I am so smrt...

In our business, we interact with smart people daily. Since I work with analysts, a large part of the lens that they see the world through is "smart": how smart is that question, how well written is the response, how academically credible is the person? The sum of the aforementioned parts in addition to the way an argument is played out is supposed to lead to some sort of conclusive answer. Smart people came up with this idea, smart people flushed it out, smart people agree that it's logical - therefore, it must be correct.

I need to remind myself of the following: there is always a large difference in being smart and being right. I'd like to be more of the latter and less of the former.

On Hope and Dreams...

"Never expect! Only hope! Only hoping best for you. That's not wrong, to hope..."

Thank God for Amy Tan's Joy Luck Club, I've used these words against my mom many of times. I used to think this neatly and succinctly explained everything about my upbringing: why we were pushed hard as kids, why we were taught to be grateful for what we were given, why I had to practice piano for hours a day when there was Nintendo Contra to be played. It was like the grand unifying theory that physicists search for; the overarching thesis you use in your Chinese Anthropology class (i.e. the reason why China is backwards is because China is full of crazy Chinese people). However, now as I'm older - I'm beginning to see the effects of the "boomerang" theory; that it all comes back to you and that you don't deviate far from the line your parents have drawn, and yes, "crazy Chinese" is a genetic trait.

I have two cousins visiting - polar opposites and arguably, some of our favorites (if we had them - which, since we're communist, we don't). I look at both of them and only want the best for them - you want them to aim high and achieve higher. You want to shield them from all the crap you went through by dropping little "life lessons"; obviously, in a cool way - not the "when I was your age..." b/s lectures that your parents gave you growing up. Then you realize, crap - you are your parents - and that ultimately, you'll eventually have to temper your extraordinary expectations and that they'll still make the same stupid mistakes that you made as a young adult. Clearly, no matter how much you'll make the case that life isn't as different as they think it is, they'll argue back that it not the same this time around. You may be "wise" but they're "smart".

And so, through this all - no matter what my hopes and dreams are for them, I realize that all I'm doing is ultimately completing the circle - of only hoping for the best, the same way my parents did. Of course, that's not wrong, to hope...

W.R. Grace - Reloaded

Well, W.R. Grace - as mentioned in this post, has exited Ch. 11 with equity left over for shareholders. Here's the press release. Just add this to the list of shoulda', woulda', and coulda's. It's interesting, around the time when I was buying shares of USG, I also considered buying shares of GRA, however - I opted to purchase shares of Armstrong (ACKHQ). ACKHQ went from about $1 to $4, then subsequently became worthless (I think I made a little or lost a little). A couple other companies during that time also set up 524gs: SEE, HAL, X, and ABB. I'm not griping about the way I played the asbestos game, but had I been a smart man - I would've diversified my portfolio across a whole bunch of asbestos laden companies instead of betting it all on black. In retrospect, although I ended up benefiting disproportionally, I don't feel especially smart about it.

Let me just add that my "bear market" position in my portfolio is underwater, showing that I can't trade worth a damn.

I heart White People...

This is kind of a "cheap" post, but I just had to post this blog forwarded to me from Josh:

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/

It's totally hilarious and it's good to know that White People are just as idiosyncratic and jacked up in the head as Chinese people are!

The Bagholders of HK

In the US, considerate men are expected to do certain things for women: wait for her to enter the door before them, pull out the chair for her when she sits at a table, open the car door for her to get in (apparently, even when you have keyless entry)...but in Hong Kong, the men there have clearly crossed the line - they handbag hold. I understand the aforementioned forms of modern chivalry - as a man, you want to appear to put the woman first, but wearing a woman's handbag is not only pointless but really emasculating. The handbag is an accessory, it's not the same as holding a shopping bag full of clothing so that your wife can free her hands to do more shopping, thus encumbering you more. No! The handbag makes a statement and in this case it says, "I'm a total tool." Why don't you wear her belt and ear rings while you're at it?

When I heard of this phenomenon, I didn't believe it. So I took my camera to Central and decided to do some big game hunting. Here's what I found.


From the back - and you wear it so well.









Oh, I know what's in your bag... your nuuuuuts.









Yes, hide your face in shame - that's quite the gold handbag you have there you fashionista, you.







I think this guy either: a) has his own bag, b) is carrying one of his girlfriend's two bags, or c) bought his own handbag and matched it to his girlfriend's. All three reasons are totally inexcusable.

Short Stay in Hong Kong

I had a short stay in HK on the way back to the States. Currently, I'm in one of my favorite places - the HK International Airport (yes, I'm a little weird). I have a couple posts that are in my mind, so I'll probably write them on the plane. In any case, here's the run down in HK.

Queen Mary Hospital - I spent roughly three-quarters of my trip sitting in the Queen Mary Hospital with my mom's godmother. She's 101 and passing away. On a positive note, I learned to take the light bus back and forth to Central...so now I really feel like a local.

Private Kitchen - Hong Kong is an island of status seekers and if you put Private in front of anything, it'll command a premium (e.g. Private sale, Private Equity, etc.). Anyhow, private kitchens are pretty big here - they help get around the restaurant laws, are difficult to find (they don't advertise and there's no signage), and they're really intimate (typically 2-4 tables). For Ter's birthday, we went to one that specializes in nouveau Shanghainese - and I wish I had my camera on me, but the food was pretty decent considering they're jazzing up old school dishes. Anyhow, I have the card and if anyone visits, I'd recommend the place - if not for the food, for the experience.

Walking and Shopping - I think I walked off the lechon I ate in the Philippines. Anyhow, the USD doesn't go as far here as it used to, even though it's pegged - prices are high. It's better to shop in the States, where everything is on sale!

Thanks to Ter for hosting and inviting me to hang out with him and his harem of girls. HK is clearly a great place to be a single!

The life of Pigs...

Pigs in the Philippines...

Pigs as pets - Rainbow, our cousin's pet mini Vietnamese pot belly pig (he's doing one of his tricks - laying down, but he can sit too).




Roast Pigs - Lechon, a fancy "cerimonial" pig.






Leftover Pig - paksiw na lechon, leftover Lechon in vinegar eaten with rice.





Pork...man's best friend and the other white meat.