ericd1

Interesting...I dumped the mail service and kept the streaming. We get the current stuff locally and I mean local. Video store is about 1/2 mile away. No question in my mind revenues are going down based on the program changes.

Most of the folks I talk with are just plain annoyed with the Washington political crap. I know I am. It was a topic of discussion this morning on Meet the Press. Independents are going to be a huge factor in the next election as voters leave both parties. Btw "entitlements" is a new word. It wasn't used when the programs started. It's pathetic that today many Americans believe they are "entitled" to anything from the government. It hasn't always been like that.

I devote 20-30 hours/week to investments. I'm semi-retired so I have a lot of time to spend on investments, which I also consider to be a lifelong hobby. I feel like I spend to much time reading what others have written versus doing my own research. That said, my limited research seems to produce decent returns. Yet I wonder if my returns would improve if i did more stock research, which is probably less than 10% of the time I spend. I feel rewarded for the time I've spent over the years.

Slant - I've been following a blogger that uses a couple of interesting momentum strategies. One is style timing of major asset classes. It's similar to the "ivy Portfolio". Another combines the portfolios of about a dozen value investors (public co/funds and hedge funds). Then lists the holdings by a momentum ranking which includes addl info like number of portfolios holding the stock. The premise of the strategy is to invest in the higher momentum positions. I've invested in a couple of the better performers with mixed results, but no losers! These aren't small/micro caps, more large/mid caps. I was doing well with CapitalSource (CSE), but it has slipped back a little. Valeant Pharma (VRX) has been very good. I'm going to continue using the strategy for idea generation

Interesting strategy Harry. Long-short in this market makes sense. Thanks for your aced persecutive or as they say "color". Lol

Matt, Various Chinese companies have been proven to be frauds over the past year. What you are seeing is the investor reaction to the mess. It is obviously very difficult to perform any due diligence, so investors have abandoned Chinese stocks. Outside of a few of the majors it would be wise to stay away. That said, for someone capable of competently researching and identifying the "real businesses" there could be enormous profits. But, for most of us Chinese small cap are in the "too hard" pile...What a bummer, with many trading at P/E's of 2.0x

Skype Averaging 300M Minutes Of Video Calling Per Month; Represents 50 Percent Of Traffic http://techcrunch.com/2011/07/06/skype-averaging-300-million-minutes-of-video-calling-per-month-represents-50-percent-of-traffic/ I would presume this also helps fill LVLT pipes!

Many thanks to all of our great friends living to the North of us!

Got it - Many thanks Misterstockwell!

How do you compute the cost basis for a spin-off? It's screwing up my numbers in Quicken... I own Marathon Oil Corp (MRO) and they recently spun off their refining and distribution business into a new co., Marathon Petroleum Corp (MPC). I received one share of MPC for every 2 shares of MRO. Is the cost basis adjusted to 2/3's MRO and 1/3 MPC, or something else?

Packer Pls see my comments at

I picked up some closed end muni fund shares after Whitney spouted off late last year. I selected the Pimco and Blackrock offerings because I thought they were experienced mgrs. Obviously not the best selection criteria. I also scanned the portfolios to see if they held any obvious problems like iL and I didn't see anything that changed my mine. I used a basket approach because of my lack of specific knowledge in munis, but felt it was a decent opportunity. I thin you would have to be an expert in these or else be widely diversified.

I thought I'd give the site a try on my old, tired, slow bb. Works like a charm. One of the fastest sites I've tried to use on the bb. Interesting! Posted via bb

Thanks I am enjoying it! It doesn't get much better than this! I noticed the article said his funds were 30% cash and 38% in energy because he believes the world's supply of oil is declining. Obviously confirmation bias, but I agree with him on 'peak oil'.

DC, I just read this article in the current Fortune issue (I'm getting caught up with my reading while at the beach) and was going to check and see if it was online, but I don't need to! Thanks...I thought it was great article!

DC, Thanks for posting - Interesting, but it will take me awhile to absorb it.. :)

While I realize this is a DELL discussion, the IBM comparison is music to my ears...IBM intends to push earnings to $20.00/shr in four+ years and I'm onboard...IMO IBM is one of (if not) the best undervalued LC tech...

Operative word "was" +10% earlier this year...now 2-3% -- Not concerned about positions -- Would like to have more cash now, but would only be buying more of what I own...may add more GE leaps!

Interesting list Harry. I'm with you (maybe) on htwr. I couldn't find shrs to short, so used jun 80 put which should be profitable. I follow several others and not sure I share your view on ng, phi and the large techs. Thanks for sharing

It's kinda sci-fi thinking, but if we can produce oil from algae who knows what else we may be able to produce from altering the DNA of other plants and animals. We've been successfully altering corp seeds since the 1990's... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food

I heartily agree that MSFT isn't a value trap. As a medium to heavy duty windows pc user I can say for a fact that a tablet (have an iPad) or phone isn't going to replace my pc. I also doubt windows or office will be replaced anytime soon in the corporate market, which spills over into many homes. I use my iPad for some reading and surfing, but it's not at all suitable for my pc needs. Perhaps the younger generation of business tycoons will figure out how to manage on a tablet, but I don't think so!

I'm almost finished with "There's Always Something to Do" -- Good read with interesting examples. My take-a-way so far is that Cundill was very well connected. Almost akin to being connected to this board!

Increased security would be welcomed...I recently had my debit card compromised. Have no idea how someone got it, but they also hit my daughter's debit card. Neither of us use it online. I'm thinking the institution got hit somehow... I've not understood why credit card companies don't ask for a PIN or something besides the three numbers on the back of the card. For my signature I write "please ask for photo ID" -- hoping it will at least slow someone down if I lose my card, but it doesn't do anything for online transactions. The industry must be losing billions to fraud!

Sounds like they also may have a way to significantly reduce fraud. I presume the online photo is verified during enrollment and it would be viewed during a transaction. The device could replace my debit card, which I use a lot around town...but not online. I don't know enough about the cell phone transactions that are coming - They may be ok, but what if you lose you phone, etc...

FDA = US Food and Drug Administration They approve single service food containers, utensils, packaging, etc.