Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog

April 21, 2020: Educating myself on the stock market, science fiction, and spinach triangles!

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How’s everyone doing?  What’s everyone up to?

I have spent the past few weeks educating myself on the stock market and investment strategies.  It’s been fascinating.  Sort of like fantasy football research, but not as much fun.  ETF’s, REIT’s, arbitrage.  By the time I’m done, I’m going to be a regular Jimmy Buffet!

I was sent this terrific science fiction reading list by author David Brin today:

http://www.davidbrin.com/sfreads.html

Of the 100 recommended books, I’ve read 50.  I’ve got catching up to do!

Mom is at it again.  “Mom’s Spinach Triangles”:

Directed by my sis.

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16 responses

  1. nantokanaru77 Avatar
    nantokanaru77

    Ooh, thanks for the link to the scifi reading list!

    And your mom is a superstar!

    Reply
  2. gforce Avatar
    gforce

    Those spinach triangles look and sound tasty! I have one question though – WHY are you not producing a cooking show for the Food Network (or at least for YouTube) with your Mom?!?

    I admit I laughed out loud at the “It’s feta!” part.

    Reply
    1. gforce Avatar
      gforce

      Also, it looks like I have my sci-fi reading cut out for me. I think I’ve read maybe three of those. But I’ve heard of lots of them. One of them is even called Timescape! Small “e’, though.

      Reply
  3. Gilder McCarroll Avatar
    Gilder McCarroll

    Re: Brian’s list
    You certainly have me beat, Joe.

    Reply
  4. Kat Karena Avatar
    Kat Karena

    I’m looking forward to your Graphic Novel reviews. That will be so interesting. I’m not much of a comic reader, but I notice those people in film that love comics have much better angles in their picture, they seem to see light, dark and contrast better.

    One of my trainees by the way Johno, left school at 16 and started his own business custom building PCs for cryptocurrency and day trading. Taught his sister so she got herself a Lamborghini with bitcoin, he learnt Python and started building trading systems and selling them off to desperate Indians for $20K. I’m not putting him in a job, I’m encouraging him to learn additional skills and start his own start-up he’s got 5 or so people now wanting him to trade $100K – $500K each for them. I thought trading was about math, although he’s interested in studying data science – he says trading is more about understanding people. He’s doing well of course at the moment with the markets up and down all over the place. It looks fun.

    For me, in Australia, the government has set up a program where employers can get $1500 a fortnight for each employee paid for by the Australian Tax Office. I’m trying to set that up, unfortunately the Australian government is not known for competency in the tech space. They’ve asked us to download the MyGovID app they made — just look at the damning reviews (lol) https://www.screencast.com/t/EX6RCd8t

    I’ve been trying to get past the first step ‘verifying your email’ for 50 minutes now – no joy.
    streuth They mean well, but they’re hopeless. I offered them the use of free software testers, but I can’t understand how with the money they have they can’t do a better job.

    There was a call out world wide for testers for that tracking app a venture that’s involving Apple and Google – serious misgivings around that. Just on the tech side along, it looks like they’re trying to turn your mobile into a micro-server, which would mean it would be constantly receiving and sending data. Your battery life will blitz out to buggery. And it was interesting that NONE of the many ethical issues were discussed about this dangerous little toy.. so investigating that.

    I’m still doing ongoing training with the kids remotely. We’ve interviewing different people in tech like product owners, project managers etc. to query the biggest issues in the workplace. The answer they generally offer is ‘people’. People are the problem. They all got in tech to not deal with people. And now they’re surrounded by people like themselves who don’t want to deal with people 😀 😀

    So we’re looking at the problem from a systems or pattern’s level by studying “Becoming a Change Agent” by Gerry Weinberg, who has to be one of the best system engineers there is and a very engaging, pragmatic writer. If you like authors who hit you with 2-3 paradigm shifts in the way you think in a few chapters, he’s your man.

    On an individual level we are studying Chris Voss’s course on Negotiation he’s a famous FBI hostage negotiator who deals with life and death situations. If you remember he was the lead negotiator on the Jill Carroll case in Iraq as well the Steve Centanni case in the Gaza Strip.And a whole bunch of additional hostage cases in the Philippines, Colombia and Haiti. Again I like anyone who shifts how you think, debunks precious beliefs and he does that breaking quite a few tropes around what good negotiation is about – and he’s a very engaging story teller as well. He runs a master class here:
    https://www.masterclass.com/classes/chris-voss-teaches-the-art-of-negotiation And I’m going to get his book “Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It, with journalist Tahl Raz”

    My cat can’t pee. Which is worrying, he’s been at the vet for two nights now. The dog’s upset and has been carrying Charlie’s feed bowl around trying to entice him to come out (I guess) and eat. He’s an irritating cat, that wakes you at the four in the morning for food. You don’t want to teach him tricks he turns them against you. Like getting him to tap your hand for food? After he learnt that, 4 in the morning he got under my bed sheets and swatted my hand till I threw him out. But I’m feeling unsettled with not having that irritating beast around. I couldn’t focus or keep still yesterday. I’m getting around it by playing guitar instrumentals in the background 🙁

    I’m very sorry for that massacre in Canada.
    Keep well.

    Reply
    1. Joseph Mallozzi Avatar
      Joseph Mallozzi

      Always fascinating to read your updates, Kat.

      Reply
  5. Dr Z Avatar
    Dr Z

    Just looked through David Brin’s list . Wow, I have to say, having spent 50 years reading hundreds and hundreds of sci fi novels,there is hardly any concordance here with my “greatest ” list.
    Not a single mention of Bob Shaw ( probably the greatest sci fi writer ever), nor Philip Jose Farmer ( Riverworld series anyone?) , nor Michael Coney ( Charisma was the best parallel universe story ever) .
    Oh well,
    Vive La Difference , I suppose.
    I’ll stick with my list.
    I get some pleasure from the fact that my son is now reading my old Bob Shaw novels, and he is totally into them, and wants to know why nobody else seems to know who he is.
    Ahhh, the young generation !

    Reply
    1. Joseph Mallozzi Avatar
      Joseph Mallozzi

      Loved Orbitsville. Going to put Charisma on my to read list.

      Reply
      1. Dr Z Avatar
        Dr Z

        Joe,
        If you have not read Bob Shaw’s ” Ragged Astronauts” trilogy, I can’t recommend it highly enough. Probably his best work, and that is really saying something.
        PS
        your mum reminds me of my nonna.
        Love the cooking

        Reply
    2. Kat Karena Avatar
      Kat Karena

      Can you share your list? I keep these these lists for when I buy friends presents, especially at Christmas.

      Reply
  6. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    Ah, your mom is delightful! I don’t think I’ve heard her voice before. The triangoli di spinachi look bellissimo! But a heck of a lot of work.

    Watch yourself on the REIT — I managed to lose a small fortune on one… Never again!

    Reply
  7. tamdixon Avatar
    tamdixon

    You should hire Kat as a technical advisor on a future project. She’s got the lingo. Kat seems to be good at explaining, as well. My hubby is a computer programmer and one of his favorite sayings is: “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” Albert Einstein

    I love hearing your Mom! I’ve made cheese triangles before. Mine had a slightly different filling but they were so good!!! They are great at parties.

    A big thanks to your Mom and Sis for these videos. I do wonder what they are doing with all these wonderful baked goods?

    Reply
  8. tamdixon Avatar
    tamdixon

    Kat: My hubby’s company is talking about implementing that app from Google/Apple. He’s trying to steer them away from it. Realistically, the phones are tracking us during this virus anyway: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8164301/Government-tracking-Americans-cell-phones-spread-coronavirus.html However, if any company requires a tracking app on my phone, I’m getting a Faraday bag. This new app is scary stuff!!!!

    Reply
  9. tamdixon Avatar
    tamdixon

    Sorry to post again. My mind is all over the place today. Anyway, I wanted to send Ponytail a {{{Hug}}}. It’s a tough time and this virus complicates it more.

    I caught a good picture this morning on my walk. https://twitter.com/jertam/status/1253015370698457090/photo/1

    Oh and I can’t wait to try your Mom’s recipe. It’s different from mine (feta, ham) and it’s looks yummy! I can tell you drunk people refer to them as “footballs”. https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Paper-Football I’ve never had any leftovers, though.

    Reply
  10. DP Avatar
    DP

    I don’t have the patience to make spanakopita, but it was served at my wedding.

    Reply
  11. Airelle Avatar
    Airelle

    I love watching your mom cook, so delicious,,thanks!!

    Reply

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