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Peter P
2006 May 24, 9:33am
My normal pens are Pilot G-2s. They’re definitely worth the 75 cents or so I pay for them. I don’t like anything cheaper since they tend to bleed, clot, and cramp my hands.
Are those gel-ink pens?
Well, they are classy people in the only way that really matters -- they are very nice.
But before meeting them, I always bought into the strereotype that people whose families have been rich for a long time are quiet about it. They don't feel the need to engage in ostentatious displays of wealth because they don't have to impress anyone, etc. Obviously, that's not true.
Peter P
2006 May 24, 9:36am
Are there any problems I should be aware of?
Drop some water on the writing and see if the ink dissolve. This may not be a big issue though.
Peter P,
If that's a concern, maybe this would work for you.
http://www.leevalley.com/gifts/page.aspx?c=2&p=40958&cat=4,104,53210
Joe,
Being nice to people, yes. Truly nice to people. Not being nice because you want a favor from them. Being nice to people, truly nice from the bottom of your heart, because this is the way you have been treated all your life and you treat others likewise.
Any fountain pen knowledge I have came mainly from this "Ask Slashdot" topic:
http://ask.slashdot.org/askslashdot/03/10/05/171257.shtml
Pelikan, Rotring, and Lamy seemed well-thought of (as writing instruments in general).
Peter P
2006 May 24, 9:45am
I thought Rotring only made graphic pens…
They also make very nice mechanical pencils and multi-function pens.
And I’m not even a Boomer, just on the leading edge of X.
I beg your pardon Sir.
Peter P
2006 May 24, 9:48am
And I’m not even a Boomer, just on the leading edge of X.
I beg your pardon Sir.
We should consider someone a boomer only if he has Pluto in Leo.
I also believe the more one matures -- I mean the older one gets, hopefully but not necessarily -- the less one is susceptible to social and societal pressures. Young folks are impressionable and always out to impress others.
I've just checked out the prices on celluloid pens, insane! I guess I'll try to get a bit more life out of my Esterbrook before trading it in something fancier.
Surfer-X,
I just found that according to wikipedia, I'm a generation-Xer. It's really weird and disorienting. But what the hell, I'm in good company.
Peter P
2006 May 24, 9:51am
I’ve just checked out the prices on celluloid pens, insane! I guess I’ll try to get a bit more life out of my Esterbrook before trading it in something fancier.
You should be able to get a new Pelikan 400 for well under $200.
Peter P
2006 May 24, 9:54am
I just found that according to wikipedia, I’m a generation-Xer. It’s really weird and disorienting. But what the hell, I’m in good company.
Pluto in Virgo or Libra?
Peter P
2006 May 24, 10:00am
Most of the time I usually have a 20 cent papermate, since I rarely have any thought worth writing down with a fancy pen.
Since I use only ballpoint/rollerball the refill is more important than the pen.
What? Astrology is not my strong suit. But I’m a Leo.
Me too! I like Leos
SP,
"Most of the time I usually have a 20 cent papermate, since I rarely have any thought worth writing down with a fancy pen."
Somehow, I really doubt that. Luckily, the value of the idea need not be commiserate with the value of the pen used to record them.
That slashdot article that Requiem forwarded has good words for Namiki and Lamy. A Namiki has a gold nib for $100. Presumably, gold nibs result in very smooth writing. I do wonder, however, if older models have better craftsmanship. Is it realistic to get a good, used pen for $20-50?
MontBlanc is a little like Rolex. Rolex isn't accurate. But I think it's very solid and robust. So it serves a purpose, in addition to the aethestic one.Of course, the best thing is to never wear a watch, if you could afford the leisurely life.
Speaking of architectural design for multiple generations, here is a house I looked at a few weeks back.
The layout, especially the granny area on the level downstairs, is well thought through, accommodating the topography very well. Most granny quarters I see are depressing, if I were to be put into one of those, I would definitely feel like being tucked under the armpit by my kids.
It is located in the foothill area of Cupertino so the view is also very nice. If you are interested in designing your future home for in-laws, it is worth a look.
Peter P
2006 May 24, 10:10am
Is it realistic to get a good, used pen for $20-50?
Old pens carry the energy of the previous owner. It can be good or bad. Caveat Emptor.
Regarding Seattle RE:
Rumors have it that a large RIF (layoff) is in the works for the folks in the Windows division. Tons of employees under H-1 are being brought over from China and India. I am suddenly seeing a lot of familiar faces and mannerisms that I don't want to see. For sure, these people are paid like sxxt.
Why does anyone think Seattle RE will hold?
My favorite area in Capitol Hill is getting whackily expensive. A couple of days ago, I saw a 3/2 house for sale in the 1-2 million range.
Why does anyone think Seattle RE will hold?
Why do you care, the only effect on you will be a reduction in the amount you have to pay your household staff. Plus they are only getting the peons out, a mindbendly talented individual such as yourself will have no problem continuing your climb up Bill's back, pretty soon you should encounter the dark star, don't worry, press on forward, ahhh yeah, then you will have your head firmly up Bill's posterior.
Hey, can you forward me a key for office 2003?
I cannot give you the key for office 2003. It's against the company policy, illegal, immoral, and against my self interest. People should pay for software licenses.
Well, why waste your time on office 2003? The new office 2007 is so cool that you'll love it. Trust me.
Peter P
2006 May 24, 10:29am
People should pay for software licenses.
I have to agree. Consumer software is actually quite cheap for what you get.
Well, actually I know some wealthy people who carry FAKE bags just to be cute.
A woman friend of mine who is from a billionaire family carries a few fake LV items, not because she cannot afford it, just because she thinks it is a cute way to laugh at the world. Her response is, everybody knows how much my family is worth, even if I wear fake diamonds, people will assume it is real. She once walked into a local LV store with fake LV bag where she was known celebrity in the circle, guess what, no sales gal in the LV shop dared to utter anything because she also shops a few genuine items there.
Another very successful businessman friend of my dad wears a fake Patek Philippe watch, and he goes around telling all his acquaintances that it is fake. The reason he does that because he is widely known for his wealth, so he doesn't mind going cheap on stuff since his prestige is not really attached to any of these items. His motto is, as long as I have lots of dough in my pocket, whatever I wear has to be real.
PP,
Indeed. Also for businesses, the amount of money they spend on software is miniscure compared with the actual salary that they have to pay out. Well, not even salary, just take the medical benefits.
Yeah. I remember when the original dbase was $999. I pirated warez left and right as a teenager. It was wrong, and I knew it, but the expense was so great that I did it anyway.
As soon as software became avaialble for $99, though, I stopped. I mean, you can get the basic version of MS office with a new Dell for like $149 or thereabouts. Why would anyone pirate it when the real thing is so cheap?
Another very successful businessman friend of my dad wears a fake Patek Philippe watch, and he goes around telling all his acquaintances that it is fake.
You really really really have to meet Mr. Right, he, like you, is a pompous jackass that likes to drop names, I believe he lives in SLO. Look him up you can spoon, perhaps he might even have a ___________ for you to molest.
People should pay for software licenses.
Why pay for marginal MS bloatware?
Why do you care, the only effect on you will be a reduction in the amount you have to pay your household staff.
You forget that GC just lost his shirt in gold derivatives... ;-)
Peter P
2006 May 24, 10:40am
As soon as software became avaialble for $99, though, I stopped. I mean, you can get the basic version of MS office with a new Dell for like $149 or thereabouts. Why would anyone pirate it when the real thing is so cheap?
Absolutely.
Why pay for marginal MS bloatware?
Why use it?
Wow, you must make more money that Ha Ha, I sure bet he is envious. Amazing that you find the time to post your pearls of wisdom here; shouldn't you be out reformulating strategy with Bill? Hey while visiting his house you should consider giving him an upper tanker.
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Readers of the FT will be familiar with the (newly expanded) Lex Column. Today's featured an interesting little bit on US housebuilders, and its relation to the US housing market.
The column goes on to mention:
Toll is considered a bellwether indicator. Why? Because it markets upscale homes to a sophisticated clientele. Sentiment has grown so negative on Toll that their recent guidance further cutting earnings forecasts actually triggered a relief rally. The market capitalization of Toll is less than the value of all its land and inventory.
Or is it? The problem is that the only potential buyers for construction projects in-progress are other builders, who are similarly depressed for the same reasons. This kind of "vicious circle" is hard to break and usually causes an overshooting of reasonable valuation.
But before you jump in to buy undervalued REITs or homebuilder stocks, keep in mind that this may just be the beginning. The entire sector is trading at about 5.5 times ever shrinking earnings estimates. But (and this is a big but), direct costs are skyrocketing, general inflation is increasing, rates are rising, and industry consolidation is probably nowhere near done. Lex's conclusion: it will be increasingly difficult for these builders to defend returns as capital costs soar. Result, more downside probably left.
Why on earth do we even care? We're sure to hear from at least one Troll that "New Home Starts" don't matter, or that homebuilders aren't relevant, or that "sales of existing homes" is the only game in town. My answer: perhaps, this time, everything is different and we've entered a great new economic paradigm where leading indicators no longer lead. Or, the correction is well underway.
--Randy H
#housing