My Internet Notebook

a journal on software, mobile, marketing

Archive for the ‘Everything Else’ Category

Obama Quote

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I just have to post some quote from an Obama’s speech here:

“…I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on earth. This was the moment — this was the time — when we came together to remake this great nation so that it may always reflect our very best selves and our highest ideals.”

What do you think?

Written by Y.

August 22nd, 2008 at 2:44 pm

Posted in Everything Else

Numbers Speak

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I am generally very interested in numbers, because numbers can give you a big pictures of things, giving you a solid basis for understanding the subject in question and more.

Today I came across the following numbers:

China has 400 million youths, 50 million middle-class households (no number on what qualifies as middle-class, bummer;-) as of 2005. The middle class households in China is expected to triple to 150 million by 2015. Last year (2004), about 5 million cars were manufactured and sold in China, GM China has about 10% market share. Over the next few years, the growth of the automobile industry is expected to be beteew 10-15%. These two number seem to match if you assume that the middle-class status in China is symbolized by the ownership of cars.

Americans bought 2.29 billion books in 2004, published by a total of 83,000 publishers, more than 70,000 of which have 10 or fewer titles. You think Amazon.com is big, but researcher estimates that total online sales of books accounted for only 7-10% of toal US book sales. Do this mean Amazon.com still have room to grow? Independent Book Publisher Association.

Do you know how big a cut Amazon takes from book sales on amazon.com website? 55%. No wonder Amazon can still have some healthy margin.

Written by Y.

August 14th, 2005 at 9:51 pm

Posted in Everything Else

Boomer Retirement Causes Problem?

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An article at the SF Chronicle enumerates the crises effects of baby-boomer retirement that is going to happen in the next decade or so (www.sfgate.com/jobs). Is it time to panic? As the old chinese saying goes, wherever there is danger, there is opportunity.

But it is always to be prepared. Resources to get yourself prepared: Boomer Crisis Update from the Hyde Group, The Aging of Aquarius: The Baby Boom Generation Matures from the Segal Company, the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Written by Y.

July 17th, 2005 at 6:19 pm

Posted in Everything Else

LA Times on Housing Bubble

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Los Angeles Times: It’s Not a Bubble Until It Bursts

In the face of irrational exuberance in the housing market, a rational question home owners can ask themselves is – own or rent?

It is well known that house price has appreciated over 50-70% since 2001 in some regions. It is understandable one worries about the eventual decline in real estate price. Another question to ask, in an economy that is growing 3-4% annually, how much/fast should real estate price appreciate? Probably should be faster 3-4%.

Written by Y.

May 30th, 2005 at 3:12 pm

Posted in Everything Else

First Royalty Payment

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Totally to my surprise, yesterday I received a royalty payment check from ProQuest for my Ph.D. dissertation I finished in 2003. Suffice to say that I am pretty excited. It is not a lot of money but it is truely satisfying to see that someone else is interested in your work.

Maybe I should start thinking about writing a book, seriously …

Written by Y.

May 17th, 2005 at 3:11 pm

Posted in Everything Else