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And...Lots of folks love them.That is where the info comes in handy.lol Bob
Hi Janice,I just want to say thanks for info you pass along to me on possible positions I take.I am very selective in what I buy.I do my own dd and get charts from some of the honest technical traders.I know some chartists also form charts to their benefit aka time frame and indicators.Your info is another helpful bit of info to a successful trade.TY Bob :))
LOL,Love those Rabbits.They keep my gardening game interesting.The beetles will also be coming.Thats another story.lol Bob :))
Nice board.I played playstar a while back if I remember correctly.Would have to check my records how it went.Bob
I Have light up Flamingos that the wings go up and down and a light up palm tree.The Bon Ton has lots of out of the ordinary light up summer items.Bob :))
Ha,You gottem toooo.Mine look like yours.Lets see what happens.Bob :))
I am sure.I even put moth balls down last year it got so bad.Then I read the box at how poisonous they were.Neighbors have small children.Gathered then up like the crazy man I am.I bet they dig big holes under my wire this year.lol Bob :))
Still deciding on my favorite undervalued retailers.Bont is one I have been playing since below 2.00.Glassy put out a nice chart on that one a while ago along with bont which I asked her for.Eddie is still up in the air ebhi.The retailers who cut payroll costs/started agressive sales and closed non performing stores early(last year) are the ones to look at.Eddie was late to the game.Psun is moving in the right direction now.Each retailer has to be put under the microscope individually.Pei on the developer side turned down a buyout offer a few short years ago at 48.00.I have two kiosks in their malls and know them well.They will survive.Ran from 2.00 to 8.00.Now is a good time to look at the sector because they had their first big runs.Now in consolidation mode.I am also great friends with a vp at ddr.I used to have a lot of dealings with him when he was with another developer.When I get time,I will throw out a few other specialty retailers that should be higher.Bob :))
I was kinda pizzed.Spent all day in the sun planting.No rabbit problems this year.I dug 6 inches down in the dirt and put chicken wire around all beans and peas.lol Bob :))I do get a little nuts with the local animals.The rabbits are already checking my garden out.I think they talk to each other and say.Look the idiot is planting great food for us again this year.HeHe.
You Too Lang.Watching the retail/developer sector pull back.They ran hard and needed to correct since I started posting on the sector.Some doubled/tripled.Some signs out their 2nd q won't be too bad.We have time with only half the q gone.Even Bont beat street estimates.I am in 3 malls 2 times a week at my biz for over 15 years(Sunday off hehe).I know the sector well and get many updates from managers/dm's and people who work for the developers.I like what psun is doing looking ahead to next report.My developer list is Pei/ddr/grt/cbl.Haven't played ggp since they filed bk.It has done well since they filed bk.Bob :))
The highly televised As seen on tv Toppsy Turvy upside down tomato grower has a few gliches(lol).I set one up yesterday and was going to hang it from a 4ft high plant holder.Doesn't work.The wires and holder are around two feet giving little room for the plant to grow.Then I was going to hang it on the porch.Nope when you water the plantdirty water will go all over the porch.I did hang it from a tree in my yard so it would be high enough to grow.They should state you need a high place to use the product.Will let everyone know if it actually works.One year sales pitch for $$ imo.I bought 2.lol Bob :))
HeHe,Love Australia.They like their Brew tooo.Don't like someone from Australia telling a long time American biz person whats going on here in the U.S.Bob :))
You are from Australia.Shouldn't have wasted my breath on American political/business concerns.Bye.I do like your Kangaroos though.LOL
You do not get the situation obviously.I don't play the he said she said game.Its a fact.I speak to suppliers all over the country.Same situation.You obviously are not a retail owner or operator.See Ya
This was the first one from Lackawanna county:Scranton Single Tax Office Audit Released
By Ryan Leckey
March 20, 2009
Twelve million dollars of taxpayer money has been sitting in an account for years and nearly half of it should have gone to communties years ago.
Forensic accounting experts are calling it a case of bad bookkeeping and sloppy accounting. Investigators said the former tax collector's office didn't do its job of managing those huge sums of taxpayer's dollars.
The Scranton Single Tax Office collects at least some of every Lackawanna County property owner's taxes.
From 1999 to 2008 investigators from a Philadelphia accounting firm said money was mishandled, tax dollars weren't distributed correctly and it made a giant financial mess.
Related links
Scranton Single Tax Office Audit
Former Tax Collector Now County Employee Photo
Scranton Single Tax Office Audit Released Video
"We have already started, myself and my team, to make corrections when we knew that things needed to be changed, so we're changing it," explained city tax collector Marilyn Vitali Flynn. She took over from Ken McDowell last year when he was elected as the new Lackawanna County controller. "(We are) really working very diligently to makes sure that the people are being treated fairly and with respect and that they money due to them will be there."
When Flynn took over she found an extra $12 million at the Scranton Single Tax office. Investigators said at least $5 million of that $12 million should have gone to the city, county and Scranton School District. Forensic accountants confirmed McDowell knew there was extra money in the accounts and knew there were problems.
"Mr McDowell's position as reported to us was that he was relying on the personnel who were there to take care of the day to day," said forensic accountant Ricardo Zayas.
Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O'Brien points the finger at Ken McDowell, who ran the office from 2002 to 2008. "Asleep at the switch would be an understatement. People were comotose in this situation. They knew about the problem. It was brought up by the auditors in 2006 with respect to 2005 and they just failed to act. They failed to do anything," O'Brien said.
He was livid Friday when asked if he felt comfortable with McDowell now serving as county controller. "I'm hopeful that staff members who currently serve in our controllers office can do so in professional way and that we can have the accountability we need with respect to county taxpayer funds," O'Brien added.
"Somebody will be looking at this if not on a daily basis, a monthly basis and those issues will be cleaned up as we go forward. So what will happen is the outlying municipalities, the city, the taxpayers will benef in that. It's going to happen now, not in five years again," said John McGovern, attorney for the Single Tax Office.
In a written statement, McDowell said when he took office as Scranton's tax collector in 2002 the office was "broken" and had "an antiquated collection system." He blamed the resistance of his former office staff to implement a new collection system.
As for when the city, county and school district will start seeing the extra money that was found, the current city tax collector said they are in the process of releasing some of it in the coming weeks.
Copyright © 2009, WNEP-TV
Hi Janice,Another one of my retail biz customers from corrupt luzerne/lackawanna county goes down.
Large Type Print This Story E-mail This Story Save This Story Posted: May 22
Updated: Today at 9:54 AM
Former radio host charged with fraud
Jamie P. Lake, owner of JPL Financial in Kingston, allegedly scammed clients.
By Sheena Delazio sdelazio@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
A former radio talk show host and owner of a Kingston-based financial advisory business was charged Thursday with federal mail fraud .
U.S. Attorney Martin C. Carlson said Thursday Jamie P. Lake, 35, of Scranton, was charged for his role in a $600,000 investment fraud scheme allegedly perpetuated against 33 clients of his financial business, JPL Financial.
Carlson said Lake advertised JPL through a weekly radio talk show he co-hosted titled “Money-in-Motion” and through one-minute daily spots called “It’s Your Money” that were widely broadcast in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Brandler.
Carlson said Lake has agreed to plead guilty to the mail fraud charges, stemming from activities between December 2006 and March 2009.
If the plea is accepted by a judge Lake faces up to 20 years in prison, fines up to $1.2 million and other mandatory costs.
In April, the U.S. Secret Service confirmed it was conducting an investigation of the company, after receiving three to five complaints regarding financial matters.
An agent said in April they were speaking to a person of interest, but would not release any other information at the time.
Carlson said Lake allegedly defrauded customers by soliciting them to invest money under false pretenses by “failing to invest money as promised and by misappropriating and converting the money to his own use.”
Lake allegedly promised 17 customers that he would purchase fixed-annuity insurance contracts on their behalf, and collected $421,700.
Carlson said Lake did not purchase the contracts and prepared false documents to conceal the theft.
Carlson said Lake used the money for personal and other expenses, and duped 13 other customers by promising the purchases of real estate investment trusts at discounted rates, collecting an additional $154,000.
Carlson said Lake also didn’t purchase the real estate investment trusts and used the money for his own personal expenses.
Another four customers alleged Lake defrauded them by promising to purchase stocks or to make additional investments in existing accounts and collected $27,800, which he later used for himself.
Been watching that one.Enjoy the long Memorial day weekend everyone.Bob:))
Have a great Memorial Day weekend Glassy aka Sugar snap(those charts)and everyone.Chillin~Grillin and swimmin.Bob :)))
No link.I own businesses in 3 malls and am well respected along with knowing everything that goes on.Their is no arrests.They just shut down the biz until the next group arrives.Fact Jack lol
Local Price Choppers House of Barbeque in PA has 6 flavors of Salmon Burgers this year.Trying them out for something different.You can also make your own~
Grilled Salmon Burger
Fresh flavor in a fresh take on grilled burgers.
170 Calories, 23g Protein, 1g Carbohydrates, 7g Fat, 60mg Cholesterol, 0g Fiber, 150mg Sodium
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients
Olive oil spray
1 lb. skinless salmon fillet, cut into 1” cubes
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp. peeled and minced fresh ginger
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
1 tsp. low-sodium soy sauce
½ tsp. ground coriander
Salt, to taste
Ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Lightly coat rack with the olive oil cooking spray.
In a food processor, pulse salmon cubes just enough to grind coarsely.
Transfer salmon to a large bowl and mix in: Dijon mustard, lime zest, ginger, cilantro, soy sauce and coriander.
Form salmon into 4 patties and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Grill burgers, turning once, until done, 4 minutes on each side for medium.
Garnish with fresh lime wedges.
Home Grown and catching fire in PA~Halestorm~
Smart move Sugar Snap~GM options traders bet on possible endgame
Fri May 22, 2009 2:45pm EDT Email | Print | Share| Reprints | Single Page[-] Text [+]
Market News
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By Doris Frankel
CHICAGO, May 22 (Reuters) - With a week to go, many options traders in General Motors Corp (GM.N), are laying bearish bets that the company will file for bankruptcy, but the sheer volatility of the stock has some bold players taking the other side of that trade.
The Obama administration has given GM, the largest U.S. automaker, until June 1 to reach agreements on cost cuts with stakeholders or follow rival Chrysler into bankruptcy.
Some investors have responded to this deadline with a flurry of bearish bets in the options market, as they see very few alternatives left for the company. Oddly, some short-term traders are also taking the opposite position, betting the shares will hold up, at least in the near term.
"The uncertainty surrounding GM's emergence from bankruptcy has led some option traders to trade in call options for its bearish put options," said Andrew Wilkinson, senior market analyst at Interactive Brokers Group.
While the automaker has reached deals with union leadership in the United States and Canada to cut labor costs, it still must reach agreement with other parties, and industry analysts and experts see bankruptcy as all but inevitable.
Throughout the week, traders have been selling the $2 GM call strikes in June, July and September and snapping up $1 June put options that expire in four weeks, Wilkinson said.
Earlier in the session, traders bought the June $1 put options for 40 cents a contract, implying that its shares will fall to 60 cents by expiration in mid-June.
Since then, the premiums -- the cost of the option -- has risen to 47 cents per contract.
GM shares, which are already down 33 cents, or 17.2 percent to $1.59 in afternoon trade, would need to fall a further 62 percent for these bearishly inclined investors to be proved correct.
"The trade suggests that the stock will be worthless. The only way traders would get any profit at all is if the stock is below 60 cents a share in the next 28 days," said Chris McKhann, analyst at website optionMonster.com.
"But I would seriously consider taking the other side of that trade and selling those puts which would generate a profit if the stock remains anywhere from 60 cents and above," McKhann said.
For short-term traders, taking the other side of such a trade is not such an odd idea.
The implied volatility -- the expected magnitude of a share price move conveyed by option prices -- stood at a high 560 percent for the June $1 put strike, indicating that investors are bracing for big swings in a stock that has already traded between $1.13 and $2.23 a share in this week alone.
During the first half of the session, about 280,000 call options, which give the right to buy the stock at a fixed price and time, traded more than double the amount of put options, according to option analytics firm Trade Alert.
A put option conveys the privilege to sell the stock at a given price and time.
"Everything is on the table right now due to the questionability of GM's survival," said Joe Kinahan, chief derivatives strategist at online brokerage thinkorswim Group in Chicago. (Reporting by Doris Frankel; Editing by Padraic Cassidy)
I know for a fact the Israeli kiosk operators use employees that come over on travel visas.They make their money and take it back to Israel.They all live in a few apartments paid for by the main biz owner.They travel in groups to the malls in cars also owned by the main biz owner.The get 1 day off a week and work open to close the other 6.I have seen crews busted and sent out of the country.This is going on in every state and any in mall that is decent.
Markets look to open up.Should get some recovery from yesterday.Quite a few are up pre market.Gotta run.Talk to you later.Bob :))
HaHa,The forces always rule eventually.Bob :))
Very nice on GM Glassy.I have been busy this week and didn't do to much.A lot of what I am watching in retail/developers are still trying to find solid bottoms.Lea may give me a shot.Talk to you later.Bob :))
Psun made a nice come back.Trying to go green on a redful day.Bob :))
You are correct Strong.Not sure if it is 6 or 7 years tax free.Then what some businesses do is bring different family members in and the cycle continues.Not a level playing field for sure.Bob
Hey Lang,Markets got creamed today.Even a lot of the good issues got hit.Later Bob
Not White American is what I said and was my whole point.It is about the money and how they are run in comparison to the "traditional way myself and others operate a biz.Check benz posts.Many loopholes.
Ahr intraday lows last 3 days~1.06~1.16 and 1.25 today?Nice pattern so far.Bob :))
Lots of green for everyone today.Cheers
Lots of green for everyone today.Cheers
HeHe Ahr Book Value 5.61 as of March 31 as per filings.Numbers can make one crazy.lol
I agree Nova.Have a Great day.Bob :))
I saved all your messages Benz.I do have a issue with the whole situation.Believe me all the immigrant activity is not legal either.Bothers me for myself and past friend that went under because lenders had the noose around their neck.Also bothers me for the future prospects for white biz owners.The playing field is not equal.It is a political issue for the dummies reading.Thanks for your work.Bob
Sad indeed if anyone cares about our race and prosperity.I already told my girls to learn Spanish.The trend is not our friend.If you ever saw the area I grew up in now you would die.Bob
So where is the help for the small white business owner?80% Of the white biz owners I know are gone now.Replaced by immigrants.They have the cash to wether the economic problems.Actually they do not even understand our economics.They just have the $$$.Yes I am Mad.
Astounding,I know a few Russian business owners that received asylum and can not speak~write or even understand English.I know because they ask me questions all the time.It is a Political problem.Where is the help for the White business owner without giving up their first born and extensive checks.Anyone that does not see this problem is in a dream world.Bob
Hey Lang,Digging around ahr reports tonight.Book Value and Net Asset Value
The chart below is a comparison of book value per share at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
3/31/2009 12/31/2008
Total Stockholders' Equity $584,060 $617,492*
Less:
Series C Preferred Stock Liquidation Value (57,500) (57,500)
Series D Preferred Stock Liquidation Value (86,250) (86,250)
Common Equity $440,310 $473,742
Common Shares Outstanding 78,371,715 78,371,715
Book Value per Share $5.61 $6.04