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    <title>DavyJ's Comments</title>
    <description>DavyJ's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com</description>
    <link>http://seekingalpha.com/user/205792/comments</link>
    <item>
      <title>The European investigation (I, II) into oil benchmark pricing raises rarely voiced questions about the appropriate way to set prices. FT notes that Platts' reporters cover 400+ wholesale energy prices everyday and the information available to them is limited to what commodities houses and Big Oil are willing to disclose. The process is complicated by the fact that myriad factors ranging from small discrepancies in quality to the type of hull on transport tankers, make the process inherently subjective. Nevertheless, the ordeal looks quite a bit like the Libor and ISDAFIX probes: a benchmark to which trillions of dollars of assets are tied is determined by key players away from the public eye.</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1033901?source=feed#comment-18990131</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">18990131</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[For an excellent article on oil pricing, see this one by Kyle Spencer on November 2, 2012.<br/><br/><a rel='nofollow' target='_blank' href='http://seekingalpha.com/a/kwtp'>http://seekingalpha.co...</a>]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Sat, 18 May 2013 19:11:08 -0400</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[For an excellent article on oil pricing, see this one by Kyle Spencer on November 2, 2012.<br/><br/><a rel='nofollow' target='_blank' href='http://seekingalpha.com/a/kwtp'>http://seekingalpha.co...</a>]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Romanian Teenager Wins Big for Low-Cost, Self-Driving Car Innovation</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/news-article/6588701-romanian-teenager-wins-big-for-low-cost-self-driving-car-innovation?source=feed#comment-18967441</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">18967441</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[No Browns, Joneses, or Smiths to be seen.]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2013 19:19:25 -0400</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[No Browns, Joneses, or Smiths to be seen.]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Will The Sleeping Hare Win?</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1438171/comments?source=feed#comment-18877151</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">18877151</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[Put the blame on Microsoft. The only reason I haven't updated my desktop computer from XP is because I have several DOS programs that I dearly love and use each and every every day that won't run on Windows 7 or 8 without a software addition/upgrade to W7 or W8 which is more expensive than the original program's cost.<br/><br/>So in the meantime, I use my laptop for all the routine light work, and my desktop for the DOS programs and activities that are better suited for a large screen and full size keyboard. And the XP desktop works as an adequate server.<br/><br/>Could I live without the DOS programs? Of course. Would I spend money to lose their functionality? Not a chance. Sorry Microsoft.<br/> <br/> ]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 May 2013 20:53:01 -0400</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Put the blame on Microsoft. The only reason I haven't updated my desktop computer from XP is because I have several DOS programs that I dearly love and use each and every every day that won't run on Windows 7 or 8 without a software addition/upgrade to W7 or W8 which is more expensive than the original program's cost.<br/><br/>So in the meantime, I use my laptop for all the routine light work, and my desktop for the DOS programs and activities that are better suited for a large screen and full size keyboard. And the XP desktop works as an adequate server.<br/><br/>Could I live without the DOS programs? Of course. Would I spend money to lose their functionality? Not a chance. Sorry Microsoft.<br/> <br/> ]]>
      </description>
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      <title>The Real Experiment That Is Being Carried Out In Japan</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1432651/comments?source=feed#comment-18830321</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">18830321</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[One thing that continues to escape me is that no one ever mentions how the general population if Japan is faring after more than 20 years of deflation.<br/><br/>We constantly hear of the high rate of unemployment in southern Europe, the deficits there, this crisis, that crisis, and how the people are suffering, the list goes on.<br/><br/>But Japan? GDP not growing, or at least not growing up to economist's expectations, is such a horror. The evils of deflation abound and nothing seems to work!<br/><br/>So someone tell me. How are the Japanese people coping after twenty-some years?]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2013 20:53:32 -0400</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[One thing that continues to escape me is that no one ever mentions how the general population if Japan is faring after more than 20 years of deflation.<br/><br/>We constantly hear of the high rate of unemployment in southern Europe, the deficits there, this crisis, that crisis, and how the people are suffering, the list goes on.<br/><br/>But Japan? GDP not growing, or at least not growing up to economist's expectations, is such a horror. The evils of deflation abound and nothing seems to work!<br/><br/>So someone tell me. How are the Japanese people coping after twenty-some years?]]>
      </description>
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    <item>
      <title>This Asset Bubble: The Difference Is...</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1433191/comments?source=feed#comment-18818941</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">18818941</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[I don't know why some focus on quarter over quarter comparisons as I consider them pretty much useless. You wouldn't use quarter over quarter comparisons for temperature or weather would you?<br/><br/>For the year ending April 30, 2012, the DJIA earnings per share trailing 12 months were $118.44 and the then current year to date were $139.77 with P/Es of 14.74 and 12.49 respectively.<br/><br/>For the year ending April 30, 2013, the DJIA earnings per share trailing 12 months were 122.87 and the now current year to date were $144.80 with P/Es of 15.73 and 13.35 respectively.<br/><br/>That relates to a TTM 3.74% gain and 3.59%. Not great, but certainly not declining and not an asset bubble.<br/><br/>All calculations based on data from Yahoo Finance.]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2013 14:24:34 -0400</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[I don't know why some focus on quarter over quarter comparisons as I consider them pretty much useless. You wouldn't use quarter over quarter comparisons for temperature or weather would you?<br/><br/>For the year ending April 30, 2012, the DJIA earnings per share trailing 12 months were $118.44 and the then current year to date were $139.77 with P/Es of 14.74 and 12.49 respectively.<br/><br/>For the year ending April 30, 2013, the DJIA earnings per share trailing 12 months were 122.87 and the now current year to date were $144.80 with P/Es of 15.73 and 13.35 respectively.<br/><br/>That relates to a TTM 3.74% gain and 3.59%. Not great, but certainly not declining and not an asset bubble.<br/><br/>All calculations based on data from Yahoo Finance.]]>
      </description>
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      <title>Intel: Busting Another False Myth</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1427041/comments?source=feed#comment-18720371</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">18720371</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[Ashraf,<br/><br/>I really appreciate your hard work and insight.<br/><br/>But, I cringe every time I see phrases like:<br/>“Oh, and don't forget that Intel's transistors are much smaller than the competitions' ...”<br/>“Oh, and TSMC's &quot;16nm&quot; is really 16nm FinFETs ...”<br/><br/>as it it's an afterthought. That phraseology seems to be in vogue nowadays but why not just leave off the &quot;Oh,&quot; since we all know it's not an afterthought, just the current fad in Internet speak.<br/><br/>And did I mention, I really appreciate your hard work and insight?]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Sat, 11 May 2013 20:44:30 -0400</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Ashraf,<br/><br/>I really appreciate your hard work and insight.<br/><br/>But, I cringe every time I see phrases like:<br/>“Oh, and don't forget that Intel's transistors are much smaller than the competitions' ...”<br/>“Oh, and TSMC's &quot;16nm&quot; is really 16nm FinFETs ...”<br/><br/>as it it's an afterthought. That phraseology seems to be in vogue nowadays but why not just leave off the &quot;Oh,&quot; since we all know it's not an afterthought, just the current fad in Internet speak.<br/><br/>And did I mention, I really appreciate your hard work and insight?]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>3 Ways The Dow Is Lying - What Does It Mean?</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1396031/comments?source=feed#comment-18404981</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">18404981</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[I don't understand your analogy.<br/><br/>Some people, in order to put on a negative spin, like to rewrite history by adjusting numbers to reflect inflation, reflect the price of gold, allow for currency fluctuations if they live in a foreign country, the list goes on.<br/><br/>I disagree with that philosophy though it should be recognized that inflation takes it's toll on any asset, including gold if you're inclined to invest in gold. Maybe the article should have been titled &quot;3 ways gold is lying&quot;.<br/><br/>But the point of my post was that the &quot;3 ways the dow is lying&quot; has absolutely nothing to do with the Dow, the S&amp;P500, gold, Apple stock, or my car.]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2013 11:25:09 -0400</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[I don't understand your analogy.<br/><br/>Some people, in order to put on a negative spin, like to rewrite history by adjusting numbers to reflect inflation, reflect the price of gold, allow for currency fluctuations if they live in a foreign country, the list goes on.<br/><br/>I disagree with that philosophy though it should be recognized that inflation takes it's toll on any asset, including gold if you're inclined to invest in gold. Maybe the article should have been titled &quot;3 ways gold is lying&quot;.<br/><br/>But the point of my post was that the &quot;3 ways the dow is lying&quot; has absolutely nothing to do with the Dow, the S&amp;P500, gold, Apple stock, or my car.]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>3 Ways The Dow Is Lying - What Does It Mean?</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1396031/comments?source=feed#comment-18382631</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">18382631</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[The DJIA is not lying. It shows the price of the 30 stocks compared to some previous point in time. Nothing more, nothing less.<br/><br/>Don't blame inflation on the &quot;Dow&quot;. It has nothing to do with it.<br/><br/>Don't blame the unemployment rate on the &quot;Dow&quot;. It has nothing to do with it.<br/><br/>Don't blame the employment/population ratio on the &quot;Dow&quot;. It has nothing to do with it.<br/><br/>More and more I'm disappointed with the quality and content of articles posted on Seeking Alpha. <br/><br/>The &quot;Dow&quot; does an excellent job for what it was designed to do. Trying to use a hammer when a screwdriver is required is a fault of the user, not the tool.<br/> ]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2013 19:48:52 -0400</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[The DJIA is not lying. It shows the price of the 30 stocks compared to some previous point in time. Nothing more, nothing less.<br/><br/>Don't blame inflation on the &quot;Dow&quot;. It has nothing to do with it.<br/><br/>Don't blame the unemployment rate on the &quot;Dow&quot;. It has nothing to do with it.<br/><br/>Don't blame the employment/population ratio on the &quot;Dow&quot;. It has nothing to do with it.<br/><br/>More and more I'm disappointed with the quality and content of articles posted on Seeking Alpha. <br/><br/>The &quot;Dow&quot; does an excellent job for what it was designed to do. Trying to use a hammer when a screwdriver is required is a fault of the user, not the tool.<br/> ]]>
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      <title>Food Stamps: The Most Accurate Economic Indicator</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1370581/comments?source=feed#comment-18107531</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">18107531</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[You may be right. Since March 2009 the number of recipients on food stamps has pretty much risen in lockstep with the markets.<br/> <br/>Now it looks to me like the increase of recipients has started to level off.<br/> <br/>Should the number of recipients start to decline, maybe the markets will too.<br/><br/>Or did I misunderstand your article?<br/> ]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:50:37 -0400</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[You may be right. Since March 2009 the number of recipients on food stamps has pretty much risen in lockstep with the markets.<br/> <br/>Now it looks to me like the increase of recipients has started to level off.<br/> <br/>Should the number of recipients start to decline, maybe the markets will too.<br/><br/>Or did I misunderstand your article?<br/> ]]>
      </description>
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      <title>Record Demand Lifts Gold Prices, U.S. Mint Suspends Sales</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1368571/comments?source=feed#comment-18057021</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">18057021</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[One has to ask: Is it a production problem or a supply problem?<br/><br/>There seems to be more supply than demand since the price of gold had declined so much. I'd say it may be a production problem or a balancing of inventories.]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:33:22 -0400</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[One has to ask: Is it a production problem or a supply problem?<br/><br/>There seems to be more supply than demand since the price of gold had declined so much. I'd say it may be a production problem or a balancing of inventories.]]>
      </description>
    </item>
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      <title>U.S. Government Invents New Way Of Calculating GDP</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1368001/comments?source=feed#comment-18056761</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">18056761</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[Re: &quot;As this adjustment in GDP calculation is pretty significant, I will discuss the new items in the U.S. GDP, what the consequences are and how investors should act on this revision in statistics.&quot;<br/><br/>There are no consequences for investors. Investors buy companies they believe will be profitable in the future and will increase in value and return dividends or capital gains to shareholders.<br/><br/>Traders and speculators may be affected if they think they have an edge because they use models that use GDP, but in reality, it's just an academic exercise.<br/><br/>To buy or sell a business based upon its relationship to GDP doesn't make sense.]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:22:03 -0400</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Re: &quot;As this adjustment in GDP calculation is pretty significant, I will discuss the new items in the U.S. GDP, what the consequences are and how investors should act on this revision in statistics.&quot;<br/><br/>There are no consequences for investors. Investors buy companies they believe will be profitable in the future and will increase in value and return dividends or capital gains to shareholders.<br/><br/>Traders and speculators may be affected if they think they have an edge because they use models that use GDP, but in reality, it's just an academic exercise.<br/><br/>To buy or sell a business based upon its relationship to GDP doesn't make sense.]]>
      </description>
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      <title>Did Your Market Come Back?</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1347701/comments?source=feed#comment-17764081</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">17764081</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[So am I to believe Sy's picks from 1990 or whenever are his benchmarks?<br/><br/>And they have all came back? And he didn't change with the changing times?<br/><br/>Or is that his point? Not clear to me.]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:05:30 -0400</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[So am I to believe Sy's picks from 1990 or whenever are his benchmarks?<br/><br/>And they have all came back? And he didn't change with the changing times?<br/><br/>Or is that his point? Not clear to me.]]>
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      <title>Is The U.S. Economy In Trouble?</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1327211/comments?source=feed#comment-17475491</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">17475491</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[Okay, I finally went to the Zerohedge website.<br/><br/>Your referenced chart appears to be, but not labeled as such, to be some sort of monthly change, not total sales. Look at the first two charts and compare the volume numbers with the referenced chart.<br/><br/>I don't think I'm the one that has a problem.]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:09:01 -0400</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Okay, I finally went to the Zerohedge website.<br/><br/>Your referenced chart appears to be, but not labeled as such, to be some sort of monthly change, not total sales. Look at the first two charts and compare the volume numbers with the referenced chart.<br/><br/>I don't think I'm the one that has a problem.]]>
      </description>
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    <item>
      <title>Is The U.S. Economy In Trouble?</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1327211/comments?source=feed#comment-17474451</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">17474451</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[Doug Short seems to disagree with Zerohedge.<br/><br/><a rel='nofollow' target='_blank' href='http://seekingalpha.com/a/kl8r'>http://seekingalpha.co...</a><br/><br/>But who the hell is he?]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:41:05 -0400</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Doug Short seems to disagree with Zerohedge.<br/><br/><a rel='nofollow' target='_blank' href='http://seekingalpha.com/a/kl8r'>http://seekingalpha.co...</a><br/><br/>But who the hell is he?]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Is The U.S. Economy In Trouble?</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1327211/comments?source=feed#comment-17409951</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">17409951</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[Whenever I see a statistic that shows such a dramatic change, i.e., over 50% drop, I go back and question the source.<br/><br/>Do you really believe gasoline consumption was cut in half in the last 6 years? All while the population was increasing.]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:51:01 -0400</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Whenever I see a statistic that shows such a dramatic change, i.e., over 50% drop, I go back and question the source.<br/><br/>Do you really believe gasoline consumption was cut in half in the last 6 years? All while the population was increasing.]]>
      </description>
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    <item>
      <title>General Electric And Caterpillar Shares Could Be Indicating That A Market Correction Is Coming</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1301941/comments?source=feed#comment-16855121</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">16855121</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[Substitute &quot;speculator&quot; for &quot;investor&quot; and this article makes sense.<br/><br/>Speculate at your own risk. Or is that redundant.]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:54:12 -0400</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Substitute &quot;speculator&quot; for &quot;investor&quot; and this article makes sense.<br/><br/>Speculate at your own risk. Or is that redundant.]]>
      </description>
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    <item>
      <title>'Sell In May And Go Away' Might Come Early This Year</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1266961/comments?source=feed#comment-16206941</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">16206941</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[Absolutely Tom,<br/><br/>There was no government pressure for banks to make equity cash out loans on existing properties. Those cash outs almost destroyed our condominium association and many others in Florida. We are still paying the price.]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Tue, 12 Mar 2013 21:36:26 -0400</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Absolutely Tom,<br/><br/>There was no government pressure for banks to make equity cash out loans on existing properties. Those cash outs almost destroyed our condominium association and many others in Florida. We are still paying the price.]]>
      </description>
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    <item>
      <title>After The Dow Record Close: What Comes Next?</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1253691/comments?source=feed#comment-15953791</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">15953791</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[Re: &quot;If we see either fiscal drag-induced economic weakening or evidence that the economy can stand on its own two feet -- meaning the Fed could take its foot off the accelerator -- I would expect some pullback in stocks.&quot;<br/><br/>So if the economy is improving, it's time to try to time the market rather than hold on and reap the rewards. Got it!]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Wed, 06 Mar 2013 20:45:40 -0500</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Re: &quot;If we see either fiscal drag-induced economic weakening or evidence that the economy can stand on its own two feet -- meaning the Fed could take its foot off the accelerator -- I would expect some pullback in stocks.&quot;<br/><br/>So if the economy is improving, it's time to try to time the market rather than hold on and reap the rewards. Got it!]]>
      </description>
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      <title>Why Microsoft And Intel Investors Should Be Glad The Stocks Are Languishing</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1241011/comments?source=feed#comment-15734451</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">15734451</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[Ronald,<br/><br/>I stand corrected. I took his statement to mean the starting dividends were $5,000. &quot;All your increase in portfolio value will come from the current dividend, paid quarterly, which INTC will raise annually.&quot;<br/><br/>My apologies to HiLo.]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Sat, 02 Mar 2013 12:08:30 -0500</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Ronald,<br/><br/>I stand corrected. I took his statement to mean the starting dividends were $5,000. &quot;All your increase in portfolio value will come from the current dividend, paid quarterly, which INTC will raise annually.&quot;<br/><br/>My apologies to HiLo.]]>
      </description>
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    <item>
      <title>Why Microsoft And Intel Investors Should Be Glad The Stocks Are Languishing</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1241011/comments?source=feed#comment-15728491</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">15728491</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[AnonymousAlpha,<br/><br/>Don't jump to conclusions too quickly. In HiLo's example of NoDiv the initial investment was $5,000. So to be fair, The initial investment in Intel should be $5,000. With $5,000 to invest at $20 per share, he could only start with 250 shares and his first year's dividends would be 250 times $0.90, or $225.00. Compounding that on a back of an envelope nets approximately $11,700 over 30 years in dividends.]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Sat, 02 Mar 2013 09:05:27 -0500</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[AnonymousAlpha,<br/><br/>Don't jump to conclusions too quickly. In HiLo's example of NoDiv the initial investment was $5,000. So to be fair, The initial investment in Intel should be $5,000. With $5,000 to invest at $20 per share, he could only start with 250 shares and his first year's dividends would be 250 times $0.90, or $225.00. Compounding that on a back of an envelope nets approximately $11,700 over 30 years in dividends.]]>
      </description>
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      <title>Wrapping It Up For 2013</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1186911/comments?source=feed#comment-15063311</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">15063311</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[Well that's a bit more than I asked for.<br/><br/>I just dumped CenturyLink last month. Out of the blue they decided to up my long distance charges by $5.00 a month. It got me to thinking. Why do I still have a landline phone, and why would I have want to have a long distance plan on it?<br/><br/>You did see what happened to to CenturyLink once the word got out. ]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2013 17:10:30 -0500</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Well that's a bit more than I asked for.<br/><br/>I just dumped CenturyLink last month. Out of the blue they decided to up my long distance charges by $5.00 a month. It got me to thinking. Why do I still have a landline phone, and why would I have want to have a long distance plan on it?<br/><br/>You did see what happened to to CenturyLink once the word got out. ]]>
      </description>
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    <item>
      <title>Wrapping It Up For 2013</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1186911/comments?source=feed#comment-15038751</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">15038751</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[Tom, I've always enjoyed your articles. Thanks.<br/><br/>But you did leave me hanging with: &quot;The precipitating incident was trivial: I made what I considered a reasonable request, and my brokerage refused to grant it.&quot;<br/><br/>I'm more than a little curious as I'm inclined to react in the same way.]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2013 10:47:58 -0500</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Tom, I've always enjoyed your articles. Thanks.<br/><br/>But you did leave me hanging with: &quot;The precipitating incident was trivial: I made what I considered a reasonable request, and my brokerage refused to grant it.&quot;<br/><br/>I'm more than a little curious as I'm inclined to react in the same way.]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Is Now The Time To Buy Stocks?</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1169751/comments?source=feed#comment-14793381</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">14793381</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[&quot;Is Now The Time To Buy Stocks?&quot;<br/><br/>Is the top rung of a ladder labeled? &quot;This is the last rung. Please don't step higher than this?&quot;<br/>- 1Q84]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:55:06 -0500</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[&quot;Is Now The Time To Buy Stocks?&quot;<br/><br/>Is the top rung of a ladder labeled? &quot;This is the last rung. Please don't step higher than this?&quot;<br/>- 1Q84]]>
      </description>
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      <title>More Proof That Share Buybacks Do Not Add Value</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1089921/comments?source=feed#comment-13214651</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">13214651</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[Since many of the stocks in the PKW are also included in the SPY, one could say that the influence of the buybacks increased the gains of the SPY. In other words, what you are doing is comparing PKW to PKW plus the remaining stocks in the SPY.<br/><br/>You would have to exclude all of the components of PKW that are in the SPY and then compare the remaining stocks to PKW.]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Wed, 02 Jan 2013 09:18:57 -0500</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Since many of the stocks in the PKW are also included in the SPY, one could say that the influence of the buybacks increased the gains of the SPY. In other words, what you are doing is comparing PKW to PKW plus the remaining stocks in the SPY.<br/><br/>You would have to exclude all of the components of PKW that are in the SPY and then compare the remaining stocks to PKW.]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Fiscal cliff negotiations between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell hit a major snag after Republicans demand use of the "chained CPI" method for calculating entitlement benefits - which would result in lower payments for Social Security beneficiaries. Pres. Obama backed the provision previously, but Democrats now object to including it as part of a scaled-down deal. Updated 5:51 p.m.: The Senate won't vote tonight and will reconvene at 11 a.m. tomorrow, Reid says.</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/738791?source=feed#comment-13134481</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">13134481</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[I miss the thumbs down.]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Sun, 30 Dec 2012 21:46:26 -0500</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[I miss the thumbs down.]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The chances for a fiscal cliff deal in the next 48 hours are "exceedingly good," says Senator Lindsey Graham, appearing on Fox News. "Hats off to the President, he won," Graham adds. "The President campaigned on raising rates and he's going to get a rate increase."</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/738771?source=feed#comment-13125181</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">13125181</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[Geoffster,<br/><br/>You said &quot;The only way to make serious inroads into the deficit is to cut entitlements.&quot;<br/><br/>But,<br/><br/>Take Social Security out of the budget entirely, both payroll tax and disbursements, and you won't do anything to cut the deficit.<br/><br/>Next take Medicare out of the budget entirely, both payroll tax and disbursements, and you still won't come close to cutting the deficit.<br/><br/>Finally, take Unemployment Compensation out of the budget entirely, both tax and disbursements, and you still won't get close.<br/><br/>It is both silly and deceiving to state that entitlements are the prime cause of the budget deficits.<br/><br/>Like it or not, letting the Bush tax cuts and payroll tax cuts expire is a necessary first step for a serious solution.<br/><br/>There are four separate trust funds for Social Security and Medicare.<br/><br/>For Social Security, the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund pays retirement and survivors benefits and had a surplus in 2011.<br/><br/>The Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund pays disability benefits and had a slight deficit in 2011.<br/><br/>OASDI is the designation for the two trust funds when they are considered on a combined basis and had a surplus in 2011.<br/><br/>For Medicare, the Hospital Insurance (<a href='http://seekingalpha.com/symbol/hi' title='Hillenbrand, Inc.'>HI</a>) Trust Fund pays for inpatient hospital and related care and had a slight deficit in 2011.<br/><br/>The Supplementary Medical Insurance (<a href='http://seekingalpha.com/symbol/smi' title='Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation'>SMI</a>) Trust Fund comprises two separate accounts: Part B, which pays for physician and outpatient services, and Part D, which covers the prescription drug benefit and had a slight surplus in 2011 due to income from general revenues.<br/><br/>Total the reported surpluses and deficits and there is a net surplus of $49.8 billion. Subtract the $222.8 billion from general revenues transferred to the SMI Trust Fund and the net is a deficit of $173 Billion. That is the maximum amount that could have been saved in fiscal year 2011 without Social Security and Medicare entitlements.<br/><br/>Source: <a rel='nofollow' target='_blank' href='http://1.usa.gov/Tp5B0v'>http://1.usa.gov/Tp5B0v</a><br/><br/>The only way to get out of this mess is to restore taxes to the levels before the Bush tax cuts. Going over the cliff is a way for the politicians to save face. Then make the necessary cuts in spending. Though, as pointed out above, most of the cuts will have to be in non-entitlement areas]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Sun, 30 Dec 2012 14:49:42 -0500</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[Geoffster,<br/><br/>You said &quot;The only way to make serious inroads into the deficit is to cut entitlements.&quot;<br/><br/>But,<br/><br/>Take Social Security out of the budget entirely, both payroll tax and disbursements, and you won't do anything to cut the deficit.<br/><br/>Next take Medicare out of the budget entirely, both payroll tax and disbursements, and you still won't come close to cutting the deficit.<br/><br/>Finally, take Unemployment Compensation out of the budget entirely, both tax and disbursements, and you still won't get close.<br/><br/>It is both silly and deceiving to state that entitlements are the prime cause of the budget deficits.<br/><br/>Like it or not, letting the Bush tax cuts and payroll tax cuts expire is a necessary first step for a serious solution.<br/><br/>There are four separate trust funds for Social Security and Medicare.<br/><br/>For Social Security, the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund pays retirement and survivors benefits and had a surplus in 2011.<br/><br/>The Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund pays disability benefits and had a slight deficit in 2011.<br/><br/>OASDI is the designation for the two trust funds when they are considered on a combined basis and had a surplus in 2011.<br/><br/>For Medicare, the Hospital Insurance (<a href='http://seekingalpha.com/symbol/hi' title='Hillenbrand, Inc.'>HI</a>) Trust Fund pays for inpatient hospital and related care and had a slight deficit in 2011.<br/><br/>The Supplementary Medical Insurance (<a href='http://seekingalpha.com/symbol/smi' title='Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation'>SMI</a>) Trust Fund comprises two separate accounts: Part B, which pays for physician and outpatient services, and Part D, which covers the prescription drug benefit and had a slight surplus in 2011 due to income from general revenues.<br/><br/>Total the reported surpluses and deficits and there is a net surplus of $49.8 billion. Subtract the $222.8 billion from general revenues transferred to the SMI Trust Fund and the net is a deficit of $173 Billion. That is the maximum amount that could have been saved in fiscal year 2011 without Social Security and Medicare entitlements.<br/><br/>Source: <a rel='nofollow' target='_blank' href='http://1.usa.gov/Tp5B0v'>http://1.usa.gov/Tp5B0v</a><br/><br/>The only way to get out of this mess is to restore taxes to the levels before the Bush tax cuts. Going over the cliff is a way for the politicians to save face. Then make the necessary cuts in spending. Though, as pointed out above, most of the cuts will have to be in non-entitlement areas]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>It's Only A Fiscal Slope, Not A Cliff!</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1086181/comments?source=feed#comment-13093711</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">13093711</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[I think it would be a good idea to go over. It's the only way to start over.<br/><br/>Because,<br/><br/>Take Social Security out of the budget entirely, both payroll tax and disbursements, and you won't come close to a balanced budget.<br/><br/>Next take Medicare out of the budget entirely, both payroll tax and disbursements, and you still won't come close to a balanced budget.<br/><br/>Finally, take Unemployment Compensation out of the budget entirely, both tax and disbursements, and you still won't come close to a balanced budget.<br/><br/>It is both silly and deceiving to state that entitlements are the prime cause of the budget deficits.<br/><br/>Like it or not, letting the Bush tax cuts and payroll tax cuts expire is a necessary first step for a serious solution.<br/><br/>There are four separate trust funds for Social Security and Medicare.<br/><br/>For Social Security, the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund pays retirement and survivors benefits and had a surplus in 2011.<br/><br/>The Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund pays disability benefits and had a slight deficit in 2011.<br/><br/>OASDI is the designation for the two trust funds when they are considered on a combined basis and had a surplus in 2011.<br/><br/>For Medicare, the Hospital Insurance (<a href='http://seekingalpha.com/symbol/hi' title='Hillenbrand, Inc.'>HI</a>) Trust Fund pays for inpatient hospital and related care and had a slight deficit in 2011.<br/><br/>The Supplementary Medical Insurance (<a href='http://seekingalpha.com/symbol/smi' title='Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation'>SMI</a>) Trust Fund comprises two separate accounts: Part B, which pays for physician and outpatient services, and Part D, which covers the prescription drug benefit and had a slight surplus in 2011 due to income from general revenues.<br/><br/>Total the reported surpluses and deficits and there is a net surplus of $49.8 billion. Subtract the $222.8 billion from general revenues transferred to the SMI Trust Fund and the net is a deficit of $173 Billion. That is the maximum amount that could have been saved in fiscal year 2011 without Social Security and Medicare entitlements.<br/><br/>Source: <a rel='nofollow' target='_blank' href='http://1.usa.gov/Tp5B0v'>http://1.usa.gov/Tp5B0v</a><br/><br/>The only way to get out of this mess is to restore taxes to the levels before the Bush tax cuts. Going over the cliff is a way for the politicians to save face. Then make the necessary cuts in spending. Though, as pointed out above, most of the cuts will have to be in non-entitlement areas.<br/><br/> ]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Sat, 29 Dec 2012 10:24:48 -0500</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[I think it would be a good idea to go over. It's the only way to start over.<br/><br/>Because,<br/><br/>Take Social Security out of the budget entirely, both payroll tax and disbursements, and you won't come close to a balanced budget.<br/><br/>Next take Medicare out of the budget entirely, both payroll tax and disbursements, and you still won't come close to a balanced budget.<br/><br/>Finally, take Unemployment Compensation out of the budget entirely, both tax and disbursements, and you still won't come close to a balanced budget.<br/><br/>It is both silly and deceiving to state that entitlements are the prime cause of the budget deficits.<br/><br/>Like it or not, letting the Bush tax cuts and payroll tax cuts expire is a necessary first step for a serious solution.<br/><br/>There are four separate trust funds for Social Security and Medicare.<br/><br/>For Social Security, the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund pays retirement and survivors benefits and had a surplus in 2011.<br/><br/>The Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund pays disability benefits and had a slight deficit in 2011.<br/><br/>OASDI is the designation for the two trust funds when they are considered on a combined basis and had a surplus in 2011.<br/><br/>For Medicare, the Hospital Insurance (<a href='http://seekingalpha.com/symbol/hi' title='Hillenbrand, Inc.'>HI</a>) Trust Fund pays for inpatient hospital and related care and had a slight deficit in 2011.<br/><br/>The Supplementary Medical Insurance (<a href='http://seekingalpha.com/symbol/smi' title='Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation'>SMI</a>) Trust Fund comprises two separate accounts: Part B, which pays for physician and outpatient services, and Part D, which covers the prescription drug benefit and had a slight surplus in 2011 due to income from general revenues.<br/><br/>Total the reported surpluses and deficits and there is a net surplus of $49.8 billion. Subtract the $222.8 billion from general revenues transferred to the SMI Trust Fund and the net is a deficit of $173 Billion. That is the maximum amount that could have been saved in fiscal year 2011 without Social Security and Medicare entitlements.<br/><br/>Source: <a rel='nofollow' target='_blank' href='http://1.usa.gov/Tp5B0v'>http://1.usa.gov/Tp5B0v</a><br/><br/>The only way to get out of this mess is to restore taxes to the levels before the Bush tax cuts. Going over the cliff is a way for the politicians to save face. Then make the necessary cuts in spending. Though, as pointed out above, most of the cuts will have to be in non-entitlement areas.<br/><br/> ]]>
      </description>
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    <item>
      <title>6 Scary Charts On The Hyperinflationary Cliff</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1066721/comments?source=feed#comment-12665931</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">12665931</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[LT,<br/><br/>Re: &quot;Although this table shows year-to-date figures and not full-year figures&quot;<br/><br/>The federal Government fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30 of the next calendar year. The figures I quoted are for twelve months.<br/><br/>Re: &quot;How do you derive this figure? (For Medicare)<br/><br/>Fiscal year applies here too. $200,000 was an educated guess. Medicare has part A (Hospital) and part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance).  Part A comes from the payroll tax. Part B is from premiums and general revenue. So only part of the outlay would be saved. It's very difficult to derive the numbers from the treasury statement, but search for &quot;Federal Hospital Insurance&quot; to see the receipts and outlays. And search for &quot;Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance&quot; to see those outlays. The report quoted in the article you linked to comes from <a rel='nofollow' target='_blank' href='http://1.usa.gov/12uqoCw'>http://1.usa.gov/12uqoCw</a>. Dissecting both documents until my head was spinning I came up with $200 billion difference. The linked article is just under $300 billion shortfall. The actual report states a $19 billion shortfall.<br/><br/>My point was that you can't balance the budget with spending cuts alone, though some would have you believe it.]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Sun, 16 Dec 2012 19:42:16 -0500</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[LT,<br/><br/>Re: &quot;Although this table shows year-to-date figures and not full-year figures&quot;<br/><br/>The federal Government fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30 of the next calendar year. The figures I quoted are for twelve months.<br/><br/>Re: &quot;How do you derive this figure? (For Medicare)<br/><br/>Fiscal year applies here too. $200,000 was an educated guess. Medicare has part A (Hospital) and part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance).  Part A comes from the payroll tax. Part B is from premiums and general revenue. So only part of the outlay would be saved. It's very difficult to derive the numbers from the treasury statement, but search for &quot;Federal Hospital Insurance&quot; to see the receipts and outlays. And search for &quot;Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance&quot; to see those outlays. The report quoted in the article you linked to comes from <a rel='nofollow' target='_blank' href='http://1.usa.gov/12uqoCw'>http://1.usa.gov/12uqoCw</a>. Dissecting both documents until my head was spinning I came up with $200 billion difference. The linked article is just under $300 billion shortfall. The actual report states a $19 billion shortfall.<br/><br/>My point was that you can't balance the budget with spending cuts alone, though some would have you believe it.]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>6 Scary Charts On The Hyperinflationary Cliff</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1066721/comments?source=feed#comment-12661781</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">12661781</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[LT,<br/><br/>What you say in your 3 points is true. But it is only a fraction of the story.<br/><br/>Eliminate Social Security in it's entirety, both distributions and payroll tax, and it will STILL leave an annual budget deficit of approximately $920 billion. Refer to Table 9, page 34 of: <a rel='nofollow' target='_blank' href='http://1.usa.gov/SALKwY'>http://1.usa.gov/SALKwY</a><br/><br/>Eliminate Medicare and Medicaid in their entirety, both distributions and tax, and save about $200 billion and it will STILL leave an annual budget of approximately $720 billion.<br/><br/>Eliminate Unemployment Insurance in it's entirety, both distributions and tax, and save $475 billion. Now you're talking lots of money but you're still not there.<br/><br/>The Final Monthly Treasury Statement mentioned above takes more than 30 seconds to comprehend, but it well worth your time if you want to have an intelligent discussion.<br/> ]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Sun, 16 Dec 2012 15:49:40 -0500</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[LT,<br/><br/>What you say in your 3 points is true. But it is only a fraction of the story.<br/><br/>Eliminate Social Security in it's entirety, both distributions and payroll tax, and it will STILL leave an annual budget deficit of approximately $920 billion. Refer to Table 9, page 34 of: <a rel='nofollow' target='_blank' href='http://1.usa.gov/SALKwY'>http://1.usa.gov/SALKwY</a><br/><br/>Eliminate Medicare and Medicaid in their entirety, both distributions and tax, and save about $200 billion and it will STILL leave an annual budget of approximately $720 billion.<br/><br/>Eliminate Unemployment Insurance in it's entirety, both distributions and tax, and save $475 billion. Now you're talking lots of money but you're still not there.<br/><br/>The Final Monthly Treasury Statement mentioned above takes more than 30 seconds to comprehend, but it well worth your time if you want to have an intelligent discussion.<br/> ]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Covered Call Writing And Stock Option Expiration Cycles</title>
      <link>http://seekingalpha.com/article/1053641/comments?source=feed#comment-12419031</link>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">12419031</guid>
      <content>
        <![CDATA[But you don't receive the dividend holding the LEAP as you would by holding the stock. Intel pays 4.5% dividend.]]>
      </content>
      <pubDate>Sun, 09 Dec 2012 12:19:27 -0500</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[But you don't receive the dividend holding the LEAP as you would by holding the stock. Intel pays 4.5% dividend.]]>
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