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Bulldog, that is just great. Today was the day for me to travel to Seattle and buy the new rumored iMac. It sounded as impressive as the new rumored iPhone and as exciting as the new rumored mini. Instead, I think I'll just get my teeth cleaned.
OT: Howard Hughes???? Who is that...oh, is he the guy that ran his daddy's drill bit fortune into the TWA monopoly, raised by Hopalong Cassidy, invented or refined the modern bra so Jane would quit jiggling at MGM, built the Spruce Goose, flew people between western cities in yellow submarines (maybe planes), watched the sunrises and sunsets from the top of a Vegas casino, hated germs, couldn't afford a manicurist, died secluded in Mexico with only his top aide from Aberdeen, WA (Mormon you say)? Or, are you referring to someone else?
Everyone can update their FileMakerPro to version 10 for a measly $180. Such a deal. Maybe FileMaker Pro isn't meant for the individual consumer; neither is Bento.
Start eating Kobe beef.
OT: River Walk
Gee, don't you have pipelines to transport your oil?
Bull... it wouldn't surprise me if the rumors are partially true. It would be very easy for Steve Jobs to make an appearance and show the flag in someway. Make an appearance at a store opening, benefit, or anything.
The man is so arrogant and controlling I doubt he'll show his face and probably doesn't wish to encourage reacting to any and all who wish to jerk him around. He has earned his eccentricities with incredibly good taste in gadget design and use.
But, lets not imply any unwarranted virtues to him or the company. In the last stock option dating mess, he was awfully close to the rot.
A Jobsless Apple will carry enough momentum to do well for a time. What scares me most is Microsoft has been hiring raw IQ for years and can't get away from brute force. Everything they do looks like it is a result of throwing mud on the wall and seeing if anything sticks and occasionally running over the landscape with a bulldozer and tiding up with a chainsaw. Jobs has some unique ability that a company like Microsoft with 90k really, really smart people can't match in producing 'lickably' neat products and services.
Some of us on this board can to a reasonable degree separate our love of the products from the company. At this point in history, both are doing well.
3 bucks?
I show 59 cents. Haven't been watching a graph.
Amen on the lack of desktop updates
I'm waiting to treat myself to a 24" iMac with a screaming video card. The PowerMacs are just too much overkill. Must have a screaming GPU though in an iMac.
Could also do a new 17" MacBook Pro on an impulse buy if it also had a screaming GPU.
...waiting patiently
Blue, iMac
I was going to treat myself to a new 24" iMac for Christmas but there was no refresh. I need an iMac with a top line graphic card (WoW really stresses what I have). I sure hope MacWorld comes up with some top refreshes. Could talk myself into a new MacBook Pro also if Apple comes up with a new compelling product. Hate waiting.
Herb n Sarah
tomm can I still post here or do I have to move to Alaska first!
Congratulations Comrades. The proletariat has spoken and nothing stands in their way for change. We are now an Obamanation!
I asked a fellow worker if there might be a place for me on one of the collectives and he sadly shook his head. It broke his heart to tell me that people of my age and older are a drain on resources and will have to be gassed. This is way harsh if you ask me.
Will at least now everyone can openly strut their stuff as an Obamanite while touring Iran or Venezuela.
Question: How would I lend shares to someone who wished to short the stock?
I don't understand this naked short business. My impression is if I wished to short a stock the broker would execute the short if the shares were in his inventory. In actuality, the shares covering my short might have different serial numbers at day one and at the last day.
How does the party lending the stock to be shorted get paid?
This could start looking ugly if it wasn't for the $700 billion Paulson's hysteria killing money deal and the free Fed money to the banks. Maybe, this is the market pricing in our Obamanation future. The poor ole maverick cadaver RINO picked the wrong side at the wrong time. Let's save Sara for a rainy day. Hilary is probably licking her lips at the road kill.
I think Apple has a good 4th quarter to announce. My bet is their guidance for the 1rst quarter will make grown men cry.
It's more than just fear. The economy is tanking. One of the big container shipping companies was getting $2,500 per box from Asia to Europe last year. Now, they are selling the same space for $700. They have 24 new container ships on order that they have no idea what to do with.
It is true most stock prices are historically very attractive. However, it could be some time before the companies behind them turn into monstrous growth machines once again. On the way up, there is going to be lots of backing and filling.
4
Shave and a Haircut
Woke up this afternoon to a great slurping sound. My trusty iPhone was there to relay the news that the House finally caved in to mass hysteria and pork to pass a bill throwing good money after bad. What's $700 billion among friends? The world including the US dumps in an additional $2 trillion to prime the pump and guess what? We're still going to have a recession and inflation is on its way.
Oh well. After the raping and burning goes on for a while things usually settle down to pillaging (plundering is probably a better word). I bet there won't be any scandals associated with the handing out of $700 big ones!!!! Choke.
My last aapl play was selling 95 puts when the stock was $97. The puts never filled and I was left at the station watching one heck of a run. Damn if aapl hasn't come all the way back. Now I'm too afraid to make another play. Wait awhile until the itch subsides.
There are a number of stocks that make me drool and have come back in range. I just have to remind myself that this recession is setting up to be deep.
I think I'll buy myself an iMac for Christmas and be satisfied. And, for Gawd's sake Steve eat some steak; you can afford it.
...and another thing
Banning short selling is suppose to help stabilize the financial markets. Next up will be the banning of long positions in oil markets. Someone has got to Paulson and he's all jacked-up.
The Troubles
The Paulson plunder plan is so wrong. Wrong on moral, ethical, and financial grounds. Let's attack the current situation with mass and massive hysteria. It worked for Y2K, didn't it.
The $600 stimulation package (I wasn't allowed to participate) was suppose to cure everything and didn't. This plan of panic won't do any better.
The whole idea is to jack up and maintain home prices to artificial bubble levels for an orderly unwinding of nutsville. The Japanese tried to do the same thing with zero percent interest and produced stagnation for over a decade.
I hope Congress kicks this one to hell and back. I'm sitting 95% cash and am willing to provide a little liquidity to help out, let's say for about half the interest the credit card companies charge.
Someone please remind me once again the exact purpose of a board of directors. Is a board position a honorarium, a rubber stamp, or...what? Shouldn't some companies be allowed to die natural and horrible deaths?
Can't you just see the next president, whether it is Fly Boy or Che Carter II, strutting around D.C. with a big gun and no bullets!?
OT: Election
Both candidates in this economical crisis will come together and offer the same advise for the continuation of the American Dream. Marry a wealthy woman.
"Ballmer fired up at company meeting, tells employees why Microsoft wouldn't build an iPhone"
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/techtracks/2008/09/18/ballmer_fired_up_at_company_meeting_tells_employee.html
'Herb spends too much time on the water. It really has a way of detaching one from the realities of terrestrial life.'
Boy you have that right! Poor ole Herb sails again today for another month or two. Didn't mean to upset Annie, but don't worry everything is going to be alright. You can't get much more of a Democrat than John McCain.
For your amusement, this is a published letter to the editor of the local ultra-liberal local rag before the conventions and before Sarah snowmobiled to the rescue by yours truly.
'Thanks Barak
I have to give Barak a great big attaboy for taking Hillary down. It’s more than just the idea of her being president. She just has too much baggage, namely Bill. The idea of the taxpayers providing him with another public horse to ride is too much to bear. Besides, this time around he would surely insist on a fine high-spirited filly like his friend Elliot Spietzer likes to take for gallops. We can’t afford it.
Thanks Barak! Now say goodbye. Admittedly, your disdain for America doesn’t reach the depths of loathing exhibited by Jimmie Carter, the worst president in the history of our republic. But, your presidency will do our county and the world more harm than good. You may be able to talk our enemies into crippling and maiming rather than outright killing us but, how about none of the above. Change for the worse, indeed!
Democrats can vote for John McCain. He’s one of you; old, tired, and boring.
The only choice for mainstream Americans is Bob Barr. That, or maybe a one-term Obama bomb will be enough to bring on the next Ronald Reagan or maybe…S-H-E’s B-A-C-K!'
Interesting times...
I can't wait until someone looks me in the eye and sincerely advises to have my money 'professionally' managed.
What about all of these huge pension funds who not only claim due diligence but often have board representation? I suppose in the old days there were folks who let Ghengis khan enter the city gates to 'have a drink of water'.
OT: Third Party
I was with you KCMW. Made up my mind to vote Libertarian this year for the exact reasons you gave. But, then along came Sarah. I love that women. She is so hot! It is so nice to have a real woman running for national office.
Can someone quickly recommend a simple but secure password program? Should know better to keep passwords in the Address Book. Now that all the passwords sync with the iPhone and if I lose the same this is bordering on beyond stupid. Please help.
Am I missing something with ringtones for the iPhone. Yes, I can figure out how to make some with iTunes song snippets. But, is there a place to buy some straight up?
Went through three iPhone tide programs to get one which presented tides in graph form. Well...gee the first one shows a graph if you turn the iPhone sideways...who would have thought...red face!
I've gotten the capitol cost of my iPhone back in pure enjoyment and utility this first month. However, many of the applications sold in the App store are very immature. Some are little more than a pretty icon placeholder to buy time while the developer writes code and cranks out some usability.
I don't mind blindly throwing a dollar here and there to someone sincerely trying to develop a fun or useful item even though it's not exactly what I had in mind when first purchasing. The third tide program I bought was the one I wanted. Many of the apps are actively being updated. Great! I do resent the one time rips.
Reviews on the App store need to be in 'last in first up' order. That way you are reading reviews first of the latest product iteration. Some of the reviewers need a little screening. You can pick out the family of the developer reviews and also bashing is a sport reviews.
OT: Annie, I hope the Carlsbad cadets weren't of the uncouth sort to disturb your walks by whistling at you.
NetShare
I need it bad. Think it's gone again.
AT&T is missing in action in many areas of Washington and Oregon. I'm mapping 'hot spots' on the Oregon coast. So, far I've gotten a strong enough signal 17 miles off Coos Bay to make a call.
In southern Oregon (Brookings) I can get a fair data connection from 8-12 miles off shore. In places, it even hooks into 3G.
The iPhone is a real kick. I can see where I'll be dollar fiveing myself into the poor house buying bunches of these little apps.
iPhone Purchase
Monday I was in the iPhone line at 0930; University Store, Seattle. Everyone seemed to prefer the black but they sold them early. We got a chit guaranteeing a 16 gig white if exercised before 1800 hours.
About, 1000 the AT&T credit authorization server for the West coast went down. Only non-AT&T users were effected. I waited since this was the last chance to purchase for another month. Waiting out on the lawn, I had a chance to update all of the new software. At 1145, I was the guinea pig to see if the transaction would complete. Sailed through in 15 minutes.
This is one cool gadget. It did take some time figuring out how to do things. Apple could do a better job of printing out instructions. Things are working well, one day later.
OT Punitive Damages and hitting the LOTTO
The Exxon Valdez disaster turned into a gravy train. The fisherman of Prince William Sound had their best year ever working the cleanup. Most of them through Exxon's pittance had enough pocket change at the end of the summer to buy a new boat ($400-600k). Exxon tried really hard to do the right thing.
After skimming the obvious, much of the cleanup did more environmental damage than if nature was left to cure the organic mess. What purpose does steam cleaning rocks accomplish?
Accidents happen. The third mate ran aground on a reef in a passage ten miles wide. Captain Underwood fell on his sword even though he was off shift. Exxon showed generous good faith.
Punitive damages were set up to discourage out right fraud. I remember the triple damage case against General Electric and Westinghouse for price fixing. Someone found GE's and Westinghouse's sealed bid prices for a turbine contract written down on a scrape of paper in a phone booth before the bids were submitted. Note for Annie: Your old mayor Alioto was the winning lawyer.
Let's deal with disasters and get on with life. 43,000 people making claims in one parish for Katrina aid who never lived there isn't right.
Let's hear it for the Supremes! I'm going to take my new Springfield Compact .45 cal out and shoot up the first box of shells in their honor.
GPS
Hope it's a full GPS. I have a Garmin Bluetooth unit that is about iPhone size so the size factor shouldn't be an issue.
1? Will it output true coordinates in Latitude Longitude? A pretty little arrow on a Google map is fine but, if I'm out in the woods with a broken leg, it would be nice to tell rescue to come get me at say: 47degrees50.6 N by 125degress26.4 W.
2? Will it be able to provide a NEMA position sentence to a plotter program?
Most modern GPS take several minutes to acquire tracking initially. After the initialization, you can turn the power off and then start tracking almost immediately upon re-power-up unless you move a large distance in between time.
The 'assisted' portion or triangulation between cell towers will be a must in cities, indoors or where there isn't a fair view of the sky.
Note: You can buy a GPS array to provide true compass course instead of using a gyro-compass for your boating needs; $3-6k versus $16-30k.
I can't wait until we have Altivec on Intel.
OT: Roni
My niece and her husband spent their first anniversary on San Juan Island, they live there. I hope they will someday celebrate their 30th as you and yours.
Best wishes for many more years together.
GPS in iPhone
Cell phone makers blur the definition of GPS. True GPS is a receiver of satellite based time-position signals. It offers position accuracy in the range of a few meters.
Some cell phones are capable of triangulating between towers for a position fix. I have no idea the accuracy but, the idea is for 911 responders to get close. Often, this feature is called GPS (Global Positioning System). It really isn't. My old LG cell phone has GPS stamped on the back although there is no way I can extract my position, lat long, from it.
A true GPS phone would be the cat's meow in my humble opinion depending on capabilities. It should give you a position out in the middle of the ocean or mountains away from the service area. On the other hand, one wouldn't want a spouse to be able to verify your position if you were at the Notell Motel instead of working late at the office!
Dilleet
You were included in intercessory prayers at St. James yesterday.
Annie
I think most companies are wary of giving out too much information to prevent irate folks from taking justice in their own hands. After the legal department issues their policy, there is not too much room for common sense. Apple can be rather snooty.
This summer my laptop battery was coming apart; bulging but, still working. I had an hour in Seattle to get it replaced before becoming out of touch for three months. I walked into the Apple Store with the laptop and an Apple policy statement printed out from the internet. The Apple greeter or gatekeeper started with the routine of not being able to replace anything locally. "Here's the policy. Read it and then replace the battery.'' We can't do that. "Yes you can. Call Cupertino if you have to. I don't have time to fool around." You can talk to a genius but, you need to make an appointment . "I won't be back in Seattle for three months. I have the policy in hand. Work with me. I W A N T a new battery now before I leave this store. You figure it out." Well, you can wait and see if a genius can make time to talk with you.
So I walk over to the genius counter, whip out the laptop, and set it upside down on the counter with the bulging battery. I admit to getting a little loud. The third genius down intervened quickly when his buddy started giving me the run around. Seven minutes later, I had a replacement battery and was out the door. Yes, I did thank him profusely and told him how happy I was to sail with a safe battery that wouldn't burn my ship down. One has to wonder why things have to be so difficult.
When an AppleCare specialist hits the point where I know he doesn't know, I don't argue, I ask to be bounced immediately to the next level. There is no need to erase and reinstall an operating system to take care of a permissions problem, MORON!
New laptop
I don't understand your needs. You say 4-5 windows open at the same time! Are you talking about 4-5 windows in 4 or 5 open programs at the same time? That's fairly normal.
With my MacBook Pro, I generally have 4 windows open in the Safari Browser, a Newsreader updating live in the background, Mail open downloading e-mail, live stock feed going, Address Book open, Dictionary open, Time Machine taking live snapshots and backing up my internal drive to an external, and Parallels running Windows XP Pro in one window. Of course, the fan does come on when playing World of Warcraft in the foreground.
Remember, computing isn't suppose to be painful! Like the recent TV ad says, a MacBook Pro is the fastest laptop to run Vista or XP.
Brazil
In 1971 as a new hire for Westinghouse, I sat in beautiful conference room with 12 others downtown Pittsburgh and listened to the enlightened vision of a very enthused VP of strategic planning. 'Brazil is the next Japan! The stars aligned. Everything is in place. It WILL be an economic juggernaut. We must participate.'
Thirty five years latter it hasn't happened. The funny part is Westinghouse doesn't even exist now unless you count CBS.
The riches man in the world controls all communications in Mexico, wired, cell, whatever. This speaks to the Mexican government's dysfunction. No competition. One company holds the franchise for their product category for the whole country; for example, industrial gas is sold by one company only. In my humble opinion, Mexico should adopt our constitution and institutions exactly. There is no reason including racism why Mexico has to be continuously dysfunctional.
Boot Camp
While we're on the subject, since migrating to Leopard my Boot Camp partition is still there but, I would like to rename it. Is that now possible? How? A mounted partition named 'Untitled' just isn't right.
Jobs is number one...top paid executive in US last year.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070504/bs_afp/uscompanyexecutivepay
Must say, his is performance based. The $1 divided by what ever hours he worked surely isn't the top hourly rate!
Hopefully, I'll be coming back? God willing and the ship doesn't sink!
Why do you ask? Is there a party at your house?
'Anyone going away in May?'
Yes. I'm going away in May. ?????
Stock Options
I can't remember if Larry Ellison was on the board or not at the time. In my simplistic thinking, he started the creative compensation ball rolling with the Jet in the Christmas stocking.
Free markets need to start pulling back these outrages pay packages some of these yahoos seem to expect.