whisperonthewind's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/135955/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/165326-the-10-best-u-s-dividend-stocks?source=feed#comment-708583 708583 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:03:52 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/164120-four-companies-poised-to-benefit-from-america-s-smart-grid?source=feed#comment-698317 698317
Recently I "lost" the dial tone on my telephone, rendering it incapable of placing and receiving calls. Although the internet and phone lines were from the same wall jack, the internet was terrific. No phone. After two weeks of complaints, two weeks in which they insisted they had tested my line and it was clear, I insisted they come out and check INSIDE. I had tried three different telephones, two different cords, two different jacks, and even tried plugging the telephone directly into the wall instead of into the internet connector. No luck.

(It may be interesting to note that ATT had been in the area for weeks, setting up telephone service for a new bank close by. It may also be interesting to note that I had asked them to just CALL the phone number and they would see that there was no service. They chose to rely on their electronic line checker thing.)

They finally came out to the house (to shut me up, I'm sure), and the first thing they did was check to see if I really had lost the dial tone - honestly! - and the second thing was to see if THEY could get a dial tone. No luck. It actually took them almost two hours to find the problem... in the main box where they had been doing repairs over the last few weeks! The same box where they were setting up the new bank telephone system.

If they had called me when I first asked them to - a 15-second test that would have proven to them that I was seriously having phone issues - we could have fixed the whole problem quickly. Instead, I had to make several phone calls, they tested and cleared the line each time.

I like the phone service, and the internet, but I'm not really happy with their customer service. And no, there isn't really a customer service phone line to call. Their "Customer Care" line is for billing issues, not service issues, and not complaints.]]> Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:27:42 -0400
Recently I "lost" the dial tone on my telephone, rendering it incapable of placing and receiving calls. Although the internet and phone lines were from the same wall jack, the internet was terrific. No phone. After two weeks of complaints, two weeks in which they insisted they had tested my line and it was clear, I insisted they come out and check INSIDE. I had tried three different telephones, two different cords, two different jacks, and even tried plugging the telephone directly into the wall instead of into the internet connector. No luck.

(It may be interesting to note that ATT had been in the area for weeks, setting up telephone service for a new bank close by. It may also be interesting to note that I had asked them to just CALL the phone number and they would see that there was no service. They chose to rely on their electronic line checker thing.)

They finally came out to the house (to shut me up, I'm sure), and the first thing they did was check to see if I really had lost the dial tone - honestly! - and the second thing was to see if THEY could get a dial tone. No luck. It actually took them almost two hours to find the problem... in the main box where they had been doing repairs over the last few weeks! The same box where they were setting up the new bank telephone system.

If they had called me when I first asked them to - a 15-second test that would have proven to them that I was seriously having phone issues - we could have fixed the whole problem quickly. Instead, I had to make several phone calls, they tested and cleared the line each time.

I like the phone service, and the internet, but I'm not really happy with their customer service. And no, there isn't really a customer service phone line to call. Their "Customer Care" line is for billing issues, not service issues, and not complaints.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/164121-windstream-s-dividend-is-attractive-but-is-it-safe?source=feed#comment-698266 698266 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:59:12 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/163909-top-10-online-trading-destinations-august-2009?source=feed#comment-696659 696659
At tax time, it's extremely easy to access and download a custom report for your account, in a variety of formats. I've used both Excel and OpenOffice as well as viewing online.

Now, if TurboTax would only get together with Sharebuilder so I could just upload my Sharebuilder info to them...]]> Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:09:07 -0400
At tax time, it's extremely easy to access and download a custom report for your account, in a variety of formats. I've used both Excel and OpenOffice as well as viewing online.

Now, if TurboTax would only get together with Sharebuilder so I could just upload my Sharebuilder info to them...]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/163890-keeping-a-close-eye-on-impending-risk-of-oil-price-spike?source=feed#comment-696642 696642
At what point do we stop and take a breather - settle down and work on getting jobs for our own people?

I'm not anti-war, but there is a limit. Are we, or are we not, a kinder, gentler nation? Exactly how is this CHANGE? War is war. Or are we to sit back and say, "Hooray, Obama brought our boys home from Iraq. Now they can go to Afghanistan/China/Iran instead!"

People, what are we doing???? The price of oil won't matter, because we will be fighting off everyone in our own backyard. Or is this how we finally decide to drill here at home?]]> Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:58:06 -0400
At what point do we stop and take a breather - settle down and work on getting jobs for our own people?

I'm not anti-war, but there is a limit. Are we, or are we not, a kinder, gentler nation? Exactly how is this CHANGE? War is war. Or are we to sit back and say, "Hooray, Obama brought our boys home from Iraq. Now they can go to Afghanistan/China/Iran instead!"

People, what are we doing???? The price of oil won't matter, because we will be fighting off everyone in our own backyard. Or is this how we finally decide to drill here at home?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/163863-youtube-anyone-still-doubt-google-s-wisdom?source=feed#comment-695155 695155
I'll take Hulu as a video site, and I DO click on some of the ads because they are for products I usually buy.

And so far, I haven't found anything on YouTube, aside from the cute baby videos and the funny pet videos (and the occasional how-to video) that I care to watch, and I never click on their ads either.

I do remember Prodigy, and I loved Netscape. Firefox has come closer to Netscape than the rest. I don't have stock in any of the companies in your list.]]> Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:44:27 -0400
I'll take Hulu as a video site, and I DO click on some of the ads because they are for products I usually buy.

And so far, I haven't found anything on YouTube, aside from the cute baby videos and the funny pet videos (and the occasional how-to video) that I care to watch, and I never click on their ads either.

I do remember Prodigy, and I loved Netscape. Firefox has come closer to Netscape than the rest. I don't have stock in any of the companies in your list.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/163637-why-i-m-skeptical-about-asset-allocation?source=feed#comment-693961 693961
Investing is risky anyway, and some of us are braver than others (or more stupid, depending on your viewpoint). I tend to pick a couple highly risky but hopeful stocks, a couple very boring but reliable stocks, and the rest are emotionally chosen, based on what I like on any given stock purchase expedition.

I must be successful, since I'm now within that -10% range. Since at one point I was down almost 40%, I think my way is working. For now. Who knows how I'll feel tomorrow?]]> Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:10:44 -0400
Investing is risky anyway, and some of us are braver than others (or more stupid, depending on your viewpoint). I tend to pick a couple highly risky but hopeful stocks, a couple very boring but reliable stocks, and the rest are emotionally chosen, based on what I like on any given stock purchase expedition.

I must be successful, since I'm now within that -10% range. Since at one point I was down almost 40%, I think my way is working. For now. Who knows how I'll feel tomorrow?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/163603-battery-investing-for-beginners?source=feed#comment-693075 693075 Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:23:24 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/163603-battery-investing-for-beginners?source=feed#comment-693073 693073
When the rest of the real world catches on that they'll be limited to a 100 mile round trip, the battery idea will be relegated to the golf cart/wheelchair crowd. I'm not ready to join that crowd yet.]]> Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:22:03 -0400
When the rest of the real world catches on that they'll be limited to a 100 mile round trip, the battery idea will be relegated to the golf cart/wheelchair crowd. I'm not ready to join that crowd yet.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/163425-overreaction-by-the-financial-sector-to-the-upside?source=feed#comment-691876 691876 Sat, 26 Sep 2009 10:02:46 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/163468-spin-at-the-fdic?source=feed#comment-691874 691874

On Sep 25 09:30 PM KISSA wrote:

> FDIC keep their Bank Watchlist secret from the public and there is
...]]> Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:58:21 -0400

On Sep 25 09:30 PM KISSA wrote:

> FDIC keep their Bank Watchlist secret from the public and there is
...]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/163496-oil-going-off-the-boil?source=feed#comment-691871 691871 Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:56:29 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/163244-citi-s-cities?source=feed#comment-690622 690622
On top of that, I know the bank tellers (or whatever they call them now, CSRs?) by name and they know me by name, so losing them would be like losing my favorite local market. I would miss them, but I would not follow them. I would move my account.]]> Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:26:46 -0400
On top of that, I know the bank tellers (or whatever they call them now, CSRs?) by name and they know me by name, so losing them would be like losing my favorite local market. I would miss them, but I would not follow them. I would move my account.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/163090-cramer-s-mad-money-the-obama-proof-ipo-9-23-09?source=feed#comment-690579 690579 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:09:02 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/163342-etfconnect-is-no-more?source=feed#comment-690563 690563
I think for those who prefer the ETF info, they should just come up with their own website instead of sitting back and whining. Deal with it, people. According to our president, change is good.]]> Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:58:45 -0400
I think for those who prefer the ETF info, they should just come up with their own website instead of sitting back and whining. Deal with it, people. According to our president, change is good.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/163138-should-the-government-profit-from-the-bailout?source=feed#comment-689183 689183
Each and every one of us should have been given a percentage of shares based on our tax contribution - only those of us who paid taxes, of course. (Any who don't pay taxes would be out of luck, since they didn't take fund it. They would be social recipients of the benefits of success, whereas the rest of us would be financial recipients.)

By not returning all the profit to the taxpayers, the government is basically charging us a tax on money we GAVE.]]> Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:38:18 -0400
Each and every one of us should have been given a percentage of shares based on our tax contribution - only those of us who paid taxes, of course. (Any who don't pay taxes would be out of luck, since they didn't take fund it. They would be social recipients of the benefits of success, whereas the rest of us would be financial recipients.)

By not returning all the profit to the taxpayers, the government is basically charging us a tax on money we GAVE.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/163051-why-choose-low-yield-over-high-yield-stocks?source=feed#comment-689148 689148
I may be broke before I'm 80, but currently it doesn't appear to be the case. Onward, drummer.]]> Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:22:08 -0400
I may be broke before I'm 80, but currently it doesn't appear to be the case. Onward, drummer.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/162355-more-taxes-to-support-the-financial-system-anyone?source=feed#comment-684799 684799
But our government has a history of robbing Peter to pay Paul, from military spending to education to welfare. Whatever the need, they take from the accounts meant for other purposes because that's where the cash is. Instead of holding the government accountable, those accounts are being depleted. The baby boomers should have been able to increase the social security pot to unimaginable levels, but it's been borrowed. No one pays the money back because the money isn't there without raising taxes.

So we know the government - and both political parties are equally responsible (or irresponsible in this case) - can't budget. They can't control their own greed. They mask their greed with threats (we'll have to take THIS away if you don't give us more money) and whining (we WANT to do that for you but we don't have any extra money because those bad social security recipients won't let us take any more money from them).

Government doesn't need more tax revenue. They need a serious lesson on balancing the checkbook, just like we all had to do. I'm currently on layoff, and still pay all my bills. If I'm especially good at budgeting, I can even afford a quick takeout meal from a fast food joint. Sure, it's not what I want to do, it's not where I want to eat out, but it's what I can afford. The government isn't going to increase my unemployment pay just because I want to eat out at a better restaurant. And we shouldn't be required to pay higher taxes if they can't even manage what they already have.]]> Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:45:36 -0400
But our government has a history of robbing Peter to pay Paul, from military spending to education to welfare. Whatever the need, they take from the accounts meant for other purposes because that's where the cash is. Instead of holding the government accountable, those accounts are being depleted. The baby boomers should have been able to increase the social security pot to unimaginable levels, but it's been borrowed. No one pays the money back because the money isn't there without raising taxes.

So we know the government - and both political parties are equally responsible (or irresponsible in this case) - can't budget. They can't control their own greed. They mask their greed with threats (we'll have to take THIS away if you don't give us more money) and whining (we WANT to do that for you but we don't have any extra money because those bad social security recipients won't let us take any more money from them).

Government doesn't need more tax revenue. They need a serious lesson on balancing the checkbook, just like we all had to do. I'm currently on layoff, and still pay all my bills. If I'm especially good at budgeting, I can even afford a quick takeout meal from a fast food joint. Sure, it's not what I want to do, it's not where I want to eat out, but it's what I can afford. The government isn't going to increase my unemployment pay just because I want to eat out at a better restaurant. And we shouldn't be required to pay higher taxes if they can't even manage what they already have.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/162369-dividends-get-no-respect?source=feed#comment-684775 684775
Now, your typical savings account for the common person bears somewhere around 1/2% and for some reason everyone thinks this is a good interest rate. I know CDs have better interest rates, but with those you have to have a minimum deposit, which doesn't help the young kids. If we really want to encourage our children to learn to save, we need to give them a healthy reason why. We need to begin to increase the interest rates on ordinary savings accounts. It would encourage more people to save money, which benefits all of us in the long run. Spending has its place, but saving has a future built in.]]> Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:20:57 -0400
Now, your typical savings account for the common person bears somewhere around 1/2% and for some reason everyone thinks this is a good interest rate. I know CDs have better interest rates, but with those you have to have a minimum deposit, which doesn't help the young kids. If we really want to encourage our children to learn to save, we need to give them a healthy reason why. We need to begin to increase the interest rates on ordinary savings accounts. It would encourage more people to save money, which benefits all of us in the long run. Spending has its place, but saving has a future built in.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/162369-dividends-get-no-respect?source=feed#comment-684772 684772
I don't care that they've increased share price - we've just had a very good demonstration of what can happen to share price. I care about the payback. I used to depend on my IRA, now I'm piling money into my Roth, where it's tax free. It's all about the cash.

I tend to hold a stock for quite a while, years, if the dividend keeps coming. Some stocks have seasonal increases, and I just ride it out, because it gives me a chance to concentrate on other stocks.

On the other hand, I'm not adverse to a few risky stocks without dividends, if only because some of them have made me a chunk of money in portfolio value. All of those risky stocks had a dividend before the crunch, and if they bring it back I'll have the best of both worlds.

At some point, I may take a peek at non-dividend stocks, but after the last two years, it will be a while. I want my money up front.]]> Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:15:41 -0400
I don't care that they've increased share price - we've just had a very good demonstration of what can happen to share price. I care about the payback. I used to depend on my IRA, now I'm piling money into my Roth, where it's tax free. It's all about the cash.

I tend to hold a stock for quite a while, years, if the dividend keeps coming. Some stocks have seasonal increases, and I just ride it out, because it gives me a chance to concentrate on other stocks.

On the other hand, I'm not adverse to a few risky stocks without dividends, if only because some of them have made me a chunk of money in portfolio value. All of those risky stocks had a dividend before the crunch, and if they bring it back I'll have the best of both worlds.

At some point, I may take a peek at non-dividend stocks, but after the last two years, it will be a while. I want my money up front.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/162393-three-more-stocks-going-ex-dividend-end-of-september?source=feed#comment-684746 684746 WallStreetNewsNetwork.com, but some of the links haven't been updated recently. Aside from that, I really like the new Ex-Dividend links they're posting now.]]> Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:47:41 -0400 WallStreetNewsNetwork.com, but some of the links haven't been updated recently. Aside from that, I really like the new Ex-Dividend links they're posting now.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/162195-best-buy-flat-screens-and-flattish-shares-make-for-good-profits?source=feed#comment-682325 682325 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:26:54 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/161900-tarp-why-the-media-doesn-t-need-every-detail?source=feed#comment-680478 680478 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:59:07 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/161865-citi-not-earning-its-way-out-of-bailouts?source=feed#comment-680474 680474
I'm patient, I'm not ready to retire yet, so I'll just sit back and watch.]]> Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:54:26 -0400
I'm patient, I'm not ready to retire yet, so I'll just sit back and watch.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/161821-oil-and-gas-service-stocks-an-inflation-hedge?source=feed#comment-680458 680458 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:46:11 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/161861-natural-gas-momentum-likely-to-continue-blackmont?source=feed#comment-680454 680454

On Sep 16 02:52 PM Aricool wrote:

> This seems like a rediculous quote:
> "Investors, however, are clearly looking 'across the valley' to the
> winter months when cold weather will stimulate demand for gas and
> when economic growth is expected to return to North America."
>
> Did you know it gets cold in November, not October? October is probably
> the worst demand month of the year, no cooling and no heating. So,
> why would an October deliverable contract trade on November and beyond
> demand dynamics? Please enlighten us.
>
> thanks,
> Ari]]> Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:42:49 -0400

On Sep 16 02:52 PM Aricool wrote:

> This seems like a rediculous quote:
> "Investors, however, are clearly looking 'across the valley' to the
> winter months when cold weather will stimulate demand for gas and
> when economic growth is expected to return to North America."
>
> Did you know it gets cold in November, not October? October is probably
> the worst demand month of the year, no cooling and no heating. So,
> why would an October deliverable contract trade on November and beyond
> demand dynamics? Please enlighten us.
>
> thanks,
> Ari]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/161966-the-economic-impact-of-the-g20-ending-oil-subsidies?source=feed#comment-680451 680451 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:41:45 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/161274-stocks-to-buy-in-cyclical-advertising-recovery?source=feed#comment-675512 675512

On Sep 14 07:51 AM User 365880 wrote:

> You should be tracking Worldgate Communications, the stock has gone
> from around 24 cents to $1.10 recently and is heading much much higher.
> The stock hit a low of I blieve 1 cent before being bought out. Check
> this stock out and write some reports on it like you dor for SIRI.
>
> Thank You
> Jim]]> Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:00:50 -0400

On Sep 14 07:51 AM User 365880 wrote:

> You should be tracking Worldgate Communications, the stock has gone
> from around 24 cents to $1.10 recently and is heading much much higher.
> The stock hit a low of I blieve 1 cent before being bought out. Check
> this stock out and write some reports on it like you dor for SIRI.
>
> Thank You
> Jim]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/161050-13-consistent-dividend-raising-companies-currently-on-freeze?source=feed#comment-671781 671781 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:03:52 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/160418-bp-strikes-black-gold-a-boon-for-energy-etfs?source=feed#comment-668309 668309
If BP's find IS oil, it brings to question what other 'finds' there may be on American soil. But of course, they won't want to drill here, will they?


On Sep 08 02:34 PM Jrbarnes wrote:

> BP's find at 25k feet is hardly likely to be oil. At that depth,
> the termperature and pressure cook the hydocarbons into natural gas,
> not oil. BP carefull refer to BOE, or barrels of oil equivalent in
> their press release. Natural gas in in oversupply, and selling for
> $3 per mcf or less at the well head. It is hghly unlikely that wells
> like BP's can be affordably drilled and produced at these natural
> gas prices.]]> Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:50:21 -0400
If BP's find IS oil, it brings to question what other 'finds' there may be on American soil. But of course, they won't want to drill here, will they?


On Sep 08 02:34 PM Jrbarnes wrote:

> BP's find at 25k feet is hardly likely to be oil. At that depth,
> the termperature and pressure cook the hydocarbons into natural gas,
> not oil. BP carefull refer to BOE, or barrels of oil equivalent in
> their press release. Natural gas in in oversupply, and selling for
> $3 per mcf or less at the well head. It is hghly unlikely that wells
> like BP's can be affordably drilled and produced at these natural
> gas prices.]]>