thoughts come from? Are my ideals 'mine'? The question of thought, is a complex one, not least because thinking is so difficult. Many of us do not think, we take the thoughts of others and use them as the foundations, walls, or thatching of our mental structures. But we rarely think, and deep enough on important matters anyway. Thinking involves the admission that we do not know, an admission coming from a place of humility that we are ignorant and could do better. It does not, as is usually thought, have to be from a place of knowledge, even though knowledge can inform thoughts. If it was, then we would not necessarily be thinking, but just reorganizing previously known ideas. It begins with asking the question, why. Why do we go to school? Why do we marry and have children? Why do we work to earn money in order to buy things? Why do we elect leaders? Why do we go to places of worship and perfo...

Nourishing the soul: Music

This journey called life is both sweet and sad. Days are lonely and dark and cold, at the same time cheery and rich and beautiful. It is a paradox that we struggle with daily, faltering and then getting up and marching on. Music makes the journey more bearable. In that instance when you hear a song that connects you to the infinite, in a way you cannot explain, you transcend your petty grievances against your lover, forget your self-pity. This is one of the greatest gifts from the universe, ability to return to our Source even when we do not understand the words being sung. I do not understand what these two songs say, but they are transcendent.

Analyzing a carry trade proposal: Short USD, go long on bitcoin

I recently completed an assignment for an International Economics Policy class which entailed designing a carry trade. A carry trade is a financial transaction that involves borrowing (short) in a low interest currency, and lending (go long) in a high interest (yield) currency. For instance from Bloomberg 's rates for bonds, this would involve borrowing in Swiss francs (rate is -0.15 percent) and lend in New Zealand dollars (rate is 2.83 percent). All else remaining equal, the carry trade would yield a rate differential of 2.83+0.15 = 2.98 percent. Note: this is an unusual case where the interest rate we are borrowing from is negative; usually, this would involve subtracting the first interest rate from the second. For instance, borrowing in Japanese yen (0.04 percent) and lending in Kiwi dollars (at 2.83 percent) would yield 2.79 percent as profit. My carry trade in this case involves borrowing in USD at a rate of 2.33 percent, and buying bitcoins. But, what, you may ask, is the...

Munene, the journey...

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