Riverboat

Stellar Earnings Send Buffalo Wild Wings Flying

How can Buffalo be doing so good when their product just isn't that good. Wingers, in Utah, for example is miles better in menu, service and customer satisfaction. But wingers doesn't have a bar.

So, is Buffalos' growth at the Bar ? and not in the restaurant end ? Anyone have a breakdown on Revenue by category ?

PowerShares vs. iShares vs. streetTracks Gold and Silver: Material Differences

Good description. What's your take on gold miners as part of the investment mix or as leading indicators?

Alternative Energy - 2006 in Review

Great article.

I'll venture a couple of exceptions. On efficiency gains, Solectron, a BA subsidiary, attained a 40% efficiency with it's solar cell. Fully double, if not triple the competition, who are pushing at 25%. Greater efficiency means smaller panels, which means less raw material cost and less space used per kilowat.

Whither hydrogen. Look at the Xcel and HYEG teaming in Colorado on a Wind Turbine and hydrogen fueled engine combination. True it's not fuel cell but it has promise. In fuel cells, there was remerkable progress in nano stuff. Just look around and you'll see it; but it's mostly private labs and private companies, not much investable for the common folk.

On nuclear power, it's green and great, but what if something goes terribly, terribly wrong?

All-in-all, there was lots of progress but not near as much hype. Maybe there will be more hype in 2007.

I hope there is much more progress in 2007, I'm long HYEG, PBW, and PXN for both the profit; and for what it means for my kid's and grandkid's quality of life.

Sirius and XMSR Merger Murmurs Continue

Yes!!!! Way to go Sirius. I'm celebrating; 2007 starts off right.

Web 2.0 Companies: What's Hot and What's Not

I'm on the net for several hours daily and have been active, more or less, since before 1997.
However the only name I recognize in your fine article is Wikipedia.

Am I just way out-of-touch or has Web 2.0 written off the over 50, retired, and actively investing demographic ?

I'm invested in stocks that stand to gain from Internet Protocol 3 (IP3) but Web 2.0 escaped my radar.

How about bringing me, maybe us, up-to-date on what it looks like going forward?

10 Predictions for Wireless in 2007

What's MVNO, HSDPA, UMA, UTS and EV-DO Rev A ? My techie knowledge is in th PC and IT world. Our Telecommunications Guys and Gals handled the PBX and all that entailed. All I know is the telephones rang when needed, even during power outages.

Now that Telecommunications has moved into the IT world big time, what are some of the best stocks going forward. I've been looking into MOT for good several reasons. Any others that you'd like to note?

Intel Speeds Ahead of Advanced Micro Devices

I spoke too quick. Microsoft (MS) has already scheduled the demise of Windows 2000. MS released Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) and it does not support Win 2000.


Here is the techie jargon for bye-bye Win 2000:

"...There are two important events that will happen to the support policy for Windows 2000 after June 30th of this year.

First, support for both IE 5.01 SP3 and IE 6 SP1 on Windows 2000 SP3 will expire. Users running IE 5.01 or IE 6 SP1 on Windows 2000 should upgrade to Windows 2000 SP4 in order to continue to receive security updates.

Second, Windows 2000 SP4 moves from mainstream to extended support. The key difference between mainstream support and extended support which I think is most relevant to this audience is this quote from the lifecycle site: "Microsoft will not accept requests for warranty support, design changes, or new features during the Extended support phase..."

But they (MS) will support security fixes for Win 2000.

Is MS gently nudging Win 2000 users to Vista?
You bet they are and Win XP is next, my guess.
Start thinking Intel long.

Intel Speeds Ahead of Advanced Micro Devices

A techie article on multi core cpus' here. No nod as to whose ahead: Intel or AMD.

"...Dual-core desktop blues
Advances in end-user hardware outstrip software support ..."

www.infoworld.com/arti...

If Vista has robust support for multiple processors - Core2or3or4ormoreDuo - and if this adds enough value for corporations and individuals, then Vista, and thus Intel and/or AMD, will benefit.

Computer hardware advances have outpaced software advances for going on 50 years now, nothing new in that news. Does anyone know about Vista's multi-thread ability? That knowledge has value.

Intel Speeds Ahead of Advanced Micro Devices

I've just purchased a new PC, Intel Core2Duo, and saw the head-to-head competition between Intel and AMD at the big online web order sites: HPQ and DELL. The big question is will Vista drive a new round of corporate and personal PC upgrades? If so, when. My personal opinion is that MS XP is a mature and stable platform that corporations will be reluctant to leave. Individuals also see little value in an expensive upgrade to get Vista; MS 2000, XP and XP Media Center present few reasons to hasten their departure.
Performance and Security bugs have been fairly well resolved or mitigated.

My call, if MS schedules a date for ceasing support of Windows 2000 or XP, then go long HPQ.

Netflix Faces These Six Challenges

NetFlix has a great customer service reputation and enjoys increasing word of mouth advertising, the best and least expensive variety. It's service is very convenient and requires no new hightech equipment or broadband service.

The postal increase is trivial. Figure .06 increase for the round trip, and estimate 2 movies a week.
That's $6.25 a year added cost of which I believe customers will absorb all or most with no reservation.
NetFlix could probably pass along a 4 movie per week cost increase - $12.50 - to it's more active, premium members.

Wal-mart is a legit competitor with it's low cost of DVD ownership. Netflix has thousands of titles just a mailbox away. You call the winner. I'd be cautious about shorting NetFlix.

Focus on SunPower: A Clearly Successful Spin-off

What is SPWR doing to ensure an adequate polysilicon supply into 2007 and beyond ?

Federal Incentives Crucial For Solar Stocks to Remain Competitive

Oh, your calling a solar battery a solar accumulator. O.K. Same difference
Solar battery term is 'old school'.

Federal Incentives Crucial For Solar Stocks to Remain Competitive

What is an accumulator ?

Bankers Are Pulling The Plug On Loans

Bill, Why are there only 52 banks reporting ? I used to be familiar with S&L Institutions and there were about 1,200 reporting monthly. Is the 52 just a representative sample ? Thanks

Alternative Energy, Oil Stocks Up Across the Board on Dems Win

By Friday it was clear that the Dems had won both the House and the Senate; but PBW fell a little.
It will be interesting watching PBW and the whole alternative energy sector.