Of Dreams and Memories
What does it mean to say that something happened if you cannot remember it?
Topical, Work and Life, Life and Death, Philosophy
Stinker Emails — A Primer
Another old gem from my newspaper columns collection, this post talks about email duels that all of us have gone through at some point in our career. Enjoy!
How to save a string to a local file in PHP?
This post is for those of you who write plugins for WordPress. If you are not geeky enough to do that, you can safely ignore this post. Other PHP web programmers find it useful as well, if you have trouble saving a string to a file on your client’s computer without creating intermediate files at your server.
Books, Life and Death, Creative
Humboldt’s Gift by Saul Bellow
To say that Humboldt’s Gift is a masterpiece is like saying that sugar is sweet. It goes without saying. I will read this book many more times in the future because of its educational values (and because I love the reader in my audiobook edition). I would not necessarily recommend the book to others though. I think it takes a peculiar mind, one that finds sanity only in insane gibberish, and sees unreality in all the painted veils of reality, to appreciate this book. In short, you have to be a bit cuckoo to like it. (If you like the book and still maintain that you are not cuckoo, well, you just feel that way because you are!)
Humor, Email Flotsam
Bushisms
Bush has just left the building. Perhaps the world will be a kinder, gentler place now. But it will certainly be a less funny place. For life is stranger than fiction, and Bush was funnier than any stand-up comedian. Jon Stewart is going to miss him. So will I.
Books, Life and Death, Philosophy, Creative
The Razor’s Edge by W Somerset Maugham
This brief look at possibly the best book I have ever read is perhaps my last post in the book review series. At least for a short while, as I’m beginning to find it a bit hard to keep up with all the demands on my time now, what with my next book efforts and everything. Besides, the books have already said it all better, haven’t they?
Columns, The Wilmott Magazine, Quantitative Finance
House of Cards
The lessons we need to learn and a sneak preview of the upcoming changes that are sure to impact those of us in the financial industry. Here is the last excerpt from my next column to appear in the Wilmott Magazine in March.
Columns, The Wilmott Magazine, Quantitative Finance
Free Market Hypocrisy
How free is free market? Less than you think. Here is why. Another excerpt from my next column to appear in the Wilmott Magazine.
Columns, The Wilmott Magazine, Quantitative Finance
Quant Culprits
Are quants to blame for the financial mess our banks are in now? I don’t think so. Here is another excerpt from my next column to appear in the Wilmott Magazine.
Quantitative Finance, Columns, The Wilmott Magazine
Where Credit is Due
The paradigms employed for managing credit and market risks proved inadequate during the credit crunch and the ensuing meltdown. Here is another excerpt from my next column to appear in the Wilmott Magazine.
Columns, The Wilmott Magazine, Quantitative Finance
Hedging Dilemma
Ever wonder why those airfares are quick to climb, but slow to land? One word — hedging. Here is another excerpt from my next column to appear in the Wilmott Magazine.
Quantitative Finance, Columns, The Wilmott Magazine
Risky Business
More on the systemic reasons behind the financial meltdown. Here is another excerpt from my next column to appear in the Wilmott Magazine.