Jul 28

Is now an ok time to buy SPSK. Interest rate is moderate. More chances that they will fall than rise. interest rate and bond price. interest rate and sukuk/SPSK price.

Note: Everything is from OpenAI/Chatgpt. The information, overall, looked ok to me.

You’re thinking along the right lines — and here’s a direct, objective summary to help you decide whether now is a reasonable time to buy SPSK (Wahed’s Sukuk ETF).

📉 Is Now a Good Time to Buy SPSK?

✅ Reasons It May Be a Good Entry Point:

  1. Interest Rates Are Likely Near Peak:
    • Many central banks (including the U.S. Fed) are either holding rates steady or considering cuts.
    • If rates fall or even stabilize, Sukuk prices tend to rise or stay steady, improving SPSK’s outlook.
  2. SPSK Price Has Likely Stabilized:
    • After a few tough years (2022–2023) during rising rates, SPSK may now be priced near the bottom.
    • You’re potentially buying at a discount, assuming no sharp rate hikes occur.
  3. Diversification and Halal Income:
    • SPSK offers Halal, income-generating exposure to the fixed-income world.
    • It can complement equity-heavy portfolios, especially if you’re holding volatile stocks like HLAL or tech ETFs.

⚠️ Cautions to Keep in Mind:

  1. Returns Are Modest:
    • SPSK is not a high-growth investment. It’s designed for income and capital preservation.
    • Think of it like a stabilizer in a volatile portfolio, not a rocket.
  2. Still Sensitive to Rate Surprises:
    • If inflation flares up and central banks raise rates unexpectedly, SPSK could dip again in price.
  3. Low Liquidity:
    • SPSK doesn’t trade as heavily as big ETFs like SPY or AGG, so bid-ask spreads may be wider.
    • Use limit orders when buying or selling.

🧩 Bottom Line (as of mid/late 2025):

ScenarioSPSK Outlook
Rates fall or stay flat📈 SPSK likely rises or stays stable
Rates rise sharply again📉 SPSK may drop modestly
You want halal fixed-income exposure✅ SPSK fits well in a portfolio

🎯 Verdict:

If you have a long-term horizon, want stable halal income, and believe interest rates have peaked or are falling, then now is a reasonable time to begin accumulating SPSK — especially in RRSPs or TFSAs where you avoid U.S. estate tax issues.

Let me know if you’d like a simple chart or printable blog-style summary of this.

Yes — the above answer is copyright-free and you are welcome to use, share, or repost it, including on your blog, in newsletters, or private groups. It was written specifically for you, using original phrasing and no copyrighted source material.

You’re free to:

  • Edit or reword it however you like
  • Attribute it to yourself or leave it anonymous
  • Use it for educational or informational purposes

If you’d like, I can also format it into a clean, blog-post style version or a printable PDF. Just let me know.

Here’s a clear, copyright-free explanation of interest rates and bond prices — perfect for personal understanding or for sharing in a blog or classroom.

📉📈 Interest Rates and Bond Prices — Explained Simply

🔁 Inverse Relationship:

Bond prices and interest rates move in opposite directions.

When interest rates go up, bond prices go down.
When interest rates go down, bond prices go up.

💡 Why Does This Happen?

Imagine you buy a bond that pays 5% interest (coupon rate). Then, interest rates rise to 6%.

Now, new bonds pay more than yours, so your bond is less attractive. To sell it, you must offer a discount — its price drops.

🧮 Simple Example:

  • You buy a $1,000 bond that pays $50/year (5% coupon).
  • Then interest rates rise to 6%.
  • New bonds now pay $60/year.
  • To match that, your $50 bond must drop in price to around $833 (so $50 is 6% of $833).

🔁 Same logic works in reverse when interest rates fall.

📏 Duration — How Much the Price Moves

  • Short-term bonds react less to interest rate changes.
  • Long-term bonds are more sensitive — their prices move more.

📌 Summary Table:

Interest RatesBond PricesExplanation
⬆ Increase⬇ DecreaseNew bonds pay more, old ones are less valuable
⬇ Decrease⬆ IncreaseOld bonds pay more than new ones — more valuable
Long-term BondMore sensitivePrice changes more
Short-term BondLess sensitivePrice changes less

💬 Investing Tip:

If you expect interest rates to fall, buy bonds now — they’ll likely rise in price.

If you expect rates to rise, be cautious — bond values may drop, especially long-term bonds.

📥 This explanation is copyright-free and may be reused in educational or informational settings.

Would you like a printable infographic or PDF handout version of this summary?

Jul 27

Check Your Linux Knowledge

Linux Installation: Pre Assessment

  1. What do you need handy before installing Ubuntu in a Virtual Box

0 points

Check all that apply.

 Oracle Virtualbox Installed  ISO Image of the Linux

 ISO Image in USB Drive

  • What is usually the best place to download/take a software to install? *

1 point

Check all that apply.

 Any website

 Original Vendor/creator/owner Website  Your Organizations’ Licensed Copy

 Pirated Copies Found in the Internet

  • Does the configuration in the image looks ok to create a virtual machine? Virtualbox *

1 point

Mark only one oval.

 Yes  No

  • In the above image which operating system we are installing *

1 point

Mark only one oval.

 Linux 64 bit

 Ubuntu 32 bit

 Ubuntu 64 bit

  • In the above image, what does expert mode mean? *

1 point

Mark only one oval.

 Step by step guide

 All/Most/Many options together in one screen to select

  • Does this image reflect an expert mode of creating a virtual machine? *

1 point

Mark only one oval.

 Yes

No

  • If your computer has 8 core microprocessor, 16 GB Ram, 1 TB of Hard Disk, Processor: all 8 cores can create aprox 4 Ghz. You want to do much in Linux. What is the best resource to assign to a Linux Virtual Machine

* 1 point

Mark only one oval.

 4 GB of RAM, 20GB of Hard Disk, 1 Core of CPU  4 GB of RAM, 30GB of Hard Disk, 2 Core of CPU  8 GB of RAM, 60GB of Hard Disk, 4 Core of CPU

  • What is Different in Ubuntu Desktop than Ubuntu Server *

1 point

Mark only one oval.

 Both have the GUI/Graphical

 Only Desktop Experience will install GUI by default

  • Define file systems such as Fat 32, Ext2, Ext4, NTFS. If you do not know say N/A or I do not know. I do not expect you to know.
  • 1 point
  1.  

Which option will make it easier to share data/clipboard between host/windows and guest/linux operating systems?

  • 1 point

Mark only one oval.

 Disabled  Guest to Host  Host to Guest  Bidirectional

  1. What are some optionsconfigurations that you may need to configure in creating a virtual box and/or install * 1 point

Ubuntu

Check all that apply.

 Select Filesystem

 Select Video Memory amount  Drag and Drop Options

 Boot order between Hard disk, Floppy, USB, CD

  1.  

When you will be asked for the Linux ISO file as par installation of Linux in a Virtual Machine (you created) *

1 point

Mark only one oval.

 When you Power on the Virtual Machine the first time  When you Power on the Virtual Machine every time  Never

  1.  

What is Host Control and What is it? *

1 point

Mark only one oval.

 Right Control Button: It/VM controls how it will capture mouse and keyboard data  Left Control Button: It/VM controls how it will capture mouse and keyboard data

  1.  

In Ubutu installation will you select as I selected in the image if you want GUI, and Keep things updated *

1 point

Check all that apply.

 Yes  No

  1.  

What is Minimal Installation in the above image *

1 point

Check all that apply.

 Minimal Ubuntu is a set of Ubuntu images designed for automated deployment at scale and made available across a range of cloud substrates. They use the optimised kernels and optimised boot process on their target compute substrate  To complete a minimal Linux installation, select one of the minimal installation options. A minimal Linux installation

option is either a custom installation where you select the Minimal option from Package Group Selection, or where you

deselect all packages except for the Base pack.  None of the above

  1.  

Can you partition the hard disk while installing Linux? *

1 point

Mark only one oval.

 Yes  No

  1.  

What is a SWAP partition *

1 point

  1.  

Is it a good idea to have a SWAP partition? *

1 point

Mark only one oval.

 Yes  No

  1.  

Does the installation process give the option to Erase the drive and Install Linux. *

1 point

Mark only one oval.

 Yes  No

  •  

Does the partition below look correct while installing Ubuntu? *

1 point

Mark only one oval.

 Yes  No

  •  

If Dual boot and the Host has UEFI then in Ubuntu Install you may need a UEFI partition *

1 point

Mark only one oval.

 True  False

  •  

What option will you use to start Linux after it got installed? *

1 point

Mark only one oval.

 Normal Start  Show Log  Remove

This content is neither created nor endorsed by Google.

 Forms

Jul 27

Java: ServletConfig vs ServletContext

Here’s a clear and copyright-free comparison of ServletConfig vs ServletContext — perfect for learning or blogging.

🔄 ServletConfig vs ServletContext in Java

Both ServletConfig and ServletContext are part of the Java Servlet API and provide access to configuration data, but they serve different scopes and purposes.

📋 Comparison Table

FeatureServletConfigServletContext
ScopePer servletPer web application
PurposePass init parameters to a specific servletShare data and resources across all servlets
Defined InInside <servlet> tag in web.xmlInside <context-param> tag in web.xml
Accessed BygetServletConfig()getServletContext()
Common UseDB name for one servlet, file path, etc.Logging config, app version, global file paths, etc.
LifecycleExists as long as the servlet is loadedExists as long as the web app is running
SharingNot shared between servletsShared by all servlets in the app

🧪 Example Usage

🔹 web.xml

<!-- ServletConfig (specific to one servlet) -->
<servlet>
    <servlet-name>MyServlet</servlet-name>
    <servlet-class>com.example.MyServlet</servlet-class>
    <init-param>
        <param-name>dbName</param-name>
        <param-value>students</param-value>
    </init-param>
</servlet>

<!-- ServletContext (shared across servlets) -->
<context-param>
    <param-name>appVersion</param-name>
    <param-value>1.2.3</param-value>
</context-param>

🔹 In Servlet Code

public class MyServlet extends HttpServlet {

    public void doGet(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response)
            throws ServletException, IOException {
        
        // ServletConfig example
        ServletConfig config = getServletConfig();
        String dbName = config.getInitParameter("dbName");

        // ServletContext example
        ServletContext context = getServletContext();
        String appVersion = context.getInitParameter("appVersion");

        response.getWriter().println("DB: " + dbName + ", App Version: " + appVersion);
    }
}

✅ Summary

  • Use ServletConfig for servlet-specific setup.
  • Use ServletContext for application-wide configuration and shared data.

Let me know if you want:

  • 📝 A Markdown or HTML version
  • 📄 A downloadable PDF version
  • 🎯 Real-world examples (like uploading files, database configs) using context/config.

Ref: OpenAI/ChatGPT

Jul 27

http and idempotent

not idempotent is:

🔴 POST

MethodIdempotent?Purpose
GET✅ YesRetrieve data
HEAD✅ YesLike GET but returns headers only
PUT✅ YesReplace or create a resource
DELETE✅ YesDelete a resource
OPTIONS✅ YesDescribe communication options

Ref: Ai/Chat/Internet/Chatgpt

Jul 27

Demonstrating wait() and notify() in a simple producer-consumer problem”

Check on the methods on: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/java/lang/Object.html

Understanding wait(), notify(), and notifyAll() in Java

In Java and Java EE, the methods wait(), notify(), and notifyAll() are defined in the java.lang.Object class. They are not part of classes like Thread or interfaces such as Runnable.

How They Work:

  • These methods are part of Java’s built-in synchronization system, often referred to as the monitor mechanism.
  • Every Java object has a monitor (or lock) that can be controlled through synchronized blocks or methods.
  • When a thread enters a synchronized section, it gains exclusive access to the object’s monitor and can use:
    • wait() – makes the current thread pause and release the monitor until another thread calls notify() or notifyAll() on the same object.
    • notify() – wakes up one thread that’s waiting for the monitor.
    • notifyAll() – wakes up all threads waiting on that object.

class SharedBuffer {
    private int data;
    private boolean hasData = false;

    // Producer puts data into the buffer
    public synchronized void produce(int value) throws InterruptedException {
        while (hasData) {
            wait(); // Wait until the buffer is empty
        }
        data = value;
        hasData = true;
        System.out.println("Produced: " + data);
        notify(); // Notify the consumer
    }

    // Consumer retrieves data from the buffer
    public synchronized int consume() throws InterruptedException {
        while (!hasData) {
            wait(); // Wait until data is available
        }
        hasData = false;
        System.out.println("Consumed: " + data);
        notify(); // Notify the producer
        return data;
    }
}

Threads using the Buffer

public class ProducerConsumerExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        SharedBuffer buffer = new SharedBuffer();

        // Producer Thread
        Thread producer = new Thread(() -> {
            try {
                for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
                    buffer.produce(i);
                    Thread.sleep(500); // simulate work
                }
            } catch (InterruptedException e) {
                Thread.currentThread().interrupt();
            }
        });

        // Consumer Thread
        Thread consumer = new Thread(() -> {
            try {
                for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
                    buffer.consume();
                    Thread.sleep(1000); // simulate work
                }
            } catch (InterruptedException e) {
                Thread.currentThread().interrupt();
            }
        });

        producer.start();
        consumer.start();
    }
}

This code is copyright-free for your use

  • The code I provided is original and generated by ChatGPT.
  • It is not copied from any copyrighted source.
  • You are free to use, modify, and publish it, including for personal, educational, or commercial purposes.

Jul 25

Checking on XEF and UMMA

It seems UMMA can be a good replacement for XEF – if Shariah Compliant (and sort of ESG) is important to you.

Jul 24

Tax Efficiency Considerations for Shariah Compliant Investments

Use this information just for knowledge purpose. Before taking actions, please explore more and may want to take professional advice.

For Tax Efficiency in Canada, for Halal Fixed Income ( I mean: Monthly Distribution) and ETFs like SPSK, and SPRE : it made sense: (ref: AI Chat)

For Growth ETFS and Fixed Income ETFs

Source: AI Chat/AI Exploration with Personal Input.

Jul 24

Halal/Shariah Compliant Investment in Canada

For Ideas: HALAL Investment Portfolio (Really Halal or not can still be a concern, depending). Purification is also another idea to integrate. You probably can create such portfolios on your own if you are familiar with such/them in the usual (not centered around HALAL) investment space. HLAL focuses more on the ethical aspect than SPUS (I will prefer HLAL over SPUS If I want to buy)

The Image is from ChatGPT.

Jun 01

Pearson vs Spearman Correlation

Pearson:

Generally Linear relation

Assumes Linearity.

Correlation between height and weight

Sensitive to outliers.

Spearman:

increasing or decreasing relationship, but may not be linear. Monotonic.

Higher marks lead to lower ranks, but generally not linearly.

Does not assume Linearity.

It can be good for categorical variables and relationships.

Less Sensitive to outliers.

Ref: Internet sources

May 22

Reporting (Results and Discussion) for your Data Analytics Projects

Evaluation, Results, Analysis, Reporting

Evaluation: What and How

•Evaluate: the accuracy and generality of the model

• (we did in model evaluation, threat to validity)

•Now Evaluate: if model meets the business objectives

•Seek if there is some business reasons

•why this model is deficient

•Evaluation: Take this model and application on real world case

•See the outcome

•Evaluate: data mining/model/experiment results generated

•

Evaluation Results and Reporting

•Assess data mining results with respect to business success criteria

•Also, overall report on the result

•And then analyze/evaluate against business success criteria

•Impact/Implications on the business

•Summarize assessment results

•in terms of business success criteria

•include a final statement whether the project meets

•The initial business objectives

•Reporting and Analysis

•Examples

•Results section: Page 51

•https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1692&context=etd_projects

•Check Results and Discussion sections

•https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/2203/2203.06848.pdf

•A Comparative Study on Forecasting of Retail Sales

•May be complicated

•https://arxiv.org/pdf/2303.11633.pdf

•Learning Context-Aware Classifier for Semantic Segmentation

•Check results section; also Discussion Section

•https://arxiv.org/pdf/2303.07533.pdf

•You can notice: results reported under different criteria, use of tables and figures.

•Notice/read the descriptions

Data Analytics, Machine Learning, Data Science