So it's Wednesday, and I had a tough time deciding between "Chicken Police" and "Beatbox Flute Inspector Gadget Remix."
The chicken win in a close, hard-fought victory. They're really keeping the peace out there.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
The Disgruntled Investor Learns How To Use The Link Tool
I'm planning on "live-blogging" on my drunkenness/gambling from Vegas starting this Saturday...assuming Harrah's has free in-room wireless internet access. After that, I'll probably be posting more frequently here, as March is going to be pretty crazy busy on the housing front. I dropped by the place I'm selling last night to accomplish two things:
1.) Remind the grown adults who live there that they need to take the trash out rather than let it lie around for weeks;
2.) Give them their 30-day notices due to the impending April listing of the house for sale. I told them that actually they are free to stay there (and pay rent) during the sales period, but that they'd have to be willing to put up with major renovations, immaculate cleanliness, and random people trampling through the place at a moment's notice. We'll see what happens, but I did get their March rent checks, so that, at least, assuaged my fears of a "That's it, I'm moving out today!" moment.
So, the plan is to replace the carpet, replace/update the hardware throughout the house, replace the faucets, paint a little, and maybe do the granite countertop thing - though I'm still not sold on the necessity for that. I was kind of on the fence about the whole selling it now thing, but a house in the neighborhood where I live, which is comparable to the one I'm selling and only 5 minutes away, sold in about 5 days recently. Their open house occurred during a major snowstorm. That's a pretty decent sign. Also, this article is about as close to cautiously optimistic as the media will ever be on the subject. Anyway, who knows, I really just want to get rid of the thing. Stupid house.
By the way, I'm not entirely sure if I explained the necessity of cleanliness to the dominant or submissive personality of the guy in the 2nd bedroom. Seemed pretty submissive to me.
On a different note, here's an interesting article related to HAHNus Wagner and the whole tobacco card phenomenom.
And finally, AL GORE FOR PRESIDENT!! Jim Treacher at The Daily Gut said it best: "What the hell is he doing in there? Is he a Terminator from the future and needs constant recharging?"
Late Edition Update: Uh...damn, looks like it's a good thing I sold off my stocks last week.
I ended up selling Cisco for 27.60 a share (a gain of about 30 cents a share from when I bought it), and Knot for 25.10 a share (a loss of 2.23 a share).
Today, at market close:
CSCO - 25.71
KNOT - 23.20
Boy, China's a real jerk, huh?
1.) Remind the grown adults who live there that they need to take the trash out rather than let it lie around for weeks;
2.) Give them their 30-day notices due to the impending April listing of the house for sale. I told them that actually they are free to stay there (and pay rent) during the sales period, but that they'd have to be willing to put up with major renovations, immaculate cleanliness, and random people trampling through the place at a moment's notice. We'll see what happens, but I did get their March rent checks, so that, at least, assuaged my fears of a "That's it, I'm moving out today!" moment.
So, the plan is to replace the carpet, replace/update the hardware throughout the house, replace the faucets, paint a little, and maybe do the granite countertop thing - though I'm still not sold on the necessity for that. I was kind of on the fence about the whole selling it now thing, but a house in the neighborhood where I live, which is comparable to the one I'm selling and only 5 minutes away, sold in about 5 days recently. Their open house occurred during a major snowstorm. That's a pretty decent sign. Also, this article is about as close to cautiously optimistic as the media will ever be on the subject. Anyway, who knows, I really just want to get rid of the thing. Stupid house.
By the way, I'm not entirely sure if I explained the necessity of cleanliness to the dominant or submissive personality of the guy in the 2nd bedroom. Seemed pretty submissive to me.
On a different note, here's an interesting article related to HAHNus Wagner and the whole tobacco card phenomenom.
And finally, AL GORE FOR PRESIDENT!! Jim Treacher at The Daily Gut said it best: "What the hell is he doing in there? Is he a Terminator from the future and needs constant recharging?"
Late Edition Update: Uh...damn, looks like it's a good thing I sold off my stocks last week.
I ended up selling Cisco for 27.60 a share (a gain of about 30 cents a share from when I bought it), and Knot for 25.10 a share (a loss of 2.23 a share).
Today, at market close:
CSCO - 25.71
KNOT - 23.20
Boy, China's a real jerk, huh?
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Free Schaub!!
From the Atlanta-Journal Constitution:
"The Falcons do not want to lose Matt Schaub and plan to place a one-year contract tender on him, possibly in excess of $2 million, as well as a compensation attachment of a first and/or third-round draft pick. The high ransom could discourage some teams, however, a straight trade for a draft pick or a player should not be ruled out."
This has actually been going on for several years now. Schaub was rumored to be a candidate for the Redskins' QB carousel before (and after) Gibbs picked up Mark "The ground's not an eligible receiver?? Who knew??" Brunell. I've long advocated having the Falcons use a 2-QB/2-RB system, in which Schaub takes the snaps while Vick and Dunn sit in the backfield. It's the perfect system because defenses would not know what to do if/when Schaub handed off to Vick. Would he run (which he does very well) or throw (which he does at least as well as any other RB)? Vick would obviously have to improve (or develop) his blocking skills, but other than that it would create an explosive and less predictable offense, which the Falcons have been sorely lacking for several years now. Bobby Petrino, of course, is not going to do this, and is going to keep Vick as the starting QB and Schaub as the prisoner on the sidelines. Even when they're losing, Vick fills the Georgia Dome, and of course that's all that matters. This is also known as the "Dan Snyder Principle."
I've been trying to come up with a precedent for this situation, but in every scenario I can think of, the backups were either traded, left via free agency, or became the everyday guy for good after the starter went down. The most recent example I can think of is Kurt Warner and every team he's ever been a part of. Warner, that is, being in the Vick position.
Who knows, maybe Schaub likes it this way??
In other UVA news:
Miami 68, UVA 60.
Doh!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
I Swore I Wouldn't Get Political...
But it's Wednesday, which means no talk about investing. And the irony of this was too good to pass up.
Ladies and Gentlemen, a peace activist assaulting war defenders. (tip o' the hat to the Daily Gut)
http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2007/022007/02202007/261345
Fun fact - I'm from this town!!
Ladies and Gentlemen, a peace activist assaulting war defenders. (tip o' the hat to the Daily Gut)
http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2007/022007/02202007/261345
Fun fact - I'm from this town!!
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
A Moral Dilemma
So this posting should resonate with any guy (or girl) who's ever collected sports cards and/or memorabilia.
One hot summer day after I'd graduated from high school, I wandered into a local sports memorabilia store next to a Baskin Robbins. I was flush with cash from relatives, and it was, as usual, burning a hole in my pocket. I had long since given up on collecting contemporary sports cards (since the market had been flooded with a glut of sports cards since the early 1990's), but had maintained my fascination with old cards. I began perusing the counters and shelves, and did a double-take when I saw a truly ancient-looking card innocently resting between a Hank Aaron and a Roger Clemens. It wasn't in great shape, but it was a 1914 Honus Wagner tobacco card.
Honus Wagner, a shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the early days of the "modern" era of baseball, was staunchly anti-smoking. Once he found out that tobacco companies were using his likeness for cards inserted in tobacco boxes, he demanded they cease and desist, as he feared children buying the addictive weed just to have his baseball card (which is what I would have done had I grown up a kid in the 1910's). For this reason, Honus Wagner tobacco cards are extremely rare and valuable, fetching hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars in auctions - most famously by Wayne Gretzky. Most Honus Wagner cards in existence today feature advertisements for candy on the backs. Evidently smoking was bad, but rotten teeth and diabetes were bully! Anyway, the lady behind the counter, who told me she thought no one would want this card because it's "so old," was selling this card for $150. The money lighting up my pocket had found a home.
As you can see above, the card is not in great shape, but given its age would not be considered to be in as bad a shape as if it were a card from, say, 2000. Based on Becketts and recent EBay auctions, it appears that I could realistically clear $2000 for the card were I to sell it today.
And herein lies my dilemma.
Without a doubt, a return on investment of over 1000% in eight and a half years is pretty good. And, without a doubt, I could use that money. BUT, the problem is that it's a pretty damn cool baseball card, and would be difficult to give up.
The question for you, dear readers, is what would you do in this situation?? At what point is it ok to sell prized baseball cards/comics/toast with the Virgin Mary burnt into it??
Comments would be much appreciated.
Disgruntled out.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Tonight
I've had a few to drink, I'm tired, and the Disgruntled Girlfriend needs attention.
Tomorrow, I will post my baseball card dilemma, and believe me...it's a doozy.
Oh yeah, and there was an awesome Three Stooges marathon on Spike TV today, thus keeping that channel in the realm of relevancy...at least for today.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Of Course He Is
This is an absolutely true story.
I woke up this morning with three things on my mind - one, I had to take the Disgruntled Dog to Petsmart for a bath/groom so her smell would stop making small children cry; two, I had two showings for the loft room in the place I failed to sell last summer; three, the Disgruntled Girlfriend and I had a wine tasting party to attend later tonight. Everything seemed in order...
...until about 8 AM, when the Disgruntled Girlfriend awoke to take the Disgruntled Dog out before she went to the gym for her morning workout. Upon opening the door, she discovered that when the Disgruntled Dog came upstairs this morning at 6 AM, scratching at the door, it was to let us know that she had just taken a giant dump outside our room. She followed this up by puking twice downstairs.
We cleaned this mess up, and after taking the Disgruntled Dog to Petsmart at 10 AM, I came home and got myself ready for the day - showering, shaving, and shitting (the three sh's, as I like to call them). I came out, put my clothes on, and picked up my cell phone only to discover that one of my tenants (in the place I am planning on trying to sell this spring) had called and left a message. I've gotten to the point where I dread everytime they call, but, reluctantly, I listened to the message, which was a simple request to call him back. I did.
Here's where things started to get weird.
Tenant A told me that he and Tenant B had had just about enough of Tenant C, who was the newest addition to the house. Besides his being a night-owl, and a noisy one at that, he was despicably filthy. He never took his trash out, he haphazardly cleaned the dishes, and, most disturbingly, he had recently taken a dump in the toilet in the bathroom that he shares with Tenant A, and evidently had managed to smear his defecation on the seat - leaving it there for who knows who to clean up. It appeared that Tenant C and the Disgruntled Dog had something in common. Tenant A let me know that he was considering looking for another place, as was Tenant B. He also informed me that he thought that Tenant C had "MTV" or something. I didn't know what MTV was, but I apologized for his antics, since he seemed perfectly normal to me when I interviewed him. I let him know that the two options we had were for me to call Tenant C and get him to shape up, or, since he's on a month-month lease, I could kick him the hell out. He said he'd talk it over with Tenant B and get back to me.
I had two great showings over at my first place, and picked the Disgruntled Dog up from Petsmart. She looked (and more importantly smelled) great. When I arrived home, the Disgruntled Girlfriend suggested that we go out for sushi for lunch, but stop at our favorite wine shop beforehand for a wine tasting. I'm always up for wine tastings, so I heartily agreed.
We got to the wine shop (called the Curious Grape, by the way, it's a top-notch wine shop), and what to my wandering eyes did appear, but Tenant A and his girlfriend, in line for the tasting. After exchanging greetings and joining them for the tasting, I asked him if he had talked to Tenant B yet regarding his Phantom Shitter roomate. He replied that he hadn't, and further expanded on Tenant C's..."issues."
Here's where things got REALLY weird.
Tenant A told me that he thought Tenant C had Multiple Personality Disorder (or MPD, aka "MTV" - stupid cellphone). I said, "You're shitting me?" He said, "No." (ed. note - that's what the toilet said to Tenant C, hey-oh!) Since they share a bathroom, which is right next to Tenant A's room, Tenant A had noticed strange sounds coming from the bathroom whenever Tenant C was in it. He talked to himself on the toilet (and at the dinner table), and when he showered, Tenant A could clearly hear "a masculine voice and a submissive voice" (his words). His girlfriend suggested that maybe he was taking a shower with another guy. Tenant A said he hoped not, but didn't think that was the case. Personally, I was praying for this guy to be gay, so I didn't have to deal with "Me, Myself, and Irene."
So, anyway, now I have a filthy, disgusting, possibly one-in-a-million insane tenant in the place.
But here's the kicker: THIS GUY IS NOW THE SECOND MENTALLY DISTURBED INDIVIDUAL IN THAT PLACE IN ONE YEAR'S TIME. For those who don't know what I mean, read some of the earlier posts.
I mean, seriously, what are the fucking odds?!?!?!
Talk about a black cloud over my disgruntled head!
I woke up this morning with three things on my mind - one, I had to take the Disgruntled Dog to Petsmart for a bath/groom so her smell would stop making small children cry; two, I had two showings for the loft room in the place I failed to sell last summer; three, the Disgruntled Girlfriend and I had a wine tasting party to attend later tonight. Everything seemed in order...
...until about 8 AM, when the Disgruntled Girlfriend awoke to take the Disgruntled Dog out before she went to the gym for her morning workout. Upon opening the door, she discovered that when the Disgruntled Dog came upstairs this morning at 6 AM, scratching at the door, it was to let us know that she had just taken a giant dump outside our room. She followed this up by puking twice downstairs.
We cleaned this mess up, and after taking the Disgruntled Dog to Petsmart at 10 AM, I came home and got myself ready for the day - showering, shaving, and shitting (the three sh's, as I like to call them). I came out, put my clothes on, and picked up my cell phone only to discover that one of my tenants (in the place I am planning on trying to sell this spring) had called and left a message. I've gotten to the point where I dread everytime they call, but, reluctantly, I listened to the message, which was a simple request to call him back. I did.
Here's where things started to get weird.
Tenant A told me that he and Tenant B had had just about enough of Tenant C, who was the newest addition to the house. Besides his being a night-owl, and a noisy one at that, he was despicably filthy. He never took his trash out, he haphazardly cleaned the dishes, and, most disturbingly, he had recently taken a dump in the toilet in the bathroom that he shares with Tenant A, and evidently had managed to smear his defecation on the seat - leaving it there for who knows who to clean up. It appeared that Tenant C and the Disgruntled Dog had something in common. Tenant A let me know that he was considering looking for another place, as was Tenant B. He also informed me that he thought that Tenant C had "MTV" or something. I didn't know what MTV was, but I apologized for his antics, since he seemed perfectly normal to me when I interviewed him. I let him know that the two options we had were for me to call Tenant C and get him to shape up, or, since he's on a month-month lease, I could kick him the hell out. He said he'd talk it over with Tenant B and get back to me.
I had two great showings over at my first place, and picked the Disgruntled Dog up from Petsmart. She looked (and more importantly smelled) great. When I arrived home, the Disgruntled Girlfriend suggested that we go out for sushi for lunch, but stop at our favorite wine shop beforehand for a wine tasting. I'm always up for wine tastings, so I heartily agreed.
We got to the wine shop (called the Curious Grape, by the way, it's a top-notch wine shop), and what to my wandering eyes did appear, but Tenant A and his girlfriend, in line for the tasting. After exchanging greetings and joining them for the tasting, I asked him if he had talked to Tenant B yet regarding his Phantom Shitter roomate. He replied that he hadn't, and further expanded on Tenant C's..."issues."
Here's where things got REALLY weird.
Tenant A told me that he thought Tenant C had Multiple Personality Disorder (or MPD, aka "MTV" - stupid cellphone). I said, "You're shitting me?" He said, "No." (ed. note - that's what the toilet said to Tenant C, hey-oh!) Since they share a bathroom, which is right next to Tenant A's room, Tenant A had noticed strange sounds coming from the bathroom whenever Tenant C was in it. He talked to himself on the toilet (and at the dinner table), and when he showered, Tenant A could clearly hear "a masculine voice and a submissive voice" (his words). His girlfriend suggested that maybe he was taking a shower with another guy. Tenant A said he hoped not, but didn't think that was the case. Personally, I was praying for this guy to be gay, so I didn't have to deal with "Me, Myself, and Irene."
So, anyway, now I have a filthy, disgusting, possibly one-in-a-million insane tenant in the place.
But here's the kicker: THIS GUY IS NOW THE SECOND MENTALLY DISTURBED INDIVIDUAL IN THAT PLACE IN ONE YEAR'S TIME. For those who don't know what I mean, read some of the earlier posts.
I mean, seriously, what are the fucking odds?!?!?!
Talk about a black cloud over my disgruntled head!
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Semi-weekly Video Clip
Yesterday was a snow day, which means today is kind of the make-up Wednesday. Since Wednesday has been my irregular, semi-weekly, posting of videos day, I'll do it today instead.
This video can be summed up in one word: totally awesome.
If I could make things like this, I'd quit my job right away and only do this. This will be the best five minutes and two seconds of your day. Enjoy.
This video can be summed up in one word: totally awesome.
If I could make things like this, I'd quit my job right away and only do this. This will be the best five minutes and two seconds of your day. Enjoy.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Wrap Your Head Around This One
I was going to post about a moral dilemma involving a baseball card (I will do this later today or tomorrow), but then this happened...
From Investor's Business Daily today:
Knot shares fall on fourth-quarter results
(10:17 AM ET) SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Knot Inc.(KNOT)shares fell 9.6% to $27.20 in Tuesday morning trade after the New York-based media company and wedding services provider reported a fourth-quarter net profit of $14.6 million, or 45 cents a share, up from $1.48 million, or 6 cents a share, last year. The results for the fourth quarter of 2006 included a non-cash income tax benefit and a gain from the settlement of a legal action. Revenue rose to $21.7 million from $12.8 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting a per-share profit of 11 cents on revenue of $21.8 million. (emphasis mine)
So, revenue was off by $.1 million (or $100,000), while per share profit beat the forecasts by 34 CENTS A SHARE. And the stock is tanking. Either I have no idea what I'm doing, or the whole world hates me.
Disgruntled...
From Investor's Business Daily today:
Knot shares fall on fourth-quarter results
(10:17 AM ET) SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Knot Inc.(KNOT)shares fell 9.6% to $27.20 in Tuesday morning trade after the New York-based media company and wedding services provider reported a fourth-quarter net profit of $14.6 million, or 45 cents a share, up from $1.48 million, or 6 cents a share, last year. The results for the fourth quarter of 2006 included a non-cash income tax benefit and a gain from the settlement of a legal action. Revenue rose to $21.7 million from $12.8 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting a per-share profit of 11 cents on revenue of $21.8 million. (emphasis mine)
So, revenue was off by $.1 million (or $100,000), while per share profit beat the forecasts by 34 CENTS A SHARE. And the stock is tanking. Either I have no idea what I'm doing, or the whole world hates me.
Disgruntled...
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Disgruntled Thought of the Day
So, it's that time of year again when everything I touch, or everything that touches me, delivers an intense, Gozer-like electric shock to me. Case in point - the other day I was doing dishes and was shocked by the water. THE WATER! Apparently, there is enough metal in my water supply to shock me.
Stupid winter.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Sigh.
So I've still got one more room to fill with a weiner tenant. And, the crazy thing is, it's by far the best of the 6 rooms between the two properties. It's a big loft room, with its own huge balcony with a great view. AND it's got its own bathroom. AND what I'm charging for it is not unreasonable.
The reason it' s extra frustrating to me (besides the fact that it's an enormous leach of my time), is that the people who are coming by are exactly the opposite kind of shoppers as me. When I go looking for something, be it a new CD, clothes, food, LSD, or an apartment to rent, I am in and out and back home lickety-split. If I like the first place I go, or first thing I see, I buy it. I do not like going around and assessing all of my choices at various locations throughout the greater DC area. If I see something (or somewhere) that I like, and it's a reasonable price, what the hell's the point of continuing to search around?
Am I missing a great deal somewhere??? Who cares!! I'd much rather buy the thing, and get back home where I can sit on my ass and watch Seinfeld reruns.
I'm probably in the minority here (the Disgruntled Girlfriend, for example, probably falls in the other category), and it's not like I'll just jump on a bad deal because I'm lazy - but I can recognize something good and have a decent idea of what a fair price is when I see it.
But, I keep getting these people coming by and saying the following:
"Well, this is definitely the best place I've seen so far! I really, really like it! I have a couple other places to look at, and I'll get back to you after I see them, but so far this is the best!"
THEN WHY DON'T YOU SAVE YOURSELF THE TIME AND EFFORT OF LOOKING AT THE OTHER PLACES AND JUST TAKE THIS ROOM?!?!?!?!
When I hear them say that, I immediately write them off. Pains in the ass.
Disgruntled...
The reason it' s extra frustrating to me (besides the fact that it's an enormous leach of my time), is that the people who are coming by are exactly the opposite kind of shoppers as me. When I go looking for something, be it a new CD, clothes, food, LSD, or an apartment to rent, I am in and out and back home lickety-split. If I like the first place I go, or first thing I see, I buy it. I do not like going around and assessing all of my choices at various locations throughout the greater DC area. If I see something (or somewhere) that I like, and it's a reasonable price, what the hell's the point of continuing to search around?
Am I missing a great deal somewhere??? Who cares!! I'd much rather buy the thing, and get back home where I can sit on my ass and watch Seinfeld reruns.
I'm probably in the minority here (the Disgruntled Girlfriend, for example, probably falls in the other category), and it's not like I'll just jump on a bad deal because I'm lazy - but I can recognize something good and have a decent idea of what a fair price is when I see it.
But, I keep getting these people coming by and saying the following:
"Well, this is definitely the best place I've seen so far! I really, really like it! I have a couple other places to look at, and I'll get back to you after I see them, but so far this is the best!"
THEN WHY DON'T YOU SAVE YOURSELF THE TIME AND EFFORT OF LOOKING AT THE OTHER PLACES AND JUST TAKE THIS ROOM?!?!?!?!
When I hear them say that, I immediately write them off. Pains in the ass.
Disgruntled...
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
The 5-Minute Blog
I realize that last blog was pretty haphazard and appeared to be poorly put-together. That's probably because it was. So, to remedy that, I'm going to attempt to finish this one in about 5 minutes (or, about the amount of time I have left until I leave work).
So, today, I'll briefly talk about my stock experiment.
For Christmas, my dad included in his gifts to me a check for $400. I wasn't really sure the best way to use this newfound wealth (I suppose I could have used it to pay down my massive debt...), but finally decided to have a go at individual stock investing.
After doing some research on various websites (mainly The Street and Investor's Business Daily), I decided to buy a stock that each highly recommended, and pit them against each other.
Jim Cramer of The Street (and Mad Money) had been going crazy (pun intended) over Cisco, saying that it was sure to beat analyst's "low expectations." After further researching it, I saw that most analysts rated it a "buy", and the IBD gave it an "A" rating.
The IBD runs a list of 100 stocks that it picks based on superior fundamentals and likeliness of strong returns, based on several factors they have isolated from winning stocks. They call this list of stocks, imaginatively, "The IBD 100." Anyway, one stock that they've been pimping for a while (it was #3 on their 100 this week) was the online wedding superstore, The Knot.
Yesterday, through Sharebuilder (good online stock buying site), I purchased $200 of each stock, resulting in the following trades:
KNOT - 6.6467 shares at $30.09/share
CSCO - 7.3180 shares at $27.33/share
Later that day, after the markets closed, Cisco announced earnings and future projected earnings that beat all analyst projections, and the stock shot up in late trading. Woohoo!
Anyway, Knot is announcing their earnings on Friday, and is expected to do pretty well also. For the record, both are in a dead-heat right now:
(As of market close - 2/7):
KNOT - 30.85 (my stock value = $205.05)
CSCO - 28.09 (my stock value = $205.56)
So, after one day, my $400 investment is now worth $410.61. Let's hope this trend continues...
So, today, I'll briefly talk about my stock experiment.
For Christmas, my dad included in his gifts to me a check for $400. I wasn't really sure the best way to use this newfound wealth (I suppose I could have used it to pay down my massive debt...), but finally decided to have a go at individual stock investing.
After doing some research on various websites (mainly The Street and Investor's Business Daily), I decided to buy a stock that each highly recommended, and pit them against each other.
Jim Cramer of The Street (and Mad Money) had been going crazy (pun intended) over Cisco, saying that it was sure to beat analyst's "low expectations." After further researching it, I saw that most analysts rated it a "buy", and the IBD gave it an "A" rating.
The IBD runs a list of 100 stocks that it picks based on superior fundamentals and likeliness of strong returns, based on several factors they have isolated from winning stocks. They call this list of stocks, imaginatively, "The IBD 100." Anyway, one stock that they've been pimping for a while (it was #3 on their 100 this week) was the online wedding superstore, The Knot.
Yesterday, through Sharebuilder (good online stock buying site), I purchased $200 of each stock, resulting in the following trades:
KNOT - 6.6467 shares at $30.09/share
CSCO - 7.3180 shares at $27.33/share
Later that day, after the markets closed, Cisco announced earnings and future projected earnings that beat all analyst projections, and the stock shot up in late trading. Woohoo!
Anyway, Knot is announcing their earnings on Friday, and is expected to do pretty well also. For the record, both are in a dead-heat right now:
(As of market close - 2/7):
KNOT - 30.85 (my stock value = $205.05)
CSCO - 28.09 (my stock value = $205.56)
So, after one day, my $400 investment is now worth $410.61. Let's hope this trend continues...
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
What? Goo-lay!!
So a couple quick-hit thoughts from the weekend...
1.) Congrats to the Indianapolis Colts, and thanks for winning me $75.
2.) I accurately predicted the Colts winning the Super Bowl from the beginning of the playoffs, although I thought it would have been against the Saints. How, when faced with seemingly superior opponents did I know the Colts would win it all?? Simple - I used the "Mom's Conspiracy Theory Theory" (or MCTT).
While watching the USA women's soccer team defeat the Chinese team in 1999 (the famous Brandi Chastain "bra game" - which was an overrated moment in my opinion), my mother remarked - "It's fixed!! Of course the American team is going to win!!" I laughed it off, and then the USA team won on penalty kicks. I thought..."hmmm..."
The MCTT is based on the premise that the outcome of sporting events is preordained by what would make the best media story. After Chastain's bra, several events occurred which cemented my adherence to the MCTT. Two notable examples:
2002 - Still reeling from the events of 9/11, the New England PATRIOTS win the Super Bowl over the heavily favored St. Louis Rams (thus winning me $50). This had the triple effect of having a very American-named team win, allowing a historically putrid franchise to score the upset, and introducing GQ Cover Boy Tom Brady to the media stratosphere.
2004 - Down three games to none to the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox proceed to win eight straight games to claim their first World Series title since 1918. This was exactly one year after both they and the Chicago Cubs famously choked in hilarious ways (Bartman and Grady). Evidently there was some kind of curse or something. Anyway, so the (media) pressure was on, and the Sox win. The world sighs as we can finally stop hearing about Babe Ruth and Bucky Dent and blah blah blah blah blah. The "Curse is Lifted" story reigns supreme.
Anyway, just a couple examples, but I was pretty convinced that Peyton Manning vs. Hurricane Katrina would be what we were subjected to this year. But, what with Reggie Bush falling to them in the draft, Drew Brees saving the Saints from a season of Daunte Culpepper, and Marques Colston becoming the steal of the draft, it would have been a bit much. So, instead, we got Peyton's legacy vs. Rex's payback for killing my fantasy team. What, you weren't aware of that part of the story???
Anyway, along those lines, here are The Disgruntled Investor's Sports Predictions for 2007:
-MLB - Chicago Cubs win the World Series
-NFL - Chicago Bears (led by Rex Grossman, who is a late season replacement after Griese and Orton mysteriously suffer knee injuries simulatenously) win the Super Bowl
-NBA - Some team wins, Mark Cuban complains, Latrell Sprewell owes child support
-NHL - .........
3.) I hate hate hate hate hate hate all of the hype surrounding Super Bowl commercials. Guess what the worst part of watching TV (and now going to the movies) is?? COMMERCIALS. So now that becomes a big media event because a.) the games are usually boring unless your team is in it [or the MCTT comes through] and b.) Cindy Crawford and some talking frogs caught the world's attention?!?! What I hate the most is the next day at work/school/prison yard - "Hey, did ya see the commercials?? The horse kicked a football. Hee."
Having said that, the Robert Goulet commercial was hilarious.
4.) On the investment front, two new developments have emerged. One, I've decided to sell the second place I had bought a year ago (i.e. not the one I tried to sell last summer). Currently, I'm planning on trying to sell it to an investor - right now my realtor is "looking into that. " If there is no movement on that front by mid-late March, I'm going to look into putting it on the market, something I'm not really wanting to do. I'd prefer not to pay my own mortgage on it, like I did with the other place. Anyway, I'll be posting updates on that as it progresses. As opposed to the other place, all I need to do for this one (besides the usual touching-up), is replace the carpets and paint the kitchen. Hopefully this property will not be smoted like the last one. The second development is I've decided to use the $400 I inexplicably received from my dad at Christmas to invest in individual stocks, something I've actually always been interested in. So, I'll be following the progress of those as well. The two I've chosen are Cisco and The Knot (which is an online wedding supplies/services site). Both are reporting their earnings this week, and both are rated pretty high by the pros. Anyway, we'll see what happens.
Sorry to bore you all with all that - to make up for it, and to celebrate my favorite commercial of the Super Bowl, here's this:
1.) Congrats to the Indianapolis Colts, and thanks for winning me $75.
2.) I accurately predicted the Colts winning the Super Bowl from the beginning of the playoffs, although I thought it would have been against the Saints. How, when faced with seemingly superior opponents did I know the Colts would win it all?? Simple - I used the "Mom's Conspiracy Theory Theory" (or MCTT).
While watching the USA women's soccer team defeat the Chinese team in 1999 (the famous Brandi Chastain "bra game" - which was an overrated moment in my opinion), my mother remarked - "It's fixed!! Of course the American team is going to win!!" I laughed it off, and then the USA team won on penalty kicks. I thought..."hmmm..."
The MCTT is based on the premise that the outcome of sporting events is preordained by what would make the best media story. After Chastain's bra, several events occurred which cemented my adherence to the MCTT. Two notable examples:
2002 - Still reeling from the events of 9/11, the New England PATRIOTS win the Super Bowl over the heavily favored St. Louis Rams (thus winning me $50). This had the triple effect of having a very American-named team win, allowing a historically putrid franchise to score the upset, and introducing GQ Cover Boy Tom Brady to the media stratosphere.
2004 - Down three games to none to the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox proceed to win eight straight games to claim their first World Series title since 1918. This was exactly one year after both they and the Chicago Cubs famously choked in hilarious ways (Bartman and Grady). Evidently there was some kind of curse or something. Anyway, so the (media) pressure was on, and the Sox win. The world sighs as we can finally stop hearing about Babe Ruth and Bucky Dent and blah blah blah blah blah. The "Curse is Lifted" story reigns supreme.
Anyway, just a couple examples, but I was pretty convinced that Peyton Manning vs. Hurricane Katrina would be what we were subjected to this year. But, what with Reggie Bush falling to them in the draft, Drew Brees saving the Saints from a season of Daunte Culpepper, and Marques Colston becoming the steal of the draft, it would have been a bit much. So, instead, we got Peyton's legacy vs. Rex's payback for killing my fantasy team. What, you weren't aware of that part of the story???
Anyway, along those lines, here are The Disgruntled Investor's Sports Predictions for 2007:
-MLB - Chicago Cubs win the World Series
-NFL - Chicago Bears (led by Rex Grossman, who is a late season replacement after Griese and Orton mysteriously suffer knee injuries simulatenously) win the Super Bowl
-NBA - Some team wins, Mark Cuban complains, Latrell Sprewell owes child support
-NHL - .........
3.) I hate hate hate hate hate hate all of the hype surrounding Super Bowl commercials. Guess what the worst part of watching TV (and now going to the movies) is?? COMMERCIALS. So now that becomes a big media event because a.) the games are usually boring unless your team is in it [or the MCTT comes through] and b.) Cindy Crawford and some talking frogs caught the world's attention?!?! What I hate the most is the next day at work/school/prison yard - "Hey, did ya see the commercials?? The horse kicked a football. Hee."
Having said that, the Robert Goulet commercial was hilarious.
4.) On the investment front, two new developments have emerged. One, I've decided to sell the second place I had bought a year ago (i.e. not the one I tried to sell last summer). Currently, I'm planning on trying to sell it to an investor - right now my realtor is "looking into that. " If there is no movement on that front by mid-late March, I'm going to look into putting it on the market, something I'm not really wanting to do. I'd prefer not to pay my own mortgage on it, like I did with the other place. Anyway, I'll be posting updates on that as it progresses. As opposed to the other place, all I need to do for this one (besides the usual touching-up), is replace the carpets and paint the kitchen. Hopefully this property will not be smoted like the last one. The second development is I've decided to use the $400 I inexplicably received from my dad at Christmas to invest in individual stocks, something I've actually always been interested in. So, I'll be following the progress of those as well. The two I've chosen are Cisco and The Knot (which is an online wedding supplies/services site). Both are reporting their earnings this week, and both are rated pretty high by the pros. Anyway, we'll see what happens.
Sorry to bore you all with all that - to make up for it, and to celebrate my favorite commercial of the Super Bowl, here's this:
Monday, February 5, 2007
Melina!
What a small world! I've received another room inquiry from none other than - MELINA CRAWFORD!! But, this one's a bit different, as Ms. Crawford is now from Spain (as she notes below, that means she's Spanish). As always, I've copied it word for word from the email. Enjoy!
Hi Roomie, How re you doing? I hope all is well. I'm Melina Crawford, am 26 yrs old and Am originally from Sevilla, Spain. Graduate of Huelva University on the Costa de la Luz,i have a masters degree and work as a professional fashion designer. I moved to San Marcos , CA three Years ago because it is where my Parents were born. I am currently working on contract for a company call James fashion home. here in West Africa ( Nigeria ) which the contract will be ending soon. Am currently in Nigeria now, i will be coming from here to the states. I do love traveling, It is very interesting to get more knowledge about the new countries, new people and traditions. It's great to have such a possibility. I will planned on relocating soon and i Urgently need a place to settle and I saw your advert and I am sincerely interested in the room Please I will like to have answers to the following questions below:
A}I will like to know the major intersection nearest your neighbourhood.like shopping mall,Churches,bus line e.t.c
B}I will like to know the total cost for the my initial move as in first month rent and if you accept deposit.
C}I will like to know if there is any garage or parking space cos I will have my own car come over.
D}I will like to have the rent fee per month plus the utilities.
E}I will like to have the description of the room, size, and the equipments in there.
F}I will also like to know Your payment mode.
G}I will like to know if I can make an advance payment ahead my arrival that will be stand as a kind of commitment that I am truely coming over and for you to hold the room down for me.
I will be very glad to have all this questions answered with out leaving a stone unturned...Now a little about myself;I am from Sevilla , Spain : that means i am Spanish and had all my education in Spain . I am 26yrs old and very much single,the only child of my only parent,my mother alive, i lost my father and my only brother years ago while i was still a kid in an auto accident.I am currently living with my mom who's a catholic volunteer worker,but also manages her antique business. She is a volunteer at the sister's of the eucharistic heart of jesus convent,here in Barcelona,Spain. I have been wanted to relocated to the US longtime ago even while i was a little girl growing up and my mom is in support.It' been a long dreamed come true for me when i finnally settled in the US now. I have chosen your city for a start to my new life when i arrive in the states.I am easy to get along with and well mannered.I do not use people's items without permission and consideration. Kindly get back to me ASAP with the your monthly rent and the deposit i need to pay to enable you turn down other interested parties and keep the place for me until i arrive,because i will like to pay for the deposit before my arrival and i will like to know the total amount the rent for a whole year would be,as i am more interested in a long term lease,but still open to any form of lease you want. But i will like to pay the deposit first of all before i arrive to show my seriousness and so that you can hold the place for me until i arrive.I am single as i said and i am not attached to anyone at the moment. I do part time modeling;i call myself an amateur though,LOL,just something i take as a hobby and also i have a masters degree in business admin which i bagged from the Huelva University on the Costa de la Luz in Spain . I will be looking to pick up Fashion Designer jobs once i arrive in ur city, Fashion Designer is my life and i love it. I am new living all alone as i have lived with my mom alone in the past but i have no doubs in my mind about my ability to live peacefully with as i was raised to be a lover of peace. A friend just introduced me to this thing and i really wish that i am able to find the good cultured kind of Place i am looking for here. I hope i am doing it right anyways.LOL. Well,i think we will get along well because am a easy going person who respects ones privacy,like i said i dont do drugs or smoke but i drink only occasionally,i strongly believe there will be any problems living with me as i was raised by strong catholic Christain parents and have inbibed such good qualities from childhood.I will love to see your pics and those of the place as well.I'll be so glad if you can reserve the room for me and remove all your the adverts abt the place as i'll love to rent the place. Get back to me ASAP Thanks and have a good time.
Warmest Regards,
Melina Crawford
Hi Roomie, How re you doing? I hope all is well. I'm Melina Crawford, am 26 yrs old and Am originally from Sevilla, Spain. Graduate of Huelva University on the Costa de la Luz,i have a masters degree and work as a professional fashion designer. I moved to San Marcos , CA three Years ago because it is where my Parents were born. I am currently working on contract for a company call James fashion home. here in West Africa ( Nigeria ) which the contract will be ending soon. Am currently in Nigeria now, i will be coming from here to the states. I do love traveling, It is very interesting to get more knowledge about the new countries, new people and traditions. It's great to have such a possibility. I will planned on relocating soon and i Urgently need a place to settle and I saw your advert and I am sincerely interested in the room Please I will like to have answers to the following questions below:
A}I will like to know the major intersection nearest your neighbourhood.like shopping mall,Churches,bus line e.t.c
B}I will like to know the total cost for the my initial move as in first month rent and if you accept deposit.
C}I will like to know if there is any garage or parking space cos I will have my own car come over.
D}I will like to have the rent fee per month plus the utilities.
E}I will like to have the description of the room, size, and the equipments in there.
F}I will also like to know Your payment mode.
G}I will like to know if I can make an advance payment ahead my arrival that will be stand as a kind of commitment that I am truely coming over and for you to hold the room down for me.
I will be very glad to have all this questions answered with out leaving a stone unturned...Now a little about myself;I am from Sevilla , Spain : that means i am Spanish and had all my education in Spain . I am 26yrs old and very much single,the only child of my only parent,my mother alive, i lost my father and my only brother years ago while i was still a kid in an auto accident.I am currently living with my mom who's a catholic volunteer worker,but also manages her antique business. She is a volunteer at the sister's of the eucharistic heart of jesus convent,here in Barcelona,Spain. I have been wanted to relocated to the US longtime ago even while i was a little girl growing up and my mom is in support.It' been a long dreamed come true for me when i finnally settled in the US now. I have chosen your city for a start to my new life when i arrive in the states.I am easy to get along with and well mannered.I do not use people's items without permission and consideration. Kindly get back to me ASAP with the your monthly rent and the deposit i need to pay to enable you turn down other interested parties and keep the place for me until i arrive,because i will like to pay for the deposit before my arrival and i will like to know the total amount the rent for a whole year would be,as i am more interested in a long term lease,but still open to any form of lease you want. But i will like to pay the deposit first of all before i arrive to show my seriousness and so that you can hold the place for me until i arrive.I am single as i said and i am not attached to anyone at the moment. I do part time modeling;i call myself an amateur though,LOL,just something i take as a hobby and also i have a masters degree in business admin which i bagged from the Huelva University on the Costa de la Luz in Spain . I will be looking to pick up Fashion Designer jobs once i arrive in ur city, Fashion Designer is my life and i love it. I am new living all alone as i have lived with my mom alone in the past but i have no doubs in my mind about my ability to live peacefully with as i was raised to be a lover of peace. A friend just introduced me to this thing and i really wish that i am able to find the good cultured kind of Place i am looking for here. I hope i am doing it right anyways.LOL. Well,i think we will get along well because am a easy going person who respects ones privacy,like i said i dont do drugs or smoke but i drink only occasionally,i strongly believe there will be any problems living with me as i was raised by strong catholic Christain parents and have inbibed such good qualities from childhood.I will love to see your pics and those of the place as well.I'll be so glad if you can reserve the room for me and remove all your the adverts abt the place as i'll love to rent the place. Get back to me ASAP Thanks and have a good time.
Warmest Regards,
Melina Crawford
Friday, February 2, 2007
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