Learning Curve's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/186361/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/162581-offshore-wind-europe-now-u-s-when?source=feed#comment-710118 710118 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:55:12 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/114314-economic-short-takes-things-i-m-worried-about-right-now?source=feed#comment-353251 353251 I'm looking with a jaundiced eye at the chosen members of the new economic team who –with the exception of Paul Volker—impress me as a bit out of touch with how to manage an economy in extreme recession.
(I have my view because I’m prejudiced to believe anything Paul Krugman says.)
Sighting Krugman's NYTimes article of January 11th and titled 'Ideas for Obama':

“First, Mr. Obama should scrap his proposal for $150 billion in business tax cuts, which would do little to help the economy. Ideally he’d scrap the proposed $150 billion payroll tax cut as well, though I’m aware that it was a campaign promise.
"Money not squandered on ineffective tax cuts could be used to provide further relief to Americans in distress — enhanced unemployment benefits, expanded Medicaid and more. And why not get an early start on the insurance subsidies — probably running at $100 billion or more per year — that will be essential if we’re going to achieve universal health care?”

My dream is that corporations will begin to welcome the prospect of relief from their obligations to provide health care insurance to employees. I’m dreaming that businesses will see that component of their budgets as burdensome (despite the fact that such costs provide a tax write off) and will, finally, support universal health care. What a relief for all of us if we were to join the rest of the ‘first world’ in taking this scary cost component out of people’s lives.

]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:24:10 -0500 I'm looking with a jaundiced eye at the chosen members of the new economic team who –with the exception of Paul Volker—impress me as a bit out of touch with how to manage an economy in extreme recession.
(I have my view because I’m prejudiced to believe anything Paul Krugman says.)
Sighting Krugman's NYTimes article of January 11th and titled 'Ideas for Obama':

“First, Mr. Obama should scrap his proposal for $150 billion in business tax cuts, which would do little to help the economy. Ideally he’d scrap the proposed $150 billion payroll tax cut as well, though I’m aware that it was a campaign promise.
"Money not squandered on ineffective tax cuts could be used to provide further relief to Americans in distress — enhanced unemployment benefits, expanded Medicaid and more. And why not get an early start on the insurance subsidies — probably running at $100 billion or more per year — that will be essential if we’re going to achieve universal health care?”

My dream is that corporations will begin to welcome the prospect of relief from their obligations to provide health care insurance to employees. I’m dreaming that businesses will see that component of their budgets as burdensome (despite the fact that such costs provide a tax write off) and will, finally, support universal health care. What a relief for all of us if we were to join the rest of the ‘first world’ in taking this scary cost component out of people’s lives.

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/93688-hydroelectric-vs-slow-volcanic-power?source=feed#comment-256354 256354 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:12:21 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/94769-has-the-sun-set-on-solar-energy-stocks?source=feed#comment-250655 250655 Zenfar & gebby:
An investment misunderstanding I've had is that I didn't realize that guesses about political outcomes would move stock prices so very much.
However that may be, what is disappointing about my solar investments is that their stock prices are more subject to short term interest in trading and less interest in the long term need for clean renewable energy.
A mistake I made in investing in clean energy stocks as a long term play is that, while I knew they would be volitile, I hadn't realized that good ideas, prospects and products may not be rewarded in this market environment.
Even so, I'm net up in my clean energy portfolio, which I've held for 20+ months. That it is well diversified and that I 'bought low' are the reasons I'm ahead.
Overall, I intend to "remain long" with my portfolio and to buy good companies on the dips. ]]> Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:10:17 -0400 Zenfar & gebby:
An investment misunderstanding I've had is that I didn't realize that guesses about political outcomes would move stock prices so very much.
However that may be, what is disappointing about my solar investments is that their stock prices are more subject to short term interest in trading and less interest in the long term need for clean renewable energy.
A mistake I made in investing in clean energy stocks as a long term play is that, while I knew they would be volitile, I hadn't realized that good ideas, prospects and products may not be rewarded in this market environment.
Even so, I'm net up in my clean energy portfolio, which I've held for 20+ months. That it is well diversified and that I 'bought low' are the reasons I'm ahead.
Overall, I intend to "remain long" with my portfolio and to buy good companies on the dips. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/91389-with-help-from-california-solar-gets-fired-up?source=feed#comment-234800 234800 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:22:32 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/84612-three-plays-on-solar-strength-this-summer?source=feed#comment-203175 203175 Here is the assumption I’ve been making: that thin film -–as in United Solar Ovonics-- can be formed around objects such as roof tiles and that the thin film technology may combine with other solar technologies to make a hybrid product.
I’d appreciate any discussion about whether this line of thinking about thin film has merit.
Meanwhile, I have deliberately diversified into a range of alternative energy stocks, in different points in the value chain and into diverse approaches to technical solutions ---which, then, includes ENER and FSLR.
In Fort Collins, Colorado, there is a little start-up company -AVA- that is developing ways to use window glass in this context. If/when it becomes public, I'll want to own a piece. (Although it will use cadmium telluride, and that is controversial!)

www.avasolar.com
]]> Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:04:47 -0400 Here is the assumption I’ve been making: that thin film -–as in United Solar Ovonics-- can be formed around objects such as roof tiles and that the thin film technology may combine with other solar technologies to make a hybrid product.
I’d appreciate any discussion about whether this line of thinking about thin film has merit.
Meanwhile, I have deliberately diversified into a range of alternative energy stocks, in different points in the value chain and into diverse approaches to technical solutions ---which, then, includes ENER and FSLR.
In Fort Collins, Colorado, there is a little start-up company -AVA- that is developing ways to use window glass in this context. If/when it becomes public, I'll want to own a piece. (Although it will use cadmium telluride, and that is controversial!)

www.avasolar.com
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/83134-memc-electronic-materials-climbing-the-wall-of-worry?source=feed#comment-198154 198154 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:45:06 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/83421-look-what-s-blowin-in-the-new-wind-etfs?source=feed#comment-198024 198024 (How Danes feel in the winter may be another matter.)
Personally, I've seen nothing more hopeful and harmonious than a spread of wind energy fans whether they be in Europe or California.]]> Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:04:21 -0400 (How Danes feel in the winter may be another matter.)
Personally, I've seen nothing more hopeful and harmonious than a spread of wind energy fans whether they be in Europe or California.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/83299-wind-power-is-blowing-strong-right-now?source=feed#comment-198018 198018 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:56:18 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/83433-to-meet-wind-power-goals-government-action-needed?source=feed#comment-197448 197448 Thanks for the discussion.]]> Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:16:46 -0400 Thanks for the discussion.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/83580-will-some-solar-companies-face-a-cash-crunch?source=feed#comment-197312 197312 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:37:46 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/83001-the-deflation-inflation-stagnation-debate?source=feed#comment-195178 195178 We saw the statistics about the American personal savings allocation going down. We witnessed that the Japanese personal savings rate was high and that no matter the stimulus, they still would not spend.
We saw the underemployment, the growing disparity of wealth. We heard about the 'new economy' and supply side.
Meanwhile, we voted against our own self interest and that of our children.
It was painful to watch the lack of response by these "wizards of wall street" and certain Administrations back to 1980.
While it may be true that the wealthy feel none of this, who, exactly is going to recharge the stock values in their portfolios once the buying public is completely tapped out and Disney Land, medications, electronic devices, education, Chinese toys for the kiddies, food from south of the equator and shiny new automotive transportation are no longer in the consumer’s budget? Politicians and magnates can’t continually hurt the citizenry with bad policy and expect the US to remain a world power.
]]> Sun, 29 Jun 2008 11:21:06 -0400 We saw the statistics about the American personal savings allocation going down. We witnessed that the Japanese personal savings rate was high and that no matter the stimulus, they still would not spend.
We saw the underemployment, the growing disparity of wealth. We heard about the 'new economy' and supply side.
Meanwhile, we voted against our own self interest and that of our children.
It was painful to watch the lack of response by these "wizards of wall street" and certain Administrations back to 1980.
While it may be true that the wealthy feel none of this, who, exactly is going to recharge the stock values in their portfolios once the buying public is completely tapped out and Disney Land, medications, electronic devices, education, Chinese toys for the kiddies, food from south of the equator and shiny new automotive transportation are no longer in the consumer’s budget? Politicians and magnates can’t continually hurt the citizenry with bad policy and expect the US to remain a world power.
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/82727-investor-in-the-woods-part-i?source=feed#comment-194434 194434 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:38:23 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/82751-buying-green-energy-stocks-into-the-elections?source=feed#comment-193313 193313 I think we’ll see American consumer behavior change abruptly, particularly automotive and driving behavior. This “shock of gas prices” that was supposed to make people wise up once gasoline hit $6 a gallon has now begun at $4. Meanwhile, there is an ever increasing interest in other positive changes in behavior –at least all around me here on the front range of Colorado (excluding Colorado Springs). The few vociferous people who say that ‘peak oil’ is a hoax are dismissed as citizens begin to actually look into the issue.
Of course, I worry that political behavior will trump good reforms and that we’ll be a long time out of this entrapment by big-oil.
Meanwhile, with regard to Republicans being good for the economy, please to look at the actual performance of economies and stock investing as a function of which political party is in power. Review the depredations on Americans produced by Calvin Coolidge (much admired by R Reagan) and the unfortunate H Hoover. Understand the frustrations Republicans felt when a decent and insightful man (Theodore Roosevelt) became president and took on the mega-corps.
By the way, john gordon, I agree completely.]]> Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:55:56 -0400 I think we’ll see American consumer behavior change abruptly, particularly automotive and driving behavior. This “shock of gas prices” that was supposed to make people wise up once gasoline hit $6 a gallon has now begun at $4. Meanwhile, there is an ever increasing interest in other positive changes in behavior –at least all around me here on the front range of Colorado (excluding Colorado Springs). The few vociferous people who say that ‘peak oil’ is a hoax are dismissed as citizens begin to actually look into the issue.
Of course, I worry that political behavior will trump good reforms and that we’ll be a long time out of this entrapment by big-oil.
Meanwhile, with regard to Republicans being good for the economy, please to look at the actual performance of economies and stock investing as a function of which political party is in power. Review the depredations on Americans produced by Calvin Coolidge (much admired by R Reagan) and the unfortunate H Hoover. Understand the frustrations Republicans felt when a decent and insightful man (Theodore Roosevelt) became president and took on the mega-corps.
By the way, john gordon, I agree completely.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/82677-ev-to-ebitda-us-stock-screen?source=feed#comment-192999 192999 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:21:12 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/82578-all-of-the-motor-fuel-alternatives-to-conventional-crude-oil-stink?source=feed#comment-192763 192763 Meanwhile, in the article and among the comments, geothermal was not mentioned. Geothermal investment options should be discussed on Seeking Alpha.
And, of course, there are inventive and competent engineers who are, at this moment, working on such problems as intermittency of power, or better battery technologies.
(My own conspiracy theory: We had an electric car, once. Remember Who Killed it.)
Thanks for the outline, Scott. Important stuff.
]]> Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:55:30 -0400 Meanwhile, in the article and among the comments, geothermal was not mentioned. Geothermal investment options should be discussed on Seeking Alpha.
And, of course, there are inventive and competent engineers who are, at this moment, working on such problems as intermittency of power, or better battery technologies.
(My own conspiracy theory: We had an electric car, once. Remember Who Killed it.)
Thanks for the outline, Scott. Important stuff.
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/82419-renewable-energy-the-next-economic-boom?source=feed#comment-191910 191910 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:10:51 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/82350-too-late-to-the-oil-party-consider-the-alternative?source=feed#comment-191075 191075 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:49:38 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/82244-time-to-change-country-mix-in-world-market-cap?source=feed#comment-190153 190153 Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:13:09 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/81710-the-u-s-economic-metronome-keeps-dangerous-rhythms?source=feed#comment-189487 189487 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:35:50 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/81557-selling-some-yingli-and-trina-solar-on-dead-cat-bounce?source=feed#comment-189201 189201 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:10:06 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/81557-selling-some-yingli-and-trina-solar-on-dead-cat-bounce?source=feed#comment-189131 189131 Certainly there is the personally crafted approach and rationale. My aim is to hold a reasonable portfolio of alt.energy for the very long term and to occasionally buy and sell to balance it.
Will I make money every year? Well, last October I bought CSIQ at $9.40 but Trina at $55 (having added as the price has come down).
Perhaps after many years, I’ll have averaged ~ up 20% per year. I’m small potatoes attempting to build something my children can inherit! My 20+ positions are up 44% since the inception of this idea.
Seeking Alpha has been a big help. Thanks, guys.]]> Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:05:43 -0400 Certainly there is the personally crafted approach and rationale. My aim is to hold a reasonable portfolio of alt.energy for the very long term and to occasionally buy and sell to balance it.
Will I make money every year? Well, last October I bought CSIQ at $9.40 but Trina at $55 (having added as the price has come down).
Perhaps after many years, I’ll have averaged ~ up 20% per year. I’m small potatoes attempting to build something my children can inherit! My 20+ positions are up 44% since the inception of this idea.
Seeking Alpha has been a big help. Thanks, guys.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/78616-is-oil-a-bubble-part-one?source=feed#comment-173699 173699
Play UltimateMay 23 06:31 PMRead this article:

web.mit.edu/ceepr/www/...

--------

And thank you,

PanskepticMay 23 07:56 AMT

"And BTW, no farmer gets executive compensation like the heads of oil companies. So discussion of a windfall-profits tax for the ag sector is not in the cards. But a wpt for Big Oil does not offend my theology."

Nor mine!!

]]> Sun, 25 May 2008 16:56:57 -0400
Play UltimateMay 23 06:31 PMRead this article:

web.mit.edu/ceepr/www/...

--------

And thank you,

PanskepticMay 23 07:56 AMT

"And BTW, no farmer gets executive compensation like the heads of oil companies. So discussion of a windfall-profits tax for the ag sector is not in the cards. But a wpt for Big Oil does not offend my theology."

Nor mine!!

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/78616-is-oil-a-bubble-part-one?source=feed#comment-173679 173679 Sun, 25 May 2008 16:08:31 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/37484-four-prison-stocks-worth-locking-up-in-your-portfolio?source=feed#comment-169022 169022 Fri, 16 May 2008 15:37:04 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/77331-wind-the-powerful-anti-commodity?source=feed#comment-168581 168581 Fri, 16 May 2008 03:10:37 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/77043-my-top-5-alternative-energy-stocks-and-10-honorable-mentions?source=feed#comment-167569 167569 Wed, 14 May 2008 14:01:35 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/75943-high-incarceration-rate-weighing-on-u-s-economy-with-upside-for-corrections-corp?source=feed#comment-167469 167469 Wed, 14 May 2008 12:00:07 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/76540-is-energy-conversion-devices-ready-for-a-comeback?source=feed#comment-164836 164836 Fri, 09 May 2008 11:01:19 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/76489-the-black-swan-in-food?source=feed#comment-164728 164728 Fri, 09 May 2008 09:08:52 -0400