deaverb's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/85286/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/87781-consumer-confidence-index-holds-steady-in-july?source=feed#comment-218157 218157 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:34:37 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/87909-hank-paulson-a-rare-keeper?source=feed#comment-218143 218143
Yes, times are tough. But primarily for the financial sector. Others are doing well, especially consumer, tech.

The biggest challenge is productivity sweeping away middlemen jobs, now middle people jobs. In our company, we can do so much more due to technology improvements from pdfs, downloads, to on line ordering, paperless transactions, transparency, that we can grow quickly without adding staff. Paulson. Obama. McCain. None of them can help those issues.

We went through this from 1865 to 1900 and it had a lot of tough consequences. We haven't seen nearly that disruption.]]> Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:27:44 -0400
Yes, times are tough. But primarily for the financial sector. Others are doing well, especially consumer, tech.

The biggest challenge is productivity sweeping away middlemen jobs, now middle people jobs. In our company, we can do so much more due to technology improvements from pdfs, downloads, to on line ordering, paperless transactions, transparency, that we can grow quickly without adding staff. Paulson. Obama. McCain. None of them can help those issues.

We went through this from 1865 to 1900 and it had a lot of tough consequences. We haven't seen nearly that disruption.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/87931-home-prices-in-20-major-cities-you-re-ok-if?source=feed#comment-218138 218138 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:22:00 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/87545-time-for-another-amazon-share-repurchase?source=feed#comment-217269 217269 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:24:44 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/87399-q2-sector-eps-growth?source=feed#comment-217262 217262 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:21:32 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/87594-economic-recession-consumer-depression?source=feed#comment-217258 217258 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:17:18 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/87380-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed#comment-216308 216308 Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:53:31 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/86746-homebuilders-scant-good-news-housing-tracker?source=feed#comment-213151 213151 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:18:09 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/85819-memo-to-symantec-time-for-a-pr-strategy-change?source=feed#comment-210058 210058 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:02:22 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/85817-proctor-gamble-consistency-is-crucial-to-success?source=feed#comment-210052 210052 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:59:14 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/85821-the-bright-side-of-google-8217-s-news?source=feed#comment-210047 210047
Come on guys. Yes, one can "reprice" the stock based on some of the air coming out, but 35% is a wonderful number....]]> Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:55:38 -0400
Come on guys. Yes, one can "reprice" the stock based on some of the air coming out, but 35% is a wonderful number....]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/85779-vcs-exits-we-don-t-need-no-stinking-exits?source=feed#comment-210046 210046
How bad is that. Again, for an up market it would be bad; but for a supposedly bad market, darn good. Certainly compared to VCs heading for the exits in the past. Also, the tendency to support "old" and "current" deals shows good horse sense--rather than looking for the new unsullied, but untried, thing.]]> Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:53:37 -0400
How bad is that. Again, for an up market it would be bad; but for a supposedly bad market, darn good. Certainly compared to VCs heading for the exits in the past. Also, the tendency to support "old" and "current" deals shows good horse sense--rather than looking for the new unsullied, but untried, thing.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/85811-economic-report-summary-disappointing-retail-sales?source=feed#comment-210041 210041
Housing is one of the last rollercoaster rides. With mfg less important, and more just in time, none of the big swings anymore (whew).

24/7 reporting makes this clear. If that had happened in 1974 or 1982 or 1990, we would have been in far more of a panic. Most people I know are doing more work, speculating less, and that can't help but be a good thing.

For a good situation this is bad; but for a bad one it is very tame.]]> Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:50:05 -0400
Housing is one of the last rollercoaster rides. With mfg less important, and more just in time, none of the big swings anymore (whew).

24/7 reporting makes this clear. If that had happened in 1974 or 1982 or 1990, we would have been in far more of a panic. Most people I know are doing more work, speculating less, and that can't help but be a good thing.

For a good situation this is bad; but for a bad one it is very tame.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/85669-historic-financial-collapse-underway?source=feed#comment-210036 210036
GM is in "trouble" in the US because of legacy costs, to quote the CEO. They are roaring in India & China. Wal-Mart has gone from 23% to 37% profits overseas in just 4 years (how do I know these two things--first on Alpha Alerts, then back to the original sources). McDonald's and a host of other top companies now do over 50% of their profits overseas. Wal-Mart was #1 US retailer in 1990; in 2008 their balance sheet (staggering strong) doesn't look like the same company. Housing had been one of the last rollercoasters in this economy. IP, Consumer, Retail have become increasingly solid, diverse, and profitable. We just "know" more so it seems worse. And YES because of this kind of dialogue, emulated by Jeff Jacoby in the Boston Globe, is focusing on how govt is messing around with economics, without understanding it. That's all good. Things aren't worse than they've been; there is just more light on it, such as with this author, Jacoby, and the other 51 writers. Keep after 'em. Keep it going.

My little company, Simply Software (simplymagazine.net, simplysoftwarecds.com, simplymedia.com and 20 others to the same site), just went to 24/7 downloads at $3.99 each of our 142 audiobook/software products we own outright (no royalties; no tails; ergo, no litigation). Over 50% of the sales are coming from off shore (not North America); 1% when we shipped physical products. Productivity is at 100% (all autopilot; not touched by human hands). So a $10 product is now $3.99, and we do better. That's happening everywhere, as the GMs cut back head count (aren't they making about the same number of cars with 20% of the people?). Cheer up. Why? Our fastest growing download AND physical sales are in India and China--yes, they are paying the IP!

]]> Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:43:37 -0400
GM is in "trouble" in the US because of legacy costs, to quote the CEO. They are roaring in India & China. Wal-Mart has gone from 23% to 37% profits overseas in just 4 years (how do I know these two things--first on Alpha Alerts, then back to the original sources). McDonald's and a host of other top companies now do over 50% of their profits overseas. Wal-Mart was #1 US retailer in 1990; in 2008 their balance sheet (staggering strong) doesn't look like the same company. Housing had been one of the last rollercoasters in this economy. IP, Consumer, Retail have become increasingly solid, diverse, and profitable. We just "know" more so it seems worse. And YES because of this kind of dialogue, emulated by Jeff Jacoby in the Boston Globe, is focusing on how govt is messing around with economics, without understanding it. That's all good. Things aren't worse than they've been; there is just more light on it, such as with this author, Jacoby, and the other 51 writers. Keep after 'em. Keep it going.

My little company, Simply Software (simplymagazine.net, simplysoftwarecds.com, simplymedia.com and 20 others to the same site), just went to 24/7 downloads at $3.99 each of our 142 audiobook/software products we own outright (no royalties; no tails; ergo, no litigation). Over 50% of the sales are coming from off shore (not North America); 1% when we shipped physical products. Productivity is at 100% (all autopilot; not touched by human hands). So a $10 product is now $3.99, and we do better. That's happening everywhere, as the GMs cut back head count (aren't they making about the same number of cars with 20% of the people?). Cheer up. Why? Our fastest growing download AND physical sales are in India and China--yes, they are paying the IP!

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/85455-ten-back-to-school-stocks?source=feed#comment-208474 208474 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:52:31 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/85633-mcdonald-s-earnings-growth-could-surprise?source=feed#comment-208470 208470 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:49:54 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/85430-publishing-in-peril-rivals-think-about-collaborating?source=feed#comment-207608 207608
My experience is online sources of information tend to be more balanced, neutral, and don't put editorials on the front page where news belongs. Many friends of mine have been turned off by the NYT going from "the paper of record" to "Against George Bush."

Bush may be good or bad; but historically, the NYT stayed news not editorially oriented. I think this is causing many to back away from the various news "brands." Once left, rarely returned to these days with so many other options.

One more reason print is in triage.]]> Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:26:53 -0400
My experience is online sources of information tend to be more balanced, neutral, and don't put editorials on the front page where news belongs. Many friends of mine have been turned off by the NYT going from "the paper of record" to "Against George Bush."

Bush may be good or bad; but historically, the NYT stayed news not editorially oriented. I think this is causing many to back away from the various news "brands." Once left, rarely returned to these days with so many other options.

One more reason print is in triage.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/81388-costco-wal-mart-lead-a-consumer-revolution?source=feed#comment-202099 202099 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:00:14 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/84221-carly-out-meg-out-now-diane-greene-out?source=feed#comment-201331 201331
Hurd, at HP said famously, "At NCR we moved iron." Sales. Not charisma. ]]> Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:17:23 -0400
Hurd, at HP said famously, "At NCR we moved iron." Sales. Not charisma. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/84249-paychex-looks-cheap?source=feed#comment-201328 201328
They have always been underestimated.]]> Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:14:15 -0400
They have always been underestimated.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/83824-wal-mart-gains-as-economy-falters?source=feed#comment-199119 199119 4 years suggests a trend toward 51% in
another 4. Then the anti-walmarters will
have even less clout. Walmart could follow
McDonalds formula worldwide. Awesome. ]]> Sun, 06 Jul 2008 09:19:15 -0400 4 years suggests a trend toward 51% in
another 4. Then the anti-walmarters will
have even less clout. Walmart could follow
McDonalds formula worldwide. Awesome. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/83787-big-lots-wal-mart-and-costco-3-musketeers-of-the-pooring-of-america?source=feed#comment-198473 198473
1. They buy great stuff. Our software/audiobooks sell for $1 to $1.99 in these outlets; same stuff at $4.99 or higher in the high end folks. Same for many others.

2. The Ames, Zayre, Kmart junk of old is gone. The value retailers only buy solid reliable products (of course an error occurs here and there, but my experience is Target and BBY has more of them).

3. Cost control. N 30; FOB; no returns; clean. That means people price to the penny.

4. Simple systems: emailed or faxed orders; scan goods on back of truck. No invoices allowed as a rule. No expensive EDI. Clean.

That's a formula for growth.]]> Fri, 04 Jul 2008 09:24:56 -0400
1. They buy great stuff. Our software/audiobooks sell for $1 to $1.99 in these outlets; same stuff at $4.99 or higher in the high end folks. Same for many others.

2. The Ames, Zayre, Kmart junk of old is gone. The value retailers only buy solid reliable products (of course an error occurs here and there, but my experience is Target and BBY has more of them).

3. Cost control. N 30; FOB; no returns; clean. That means people price to the penny.

4. Simple systems: emailed or faxed orders; scan goods on back of truck. No invoices allowed as a rule. No expensive EDI. Clean.

That's a formula for growth.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/83773-year-over-year-jobless-growth-falls-to-zero?source=feed#comment-198464 198464
Also consumer saving tons through Internet: pay bills on line; no envelopes, 42 stamps, late charges (pay minimum immediately; record clear on it), checks, trip to PO, etc. File taxes on line; pay tolls via EZ Pass; search on line.

Products: iPhone--4 in 1. Was going to Garmin for maps; whoops, iPhone has it; saved 3 garmins (less employment at BBY and Garmin, and the trip to BBY); no new laptops--use iPhone; no watch. Cheap at $20 extra per month.

Paper: gone paperless finally, by and large. 4 bags to recycle per week have become one every other week. PDFs other online things prevent need for all that.

Systems simplifying--simple email orders or faxes; no more expensive EDI. And on and on it goes.

Warp speed efficiency improvements. More to come. That's the story about employment, not to speak of angry salarymen who make employers shudder (hey, the angry salarymen may be right; but what employer needs it--so they make do).]]> Fri, 04 Jul 2008 09:16:13 -0400
Also consumer saving tons through Internet: pay bills on line; no envelopes, 42 stamps, late charges (pay minimum immediately; record clear on it), checks, trip to PO, etc. File taxes on line; pay tolls via EZ Pass; search on line.

Products: iPhone--4 in 1. Was going to Garmin for maps; whoops, iPhone has it; saved 3 garmins (less employment at BBY and Garmin, and the trip to BBY); no new laptops--use iPhone; no watch. Cheap at $20 extra per month.

Paper: gone paperless finally, by and large. 4 bags to recycle per week have become one every other week. PDFs other online things prevent need for all that.

Systems simplifying--simple email orders or faxes; no more expensive EDI. And on and on it goes.

Warp speed efficiency improvements. More to come. That's the story about employment, not to speak of angry salarymen who make employers shudder (hey, the angry salarymen may be right; but what employer needs it--so they make do).]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/83792-what-was-left-out-of-the-jobs-report?source=feed#comment-198463 198463
Then see the iPhone: 4 in 1. Was going to get a Garmin for car; iPhone had the same (whoops, there goes one purchase down the drain; actually 3 in the family). No more watch, use iPhone; no more Laptop on the road, use iPhone.

All of this is saving consumers a lot of money. Our customers and suppliers are both communicating more simply and cheaper--and therefore our transaction costs are down--which relates to less labor on all fronts.

This is the real story. Used to throw out 4 bags of paper every week; now recycle them; now only 1 bag every 2 weeks because the paperless society is upon us. Pay bills by mail; bye bye 42 cent stamps, envelopes, trip to PO, etc. and so on.

In simple terms, employers can do far more with far less people--and there is still a ton of fat out there.]]> Fri, 04 Jul 2008 09:08:52 -0400
Then see the iPhone: 4 in 1. Was going to get a Garmin for car; iPhone had the same (whoops, there goes one purchase down the drain; actually 3 in the family). No more watch, use iPhone; no more Laptop on the road, use iPhone.

All of this is saving consumers a lot of money. Our customers and suppliers are both communicating more simply and cheaper--and therefore our transaction costs are down--which relates to less labor on all fronts.

This is the real story. Used to throw out 4 bags of paper every week; now recycle them; now only 1 bag every 2 weeks because the paperless society is upon us. Pay bills by mail; bye bye 42 cent stamps, envelopes, trip to PO, etc. and so on.

In simple terms, employers can do far more with far less people--and there is still a ton of fat out there.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/82449-is-the-great-moderation-in-danger?source=feed#comment-191613 191613
The loser? Society. This was not a "moral" issue; this was a pricing one. Turned everyone into a bazaar.

Not a zero sum game. Oil goes up; good things start to happen too: smaller cars on the road; less driving; less wear and tear on everything from cars, to streets, to people on the road, to pollution.

And finally a domestic solar business seems to have life.

Not all bad.]]> Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:24:56 -0400
The loser? Society. This was not a "moral" issue; this was a pricing one. Turned everyone into a bazaar.

Not a zero sum game. Oil goes up; good things start to happen too: smaller cars on the road; less driving; less wear and tear on everything from cars, to streets, to people on the road, to pollution.

And finally a domestic solar business seems to have life.

Not all bad.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/82216-wal-mart-keeps-growing-globally?source=feed#comment-190013 190013 We are "too cheap" for the US Wal-Mart stores; China stores welcome us as being "too cheap" for the US. So they have balance too--know what price points work, where. An awesome achievement!]]> Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:28:51 -0400 We are "too cheap" for the US Wal-Mart stores; China stores welcome us as being "too cheap" for the US. So they have balance too--know what price points work, where. An awesome achievement!]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/81460-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=feed#comment-186326 186326 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:35:40 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/79556-dollar-tree-et-al-four-retailers?source=feed#comment-177282 177282 Sat, 31 May 2008 12:32:57 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/79507-waiting-for-the-rise-of-the-phoenix?source=feed#comment-177280 177280 Sat, 31 May 2008 12:27:41 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/79515-costco-the-enigma?source=feed#comment-177278 177278
They are both "high" end (great values in bulk and big ticket items) and "low" end (great value on cereals, food, essentials). And, of course, most consumers buy some "high" end and some "low" end at the same time or different occasions.


Continually impressive on all fronts. Awesome performance.
]]> Sat, 31 May 2008 12:20:41 -0400
They are both "high" end (great values in bulk and big ticket items) and "low" end (great value on cereals, food, essentials). And, of course, most consumers buy some "high" end and some "low" end at the same time or different occasions.


Continually impressive on all fronts. Awesome performance.
]]>