Thomas Smicklas

This Week in Solar: Thin-Film Players Steal Spotlight

Does anyone else find humor in the fact that Chinese workers, making slave wages, living in pollution-choked cities in an apartment laced with asbestos insulation, cooking and heating with coal or coal based fuels and generally supportive of their communist state, which is presently building coal-fired plants in carbon-gagging numbers, creating their military for power politics (13,000 hacks a day on our military computer systems are certifiably Chinese) are suppliers of a high percentage of our solar power systems?

That said, a good article on selected solar power companies.

Economic Double-Dip? Try a Triple

We have had several articles regarding the amount of "dips" forthcoming.

At this juncture, I believe that we are not going to have any dips over the next several years. A dip requires an economic upturn to raise the economy so it can dip.

Government policies may well keep us condemned to a long period of high unemployment and a persistent recessionary climate, similar to the malaise of the Carter years. Inflation in conjunction with a recession? Quite possible.

5 Stocks that Give the Gift of Dividend Growth

The author always presents good ideas. Here is my addition to the dividend theme.

If one's portfolio is geared towards income, present and future, two problems with choosing common stock are the unpredictable nature of the company and niggardly dividend increases, if any. Supposed solid businesses fall apart. Inflation may create havoc. Does anyone think that corporations will be immune from forthcoming tax increases and other roadblocks that will minimize throwing off income to shareholders?

In regards to portfolio income, I believe that wisely researched trust preferred and convertible securities provide a higher yield and more predictable income stream, and perhaps capital appreciation .Laddered six month t-bills rolled over will capture inflation realities and can replace the usual TIPS purchase and associated vagaries. I also own selected foreign debt via ETFs, speculative foreign and domestic debt through Fidelity's FSICX and a good measure of rental real estate to create a more holistic portfolio for income and purchasing power protection.

Thirty-five years as an investor has taught me the value of varied income streams. Owning stocks alone is not a diverse income strategy. Not researching investment vehicles carefully practically guarantees failure.

Great Depression Not Imminent, But Inevitable

Much like the old Soviet Union "we will bury you" period of history, those predicting the demise of the West accompanied with the implied rise of another system is interesting, but flawed.

As Churchill remarked, "democracy is the worst form of government, except for all of the others". Corruption in the West is eventually exposed and is the exception, not the rule. Corruption and deceit in India, Russia, China and many like societies elsewhere is not only endemic, it is accepted.

Regardless, enjoyed reading your opinion.

Foreclosure Rates Continue Their Steady Decline

Nationally, there are a large number of foreclosed properties banks have not even begun to market. Resets of mortgages for homeowners this year are expected to default (again) in 2010 at a rate as high as 70%. Home buyer traffic trended down in late October as the first round of tax credit purchases was about to expire. Many are predicting that the Congressional extension will not have as big a pop as the first program. Unemployment is very, very high. Novice investors who stepped to the plate to buy foreclosures as rental properties with little or no management experience are already seeing vacancy rates go up and discovering that being a landlord is not just owning a piece of brick and mortar.Etc., etc.

Being in the business as a builder, property manager and landlord, I submit that the housing situation is nowhere near a satisfactory conclusion..

Volcker's Wake Up Call: Spread the Word

I wish the same attitude was visable on government spending.

Home Ownership: Questionable Investing Idea?

As an investor in real estate, I do not consider a personal residence an investment vehicle. Nor should anyone else. If you buy a home at a price that is less than 100x the monthly rent, you probably have a decent deal.

If you build a custom home, in a great neighborhood and the wife is happy and you can afford it, enjoy life.Don't expect to have it perform as a good growth stock.

Not everything is a pure dollar and cent issue.

Ben Stein Watch: December 28, 2008

Generally a very good poster on this site, the author went over the top on two fronts: Euro-left style character assassination and using faith as a character flaw.

Perhaps a few too many single-malts celebrating the Winter Solstice?

China: New Year, One More Vote for GDP-Adjusted Bonds

Krugman.

Ha.

Bernanke: Higher Gold Prices Reflect Fundamentals, Not Inflation Expectations

Just about the last thing I would hang my hat on to influence investment decisions is a Senate hearing.

Celebrating the 'Recovery': I'm Disgusted

Somebody needed to state this. You did.

It is not innappropriate to begin adjusting one's portfolio to hedge what many consider to be an inevitable economic reality to the free-for-all spending spree and robust class warfare.

Rhetoric and Reality in Ecuador's Default

Correa dose not need to defend anything. He was a successful Community Organizer.

I wonder if he owes any outstanding college loans from The University of Illinois?

Investors Beware: The Geopolitical Hotspots of 2010

Don't worry...we' re told by our government leaders international terrorist advances are isolated incidents that will be treated as a criminal matter. No need to worry.

Is that a collective sigh we are hearing from Arlington National Cemetary?

Success in 2010 Requires Investing in Other Countries

Roger always presents a reasoned approach to investing. He is a great choice for Seeking Alpha's 2010 portfolio series.

The WSJ, Obama and Bankers

Interesting post.

At least the WSJ so states that their opinion is an Editorial. How refreshing it would be if all publications (and other media) did likewise. Too often, "editorials" are passed to the public as hard news.