Good to see the Maestro home page redesigned after comments the other day. It now looks a lot better, and clearly we are expected to get one of the three quotes now. However, there is still some work to do. Try asking for a quote for $1m of Life Cover (you can’t – too many …
Author Archives: Lance Wiggs
ACC, Benefits and 36,800 words
So you are in a giant battle with ACC, which has included you spending time in Prison for benefit fraud (something you are appealing). You profess that you cannot work because you cannot use a mouse or write, and have mild brain damage. Then ACC (or is it WINZ?) cuts off your current benefit. So …
eBay and Google tussle
For the last few days eBay USA has pulled its Google ads, after Google planned a huge Google Checkout party during eBay’s annual seller conference. The party was eventually canceled (eBay owns PayPal of course, the main payments platform), but the ads have not reappeared yet. I wonder (hope) whether eBay will actually look at …
Legofriendfinder
the online dating sensation that is sweeping the nation: LegoFriendfinder
Investments – the long and short of Apple and Microsoft
Finally I put my money behind my mac fan-boyism, albeit a bit too late for maximum benefits. I’m long AAPl for half the amount that I am short MSFT, but despite MSFT rising I am still well ahead. That’s 26.8% up on Apple, and 7% down on Microsoft. I really should have bought more Apple.
Investing – the long and short of eBay and EQR
After the TM and Ford experience, I sent some more money over and went long on eBay and short on EQR. I extended my position in both positions through the last year and still hold them. Right now I am long eBay for 2 times the value that I am short EQR. I like eBay …
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Investments – the long and short of Toyota and Ford
As mentioned a couple of times previously, I like to go long and short for some of my investing. I also invest in private companies, and with GMI who have a nicely diversified portfolio. Going long and short means you are neutral versus the market, and you are bascially placing matched bets of one company …
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The ultimate home setup
An impressive all-mac based home entertainment set up. I want this. Actually I want this is a much smaller form – with a macbook pro, external 500GB drive and projector. That is also a lot cheaper than the $13k he dropped on this system. Meanwhile I’m struggling with the playing and ripping of DVD’s as …
I want a divorce, says the consumer to the advertiser
A great video ad from Microsoft of all people, taking aim at traditional advertising…. in a trade marketing campaign. The video is promoting Microsoft’s Digital Advertising Solutions. There is an associated blog, by the Microsoft employee creator, (pretty sure he had some heavy lifting help from his ad agency) called bring the love back.
AdWords Business pages
Google now lets kiwi businesses create a simple webpage to serve as a landing point for Google ads. It’s a clever idea, as it means businesses can go from zero to a fully enabled Google adwords driven campaign in no time at all. It’s called.. well here’s the blurb: “AdWords Business Pages are a feature …
Gareth Morgan’s Kiwisaver calculater
What a weapon – Gareth Morgan Investments (GMI) have built a Kiwisaver fee calculator. Check it out. Plug in your portfolio sizze, and investment strategy, and the calculator will show how much the 6 ‘official’ and GMK’s Kiwisaver products will charge per year. The calculator lets you adjust the unitization factor, which Gareth claims is …
Bad rep on the net? it can be fixed – maybe
It seems, says the WSJ, that we already seeing companies spring up to help you defend your online reputation. Or maybe that is to remove your online reputation. ReputationDefender was founded by a Harvard Law grad in October, and they will politely (then not so politely) ask websites to take down references to you. Sometimes …
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Trade Me too cheap at $700m+$50m?
Apparently Sam thinks so – and so do (and did) I, but $700m guaranteed in the hand is much more interesting than maybe a billion in a year. That $700m got invested remember, and the 12 shareholders were either going to be really wealthy, or, well – really wealthy. What would you have done? especially …
Telecom CEO
darn – looks like I’ve missed out on that Telecom CEO role… perhaps they didn’t find the new ‘contact me’ piece on this site….
Ferrit’s Sale
Ferrit’s sale. Seems that their 20% off sale is the fruition of the ‘unsubstantiated rumour. Retailers get to sell their products cheaper, Ferrit cops the bill. Actually I feel this is a pretty good promotion, as it drives people to actually do a transaction, rather than just to visit the website. I have not seen …
Lance Wiggs 