Who wants to be a bullion-aire? - Money - Business - Home - smh.com.au: "Both can be converted into gold bars. For the Perth Mint this is at maturity in 2013; for Gold Bullion Securities it can be any time though you have to go to London to collect it which is probably why nobody has.
There's a tiny annual management fee and the price of each exactly tracks that of bullion. For example at a bullion price of $750, Gold Bullion Securities shares will trade around $7.50."
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Regulators can't find assets of Atlanta hedge fund: Report - Feb. 27, 2006
Regulators can't find assets of Atlanta hedge fund: Report - Feb. 27, 2006: "Among the clients of the fund to have charged they were defrauded are several current and former professional football players who said they invested more than $15 million with International Management."
Oops, where did I put that $150 million dollars again?
Oops, where did I put that $150 million dollars again?
Friday, February 24, 2006
What car would Benjamin Graham drive?
SPF, BDG, STTX fit into BGs stock screener as of Feb 15/2006.
Of the last 3 picks (STTX, SXT, ROCK) two rose since Sept. (SXT went down, Rock and Sttx rose.)
Standard Pacific Corp builds houses and provides mortgages. Hmm.. bubble?
Plus the CEO made almost $13M dollars! That's more than some bank CEOs make!
SPF's home prices in 2004 ranged from under $100,000 to over $1 million. In 2005, 2004 and 2003, the average selling price of the company's homes, excluding sales of unconsolidated joint ventures, was $347,000, $374,000 and $307,000 respectively.
So it looks like the markets peaked in 2004?
Let's check out BDG.
Bandag Inc. produces and sells tires. A growth stock if I have ever seen one. Last time I bought tires I only had 3 options, expensive, expensiver, and expensivest. When I tried to put tires on my Hyundai Tiburon, I found out that there was only 1 model in town, and each tire was... $385.00. While I was getting them installed, a man came into the tire dealership driving an AMG S55 He was in his late 30s, and coincidentally went to school with another couple who were there at the time.
Turns out that he was a broker on Bay St. His Porsche was stolen a few months ago from his driveway after a home break-in, and he decided to go with a nice AMG-S50.
With a top speed of over 145 mph, it needs good tires.
He went to Mercedes for a quote, and his winter tires would have cost $4,000. I think that included balancing and installing, but I'm not sure.
Put my piece of crap Tiburon tires back into perspective. It would have been cheaper for him to buy my car, drive it for the winter, and then give it to the poor. Maybe not, because of the insurance premiums, plus the fact that it was the most stolen car at the time so it probably wouldn't have lasted too long in his driveway.
So back to this stock. The CEO, Mr. Martin G. Carver, is paid fairly for his 817M market-cap company, at under $600k. He probably isn't driving an AMG. Maybe a Porsche. Or a Hummer. The franchise they bought in 2004 is SpeedCo, haven't seen any of those around here. They're based in Iowa, isn't that near Omaha? Well they rhyme, so maybe that's a good sign.
Only 19M shares outstanding according to Yahoo, compare that to a Barrick total of 500M. Hmm. NYSE tells me there's 9M shares. What's going on?
So much for growth, it's down 3% over the year. Maybe it will come back, but with a spread of $42-$47 it probably won't make you much? P/E is 16.5
STTX has been on the list twice now, does that mean that instead of a Value stock it is a Valueless stock? Comparing the charts to BDG show that it may have some growth potential, but was really tanking last year. It is much more consistent than BDG. Huge growth since the bubble burst in 2000.
What does it make?
(What's that clanging noise coming from the Far East? The sound of all the buildings in New York being built in Shanghai, in 1 YEAR)
Its processed products include cold-rolled strip and sheet, cold-rolled one-pass strip, high carbon and alloy strip and sheet, hot-rolled sheet, high strength low alloy strip and sheet, coated strip and sheet, and hot-rolled pickled and oiled sheet and tin plate.
Mmmm. hot-rolled pickled and oiled sheet sounds like something from the $3.99 Chinese lunch special I used to eat.
The business sure sounds exciting! The CEO made almost double what BDG's made. He is probably driving the heaviest, steeliest car around.
Ha! Gold-plate your Delorian so that the frame won't rust out every 3 years.
Visit the ultimate Delorian site on the web.
Of the last 3 picks (STTX, SXT, ROCK) two rose since Sept. (SXT went down, Rock and Sttx rose.)
Standard Pacific Corp builds houses and provides mortgages. Hmm.. bubble?
Plus the CEO made almost $13M dollars! That's more than some bank CEOs make!
SPF's home prices in 2004 ranged from under $100,000 to over $1 million. In 2005, 2004 and 2003, the average selling price of the company's homes, excluding sales of unconsolidated joint ventures, was $347,000, $374,000 and $307,000 respectively.
So it looks like the markets peaked in 2004?
Let's check out BDG.
Bandag Inc. produces and sells tires. A growth stock if I have ever seen one. Last time I bought tires I only had 3 options, expensive, expensiver, and expensivest. When I tried to put tires on my Hyundai Tiburon, I found out that there was only 1 model in town, and each tire was... $385.00.
Turns out that he was a broker on Bay St. His Porsche was stolen a few months ago from his driveway after a home break-in, and he decided to go with a nice AMG-S50.
With a top speed of over 145 mph, it needs good tires.
He went to Mercedes for a quote, and his winter tires would have cost $4,000. I think that included balancing and installing, but I'm not sure.
Put my piece of crap Tiburon tires back into perspective. It would have been cheaper for him to buy my car, drive it for the winter, and then give it to the poor. Maybe not, because of the insurance premiums, plus the fact that it was the most stolen car at the time so it probably wouldn't have lasted too long in his driveway.
So back to this stock. The CEO, Mr. Martin G. Carver, is paid fairly for his 817M market-cap company, at under $600k. He probably isn't driving an AMG. Maybe a Porsche. Or a Hummer. The franchise they bought in 2004 is SpeedCo, haven't seen any of those around here. They're based in Iowa, isn't that near Omaha? Well they rhyme, so maybe that's a good sign.
Only 19M shares outstanding according to Yahoo, compare that to a Barrick total of 500M. Hmm. NYSE tells me there's 9M shares. What's going on?
So much for growth, it's down 3% over the year. Maybe it will come back, but with a spread of $42-$47 it probably won't make you much? P/E is 16.5
STTX has been on the list twice now, does that mean that instead of a Value stock it is a Valueless stock? Comparing the charts to BDG show that it may have some growth potential, but was really tanking last year. It is much more consistent than BDG. Huge growth since the bubble burst in 2000.
What does it make?
(What's that clanging noise coming from the Far East? The sound of all the buildings in New York being built in Shanghai, in 1 YEAR)
Its processed products include cold-rolled strip and sheet, cold-rolled one-pass strip, high carbon and alloy strip and sheet, hot-rolled sheet, high strength low alloy strip and sheet, coated strip and sheet, and hot-rolled pickled and oiled sheet and tin plate.
Mmmm. hot-rolled pickled and oiled sheet sounds like something from the $3.99 Chinese lunch special I used to eat.
The business sure sounds exciting! The CEO made almost double what BDG's made. He is probably driving the heaviest, steeliest car around.
Ha! Gold-plate your Delorian so that the frame won't rust out every 3 years.
Visit the ultimate Delorian site on the web.
Company News | Reuters.com
Kinross also stands to gain from Barrick Gold Corp.'s (ABX.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) acquisition of Placer Dome Inc. (PDG.TO: Quote, Profile, Research), which has a number of joint ventures with Kinross.
Once the deal closes, Barrick will transfer a number of Placer's gold assets, including the joint ventures, to another Canadian producer, Goldcorp Inc. (G.TO: Quote, Profile, Research), and Burt is eager to start talking.
Although the two companies have not spoken yet, Burt said: "We would be happy to sit down with (Goldcorp CEO) Mr. Telfer and talk about rationalizing those."
Has Kinross been beaten down to value-investing levels? Let's check out Graham's screening tools.
P/E = 20.6. Well that was quick...
Once the deal closes, Barrick will transfer a number of Placer's gold assets, including the joint ventures, to another Canadian producer, Goldcorp Inc. (G.TO: Quote, Profile, Research), and Burt is eager to start talking.
Although the two companies have not spoken yet, Burt said: "We would be happy to sit down with (Goldcorp CEO) Mr. Telfer and talk about rationalizing those."
Has Kinross been beaten down to value-investing levels? Let's check out Graham's screening tools.
P/E = 20.6. Well that was quick...
Stingy Investor: Articles
Stingy Investor: Articles: "Figure 1: Benjamin Graham's Criteria for the Defensive Investor
P/E Ratio less than 15.
P/Book Ratio less than 1.5.
Book Value over 0.
Current Ratio over 2.
Earnings growth of 33% over 10 years.
Uninterrupted dividends over 20 years.
Some earnings in each of the past 10 years.
Annual revenue of more than $100 Million (1950).
Source: The Intelligent Investor, 4th Revised Edition (pages 184-185).
Figure 2: Screening criteria used to approximate Graham's rules
P/E Ratio less than 15.
P/Book Ratio less than 1.5.
Book Value more than 0.01.
Current Ratio more than 2 .
Annual EPS Growth (5 Yr Avg) more than 2.9186%.
5 Year Dividend Growth more than 0%.
5 Year P/E Low more than 0.01.
1 Year Revenue more than $400 Million. "
P/E Ratio less than 15.
P/Book Ratio less than 1.5.
Book Value over 0.
Current Ratio over 2.
Earnings growth of 33% over 10 years.
Uninterrupted dividends over 20 years.
Some earnings in each of the past 10 years.
Annual revenue of more than $100 Million (1950).
Source: The Intelligent Investor, 4th Revised Edition (pages 184-185).
Figure 2: Screening criteria used to approximate Graham's rules
P/E Ratio less than 15.
P/Book Ratio less than 1.5.
Book Value more than 0.01.
Current Ratio more than 2 .
Annual EPS Growth (5 Yr Avg) more than 2.9186%.
5 Year Dividend Growth more than 0%.
5 Year P/E Low more than 0.01.
1 Year Revenue more than $400 Million. "
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Berkshire owns 100M GoldCorp Shares
G.TO: Insider Roster for GOLDCORP INC - Yahoo! Finance
Buffett bought last February, so he must be enjoying his jump from $17 - $28.
Buffett bought last February, so he must be enjoying his jump from $17 - $28.
In the tell 'em what they want to hear dept
www.mineweb.net | sections | gold & silver Embry: $800-$1000 gold is conservative: "VANCOUVER--(Mineweb.com) Sprott Asset Management Chief Investment Strategist John Embry is adamant that gold will hit at least $800 per ounce as 'paper money is going to hell in a handcart.'"
What to buy during inflationary periods
Yoda on inflation, courtesy of Wikipedia:
"The assets and commodities that would go up in value are those whose supply are finite or non-renewable (such as fossile fuel and real estate near areas of centers of trades). The assets and commodities whose supply are increasing would see its value to fall (including money).
How can the value of money to fall when there is no inflation?"
Buy oil you will, hmm?
"The assets and commodities that would go up in value are those whose supply are finite or non-renewable (such as fossile fuel and real estate near areas of centers of trades). The assets and commodities whose supply are increasing would see its value to fall (including money).
How can the value of money to fall when there is no inflation?"
Buy oil you will, hmm?
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Wall Street - How it works, and for Whom
Blog Search - a resource
For traders in global firms, the trading day begins in T okyo; they “pass the book” at about 4 or 5 in the
afternoon Tokyo time to London, where it is 7 or 8 in the mor ning, and pass it westwards at 1 PM to New York, where it is 8 in the morning. The trading day ends when New York closes.
Other than the strange formatting, this book is a good read so far. Grab it from the link on Bill Cara's web site.
For traders in global firms, the trading day begins in T okyo; they “pass the book” at about 4 or 5 in the
afternoon Tokyo time to London, where it is 7 or 8 in the mor ning, and pass it westwards at 1 PM to New York, where it is 8 in the morning. The trading day ends when New York closes.
Other than the strange formatting, this book is a good read so far. Grab it from the link on Bill Cara's web site.
Intercontinental Hotels Group Launches Industry's First Comprehensive Virtual Concierge Service for Holiday Inn(R) Hotels and Resorts: Financial News
Intercontinental Hotels Group Launches Industry's First Comprehensive Virtual Concierge Service for Holiday Inn(R) Hotels and Resorts: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance: "eHost gives Holiday Inn guests 24-hour access to the information normally provided by a traditional concierge, including area dining options, attractions, movies, shopping, transportation, and events in the immediate vicinity of the Holiday Inn where they are staying"
Something tells me IHG could have saved money by partnering with Google or Microsoft for something like this.
There has been a lot of talk about the measurement of market cap to # of employees in a company, and what an employee is worth to a company. If you do a straight division of market cap / # of employees for this company, you get $250k/employee. For Microsoft you get $4.5B. On revenue, it would be $147k and $678k respectively.
With this metric alone, could you see which company is overvalued?
My wife picked IHG because of it's new points rewards program, which allows you to collect points and redeem them at any hotel, even outside the chain. I don't see any information on this, so she could be mistaken for another hotel.
Another stock I'm looking at besides Holiday Inn/IHG is Timberland (TBL). I don't see their employee count on Yahoo, however their market cap is 2.26B with 213M in the bank, and 0 debt. Since Timberland and Dockers are two of my favorite brands, and as of 1985 I can't buy Dockers (Levi's) stock unless I get it from Japan, Timberland is probably my pick.
Something tells me IHG could have saved money by partnering with Google or Microsoft for something like this.
There has been a lot of talk about the measurement of market cap to # of employees in a company, and what an employee is worth to a company. If you do a straight division of market cap / # of employees for this company, you get $250k/employee. For Microsoft you get $4.5B. On revenue, it would be $147k and $678k respectively.
With this metric alone, could you see which company is overvalued?
My wife picked IHG because of it's new points rewards program, which allows you to collect points and redeem them at any hotel, even outside the chain. I don't see any information on this, so she could be mistaken for another hotel.
Another stock I'm looking at besides Holiday Inn/IHG is Timberland (TBL). I don't see their employee count on Yahoo, however their market cap is 2.26B with 213M in the bank, and 0 debt. Since Timberland and Dockers are two of my favorite brands, and as of 1985 I can't buy Dockers (Levi's) stock unless I get it from Japan, Timberland is probably my pick.
Bill Cara: Japanese equities lose ground today, Wed., Feb. 22, 2006, 5:53 AM
Bill Cara: Japanese equities lose ground today, Wed., Feb. 22, 2006, 5:53 AM: "I believe 2006 will be a year of transition for the Asia Pacific equity markets, where international money flows will move away from Japan and Korea, which have been very hot, and into China¸Taiwan and Hong Kong manufacturing, and the Mainland China oil Sector."
How much does Martha Stewart's web site cost?
Seeking Alpha » Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Q4 2005 Earnings Conference Call Transcript (MSO): "We anticipate CapEx of $7 million in 2006, just over half of which will be used in the development of our new web platform. Now let me turn it back over to Susan."
So 4.5 million this year?
So 4.5 million this year?
Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders
Here is an interesting thread about what Warren Buffett may have done wrong, and where we could learn.
Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders: "When I first saw (on the 13F) that BH had acquired a big stake in Pier 1, I naturally considered buying the stock and dropped by a couple of Pier 1 stores to check the place out. What I saw astonished me: a beautifully set up, well run operation, friendly people, good computer system, AND A STORE FULL OF THE WORST COLLECTION OF TOTALLY UNSELLABLE JUNK I HAD EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. "
Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders: "When I first saw (on the 13F) that BH had acquired a big stake in Pier 1, I naturally considered buying the stock and dropped by a couple of Pier 1 stores to check the place out. What I saw astonished me: a beautifully set up, well run operation, friendly people, good computer system, AND A STORE FULL OF THE WORST COLLECTION OF TOTALLY UNSELLABLE JUNK I HAD EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. "
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Bill Cara on Geopolitics and capital markets
Geopolitics and capital markets: "When the world is at war, commodity prices are favored. When the world is at peace, financial asset prices are favored.
As you know, my portfolio is over-weighted in shares of companies of commodity producers, like the oil and gas producers and the metals producers, and their suppliers. And when the global economy starts to pick up, or gives me an indication it will not go into recession, I'll add some shares of the chemical and paper and forestry companies, which along with some of the golds is the place to be looking for values today."
As you know, my portfolio is over-weighted in shares of companies of commodity producers, like the oil and gas producers and the metals producers, and their suppliers. And when the global economy starts to pick up, or gives me an indication it will not go into recession, I'll add some shares of the chemical and paper and forestry companies, which along with some of the golds is the place to be looking for values today."
Monday, February 20, 2006
GalaTime: Indian Capital Markets
GalaTime: Indian Capital Markets: "Source: NSE India"
Here’s a list of the IPOs listed at NSE in 2005, and their performance to date
Here’s a list of the IPOs listed at NSE in 2005, and their performance to date
Telus - The friendly employer?
The Wireless Stock Blog » TELUS Corporation Q4 2005 Earnings Conference Call Transcript (TU): "Also pertinent for enhancing productivity was the reduction in holiday days, 9 to be exact for almost 6000 TELUS team members. This means we have approximately 54,000 more days each year to assign to our core operations without hiring a single new employee."
Is this the start of a trend in holiday-chopping for productivity gains?
Is this the start of a trend in holiday-chopping for productivity gains?
Friday, February 17, 2006
Yahoo! Finance - Cameco stock falls despite div hike, stock split
Yahoo! Finance - Cameco stock falls despite div hike, stock split: "Cameco stock jumped 76.5 percent in 2005."
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Cheney's Got a Gun pt 2
Brrreeeport, was the sound of the buckshot as it flew through the air towards its unintended target.
Yes this is just a cheap trick to try and get listed on Technorati, courtesy of Scobleizer.
Yes this is just a cheap trick to try and get listed on Technorati, courtesy of Scobleizer.
CXOAG Investing Notes – Update: Cramer Offers You His Protection?
CXOAG Investing Notes – Update: Cramer Offers You His Protection?
The conclusion? Buy index funds or ETFs. Boo...ya?
In summary, Jim Cramer offers his viewers no protection regarding their investing/trading choices. His assessments of viewer-proposed stocks likely encourage market underperformance. In fact, his "sell" recommendations in aggregate may outperform the market after six months.
Mr. Cramer's viewers should probably buy and hold broad index funds rather than trade stocks on his "Lightning Round" advice.
The conclusion? Buy index funds or ETFs. Boo...ya?
In summary, Jim Cramer offers his viewers no protection regarding their investing/trading choices. His assessments of viewer-proposed stocks likely encourage market underperformance. In fact, his "sell" recommendations in aggregate may outperform the market after six months.
Mr. Cramer's viewers should probably buy and hold broad index funds rather than trade stocks on his "Lightning Round" advice.
Put your Lance face on
Morningstar.com - Fund Times: Lance Armstrong Talks Investing
Lance is getting out of the bracelet business, and into Portfolio Management. His Livestrong Portfolios will mature on 2015, 2025, 2035 and 2045.
Interesting to note that BCE just released a bond that matures in 2014. Pay $67 to get $100 in 8 years. Doesn't sound like much of a return to me.
I think I'll wait for the Paris Hilton ETF...
Lance is getting out of the bracelet business, and into Portfolio Management. His Livestrong Portfolios will mature on 2015, 2025, 2035 and 2045.
Interesting to note that BCE just released a bond that matures in 2014. Pay $67 to get $100 in 8 years. Doesn't sound like much of a return to me.
I think I'll wait for the Paris Hilton ETF...
Monday, February 13, 2006
PowerShares - PBW - WilderHill Clean Energy Portfolio
PowerShares - PBW - WilderHill Clean Energy Portfolio
The PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy Portfolio™ seeks to replicate, before fees and expenses, the WilderHill Clean Energy Index which seeks to deliver capital appreciation through companies that focus on greener and generally renewable sources of energy and technologies facilitating cleaner energy.
$20 Ask.
Investing $10k in 2000 would give you $8.6k now.
Top Holdings
I recognize Maxwell, Kyocera, Praxair, and Ballard.
The PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy Portfolio™ seeks to replicate, before fees and expenses, the WilderHill Clean Energy Index which seeks to deliver capital appreciation through companies that focus on greener and generally renewable sources of energy and technologies facilitating cleaner energy.
$20 Ask.
Investing $10k in 2000 would give you $8.6k now.
Top Holdings
I recognize Maxwell, Kyocera, Praxair, and Ballard.
For bond products, it's the price, stupid
For bond products, it's the price, stupid: "The official names of the new Barclays bond ETFs are iUnits Government of Canada 5-Year Bond Fund (the iG5 Fund) and the iUnits Government of Canada 10-Year Bond Fund (the iG10 Fund).
Bond ETFs give small investors access to 'wholesale' bond pricing. While it's a no-brainer to pick these funds over the average bond mutual fund, the price advantage is less obvious against setting up 'ladders' of either government bonds or strip bonds. (Ladders are portfolios of bonds of different durations, set up so some mature each year.)
Direct cost comparisons are difficult because of the lack of transparency in bond pricing, says a do-it-yourself investor who posts on the Wealth forum at www.theboomer.com as 'Shakespeare.'"
Bond ETFs give small investors access to 'wholesale' bond pricing. While it's a no-brainer to pick these funds over the average bond mutual fund, the price advantage is less obvious against setting up 'ladders' of either government bonds or strip bonds. (Ladders are portfolios of bonds of different durations, set up so some mature each year.)
Direct cost comparisons are difficult because of the lack of transparency in bond pricing, says a do-it-yourself investor who posts on the Wealth forum at www.theboomer.com as 'Shakespeare.'"
Index Funds Advisors - ifa.com - Articles
Index Funds Advisors - ifa.com - Articles: "The iG5 and iG10 will distribute net income to unitholders on a semi-annual basis and net realized capital gains on at least an annual basis, according to BGI Canada. "
XGV - 5 year
Volumes are pretty low.
XGX - 10 year - Don't see this one.
XGV - 5 year
Volumes are pretty low.
XGX - 10 year - Don't see this one.
For bond products, it's the price, stupid
For bond products, it's the price, stupid: "Those who plan to ultimately sell the bond need to factor in another 0.28% on the eventual sale commission, along with a bid-ask spread of roughly 0.2%, Shakespeare says. The cost of a round trip (buy, then sell later) on a bond ETF executed at a discount broker is therefore 0.76%, or about half the 1.5% to set up a bond ladder.
For low amounts (below $1,000, say), investors may be better off with such traditional alternatives as bond mutual fundsor Canada Savings Bonds, given the minimum brokerage fees.
At higher amounts, $5,000 or $10,000 investments at a time, it seems almost a dead heat between bond ETFs and bond ladders."
For low amounts (below $1,000, say), investors may be better off with such traditional alternatives as bond mutual fundsor Canada Savings Bonds, given the minimum brokerage fees.
At higher amounts, $5,000 or $10,000 investments at a time, it seems almost a dead heat between bond ETFs and bond ladders."
Prosper: The online marketplace for people-to-people lending
Prosper: The online marketplace for people-to-people lending
Interesting concept that gets rid of credit card debt and funds small business by P2P borrowing.
Interesting concept that gets rid of credit card debt and funds small business by P2P borrowing.
Freakoindex Guide to Winning Portfolios!
Great new indexing tool just needs a better wrapper - MarketWatch
Only $29.95, and if you act now, we will throw in a dust cover jacket.
Only $29.95, and if you act now, we will throw in a dust cover jacket.
Buy 30-yr bonds?
Stock Market News and Investment Information | Reuters.com: "A sudden rush for 30-year bonds that hoisted up the entire Treasury market on Friday bodes well for next week's sale of $14 billion in the revived maturity -- but also hints at a deeper inversion of the yield curve.
The long bond was discontinued in 2001, based on projections for wide-ranging surpluses. As those forecasts turned into red ink, traders demanded the 30-year's return, to no avail until last August.
Friday's rally in longer-dated debt started when a large fund manager reportedly started buying up when-issued 30-year bonds, which are traded prior to the actual auction.
The market followed suit, yanking when-issued yields down to 4.51 percent from a session high of 4.62 percent."
Somewhere I read that bonds were the equivalent of buying insurance at a Blackjack table - why bother?
The long bond was discontinued in 2001, based on projections for wide-ranging surpluses. As those forecasts turned into red ink, traders demanded the 30-year's return, to no avail until last August.
Friday's rally in longer-dated debt started when a large fund manager reportedly started buying up when-issued 30-year bonds, which are traded prior to the actual auction.
The market followed suit, yanking when-issued yields
Somewhere I read that bonds were the equivalent of buying insurance at a Blackjack table - why bother?
What Would Warren Do?
What Would Warren Do?: "What Would Warren Do?
S&P's Buffett screen uses the famous investor's principles to find stocks which may generate blazing returns"
The Buffet Screener List
Company Ticker
Adobe Systems ADBE
Altria Group MO
Apollo Group APOL
C.R. Bard BCR
Biomet BMET
BlackRock BLK
Brown & Brown BRO
Cognizant Tech Solutions CTSH
Cognos COGN
Eaton Vance EV
Equitable Resources EQT
Factset Research Systems FDS
FLIR Systems FLIR
Forest Laboratories FRX
Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold FCX
Garmin GRMN
Graco GGG
GTECH Holdings GTK
Impac Mortgage Holdings IMH
Infosys Technologies INFY
Intl. Game Technology IGT
Johnson & Johnson JNJ
K-Swiss KSWS
Knight Ridder KRI
Kos Pharmaceuticals KOSP
Legg Mason LM
Lincare Holdings LNCR
MEMC Electronic Materials WFR
Mobile Telesystems MBT
Novastar Financial NFI
Nuveen Investments JNC
Occidental Petroleum OXY
Omnivision Technologies OVTI
Per Se Technologies PSTI
Petrobras Brasileiro PBR
T. Rowe Price TROW
Sigma Aldrich SIAL
Techne TECH
UST UST
Votorantim Celulose VCP
S&P's Buffett screen uses the famous investor's principles to find stocks which may generate blazing returns"
The Buffet Screener List
Company Ticker
Adobe Systems ADBE
Altria Group MO
Apollo Group APOL
C.R. Bard BCR
Biomet BMET
BlackRock BLK
Brown & Brown BRO
Cognizant Tech Solutions CTSH
Cognos COGN
Eaton Vance EV
Equitable Resources EQT
Factset Research Systems FDS
FLIR Systems FLIR
Forest Laboratories FRX
Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold FCX
Garmin GRMN
Graco GGG
GTECH Holdings GTK
Impac Mortgage Holdings IMH
Infosys Technologies INFY
Intl. Game Technology IGT
Johnson & Johnson JNJ
K-Swiss KSWS
Knight Ridder KRI
Kos Pharmaceuticals KOSP
Legg Mason LM
Lincare Holdings LNCR
MEMC Electronic Materials WFR
Mobile Telesystems MBT
Novastar Financial NFI
Nuveen Investments JNC
Occidental Petroleum OXY
Omnivision Technologies OVTI
Per Se Technologies PSTI
Petrobras Brasileiro PBR
T. Rowe Price TROW
Sigma Aldrich SIAL
Techne TECH
UST UST
Votorantim Celulose VCP
Wal-Mart to infest US banking system
The Wal-Mart locusts are coming like a black cloud on the horizon of banking in the United States.
They are already a quasi-banker, offering their own currency (gift cards) that are treated differently than cash.
Are they going to increase the hold times on cheques for certain individuals?
For about two hours, store managers stalled on accepting the check for the already-printed gift cards, while Pitts stood waiting by the customer service desk. He had handed over his GAF business card, his driver's license and the toll-free numbers to GAF's bank. His accounting supervisor assured them over the phone that GAF, the nation's biggest roofing systems maker with revenues of $1.6-billion in 2004, was good for the check.
Two African-American Wal-Mart clerks watching all this from nearby told Pitts that several similarly sized transactions were made for other companies that day without delay, Pitts said. They suggested to Pitts that he was subjected to all the extra scrutiny by their bosses because he is black.
The thought made him physically ill.
What's to stop Microsoft & Berkshire Hathaway from using their huge cash reserves to start up their own banking systems? It sure would cut the service fees on cashing all of those cheques.
Piggy Banker?: "The majority of ILCs are owned by financial companies such as securities firms Merrill Lynch & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. that under deregulation could own a traditional bank but don't want to because that would require they be regulated by the Fed as bank holding companies. The Fed requires holding companies to maintain certain amounts of cash against potential losses, and that's an expense these firms want to avoid. The dozen or so nonfinancial companies that own ILCs -- BMW of North America LLC, Volvo and the like -- do so to finance purchases of their cars and motorcycles."
They would probably have to partner with another bank if they wanted to set this up in Canada, similar to ING Direct + Canadian Tire, or Loblaws + CIBC.
At about the same time, Wal-Mart chief executive H. Lee Scott Jr. said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times that the company wanted to be gung-ho into financial services, including mortgages.
Why don't they just start their own stock market while they're at it? Discounted APPL or GOOG from China anyone?
They are already a quasi-banker, offering their own currency (gift cards) that are treated differently than cash.
Are they going to increase the hold times on cheques for certain individuals?
For about two hours, store managers stalled on accepting the check for the already-printed gift cards, while Pitts stood waiting by the customer service desk. He had handed over his GAF business card, his driver's license and the toll-free numbers to GAF's bank. His accounting supervisor assured them over the phone that GAF, the nation's biggest roofing systems maker with revenues of $1.6-billion in 2004, was good for the check.
Two African-American Wal-Mart clerks watching all this from nearby told Pitts that several similarly sized transactions were made for other companies that day without delay, Pitts said. They suggested to Pitts that he was subjected to all the extra scrutiny by their bosses because he is black.
The thought made him physically ill.
What's to stop Microsoft & Berkshire Hathaway from using their huge cash reserves to start up their own banking systems? It sure would cut the service fees on cashing all of those cheques.
Piggy Banker?: "The majority of ILCs are owned by financial companies such as securities firms Merrill Lynch & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. that under deregulation could own a traditional bank but don't want to because that would require they be regulated by the Fed as bank holding companies. The Fed requires holding companies to maintain certain amounts of cash against potential losses, and that's an expense these firms want to avoid. The dozen or so nonfinancial companies that own ILCs -- BMW of North America LLC, Volvo and the like -- do so to finance purchases of their cars and motorcycles."
They would probably have to partner with another bank if they wanted to set this up in Canada, similar to ING Direct + Canadian Tire, or Loblaws + CIBC.
At about the same time, Wal-Mart chief executive H. Lee Scott Jr. said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times that the company wanted to be gung-ho into financial services, including mortgages.
Why don't they just start their own stock market while they're at it? Discounted APPL or GOOG from China anyone?
Scratch Ethanol off the list of efficient alt fuels
Bloomberg.com: Bloomberg Columnists: "Putting it all together, they found that it takes 29 percent more energy to make ethanol from corn than is contained in the ethanol itself.
It's not that corn is a bad source for ethanol. The other sources mentioned by the president look even worse. Wood biomass takes 57 percent more energy to produce than it contains. Switch grass takes about 50 percent more.
Ethanol is just a highly uneconomical product. Some other authors have disputed these findings, but they invariably come up with more favorable calculations by excluding some of the costs."
It's not that corn is a bad source for ethanol. The other sources mentioned by the president look even worse. Wood biomass takes 57 percent more energy to produce than it contains. Switch grass takes about 50 percent more.
Ethanol is just a highly uneconomical product. Some other authors have disputed these findings, but they invariably come up with more favorable calculations by excluding some of the costs."
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Investing - The Good News - The Longtail of Investing - Blog Maverick - www.blogmaverick.com _
Investing - The Good News - The Longtail of Investing - Blog Maverick - www.blogmaverick.com _: "Let me repeat myself one more time on another topic. The best investment you can always make is in yourself. If you want to secure your financial future, invest in your own knowledge. 29 dollars for a book is going to be a better investment than 29 dollars in commission to a brokerage 99 out of a 100 times. Being the best at something you love to do, is going to bring rewards, financial and otherwise that will far exceed what any stock or bond can offer you."
The Stock Market is for suckers…. - Blog Maverick - www.blogmaverick.com _
The biggest pyramid scam in history (Ticker: SCAM)
Mark Cuban gives us the secrets to winning in the markets.
The Stock Market is for suckers…. - Blog Maverick - www.blogmaverick.com _: " It takes often knowing the market for a company’s product better than the company does. "
On ETFs & Indexes, they're crap too...
As far as ETFs. Which one ? Remember, the Dow and S&P are marketing tools. They change the indexes. Look at the stocks in there today, vs what was in there in years past. You are not buying a passive investment that tracks the economy. You are buying the stock pickers at those respective indexes.
On non-dividend stocks that don't give 'cash-back'
a stock that doesnt pay dividends is valued like a baseball card. Just whatever you can sell it for.
On how Buffett trades (like a bully in a playground)
Have you ever seen Warren Buffet talk about buying 100 shares of anything ?1k shares ? or does he take control of , or purchase a material percentage of a company ?
"When I was your age..."
There once was a day where most companies paid dividends higher than the interest rates on their bonds. Why ? Because stocks are inherently more risky.
On diluting investments and the magic of compounding returns...
Where I could buy 100 shares of stock, and even if it represented just 1/100000 of ownership in the company, I could have confidence that year after year, I would still own 1/100000th of that company, and if that company generated earnings , I would have at least some of that money returned to me.
I think Mark should look at BRKA or BRKB? Or maybe Sequoia funds?
Mark's last paragraph is the most important - spend time with people you love, things you love to do, or invest in yourself.
Mark Cuban gives us the secrets to winning in the markets.
The Stock Market is for suckers…. - Blog Maverick - www.blogmaverick.com _: " It takes often knowing the market for a company’s product better than the company does. "
On ETFs & Indexes, they're crap too...
As far as ETFs. Which one ? Remember, the Dow and S&P are marketing tools. They change the indexes. Look at the stocks in there today, vs what was in there in years past. You are not buying a passive investment that tracks the economy. You are buying the stock pickers at those respective indexes.
On non-dividend stocks that don't give 'cash-back'
a stock that doesnt pay dividends is valued like a baseball card. Just whatever you can sell it for.
On how Buffett trades (like a bully in a playground)
Have you ever seen Warren Buffet talk about buying 100 shares of anything ?1k shares ? or does he take control of , or purchase a material percentage of a company ?
"When I was your age..."
There once was a day where most companies paid dividends higher than the interest rates on their bonds. Why ? Because stocks are inherently more risky.
On diluting investments and the magic of compounding returns...
Where I could buy 100 shares of stock, and even if it represented just 1/100000 of ownership in the company, I could have confidence that year after year, I would still own 1/100000th of that company, and if that company generated earnings , I would have at least some of that money returned to me.
I think Mark should look at BRKA or BRKB? Or maybe Sequoia funds?
Mark's last paragraph is the most important - spend time with people you love, things you love to do, or invest in yourself.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Vonage's IPO
: "The past background of our founder, Chairman and Chief Strategist, Jeffrey A. Citron, may adversely affect our ability to enter into business relationships and may have other adverse effects on our business.
Prior to joining Vonage, Mr. Citron was associated with Datek Securities Corporation and Datek Online Holdings Corp., including as an employee of, and consultant for, Datek Securities and, later, as one of the principal executive officers and largest stockholders of Datek Online. Datek Online, which was formed in early 1998 following a reorganization of the Datek business, was a large online brokerage firm. Datek Securities was a registered broker-dealer that engaged in a number of businesses, including proprietary trading and order execution services. During a portion of the time Mr. Citron was associated with Datek Securities, the SEC alleged that Datek Securities, Mr. Citron and other individuals participated in an extensive fraudulent scheme involving improper use of the Nasdaq Stock Market's Small Order Execution System, or SOES. Datek Securities (through its successor iCapital Markets LLC), Mr. Citron and other individuals entered into settlements with the SEC in 2002 and 2003, which resulted in extensive fines, bans from future association with securities brokers or dealers and enjoinments against future violations of certain U.S. securities laws."
Between that and the fact that they predict that they will continue to lose larger and larger sums of money to exhibit subscriber growth, I think that is enough to keep some people away...
Prior to joining Vonage, Mr. Citron was associated with Datek Securities Corporation and Datek Online Holdings Corp., including as an employee of, and consultant for, Datek Securities and, later, as one of the principal executive officers and largest stockholders of Datek Online. Datek Online, which was formed in early 1998 following a reorganization of the Datek business, was a large online brokerage firm. Datek Securities was a registered broker-dealer that engaged in a number of businesses, including proprietary trading and order execution services. During a portion of the time Mr. Citron was associated with Datek Securities, the SEC alleged that Datek Securities, Mr. Citron and other individuals participated in an extensive fraudulent scheme involving improper use of the Nasdaq Stock Market's Small Order Execution System, or SOES. Datek Securities (through its successor iCapital Markets LLC), Mr. Citron and other individuals entered into settlements with the SEC in 2002 and 2003, which resulted in extensive fines, bans from future association with securities brokers or dealers and enjoinments against future violations of certain U.S. securities laws."
Between that and the fact that they predict that they will continue to lose larger and larger sums of money to exhibit subscriber growth, I think that is enough to keep some people away...
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
The digg effect for the Nasdaq
StockDigg
Digg is a great site which allows users to submit and rate, or dig the sites that are interesting to them. Usually the comments are just as good as the sites. I compare Digg to the Wall Street Journal, while Slashdot is more the New Yorker. Digg's a daily read.
Stockdigg could be too, if they would just fix up the colour scheme a bit. (green???)
Digg is a great site which allows users to submit and rate, or dig the sites that are interesting to them. Usually the comments are just as good as the sites. I compare Digg to the Wall Street Journal, while Slashdot is more the New Yorker. Digg's a daily read.
Stockdigg could be too, if they would just fix up the colour scheme a bit. (green???)
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Financial Accounting Blog
Financial Accounting Blog: "Forget Windows 2000. As far as I can tell, the single most lucrative product Microsoft sells is its own stock. Microsoft receives almost as much cash inflow from the stock market as it does by selling goods and services...Microsoft receives cash by issuing employee stock options, after which the company then receives billions of dollars in tax deductions from the IRS for doing so. Add in the warrants it sells on its own stock, and the company made over $5 billion off the stock market last year (fiscal year ended July 1999), tax-free. For comparison, its after-tax net income was only $7.8 billion. Microsoft may not be much in the programming department, but its accountants are impressive."
Buy Bullion
"Thanks to efficiencies of the Internet, GoldMoney's exchange rate is just 2 percent over the spot price of gold--far below the markup on, say, gold coins bought through a broker. 'Our goal is to bring gold down to the individual,' says Turk, 58."
Did Big Ben see his shadow this year?
"'The fact that the Steelers are in it and the fact that they're playing a first-time team suggests that no matter what happens, it's going to be a good year for the stock market,' says Geoffrey Gerber of Twin Capital Management in McMurray."
That has to be the dumbest thing I ever heard! Unless maybe last weekend's game was rigged, and the people who bet against the Seahawks invested in the markets afterwards. Hmm... I think it's more a case of the Seahawks playing against themselves last week. Those were some stupid calls against some stupider plays.
Dan Rooney & Art Rooney are the owners of the Steelers.
Legend has it that Art Rooney Sr. purchased the Steelers in 1933 for $2,500 ($35,000 in today's dollars) after a successful weekend at New York's Saratoga Race Track. Thanks to Heinz Field, the new stadium the Steelers operate, the team, still run by the Rooney family, is now worth $608 million
Major corporate sponsors are 84 Lumber, Advance Auto Parts (nyse: AAP), Giant Eagle, Coca-Cola (nyse: KO), PNC Financial (nyse: PNC). Stadium sponsor is HJ Heinz (nyse: HNZ).
So John Kerry's wife's family business sponsors the stadium, and Warren Buffett's Coca Cola sponsors the team.
Considering Paul Allen owns the Seahawks, I wonder if Warren and Bill Gates were betting on last weekend's game.
I was going to bet money on the Seahawks. Guess I will save it for when I bet on the next WWE match. Keep it real, Vince McMahon!
That has to be the dumbest thing I ever heard! Unless maybe last weekend's game was rigged, and the people who bet against the Seahawks invested in the markets afterwards. Hmm... I think it's more a case of the Seahawks playing against themselves last week. Those were some stupid calls against some stupider plays.
Dan Rooney & Art Rooney are the owners of the Steelers.
Legend has it that Art Rooney Sr. purchased the Steelers in 1933 for $2,500 ($35,000 in today's dollars) after a successful weekend at New York's Saratoga Race Track. Thanks to Heinz Field, the new stadium the Steelers operate, the team, still run by the Rooney family, is now worth $608 million
Major corporate sponsors are 84 Lumber, Advance Auto Parts (nyse: AAP), Giant Eagle, Coca-Cola (nyse: KO), PNC Financial (nyse: PNC). Stadium sponsor is HJ Heinz (nyse: HNZ).
So John Kerry's wife's family business sponsors the stadium, and Warren Buffett's Coca Cola sponsors the team.
Considering Paul Allen owns the Seahawks, I wonder if Warren and Bill Gates were betting on last weekend's game.
I was going to bet money on the Seahawks. Guess I will save it for when I bet on the next WWE match. Keep it real, Vince McMahon!
Sunday, February 05, 2006
If you only new the power... of the Dark Side.
"Patrick Byrne, the Internet retailer's chief executive officer, has called short selling of his company's shares - essentially a bet their price will fall " a conspiracy orchestrated by a 'Sith Lord.' "
How much do I put in RRSP this year?
Rate yourself using debt-to-income ratio - Yahoo! News
everyone, at every age, should save 12 percent of their income
a 30-year-old should have 10 percent of their income amassed in savings, including retirement savings and other household savings.
Savings amassed at 40, 50 and 60 should be 1.7 times income, 3 times income, and 8.8 times income. (not including home equity, unless you sell after retirement)
Add up the mortgage, the student loans, the credit card balances and the remaining balance on the car loan. At age 30, you'll have your highest levels of debt relative to your income, says Farrell. He pegs that number at 1.7, meaning that if you're earning $50,000 at age 30, you should be $80,000 in debt.
To figure out if you're within (the lending ratio) range, add up what you spend in a month on your mortgage, home insurance and real estate taxes, and divide that figure by your monthly gross income. Your answer should be under .28.
Go back and add in your car payment, credit card payments and other debt payments to the first total, and divide again by your monthly gross salary. The answer should be under .36.
everyone, at every age, should save 12 percent of their income
a 30-year-old should have 10 percent of their income amassed in savings, including retirement savings and other household savings.
Savings amassed at 40, 50 and 60 should be 1.7 times income, 3 times income, and 8.8 times income. (not including home equity, unless you sell after retirement)
Add up the mortgage, the student loans, the credit card balances and the remaining balance on the car loan. At age 30, you'll have your highest levels of debt relative to your income, says Farrell. He pegs that number at 1.7, meaning that if you're earning $50,000 at age 30, you should be $80,000 in debt.
To figure out if you're within (the lending ratio) range, add up what you spend in a month on your mortgage, home insurance and real estate taxes, and divide that figure by your monthly gross income. Your answer should be under .28.
Go back and add in your car payment, credit card payments and other debt payments to the first total, and divide again by your monthly gross salary. The answer should be under .36.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Friday, February 03, 2006
GE - Nuclear and Wind play
MSN Money - 9 ways to play the nuclear power surge: "Thanks to generous tax credits for the development of wind-powered electricity, that side of GE�s energy business is going gangbusters. Wind-turbine sales should generate $2.25 billion this year. The company expects double-digit growth in this market for several years. 'We see very strong demand for our products and services,' says Mark Little, the vice president of power generation for GE Energy. 'The demand is so strong, if we could make more turbines we would sell more.'"
GE - Nuclear and Wind play
<a href="http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/P116569.asp?Printer">MSN Money - 9 ways to play the nuclear power surge: "Thanks to generous tax credits for the development of wind-powered electricity, that side of GE�s energy business is going gangbusters. Wind-turbine sales should generate $2.25 billion this year. The company expects double-digit growth in this market for several years. 'We see very strong demand for our products and services,' says Mark Little, the vice president of power generation for GE Energy. 'The demand is so strong, if we could make more turbines we would sell more.'"
How Warren Buffett made his first million
It was 1961.
It was the first upside up year since 1881. (write it backwards)
JFK became President.
Chimps flew into space.
China buys $60 million in grain from Canada.
Bay of Pigs fails.
Peace Corps created.
British sends troops to Kuwait to keep Iraq out.
Wayne Gretzky, Eddie Murphy, George Clooney, Dennis Rodman, Enya, Boy George, Princess Di, Scott Baio, Peter Jackson, and Meg Ryan were born.
Warren Buffett - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "With the partnerships worth millions, Buffett made his first $1 million investment in a windmill-manufacturing company."
Could it be possible that 2006 is the year to make money in windmills again?
For the first time in over 20 years, the installed costs of wind plant went up rather than down over the course of a year.
Demand is outstripping supply.
With wind turbines in short supply and the US market booming under its renewed production tax credit, the country's major project developers are pursuing a strategy of buying equipment now and deciding what to do with it later. Advance orders for turbines in the US reached 2450 MW last month with the announcement of yet another major contract. We talked to the companies busy securing long term turbine supply. Read what they have to say in the January issue of Windpower Monthly.
It was the first upside up year since 1881. (write it backwards)
JFK became President.
Chimps flew into space.
China buys $60 million in grain from Canada.
Bay of Pigs fails.
Peace Corps created.
British sends troops to Kuwait to keep Iraq out.
Wayne Gretzky, Eddie Murphy, George Clooney, Dennis Rodman, Enya, Boy George, Princess Di, Scott Baio, Peter Jackson, and Meg Ryan were born.
Warren Buffett - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "With the partnerships worth millions, Buffett made his first $1 million investment in a windmill-manufacturing company."
Could it be possible that 2006 is the year to make money in windmills again?
For the first time in over 20 years, the installed costs of wind plant went up rather than down over the course of a year.
Demand is outstripping supply.
With wind turbines in short supply and the US market booming under its renewed production tax credit, the country's major project developers are pursuing a strategy of buying equipment now and deciding what to do with it later. Advance orders for turbines in the US reached 2450 MW last month with the announcement of yet another major contract. We talked to the companies busy securing long term turbine supply. Read what they have to say in the January issue of Windpower Monthly.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Mover Mike Major GOLD News!
Mover Mike Major GOLD News!
Gold going up again? IMF in cohorts with central banks to supress accounting for lack of gold reserves?
hmm... time to buy GLD.
Gold going up again? IMF in cohorts with central banks to supress accounting for lack of gold reserves?
hmm... time to buy GLD.
Google is harvesting eyeballs for profit
Make You Go Hmm: » Near miss or past midnight on April 15, 1912 for GOOG?: "By far their greatest asset is the search traffic that they wield. If they didn’t have that, they wouldn’t have Adwords/Adsense — couldn’t have them. Because if you think about it, they need that traffic to wield. They need to send that around to get webmasters interested in them. If you get the webmasters on board, you get the webmaster’s traffic — which means eyeballs. And what does Google need for Adwords/Adsense success? Eyeballs."
Google focusing outside of US this year?
If you look at the difference between the United States and Western Europe, for example, it took a couple of years for the model in the US to really take off in Western Europe. Our Western European revenue growth in the last year has been nothing short of amazing. And in fact, it looks like international growth, ignoring quarterly fluctuations, will continue to outpace US growth for the foreseeable future. So, we have made a decision to invest in many of the international markets to bring them up to the scale of the more mature markets of the United States and Western Europe. Omid?
Google's done with non-profit charities?
The Internet Stock Blog » Google Q4 2005 Earnings Conference Call Transcript (GOOG): "As we discussed on our last call during the 4th quarter, we contribute $90 million to the Google Foundation. This was a non-recourse, non-refundable donation and was recorded as an expense in Q4. We do not expect to make further donations to the foundation for the foreseeable future. We do however expect to make equity and other investments in for-profit enterprises that aim to alleviate poverty, improve the environment and achieve other socially or economically progressive objectives. We expect these investments to be made primarily in cash and to be valued at approximately $175 million over the next 3 years."
GOOG, Death & taxes
The Internet Stock Blog » The Most Important Two Minutes From Google’s Conf Call (GOOG)
'In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.', Benjamin Franklin (1706-90) in a letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy, 1789
I'm reading an updated version of Benjamin Franklin's autobiography which has some great information about the man, and his impact on the future of the United States. He tried an interesting experiment where he laid out 12 (later 13) ways of living virtuously, and then rigidly documented them on a daily basis (In the spreadsheet of the day, a piece of paper). He found he was failing in some virtues, and really awful in others (humility?) but overall he said the process helped him become a better person.
Google's motto, "Don't be Evil, should really be 'Do Good' but I think that one's taken by the Boy Scouts (or is it 'Be Prepared'). Don't be Evil has two negative words, while the Do Good phrase signifies happy thoughts. Happy thoughts are what the shareholders need right now, after Google's earnings call opened a can of whup-ass on them.
Down 15.9% after-hours yesterday. That's a buncha billions of market cap right there.
'In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.', Benjamin Franklin (1706-90) in a letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy, 1789
I'm reading an updated version of Benjamin Franklin's autobiography which has some great information about the man, and his impact on the future of the United States. He tried an interesting experiment where he laid out 12 (later 13) ways of living virtuously, and then rigidly documented them on a daily basis (In the spreadsheet of the day, a piece of paper). He found he was failing in some virtues, and really awful in others (humility?) but overall he said the process helped him become a better person.
Google's motto, "Don't be Evil, should really be 'Do Good' but I think that one's taken by the Boy Scouts (or is it 'Be Prepared'). Don't be Evil has two negative words, while the Do Good phrase signifies happy thoughts. Happy thoughts are what the shareholders need right now, after Google's earnings call opened a can of whup-ass on them.
Down 15.9% after-hours yesterday. That's a buncha billions of market cap right there.
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