Little Talk:

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Waterdog Challenge II: More Dog, More Water

I started the Waterdog challenge on Nov. 14, and ended it on Jan 17, with 212.5 points. My initial goal was 180 points, and once I hit 180, I carried on till 210. The rules of the challenge, as they evolved:

1. 7 different walks near Waterdog lake, the shortest worth 1 point, the longest 4.5 points. One point is equal to about 40 minutes of walking.

2. 1 point for every 3 km on the treadmill

3. 1 point for every 48 minutes on the elliptical

The initial rule was 1 point for every 60 minutes on the elliptical, but over time I decided the point : elliptical exchange rate was slightly overvalued.

Mostly due to the Bay Area rains, the later points were done on the elliptical. I have a nagging sense that, just as a stock should be sold on an uptick, the challenge should end on a Waterdog walk. So I have a mind to keep the challenge open, and end it on 215 points, if and when I get back to the Bay Area.

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How much web-surfing does a man require?

My current answer: several peeks, three of them named, and two pokes.

peek #1: morning (night / morning)

peek #2: noon (morning / afternoon)

peek #3: night (evening / night)

poke #1: afternoon (morning / afternoon / evening)

poke #2: evening (afternoon / evening / night)

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Big Talk:

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One of the issues of our age is what to think of the experts, and the credentials. I kind of like the approach Malkiel takes towards investment professionals in A Random Walk Down Wall Street. Malkiel is ruthless in debunking the professionals, when he thinks they need debunking. But underneath the skepticism, it seems to me, is affection and respect, a clear-headed awareness that when the professionals fail, they do so not because they are unusually incompetent, or unusually corrupt, but because the job is, in fact, difficult.

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Next post: April 29, 2023