Google Docs & Spreadsheets

Google's new Docs & Spreadsheet (http://docs.google.com/) is pretty impressive.

It does pretty much everything that Microsoft's Word and Excel does, you can even export your files so that they're compatible with Office.

Google Documents does everything word does except the extras like Table of contents. There's an auto spell check, options to insert objects, and word counts. There's also an option to edit the document in HTML mode for web site users.


Google Documents does not have a thesaurus though, and it also doesn't have an option for footers so you can't really label page numbers.

The formulas in the Spreadsheet program include the basics from sum to average, and even includes the financial formulas like NPV and Nominal. The spreadsheet can merge cells and it can add additional sheets.

One drawback is when you type in a formula you can't navigate with the arrow keys after, you basically have to select either with the mouse or typing. You can navigate around with the arrow keys when you're not in the middle of the formula though. Also there is no option to create a pivot table, but who uses pivot tables? One big problem I saw was that I couldn't find a charts option, or maybe I just don't see the option.

All in all Google Docs & Spreadsheets is great program, it does everything I need it to do and then some. Great alternative to the costly Microsoft Office, and as long as you have internet access, you can use it anywhere.

Sample Cash Flow

This is a sample cash flow I made for my Financial Planning class, it's not quite finished yet. I tried not to hard code anything, but it couldn't be helped without getting complicated. Some of the numbers used were ball park estimates (Hydro and Sewage) while others were researched numbers based on the information given (mortgage).


This cash flow shows the cash inflows and outflows of a couple who plan to purchase their first house, have two children, pay for their education, and retire all in the next 15 years.

The cash flow isn't done yet, it's just the bare bones right now. The expenses and investments will have to be changed in order to meet their goals.

This is part of the financial planning project that will be presented on May 2nd at BCIT.

Any feedback is appreciated.

Roller Hockey Team Needed

Looking to play in the Vancouver Inline Hockey League (http://www.vihl.net/index.php).

Haven't played hockey in a year and haven't played competitive roller hockey before, so I'm looking to join the "Bronze League." I'll play any position. I'm a defensive minded forward, I can play stay at home defense, or I can jump in on the play. I have an above average wrist shot, decent speed, and good hockey sense.

I'm like Martin Gelinas or Cliff Ronning, I'll even sit on my stick and slide around like Ronning (can't find picture).

Bond Loop

Issuing and purchasing bonds to make an infinite amount of money

Hypothetical numbers

Issue: 3% coupon, $1,000,000 face value, 20 year bond (annual payments)
Purchase: 5% coupon, $1,000,000 face value, 20 year bond

Annual Interest Expense on issue = 1,000,000 x 3% = $30,000
Annual Interest Receivable = 1,000,000 x 5% = $50,000

Profit = $50,000 - $30,000 = $20,000

Highly leveraged, but if you choose higher rated bonds, the default risk would be low.

Using Gmail to store files

If you have a Gmail account (www.gmail.com) then you have ~2.8GB of storage space free. Here's how to use it:

1) Download the Gmail drive extension (http://www.viksoe.dk/code/gmail.htm), this creates another drive on your computer

2) Drag and drop the files you want to store into the Gmail drive

3) You'll get an email to yourself with the file attached