No Dummies

The Intelligent Investor, Benjamin Graham (1973 edition); multi-year loan from pops

<-- I like the look of this minimalistic hardcover version from 1973; not easy to find online (if it's still available at all).

Well, I finally finished reading this one cover to cover.  It took a long time - bursts of progress rather than continuous reading.  And while it's nice to be acquainted with one of the foundational texts of value investing...  I really didn't get as much out of it as I could have.  If I were really trying to find new and better ways to pick stocks, I would have paid more attention and taken notes on some of the key principles (on a quick review, things like price close to tangible asset value, P/E ratio below 15, 20 years of continuous dividends, assets at least double liabilities, payout around two-thirds of earnings...).

I read The Boglehead's Guide to Investing almost a year ago, which makes for a good comparison.  The two schools of thought aren't fundamentally opposed.  Some of the advice is similar, stressing the importance of diversification, encouraging long-term holding patterns, and drawing a line between investors and traders or speculators.  At a higher level, they both in their own ways reinforce the idea that investing doesn't have to take genius or dumb luck.

The main difference comes in the unit of investment.  A Graham-ian portfolio will have (comprise?) 10-30 big companies represented; a Boglehead's, maybe just a few mutual funds or ETFs.  Of course, the latter is probably the better-diversified portfolio.  Graham addresses "investment funds," which he seems to treat as a newer concept - with at least some slight skepticism.  Which is of course justified - picking actively-managed funds poses similar challenges to stocks.

Although my investment approach has been much more in the Boglehead camp (and has ridden the market surge nicely), as I write, Graham's approach seems to make more and more sense.  His methods probably have higher potential rewards than an index fund.  And while it makes more sense for the more serious, involved investor, today's screening tools can do in minutes what probably took him (or his research associates) hours to do manually.  I may not be ready to go back to stock picking with my IRA rollover (I feel so much richer now that the money isn't sequestered on some crappy 401(k) website and I see it whenever I log into my B of A account), but something to consider in my second decade of investing.

Collecting Stamps

Every ten years, it's time for a new passport.  For aspiring globe-trotters, it's a bittersweet moment to relinquish all those hard-earned stamps and start fresh.  My last time, though, I was surprised that they returned the old passport to me (after a couple well-placed hole punches to make sure it can't be used any more).  I've finally gotten around to some reminisces about past travels.

First, though - that hairline!

OK, on to the fun part, piecing together some memorable trips based on (sometimes weak-handed) customs officals:

Mostly Zombies

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Seth Grahame-Smith; credit to Jane Austen; courtesy of a forgotten sister

Published in 2009, gifted to me a couple years ago; why read it now?  I've seen trailers for the movie adaptation, but that's mostly coincidence.  I saw it as possible inspiration for a similar genre-melding project.  So, what did I think?

The Fool's Progress Regresses

The Fool's Progress, by Edward Abbey; courtesy of Uncle Joe

Naturally, for a book that follows one man's long life, The Fool's Progress went through its ups and downs.  Henry Holyoak Lightcap's memories (Or Abbey's?  It's subtitled, "an honest novel"; I'll look into how autobiographical it supposedly is after getting my initial thoughts down.) of how he got to his last, desperate, cross-country homecoming - and my reactions - fell into three distinct phases.

MediumBrow's 2015 Reading List

...On to 2015!  Not as prolific a year, and in review, a mixed bag in terms of quality.  So let's organize this year's reads with that in mind:

MediumBrow's 2014 Reading List

Missed this one by a year - must have been busy reading almost a book a week!  Quick belated month-by-month recap (by my favorites)...

MediumBrow's 2013 Reading List

That time of year again.  The numbers continue to mount.  With the help of the New York Public Library's e-book collection and a new 35-minute commute, I finished 2013 strong.  The total was 39 (although that's counting Joe Abercrombie's First Law series as just one book).  I decided to organize the recap a little differently this year - by category (with some overlap):

Top 3 Cowboy Quips

Every young boy wants to be a cowboy at some point or in some way.  It doesn't matter if they're Texas-born and bred, or... not.  And there's plenty there that would be a good model for today's generation.  I've always been partial to the image of the strong, silent cowboy, straight-talking when there's occasion to open his mouth.  That said, there's also some distinctive cowboy-isms that I've come across that I'm always excited to use appropriately - to elicit a smile or chuckle, and reinforce my meager cowboy bona fides.

Here's my top three:

Flying in British Style

I vaguely remember a British Airways television commercial starring a prim and proper flight attendant with the tagline, "We British just know how to fly" or something to that effect.  Unfortunately, I can't seem to uncover any online evidence of this particular campaign, so instead, I'll have to segue into my review of my recent travels on the airline with this:

MediumBrow's 2012 Reading List

Last year I gave a rundown of the fourteen books I finished in the calendar year.  In 2012, with the help of the New York Public Library, I tallied a Jordanesque 23.

A Noble Quest

I was reading the Nice Guys of OKCupid post and saw the one guy was asked if there were any circumstances where a girl was obligated to have sex with him, and I thought his "Yes" response was... insufficient.  Here's what I came up with:

 

One day as I stepped out of work to grab lunch, a hawk swooped down and dropped something in front of me.  My first impulse was to move on and let whoever's job it was clean it up, but I glanced down and saw what appeared to be a mangled carrier pigeon with a message still attached to its leg.  Against my better judgment I carefully detached the scroll - a desperate plea for help from a princess imprisoned in a faraway magical kingdom.

 

As I read, an old man appeared out of the misty rain behind me.  He had long, wild hair and, to put it charitably, smelled like the sea.  Cackling madly is probably not the best way to start a conversation with me on the sidewalk, but he stopped me before I could brush by to go wash my hands somewhere.  Still chuckling under his breath, he said that fate had chosen me for a noble quest.  Fuck.

 

It got a little better from there, as he promised to help me prepare as best he could.  He showed me a map of hidden byways through the demon-infested badlands.  With his guidance, I would have to learn to play a special song on a pan-flute to bypass the manticore guardians, and master the wards that could get me close enough to the evil warlock to wrestle away his staff.  He could also coach me in remedial gnomish so that I could find supplies and assistance along the way without them totally gouging me on price.

 

Even so, I had to look elsewhere for other necessary skills.  Obviously, I'd have to learn to fight with sword and shield - and stage-fighting wouldn't cut it, I needed actual death-dealing moves.  I thought about bringing a bicycle with me, but what if it were to break down?  So add horseback riding to the list.  Also lots of cardio.

 

After more near-death experiences than I like to remember, I finally reached the end of my quest.  I'd be lying if I said that, as I climbed the 1,001 steps of the princess's tower, I wasn't expecting some boning at the top.  But she had a crazy look in her eyes, so I switched a couple digits in the phone number I left her and went back to the office.

Midtown Lunch Power Rankings

I'm pleased to introduce the inaugural edition of the MediumBrow Midtown Lunch Power Rankings.  The top five represent, more often than not, the slate of lunch spots for a week of work.  Without further ado:

1. 99 Miles to Philly (Last Quarter: No Ranking): This place may not have even existed last quarter.  They may strike you as all business with window service only, but they do an excellent job whipping up a delicious sub.  Just a few weeks from finishing off the frequent diner card and earning a free cheesesteak!
2. Cafe Hestia (Last Quarter: NR): Here's another recent addition to the Midtown lunch scene; not as brand-new as 99 Miles, but one I've only tried out on a much-appreciated tip in the last couple months.  Solid variety (even without diversifying beyond sandwiches) and excellent value - filling for a full couple of dollars less than any of the other top five.  Seemingly staffed by Pinnacle veterans, Cafe Hestia clearly knows its business and  lands it at number two.
3. Chipotle (Last Quarter: 2): Remains the most solid (and addictive) burrito chain in the vicinity.
4. Mangu (Last Quarter: 3): Mangu's great for a filling (paleo? maybe...) meal, albeit mostly from the sides.  I have to admit, the green salad is a game changer - interesting dressing and corn garnish, and lets you enjoy the savory mashed plantain without then overloading on the sweet fried as dessert.
5. Boi (Last Quarter: NR): Unlike the other "NR's," Boi is no newcomer.  Indeed, it was a stable years ago, when it was just across the street.  However, it got old, and seems to serve smaller portions than previously.  That said, its spicy sauce is addicting, and for now it's a weekly stop.

Honorable Mention - these are in the rotation, but may not make the cut most weeks:

• Num Pang (Last Quarter: 1): A dramatic and totally unanticipated dropoff for one of our leaders as recently as a few months back.  Their strong, deep menu seemed like it would never get old.  However, in the end, Num Pang seems to have been done in by reliance on the same sauces and vegetable combinations (ugh cucumber) on every one of their sandwiches.
  
• Schnitzel & Things (Last Quarter: 4): Every so often, the time seems right for a somewhat gourmet Alpine specialty.

Other:

• Subway (Last Quarter: 5t): The Five-Dollar Footlong is a thing of the past, but every once in a while I still feel the need for a solid Chicken-Bacon Ranch with jalapenos and southwest sauce.
• Pret a Manger (Last Quarter: 5t): Still perfect for a quick bite.
• Del Monico's (Last Quarter: NR): Del Monico's could have expected a seasonal bump in the rankings with chillier autumn and winter days that call for a generous (and reasonably priced) of ramen. So far that has not been the case though, as I've never quite felt like I've had enough time from a busy schedule to tackle a challenging (and un-paleo) meal.
• Five Guys (Last Quarter: NR): Five Guys likely hasn't cracked the top five in some time, but remains an intriguing option.  Fries are a little excessive for lunch, though.

Beyond all those establishments, Lenny's will definitely be worth a look when it opens ("soon"?!).  Until next time...

Dan vs. Dan - A Time-Traveling Writing Challenge

One of my occasional responsibilities at work is to meet prospective hires for our team.  It's still work, but really a welcome break from the routine.  Aside from generally forcing me to be sociable, I am also tasked with giving their writing samples a look.

A recent quest for an obscure book title brought me back to my own late-college writing samples.  Which, naturally, led me to ponder, have I become older and wiser?  Or have my skills only atrophied in the mind-numbing corporate world?  Get it on!

Hollinger's Playoff Oddities

With less than twenty games left in this shortened NBA season, it's not at all too early to keep an eye on the conference standings.  And how 'bout those Knicks?!  More thoughts to come on what's been going on at the Garden...  In the meantime, they may be just barely in the playoff picture at the moment, but based on talent and recent form, their spot seems more secure.  How secure?  Let's see what number John Hollinger can put to that.

Taming Tilapia

Our ancestors have done battle for generations with the noble beasts of the sea.  These brave fisher-folk have risked all in the pursuit of swordfish, salmon, crab, even whale to feed their families on the ocean's bounty.

What would they think of tilapia?  They may never have heard of that freshwater runt.  As one point of reference, the strictest forms of the paleo diet seem to frown on its fish farms' grain feed and possible mercury content(?).

Whatever.  It's cheap and easy to cook.  I've tried different versions of in recent months, and finally decided to commit some of the key permutations to the record.

A Tale of the Wood Elves

On mountain slope, 'neath forest bough and beside tumbling stream lies the realm of the frolicsome wood elves.  Even as the world shivers ere the turning of the year, their gambols continue undisturbed by cold and frost.

MediumBrow's 2011 Reading List

I may think it's silly to dwell on arbitrary markers of the passage of time, but everyone's doing it, and that's a good enough reason to get me back on the blog (with a vengeance - this post turned out long) with a look back at 2011. 

Alright.

The most popular new years' resolutions have to be exercise/weight loss, travel or reading.  (Hmmm, it appears I missed saving money and spending time with family.)  For the bibliophiles, now is the time to assess how much of their ambitious goals were met in 2011.  Based on my own lists and notes, my tally worked out to more than one book a month, which came as a pleasant surprise.  Sure, there were a couple page-turners and even some that were mostly pictures...  But some weighty stuff too.  To wit:

Breaking the ice on mobile payments

Somewhat ironically for CI's mobile payments expert, I'm pretty conservative, even bearish, about the technology.  P2P seems needlessly complicated, designed just to show off your fancy gadgets for your friends.  And point-of-sale purchases?  Are that many shops going to buy into an entirely new payment network?  I don't see smartphones, much less payment apps, becoming more ubiquitous than cash or plastic.  And aside from that skepticism, I'm naturally reluctant to link my own cards or accounts to a mobile device to actually start using any of the pilot programs.

So what would it take to get me to just try out mobile payments?  Yeah, $10 of free food sounds about right.

This guy better not cost us the NBA season

This guy:

Sons of Rock

In the immortal crooning of Neil Young, "Rock and roll will never die."  Yes, in one sense, the groups that have carried the torch may linger past their primes, like the Red Hot Chili Peppers or U2.  The next generation has been disappointingly sparse, as I've noted in earlier attempts at reviews.  Friends of rock keep the tradition alive in the underground world, but there are bands that show that rock can still be at least somewhat mainstream.  One such group to check out: Rival Sons.