user 2lakes

Meredith Whitney Needs Some Historical Perspective

JJB ~ you're right on. The average American doesn't understand a basic mortgage contract. BUT, wasn't it 'America's best and brightest' that came up with these toxic mortgages to fleece the average American? If they were sold basic mortgages (with down payments and verified income) we may not be in this mess.
Seems like putting the fox in charge of the hen house.

eBay is Hapless - Cramer's Lightning Round (9/11/08)

I finally agree with Cramer on one thing - Ebay HAS lost touch with reality.

The Rally was the Real Deal - Cramer's Mad Money (9/2/08)

They didn't say who was going to pay for Proposition 10. Is Arnold 'the terminator' going to terminate more state employee's to pay for this? My question is, why does all alternate fuel ideas need goverment subsides to work? A long-long term investment idea for sure.

Retail Sales Are Weak, But No Towel Being Thrown In

Bill ~ Didn't the economic stimulas checks help out in May-July, lets wait until the August-Sept numbers are in. Without them last couple months your numbers may have been a LOT weaker.

Retail is the trade right now, pity the last guy buying before the turn.

Don't Believe the Lies: Ride the Bank Stocks Bull

What? Nobody even brought up his mention about Jim Cramer. Now that guy knows how to follow the herd. If he said it is tentatively the bottom then that must be a contrarian's dream trade. Of course with Cramer he can always change his mind later.

Five Retailers for Falling Gas Prices

Fox ~ Do you really believe gas prices are the only thing holding back the consumer? Have you priced food lately? Sweet corn that cost $3. a dozen is now $5. Car repairs/parts? Car oil that was $4.88 (5 qts) is now over $9. at Walmart. Rent? A friend of mine just got nicked for a $100 per month increase. Health care? You/we don't even want to go there. College tuition? You name it. As I said, REAL inflation is more like 10-15%, not that manufactured bull the goverment puts out. And yet wages are holding steady, up maybe 3%. Every family has 2 wage earners just to make it. Some even have part time jobs on top of that.

Listen to the credit card companies, people are adding to their credit at record levels just to pay bills. Do you real think a small drop in oil prices are going to have a effect? And what about heating bills this winter? Dealers are not even offering contracts in many parts of the country. When prices on many things go up they seldom go down afterwards. Sure, high energy caused a lot of this. But once the genie is out of the bottle is sure is hard to get it back in.

In my town EVERYTHING is up. We're not in a economically hard hit area (I thought) but at our annual fund raiser this last weekend the attendance was horrible and we priced everything at last years prices so we took a double hit.

Sometimes when you stare at a computer screen all day you miss the world around you. Stores are empty, jobs are scarce, money is tight, people aren't sure of the future, most seem a bit apprehensive in fact. People I know are putting off large purchases for now. Get out and see for your self.

Five Retailers for Falling Gas Prices

HOLY SMOKES, BATMAN! Gas has dropped 30 cents! On a 20 gallon fillup I'm saving $6.00! WOW! ROBIN what can we do with $6.00? Let's go to Starbucks and buy a cup of coffee!! No BATMAN, how about we go to DICKS and buy a new $500 kayak?

You guys are pathetic, you're talking saving a few measly dollars. And that is going to get the consumers to the stores?

Real inflation is 10-15%, that means saving $6.00 on a fillup is nothing because the consumer is getting eatened by other expenses. Besides now he can use the $6. to pay previous extra $6.00 he spent last month to fill his tank.

But hey, lets sucker the average investor into believing this garbage so we can sell our junk stock we bought last month cheap at a nice fat profit this month.

Mechel: Huge Upside - But Not for the Faint of Heart

Just read the authors previous post with a comparison with Yukos. In today's world the line between lies/truth are so blurred. (Goverments - not the author) MTL still seems a bit risky to me.

Slightly Lower Gas Price Doesn't Mean Huge Increases in Consumer Spending

Who said traders are rational, deep thinking individuals? Take airlines, so oil (the better grade) is down a few bucks and now they're going to be profitable? $145 oil probably never far into the system to make a difference. Airlines couldn't make profits with $80 oil and now $120 oil will do it?

Chad, these are traders (or hedge fund computers) not investors.

Mechel: Huge Upside - But Not for the Faint of Heart

Wish the author would have compared MTL with what happen a few years back with Yukos. I believe they went bankrupt because of back taxes, right? My take was Putin wanted their company and got it, is this the same or completely different? I owned MTL a while back but I keep making comparisons between the two.

Any ideas out here guys?

Attention Shoppers: Garmin Now 21% Off

Ryan

Yes, GPS probably will be in every car, just like they said sirius would be, that is how the car companies make profit.

But, the average driver probably will not use it enough to make it pay. Most people go to the same places over and over. The average person seldom travels further than 25 miles from home except when traveling. I make my living driving so maybe my mind is sharper when it comes to finding my way around my corner of the world.

As far as a GPS in every car, think what the car companies will negotiate for pricing from the GPS manufacturers. When auto/truck/boat makers are installing GPS units in all cars/trucks/boats then the high margins GRMN has been making from individuals will disappear. Who going to need to buy their own GPS? Opps! there goes the big profit. That is probably the reason GRMN is trying to get into the phone business. They may see the fly of lower margins on the wall.

Just my opinion but GRMN is a long term short in my book.

Attention Shoppers: Garmin Now 21% Off

Yawn ! Sounds just like the drivel a few years back about satellite radio and we know how that is a dying fad. GPS is just another gadget for people who slept thru school and missed how to navigate around their world. They're unneccessary unless you're on a large body of water or out in the wide open spaces.

Disclosure: Yes I own one, got it for Christmas one year from my daughter. Kept it because I didn't want to hurt her feelings. Used it 3 times. Duh, what a waste of money!

Some Positives in Monday's Selloff

Lower volume? Of course, all the deep pockets are on vacation.

The Garage Sale Indicator

Only up 100%? Seems like more around here. Drove past a discount auto dealer yesterday, had 5 cars and about 75 SUVs and pickups on the lot.

Second Quarter Homeownership Rate Has Largest Increase in Four Years

The big problem is that there is 11.1 months of supply out there, and the nitwit builders keep building more each month. And besides, does this chart/report take into account that a lot of these owners will be filed against in the coming months? Opps! no longer a homeowner. ;-)