Benjam in Pollack: “I checked out the README, which said things ought to build just fine on VisualStudio.NET 2003, so I thought it would be a piece of cake to get running. Bzzzt! I hit F5, the build starts, and then dies with my least favorite error message in the entire world: Internal Compiler Error.”

P.S. If you were about to buy FogBugz 4.0, today is the last day of the introductory pricing, so hurry up!

Dan Bricklin Interviews Me

Dan Bricklin: "We talked about developers keeping track of where their code comes from and watching out for GPL code that shouldn't be there, why developers who read Slashdot and Eric Raymond are more likely to be at least somewhat aware of copyright issues than their managers who don't, differences between Windows and Unix when it comes to combining code (especially back in the days when the GPL was written), access to Microsoft source code, economics of Open Source, and more."

The interview is available as a 18MB MP3 file and runs about 38 minutes. Dan Bricklin was the co-creator of Visicalc, the world's first spreadsheet program.

Wall St. 101

"Remember that scam I explained to you last month?" Jared asked me over dinner, while reviewing my investments.

A month ago Jared had explained a clever scam Wall Street uses to rip off retail bond investors. He explained it very well. It all made sense.

I remembered.

"Well, you just fell for it!"

Wall Street Survival 101

You have $100,000 to invest. Which government bond should you invest in?

Bond A, B or C?

Bond A pays 4.15%. If you buy this bond, you'll get a check for $4150 in interest at the end of every year for 10 years. With your last check, you'll get your $100,000 back.

Bond B pays 4.5%. You'll get a check for $4500 at the end of every year for 30 years, then with your last check, you'll get your $100,000 back.

Bond C pays even more! It's 4.75%, w00t. you will get $4750 at the end of every year for 10 years, then get your original investment back, unless the government decides they want to keep your money for a little longer, in which case you'll get another 20 years of $4750 before you get your money back.

Bond C is a little more complicated so let me explain. On the tenth anniversary, the government gets to decide whether to pay you your $100K back and owe you nothing, or keep your $100K for another twenty years and keep paying you the interest. The point being, the choice is up to the government.

But either way, with Bond C, you're getting MORE interest every year, whether they decide to keep your money for 10 years or 30.

So, it's stupid to buy bonds A or B, right? Bond C is obviously the better choice.

Right?

Hints: assume that you're a left-handed avocado farmer and therefore don't pay any tax. So ignore the tax implications. Then, assume that all the bonds are equally sound, backed by the "full faith and credit of the United States" which, in the financial world, means there is absolutely no chance of default. This is not a trick question.

The answer tomorrow.

Interns

Projec t Aardvark: “Our summer interns will have some light reading to do before they can get started.”

A lot of people were asking what books were on the pile for the interns. Actually those books are really optimized for Project Aardvark, for example, there's a book on OpenSSL and the Time Out guide to New York. However I do have a standard list of recommended reading for all programmers. I haven't updated it since 2002, but, you know what? These are timeless classics so I probably won't revisit it again for a few more years.

Now for a little tiny hint about yesterday's puzzler. I'll print the hint in white text so you can't see it if you're still working on the problem. Drag your mouse over the hint to see it.

<hint> Imagine ten years have passed, and put yourself in the shoes of the government. Under what circumstances would the government choose to prepay Bond C? </hint>.