Capitalogix

Tough Week?

Last week I wrote that trading is often stressful; and learning how to handle the emotional and physiological response patterns is an important step toward long-term success.

This week the markets were at their manic-depressive best, which can be tough for traders.  Investors were like hyperactive first graders playing musical chairs.

Here are some funny videos of how some people handle their tough week.

The first video shows a man beating his computer.  There is something primal about it that makes it memorable.  I saw this many years ago.  Yet I find myself thinking about this one from time-to-time.  So, I put it first.

Here is the direct link.

I saw this one on on the Huffington Post.  It has a lot going on; way too much to describe.  It is more fun to just watch, anyway.

Here is the direct link.

Finally, this one shows a man in a coffee shop freaking-out after his computer hangs, apparently he has a presentation to give in ten-minutes, so getting arrested seemed like a good idea.

Here is the direct link.  (Hat-Tip to Gelflog)

Before He Trades Video

This tongue-in-cheek music video, called "Before He Trades," re-makes a popular Carrie Underwood song as a trading reminder.

Here is the direct link.  From John Carter.

New Imaging Tools Will Change How You Access Information

Photosynth is a new technology from Microsoft.  It is software that could transform the way we look at digital images. Using still photos (and more), Photosynth builds a breathtaking new form of composite image, and lets us navigate them.  This service turns multiple photos of a scene or site -- say, an art gallery or a building -- into a 3-D scene you can virtually "walk" through on the Web.

Ten-years ago I saw something like this; it was the interface to a game called Myst.  It was ground-breaking at the time.

In the early phase of adoption for Photosynth, I expect to see things like the 3-D rendering of the Canals in Venice.  It is an easily accessible way to explore the concept.  Soon, however, this could evolve into a new way to hyper-link a wide range of data, meta-data, and business information.

To get a better idea of what this can do, watch this video from the Ted Conference introducing Photosynth.

Think about how much the web has already changed how you do research?  Also, because it is so easy to do now, think how much more research you do.  For example, I'm amazed at how often I search Google or Wikipedia. Similarly, I use sites like Digg, Technorati, Regator, and various blogs to find relevant information - even if I didn't know I was looking for it.

Photosynth is different, and in some ways a step beyond, those research tools.  It is graphics-centric instead of text-centric.  And I can imagine a new type of front-end (a new framework) for accessing information stored virtually anywhere.  Consequently, I expect to see a lot more of this, and things like it.

Click here to explore some interesting Synths.  You can make your own, too.  For example, here is a link to a Photosynth of, my son, Ben's dorm room at Duke.  It took him about a half-hour to make it.

Note: you can use arrows on the screen to navigate a Photosynth image; and the "Space Bar" is helpful, too, because it jumps to the next cluster of 3-D images.

iPhone App (Hoax?)

This video is spreading quickly, and though speculation is that it is a mock-up, I found it to be quite compelling.  Somehow I get the sense that it demonstrates a sliver of what's to come.

My guess is that we will start to see data visualization applications, using similar technologies, that will enable users to access data in powerful new ways.

iHologram - iPhone application from David OReilly on Vimeo.

Pilobolus: Things Aren't Always What They Seem

In trading, recognizing that things aren't always what they seem is a big part of the game. 

Here is a clever video that plays on that concept. It is from Pilobolus, a talented dance and performance art troupe.

Here is the direct link.

And this one has an unexpected ending.

Here is the direct link

Also, here is a link to their performance at the TED conference. (TED)

And here is an article about the "magic" of Pilobolus worth looking at. (CBS)

Olympic Extra

In China, "8" is believed to be a most powerful, and lucky, number.

So it is not surprising that Chinese began the Olympics on 08-08-08 at 8:08 PM.

Here is a link to Wikipedia's info page  and NBC's covering these Olympic games.

And here is a link to Wired's coverage of the tech behind the games.

An Olympic Attempt At Humor

As the Olympics begin, I saw this and thought it was worth sharing.

The artist/author has a blog called "Indexed" here, and a book here.

By the way, the Court threw out fine against CBS for airing the wardrobe malfunction. (DMN)

Let's just say she captured a few eyeballs; in most replayed moment in Tivo history. (CNet)

Japanese Gadget Innovation

Chindōgu is the Japanese art of inventing ingenious everyday gadgets that, on the face of it, seem like an ideal solution to a particular problem.

When allergies bother you, why carry tissue?

 

When you're a busy parent and don't have time to clean, why mop?

When you're in the mood for a hot quickee, what you need is a good blow.

Don't be a slave to fashion, be a salaryman.

Here are a few other links to see more of these. (Linkinn.net and Picdit)

While you are at it, translate your name into Japanese.

Word Cloud Text Toy

The image on the left is a Word Cloud of Bernanke's speech from last week. I used it in the prior Weekly Commentary.

The Word Cloud is more than just a text toy.  It is a data visualization tool that gives emphasis to frequently used words.

I used one from Wordle (and yes, you can make your own there).

Click the image to see the full version on the website.

I liked the result on Bernanke's speech.  So, I tried it on my list of goals and plans.  Here is the result.

 

Muppets Try Viral Marketing

Last week I wrote about Benjamin Zander, the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic, and his quest for "shining eyes".

This week it is the Muppets, and their "Ode to Joy".  Frankly, in this market, I'll take a little joy anywhere I can find it.

I'm posting it because it made me smile.  Hope it does the same for you..  

Now, for the rest of the story ...

My son tells he read rumor that the Forgetting Sarah Marshall team is working on a back-to-basics Muppets movie.

A whole series of new videos have been posted on YouTube in the last weeks from some suspicious pseudonyms (meepmeepmeepow, deumnborkborkbork, weirdowhatever, patrioticeagle).  All are clearly new videos of the Muppets singing along to songs.

I was amused. Here are a few more Muppet musical interludes to keep you busy.
 
Habanera
Classical Chicken
Stars & Stripes FOREVER!