weekender

Its been so long that i dont recall when it happened but you can NOT hunt waterfowl with lead for this reason. It took years for the industry to come up with a metal that hunted as well as lead but they are there now. My opinion, of course. i assume they could do the same with bullets and solve the problem. it will cost more for sure but if you really enjoy the sport and are realistic about the actual cosst, its not so bad. Once i factor in all my clothes, boats, guns etc...the extra cost of shells is pretty minimal. not to mention all the man hours wasted getting ready and actually hunting rather than doing chores around the house. my wife is quick to point out that cost. hah "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

Not sure % is the right way to treat Apple. Their stock and cash holdings skyrocketed in the past 4 years due to very successful new product lines (chiefly iphone, ipad). Their cash passed 100B, far larger than a significant portion of the F500 companies' entire capitalization. They have used it to their advantage - buying up the entire future supply of key technologies that they use in product launches. of course, that only works when you deliver a success. your point might be valid, i dont know, i dont follow Apple nor am i an analyst. But, their % of cash has remained basically the same, the case for hoarding isnt fair. i was pointing that out because Shah mentioned they were hoarding cash. I disagree. i get his point, he wants them to pay more in taxes. i wont argue for or against that. I dont know what they should pay. I was teasing him for just naming big companies to prove a point. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

I quickly checked their numbers on Bloomberg and am curious your thoughts. GE and Apple have the same amount of cash and equiv as they did going back to the crisis, % wise. so they arent exactly hoarding, they are operating their balance sheets as per normal for them. I am completely lost on your Telephone comment. they have a 205bill market cap and only 2bill in cash. thats .009% and again the same going back to 08. did you just name big companies you could think of? I know you have an MBA and the internet so IMO you could have found better companies to prove you theory of evil hoarding mega corps destroying our society. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

they are very simple minded. to them every answer is a simple right or wrong. or in this case its all right or left. they cannot wrap their mind around anything more complex. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

>Truly, it never stops to amaze me how gullible Americans can be..... it could have easily implied that only some Americans in your opinion are gullible by using the word, "some". you did not and it could easily be read to include all. thanks for clearing it up. as a rule of thumb when i mean to insult people i try to make it as specific as possible. "Americans" is very very broad. Some Mexicans might have found offense, i say smiling. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

very classy, insulting 325mill people because you do not like the comment of one person. i could say its a typical arrogant European thing to say but then i would be stooping to your level. I find it quite refreshing that someone from outside the USA is capable of figuring out how gullible Americans are. Funny how you don't see that reality, but instead get all huffy and insulted when the truth is exposed. That likely would put you in the "gullible" right wing conservative group. Those kind believe everything they read or see, no matter how factually incorrect the source is. Faux news is the only "news" organization that has gone to court to make sure that they can force employees to knowingly broadcast information that the broadcasters know to be untrue. Being insulted because someone accurately reported the truth is a sure sign of right wing conservative "thought" processes. because i think someone lumps me in with gullible people i must be a right wing conservative? you have very poor reading skills or are just so full of hate you cannot see straight to read. i would venture that a reasonably intelligent person would assume i was offended because i DO support his belief system and do not like being lumped in with the gullible people he implied we all are. you read it exactly the opposite way. so as you say, that would likely put you in the stupid and cannot read group. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

very classy, insulting 325mill people because you do not like the comment of one person. i could say its a typical arrogant European thing to say but then i would be stooping to your level. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

Weighing the pros & cons, I say that on balance it's worth it. First, it gives joy to kids; and in my book, that's always worth it. Second, between the candy and the associated Halloween industry, it pumps a whole lot into the economy - money, some jobs, etc. Maybe I'm being simplistic, but that works for me. Money spent on elections goes straight to the pockets of hard working citizens too. Ad money is good for local radio and TV stations. Local printers are paid for mailings, posters and signs. Transportation companies benefit from the travel as do the hotels and restaurants. etc....its a big stimulus package. I know i sound like a wise ass but i have a serious point. I dont feel we spend all that much on the election when you compare it to other things. Halloween is a good example. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

its the quantity that has me flustered. Me, too. Think of all the food and medicine that could be paid for with just 1/3 of all the money spent on political campaigns. I fully believe that the return-back to society from all that spending of campaign money is close to nil. The waste of it all makes me angry. Think of all the Halloween candy we could buy. After all, its all about the children isnt it? We spend nearly 7bill on Halloween. I dont think the amount we spend electing the leader of the free world is all that much. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

Thats me for sure. I remember being told to have them super tight so you did not get anything important slipping under them. I suppose it made me paranoid because i keep mine much tighter than my friends. ive always assumed they did not take the importance of it being tight as serious as me. your comment makes me think maybe i am being overly cautious. Why does it not have to be as tight as in the military? i assume it has to do with either the rigging is different, i dont remember it was 20yrs ago. Or the Sgt's just over emphasized the importance so we listened. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

Oh, sorry. Let me try again. If you go to a post office, or a FedEx Office, or a UPS Store (or the many other retail shipping locations out there), a HUMAN working behind the counter will look at your package and its destination, put it on a scale, and tell you how much it will cost to ship it using a variety of shipping methodologies. Better? Although 1. Any place not owned by the shipping company (FedEx / Kinko's is OK; Mail Boxes, Etc. is not) will charge a (sometimes substantial) markup for that. 2. Each country has its own paperwork requirements. You'll have an easier time making duplicate invoices or whatever if you look that up at home. Mail boxes etc is owned by UPS now. they are called the UPS Store mostly. the few that are not, will be by year end or so. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

>If you wish to affirm an ethnic, racial or religious identity through school, you will have to go elsewhere. We will end all ethnicity-, race- and non-American nationality-based celebrations. They undermine the motto of America, one of its three central values -- e pluribus unum, "from many, one." And this school will be guided by America's values. this one has always been strange to me. Why is it so important to make people feel pride in their original heritage? that should be a personal choice and celebrated by family and friends. My father is a veteran of WWII as is his brother. I am a veteran myself and so is my big sister. I'm also a third generation firefighter. I was raised believing service to your community is an essential part of being a good citizen. I feel my family has proven its loyalty to this nation. On the other hand, you will never get me to drop my "Italian American" moniker. I strongly identify with my Italian heritage, visiting my cousins almost every year in Rome since my birth. It is how i identify myself. With all that said, i could not imagine, nor could i ever picture my late father, wishing the school celebrated my Italian heritage. to me that is a personal thing. Its not the States job to help me feel good about my families bloodline. It makes no sense to me "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

on this specific trade, they are losing money, technically. But if you believe all your other options are to lose more money then no. When you are a large institution with billions and billions your options are very limited. in the equity world, its why funds tend to perform very well till they hit a billion. at that point its very hard to buy enough stocks you like without moving them above a price you like. now imagine if your a PM for an entire nation or giant oil concern. your problems are even bigger. you need something thats mega liquid and US debt is perfect for that. losing a bit is a better option than losing a tad more than a bit. expecially, when your dealing in the numbers they deal in. Think bigger "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

So what's the point of buying 10 year T bonds? And why offer them if it's a bad deal? you are thinking way to small. there is not a very good argument for YOU to buy them. What if you had millions and billions in oil profits, for example? then what? you need to put it somewhere safe over a period of time. would you buy Euro bonds? would you buy developing nation debt? there isnt enough stock ideas in the world to cover this amount of money. fixed income transactions are so giant its hard for equity people to grasp. nearly impossible for lay people. you need to think bigger and who the buyers are. they are huge institutions, like entire nations. not you and i looking to save for retirement. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

trying to explain the greenshoe option to people in the business is confusing. trying to get non professionals to understand it is nearly impossible. this reporter failed. The company is aware of the greenshoe because its discussed and agreed on before the IPO. Investors who buy the stock are told of the optinon in the prospectus. also, its common knowledge to anyone who cares to actually do research on the markets. if you arent aware its your on fault and you should not buy IPO's which are defined as higher risk investments anyway. all banks have market makers that can short stock. their purpose is soley to provide liquidity. they are like cashiers at the grocery store. if someone recommends you buy a can of peas and dont like them do you get mad at the cashier or the person who recommended it? the traders(market makers) sole purpose is to provide you the stock YOU decided to buy. if he doesnt have it, he can short it to you and buy it later. it is how every financial market works everywhere in the world. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

Courage is standing up for your beliefs, even if it costs you a default loss. True courage would be refusing to join and participate in an orginization you believe is in conflict with your beliefs. But then again it's the Catholic church were talking about. You have a case of misdirected animosity. They are not part of the RC Church. From the article, "Our Lady of Sorrows is run by the U.S. branch of the Society of Saint Pius X. The group represents conservative, traditional priests who broke from the Catholic Church in the 1980s." "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

what's the relation between last year's compensation and this immediate result? What's the breakdown on salary versus options? The stock took a dive today and will be reflected in his compensation this year if it holds. Weekender, I don't see how one is only good for their last trade...no CEO of a major financial would survive in such a world. The bigger picture remains that when the world went to shit, JD's company feasted on the dead, getting many carcasses for pennies on the dollar with federal backing to boot. Are you being clouded by a personal dislike for the person? Anyone happier to be an investor in Citi or BofA? I suppose i was a bit aggressive demanding he step down. It might have been a bit personal, yes. I know that mgt signed off on this trade but they will keep their jobs while the traders will get the boot, most likely. That pissed me off. I am human and at times can over react out of emotion. I'm feeling better after the nice weekend. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

you are assuming that "bet" only means to gamble. as in a game of chance. it does not. look up the definition. I'm not defending this trader at all. But i am defending traders in general. they make decisions based on many factors. if they make money they get a portion. if they repeatedly lose money they get the boot. if it was just about chance then YOU could do it. i say that with a smile. i lose money a couple of months every year. i suck it up, tell my wife no pay this month and make it back. been doing it for 20yrs. if it was all chance why do i always lose at cards yet have lasted so long trading? thats rhetorical, fyi. its because its not a "bet" as you imply. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

i do not care what someone else is paid. im not the jealous type. some here are obsessed with other peoples pay. i do think that JD should lose his job, though. he failed to manage. he signed off on a bad trade and should pay the price. in addition, he was very vocal claiming the gov't was overstepping their bounds by trying to regulate for this exact thing. he personally maligned Volcker, the man. well he proved them right and should get the boot for it. He probably will not. people still think he is great for how he handled the last crisis. i firmly believe your only as good as your last trade. his last was a bust, who cares what he did 2008 i say. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

>Not making excuses; just stating what I see. Kids don't play outdoors any more, people won't live without A/C (even in New England!), families don't play croquet any more. Computers and TV have taken a lot of that. WTF do you expect when activity levels have gone down, and opportunities for eating have gone up? It's a whole lot harder to snack on chips when you're playing outdoors than when you're playing Nintendo or whatever. i see the same thing as you. Kids do not move as much. AC is a big one to me. when i was a kid my family, solid middle class, ran the AC only when my dad decided it was impossible to sleep. we were not abnormal to my childhood friends families. People use to eat less in the summer because its an appetite suppressant to be warm. Today, you can see AC units hanging out the windows of the worse housing projects. they are very affortable. I dont want the poor to be hot and unhappy. I just believe AC is a factor in gaining weight. Why go outside and sweat when you can sit in an AC'd room and play video games. expecially if your poor and the local park is concrete and a mess. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

>I said the gov >Not republicans or democrats >The problem we have is caused by regulation at multiple levels I think we might be splitting hairs over this but i just want to make sure my point is clear. i do not disagree with your opinion on regulatons causing the problem. IMO, the private healthcare industry used their influence to cause the regulations to increase their profits. So both groups are to blame. the gov't and private business. I agree with your solutions about increasing competition to drive down costs. If we did that, perhaps we could then create a better safety net for the poor and unfortunate with the monies saved. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

You seeing more of something doesnt make it new or material. there are a couple of hoarder shows out there. not a new problem, im a 3rd generation vollie firefighter. its been around since before me. ie Collyer's mansion. But i do agree we are seeing more extremes. times are tough and people are scared. some, take to extremes. IMO prepping is extreme. so is the OWS crowd on the other end of the spectrum. I'm old enough to have seen this before and have confidence in the majority of rational people in the middle. they aren't as vocal but they tend to be the real decision makers. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

>We do have a bit of a mess >But enacting obamacare is asking the very entity that has created the mess, to now fix it I like you when you defend private industry but we will have to disagree today, hah. I am not a party guy. I am an extreem moderate. I lean a bit right on financial issues and well left on most social issues. so i cannot agree that only the gov't or the left is to blame. It is private industry that gets the states to create a big part of this mess. they wanted their bills to be payed and we are forced to buy policies that cover things we dont want. ie massage therapy and acupunture. Premiums go up. It is also the private insurance companies that gets the states to insure their is less competition. premiums go up. to much of a mess to be created by one side. I see a giant problem that was caused by everyone. Not the right or the left. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

She would not be allowed to die today RIGHT - today responsible people like you and I are paying for freeloaders like her and her ilk when they get sick. And you think this is just fine. I agree with you completely about today and freeloaders. the question is what to do about it? you, being an teacher and left leaning, have confidence in the gov't and feel private markets are the problem. I being a private sector banker and right leaning, am the exact opposite. Problem is congress is pretty much split 50/50 between our opinions. Thus we get the worst of both worlds. i dont want Canada or Euro healthcare. I still have family in Italy and feel we do better than them. with that said, i do not like the way we are going and would prefer one or the other at this point. we are a total mess right now. i doubt there is much argument with that. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante

Both. he has a valid point that we should be concerned with current economic conditions. But duh, no one needed him for that. is he playing chicken little, yes. he writes for a website thats purpose is to bring preppers together(their words not mine). Not exactly a moderate un biased group of people. "The point is, I'm weird, but I never felt weird." John Frusciante