Myth465

the cash is gone but it shows management is actually seriously looking.

that's definitely good news and makes one want to buy shares.

Most interesting thing I have read all day. Never would have saw that coming.

Thanks awesome interview.

Im really hoping for a pull back in MCF, but been waiting for about 2 months. I see nat gas going down to $3.5 or so and want to buy MCF on the cheap when it does. I own just a small amount right now and really like Peaks. I love the end of the press release where he says at this moment consider it a small speculation. Very frank and honest. All his other unrelated vendors have worked out well overtime and delivered great capital gains.

SD thanks for the update. Very compelling.

These just keep coming - http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6293IC20100310

The risk is small, very small indeed. Toyota has still done a piss poor job of handling it though. My guess is this will hurt in the short to medium term due to their mismanagement / cover up of the ordeal. My point is this is not some sort of small deal thats insignificant. If you have a problem that can cause deaths be upfront about it and fix it. Risks are very small, but if you are in the drivers seat at the wrong time than odds dont matter much.

Do you guys still think this is no big deal - http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/company-news/runaway-prius-shows-toyota-hasnt-solved-acceleration-problem/19389319/ If so why not join me for a ride in my Prius.

Im waiting for the 10Q to see the breakouts between the other business segments. The quarter looks good and I agree with the sale of the REIT securities though.

Thanks for all the data guys. I did my research over the weekend and bought a slug on Monday and Wednesday. Now up about 10%. I see $2 - $5 on this one. It seems like everything went wrong in 2009 and everything thus far has been going right this year. Once we get a positive EBITDA it should really jump up and a merger / sale is just icing on the cake. Seems like a very simply story just a commodity play after the commodity has rebound, but before the earnings have appeared for the company.

Do you guys read these sorts of things vs watching them?

Berkshire in my opinion needs too much to move the needle. Great for a large investor but if you got $100,000 to $200,000 there are better bargains. FFH Options last year being one of them. Mines are up 200%. Some are trying to protect wealth, and others are trying to build it. Buying Berkshire in my opinion depends on what stage you are in. Now those Bermuda insurers under bookvalue look interesting.

What do you all think of Agency MBS. Do you all count them just as good as treasuries?

I think they should keep it public. Buy DO up to 80% for the DRD and IPO Highmount. They already own 90% of it and dont have much to gain on the other 10%. Having the pieces public makes Loews easier to value. They get no value currently for Highmount.

I feel like im missing all the actions. Im hoping the earnings release doesnt move it too much. Its been moving upward fairly regularly over the last 2 weeks. Feels like ATSG at $1.

Charlie Rose had a recent show on Toyota which should provide more color. http://www.charlierose.com/ Scroll through the last few weeks if you are interesting. It was a good overview of the situation. Toyota's reaction was the problem. Sure not too many people died but once they were made aware of the the problem they blamed the floormats and stuck their head in the sand. I guess a few deaths a year is acceptable to some guys. Perhaps im being dramatic. They had the exact opposite reaction as JNJ.

https://www.veracast.com/webcasts/bas/insurance2010/id10643850.cfm CNA is being rightsized. Should turn out to be an excellent investment over the long term.

I didnt watch the hearing but cant see it as over the top. Toyota put peoples lives at risk for profits. There really is no way to spin that. Google the police tape of the off duty cop in his car that wont slow down. He dies seconds after. Tell me if you were related to him that you wouldnt be slightly pissed off. Ford did the same years ago as well so the US makers arent much better. Call a spade a spade.

Very good episode. Been watching Maher for a decade now.

You are not alone. I would need a brakedown of the purchases and sales to know what the full story was. They may have bought lower then they issued or issued to purchase then bought after capital was dividended up. Either way a great year and my leaps are hoping 2010 is even better. Does anyone have any more color on the tax issues? I didnt see those when i glanced at the release.

Its a very good documentary.

Its definitely on the reading list. My problem with the changes are that as an accountant it works well and allows Management to execute their plans more effectively. It gives them wiggle room and if they plan on holding an investment till maturity it allows them to carry the asset at the proper value. As an investor its a horrible idea. The balance sheet, cash flow, and income statements are all tools which should be used to show value. Not tools to be crafted when time gets tough. I dont like Management having too much leway and really dont think GAAP should be manipulated when times get tough. Management can easily say GAAP values the assets at this. Held to maturity values the assets at this. We will let you decide the true value.

Most Austrians like Rothbard argue for no regulation. I have seldom come across one who refers to light regulation so pardon my ignorance. I dont see how any rational person can disagree with much that you have just wrote. I really like the Welfare / Warfare part, very catchy. It seems as though pragmatic thinking is on the decline. People are very polarized these days. Either total free market zero regulation, our current bankster / crony capitalism, or a broke and declining nanny state. I think all the major economic schools have great ideas / principles except for maybe the Friedman efficient market types. I borrow and reference all of them, though my favorite economist currently is Joseph Stiglitz. Where is simple practical regulation which is mainly designed to deal with externatilities and not much else (environment, systemic risk and not increasing home ownership or marriage). Where is telling the people that here are some things that must be provided and here is a base level of taxation. Everything else is fine, but you will have to pay for it. ---- Mark to business plan accounting is a great term. I am guessing its similar to mark to model. Now GAAP allows you to carry an asset on your books at what you basically think it will be worth. If you plan to hold something for the long term you no longer have to mark it to market if you meet certain terms. That change has basically saved the banks but has killed transparency.

$4.50 for nat gas is a big turn off for me. It seems high. Better then $6 and $7 that others sport.