WRITING 160: PLAN THE CATALIA TRIP

Hi, C. and J.,

1. Time: For the trip, since C. returns on Friday, Sunday seems better.

We can meet around 8:15am at the Long Beach ferry port, and take the ferry ($74) at 8:30am. The ride is about an hour. Then we can have breakfast/brunch on the island. We can return at either 3:45pm or 6pm.

http://www.catalinaexpress.com/images/pdf/schedules/Catalina_Express_Schedule_Winter2015.pdf

2. Things to do:  Zipline ($109, 2hrs) and snorkeling (2hrs) are very popular. If snorkeling is too much trouble, we can try zipline. If that is also too much, we can always find other stuff to do.

http://www.visitcatalinaisland.com/specials-packages/activities/zip-ship

http://www.yelp.com/biz/catalina-zip-line-eco-tour-avalon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-L7nCN11s0

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g102873-Catalina_Island_California-Vacations.html

Please let me know your thoughts.

Best,

ACTION415

WRITING 140: THE MAIN IDEAS OF AO

[7:15pm-7.35pm, 20min]

AO is an interesting game with following features. M produces a product. He can sells either through R or directly to the end market. The market price is linear in the total quantity supplied. M is less efficient in selling; he incurs additional selling cost. The selling cost can be high or low, which is M’s private information. R only knows its prior distribution . Finally, both M and R are risk-neutral profit-maximizing.

The game plays out as follows. M first observes his selling cost, and then he decides the wholesale price. Afterwards, R places the order, followed by R deciding his direct selling quantity. Finally, M produces, delivers, and sells the product through both channels.

Three forces are in play: DM in the retail channel, signaling because of IA, and the ENC competition between the two channels. Without IA, channel competition may reduce DM, i.e., competition is beneficial. However, when IA is in place, the outcome is less conclusive. In particular, if IA is on the R’s side, it actually exacerbates DM, reducing the benefit from channel competition.

AO argues that, however, when IA arises from M’s side, it works to further reduce DM, and hence a beneficial factor. As a result, the answer to whether IA is beneficial or harmful is more nuanced: it depends critically on the nature of IA, i.e., on the M or R’s side. It also depends on the relative selling costs. By spelling out these intricacies, our paper brings a step closer to the better understanding of pros and cons of IA and ENC competition in channel management.

[SUNSET, NEWPORT BEACH, JUNE, 2015]

Day 106, 8pt, 1.01F:

jog: 3m, 173.3lb;
learn: 0;
swim: 25r;
Read the book willower instinct, Pelican, 10:30am-12:30pm;
TYM: writing, 3hrs;
invite JW and CL for the party;

For Day 107,
TYM: writing;
read AO’s paper;
cancel Netflix subscription;

Day 105, 6pt, 12.31R:

jog: 0;
learn: 0;
swim: 0;
Shopping: 12:30pm-6:30pm,
Target, $330, Rach 99, $130, Staples, $68;

For Day 106,
TYM: writing;

HABITS: WRITING

As my swimming experience testifies, habits can be deliberately planned and developed. So there must be something magic about repeated actions:

When an action is repeated, we no long think about it consciously; instead, we internalize it and code it into the brain as our second nature.

Here is my next planned habit: WRITING. Just as I did with swimming, set a fixed time, do it every day, make it a routine. I will check out three weeks later.

[sunset, I-5, CA, 10/05/2011]

Day 104, 5pt, 12.30W

jog: 3m;
learn: Luenberg, finish 5.4;
swim: 24r;
TYM: writing, unproductive;
grocery shopping in Pavillions, $35;

For Day 105,
TYM: writing;

[TYM]
I still have not got into the writing mood. Tomorrow do nothing but writing.

[Sunset, SoCal, 1/22/2015]