Month: January 2010

Categories
perspective

Time Value of Money

The most useful “fun” utility on the zaFin suite was the time value of money calculator which basically allows you to compare the value of money at different times.
For example, how many times have you heard someone older than you mention the price of something way back when and then proceed to complain about the price of things today?
“When I was 25 years old, the price of bread was only 50c. Today, it’s R10!”
Well, 50c way back then was equivalent to just exactly how much today? Remember, all prices are relative, thanks to inflation. Things get more expensive, but we don’t still earn R150 per year (hopefully), right?
Nonetheless, the zaFin inflation and time value of money calculator will help put things in perspective for you.

Categories
Business

zaFin for BlackBerry

At last, a version for the BlackBerry has been released and ready for general public consumption. Make some good decisions this year- based on numbers and data- not just emotional “got-to-have-x” or even more dangerous hype-based “woohoo-the-recession-is-over-we-can-spend-now” motivations. take the time to think it over a little… or use zaFin.

Categories
perspective

To The Power Of, by hand

I’ve often needed to create a power function, as in 2^3 or more commonly Math.pow(2,3) = 8. However, sometimes, the Math.pow() doesn’t exist and the operator ^ is reserved for other useful functions or not recognised at all. In times like that, you need to hand roll- so here’s a good link to keep bookmarked.

Categories
Technology

Online JSON Parser

A tres useful link for playing around with JSON parsing and data structures; a design tool if you like; the aptly titled Online JSON Parser.
And a useful library for Java ME. In fact, at the bottom of the landing page for JSON.org, there’s a list of implementations for a host of languages.

Categories
Life perspective

The Next Round

So it was an incredibly busy end-of-year (2009) with exams, lifesaving, BlackBerry and .NET projects and family life. And then the festive season came and went; New Year’s slipped by and now we’re this side of 2010 looking forward to another round of whatever may be.
And right off the bat, tax season looms. Registration for university is on the go, lifesaving competitions get into full swing with some major events, followed by mid-year exams and winter. And then 3Nut (sprog #3) arrives and then (allegedly) the exponential busy-ness kicks in. So already, the first half of the year is underway at a pace. Which is New Year’s celebrations have always been foreign to me.
There’s this air of expectation around them like something “new” and exciting will be heralded in and when you wake up the next day and everything is supposed to be “different”. And because it’s New Year, you have a milestone whereby you can mark your life’s progress. Strange. Why wait to do that only once a year?
Every day is filled with new and exciting adventures. Every day is a milestone and an accomplishment. Every day is different and is definitively the last of _that_ day you’ll ever have.
So, today is the day you make a resolution; and if you resolve to do something, it means you do it- not just think about doing it. “Carpe diem” is the old expression (which i strangely don’t hear much anymore?) so seize the carp!