formerhawk

AT&T: The iPhone's Achilles' Heel

Having retired from ATT several years ago I can tell you 2 things:
1. Techies never did understand networking or network provisioning.
2. Yes, they are probably struggling to provide service in some areas due to demand. This also would explain dropped calls or exclusion of some aps because of thier bandwidth requirements.

Mark-to-Market vs. Mark-to-Model: What Ever Happened to Real Value?

petyaczar: well said.

Congress had to do something (anything) to save face about Enron and Worldcom, liars trying to make dishonest people honest. Google Mark to market sometime. It will bring up some accountants blogs that will give you some insight as to their problems on audit with this. Seemingly the auditors are more willing to show any assets at 0 than they are to show any value.

Welcome to Salvation (aka Mark to Myth)

Sorry son, your 7K credit card bill is still 7K and yes you do sound kinda rediculous.

Punishing the Savers in a Savings Poor Country

I remember mortgage interest rates of 10% and above in the 80s, in fact I had one of those mortgages and believed that rate would not return to a lower level. Well it has and guess what, 10% interest rates and above will come back. Look for an uptick in inflation then look for a rise in the prime and a pullback in M2. Bernanke and company are terrified of further deflation so they are creating inflation to stop the spiral. Once the inflation starts the clamp will go on. Keep your powder dry, I am. I expect some real good FDIC insured rates in the fairly near future.

Congress' Handling of AIG Bonuses Is Shameful

I think I would replace childlikeness with childishness. There is a difference. Good letter, good post.

Preview from Europe: Does the Rally Have Legs?

Too late to let AIG fail, shouldn't have let Lehman fail.

The Bear Market Takes a Breather

You call Friday a breather?

Pension Underfunding: The Next Earnings Shock?

Not currently underfunded


On Mar 08 11:18 AM optionsgirl wrote:

> What about T? I read somewhere that AT & T is also underfunded.
> Does anyone know their story?

Bank of America: A Risky Bet That May Be Worth It - Barron's

Beik

M2M is mark to market.

Bank rules on mark to market accounting are not as severe as in some other business segments so not sure what good M2M rule change will do for BOA either.

The Rally, When It Comes, Will Be a Doozy

Already have


On Mar 06 09:09 PM Paulo wrote:

> Well, if there is a huge rally (and at some point there will be),
> it might provide an opportunity to those who averaged down (among
> other strategies) a chance to bail out of positions they no longer
> want to hold (particularly if currency variables are favourable).

Five Things That Could Resuscitate the Markets

Definition of full bailout: gov't assisted bankruptcy

The Dow: An Historical Perspective

Trendline for S&P is probably around 1,000. Look at the credit induced bubble that appears to occur in the last 20 years. Credit cards were introduced in late 60s. Widespread use started to occur around 1985-1995. I noticed that my use of credit for staples with payment of the monthly credit card balance gave me an additional month of cashflow vs paying cash.

Was the Global Equities Crash Related to Obama's Election?

The market NEVER likes one party control of congress and the presidency. Obama isn't the only cause of the debacle but his actions aren't helping it either.

Was the Global Equities Crash Related to Obama's Election?

That's a great name!!!!


On Mar 01 08:28 AM seekingtraceevidence wrote:

> Your call is interesting and likely has some merit. But, at the same
> time SEC's Cox had just banned short selling on the financials (had
> previously told the world that he was not monitoring short selling
> because the spreads made the up-tic rule to difficult to enforce)
> and basically gave a green lignt to the shorts. Certainly, Obama's
> election added gloom and uncertainty to a financial system in which
> changing rules were raising the risk to capital rapidly. AND THEN,
> there were the bank's margin calls!!
> I would call the collapse as one due to "changes of uncertain outcome."

Market Death Spiral Continues

"It's as if this administration is mad at anyone who worked for what they have, and didn't give their money to losers, so Obama is going to do that for us."

Obama to Joe the plumber: "Spread the wealth around."

Sorry folks, anyone who heard the unscripted comment from Obama above and did not believe it and now has remorse needs to drag out a mirror, look into the eyes reflecting back and say "you are the reason for this." Maybe you'll like what you see in 4 years but my odds say from present performance (questionable friends, nominated tax cheats, proposed budget) you probably won't. BTW I hope my odds are wrong.