Jonathan Swift's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/180629/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/175573-news-faster-than-news-outlets-why-the-internet-and-twitter-wins?source=feed#comment-780312 780312
Perhaps for financial news it could be important if you are a stock day trader, but give me a break... why does it matter otherwise?]]> Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:09:04 -0500
Perhaps for financial news it could be important if you are a stock day trader, but give me a break... why does it matter otherwise?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/172869-yahoo-or-baidu-the-choice-is-clear?source=feed#comment-756103 756103 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:39:58 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/172107-don-t-believe-long-term-oil-forecasts?source=feed#comment-751198 751198 Anyone who looks to Al Bartlett's (read nee Malthus's) prognostications for the future is about as naive as anyone can get. Bartlett as a physicist is embarrassing in his Johnny one-note enthusiasm for the Malthusian exponential catastrophes. No real accounting for human ingenuity in response to changes in economics, financials and especially human technological creativity. Very sophomoric!
Bartlett (like Malthus) is the "Boy who cries Wolf!"... And Stecyk is his megaphone.]]> Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:13:48 -0500 Anyone who looks to Al Bartlett's (read nee Malthus's) prognostications for the future is about as naive as anyone can get. Bartlett as a physicist is embarrassing in his Johnny one-note enthusiasm for the Malthusian exponential catastrophes. No real accounting for human ingenuity in response to changes in economics, financials and especially human technological creativity. Very sophomoric!
Bartlett (like Malthus) is the "Boy who cries Wolf!"... And Stecyk is his megaphone.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/152423-everybody-hates-leveraged-etfs?source=feed#comment-685604 685604 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:34:36 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/161169-investors-fled-out-of-leveraged-etfs-at-exactly-the-wrong-time?source=feed#comment-685491 685491

On Sep 13 08:34 AM Brian O'Flanagan wrote:

> in the long run, the value of all leveraged ETFs will go to zero.
> They are never an appropriate investment for anybody with a holding
> period longer than 1 day.]]> Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:08:06 -0400

On Sep 13 08:34 AM Brian O'Flanagan wrote:

> in the long run, the value of all leveraged ETFs will go to zero.
> They are never an appropriate investment for anybody with a holding
> period longer than 1 day.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/161263-despite-dedicated-etfs-no-reliable-way-to-play-natural-gas?source=feed#comment-676810 676810
"Some people contend that a reliable tracking product must store the underlying physical commodity, and it is almost impossible to store sufficient amounts of natural gas. Yet, storage problems didn't stop Wall Street from having Gold and Silver ETFs. If Wall Street has products that hold gold and silver, why not natural gas?"

How much storage space do you suppose is necessary to store say $1000 of natural gas compared to the same value of gold (1 ounce)? Any concept of the differences in the expenses of storage coming through?]]> Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:02:19 -0400
"Some people contend that a reliable tracking product must store the underlying physical commodity, and it is almost impossible to store sufficient amounts of natural gas. Yet, storage problems didn't stop Wall Street from having Gold and Silver ETFs. If Wall Street has products that hold gold and silver, why not natural gas?"

How much storage space do you suppose is necessary to store say $1000 of natural gas compared to the same value of gold (1 ounce)? Any concept of the differences in the expenses of storage coming through?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/161199-fixed-income-options-to-low-money-market-rates?source=feed#comment-676799 676799 Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:45:07 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/156381-google-how-one-wedding-video-shows-youtube-s-potential?source=feed#comment-642820 642820 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:07:31 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/153353-oil-is-still-the-key-to-u-s-economic-future?source=feed#comment-613951 613951 I get weekly emails encouraging further action and laying out actions to do so. Anyone who agrees with Fitzimmons' suggestions should become involved in supporting the Pickens plan where there is some hope of actually accomplishing something:

While the price per barrel of oil has fallen over the past nine months, the percentage of oil we import has not. Over the past 12 months we have continued to import nearly two-thirds of the oil we use.

Most of the oil we import is used as a transportation fuel - cars, trucks, aircraft, boats and trains. About one barrel out of every five is used as diesel fuel to power heavy trucks - 18-wheelers.

I am all for developing battery, fuel cell technology and nuclear power or some other technology which is still in the laboratory stage. But the latter are not ready for widespread distribution to our national fleet of approximately 250 million cars and light trucks. The only fuel which is available to reduce our dependence on foreign oil is domestic natural gas.

Due to recent advances in technology, we now have the ability to recover natural gas from the enormous deposits in Texas, Louisiana and Appalachia in the lower 48 states. A recent CERA study showed there are enough proven reserves in the Continental United States to supply our needs for the foreseeable future.

Natural gas is cheaper than diesel fuel. Natural gas is cleaner than
diesel. And it's ours.

Congressmen Boren (D-OK), Larson (D-CT) and Sullivan (R-OK) recently introduced a bipartisan bill, the NAT GAS Act of 2009, to incentivize industry to replace older diesel trucks with newer natural gas vehicles - it's a great step in the right direction. It will provide the momentum for engine manufacturers, natural gas producers and natural gas distributors to ramp up and make a real difference in our dependence on foreign oil.

I hope everyone will take a look at this plan and help us push it further.]]> Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:10:11 -0400 I get weekly emails encouraging further action and laying out actions to do so. Anyone who agrees with Fitzimmons' suggestions should become involved in supporting the Pickens plan where there is some hope of actually accomplishing something:

While the price per barrel of oil has fallen over the past nine months, the percentage of oil we import has not. Over the past 12 months we have continued to import nearly two-thirds of the oil we use.

Most of the oil we import is used as a transportation fuel - cars, trucks, aircraft, boats and trains. About one barrel out of every five is used as diesel fuel to power heavy trucks - 18-wheelers.

I am all for developing battery, fuel cell technology and nuclear power or some other technology which is still in the laboratory stage. But the latter are not ready for widespread distribution to our national fleet of approximately 250 million cars and light trucks. The only fuel which is available to reduce our dependence on foreign oil is domestic natural gas.

Due to recent advances in technology, we now have the ability to recover natural gas from the enormous deposits in Texas, Louisiana and Appalachia in the lower 48 states. A recent CERA study showed there are enough proven reserves in the Continental United States to supply our needs for the foreseeable future.

Natural gas is cheaper than diesel fuel. Natural gas is cleaner than
diesel. And it's ours.

Congressmen Boren (D-OK), Larson (D-CT) and Sullivan (R-OK) recently introduced a bipartisan bill, the NAT GAS Act of 2009, to incentivize industry to replace older diesel trucks with newer natural gas vehicles - it's a great step in the right direction. It will provide the momentum for engine manufacturers, natural gas producers and natural gas distributors to ramp up and make a real difference in our dependence on foreign oil.

I hope everyone will take a look at this plan and help us push it further.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/153353-oil-is-still-the-key-to-u-s-economic-future?source=feed#comment-613383 613383 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:06:02 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/145833-search-engine-wars-bing-gets-more-eye-time-than-google?source=feed#comment-566047 566047 Let's see:
Who funded this study, Microsoft or some ghost company?
How were the 12 people selected in detail? Families of MSFT?
Who designed the questionnaire? Who monitored the test?
The error range for a sample of 12 is over 3.4!
Laughable.

No direct connection with either company, but I actually do own more MSFT than GOOG.]]> Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:05:28 -0400 Let's see:
Who funded this study, Microsoft or some ghost company?
How were the 12 people selected in detail? Families of MSFT?
Who designed the questionnaire? Who monitored the test?
The error range for a sample of 12 is over 3.4!
Laughable.

No direct connection with either company, but I actually do own more MSFT than GOOG.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/135973-herd-mentality-is-behind-the-gains-in-the-markets?source=feed#comment-493320 493320 Over many years I never believed in technical analysis, but right now buy and hold does seem to be a dead end. It could be that the rate of change of business realities (technology, politics, financials) implies that new companies cannot expect to be successful for more than a very few decades before change makes their basic business plan irrelevant. That would imply that business strategies should be based on an expectation that the company will either fold or be sold in a couple of decades after going public. Nevertheless, with the right plan that approach could still be very profitable. ]]> Thu, 07 May 2009 04:28:22 -0400 Over many years I never believed in technical analysis, but right now buy and hold does seem to be a dead end. It could be that the rate of change of business realities (technology, politics, financials) implies that new companies cannot expect to be successful for more than a very few decades before change makes their basic business plan irrelevant. That would imply that business strategies should be based on an expectation that the company will either fold or be sold in a couple of decades after going public. Nevertheless, with the right plan that approach could still be very profitable. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/134824-the-truth-about-3x-etfs-and-long-term-investing?source=feed#comment-487961 487961 Sun, 03 May 2009 18:50:55 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/131590-government-s-handling-of-economic-crisis-einstein-would-call-it-insane?source=feed#comment-468914 468914 I mostly agree with the financial/economic sentiments expressed in your comment. And there is not enough information in your note to know where you are coming from... except it's probably not from USA. Your comments, however, seem to indicate an enthusiastic and mostly unreasonable anti-American sentiment with penurious tones. I wonder why!!
With something like 350 million people, the population of America is, of course, very diverse with different and varied opinions on almost any issue. To me the major counterpoint to the sentiment expressed in your note is that, in modern history, there has never been another dominant government that (of course, imperfectly) so represents human rights, sensible approaches to human dignity, life, liberty and the pursuit of human happiness. Historically this has included well wishes and considerable support for other nations that display similar values. Yes, of course, again, not without terrible mistakes. Unfortunately that's the human condition.

]]> Sun, 19 Apr 2009 18:11:00 -0400 I mostly agree with the financial/economic sentiments expressed in your comment. And there is not enough information in your note to know where you are coming from... except it's probably not from USA. Your comments, however, seem to indicate an enthusiastic and mostly unreasonable anti-American sentiment with penurious tones. I wonder why!!
With something like 350 million people, the population of America is, of course, very diverse with different and varied opinions on almost any issue. To me the major counterpoint to the sentiment expressed in your note is that, in modern history, there has never been another dominant government that (of course, imperfectly) so represents human rights, sensible approaches to human dignity, life, liberty and the pursuit of human happiness. Historically this has included well wishes and considerable support for other nations that display similar values. Yes, of course, again, not without terrible mistakes. Unfortunately that's the human condition.

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/130471-eye-on-financial-etfs-this-earnings-season?source=feed#comment-460210 460210 SDS).
Why am I going out on this limb? Maybe I'm a masochist, but it's actually an attempt to discipline myself to be more cautious about my enthusiastic prognostications. If the above predictions work out to be prescient, then I invite all readers to send me lots of money to start my own hedge fund. ]]> Sun, 12 Apr 2009 02:22:38 -0400 SDS).
Why am I going out on this limb? Maybe I'm a masochist, but it's actually an attempt to discipline myself to be more cautious about my enthusiastic prognostications. If the above predictions work out to be prescient, then I invite all readers to send me lots of money to start my own hedge fund. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/130040-cisco-compelling-at-these-levels?source=feed#comment-455728 455728 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 02:24:57 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/129567-chesapeake-energy-ceo-in-questionable-compensation-deal?source=feed#comment-452750 452750 My view is that company executives should not be eligible to even be on the Board much less be Chairman. Of course, they are required to appear and report at Board meetings at the mandate of the Board, but are not present for votes on any issues or important discussions that affect their compensation.
Somehow selection of nominations for Board positions and reelection of current Board members should also be made more independent of company executives and more influenced by shareholders. Any one have any suggestions?]]> Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:44:44 -0400 My view is that company executives should not be eligible to even be on the Board much less be Chairman. Of course, they are required to appear and report at Board meetings at the mandate of the Board, but are not present for votes on any issues or important discussions that affect their compensation.
Somehow selection of nominations for Board positions and reelection of current Board members should also be made more independent of company executives and more influenced by shareholders. Any one have any suggestions?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/129193-boa-s-ken-lewis-still-doesn-t-get-it?source=feed#comment-450257 450257 BAC has recently almost certainly hit bottom and, with probably occasional reversals, will make major gains through 2009. Anyone who claims that I am only saying this because I own BAC stock is a suspicious troublemaker!]]> Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:25:04 -0400 BAC has recently almost certainly hit bottom and, with probably occasional reversals, will make major gains through 2009. Anyone who claims that I am only saying this because I own BAC stock is a suspicious troublemaker!]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/126966-sony-partners-with-google-to-top-amazon-s-e-book-catalog?source=feed#comment-443613 443613 I've come fairly close to giving up on these pages of blog commentary as a Tower of adolescent Babel; this commentary has rejuvenated my interest... This makes me think of the classic women's comment that "you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find a Prince." Thanks very much to jim carey and AReader.
]]> Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:50:51 -0400 I've come fairly close to giving up on these pages of blog commentary as a Tower of adolescent Babel; this commentary has rejuvenated my interest... This makes me think of the classic women's comment that "you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find a Prince." Thanks very much to jim carey and AReader.
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/128125-pequot-capital-yet-another-hedge-fund-buying-gold?source=feed#comment-441898 441898 Yes there will be inflation sometime in the next few years.
But what glitters is not gold before 2011.
Commodities other than gold will boom way before then.

The Shadow knows! ]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2009 02:24:06 -0400 Yes there will be inflation sometime in the next few years.
But what glitters is not gold before 2011.
Commodities other than gold will boom way before then.

The Shadow knows! ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/111283-chesapeake-energy-back-from-the-dead?source=feed#comment-332528 332528
In answer to your question about my disclosure, I'm embarrassed to say that I also have been long CHK... maybe longer than you and Petredis, but I'm finding it more difficult to believe in Aubrey McLendon's leadership as these CHK missteps are increasingly disclosed. I tend to agree with Lunn's observations above.]]> Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:24:15 -0500
In answer to your question about my disclosure, I'm embarrassed to say that I also have been long CHK... maybe longer than you and Petredis, but I'm finding it more difficult to believe in Aubrey McLendon's leadership as these CHK missteps are increasingly disclosed. I tend to agree with Lunn's observations above.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/111283-chesapeake-energy-back-from-the-dead?source=feed#comment-332399 332399 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:57:27 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/98564-36-opportunities-for-the-beginning-of-the-bull?source=feed#comment-274216 274216 Does anyone follow the profit/loss history of these blog commentaries?
I'd like to see the performance record of the above recommendations in about a year.]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:10:01 -0400 Does anyone follow the profit/loss history of these blog commentaries?
I'd like to see the performance record of the above recommendations in about a year.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/95164-government-bailouts-stop-with-lehman?source=feed#comment-253049 253049 Hopefully some major studies are and will be done of the implications for reform in all of this so that we might not be "doomed to repeat history because we didn't learn from it" ? I think the free enterprise system has been seriously hurt by all of this government intervention.]]> Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:42:10 -0400 Hopefully some major studies are and will be done of the implications for reform in all of this so that we might not be "doomed to repeat history because we didn't learn from it" ? I think the free enterprise system has been seriously hurt by all of this government intervention.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/95083-could-lehman-s-failure-cause-a-systemic-meltdown?source=feed#comment-252195 252195 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:07:12 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/90889-overview-of-the-chinese-internet-market?source=feed#comment-249896 249896









JK]]> Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:55:18 -0400









JK]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/91178-which-banks-will-survive?source=feed#comment-232189 232189 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 02:18:13 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/86670-13-ways-to-transform-youtube-into-a-profitable-business?source=feed#comment-212971 212971 1) select a category for their submission from, say, 20 or so provided;
2) pay a reasonable entry fee;
3) be recompensed down to zero against their fee by a formula rewarding #hits on their video (protecting against multiple submissions from interested parties);
4) be entered into a monthly "lottery" that pays off the top (three?) winners with nice little $ prizes in each category and recognition in a special web page that announces the winners.
My guess is that egoism and desire for exposure from these amateur video producers will draw a big income from these submissions.
This approach could be initiated as a separate contest category, while still accepting free entries into a secondary, subsidiary section that contains no prizes or special recognition.
Best wishes ]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:59:54 -0400 1) select a category for their submission from, say, 20 or so provided;
2) pay a reasonable entry fee;
3) be recompensed down to zero against their fee by a formula rewarding #hits on their video (protecting against multiple submissions from interested parties);
4) be entered into a monthly "lottery" that pays off the top (three?) winners with nice little $ prizes in each category and recognition in a special web page that announces the winners.
My guess is that egoism and desire for exposure from these amateur video producers will draw a big income from these submissions.
This approach could be initiated as a separate contest category, while still accepting free entries into a secondary, subsidiary section that contains no prizes or special recognition.
Best wishes ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/83845-why-google-rules-the-online-ad-market-and-how-that-could-change?source=feed#comment-204921 204921 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 04:22:13 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/83052-time-to-start-buying-some-dogs?source=feed#comment-194567 194567 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:19:53 -0400