Business

To Rent or to Buy In an Inflated Housing Market

Realestate is confusing right now. Voices clamor "the bubble burst. Buy. Buy. Buy" Or, "we haven't seen the bottom yet. Rent. Rent. Rent."

In my case, I'm especially pessimistic, and here's why. We are a stupid, self-deceived, selfish people. We believe homes are assetts. We have become insane speculators on housing and property.

I believe that a home should not cost more than about 5 years of income. This isn't an unreasonable belief: http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/home-shopping-where-to-rent-and-where-...

Creativity, Teamwork and the Social Parasites

I stumbled upon an interesting e-book titled "How To Be Creative" (Warning, it contains some foul language). It is inspiring on several levels. It's a 20 minute read, at a calm, pondering pace. If you have a creative streak in you, you should probably read it.

One quote that made me laugh out loud reads, "They may not have mentioned this in business school, but...people like watching dinosaurs die." (page 16)

Becoming a Manager

I am now officially a manager! My job title hasn't changed. I wasn't granted a pay raise. I didn't even change positions! Rather, my department finally decided to give me more than one assistant!

Selling My Time; What Am I Worth?

I have a lot of marketable skills. At least I think I do. I've never really sold them on the open market. That is essentially what freelance developers and consultants do. I want to. So what's stopping me?

Plenty.

Managers, Meet the Maker's Schedule

How do you manage your day-to-day schedule?

A friend just pointed me to this recent post by Paul Graham, about a schedule's impact on the productivity of creative types, "makers" as he calls them.

Free Markets Are Not Usually Fair Markets

During our recent stay in Ethiopia, my wife and I visited "the Merkato"—supposedly the largest outdoor market in Africa. We also shopped in a variety of places during the week and we observed a spectrum of trading methods, prices, and products.

Frugal Families Are Happy Families

One of the best outcomes of this adoption was a unified monetary policy in my family. We saved every penny before spending it. This was extremely challenging, but more rewarding than I expected. I discovered quickly that most of my stress in life relates to money (particularly with someone else spending it). But with a plan in place, stress is reduced, fear is gone, and life is simplified and happier.

BYU Removes YouTube Ban

BYU announced the following this morning:

YouTube is now available on the campus of Brigham Young University. Given the educational information and materials available on the video-sharing service, the University determined to make the service available on campus. The press has been following this issue quite closely, and Carrie Jenkins has released this information to them earlier this morning.

Connectivism: Who You Know Is What You Know

I recently learned a new term for a concept I have struggled to explain to people for some time. Connectivism.

ETL: Contentrated Power in a Global Economy

I subscribe to the netcast (iTunes link) of the Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders Seminar, provided by Stanford University.