> The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one > persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all > progress depends on the unreasonable man. G. B. Shaw, *Maxims for > Revolutionists* While cramming for the CFA level 1 exam the past 3 weeks, I can't let go of the fact that I'm leaving my work out cold on the table. This sense of urgency feels like every minute that I delay my trading system development projects, bits of them will fall apart. This weekend I finished reading through my Schweser study notes from cover to cover, to cover to cover, and repeat that 3 more times for a total of 5 books. It's certainly useful and interesting material. But I can't see the value of cramming for 3 more months to memorize everything in even more excruciating detail. No term will be without a definition in my head and no problem will be without a solution on my BA II Plus calculator. Just so I can say that I passed my level 1 exam on my resume. What the curriculum offers is information, but what we need more in this world is wisdom. I stand by my belief that [credibility is as important as experience and skills][]. However, that doesn't mean that I need to head for the path most traveled. Why can't I be unreasonable and push my limit to do what I've always been set out to do. Credibility can be gained from attaching professional designations to your name, but it can also be gained from simply achieving results in the real world. So this morning, before going to work, I took the first baby step in turning this little hobby of mine into a real business. I registered a business entity with our government. After 10 years of [trading][], 5 years [blogging about the market][], and 3 years in [trading system development][], today is day 1 of Quantisan Systems! And this -- is how my business got officially started. My plan towards [unreasonable goals][] in a world of reasons is finally set in motion.

In lieu of regular programming, here are some pictures from my brief trip to Switzerland to attend the Geneva Forex Event and interview by Dukascopy last week. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="570" caption="Jet d'Eau"][][/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="570" caption="Reformation Wall"][]1[/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="570" caption="Palais des Nations"][]2[/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="570" caption="Monument Brunswick"][]3[/caption]

Nowadays, computing power is practically free for trading. It does not take much processing power to trade or chart on your computer. The situation is even more wasteful for many mechanical traders obligated to keep their computers on all the time. So what can you do with all that idling power? Through World Community Grid (non-profit), you can help develop new cures for diseases or discover affordable solar energy. According to Wikipedia, "World Community Grid (WCG) is an effort to create the world's largest public computing grid to tackle scientific research projects that benefit humanity." By joining WCG and installing an open-source software, you are enabling your computer's idling cycles to process data from various research projects as part of a cluster of computers. From the WCG statistics page, over half a million users have signed up. It is one of the three biggest non-profit grid computing efforts in the world (the other being SETI@home and folding@home). I tried SETI@home almost a decade ago to help search for E.T. But it wasn't until the folding@home project started when grid computing gained popularity. Tell people that you're leaving your computer on to search for E.T. and people couldn't hold their laughs at you. But telling people that you're leaving your computer on to find cures for diseases ... then all of a sudden, it's philanthropic. The reasons why I chose to devote my computer resources to WCG instead of the other two are simple.

1. It offers more than one projects to choose. You can fold proteins, find energy efficient material, simulate climate change, etc.
2. The projects offered have specific, realistic goals.
3. Projects do get completed (unlike SETI@home, for example, since no E.T. has been found yet after 10 years).
4. New projects are added as older ones finish.

In any case, that's just my personal choice. Take a look at the three projects mentioned for more information. In addition, there's an interview with a researcher using WCG. If you decide that WCG is right for you, feel free to join Team Traders and start data crunching together. (Warning: Like any software, use at your own risk)