Thanks----Att is supposed to be 3.5 speed and the vzn supposed to be 4...The new aapl 4s for att is supposed to be geared to be a better deal for att vs vzn, although I don`t really understand why.....appl won`t introduce a 4 phone until the problems or applicability is worked out--Mr Jobs was good about looking out for his customers....I personally think appl is missing out on the 4 lte bandwagon, although the customers of same may not be getting what they think.....I just want a 4lte that would work everywhere at a reasonable cost....A pain....Tony
Yes Len. I'm wondering about your situation. How many "feet" did you get? My brother who lives near Gillette Stadium in MA picked up about 5 inches on the ground. However, they have been without power there sine 11:00PM last night due to tree branches falling on power lines.
We lost power for 3 hours on Saturday afternoon. We had 3" of snow and the rain changed over to snow here much earlier than forecasted by mid Saturday morning. What shocked me was how fast the snow started to accumulate given we haven't been sub 32 degrees yet this season. We got saved by the fact that a dryslot came over the area in the afternoon and cut off the precipitation. But areas to the NW of NYC which avoided the dryslot, especially higher elevations got 10-19" of snow. Amazing storm and my grass and deck still has an inch of snow on them tonite. One thing that was very lucky in NYC and points west and south is the advertised 50mph winds never happened.
We were at 83 degrees today in San Diego County. This has been one of the mildest summers and now Fall in memory. As TM pointed out, no heat or AC needed. Almost Hawaii like.
Calling 3G as 4g is the "American" way! Afterall, we're just a bunch of dumbass consumers as far as big business & government is concerned.
Reminds me of the food industry recently convinced the government to re-define "organic" food to include non-organic food. :surprise: Big food companies were feeling threatened by the costly organic trend, so instead of competing, they had the definition changed.
Like I said, it's the "American" way.
BTW, seems like the East coast just recovered from Irene, and now this crazy storm comes along. What's next? Another East Coast Earthquake, like the recent one in Washington D.C.?
I have finally gotten the real bug to own a Smartphone, and find all these crazy changes to confuse the consumer. I may just keep waiting. I will definitely do some tests before I buy. Two years with a piece of crap smartphone is too long at my age.
As far as weather I am just glad I live where I do in spite of the knucklehead we have as governor.
I am reading some scary stuff about the food we eat. Like the 70% of all apple juice coming from China. Most of the containers say bottled for so and so with concentrate. No country of origin. Organic grown vegetables has been suspect for at least a decade. It was somewhat policed by the growers until the FDA got involved. Now you can use pesticides and herbicides and still call it organic. Best to grow your own or buy from a small farmer.
I was so busy yesterday with business, I never saw the market action. Looks like it's still crazy... with massive percentage changes in a single session. And, the futures look pretty bad right now. Probably going to be another crazy day.
What a mess.
I'm still at least a couple weeks away from possibly getting back in (with a broker)... I'm not so sure I want to be invested in equities.
Hey, Guys: If you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a minute... We lost power for about 12 hours Saturday into Sunday. No big deal, have a gas powered fireplace insert for some warmth. Very wet, heavy snow that, unfortunately, did horrible thing to so many trees around us. Please Tag, no earthquakes...
Charlie, it would have been better had the Pats been at home vs. Pittsburgh and been unable to play due to the weather. Ugly game, all the NFL has to do to beat the Pats is throw the ball... Hopefully, that will change...
No school or Trick or Treating Monday. But we're lucky, tens of thousands still have no power including a woman I work with from New Hampster. No estimate on when she'll be back online.
My soon to be 13 year old son desperately wants a smart phone. He doesn't really use his current somewhat-smart phone to make calls or text. He just wants to play games and surf the net. Which he can do on his laptop and Ipod Touch. He is so enthralled by phones, to him the Verizon, Tmobile, Sprint and ATT stores are like the Maserati/Ferarri and Porsche dealerships are to me!
I'm a luddite, I"ve got a cell phone. I use it like a phone. I'm good.
Wow, wicked bad market so far this week. Can't afford a smartphone now, anyway! My meager portolios could use an Obama bailout/simulus package. I am just too small to fail!
As winter doth approacheth, I'm using the Lexus more (as planned). Jag will enjoy the garage whenever there is snow or threat thereof. Daughter, who just turned 16, I'm fairly sure is upset with me for using "her" car. Although, she appears upset with me for just being...
Wife is enjoying her 5er, loves the ambient lighting, heated everything and power! She doesn't let me drive it...
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
I`m sorry I forgot about you way up there in the heart of `winter land`....just thought about Jflex in Jersey I think...
You might really think of a generator....I`v got one, and it does give a nice sense of ease, and they make some really quiet ones now a day.....
You may remember I went to school up there of a long time, but winter was not noticed the way it is now in my older years....Older means any time past twenty five yrs old.....I swore if I got out of the military basic training, I wouldn`t get up early or be cold again Tony
Get used to the ugly years for the Pats for awhile...I'm used to it with the NYG but they are doing OK so far this year. My eldest daughter turned 18 in October and has a far superior intellect than I could ever hope for.
She actually helped AAPL sales this year with her 3g I-phone/Verizon and is forking over the $30 access charge each month as promised in the negotiated settlement at 2 yr. contract back in July. :shades: The little one (13 YO) is good with the LG Cosmo touch so far, which is a good text unit. That'll keep her busy for 2 years until I'm forced to I-Phone her as well.
Anyway, we survived the Halloween Snow event OK here in Central NJ, not to far from Len. The deck out back just melted this morning as my house faces Tony in the Deep South, leaving a Polar condition out back, away from the sun.
As far as the market, I guess it will whipsaw up/down with a trend toward 13,000 (Dow) by the end of the year and 1,300 for the S&P. Mark this for the TM count that we all get involved in for predicting end-of-year mark.
Gotta love the 5'er but the one in storage is the Bomb!
The market has an atmosphere that I have no hope of understanding. Among the political toxin of the incumbant and the economic problems in our country and the uncertainty of events in other countries right now, I can't imagine when will be up and when will be down markets. I have no interest and had put more of what is moveable within sheltered accounts into fixed return instruments.
I have no accounts that I can buy and sell within seconds--mine all sell at 4:00 pm on the market close for valuation of mutual funds.
I, too, have seen poor battery life on the 4S. The iPhone 4 I used before lasted quite a bit longer. When I would plug in my iPhone 4 at the end of the day, I would usually have about 25% remaining. With the iPhone 4S, I often can't make it until evening after a full charge in the morning.
I've taken to using an iPhone charger at my desk at work, something I never had to do with the iPhone 4.
A customer support thread on Apple's Web site has had more than 2,600 replies and been seen more than 170,000 times.
My wife and I just arrived in MA this evening. Unfortunately, this is a very sad trip. If you recall from a few weeks ago, I mentioned that my sister was dying of lung cancer that had spread all over. This cancer was extremely aggressive. By the time she was diagnosed, it was too late. Well, my sister left us early yesterday. After I got the word from my younger brother yesterday, I asked my sister to give me a signal that she was in a great place. In my mind, that signal came in the form of a news item that I spotted on my computer back in IA yesterday afternoon. This was "A sisters eulogy" by Mona Simpson, the sister of Steve Jobs. In this eulogy, Mona describes her Brother as a loving person. In fact love was the main theme in his life. But what struck me the most in this story was Steve"s final words to his family as he was taking his last breath. He uttered, "OH WOW, OH WOW, OH WOW!". In my mind, this was my sister's answer to my request from yesterday morning.
My kids and grandkids are arriving tomorrow and Thursday from Akron, OH and Seattle. We are all staying at my brother's place rather close to Gillette Stadium. It is rather weird to still see snow on the ground here this evening from the weekend historic storm. My brother had no power for 24 hours but it is fine now. As Dada mentioned, however, many folks are still without power, especially west of here where the snow was monumental and power lines were going down like they were made of weak strings due to falling branches and trees from the incredible weight of the clinging wet snow on the leaves.
Dada, don't give up on the Pats. Yes, they have issues defending the pass, but they will improve. All Belichick coached teams do so as the season progresses. Besides, I am not so sure Tom Brady and company would not have pulled out another miracle win this past Sunday, if the ref had given them that touchdown with just over 4 minutes to go in the game. Replays clearly showed that Gronkowski was over the goal line but they did not call it a TD. Unfortunately, Belichick did not challenge the play. Thus they had to waste another minute and a half before they scored. That was huge in my opinion. The game Sunday should be very interesting...Pats against the Giants in Foxboro. I cannot see the Pats losing this game.
Dada, it sounds as if you are having a great time with your "toy" cars.
Lawmakers to Propose Transaction Tax for Financial Firms Modeled on Europe
Two U.S. lawmakers will introduce measures to impose a transaction tax on financial firms that resembles a proposal released by the European Union.
Senator Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat, and Representative Peter DeFazio, an Oregon Democrat, will introduce the bills tomorrow in their respective chambers. The bills will give the United States an increased role in the international debate over a transaction tax, which is likely to be discussed at the Group of 20 summit this week in Cannes, France.
“It’s a significant way to raise some needed revenue,” Harkin said in an interview today in Washington. “Quite frankly, I bet nobody would even feel it.”
The European Union in September proposed a financial- transaction tax that would take effect in 2014 and raise about $57 billion euros ($78 billion) a year. Germany and France have led a push for global implementation.
My sincerest sorrows for the passing of your sister. The story you told a few weeks ago really brought out a closeness you two have that goes beyond normal brother and sister. Always remember the good times my friend.
Two excellent pieces of economic news the last few days are the big jump in auto sales to an 8 month high despite the fact that people are holding off buying the Japanese cars because of short supply and Mastercard reporting a 20% jump in sales charged to its card. Previously Visa also reported a big jump in credit card transactions. The Greek problem is an albatross holding us back but those two pieces of news certainly argue strongly for growth over any recession talk. It also makes it hard to buy into the low consumer confidence polls.
I know this is little solace at this time, but someone once told me that you never really lose anyone. They have always been in your heart...and they will stay there forever. It's true.
I've been non-stop business this week, still away from home, and have barely watched the market or any news, and I just checked in here and I just read your post about your sister. So sorry. So sad. I am sort of at a loss for words here. Fortunately, you are a man of strong faith. My heartfelt prayers for you and your family.
Thank you SO much for your kind thoughts and prayers for my sister's passing. It was a very difficult week for our entire family. My wife and I are back home in IA while the kids and grandkids are also now back at their own homes.
I need to get back into the swing of things and pay attention to the news and the market now. I imagine Europe is still the major factor.
To get back in the flow of things, Europe is now going to be a long term country by country sort of thing, until it doesn`t matter any more, and doesn`t sell....
Unfortunately the market hasn`t really changes since your tragedy....and apple is still acting the way it has for so long, that it makes me dishearted...Such a fine company, and imo, undervalued, but the reality is that it is valued by other people....I guess there are some flaws in it`s makeup, and also the whole industry ---service providers and hardware--seems to be in cahoots.....so that holds back apple`s valuation.....I guess that is the excuse for today, and tomorrow it will be another one....
I wish I had a more up-beat attitude, and maybe I will tomorrow Tony
Got back home after a week of intensive business, and, as Tony pointed out, market and news hasn't changed much. Europe, U.S debt, another sex scandal... the usual.
I do have some good news however. The very latest financial numbers from my business do NOT indicate a recession. Recently I reported that the numbers were very close to predicting a recession. Fortunately the latest report has removed that indication at this point in time. I take the numbers seriously because they have never failed me in 30 years... and we were pretty darned close, but according to the numbers we are out of the woods for now.
Unfortunately the market hasn`t really changes since your tragedy....and apple is still acting the way it has for so long, that it makes me dishearted...Such a fine company, and imo, undervalued, but the reality is that it is valued by other people
Basically Tony the whole stock market is 20-25% undervalued IMO. We just saw the highest earnings ever in the past quarter, and by a wide margin, from the S&P 500 and yet the market is way down from pre-recession levels. In fact most companies continued double digit growth all thru the bad economic years even with all the bad economic indicators. That tells me that business is resilient overall and will fly sky high once the economy really has some legs. My personal feeling is that there is so much computer trading in large blocks now that you have range bound pricing in so many things from commodities to stocks and with all the derivatives out there when money pours in it's not as concentrated in stocks as it was in the past. But overall companies are doing their jobs and growing profits wonderfully but investors are undervaluing their earnings for reasons ranging from fear of all the double dip talk to the fear of a european meltdown. And of course there is bad over-reaction to any bad news. Sometime in the future this period of strong earnings and low stock prices will be viewed as a great buying opportunity that was missed by many.
I recently read a perspective regarding stock valuations that suggested the equation has changed, and that there is a new "norm" that is not as liberal as it was in the past. I am sorry I don't recall the source or even most of the article, but I do remember that I thought the premise was interesting at the time I read it.
Otherwise, I agree with you that stocks are undervalued. So are many homes and other real estate properties. In the future, many people will kick themselves for not buying real estate during these times.
But, that's the nature of "down' markets... whether they are equities or real estate. Perhaps there is an obvious relation to the "jobs market".
As you indicated, once the economy improves, many will regret not having purchased at these values... but the economic vitality directly affects valuation. Obviously, when the economy is booming, economic indicators become positive and the real estate market improves and demand increases and supply decreases and prices go up... and the stock market soars... all up until the point in time when a "bubble" is created and the air must be let out.
It's easy to see that the best prices for many things are during poor economic times when less folks are buyers.
And... to continue on my reference to real estate... I believe real estate currently represents one of the best investment opportunities of a lifetime. It's a shame so many will miss out. I was fortunate to sell my estate near the high, and then purchase property here a year and a half later when the prices crashed. I have recently been considering the idea of buying real estate as an investment instead of investing in the stock market.
I have thought of buying more real estate. What I look at is return on investment from a rental point of view. Will it be enough to justify the many unknowns in owning rental property. I am talking single family dwellings where they are likely to make an earlier recovery from the crash.
I thought the bottom was near last year. This year has been more of a downer in Real Estate values around me in San Diego. I could buy a place in AZ and get near 10% return on investment renting it. The subdivision my sis bought into in Casa Grande 3 years ago has to be near bottom. She got in no money down just start making payments at $140k. These are nice single level 1800 sq ft with cement block walls all around. Big enough yard for kids and dogs. Over the last 6 months they have been selling the bank owned ones at $90k. My sister is moving from the area when she gets kicked out. She has not made a payment for a year. Her neighbor quit paying over a year ago. She has not even been served a foreclosure notice. She wanted to sell. The realtor told her it was a waste of hers and his time. I really considered buying one from the bank and letting her take care of the rent. Then she told me she will be moving up with her daughter in Redding when they kick her out. I know they cannot build that house for $90k so some day they have to go up. I am wondering if the developer has gone broke. He only built 280 homes on a subdivision with 1100 lots. It has a water park in the center with only $83 per month HOA dues. I doubt those left are paying for maintenance on the amenities.
Here is an example in that subdivision. Some people are still hoping to sell.
The banks need to start blowing out those tract houses for what they can rather than holding them trying to get some kind of maximized profit which is becoming more difficult as real incomes continue to decline. Sell it while it is worth something, if it is occupied by squatters or abandoned, it will become a teardown. Sell cheap, put working people in houses, move on.
The sad part is the Feds could have killed two birds with one stone using the TARP money. Paid down the loans on upside down houses so people would not be abandoning them. The banks would not have lost anything the people would not have felt compelled to leave their homes. Too logical for our Congress and Presidents. What they did was counter productive. They gave the banks and investors the money up front. Which left no incentive to sell homes they already got their money back on. So let em rot is what the banks are doing. According to my daughter doing Fannie Mae foreclosures they are over a year behind on CA proceedings.
And at the same time, maybe used some money to investigate who made false claims that allowed shoddy loans to be made to begin with. Some heads need to roll from all that, nobody has been brought to accountability yet. And who gets the shaft? Once again, the fiscally responsible taxpayer (myself) who was smart enough not to get involved with that market. Maybe instead of paying down loans given to idiots, gifts should be given to those who were smart enough not to play a losing game.
I think TARP was a total mistake. My point was if they had to waste that money they could have distributed it in a way to soften the crash. Instead Paulson and Geithner handed it out to their buddies.
Fiscal responsibility is not a virtue in this country. Middle class tax payers ALWAYS get the fuzzy end of the sucker. And it was worse before the Bush tax cuts.
Some kind of federal meddling had to occur after the collapse, but certainly some aspects of the bailout as it existed were not the most efficient or ethical. It also should have created some new regulation, which it hasn't.
I don't see cuts that favor a top few being worse than what existed before, however. Our codes coddle the rich like few other developed nations.
Developed nations? What's so developed? Technology, industry, a way of life? What about ethics and morality?
Different nations seem to have their own style of sin. Look at how some nations slaughter their own people, torture and mutilate each other for simply expressing individual ideas, oppression of women, children forced into slave labor, including prostitution, and children trained for war and killing, self-mutilation of the human body, entire economies built upon production and export of narcotics, shipping of hazardous materials from "developed" nations into less developed nations of "less worthy" people, and so much more.
Got to wonder just how "developed" we humans really are. Take a good look.
We still have the same murder, rape, torture, perversion, child-abuse, domestic violence, racism, addiction, adultery, robbery, greed, corruption that's plagued humanity from the very beginning.... even right here in America. Some nations are literally hell beyond imagination.
Charlie, my sincere condolences to you and your family on the loss of your sister. Forgive my late wishes, less time here than in the past.
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Tag, does it ever bother you that you live in a town named after a middling Chevy sedan?
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Lol... You are as funny as ever. Your sense of humor is a gift. Hope you never lose it.
Btw, speaking of Malibu, I am home today, taking the day off... Sitting in a lounge chair looking out at the waves on a very relaxed and calm day, 72 sunny degrees.... posting this on my phone, dog at my side, some hummingbirds darting nearby. Hardly anywhere I'd rather be at the moment.
A lack of ethics and morality seems to be a human universal, existing in all cultures and nations. No matter where you go, you're apt to be cheated, robbed, or simply misled.
But in terms of industrial and social development, which was the context, some do have more than others.
People pray in perpetuity, doesn't seem to be changing anything. YMMV.
What with Europe, hedge funds, institutional traders, lightning fast trades, etc.,etc., being in the stock market these days is like playing poker with a bunch of card sharks. Hard on an 'ol country boy like me !
As you are enjoying a nice day, and I am too, I thought I would share a secret I just learned --with everyone-
A few weeks ago we had a regular steak, and it was really a superb one....As my wife knew the guy, and he use to work in a `steak house` here in Charleston, he shared one of the most important parts of cooking a steak......If you choose to marinate one , use balsamic vinegar, and a little red wine about four to one ratio, and let it sit of a few hours.....Now the important part.....With a paper towel, pat and wipe it totally dry....what happens is if any moisture is left on the meat, it turns to steam and that in turn messes up the crust....We rub a little garlic and a little onion powder, but I swear the patting totally dry is the secret...
I wish I had a secret to share about the market, but I don`t, and I sure am getting sick and tired of the high frequency traders and the SEC not doing their job.....They know full well what is happening, and just delay and delay...Tony
Comments
Reminds me of the food industry recently convinced the government to re-define "organic" food to include non-organic food. :surprise: Big food companies were feeling threatened by the costly organic trend, so instead of competing, they had the definition changed.
Like I said, it's the "American" way.
BTW, seems like the East coast just recovered from Irene, and now this crazy storm comes along. What's next? Another East Coast Earthquake, like the recent one in Washington D.C.?
TM
As far as weather I am just glad I live where I do in spite of the knucklehead we have as governor.
I am reading some scary stuff about the food we eat. Like the 70% of all apple juice coming from China. Most of the containers say bottled for so and so with concentrate. No country of origin. Organic grown vegetables has been suspect for at least a decade. It was somewhat policed by the growers until the FDA got involved. Now you can use pesticides and herbicides and still call it organic. Best to grow your own or buy from a small farmer.
What a mess.
I'm still at least a couple weeks away from possibly getting back in (with a broker)... I'm not so sure I want to be invested in equities.
TM
Charlie, it would have been better had the Pats been at home vs. Pittsburgh and been unable to play due to the weather. Ugly game, all the NFL has to do to beat the Pats is throw the ball... Hopefully, that will change...
No school or Trick or Treating Monday. But we're lucky, tens of thousands still have no power including a woman I work with from New Hampster. No estimate on when she'll be back online.
My soon to be 13 year old son desperately wants a smart phone. He doesn't really use his current somewhat-smart phone to make calls or text. He just wants to play games and surf the net. Which he can do on his laptop and Ipod Touch. He is so enthralled by phones, to him the Verizon, Tmobile, Sprint and ATT stores are like the Maserati/Ferarri and Porsche dealerships are to me!
I'm a luddite, I"ve got a cell phone. I use it like a phone. I'm good.
Wow, wicked bad market so far this week. Can't afford a smartphone now, anyway! My meager portolios could use an Obama bailout/simulus package. I am just too small to fail!
As winter doth approacheth, I'm using the Lexus more (as planned). Jag will enjoy the garage whenever there is snow or threat thereof. Daughter, who just turned 16, I'm fairly sure is upset with me for using "her" car. Although, she appears upset with me for just being...
Wife is enjoying her 5er, loves the ambient lighting, heated everything and power! She doesn't let me drive it...
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
You might really think of a generator....I`v got one, and it does give a nice sense of ease, and they make some really quiet ones now a day.....
You may remember I went to school up there of a long time, but winter was not noticed the way it is now in my older years....Older means any time past twenty five yrs old.....I swore if I got out of the military basic training, I wouldn`t get up early or be cold again
Get used to the ugly years for the Pats for awhile...I'm used to it with the NYG but they are doing OK so far this year. My eldest daughter turned 18 in October and has a far superior intellect than I could ever hope for.
She actually helped AAPL sales this year with her 3g I-phone/Verizon and is forking over the $30 access charge each month as promised in the negotiated settlement at 2 yr. contract back in July. :shades: The little one (13 YO) is good with the LG Cosmo touch so far, which is a good text unit. That'll keep her busy for 2 years until I'm forced to I-Phone her as well.
Anyway, we survived the Halloween Snow event OK here in Central NJ, not to far from Len. The deck out back just melted this morning as my house faces Tony in the Deep South, leaving a Polar condition out back, away from the sun.
As far as the market, I guess it will whipsaw up/down with a trend toward 13,000 (Dow) by the end of the year and 1,300 for the S&P. Mark this for the TM count that we all get involved in for predicting end-of-year mark.
Gotta love the 5'er but the one in storage is the Bomb!
Regards,
OW
I have no accounts that I can buy and sell within seconds--mine all sell at 4:00 pm on the market close for valuation of mutual funds.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I, too, have seen poor battery life on the 4S. The iPhone 4 I used before lasted quite a bit longer. When I would plug in my iPhone 4 at the end of the day, I would usually have about 25% remaining. With the iPhone 4S, I often can't make it until evening after a full charge in the morning.
I've taken to using an iPhone charger at my desk at work, something I never had to do with the iPhone 4.
A customer support thread on Apple's Web site has had more than 2,600 replies and been seen more than 170,000 times.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2011-11-01/iphone-4s-battery-life/510287- 30/1
My wife and I just arrived in MA this evening. Unfortunately, this is a very sad trip. If you recall from a few weeks ago, I mentioned that my sister was dying of lung cancer that had spread all over. This cancer was extremely aggressive. By the time she was diagnosed, it was too late. Well, my sister left us early yesterday. After I got the word from my younger brother yesterday, I asked my sister to give me a signal that she was in a great place. In my mind, that signal came in the form of a news item that I spotted on my computer back in IA yesterday afternoon. This was "A sisters eulogy" by Mona Simpson, the sister of Steve Jobs. In this eulogy, Mona describes her Brother as a loving person. In fact love was the main theme in his life. But what struck me the most in this story was Steve"s final words to his family as he was taking his last breath. He uttered, "OH WOW, OH WOW, OH WOW!". In my mind, this was my sister's answer to my request from yesterday morning.
My kids and grandkids are arriving tomorrow and Thursday from Akron, OH and Seattle. We are all staying at my brother's place rather close to Gillette Stadium. It is rather weird to still see snow on the ground here this evening from the weekend historic storm. My brother had no power for 24 hours but it is fine now. As Dada mentioned, however, many folks are still without power, especially west of here where the snow was monumental and power lines were going down like they were made of weak strings due to falling branches and trees from the incredible weight of the clinging wet snow on the leaves.
Dada, don't give up on the Pats. Yes, they have issues defending the pass, but they will improve. All Belichick coached teams do so as the season progresses. Besides, I am not so sure Tom Brady and company would not have pulled out another miracle win this past Sunday, if the ref had given them that touchdown with just over 4 minutes to go in the game. Replays clearly showed that Gronkowski was over the goal line but they did not call it a TD. Unfortunately, Belichick did not challenge the play. Thus they had to waste another minute and a half before they scored. That was huge in my opinion. The game Sunday should be very interesting...Pats against the Giants in Foxboro. I cannot see the Pats losing this game.
Dada, it sounds as if you are having a great time with your "toy" cars.
Two U.S. lawmakers will introduce measures to impose a transaction tax on financial firms that resembles a proposal released by the European Union.
Senator Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat, and Representative Peter DeFazio, an Oregon Democrat, will introduce the bills tomorrow in their respective chambers. The bills will give the United States an increased role in the international debate over a transaction tax, which is likely to be discussed at the Group of 20 summit this week in Cannes, France.
“It’s a significant way to raise some needed revenue,” Harkin said in an interview today in Washington. “Quite frankly, I bet nobody would even feel it.”
The European Union in September proposed a financial- transaction tax that would take effect in 2014 and raise about $57 billion euros ($78 billion) a year. Germany and France have led a push for global implementation.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-01/lawmakers-to-propose-transaction-tax-fo- r-financial-firms-modeled-on-europe.html
Arrogant little P#*!&!!!
:mad:
And of course, he makes fiscal conservatives out as the bad guys...
It would be funny if it weren't so devastating to the country... :sick:
TERM LIMITS!!!
My sincerest sorrows for the passing of your sister. The story you told a few weeks ago really brought out a closeness you two have that goes beyond normal brother and sister. Always remember the good times my friend.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203716204577013590189488860.html
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I've been non-stop business this week, still away from home, and have barely watched the market or any news, and I just checked in here and I just read your post about your sister. So sorry. So sad. I am sort of at a loss for words here. Fortunately, you are a man of strong faith. My heartfelt prayers for you and your family.
TM
Regards,
OW
Thank you SO much for your kind thoughts and prayers for my sister's passing. It was a very difficult week for our entire family. My wife and I are back home in IA while the kids and grandkids are also now back at their own homes.
I need to get back into the swing of things and pay attention to the news and the market now. I imagine Europe is still the major factor.
To get back in the flow of things, Europe is now going to be a long term country by country sort of thing, until it doesn`t matter any more, and doesn`t sell....
Unfortunately the market hasn`t really changes since your tragedy....and apple is still acting the way it has for so long, that it makes me dishearted...Such a fine company, and imo, undervalued, but the reality is that it is valued by other people....I guess there are some flaws in it`s makeup, and also the whole industry ---service providers and hardware--seems to be in cahoots.....so that holds back apple`s valuation.....I guess that is the excuse for today, and tomorrow it will be another one....
I wish I had a more up-beat attitude, and maybe I will tomorrow
I do have some good news however. The very latest financial numbers from my business do NOT indicate a recession. Recently I reported that the numbers were very close to predicting a recession. Fortunately the latest report has removed that indication at this point in time. I take the numbers seriously because they have never failed me in 30 years... and we were pretty darned close, but according to the numbers we are out of the woods for now.
TM
Basically Tony the whole stock market is 20-25% undervalued IMO. We just saw the highest earnings ever in the past quarter, and by a wide margin, from the S&P 500 and yet the market is way down from pre-recession levels. In fact most companies continued double digit growth all thru the bad economic years even with all the bad economic indicators. That tells me that business is resilient overall and will fly sky high once the economy really has some legs. My personal feeling is that there is so much computer trading in large blocks now that you have range bound pricing in so many things from commodities to stocks and with all the derivatives out there when money pours in it's not as concentrated in stocks as it was in the past. But overall companies are doing their jobs and growing profits wonderfully but investors are undervaluing their earnings for reasons ranging from fear of all the double dip talk to the fear of a european meltdown. And of course there is bad over-reaction to any bad news. Sometime in the future this period of strong earnings and low stock prices will be viewed as a great buying opportunity that was missed by many.
Otherwise, I agree with you that stocks are undervalued. So are many homes and other real estate properties. In the future, many people will kick themselves for not buying real estate during these times.
But, that's the nature of "down' markets... whether they are equities or real estate. Perhaps there is an obvious relation to the "jobs market".
As you indicated, once the economy improves, many will regret not having purchased at these values... but the economic vitality directly affects valuation. Obviously, when the economy is booming, economic indicators become positive and the real estate market improves and demand increases and supply decreases and prices go up... and the stock market soars... all up until the point in time when a "bubble" is created and the air must be let out.
It's easy to see that the best prices for many things are during poor economic times when less folks are buyers.
And... to continue on my reference to real estate... I believe real estate currently represents one of the best investment opportunities of a lifetime. It's a shame so many will miss out. I was fortunate to sell my estate near the high, and then purchase property here a year and a half later when the prices crashed. I have recently been considering the idea of buying real estate as an investment instead of investing in the stock market.
TM
I thought the bottom was near last year. This year has been more of a downer in Real Estate values around me in San Diego. I could buy a place in AZ and get near 10% return on investment renting it. The subdivision my sis bought into in Casa Grande 3 years ago has to be near bottom. She got in no money down just start making payments at $140k. These are nice single level 1800 sq ft with cement block walls all around. Big enough yard for kids and dogs. Over the last 6 months they have been selling the bank owned ones at $90k. My sister is moving from the area when she gets kicked out. She has not made a payment for a year. Her neighbor quit paying over a year ago. She has not even been served a foreclosure notice. She wanted to sell. The realtor told her it was a waste of hers and his time. I really considered buying one from the bank and letting her take care of the rent. Then she told me she will be moving up with her daughter in Redding when they kick her out. I know they cannot build that house for $90k so some day they have to go up. I am wondering if the developer has gone broke. He only built 280 homes on a subdivision with 1100 lots. It has a water park in the center with only $83 per month HOA dues. I doubt those left are paying for maintenance on the amenities.
Here is an example in that subdivision. Some people are still hoping to sell.
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/227-S-La-Amador-Trl-Casa-Grande-AZ-85194/82258- 805_zpid/
This is indeed great news TM! When are you getting back into the market?
I have no idea. I've been so busy with other things. I guess I will give it some more attention one of these days. I'm in no rush.
Maybe it would be better to wait until after IRAN launches their nuclear attack. It might negatively impact the market more than Europe did.
TM
Fiscal responsibility is not a virtue in this country. Middle class tax payers ALWAYS get the fuzzy end of the sucker. And it was worse before the Bush tax cuts.
I don't see cuts that favor a top few being worse than what existed before, however. Our codes coddle the rich like few other developed nations.
Different nations seem to have their own style of sin. Look at how some nations slaughter their own people, torture and mutilate each other for simply expressing individual ideas, oppression of women, children forced into slave labor, including prostitution, and children trained for war and killing, self-mutilation of the human body, entire economies built upon production and export of narcotics, shipping of hazardous materials from "developed" nations into less developed nations of "less worthy" people, and so much more.
Got to wonder just how "developed" we humans really are. Take a good look.
We still have the same murder, rape, torture, perversion, child-abuse, domestic violence, racism, addiction, adultery, robbery, greed, corruption that's plagued humanity from the very beginning.... even right here in America. Some nations are literally hell beyond imagination.
Pray.
TM
Markets recoil.
What might be next?
(Hint: U.S. debt? Iran nuclear crisis? China? Something else?)
TM
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Btw, speaking of Malibu, I am home today, taking the day off... Sitting in a lounge chair looking out at the waves on a very relaxed and calm day, 72 sunny degrees.... posting this on my phone, dog at my side, some hummingbirds darting nearby. Hardly anywhere I'd rather be at the moment.
TM
But in terms of industrial and social development, which was the context, some do have more than others.
People pray in perpetuity, doesn't seem to be changing anything. YMMV.
What with Europe, hedge funds, institutional traders, lightning fast trades, etc.,etc., being in the stock market these days is like playing poker with a bunch of card sharks. Hard on an 'ol country boy like me !
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
As you are enjoying a nice day, and I am too, I thought I would share a secret I just learned --with everyone-
A few weeks ago we had a regular steak, and it was really a superb one....As my wife knew the guy, and he use to work in a `steak house` here in Charleston, he shared one of the most important parts of cooking a steak......If you choose to marinate one , use balsamic vinegar, and a little red wine about four to one ratio, and let it sit of a few hours.....Now the important part.....With a paper towel, pat and wipe it totally dry....what happens is if any moisture is left on the meat, it turns to steam and that in turn messes up the crust....We rub a little garlic and a little onion powder, but I swear the patting totally dry is the secret...
I wish I had a secret to share about the market, but I don`t, and I sure am getting sick and tired of the high frequency traders and the SEC not doing their job.....They know full well what is happening, and just delay and delay...Tony