Comments for Jim Garven's Blog

Comment on Baylor Proud by Gardner Campbell

Gardner Campbell — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:24:15 +0000

Just saw the note in Baylor Proud–congratulations! It’s especially nice to see the award going to a fellow faculty blogger.

Comment on Why Trampolines Aren’t Safe in Texas by Trampoline Guru

Trampoline Guru — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:10:04 +0000

Hey Jim

I would have to say not. But that is beautiful, you guys are really fortunate to with wildlife like that one on one. I know this sounds a bit dim, but didn’t think there were Deer in texas. Goes to show how media can portray the wrong thing, like texas just being a big dessert. Nice pic tho. thanks.

Comment on Timeless Calvin and Hobbes cartoon from 15 years ago… by A Lady's Life

A Lady's Life — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:25:00 +0000

Great cartoon!

And so true. Thanks

Comment on Prediction markets, new year edition by erikko

erikko — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 11:32:00 +0000

I can't wait to see another Kennedy runs for Senate. She and Hillary are the modern women who can make a difference in the world dominated by men.

Personal Finances Blog

Comment on Recession is here! by Mberenis

Mberenis — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:24:00 +0000

The recession isn't always a bad thing! Most people don't realize how much money there is out there. During economic times like this, there is more money to be had than ever. Because of the bailouts and economy, lenders are bending over backwards to bail you out too. Believe it or not, there is people getting tons of cheap money nowdays to start businesses, buy homes, pay off debt, and more. Profit from Recession

Comment on Recession is here! by Jason

Jason — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:30:00 +0000

According to Keynes, the root cause of an economic downturns is an insufficient aggregate demand. When the total demand for goods and services declines, businesses throughout the economy see their sales fall off. Lower sales induce firms to cut back production and to lay off workers. Rising unemployment and declining profits further depress demand, leading to a feedback loop with a very unhappy ending.

90% of the time you can make statistics show whatever you want 50% of time

http://nomedals.blogspot.com

Comment on In Modeling Risk, the Human Factor Was Left Out by Robert

Robert — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:05:00 +0000

Risk can be a difficult thing to quantify. It’s easy to calculate the frequency of tornadoes and the severity of tropical cyclones as they are both tangible and measured by insurers and government agencies. Other risks, however, depend on complicated mathematical models and quantitative analysis to decipher risk. For financial risk management complex metrics have been the rule of the day for many years, but is risk management really just about numbers and scientific models?

http://betterriskmanagement.blogspot.com/2008/11/perfection-is-not-mathematical-model.html

Comment on World on the Edge by Bring The Noise

Bring The Noise — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:38:00 +0000

Dr. Garven in my position of financial controller I have to constantly help people with their 401k's. Last week I found myself talking people out of pulling their 401k's out due to the current market conditions. They were in a panic coming into my office and they either wanted their money pulled out immediately or wanted to stop investing in their 401k's period. On Friday, I get a certified letter and phone call from my company's investment broker, no more than 15 minutes apart. That all funds have been frozen for the fund list here.

Principal Real Estate Inv U.S. Property Sep Account

What I want to know is this possible? There is one employee that just wants all of his money but their is a freeze on the fund.

Please Advise.

Michael R. Santana, Jr.
EMBA - 2010

Comment on Doom and Gloom by Kyla Joy

Kyla Joy — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:15:00 +0000

A friend sent me your blog. This post is fantastic. I’ve been trying to tell folks that this has happened before, but this post tells it much better than I have! Thanks.

Comment on Prediction Markets Update (September 21, 2008) by S

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:23:00 +0000

The real issue is not how well Obama or McCain might do state-by-state, but that we shouldn’t have battleground states and spectator states in the first place. Every vote in every state should be politically relevant in a presidential election. And, every vote should be equal. We should have a national popular vote for President in which the White House goes to the candidate who gets the most popular votes in all 50 states.

The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC). The bill would take effect only when enacted, in identical form, by states possessing a majority of the electoral vote — that is, enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538). When the bill comes into effect, all the electoral votes from those states would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC).

Because of state-by-state enacted rules for winner-take-all awarding of their electoral votes, recent candidates with limited funds have concentrated their attention on a handful of closely divided “battleground” states. In 2004 two-thirds of the visits and money were focused in just six states; 88% on 9 states, and 99% of the money went to just 16 states. Two-thirds of the states and people have been merely spectators to the presidential election.

Another shortcoming of the current system is that a candidate can win the Presidency without winning the most popular votes nationwide.

The National Popular Vote bill has passed 21 state legislative chambers, including one house in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, North Carolina, and Washington, and both houses in California, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The bill has been enacted by Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, and Maryland. These four states possess 50 electoral votes– 19% of the 270 necessary to bring the law into effect.

See http://www.NationalPopularVote.com

susan