Skeptical Ben's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/99176/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/176537-parking-space-for-non-performing-loans-lessons-from-japan?source=feed#comment-797319 797319 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:10:35 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/175644-how-larry-summers-lost-harvard-1-8-billion?source=feed#comment-785485 785485

On Dec 01 08:05 PM nijklom wrote:

> sorry to disturb u. just take u a little time.
> If you are in need,]]> Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:01:00 -0500

On Dec 01 08:05 PM nijklom wrote:

> sorry to disturb u. just take u a little time.
> If you are in need,]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/174371-the-unbearable-pain-of-0-01?source=feed#comment-768467 768467 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:46:35 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/173921-whitney-gets-bearish-will-she-be-right-again?source=feed#comment-766757 766757 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:30:31 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/173684-meredith-whitney-i-haven-t-been-this-bearish-in-a-year?source=feed#comment-764902 764902 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:17:22 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/160042-krugman-s-magnum-opus-on-macroeconomics?source=feed#comment-663282 663282 Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:43:01 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/159200-is-a-crash-impending?source=feed#comment-656771 656771

On Aug 31 01:01 PM Tony Petroski wrote:

> I've heard of "Dead-Cat Bounces." "Used Dogfood Stocks?" What is
> the origin of that phrase?]]> Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:46:59 -0400

On Aug 31 01:01 PM Tony Petroski wrote:

> I've heard of "Dead-Cat Bounces." "Used Dogfood Stocks?" What is
> the origin of that phrase?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/149691-at-t-the-iphone-s-achilles-heel?source=feed#comment-596017 596017

On Jul 19 10:56 PM David Bressler wrote:

> I agree with many of the comments about Verizon being expensive with
> poor customer service, but needed to put my vote in for the author.
>
>
> After breaking a t-mo contract to get an iphone last October, I had
> to go back because AT&T hardly functioned as a phone, and I felt
> like an a** for spending money on a 3G plan and always connecting
> at Edge, or worse speeds.
>
> For disclosure, I'm in NYC, and when I left NY, in particular in
> Florida, it worked brilliantly. But, it astounds me... I'm in New
> York Freakin' City, and I can't get inbound phone calls, or calls
> that don't drop? Crazy. And, no reason for voicemails to be delayed
> 12 or more hours before delivery. That has nothing to do with network
> robustness or speed. That's simply a failure.
>
> And, for those people who tell me I'm too picky, if I can get a T-mo
> phone connection, I can get an AT&T one... I can't get a T-mo
> signal where I live in NYC (Tribeca) either, but I have a phone that
> supports UMA, so from home, make all my calls over wifi with unlimited
> minutes for just $10/month. Without UMA, I'd have gone to Verizon.
>
>
> If Verizon get the iPhone, say hi to me. I'll be the guy camping
> out overnight at the front of the line.
>
> David]]> Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:58:02 -0400

On Jul 19 10:56 PM David Bressler wrote:

> I agree with many of the comments about Verizon being expensive with
> poor customer service, but needed to put my vote in for the author.
>
>
> After breaking a t-mo contract to get an iphone last October, I had
> to go back because AT&T hardly functioned as a phone, and I felt
> like an a** for spending money on a 3G plan and always connecting
> at Edge, or worse speeds.
>
> For disclosure, I'm in NYC, and when I left NY, in particular in
> Florida, it worked brilliantly. But, it astounds me... I'm in New
> York Freakin' City, and I can't get inbound phone calls, or calls
> that don't drop? Crazy. And, no reason for voicemails to be delayed
> 12 or more hours before delivery. That has nothing to do with network
> robustness or speed. That's simply a failure.
>
> And, for those people who tell me I'm too picky, if I can get a T-mo
> phone connection, I can get an AT&T one... I can't get a T-mo
> signal where I live in NYC (Tribeca) either, but I have a phone that
> supports UMA, so from home, make all my calls over wifi with unlimited
> minutes for just $10/month. Without UMA, I'd have gone to Verizon.
>
>
> If Verizon get the iPhone, say hi to me. I'll be the guy camping
> out overnight at the front of the line.
>
> David]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/148526-washington-s-dilemma-this-isn-t-a-recession-it-s-a-collapse?source=feed#comment-592693 592693 Bailing us out is throwing non-existent money after bad.


On Jul 14 11:37 AM receipt wrote:

> Subsidizing California's irresponsible economic decisions will produce
> more of them and lead to the collapse of the will to be responsible
> in the states that still are. The longer term result of not holding
> California accountable for its' stupidity will be to take down the
> rest of the nation with it.]]> Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:15:57 -0400 Bailing us out is throwing non-existent money after bad.


On Jul 14 11:37 AM receipt wrote:

> Subsidizing California's irresponsible economic decisions will produce
> more of them and lead to the collapse of the will to be responsible
> in the states that still are. The longer term result of not holding
> California accountable for its' stupidity will be to take down the
> rest of the nation with it.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/144493-crap-marketing-campaign-of-the-day-merrill-lynch-edition?source=feed#comment-558397 558397 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:40:15 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/143462-strange-inconsistencies-in-the-134-5-billion-bearer-bond-mystery?source=feed#comment-553273 553273

On Jun 17 09:32 AM richmondeagle wrote:

> Unfortunately, with our current inept administration we find our
> currency under attack and we are laying down our arms. Perhaps our
> treasury people are on top of this, but more likely they are at home
> working on TurboTax. Until our "fearless leader" gets it though
> his skull that there are people who don't just misunderstand us,
> but mean to do us harm, we will continue to see blips like this on
> the radar, but only if we are really looking... until something really
> bad happens. By then, the harsh reality will be that it was not
> George Bush's fault.]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:21:52 -0400

On Jun 17 09:32 AM richmondeagle wrote:

> Unfortunately, with our current inept administration we find our
> currency under attack and we are laying down our arms. Perhaps our
> treasury people are on top of this, but more likely they are at home
> working on TurboTax. Until our "fearless leader" gets it though
> his skull that there are people who don't just misunderstand us,
> but mean to do us harm, we will continue to see blips like this on
> the radar, but only if we are really looking... until something really
> bad happens. By then, the harsh reality will be that it was not
> George Bush's fault.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/132874-apple-three-battles-won-nicely-positioned-for-the-fourth?source=feed#comment-476566 476566 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:37:59 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/132225-refi-rates-are-low-but-banks-don-t-seem-to-be-lending?source=feed#comment-473688 473688

On Apr 22 03:34 PM Cetin Hakimoglu wrote:

> To say banks aren't leading is a very general statement. Banks are
> still ending to small businesses and those with collateral/documented
> income.]]> Thu, 23 Apr 2009 01:41:28 -0400

On Apr 22 03:34 PM Cetin Hakimoglu wrote:

> To say banks aren't leading is a very general statement. Banks are
> still ending to small businesses and those with collateral/documented
> income.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/132225-refi-rates-are-low-but-banks-don-t-seem-to-be-lending?source=feed#comment-473687 473687 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 01:39:49 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/131581-obama-summarizes-economic-policies-misses-several-key-points?source=feed#comment-470610 470610

On Apr 19 10:17 AM FDNY RET wrote:

> Obama gives a wonderful delivery, of words written by gifted writers.
>
> What's missing from the equation is a gifted economic-"Thinker".
>
> Thanks Peter for, pointing out that fact.]]> Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:28:24 -0400

On Apr 19 10:17 AM FDNY RET wrote:

> Obama gives a wonderful delivery, of words written by gifted writers.
>
> What's missing from the equation is a gifted economic-"Thinker".
>
> Thanks Peter for, pointing out that fact.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/131474-what-to-short-when-the-rally-dies?source=feed#comment-467318 467318

On Apr 17 11:09 PM bricki wrote:

> Yes there is an opportunity to make money here on the down side;
> stocks go up and down, not just up. And they have been going up a
> lot recently. Way more than can be justified by any fundamentals.
> S&P 500 P/E of 30 is kind of scary especially when you think
> of the overburden on economic growth that we are looking at for the
> next years.
>
> I might wait a bit though - it seems to me this rally has shrugged
> off a lot of bad news. It doesn't quite look tired enough for me
> to make significant downside bets yet.
>
> Sideways with volatility is going to be the order of battle for the
> remainder of this year - so girls and boys gear your strategy to
> make money in this sort of environment.
> ]]> Fri, 17 Apr 2009 23:25:05 -0400

On Apr 17 11:09 PM bricki wrote:

> Yes there is an opportunity to make money here on the down side;
> stocks go up and down, not just up. And they have been going up a
> lot recently. Way more than can be justified by any fundamentals.
> S&P 500 P/E of 30 is kind of scary especially when you think
> of the overburden on economic growth that we are looking at for the
> next years.
>
> I might wait a bit though - it seems to me this rally has shrugged
> off a lot of bad news. It doesn't quite look tired enough for me
> to make significant downside bets yet.
>
> Sideways with volatility is going to be the order of battle for the
> remainder of this year - so girls and boys gear your strategy to
> make money in this sort of environment.
> ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/129372-the-worst-isn-t-over-yet?source=feed#comment-453017 453017

On Apr 04 10:05 AM youngolf wrote:

> Well, I would, or might, unless I decide to do something else based
> on whether or not the choice or destiny, depending on which is first,
> may present itself, unless I don't have a choice....
>
> The rest of this page intentionally left blank.]]> Mon, 06 Apr 2009 04:54:17 -0400

On Apr 04 10:05 AM youngolf wrote:

> Well, I would, or might, unless I decide to do something else based
> on whether or not the choice or destiny, depending on which is first,
> may present itself, unless I don't have a choice....
>
> The rest of this page intentionally left blank.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/127731-into-corporate-bonds-out-of-government-bonds-scotia-capital?source=feed#comment-441681 441681 Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:01:25 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/127513-will-the-fed-s-overkill-succeed?source=feed#comment-440538 440538

On Mar 24 12:20 PM SmBlkBob wrote:

> Simple really.
>
> You can't print endless money without it being worth less at some
> point. Worth less means items cost you more to buy.
>
> Gold might be the play but will still not match the amount of inflation
> coming. Will just make it easier to bear. Stocks won't come close
> to breaking even long term.
>
> Bob]]> Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:06:29 -0400

On Mar 24 12:20 PM SmBlkBob wrote:

> Simple really.
>
> You can't print endless money without it being worth less at some
> point. Worth less means items cost you more to buy.
>
> Gold might be the play but will still not match the amount of inflation
> coming. Will just make it easier to bear. Stocks won't come close
> to breaking even long term.
>
> Bob]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/127559-bank-stocks-will-return-to-prior-norms?source=feed#comment-440536 440536

On Mar 25 07:20 PM Misha wrote:

> Some of you may have noticed that Citi and BAC are buying MORE toxic
> assets:
>
> www.marketwatch.com/ne...={79b2b74f-6175-47b3-9...247wallst.com/2009/03/.../
>
>
> BAC: "Our purchases in [mortgage-backed securities] increase liquidity
> in the mortgage market allowing people to buy a home." Give me a
> break! The only reason anyone would buy those assets is if they believed
> that they are undervalued in the marketplace. And on their balance
> sheets…
> ]]> Thu, 26 Mar 2009 01:47:34 -0400

On Mar 25 07:20 PM Misha wrote:

> Some of you may have noticed that Citi and BAC are buying MORE toxic
> assets:
>
> www.marketwatch.com/ne...={79b2b74f-6175-47b3-9...247wallst.com/2009/03/.../
>
>
> BAC: "Our purchases in [mortgage-backed securities] increase liquidity
> in the mortgage market allowing people to buy a home." Give me a
> break! The only reason anyone would buy those assets is if they believed
> that they are undervalued in the marketplace. And on their balance
> sheets…
> ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/127308-fed-s-unholy-inflation-management-through-money-printing?source=feed#comment-437066 437066 Sounds like a solid plan to me....]]> Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:08:50 -0400 Sounds like a solid plan to me....]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/125853-the-15-most-cash-rich-companies?source=feed#comment-431312 431312

On Mar 14 02:38 AM William Cowie wrote:

> And here's another interesting piece of the puzzle:
>
> AAPL and GOOG, mountains of cash and no debt... do NOT have AAA ratings.
>
>
> Go figure.
> ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:06:53 -0400

On Mar 14 02:38 AM William Cowie wrote:

> And here's another interesting piece of the puzzle:
>
> AAPL and GOOG, mountains of cash and no debt... do NOT have AAA ratings.
>
>
> Go figure.
> ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/126581-ibm-interested-in-sun-a-flaming-red-herring?source=feed#comment-431302 431302

On Mar 18 12:29 PM PROXIMO wrote:

> Sun has nearly doubled in price today, to market cap 6.7 billion.
> I do not think this price action occurs if this is merely a "trial
> balloon". My opinion only.]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:02:05 -0400

On Mar 18 12:29 PM PROXIMO wrote:

> Sun has nearly doubled in price today, to market cap 6.7 billion.
> I do not think this price action occurs if this is merely a "trial
> balloon". My opinion only.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/125441-alan-greenspan-still-doesn-t-have-a-clue?source=feed#comment-422530 422530

On Mar 11 09:23 PM Dirk McCoy wrote:

> I'm amazed that all the "cheap money" chicken littles aren't out
> in the streets en masse demonstrating over the current Fed funds
> target. 0-.25%? Wow, we must be setting the scene for an economic
> disaster of global proportions- soon, we'll have all that "unsustainable"
> growth that we had back in 2004, 2005, 2006, into 2007, and we'll
> be seeing increased standards of living around the world like we
> were back then. And banks will make money. And loan availability
> will increase. And housing prices will recover. Yes, these low
> short term interest rates are a real disaster, I can't believe you
> geniuses let it get to this back in 2002-2004, and have let it get
> back to this now- because now we're going to run out of oil and land
> and water and breathable air so much sooner!
>
> Here's the deal: The Fed has always subsidized capital. And capital
> is key to investment in what you apparently consider frivolous things
> like broadband, and bigger houses, and international development,
> and technology. In other words, cheap money greases the skids of
> capitalism- at the expense of wealth holders who'd like to have more
> pricing power to charge higher interest rates to those with good
> (and bad) ideas.
>
> The problem arises when the Fed listens to you and increases interest
> rates artificially to slow down development. But the oil bubble
> popped without higher interest rates, so why wouldn't have housing
> (or tech, or latin development, or consumer hardgoods?).
>
> The real question is not cheap money- open your eyes, it's really
> cheap now, but there's not much confidence to loan, or borrow, it.
> The real question is this- when confidence return, how high will
> the Fed increase rates this time, and will they kill the next expansion
> in 7 or 8 years from now?]]> Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:23:21 -0400

On Mar 11 09:23 PM Dirk McCoy wrote:

> I'm amazed that all the "cheap money" chicken littles aren't out
> in the streets en masse demonstrating over the current Fed funds
> target. 0-.25%? Wow, we must be setting the scene for an economic
> disaster of global proportions- soon, we'll have all that "unsustainable"
> growth that we had back in 2004, 2005, 2006, into 2007, and we'll
> be seeing increased standards of living around the world like we
> were back then. And banks will make money. And loan availability
> will increase. And housing prices will recover. Yes, these low
> short term interest rates are a real disaster, I can't believe you
> geniuses let it get to this back in 2002-2004, and have let it get
> back to this now- because now we're going to run out of oil and land
> and water and breathable air so much sooner!
>
> Here's the deal: The Fed has always subsidized capital. And capital
> is key to investment in what you apparently consider frivolous things
> like broadband, and bigger houses, and international development,
> and technology. In other words, cheap money greases the skids of
> capitalism- at the expense of wealth holders who'd like to have more
> pricing power to charge higher interest rates to those with good
> (and bad) ideas.
>
> The problem arises when the Fed listens to you and increases interest
> rates artificially to slow down development. But the oil bubble
> popped without higher interest rates, so why wouldn't have housing
> (or tech, or latin development, or consumer hardgoods?).
>
> The real question is not cheap money- open your eyes, it's really
> cheap now, but there's not much confidence to loan, or borrow, it.
> The real question is this- when confidence return, how high will
> the Fed increase rates this time, and will they kill the next expansion
> in 7 or 8 years from now?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/125441-alan-greenspan-still-doesn-t-have-a-clue?source=feed#comment-422525 422525 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:18:06 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/124969-opportunities-in-the-s-p-500-s-price-wimps?source=feed#comment-420780 420780

On Mar 09 07:15 PM drbob66 wrote:

> Wow, just looked at GNW for the first time. The average estimate
> (11 analysts) for 2009/2010 earnings is about $1.40. And the LOWEST
> estimate is $1.00. Why is this stock trading at $0.91? I'm tempted.]]> Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:32:37 -0400

On Mar 09 07:15 PM drbob66 wrote:

> Wow, just looked at GNW for the first time. The average estimate
> (11 analysts) for 2009/2010 earnings is about $1.40. And the LOWEST
> estimate is $1.00. Why is this stock trading at $0.91? I'm tempted.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/124283-wells-fargo-risks-outweigh-the-benefits?source=feed#comment-415119 415119 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:46:31 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/124232-apple-s-refreshed-macs-an-unlikely-catalyst-of-growth-rbc?source=feed#comment-415080 415080

On Mar 05 10:17 AM goodjello wrote:

> What the writer fails to realize is that these updates are long overdue.
> So while they may not do much to bring in new converts, the Mac faithful
> have been waiting for these for months, thus there will be a strong
> initial surge in sales because of the pent-up demand. It will be
> sufficient to allow Apple to handily beat all forecasts for the current
> quarter.]]> Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:12:37 -0500

On Mar 05 10:17 AM goodjello wrote:

> What the writer fails to realize is that these updates are long overdue.
> So while they may not do much to bring in new converts, the Mac faithful
> have been waiting for these for months, thus there will be a strong
> initial surge in sales because of the pent-up demand. It will be
> sufficient to allow Apple to handily beat all forecasts for the current
> quarter.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/123099-contrarians-time-to-ditch-gold-look-at-reits?source=feed#comment-407345 407345 Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:11:51 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/122445-northstar-realty-finance-corp-q4-2008-earnings-call-transcript?source=feed#comment-403752 403752 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:30:16 -0500