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Crap, I was living in October. Still trying to figure out my Halloween costume. Thanks for the clarification!
Only on Tuesdays. EOM
It must have been waaay over the line to be banned for 2 months.
I mean, are there other punishments? Maybe we can go back to 8th grade...
1) Make nice with whoever he was arguing with (emails of apology?)
2) Write an essay to the mods explaining how he was over the line, and how he'll avoid it in the future.
I'm sort of kidding but really... 2 months seems like a long time. Even though I read all posts (including Rawnoc's) with critical eyes, his are very well thought out and usually include links to back up claims. Unless of course he's just fighting with someone over politics etc... then that's just entertaining!
OldPro you wrote >...those who predicted the current crisis are now saying it is going to get much worse<
I would respond with: Those who were saying nothing was wrong were right from the mid-90's through late 2007... until they were wrong.
The point is, it is human nature to become even more tied to a thesis once you've been proven "right"; the feelings of "rightness" may remove the rational thinking they used to enjoy.
Just a thought. Thanks for your contributions here - I enjoy them.
Rawnoc: Suspended until...
12/14/2008 2:49:17 PM Eastern as reported on his home page.
Wonder what went on to warrant such a long suspension? We'll miss the DD.
SAM >...I think management should have explained why estimates were not met. That was mostly glossed over.<
I agree with you. They talked about the "challenging retail environment" in the CC and the PR but didn't explain exactly why the estimates were not met. For example I would have liked to hear that "...our products are selling at a clip of 20% less than we expected" or "...our expenses were more than we expected because of X, Y, Z". I mean, give us something concrete, then explain how you'll remedy that.
On the other hand, I am happy about their growth within this "challenging retail environment" and feel they should do well someday - IF their new products do well, Europe comes online with success, etc etc. A lot of "ifs" there.
One other interesting note: In the CC they did not provide any guidance that I heard. I am not surprised by this. Think they ever heard of the expression "under promise and over deliver"??
VBDG: ...and we are consequently withdrawing our 2008 sales forecast.
That's all you really need to know.
Rawnoc's girlfriend here.
I've actually found the Hercules Hook stay in the walls nicely. We have a few pretty heavy paintings up and the hooks hold them up well.
Gotta go... Raw should be home soon so need to get dinner going.
Who stated that? I'd like to buy them a 40oz...
MOSH: More good news. This lawsuit is looking better and better...
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=33462756
Thoughts on Stem Cell plays in anticipation of Obama's policies?
Edit: Maybe STEM and GERN...?
Obama Renews Support for Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement during the debate on the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act:
I stand in full support of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act as I did when this bill was introduced and sent to the President’s desk in the 109th Congress. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill.
http://obama.senate.gov/press/070411-obama_renews_su/
Stem cell research expecting boost
November 10, 2008
Article from: The Australian
WASHINGTON: Barack Obama has signalled that he intends to reverse US President George W.Bush's limit on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research - a cap scientists claim has restricted research into promising ways of defeating diseases such as Parkinson's.
Reports yesterday said transition advisers to the president-elect had compiled a list of about 200 Bush administration actions and executive orders that could be swiftly undone, including on climate change, stem cell research and reproductive rights.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24625675-2703,00.html
Counted 39 MyPlace on display...
at my local Boulder CO BB&B. This is more than the 20 or so they had a month ago (after receiving a shipment of 18 a month ago). As others have thought, I can only presume they're getting ready for Holiday Sales.
Raw, you met with VBDG months ago...
are you finding that they are delivering what they said they would?
A simple Yes, Somewhat, No, or Sit On It will suffice as an answer.
EXM: Earnings look good. Hope street likes as well.
Excel Maritime Reports Third Quarter 2008 Diluted EPS of $2.70 and Declares Dividend of $0.40 per Share
Wednesday November 5, 4:05 pm ET
http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/081105/0449547.html
Extend rule #3 to after hours. EOM.
ZYXI gap: Len, seems like you're trying to prove your TA point (the filling of gaps theory) because of something that was fundamentally due to an FA issue. Seems disengenuous to me... like when my girlfriend tries to tell me that the plant grew because she talks to it. Talking to the plant had nothing to do with it growing - it was because I watered the damn thing!
EXM calls: Finally mini WEEEE (which would be a wee weeee?)
Your take on APTD PR? TIA
LVLT looks like it's up almost 30% already today. If one got in around .80 - in this market - I'd consider taking profits then then bolting the door behind you.
Once we're out of this bear market one can look at fundamentals and realize LVLT is undervalued-
Just my opinion-
Thanks for the lesson!
LVLT: This a pinch? TIA
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=33121515
Addition to the brute_force drinking game: Drink whenever the word "debt" is mentioned.
(all in good fun BF.. keep posting so we can get f'd up!)
Brute_Force Drinking Game:
It's simple. Whenever the word "toxic" is mentioned in a Brute_Force post, drink. I've been wasted for weeks!
Any other ways to play?
Screw that. Vote for BLUE:
Still awaiting a (substantial) contract with ALIF though EOM
BDI and EXM, DRYS: Doesn't look like you can trade the BDI.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Dry_Index
It does trade pretty closely with EXM and DRYS among other shippers though, so buying a basket of shippers would give you the same effect.
The cool thing about the BDI is that it's not tied to speculation. In a world where it appears everything is tied to speculation (including oil and gold), it's nice to have something that more clearly reflects reality.
It looks like the BDI stocks should easily swing back up at least 50% from where they are now... only 5 months ago the index was around 11,000 (now it's below 1,400!). So, these look like "swing plays"...
Been buying EXM calls.
This article explains:
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=32987245
DRY BULK DEMAND “WILL COME ROARING BACK”
Thursday, 16 October 2008
THE managing director of major Thai based hanysize bulker owner Precious shipping says that dry bulk demand will come “roaring back” after a couple of months or so. In a press statement Khalid Hashim has outlined his views on why the Baltic Dry Index has bombed so dramatically and why he believes there will be strong recovery.
The following are quotes from the press statement.
“Two back-to-back Non Deal Road Shows and one Major Shipping Conference later (spread over the UK, Europe, Singapore and Hong Kong), I am left with the distinct impression that a lot of people are not yet aware of the real reasons behind the dramatic and unmitigated fall in the Baltic Dry Index (BDI).
“The last time that we saw the BDI fall below 1,000 points and continue in a southerly direction and reach its lowest level of 554 points was in July 1986. At that time it was the mountain of new supply of ships entering the freight markets that had led the BDI to reach its lowest levels ever. This time around the avalanche of new ships has not yet arrived, and may be permanently delayed due to the critical lack of funding due to the worst-ever financial crisis being faced by all banks all around the world, and yet the BDI is sinking towards these historically low landmarks. The underlying demand for cargoes is still very strong as the fundamental drivers of an increasing population; rapid wealth creation; changing eating habits; rapid urbanization and infrastructure growth are all still very much in place and remain resilient and undaunted by the current financial crisis dominating the world news papers and television channels. The financial crisis may have dampened these factors for a while but please bear in mind that it can not hold them back for long or forever.
“What I was able to gather at my recent meetings as the main reasons people gave for the collapse of the BDI could be summarized as follows:
- The Chinese are not buying any Iron Ore at present.
- The Olympics and the Para Olympics were the reason behind the stoppage/slow down of Chinese Iron Ore imports.
- The Chinese were on their Golden Week Holidays and on return have not as yet resumed their business-as-usual activities.
- Steel prices have collapsed and hence Steel Mills in China are slowing down/cutting production figures.
- The financial crisis was slowing down global activity and that was leading to a loss of cargoes.
“Whilst most of the above common perceptions may be accurate to a degree they cannot explain the fact that the BDI has, since the 20th May 2008, lost more than 86% of its value by the 15th October i.e. in less than 5 months time we have seen an absolute collapse in this index from a high point of 11,793 points to the current 1,615 points.
“One common misconception that I would like to bust at this stage is the slowing down/lack of Chinese iron ore imports. As per preliminary trade data available, China’s iron ore imports totalled 39.2m tonnes in September, a year-on-year rise of 6m tonnes. This represents only the third time monthly imports have been above 39m tonnes and occurred despite persistently high stockpiles at China’s ports. Year-to-date imports of 346.5m tonnes are 22% up on the same period in 2007.
“So if it is not iron ore imports, then what is the culprit behind the collapse of the BDI?
“The recent article in Bloomberg date lined the 14th October 2008 attributed to me covered an anecdotal piece of evidence that I had conveyed at the Marine Money conference at Singapore covering the poor experience that one of our clients had had with a Letter of Credit (L/C) encashment with a leading bank in Dubai. The client confirmed that despite having all the required pieces of paper to encash the valid L/C he was told by the bank that they simply did not have funds to pay him!!
“Since then I have had trade colleagues and others involved in shipping stating that they are hearing of L/Cs being cancelled or recalled in Australia, Indonesia and other places. We have heard that American Banks are not accepting L/Cs from banks that they are not comfortable with as a result exports out of the USA are falling very quickly and exacerbating the already perilous flow of cargoes. “Please however bear in mind that anecdotal evidence by its very nature is very hard to track down or verify but the fact that the BDI continues to drop, despite conventional wisdom suggesting that there would be a sharp bounce back as soon as the end of next month, makes me think that trade disruptions are more the norm than the exception but this fact has largely not as yet been picked up by the people who can, and should, rectify this situation.
“Having said all of the above I also think that such situations take time to reverse and normalise so I am expecting at least a couple of months of this disruption to continue before trade finance and cargo flows get back to more normalised levels. In the meantime real demand for cargoes is simply being converted to potential or latent demand so long as the trade credit cycles do not normalize. As and when they do normalize, you should expect demand to come roaring back with potential and latent demand translating into real demand and a plethora of real cargoes.”
It started out at around 2% now it's lower cuz it's automatically paid each month and I've never been late.
Status: IN REPAYMENT Interest Rate Type: FIXED RATE
Program: SUBCNS Interest Rate: 1.750%
Original School Code: 00253000 Daily Interest Accrual Amt: $2.24
First Disbursement Date: 07/06/2005
... and I hear you. It was such a good deal I took out more just to get Lasik surgery during school.
Bottom line: Let's not hear about how school is too expensive. There are a variety of ways to get it paid for, in my opinion. And even though jobs might still be tough to get with advanced education, the evidence still clearly shows that advanced education pays off in the long run-
(Here's who I consolidated through if anyone interested) www.safmt.org/
...and take out some student loans to live on (i.e. party on). No interest to pay while in school, or even grad school, then once you're out, consolidate them for a cheap rate. I'm at 2% after consolidating so it was pretty much free money.
It's an investment in yourself and the payoff is well worth the loan IMO-
And... Sarah Palin is news worthy for the weakness it displays in John McCain's seat-of-his-pants decision-making. When John McCain decided to make this particular Sarah a centerpiece of his campaign without any background investigation into the facts, he revealed much about John McCain, not Sarah.
And yes, if McCain does indeed win, I WILL be saying WTF just happened??
Modern_Rock's screens at this hour. World of Warcraft, anyone?
Thanks Dave. I actually like that they're holding on the JC for now - it shows managerial maturity; they're not setting themselves up to fail.
I completely agree we need to avoid "socialism" wherever and whenever possible.
In the same breath, the data suggests that if we can somehow reduce the numbers of uninsured it will be better for all of us in the form of cheaper healthcare.
I can see how Obama's plan could lead to less uninsured. On the flipside, I do not see how McCain's plan would lead to less uninsured. If someone can enlighten me to that I would be grateful (seriously).
What additional costs are created by the uninsured population?
* The United States spends nearly $100 billion per year to provide uninsured residents with health services, often for preventable diseases or diseases that physicians could treat more efficiently with earlier diagnosis.14
* Hospitals provide about $34 billion worth of uncompensated care a year.14
* Another $37 billion is paid by private and public payers for health services for the uninsured and $26 billion is paid out-of-pocket by those who lack coverage.14
* The uninsured are 30 to 50 percent more likely to be hospitalized for an avoidable condition, with the average cost of an avoidable hospital stayed estimated to be about $3,300.14
* The increasing reliance of the uninsured on the emergency department has serious economic implications, since the cost of treating patients is higher in the emergency department than in other outpatient clinics and medical practices.11
* A new study found that 29 percent of people who had health insurance were “underinsured” with coverage so meager they often postponed medical care because of costs.15 Nearly 50 percent overall, and 43 percent of people with health coverage, said they were “somewhat” to “completely” unprepared to cope with a costly medical emergency over the coming year.15
http://www.nchc.org/facts/coverage.shtml
1) It's not a "fine" as people keep saying. "Large" businesses have a choice: Either offer health plans for your employees, or pay into a kitty that develops affordable plans for those without it (47 million Americans last I checked). I can only ASSume these two options will cost equal amounts to the employer.
2) Wal-Mart already offers health plans, so they will not have to pay into the kitty. walmartstores.com/download/2320.pdf
3) Dollar Store already offers health plans, so they will not have to pay into the kitty. http://nyjobsource.com/dollargeneral.html
Of course the devil will be in the details (what's the definition of "large"? How much does each business have to kick in to be exempt from "the kitty"? etc)... but the point is clear: It's not a "fine". Either help your employees get health insurance (which only gets easier as your business gets bigger - larger risk pool), or pay into a fund to help them get their own.
I like the idea of incentivizing for more people to get health insurance... more people with insurance will drive down costs (because there will be far more prevention, far more utilization of services "early" in the disease rather than "later" when it costs more. I could go on but won't bore you even more.)
Apparently my 250 shares didn't keep it at $1.00. No respect I tell ya.
A girl phoned me the other day and said... Come on over, there's nobody home. I went over. Nobody was home.
- Rodney Dangerfield
Just took the $1.00. You're welcome.
KiK, I think what SSK does is play probabilities, and that the probability of a market turnaround was "high" with the VIX at 50, "higher" with it at 60, and right now with it at 70, it's "very very high... like most of my evenings in college".
Second that. We miss Hank's thoughts... especially right now
I'll pick door #4. It's the only one we know for sure, and with such a low volume while the s/p has been dropping, I doubt that someone "knows something".
I could be completely wrong though-