Sterling’s Website

I traded the Quicken CD today for a Big Java book, and a packaged CD set of Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 and Adobe Premier Elements 2.0.

At first, Rajiv of Palo Alto offered me a choice between the two, but he was nice enough to let me have all of it! When he said I could have the Big Java book, too, I was pretty amazed. I didn’t know he was going to give it to me!

I would like to read the skinny books about the photo software, but — according to Rajiv — I should probably wait to read the Big Java book until I get to fifth or sixth grade.

After we did our trade, we saw a Google building on the way home. I asked my Dad if we could go in, so he drove up to the big, black building. The security guard said we couldn’t go in since we would have had to sign up for a tour in advance. Maybe next time.

Thank you, Rajiv!!

Less than a week after I started trading, I have gone from a glass marble to a cool pen to today’s trade for Quicken Deluxe 2007!

Gaylan of Redwood City was nice enough to make this trade today. We drove all the way from San Jose this afternoon to meet with her at home.

It was hard to find the house because my Dad forgot his phone. She was nice. She seemed excited about the pen, too!

I was pretty tired when we got there. My Dad and I went geocaching on the way back. We found a travel bug! It was hot, and I was still tired.

My Dad says Quicken isn’t very fun, so I want to trade it even though it’s red. Anyone want to trade?

Thank you, Gaylan!

Yesterday, I had a glass marble.

Today, Carlos of San Jose replied to my Dad’s ad in CraigsList, and he took the glass marble in trade for a glow-in-the-dark Halloween pen and a Mighty Mouse pin (an unexpected bonus).

I really like the pen because it glows in the dark, and I also really like the Mighty Mouse pin because it has a lot of red — and red is my favorite color.

I already have an offer to trade for a package of Quicken in a few days. Any traders interested in that?

Thank you for the pen and the pin, Carlos!

This morning, my Dad found one of my marbles in his office.

We came up with the idea of creating an experiment to see how far we could get people to trade up items, starting with the marble — an almost worthless object.

Part of the experiment is figuring out how to involve people we don’t know.

Another problem may be figuring out how to value trades, since my Dad says I may have to pay taxes.

Also, we may have to travel long distances to pick up items, and the traders might not show up.

The rules we thought up are:

• must trade for something of equal or higher value;
• can’t trade for money;
• can’t trade an item for another item that is exactly the same;
• can’t trade for anything inappropriate, illegal, or unsafe;
• can’t trade more than once with same person, family, or business;
• trades must be in-person;
• if the trader is a stranger, Dad (or Mom) has to be there;
• have fun!

Of course, the rules may change or be added to at any time. It’s all going to be a great, fun learning experience.

I would really like to get a stack of gold bars, but my Dad doesn’t think that’s going to happen!

Stay tuned for notes on my progress!