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Laws to Live By
Lerman's Law of Technology: Any technical problem can be
overcome given enough time and money. Corollary: You are
NEVER given enough time or money.
Murphy's First Law for Wives: If you ask your husband to
pick up five items at the store and then you add one more as
an afterthought, he will forget two of the first five.
Law of the Search: The first place to look for anything is
the last place you would expect to find it. Corollary: It
will not be in the last place you expect to find it.
Kauffman's Paradox of the Corporation: The less important
you are to the corporation, the more your tardiness or
absence is noticed.
The Salary Axiom: The pay raise is just large enough to
increase your taxes and just small enough to have no effect
on your take-home pay.
Miller's Law of Insurance: Insurance covers everything
except what happens.
First Law of Living: As soon as you start doing what you
always wanted to be doing, you'll want to be doing something
else.
Weiner's Law of Libraries: There are no answers, only
cross-references.
Isaac's Strange Rule of Staleness: Any food that starts
out hard will soften when stale. Any food that starts out
soft will harden when stale.
Kenny's Law of Auto Repair: The part requiring the most
consistent repair or replacement will be housed in the most
inaccessible location.
Second Law of Business Meetings: If there are two possible
ways to spell a person's name, you will pick the wrong one.
Corollary - If there is only one way to spell a name, you
will spell it wrong anyway.
broderick,
I've built a few things in my time, but I still can't say "TSAFOTRBTSAFITF" <g>.
AK
[p.s. Please do not construe this as my vote, or an attempt to influence other's votes. <g>]
Do you have any idea why that might be? And what makes you want to post that?
Sarals, see #msg-469181, #13. AK
Hi basserdan,
Thanks for your contribution to the Famous Job Interview game (although you are a little late for this one <g>). If you would like to see the more comprehensive list of these, along with others' contributions, please go to Poets Corner #board-398. I think the first post on these quotes was on August 8, and it went for a week or so. Poet is on vacation for another week or so, but it's a friendly board, and another kibbitzer would be welcome. Koikaze writes terrific doggerel--a rare talent. Maybe you'd copy your Mona Lisa post over there too?
AK
Zeev, given lower hog prices and higher feed prices, do you have a particular reason for adding SFD to your core holdings at this time? Thanks. AK
#msg-470512
#msg-470518
SFD. Feed costs.
====================
Crop shortage seen likely to push food prices up
August 20, 2002 3:06:00 PM ET
By Deborah Cohen
CHICAGO, Aug 20 (Reuters) - The severe Midwest drought could spell higher retail food prices in the fall if rising commodity costs squeeze profit margins and force food companies to hike the price of their goods, analysts said.
Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture released crop projections for the fall harvest that were below already diminished expectations and sharply below year-ago levels. Corn production was seen at a 7-year low, soybean production at a 6-year low and wheat output at a 20-year low.
That could mean 1 to 3 percent higher prices in grocery stores on everything from meats to cereal and soda, as companies try to offset the impact of higher raw material costs, analysts speculate.
Food makers ranging from North American leader Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT) to cereal maker Kellogg Co. (K) may face a price spike for raw materials such as corn, soybean oil and wheat of more than 20 percent in the coming year, analysts said.
"Food companies have such little pricing flexibility, and given that ingredient costs have been benign over the past few years they may use this as a reason to take some pricing," said Goldman Sachs analyst Romitha Mally.
Mally said the increases could occur over the next several quarters, but that it was still too early to access any impact to earnings.
In addition to higher ingredient costs, shrinking crops spell a sharp rise in feed costs for companies such as poultry giant Tyson Foods Inc. (TSN), pork producer Smithfield Foods Inc. (SFD) and packaged meat producer Hormel Foods Corp. (HRL).
The price of corn -- the primary feed for meat animals -- is up 30 percent since mid-June at the Chicago Board of Trade. That has already prompted some farmers to cull herds, which adds to a meat glut currently but could push prices of animals up as the smaller supplies take hold in coming months.
HEDGING THEIR BETS
Most companies hedge their exposure to commodity price swings forward by a year or more using futures and by locking in fixed prices on contracts of everything from hogs to wheat. But they may not be adequately hedged to withstand the coming crop shortfalls.
"Competition remains keen in most of these businesses and we expect most commodity processor earnings to come through a drought with weaknesses," said Deutsche Bank analyst Eric Katzman.
Commodity-oriented food makers such as meat processors are more exposed to spikes than value-added packaged foods makers, with up to 65 percent of the cost of finished meat goods sold at retail tied to commodity costs, analysts said.
Even a small price increase can help to offset the added pressure on earnings. If Tyson raises wholesale chicken prices by a penny a pound, that could add 18 cents a share to its 2003 bottom line, said Merrill Lynch analyst Leonard Teitelbaum.
A Tyson spokesman was not immediately available to comment on pricing plans.
"I would expect that as more commodity-oriented companies report, we are going to hear about how this is going to affect quarters to be reported from September to the end of the year," Teitelbaum said. "We will begin to see more of the effect in the second quarter of the year, should the hedges run out."
Teitelbaum said he is anticipating across-the-board increases of 2 percent to 3 percent in the retail prices of poultry, pork and beef starting in the fall.
Packaged food makers such as Kraft, Kellogg and General Mills Inc. (GIS) face less exposure to the crop shortage, as commodity costs range from only 2 percent to 6 percent of the total cost of manufactured products.
More costly by far are packaging and promotional costs. Marketing, for instance, can be as much as 35 percent of the total cost of producing a box of brand-name cereal.
Depending on the category, analysts believe that they might see packaged food makers hike wholesale prices by 1.0 to 1.5 percent, attempting to pass those costs along to retailers.
Packaged foods makers are watching the trends carefully, but most are reluctant to comment on price increases.
"When grain costs rise as much as they have, we obviously have to be very concerned, and have to keep a very close eye on these costs," said John Renwick, a spokesman for Battle Creek, Michigan-based cereal maker Kellogg. REUTERS
SFD. Low hog prices.
=====================
Low prices have US hog farmers paring herds-trade
August 20, 2002 1:46:00 PM ET
By Bob Burgdorfer
CHICAGO, Aug 20 (Reuters) - U.S. hog producers are rushing hogs to market now, even their breeding stock, to reduce herds and minimize losses in response to higher feed costs and anticipation of lower hog prices ahead, livestock analysts said.
"I think there is liquidation going on," said Jack Salzsieder, a livestock analyst with Iowa-based Broker Professionals, who said producers are selling young female pigs that would normally be held back for breeding.
The rush to sell hogs has pressured cash hog prices, and analysts predict prices will drop even more in the fourth quarter when hog supplies are at their year's high.
The hog industry's woes may have been partially responsible for meat giant Tyson Foods Inc.'s (TSN) announcement this week that it will shut down a large part of its money-losing hog operations.
Tyson said the high cost of shipping hogs from its Arkansas and Oklahoma farms to Midwest pork plants and the cost of bringing in feed prompted the decision. The move will cut the company's market hog output to 150,000 head a year from 1 million. Its 100,000-head sow herd will be cut by about 30,000.
Livestock analysts said Tyson, which had tried to sell its hog unit a few years ago, was probably also pushed to trim its hog operations by the same forecasts for low hog prices and high feed costs that have led smaller producers to bail out.
"The old farmer out there doesn't have a press release when he sells his herd," said John Lawrence, agriculture economist at Iowa State University. "I think it (Tyson's news) is an indication of the bigger trend in the industry, because we have had sow slaughter higher since June."
An abundance of beef, pork, and poultry this year has hurt prices for all livestock. Cattle producers at times lost more than $150 on every steer and heifer they sold. Hog producers have lost $10 to $20 on each market hog, and that figure may climb to about $50 in the fourth quarter.
"Hog profitability isn't going to get a whole lot better near-term," said David Nelson, a food analyst for CS First Boston, who follows companies like Tyson Foods. "It is probably going to get worse for the next six months."
Smithfield Foods Inc. (SFD), the nation's largest hog producer, and Premium Standard Farms, the second largest, may be better positioned to handle the hog market's troubles because their hog facilities are closer to packing plants and are more efficient, food analysts said.
Cash hog prices, currently at about $30 per hundredweight, may drop to $20 or lower in the fourth quarter, said Ron Plain, agricultural economist at the University of Missouri.
"I think the upper teens is quite possible." Plain said of fourth-quarter prices. "The way corn is headed probably anything below $40 is going to be losing money."
Prices of corn, a major livestock feed, have sped higher recently in reaction to reports that late planting this spring and a hot summer hurt the crop. The U.S. Agriculture Department recently estimated this year's corn harvest at 8.886 billion bushels, the lowest since 1995. REUTERS
Brightness, I don't disagree, but what about us? We have made ourselves economically dependent upon "cheap" oil. We worry when oil goes up $10 per barrel. What adjustments and dislocations would result if we have $4-5 per gallon gasoline?
I'm really asking this rhetorically, to illustrate the point of "co-dependence". We have done little to alleviate our dependence on foreign oil, Saudi or otherwise, and we pay a political price for that.
WLD, I see it both ways. We need them. They need us. We've made strange bedfellows for a very long time. JMHO
Sylvester, have you considered what would be the economic effect on us if the Saudis simply drastically cut back on the amount of oil they sell us, let alone cut us off entirely? Let's be realistic.
A few thoughts:
1. Jesse Jackson, Jim Baker, and Jimmy Swaggert have written an impressive new book ... It's called: "Ministers Do More Than Lay People."
2. Transvestite: A guy who likes to eat, drink and be Mary!
3. The difference between the Pope and your boss. The Pope only expects you to kiss his ring.
4. My mind works like lightning. One brilliant flash and it's gone.
5. The only time the world beats a path to your door is if you're in the bathroom.
6. I hate sex in the movies. Tried it once, the seat folded up, the drink spilled and that ice, well it really chilled her mood.
7. It used to be only death and taxes were inevitable. Now, of course, there's shipping and handling, too.
8. A husband is someone who after taking the trash out, gives the impression he just cleaned the whole house.
9. My next house will have no kitchen---just vending machines and a large trash can.
10. A blonde said, "I was worried that my mechanic might try to rip me off. I was relieved when he told me all I needed was turn-signal fluid."
11. I'm so depressed... My Dr. refused to write me a prescription for Viagra. He said it would be like putting a new flagpole on a condemned building.
12. My neighbor was bit by a stray rabid dog. I went to see how he was and found him writing frantically. I told him rabies could be cured and he didn't have to worry about a will. He said, Will!? What will? I'm making a list of the people I wanna bite."
13. Definition of a teenager? God's punishment for enjoying sex.
ZRAN. Summary of CNBC story earlier today.
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/CNBCTV/Articles/HeadlineStocks/P28845.asp
Zoran Corporation
• It makes chips used in DVD players.
• Thomas Weisel Partners is expressing caution about the company's prospects, saying it's seeing DVD inventories begin to stack up, O'Brien reports.
• The brokerage firm began to see the chips not moving well in Asia.
• This runs counter to the expected trend of sales picking up as the holiday season approaches.
CNBC did a short report, alluding to excess inventory. I was not listening carefully, but it was Bob & Ray from the Wall Street Journal, and there were referencing a report. Did not catch the name of the firm that did the report.
Hope this helps.
AK
Briefing.com on SKX (from yesterday afternoon):
=======================
Market Report -- Story Stocks (SKX, NKE, Z)
August 19, 2002 12:59:00 PM ET
Skechers USA (SKX) 17.19 +0.47: Last Thursday, the stock of Nike (NKE) had a particularly volatile session following a report that its largest customer, Foot Locker (Z), significantly cut its holiday orders as part of an effort to focus on more moderately-priced offerings. In the wake of that revelation, several analysts have been handicapping the impact Foot Locker's decision would have on Nike's earnings prospects. Merrill Lynch, for one, cut its EPS estimates today for FY03 (May) and FY04 to $2.81 and $3.18 from $2.87 and $3.20, respectively. We would add that Merrill's earnings estimate reductions were based on a downward revision to U.S. footwear and apparel growth that it believes is a function of a cyclical-- not a secular-- slowdown in Nike's U.S. business. Be that as it may, Briefing.com thinks Skechers is a company that stands to benefit from Foot Locker's push to place more of an emphasis on moderately-priced footwear. In its Sport category, which encompasses shoes you might find at Foot Locker (i.e. jogging, trail running, hiking, cross-training, court, and street active sneakers), prices generally range from $40-80. Those affordable prices, combined with attractive styling and effective marketing, have enabled Skechers to make a splash in the footwear industry. Skechers, though, still doesn't have near the influence in the footwear business that Nike does. On a trailing twelve-month basis, Skechers's sales totaled just over $1.0 bln versus $9.89 bln for Nike. The disparity in the size of their market capitalization-- $647 mln for Skechers and $11.8 bln for Nike-- also underscores the fact that Skechers has yet to make as big a splash with investors as Nike has. Nevertheless, it is a company that Briefing.com believes investors will want to pay some attention to. Last month, Skechers reported a 26.4% increase in Q2 net earnings to $21.3 mln on an 11.2% increase in net sales to a record $256.7 mln. The company also boosted its FY02 EPS expectation to $1.73, which represents a 39.5% increase from FY01.-- Patrick J. O'Hare, Briefing.com
marginnayan, I posted on the book-to-bill last night. Quite a difference in expectations here. FWIW. #msg-467645
So you are comparing Prechter to Osama Bin Laden? Interesting.
Bob, whatever the cause, there does seem to be the occasional pause for site access. #msg-468032 FWIW
Don, would you please clarify your use of "towel hed" in your post? Thanks.
Zeev, your comments on this Book-to-Bill projection? I recollect last month you thinking there would be better numbers than projected in this article. If this is correct shouldn't the semi-equip stocks be in for more dumping? AK
==============================
IC-equipment book-to-bill to hit 0.77 for July and August
Semiconductor Business News
(08/19/02 09:42 p.m. EST)
SAN JOSE -- The worldwide book-to-bill ratio for semiconductor equipment fell to its lowest level in six months, from a healthy 1.15 in June, to a mere 0.77 for July, according to new figures from VLSI Research Inc. late today.
IC-equipment makers are not expected to fair [sic] any better in August, as the book-to-bill ratio is projected to once again hit 0.77 for the month, according to VLSI Research in San Jose.
And the June ratio was also revised downwards from 1.24 to 1.15 as shipments and bookings came in higher than originally expected, the firm said.
Worldwide equipment billings amounted to $2.39 billion, while bookings were at $1.85 billion in July. Of the total billings in July, $1.44 billion were for wafer-processing equipment, $460 million were for test and related equipment, $190 million for assembly, and $290 million for service and spares.
It was a bleak month. The July ratio is the lowest of the last six months and is down to the level of December 2001, according to VLSI Research.
“Absolute bookings levels have been increasing steadily since January, but have not gained the momentum needed to power a strong recovery,” according to the firm. “This is due to the soft end demand for electronics and sluggish chip prices. In addition, the U.S. economy weakened in the second quarter with GDP growth coming in at an anemic 1.1%,” it said.
“To make matters worse, the stock market crash has wiped out confidence throughout the supply chain up to the consumer. The crash has literally frozen order activity in July as companies held back investment plans,” according to VLSI Research.
===============
[For (background) reference, following is a 7/17/02 press release from SEMI.]
Correction: 2005 growth percentage - SEMI Announces Mid-Year Consensus Forecast for Chip Equipment Industry
Semiconductor Equipment Companies Expect $22.8 Billion Market in 2002
SAN JOSE, Calif., July 17, 2002 -- The leading manufacturers of semiconductor equipment expect sales to decline 19 percent this year from the $28 billion posted in 2001 according to the mid-year edition of the SEMI Capital Equipment Consensus Forecast, released here today by Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) at the annual SEMICON® West exposition.
Survey respondents anticipate the industry to sell $22.8 billion of new chip manufacturing, testing and assembly equipment in 2002. The forecast indicates that, as the capital equipment market upturn strengthens, the market will grow 29 percent in 2003, to reach $29.5 billion; and 23 percent in 2004 to $36.2 billion. Survey respondents see growth in the cyclic market flattening in 2005.
"Given the severity of business conditions in the overall economy and especially the information technology sector, it comes as no surprise that the consensus forecast shows another drop in the worldwide market for capital equipment in 2002," said Stanley Myers, president and CEO of SEMI. "However, the good news is that survey participants are positive about growth prospects for the next two years. This would seem to indicate that the downturn is bottoming out and that the industry will return to its historically high double digit growth rates in 2003 and 2004."
The SEMI Consensus Forecast includes input from 50 of the trade association's member companies in the United States, Europe, Asia and Japan. The forecast results are based on data collected between May and June 2002 by the SEMI Industry Research and Statistics department. Responding companies represent more than 70 percent of the total sales volume for the global semiconductor equipment industry.
Koi, here's the web site for Washington Times.
http://www.washtimes.com/
AK
Re pop-up ads. As a subscriber I don't see the ads, but several times today I had iHub pages that did not load in a timely manner. Could this have to do with the ads? Not enough of a bother to even mention it, except if ads are stalling out your system. FWIW.
How about another qualifier for the Old Timers Club...You remember when you got dressed up to fly on an airplane. AK
If your dreams turn to dust....vacuum.
--Unknown
[Thanks to Karen Lawrence on SI.]
Blind man.
Two nuns are ordered to paint a room in the convent, but the Mother Superior instructs them not to get a drop of paint on their habits.
The two nuns decide to lock the door of the room, strip off their habits, and paint in the nude. In the middle of the project, there's a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" calls one of the nuns. "Blind man", replies a voice from other side of the door.
The two nuns look at each other, shrug, and decide that no harm can come from letting a blind man into the room. They open the door.
"Nice boobs," says the man,"
....where do you want the blinds?"
Actually Fred, I did happen to notice I was writing to myself, which is the next logical extension of talking to one's self, but I still have half my wit (making me a ____), and figured out that I was better saying nothing. Besides, why would you want to read my errand list? (1. pick up 3 boxes of Jujyfruits; 2. buy sprinkler valve washers; 3. buy shipping boxes for the kid; 4...)
Now that you make me think of it, wonder if we should all post our errand lists here? Bet yours would go something like: 1. Get in line at 6:00 a.m. for Christmas ornament sale...<g>
AK
Signs of Wear: "Old" is when . . .
. . . your sweetie says, "Let's go upstairs and make love," and you answer, "Pick one--I can't do both."
. . . your friends compliment you on your new alligator shoes, and you're barefoot.
. . . a sexy babe catches your fancy, and your pacemaker opens the garage door.
. . . going bra-less pulls all the wrinkles out of your face.
. . . you don't care where your spouse goes just as long as you don't have to go along
. . . . you are cautioned to slow down by your doctor instead of by the police.
. . . "getting a little action" means you don't need to take any fiber today.
. . . "getting lucky" means you find your car in the lot.
. . . an "all-nighter" means not getting up to pee
Augie,
You have misread me and mischaracterized my message. I regret that I was unable to make my points more clearly or convincingly. I'm also sorry that you could find absolutely nothing redeeming in any of my comments, as evidenced by your dissection of my post and your line-by-line rejections.
However, you are indeed correct -- you are the board moderator and you have the prerogative to run the board pretty much as you see fit.
I don't see all of this as black and white as you do. Truthfully, I'm a bit disappointed, but I do wish you well in developing this thread as a place for dialogue and the civil exchange of disparate viewpoints.
Inasmuch as you have effectively terminated any further discussion by telling me you have nothing more to say on the subject I will not pursue this further. I do not want to be confrontational with you, nor do I want you to take my comments as annoying or insulting, which you apparently are.
Thank you for taking the time for your previous responses. I hope we can agree to disagree and let it go at that.
Regards,
AK
p.s. I see you have amended the thread header. Undoubtedly this will encourage the type of posts you desire:
ON THE OTHER HAND, ATTACKS ON PUBLIC FIGURES -- FOR EXAMPLE, THE JERK-WADS ON BUBBLEVISION, THE NITWITS WHO SUPPOSEDLY RUN THIS COUNTRY, THE WHORES WHO PREVIOUSLY RAN THIS COUNTRY, THIEVING CORPORATE EXECUTIVES, PIMPING STOCK ANALYSTS, AND, ESPECIALLY, THAT STONE-COLD B*TCH MARTHA STEWART, ARE NOT ONLY TOLERATED, BUT ENCOURAGED.
Augie,
I appreciate the openness of your response. Please take the following as “constructive” criticism.
Thank you for explaining that your post “KILL THEM ALL AND LET G*D SORT IT OUT!” was made in jest. It is because your post was ambiguous as to “THEM” and addressed to no one in particular that I found it in poor taste, especially in these highly politically and religiously charged times. I found the post to be provocative and did not see how it could be used to stimulate a discussion germane to the thread header; actually, I still don’t, but I accept your explanation at face value. (I will grant you, not everyone appreciates what I try to pass off as humor too.)
You went on to say,
"So far, the only type of posts which I find myself unable to tolerate are those along the lines of:
You hold position "a," therefore you are an ignorant and/or stupid person.
... or ...
You disagree with my view on "a," therefore you are an ignorant and/or stupid person.
... or ...
Your mother holds position "a," therefore she is an an ignorant and/or stupid person.”
I’m not suggesting you should like “personal attack” posts such as you have illustrated, but it is my opinion that as the thread moderator you have an obligation to tolerate some of them in furtherance of the thread’s purpose. It is an especially difficult task when one is the subject of those attacks, or even worse, when you feel your family attacked, even if you did leave yourself open by posting a letter “from your mother” without comment.
My concern is that by quickly deleting posts that you have personalized you deprive other readers from forming their own opinion of the person who has made the mistake of poorly choosing their words. I would like the opportunity to read those posts and make up my own mind, and then have a chance to agree/disagree, or engage that poster. By your quick reaction you deprive me and others of that opportunity, to the detriment of the board IMO.
By saying in your post to me “Please, feel free to question anything I say, or anything I do, for that matter” you have left the door open to further dialogue, clarification or an apology. I’m pleased you have said that to me, but why could you not have said something similar to the two posters whose posts you deleted, and suggest to them that you would like a discussion but without “personal attack” language. Wouldn’t that at least allow the opportunity to get a dialogue going?
I found some language used in another thread header. Perhaps you will consider adding it, or some modification of it, to the thread header as a guidepost to all who post here.
There is only one rule here: NO PERSONAL ATTACKS. Those who engage in personal attacks will be warned. If they persist, future posts which contain personal attacks may be deleted.
In fact, perhaps this would be the only rule the thread would need.
With all of this said, I again request that you restore the deleted posts and in addition, as the thread moderator, respond to the posters giving them a warning about their personal attacks, and give them the opportunity to be contributors to the thread. Of course maybe they cannot be civil, but maybe they personalized the posts they were responding to, just as you have.
Please understand I mean all of this constructively, and I believe a thread such as this can be a vehicle to contributing to mutual understanding. I just think everyone should know what the posting rules are ahead of time.
Regards,
AK
Augie,
I think you have missed my point. I was not asking you to delete more posts, either those that you don't like, or those that you've made that embarass you. I was only inferring that unless really extreme, they should be left up for all to read so that each individual can make up his own mind about the credibility and character of the poster.
In keeping with your philosopy, would you care to explain this post of yours:
KILL THEM ALL AND LET G*D SORT IT OUT! #msg-442397
I hope you won't delete that post, or this one of mine, merely because I am questioning your policy of deleting posts you don't care for. As the board moderator, I am suggesting that you have an obligation to be more thick skinned when questioned.
With all due respect,
AK
2. It was deleted because it contained nothing more than a personal insult -- no thought, no reasoning, not even much of a hint of what your opinion is on the subject. Simply a negative characterization of the poster of the previous comment.
Augie, given your comments above, what do you think of this post: #msg-457404
Also, Simply a negative characterization of the poster of the previous comment. Augie, would you be the poster who was negatively characterized? If so, don't you then have a "moral" obligation to the board to not delete the post?
I am not asking these questions rhetorically. I really would appreciate a thoughtful response.
Thanks,
AK
Augie, would you mind restoring Grant's post for all to see, and make up their own minds? I would think the nature of a thread on "politics" might lend itself to perceived insults, but unless something is really gross (like Mark Johnson) you are cutting off others ability to comment on Grant's post themselves. Thanks in advance for reconsidering your action. AK
SEMI stock buy back:
All American Announces Stock Buy Back
August 15, 2002 09:55:00 AM ET
MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 15, 2002--All American Semiconductor, Inc. SEMI, a leading national distributor of electronic components, today announced that its board of directors has authorized the continuance of the stock repurchase program, originally approved by the board and announced in 1999, which provided for the repurchase of up to $2 million in purchase price of the Company's common stock. Previously, the Company had purchased an aggregate of 147,186 shares, or 4% of the then outstanding shares, for a total of approximately $484,000. The stock repurchases may, at the discretion of the Company's management, be made from time to time at prevailing prices in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. The Company's management will base its decision on market conditions, the price of the Company's common stock and other factors. The Company currently intends to make stock repurchases using available cash flow from operations.
"The continuation of this program reflects the board's confidence in our long-term prospects and our belief that our stock is currently undervalued," said Bruce M. Goldberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of All American.
All American is recognized as the nation's 5th largest distributor of semiconductors and the 10th largest electronic components distributor overall. The Company has offices in 36 strategic locations throughout North America.
[snipped]
The earring.
============
A man is at work one day when he notices that his co-worker is wearing an earring.
This man knows his co-worker to be a normally conservative fellow, and is curious about his sudden change in "fashion sense." The man walks up to him and says, "I didn't know you were into earrings."
"Don't make such a big deal, it's only an earring," he replies sheepishly.
"So, really? How long have you been wearing one?"
"Ever since my wife found it in our bed."
NiteMare, try the Home Page, then About Us. There is info on the site administrators. At two years old, it's a bit more than a start up, and nobody is requiring money for you to post, so don't know how you'll get burned financially. And if you do want some of the Premium amenities, well, check out the rate schedule; it surely won't break you.
Spend some time reading Zeev's thread. Many find it worthwhile.
Hope that helps answer some of your questions.
AK
p.s. I see you signed up almost a month ago. Surely you know your way around the site by now <g>. BTW, perhaps you will give a source for your allegations about the site? You seem to present them as fact, rather than questions.
Men and women compliment each other by the unique traits we were each given:
WOMEN:
Women have strengths that amaze men. They carry children, they carry hardships, they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous
Women wait by the phone for a "safe at home call" from a friend after a snowy drive home.
They are childcare workers, executives, attorneys, stay-at-home moms, bikers, babes, & your neighbors.
They wear suits, jeans, and they wear uniforms. They fight for what they believe in and they stand up against injustice.
They walk and talk the extra mile to get their children in the right schools and to get their family the right health care.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
Women are honest, loyal and forgiving
They are smart, knowing that knowledge is power. But they still know how to use their softer side to make a point.
Women want to be the best for their family & their friends and themselves.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They have sorrow at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world spin!
Women do more than just give birth. They bring joy and hope. They give compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family and friends and all they want back is a hug, a smile and for you to do the same to people you come in contact with.
MEN:
Men are good at lifting heavy things and killing bugs.
Matt, here is another example of a "re-numbered" post. #msg-457587
The message linked to in Rick's post, #msg-457578 is not the post that he complained of, and which you subsequently deleted.
FWIW, AK
Now we have a new glitch in the system. You removed a post that I had referenced by a link (see #msg-457638). By removing the post it seems that the post I had referenced now is linked to someone elses rather than the deleted post, and it looks like I'm dissing them.
BTW, it is your perogative to remove posts, but Zeev not only did not object, but in fact agreed that the post was factually correct (#msg-457742), might you have been too fast on the draw? I know you can't make everybody happy all the time, but if Zeev took it in stride, maybe there is a lesson of tolerance there for others? JMHO AK
Augie,
I generally stay away from public discussion of politics, but something did strike me in your mum's forwarded letter.
This idea of America, being a multi-cultural community, has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Americans, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle.
If we, in fact, do not have a multi-cultural society, I'd like clarification on the writer's idea of the singlular American culture, his notion of the American lifestyle, and clarification that we have our own (national?)language. This sounds like the writing of a provincial person.
Should I infer that by posting this letter without comment that it represents both yours and your mum's opinion, or that you meant for the post to become a springboard for discussion?