For Sale: Heaven and Hell !!!

Yes folks! Yours today! Get em' while they last!

Just in time for the Holidays!

Your Chance, or that of an acquaintance, for a spot in Heaven or Hell!

Reserve today!















Reserve a Spot in Heaven


And while you are at it....

Don't miss out on your chance to send that someone special to the eternal hot seat!!!

Or, perhaps you, yourself, already know your fate and are willing to accept it and actually look forward to sweating it out and drinking shots with all your fellow drug addicts and strippers.













Reserve a Spot in Hell

This has got to be one of the best, silliest and unique new business sites I have seen in quite a while.

Alas, I am not imaginative, nor quite brave enough to venture into this realm of online sales.

But bravo to those who did and boldly went where we have not.

Yet.

PS. I found this from the MSN article "America's Best Home Business Ideas"

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It's about time

And paying attention.

This month was horrible for stocks. Specifically mine.
I must admit, that I was worried about the market having gone up nearly 60% amid a recession. But according to the Federal Government the recession is over.















Don't all you unemployed folks stand up and cheer at the same time.

Fact is, everything was due for a correction. A cooling off of sorts. And all it took was fear that the recovery was not sustainable, fear that everything is not going back to normal, (see unemployment figures) and that the upcoming retail season will be less than enthusiastic.

In fact, many analysts, were predicting a jobless recovery out of this recession and it looks as though they are right.

Also, not all the mortgage and financial problems that got us into this mess are completely over yet either. I mentioned this earlier this year and also saw this article recently which seemed to highlight my thoughts and this trend.

So what about all this stimulus and bailout money that either saved or created hundreds upon thousands of jobs and saved the auto and finance industries?

Well, the cash for clunkers was very temporary and if our recent experience shopping for newused cars is any indication, the auto industry still has a long way to go. In short, the dealers are desperate to make a sale. What usually takes weeks of me gong back and forth with dealerships negotiating, took only a matter of days to close the deal.

The bailout money to banks and finance institutions kept them from going under and probably saved us from going immediately into a depression. But as we saw in the previous article, there is still a lot of bad dept out there both on the residential side as well as on the commercial side.

And as for the saved jobs, many could be temporary if funding and the economy does not get better.

So, is all doom and gloom? Is it scary?

Hopefully the answers are no and maybe...

Here are the results for October.

















My Starting lineup lost over 10% and my Bench lost more than 6%.
And what is truly amazing is that many of the stocks were up quite a bit half way through the month.

Case in point, CTFO which ended down 22%, was at one point up nearly 30% !
A 50%+ swing in less than one month !!!

Amazing!

So should we all bail out of the stock market and run for the cover of Bank CD's and Bonds?

If you do not like volatility, yes.

If you don't mind it, and are willing to pay attention, you just might be able to profit from the volatility.

Actually, I am in a way glad to see everything come down. At the beginning of last month, I was looking at the stocks in my watch lists and the market overall and saw A LOT of peeking chart patterns and stocks hitting 52 week highs. I figured it was time for a correction and this makes stock picking more difficult.

Guess I did not pay enough attention and heed my own advice...

This falls into my "I hate it when I'm right" category.

So, where does this leave us, and me, for stocks in November?

Well, here is my November Watch list(s).






















For this month, I looked for stocks which past my screens and were either positioned for a recovery, near support levels, and or well run and well diversified to take advantage of areas of a strengthening economy even though not all parts seem to be recovering at the same pace.

Starting lineup:

UEPS Net 1 Ueps Technologies Inc
This is one that was on earlier watch lists and has a good business model which works well in any financial condition. It has recently dropped from recent highs, nearing a support range and is once again worth watching.

GME GameStop Corp
Another one from earlier this year. Even though Retail is expected to be down, this stock was hit by recent sell off and is well positioned to capitalize on the holiday / and post holiday season.

CNU Continucare Corp
Approaching critical support level - watch to see if it holds or looses support.

NTES Netease.com Inc
Time to buy back in. Recently seems to have bounced off of a good support low. They report earnings on the 18th.

IAX International Absorbents Inc
Pets supplies and bedding - Has maintained good results even in recession -recent good qrtly report. One thing I have learned over the years, people love their pets and they often spend the money to make them comfortable and healthy.

FCFS First Cash Financial Services Inc
Financially strong company with a recently good earnings report. It is currently in a dip hitting support levels.

GHM Graham Corp
Good well run company up over 30% for year - good pipeline - reports and recently pulled back to a more attractive potential buy in level.

ENSG Ensign Group Inc
Good play on aging population and seems to have weathered the recession better than some of its competition. Company reports earnings Tuesday.

OFI Overhill Farms Inc
Recent 52 week highs with an even more recent 10- 12 % pull back nearing support levels. Deserves a watch.

BKE Buckle Inc
Recent pull back to support levels with earnings release set for the 19th. Worth a watch even with uncertainty in retail sector.

BENCH:

HOGS Zhongpin Inc
Do not like pattern - could be head and shoulders pattern. But I love the name. ;-)
Seriously, a bit of a risky play but there is always a chance it will maintain support levels but deserves caution.

BBND BigBand Networks Inc
Risky but in a good sector for growth. This company just might be potentially good take over position wait until after earnings report on the 9th.

SYNT Syntel Inc
Recently fell past support at 38 next level at 30. May still fall more. But if it holds, look for a good rebound.

CFSG China Fire & Security Group Inc
A good china play that requires attention to timing.

NVO Novo-Nordisk A/S ADR
Hit Support Level and is a good play on the risky Pharma sector.

GRMN Garmin Ltd
I am not convinced that, even hitting support, this company will please analysts enough over the holidays for a stock price recovery. But, I've been wrong before and the screens seem to think it is a possible candidate for upward movement. But they've been wrong before too...

CHNG China Natural Gas Inc
Leveling off after slight pull back and reports on the 9th.

CTFO China TransInfo Technology Corp
This is the big swing stock I mentioned earlier. So, why do I keep it on a watch list? Well, Support levels were at 9 , 8 , 7, 6 (with 6 being the critical one. Peak / Drop (Triangle) pattern has been exaggerated by recent scare. May be ready for a bounce and or recovery. But be careful. It could still go lower to the critical 6 support level.

POWL Powell Industries Inc
Good sound company bouncing off of 52 week highs. Look to buy on bigger dips in price.

ISSC Innovative Solutions and Support Inc
Has been recently awarded contracts and appears to be on the move. Though I am not seeing clear buy signs at the moment (pattern wise) so I have it here on my bench watch list.

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The Future is Now !!!

Pardon me while I bang my head!

Dan Snyder owns the Washington Redskins.
BANG
He is younger than me...
BANG
He owns a NFL Franchise worth over 1 Billion Dollars.
BANG
The last owner lived into his 80's and owned the Redskins for 30 years.
DOUBLE BANG Ouch!

I don't have a Billion Dollars, and Danny Boy is probably going to live a LONG LONG time.

I know how long 30 - 40 years is.

Just how long is a Billion?

About a billion minutes ago, the Roman Empire was in full swing. (One billion minutes is about 1,900 years.)

About a billion hours ago, we were living in the Stone Age. (One billion hours is about 114,000 years.)

About a billion months ago, dinosaurs walked the earth. (One billion months is about 82 million years.)

My head is beginning to hurt again...

When is Washington ever going to get relief from this ownership?

RELIEF?

Did I say Relief?

Hey, I seem to remember something about economic relief...

Now I know where to get a Billion plus dollars!

We need another Bail-Out !!!

A Redskin Bail-Out!

After all, it is just a drop in the bucket for the Feds.

Don't believe me?

Check this out...

Here is the Socialist plan...


























There is also a great capitalistic opportunity! Think of the marketing ploys, commercial possibilities and such from the corporate free enterprise market too!


























I sense a grass roots campaign starting...

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The Grant Effect

These are Wednesdays 1 day gains!!!

















First we had the Swine Flu hype.

Now we have the jump starting of the green auto industry and creation of new jobs hype.

You know the very same things that the big 3 in the auto industry failed to do themselves; now the federal government is doing it for them to the tune of 2.4 Billion Dollars.

In an article in the Wall Street Journal...

The Obama administration awarded $2.4 billion in grants to developers of next-generation car batteries and parts, a move designed to give a lift to the Big Three automakers and position the companies to lead the way in the development of a domestic electric-vehicle industry.

Some are saying that decisions were based, perhaps, on electoral maps, Political ties, and even preferential treatment. Me, I think it is a little bit of everything.

But I am not here to talk much on politics...

What I can tell you is that the stocks of the publicly traded companies included in this plan, saw a really good boost today.

So, I am creating, like I did earlier this year for the swine flu, an Energy Grant watch list.

Maybe I will pick one if I think this is the beginning of a green wave.

As you know, I just love it when hype plays into the stock market.

You can see the Complete list of all companies, public and private, and universities here.

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Idle Ramblings...

OK, so I was bored and idly surfing digg.com random selections.
I actually kind of like Digg.com for researching new, up and coming stories, and filtering content on my particular interests.

Well, this is what my idle random clicks came up with for this week.

A creative beggar...

















Economic truth and consequences...
















Elvis Grbac: Not as sexy as initially indicated...From Jeff Pearlman












One of my favorite all-time stories is about Elvis Grbac (left), Rich Gannon (right) and People Magazine’s Sexiest Men issue from 1998. It is both outlandish and 100-percent true.

Back in the day I knew many People staffers, and they were all cool, fun, intelligent—and woefully ignorant about sports. Every year, in planning the Sexiest Men issue, People’s editors would ask a bunch of us at Sports Illustrated for suggestions and insight. In 1998, for a reason I’ll never understand, they decided not to seek out help.

The magazine chose Rich Gannon as its Sexiest Athlete. At the time, Gannon was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. Still a couple of seasons removed from his golden tenure with the Raiders, Gannon was 33, handsome and likable. In other words, a solid choice. Yet People, being People, simply informed the photographer assigned to the piece that the Sexiest Athlete was the Chiefs’ quarterback. Hence, he took pictures of the Chiefs’ quarterback. Well, one of the Chiefs’ quarterbacks: Elvis Grbac.

Yup.

The pictures made their way back to the New York offices, and editors were dumbfounded. This was their Sexiest Athlete? Yet upon learning the truth, no one with the magazine had the heart (guts?) to tell Grbac that an unfathomable mistake had been made. As a result, Elvis Grbac reigns as People’s 1998 Sexiest Athlete.

The article’s final line says it all: “His personality makes him sexy.”

Amen.

And a title that is funny, even if the article is not...

Texting Teen Falls Down Manhole















An interesting but, in my opinion, somewhat useless, ad campaign...

86-RedSox-Victoria-Secret






















Roller Skating taken to new heights...




Is this Mr. Stick or a member from a distant branch of the family...






And one I found a couple weeks ago all by myself... (sort of)...

So, You think it is easy to just stand up there and give a weather report...
A couple of inept Penguins prove otherwise...

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Another way to provide relief to the american people...

From my friends at Mint.com

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A Recovery?

Lets look at the evidence..and expectations!

Wall Street:
- DOW up nearly 20% since recent lows but still down 5% for the year.
- NASDAQ up 13% for the year.

Many recent company reports have been bad but not as bad as feared or expected.

Unemployment Rate:
- 9.6% and still rising.

Most recent report was significantly higher than expected.

Home Sales and Construction:
-As of May, sales of existing homes nationwide were up two straight months while pending home sales were up four months in a row.
- Inventory of homes is still close to highs of 11 months.
- Nationwide, home prices dropped by 16.8 percent in May as foreclosures continued to home values down.
- Construction spending saw a bigger-than-expected drop in May, down 0.9 percent according the Commerce Department report released this month.
Overall, the sector has only seen one positive period in the last eight months.
- The International Council of Shopping Centers said 6,913 retail stores -- of all types -- announced closures last year (2008), compared with 4,603 in 2007… And the numbers continue to grow…

Consumer Confidence:
- One report, the University of Michigan’s confidence index, reached its highest level since February 2008.
- The Conference Board confidence index, meanwhile, dropped during the same period.
- While consumer spending rose in May, the national savings rate also hit a 15-year high during the same period, according to the Commerce Department.

The mixed results likely reflect a more positive yet cautious outlook among consumers.

Stimulus vs. Inflation vs Interest Rates:
- Stimulus packages have given the appearance of stabilizing the financial sector.
- All this extra money has yet to increase inflation or interest rates, yet.

So, What is my take on all this?


Expectations have been set:
- The administration has set the expectation that the economy will get better but some things may get worse before we are out of the woods. Basically they have set the bar low so that they can generate positive expectations and HOPE.

To quote Martha Stewart... "this is a good thing"

The Stock Market:
- The financial sector is, at least temporarily, stabilized.
- Hopefully business reports, although down, will continue to be "not as bad" as expected.
- Companies are continuing to shrink both in number of offices, stores but also in employees.
- This helps boost returns by cutting costs and getting rid of negative revenue.
- Overall, the stock market likes this - believe it or not.

So, overall for the short term, I see stocks continuing to rise.

... "this is a good thing"

But expect things to be volatile!

As we all have seen; any negative news; such as a worse than expected unemployment rate, will drive the overall market down.

But there is opportunity to make money based on this volatility.

... "this is a good thing"

However...

For the Long Term:

- Inflation will be critical!
- Interest rates will be critical!
- Basic Supply and Demand principles will be crucial!

Until the unemployment rate at least levels off and more importantly goes back down, true recovery will not occur.

People need jobs to generate income.
Income is needed to spend money on buying things.
Things from: Houses, to groceries, to discretionary items.
The more people spend vs save the more stores will increase sales and distribution.
Until that happens, storefronts will not recover.
Until storefronts recover, construction will not increase.
Until home prices stop falling, it will not matter how good rates will be because people will not have the money to spend on home purchases.
Until construction (demand) increases, jobs will not increase.

So, here is to hope and expectations for continued progress in getting out of these troubled times.
It will not be easy,
It will not be over a short period of time,
nor will it be, as some people (generations) seem to have recently developed expectations, "entitled" to get better or go back up,
But rather, we will all have to work for it!

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S.F.R.P

Swine Flu Recovery Plan

Breaking News!

In an effort to promote the recovery of the World Economy, the Federal Government with cooperation from the BIG 8 and the United Nations, have endorsed the Swine Flu Pandemic!

What better way to stimulate the economy than produce demand for a particular set of products!

And of course the media is more than willing to spin this story because it increases viewer populations, which opens up more marketing demographics, which increases revenue and promotes consumer spending!

Think, vaccines, medical tests, deliver companies, cleaning products, grocery and pharmacy stores!

And this goes way beyond the run up of stocks we have seen lately in medical and pharmaceutical companies!

Major corporations are now planning pandemic preparedness programs. These enable telecommuting, which adds to communication vendor revenue; and of course you need all the IT equipment to go along with it, so this adds to IT vendor revenue!

All without spending significant tax payers dollars!

So, what other stimulus packages can we expect in the near future?

New Real Estate Markets and Investment opportunities! Global warming!
Higher temperatures and harmful radiation.

This also stimulates rising ocean levels. Yes we will loose valuable current ocean front but think of the possibilities!

New ocean front opportunities!
New Vacation spots!
New high rise buildings!....

This is huge!

Yes, devastating, yet strangely stimulating all at the same time!

Makes one wonder what is next....?

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Done Working...

For Uncle Sam that is...

Today is tax freedom day!

Today is Tax Freedom Day, the day Americans have earned enough, on average, to pay all of their federal, state and local obligations for the year. But when you're really free depends on where you live.

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Ba-Da-Boom

Ok, It was bound to happen sooner or later; My first attempt at a slightly humoristic, slightly satirical, and slightly sarcastic commentary on the current news.

This weekend the US congress fought over the resolution of Obama’s version of a stimulus and fail-out, oops I mean bail-out, package. They finally came to terms cutting approximately 20% of the package.
Here is a list of cuts; and my take on each…. Ba-da-boom !

Partially cut:
• $3.5 billion for energy-efficient federal buildings (original bill $7 billion)
> We all know the government is never efficient.

• $75 million from Smithsonian (original bill $150 million)
> Come on, the Smithsonian is FREE!!!
> That means it is one of the best economic
> bang for the buck attractions around; even in a recession…

• $200 million from Environmental Protection Agency Superfund (original bill $800 million)
> Well, if we are not going to make the government more efficient
> and save energy, why do we need to protect the resources?

• $100 million from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (original bill $427 million)
> NOAA? But I love all those great and colorful radar pictures,
> satellite views, and long range forecasts. Not to mention
> advanced warnings on hurricanes and other natural disasters!!!

• $100 million from law enforcement wireless (original bill $200 million)
> 50% cut? Either this is the republicans attempt to make them
> more efficient or congress does not have a clue.
> Might as well have cut it all if you really don’t
> want first responders to communicate.

• $300 million from federal fleet of hybrid vehicles (original bill $600 million)
> Makes sense, see (EPA and Federal Building Cuts)…
> Who cares about setting a good example…

• $100 million from FBI construction (original bill $400 million)
> Well, if you are cutting wireless so they can’t “roam”
> where are all these people going to sit?

Fully eliminated

• $55 million for historic preservation
> Goes along with not protecting stuff…

• $122 million for Coast Guard polar icebreaker/cutters
> Since we are not cutting emissions,
> it’s all going to melt anyway…

• $100 million for Farm Service Agency modernization
> Gotta keep those migrant workers employed…
> Oooooo Sorry – not PC.

• $50 million for Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service
> Sounds like something to do with education…

• $65 million for watershed rehabilitation
> If we are not going to preserve stuff, and conserve stuff,
> then why bother with rehab?

• $100 million for distance learning
> More education cuts,
> oh and no wireless to support distance learning either…

• $98 million for school nutrition
> So, not only do we not educate better,
> We stop feeding them too?
> Looks like the kids will be packing more lunches…

• $50 million for aquaculture
> What is aquaculture?

• $2 billion for broadband
> No FIOS either?
> And the weather channel just went HD too… :-(
> Hmmmm, What about IPTV, Streaming Movies
> and other large AV content delivery businesses.

• $100 million for National Institute of Standards and Technology
> NIST –
> there’s a pun about government having standards in here somewhere…

• $50 million for detention trustee
> Is this school or federal?

• $25 million for Marshalls Construction
> What is Marshall Constructing?

• $300 million for federal prisons
> Must have meant federal detention…

• $300 million for BYRNE Formula grant program
> Byrne? Gotta look this one up?

• $140 million for BYRNE Competitive grant program
> Baby Burn…

• $10 million state and local law enforcement
> Again with the first responders… Sheeesh.

• $50 million for NASA
> This probably means one less astronaut….

• $50 million for aeronautics
> Isn’t our fleet of planes getting old?
> in need of repair and or replacement?
> I thought building infrastructure was for Planes, Trains, and Automobiles…
> Guess it’s just going to be Trains and Automobiles, oh wait…
> Auto companies are going down the tubes..
> Just Trains I guess.

• $50 million for exploration
> Exploration of what?
> Who needs to explore when we just cut NASA, NOAA,
> Communications, Education and broadband delivery
> for all the information we aren’t going to find out about…

• $50 million for Cross Agency Support
> No wireless,
> No buildings for agency workers,
> OK already, we get the point

• $200 million for National Science Foundation
> Exactly what do they do?

• $100 million for science
> Again with the science.
> Doesn’t matter,
> We will not be going anywhere and exploring either.

• $1 billion for Energy Loan Guarantees
> So more people will not be able to afford heat… Great!

• $4.5 billion for General Services Administration
> Probably a drop in the bucket for them…

• $89 million General Services Administration operations
> If you cut operations, you need less administrators…
> (this almost makes sense!)

• $50 million from Department of Homeland Security
> Again with the security and first responders…
> and cross agency communication.
> Hope no radical groups are looking at this list.

• $200 million Transportation Security Administration
> Well, we already cut the planes and autos,
> so all they need to watch are the trains…

• $122 million for Coast Guard Cutters, modifies use
> With more water, aren’t they going to need more boats?

• $25 million for Fish and Wildlife
> Guess in their minds,
> more water = more room for more fish and more wildlife…

• $55 million for historic preservation
> Wasn’t this the first thing cut?

• $20 million for working capital fund
> Wouldn’t working capital help the economy?

• $165 million for Forest Service capital improvement
> We already covered resource management…

• $90 million for State and Private Wildlife Fire Management
> Ditto…

• $1 billion for Head Start/Early Start
> Queue the music…
> “We don’t need no education…”

• $5.8 billion for Health Prevention Activity
> They probably thought this meant preventing health…
> which would not be a good thing….

• $2 billion for Health Information Technology Grants
> There goes Obama’s electronic medical records project

• $600 million for Title I (No Child Left Behind)
> Sure, building for the future does not mean education…

• $16 billion for school construction
> Unbelievable….

• $3.5 billion for higher education construction
> No worries,
> less of them are going to be smart enough to get into college
> So, you can cut the college loan programs too…

• $1.25 billion for project based rental
> Does this have something to do with the housing?

• $2.25 billion for Neighborhood Stabilization
> No education,
> no first responders communicating,
> no housing…
> no worries about stable neighborhoods?

• $1.2 billion for retrofitting Project 8 housing
> Come on people…. !!!

• $40 billion for state fiscal stabilization (includes $7.5 billion of state incentive grants)
> We bail out bad banks and executives
> but not states being affected by a bad economy?

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