This update comes a bit early since May 31st is a weekend, so there's no update in the exchange today. Not much changed this month except for the Korean Won. In fact, it passed the 1000 mark this month, but my regression model has it not happening until July. I'll leave it on here to see what happens. Also, although the model predicts the Yen benchmark being met next month, the Yen has actually fallen in value the last two months, so it seems unlikely to happen.
In other news, the Mexican Peso has started to rise in value, so it now has its own benchmark.
Jun. 2008: 100 Japanese Yen > $1 US (unchanged)
Jul. 2008: 1 Swiss Franc > $1 US (unchanged)
Jul. 2008: $1 US > 1000 Korean Won (5 months sooner) already achieved
Dec. 2008: $1 Aussie > $1 US (1 month sooner)
Feb. 2009: 1 Euro > $1.75 US (unchanged)
May. 2009: 5 Swedish Kronor > $1 US (1 month sooner)
Sep. 2009: 6 Chinese Yuan > $1 US (1 month sooner)
New Benchmarks:
Jul. 2009: $1 US > 1100 Korean Won
0ct. 2009: 10 Mexican Peso > $1 US
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
My second quarterly report
This is the first month where I had a big scare as at the end of calculations, I had over 20,000 won missing. It took some time, but I eventually came to realize that I somehow managed to take 35,000 won worth of bus trips on a card with only 20,000 won on it. Basically meaning, I had put 20,000 on the card and forgot to record it (I alway put 20,000 won on my card when I recharge it).
Anyway, my numbers for this report have been greatly damaged by the change in exchange rate. Whereas in February, I recorded a savings of $5112.31, that is now worth only $4656.26. So I've lost $456.05 in three months. Bloomberg calls the Korean won "the world's worst-performing major currency this year".
Anyway, for my second quarter, my revenue was down slightly, $6093.65 (over 99% from my paycheck), and costs went way up to $2245.19. The reasons for this rise in costs is the fact I had to buy a new computer, which by itself cost more that what I usually spend in a month. So my savings for this quarter were only $3848.46, giving me a savings rate of about 63.16%.
My expenses break down for this quarter:
Food: 35%
Computer: 31.5%
Utilities: 15.2%
Transportation: 9.4%
Entertainment: 2.5%
Other: 6.4%
I take great pride in the fact that over the past 6 months, only 0.1% of the money I've had is unaccounted for.
Anyway, my numbers for this report have been greatly damaged by the change in exchange rate. Whereas in February, I recorded a savings of $5112.31, that is now worth only $4656.26. So I've lost $456.05 in three months. Bloomberg calls the Korean won "the world's worst-performing major currency this year".
Anyway, for my second quarter, my revenue was down slightly, $6093.65 (over 99% from my paycheck), and costs went way up to $2245.19. The reasons for this rise in costs is the fact I had to buy a new computer, which by itself cost more that what I usually spend in a month. So my savings for this quarter were only $3848.46, giving me a savings rate of about 63.16%.
My expenses break down for this quarter:
Food: 35%
Computer: 31.5%
Utilities: 15.2%
Transportation: 9.4%
Entertainment: 2.5%
Other: 6.4%
I take great pride in the fact that over the past 6 months, only 0.1% of the money I've had is unaccounted for.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Two Benchmarks Reached!
This month I was surprised by the Chinese Yuan and the Swedish Krona as they both exceeded my expectations. For the Yuan it was a photo finish, it's average exchange rate this month was 6.99969 Yuan for $1 US. Another Canadian benchmark has been removed. The exchange has been pretty level the last few months. The Korean Won continues to sadden me as it declines in value. The Korean government has been purposely lowering the value of the Won to boost exports. According to other calculations I've done, the equilibrium exchange rate should be 820 Won to $1 US.
Apr. 2008: 7 Chinese Yuan > $1 US (2 months sooner) Achieved!
Apr. 2008: 6 Swedish Kronor > $1 US (2 months sooner) Achieved!
Jun. 2008: 100 Japanese Yen > $1 US (unchanged)
Jul. 2008: 1 Swiss Franc > $1 US (1 month sooner)
Dec. 2008: $1 US > 1000 Korean Won (9 months sooner)
Jan. 2009: $1 Aussie > $1 US (1 month sooner)
Feb. 2009: 1 Euro > $1.75 US (3 months sooner)
Jun. 2009: 5 Swedish Kronor > $1 US (3 months sooner)
New Benchmarks:
Oct. 2009: 6 Chinese Yuan > $1 US
Removed Benchmark:
$1 Canadian > $1.25 US
Apr. 2008: 7 Chinese Yuan > $1 US (2 months sooner) Achieved!
Apr. 2008: 6 Swedish Kronor > $1 US (2 months sooner) Achieved!
Jun. 2008: 100 Japanese Yen > $1 US (unchanged)
Jul. 2008: 1 Swiss Franc > $1 US (1 month sooner)
Dec. 2008: $1 US > 1000 Korean Won (9 months sooner)
Jan. 2009: $1 Aussie > $1 US (1 month sooner)
Feb. 2009: 1 Euro > $1.75 US (3 months sooner)
Jun. 2009: 5 Swedish Kronor > $1 US (3 months sooner)
New Benchmarks:
Oct. 2009: 6 Chinese Yuan > $1 US
Removed Benchmark:
$1 Canadian > $1.25 US
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Chat Logs IV
It seems that every time I post about chat logs, there is some change. My first update was followed by my purchase of a new computer, my second update was followed by me switching from using DeadAIM to Trillian, and this update comes before my purchase of yet another new computer.
So what's the ranking? This year's ranking is the sum total of the last two years so they partially reflect last year's list.
#1 - Mai-Anh, up from 2nd
#2 - Celeste, up from 3rd and the only person to make the ranking all four times
#3 - Joseph, up from 5th
#4 - Veronica, down from 1st after having little contact with her this year
#5 - Kimberly, down from 4th
#6 - Kate, re-entering the top six
Honorable mention, Bonnie, whom I've met in the Korea, just missed being in the top 6.
This marks the first year that not a single NCSSMer is on the list as Carl dropped in ranking and none gained, which strikes me as a worrisome sign. This also leaves Joseph as the only guy in the top six. Yet again, the top 6 has increased their share of my total conversations, going from 33%, 42%, 50%, and now 60%.
So what's the ranking? This year's ranking is the sum total of the last two years so they partially reflect last year's list.
#1 - Mai-Anh, up from 2nd
#2 - Celeste, up from 3rd and the only person to make the ranking all four times
#3 - Joseph, up from 5th
#4 - Veronica, down from 1st after having little contact with her this year
#5 - Kimberly, down from 4th
#6 - Kate, re-entering the top six
Honorable mention, Bonnie, whom I've met in the Korea, just missed being in the top 6.
This marks the first year that not a single NCSSMer is on the list as Carl dropped in ranking and none gained, which strikes me as a worrisome sign. This also leaves Joseph as the only guy in the top six. Yet again, the top 6 has increased their share of my total conversations, going from 33%, 42%, 50%, and now 60%.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
I think they're onto us
BBC
Celeste isn't the only person who noticed that the French Eurovision entry is in English. Apparently the French people have caught on. I didn't notice when I first listened, I was distracted by Sebastien Tellier's bountiful facial hair.
In any case, it is much better than the Belgium entry which is sung in an imaginary language. The scary part is, this isn't the first time. Belgium's 2003 entry also used an imaginary language, as did the Netherlands' 2006 entry. What's going on in those lowland countries?
Celeste isn't the only person who noticed that the French Eurovision entry is in English. Apparently the French people have caught on. I didn't notice when I first listened, I was distracted by Sebastien Tellier's bountiful facial hair.
In any case, it is much better than the Belgium entry which is sung in an imaginary language. The scary part is, this isn't the first time. Belgium's 2003 entry also used an imaginary language, as did the Netherlands' 2006 entry. What's going on in those lowland countries?
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
2008 is a "good" year for Eurovision
I've fallen in love with Eurovision ever since I first watched it, stuck in a hostel in Grundarfjörður, Iceland due to freezing rain. The 2006 Eurovision gave us great acts from Lithuania and Finland. The song contest, a bastion of Eurotrash pop, was turned on its head after Finland ended up winning. This left people asking, what's next? Many countries tried following Finland's lead and going with more rocking entries, all of which failed. The most memorable entry was Ukraine, which, sadly, lost to a completely unremarkable Serbian entry (perhaps the worst result of the dissolution of Yugoslavia is their voting power in Eurovision). The saddest moment for me, though, was that my favorite entry, Belgium, didn't even make it out of the Semi-Finals.
Since the Lordi method proved to be impossible to duplicate, it seems that everyone went a different direction this year, which has produced some amazing results. So many in fact I can actually produce a top ten list of all the songs I would love to see win.
10. Estonia - I don't actually want this entry to win, but it is kind of catchy
9. Bulgaria - The song itself is just insipid, but at least it's different than the usual Eurovision fare. Plus the video is fun
8. Finland - Nowhere near as good as Lordi, but I want to encourage Finland in this direction
7. Spain - Really? This is Spain's entry?
6. Belgium - I came for the folksy music, I stayed for the neck dancing
5. Ireland - This song has gotten a lot of press because it's sung by a turkey puppet. However, even if it weren't being song by a turkey, it would still be on this list
4. Latvia - This gimmick is absolutely brilliant, steal the show indeed
3. Israel - This song is actually really good. No gimmick or anything
2. France - This song is actually kind of fun and rather subdued, by Eurovision standards
1. Bosnia and Herzegovina - Wait, is... is that a live chicken? What is that girl doing on stage? Why does that guy have a scythe?
I would like to post one last entry. After watching the video for every country this year, I can say, without question, that Lithuania's entry is by far the worst. This songs drops the ball in basically every category imaginable. The guy can't sing, the lyrics are atrocious (even by Eurovision standards), and it doesn't even have a gimmick.
Since the Lordi method proved to be impossible to duplicate, it seems that everyone went a different direction this year, which has produced some amazing results. So many in fact I can actually produce a top ten list of all the songs I would love to see win.
10. Estonia - I don't actually want this entry to win, but it is kind of catchy
9. Bulgaria - The song itself is just insipid, but at least it's different than the usual Eurovision fare. Plus the video is fun
8. Finland - Nowhere near as good as Lordi, but I want to encourage Finland in this direction
7. Spain - Really? This is Spain's entry?
6. Belgium - I came for the folksy music, I stayed for the neck dancing
5. Ireland - This song has gotten a lot of press because it's sung by a turkey puppet. However, even if it weren't being song by a turkey, it would still be on this list
4. Latvia - This gimmick is absolutely brilliant, steal the show indeed
3. Israel - This song is actually really good. No gimmick or anything
2. France - This song is actually kind of fun and rather subdued, by Eurovision standards
1. Bosnia and Herzegovina - Wait, is... is that a live chicken? What is that girl doing on stage? Why does that guy have a scythe?
I would like to post one last entry. After watching the video for every country this year, I can say, without question, that Lithuania's entry is by far the worst. This songs drops the ball in basically every category imaginable. The guy can't sing, the lyrics are atrocious (even by Eurovision standards), and it doesn't even have a gimmick.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Some new music to chew
Basia Bulat
Check out her songs, she has an amazing voice. I especially like "In the Night" and "Snakes and Ladders". She's also playing in Asheville, Richmond, and DC on May 14, 15, and 16, respectively, as the opening act for DeVotchKa. DeVotchKa is an interesting band that did most of the soundtrack for "Little Miss Sunshine", which I don't remember any songs from that movie other than "Superfreak".
Yael Naim
She's a French singer, and switches between French and English songs. I love her video for "New Soul"
Romantica
Some really good Americana Folk stuff happening here. I love "Queen of Hearts".
Justice - DANCE
Justice - DVNO
I'm not a big fan of electronica, but these two videos are amazing.
Check out her songs, she has an amazing voice. I especially like "In the Night" and "Snakes and Ladders". She's also playing in Asheville, Richmond, and DC on May 14, 15, and 16, respectively, as the opening act for DeVotchKa. DeVotchKa is an interesting band that did most of the soundtrack for "Little Miss Sunshine", which I don't remember any songs from that movie other than "Superfreak".
Yael Naim
She's a French singer, and switches between French and English songs. I love her video for "New Soul"
Romantica
Some really good Americana Folk stuff happening here. I love "Queen of Hearts".
Justice - DANCE
Justice - DVNO
I'm not a big fan of electronica, but these two videos are amazing.
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