November 30th, 2006
by
Senior Editor: Jeff
An 11 year-old in Florida is selling advertising space on his head. He lost all his hair after undergoing chemotherapy. Wow, talk about making lemonade. I bet we're reading about him in Forbes in 10-15 years (maybe less?).
Posted in
Liberty, Random Thoughts |
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November 29th, 2006
by
Senior Editor: Jeff
Senator Schumer has declared Reaganism dead. Incredible hubris or incredible insight?
Posted in
Politics |
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November 29th, 2006
by
Senior Editor: Jeff
Is this sportscar really all-electric? As it turns out, yes. Tesla motors has created a sportscar that can go 0-60 in 4 seconds, with a top speed of 130mph, and runs on batteries. And it goes 250 miles between charges. Where has this car been? Someone has finally realized that in order for there to be a market for alternative-fuel cars, they can't look like space pods. People don't want to drive around in something that looks like that, it has to look like a car/truck. Honda was the first, I think, to realize this, and made their Civic Hybrid look just like the regular Civic. Why is this so difficult to understand? If I went to a dealer and asked to see an electric car, and they pointed to one of those bubbles on wheels, I'd have to go test drive a V8 truck with 8 wheels just help wash the stain of its image from my mind.
Now, Tesla has a vehicle that is being built by Lotus, actually drives a significant distance, and will keep up on the highway. Any surprise they sold out so quickly (even though it costs $100k)? This has been one of my biggest barriers to embracing the "alternative fuel" vehicles. I need a car that's as reliable as my Toyota, has a decent amount of endurance between "fill-ups," and looks great.
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Posted in
Commentary, Science |
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November 28th, 2006
by
Senior Editor: Jeff
It appears Democrats are changing their election-season tune: they aren't going to reform pork spending (earmarks). Is anyone out there surprised? Of course they are going to keep them; they use them to buy votes, just like the Republicans did before them. As Ben Franklin once said, "Once people discover they can vote themselves more money, that will herald the end of the republic."
Posted in
Commentary, Politics |
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November 28th, 2006
by
Senior Editor: Jeff
It's official: women talk, on average, three times more than men. Don't take my word for it, take this feminist psychiatrist's. Talking also triggers the release of endorphins in women's minds (endorphins are the body's natural heroin).
It appears the Doctor here runs a female "mood and hormone" clinic in, where else? San Francisco.
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Posted in
Commentary, Random Thoughts |
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November 27th, 2006
by
Senior Editor: Jeff
This year's "Rules of Trading" from trading maven/guru Dennis Gartman (always a great read):
1. Never, Ever, Ever, Under Any Circumstance, Add to a Losing Position… not ever, not never! Adding to losing positions is trading's carcinogen; it is trading's driving while intoxicated. It will lead to ruin. Count on it!
2. Trade Like a Wizened Mercenary Soldier: We must fight on the winning side, not on the side we may believe to be correct economically.
3. Mental Capital Trumps Real Capital: Capital comes in two types, mental and real, and the former is far more valuable than the latter. Holding losing positions costs measurable real capital, but it costs immeasurable mental capital.
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Posted in
Finance |
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November 27th, 2006
by
Senior Editor: Jeff
A new poll puts Kerry in last place among 20 political leaders in terms of "likability." While the results are hardly surprising, the poll itself is. It is quite frightening to consider that issues of likability may be determining future elections. What happened to things such as integrity, let alone the issues themselves?
Posted in
Commentary, Politics |
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November 27th, 2006
by
Senior Editor: Jeff
Black Friday has come and gone. Typically, this day sets the tone for the rest of the holiday season: the make or break time for retailers. Deals, deals, deals. Your editor was even drawn in himself: much to his own chagrin, he is now the owner of a cell phone. People can now reach me no matter where I am. Sigh. The deal was too good, though, which left me wondering. You see, dear reader, I spent the weekend visiting family, and stayed in a hotel nest to a mall's parking lot. As I watched the frenzy unfold, I had the same concerns many other have had before me: how is this good for retailers? True, loss-leading has proven highly effective in the past, but if holiday sales are strong and prices much lower, what will that do for profits? Indeed, Wal-Mart is expecting a decline in sales for November. The housing market is cooling down, and many (including your editor) believe the refinancing boom as been one of the main drivers of the economy the past few years. Now, consumers have less disposable cash, and retailers must lure them in with ever-better deals. This will be an interesting season to watch.
Posted in
Commentary, Finance |
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