Best Practices: Gamifying your Life

People on their death bed often say that they regret spending so much time working and did not have enough fun.  I propose to gamify your life by counting the number of enjoyable/pleasurable/fun/memorable things that you do each day.  This idea is supported by the idea that "If you can't measure/track it you can't improve it".  This also requires to both reflect and have appreciation which are two things that is commonly referred to as important.  I don't know what the secret to happiness is but this sure does seem like a start.  

Here is an example:
+1 Tried new coffee and it was really good
+1 no work emails until 10am
+1 school was off today therefore there was minimal traffic
+1 free lunch at work since there was a meeting
+1 it was sunny
+1 made it to the gym
+1 watched a good movie
+1 got to sleep on time
+1 got a non-work project done
= daily score 9

*Statistical analysis and graphs to follow

Good Idea: Quotes with Friends Boardgame

Link up quotes in "Words with Friends" or "Scrabble" fashion. 

For example Einstines quote "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler"

Can be linked on to...

 “Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.”
― Steve Jobs

 Can be linked on to...

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas A. Edison

Quote of the Day

"Start thinking outside the Wall Street Box"

Let Me Reserve The Right to Change My Mind: Car Financing

It's a shame that we can backtrack on what we say but here is my attempt to...

Once upon a time I thought financing a car was out of question. I thought it was best (if you had the cash on hand) to pay cash especially for a depreciating asset such as a car.  However you need to look at the bigger picture and arbitrage interest rate... In other words what could you have done with that money and turned it at a higher rate than the car loan was.

1.99% car loan < 4-6% stocks < 10%+ alternative investments

A car loan is cheap free money... The take away is there is no clear cut answer.  It all depends on comparing the intrest rate and playing the arbitrage game.  WMD: This is not a free pass to buy an expensive car that you would have bought otherwise.

Opportunity Fund

I don't like the term Emergency Fund.  It comes from a scarcity mentality.  Going for lets call it an Opportunity Fund to take advantage of deals to come in the future.

Luck = Preparation + Opportunity

Good Idea: The smart wallet

Good Idea: Payal to pay people to vote

Good Idea: Gatoraide quotes

Good Idea: Pre packaged snacks no mater what the diet

Good Idea: The Quad Blind Test

Good Idea: Organic at Subway

Good Idea: Gas Land

Good Idea: Steroids in the Army

If we are in this no build area will have to apply through the FAA for an exemption. Source: Federal Airway Regulation Part 77.

Good Idea: Food in Red Square (food carts)

Good Idea: Beam contact info via phone

In the age of smart phones and post ir beaming data why can't we send out our contract info via phone.   There should be a way to send basic information such as the spelling of our name, address, jumbled up email addresses.  Really how much time do we waste relating our information over the phone multiple times to a call center in Asia.

Good Idea: The dome

Good Idea: Community Umbrellas

Good Idea: Blackberry Push to talk, impending Siri

Good Idea: Gas Buddy & Yelp