Could the stock market have bottomed?

Tim Knight's "Slope of Hope" blog is great to learn about charts from. He is generally a bear and has done very well this year-to-date (while I am normally a bull). Anyway, today he finally acknowledged that the Russell 2000 (IWM) is trending gradually higher from the middle of last March. Love it. Proof at last that the market may have bottomed. Hope so, but time will tell.





Today's final American market numbers are significantly higher:

DJIA* 11715.18 212.67 1.85% Nasdaq* 2411.64 29.18 1.22% S&P 500 1293.12 11.46 0.89% Russell* 747.79 14.84 2.02% 10-YR Note* 3.787% -6/32 -0.17% * at close Source: Dow Jones, Reuters

Maybe it's a sign of better things ahead. The market liked the economy's higher readings today. This is from today's Wall Street Journal:

Investors' mood was brightened early by data from the Commerce Department which showed the economy grew at a 3.3% annual rate in the second quarter, better than the 1.9% rate seen in the government's initial report. Contributing to the mark-up were stronger exports, less inventory liquidation by businesses and stronger consumer spending. Second-quarter spending climbed 1.7%, up from a previously reported 1.5% increase and ahead of the first quarter's 0.9% gain.

Barack Obama's speech is at 10 p.m. Eastern this evening. Not that there is any connection to the above or anything. Can't wait to, as CNN says, "watch history unfold"!!!

How to Choose Purchases

ON COURAGE:

Be still my heart. Thou hast known worse than this.
Homer, 850 B.C.

It is definitely not the worst use of your mind and time and money to learn "how to budget". Money you don't spend now can be saved and invested with compound interest to your future benefit. Here are some tips to help you make wise purchase decisions:


1) Relax and take a deep breath. This should be good clean fun. No one can buy everything. Just generally in many ways and for one's whole life, it is necessary to make choices constantly, of what one needs to have and what cannot be kept.


2) Since one needs to choose, and everyone must choose, it is necessary to realize that what one needs is individual and is not the same as the next person.


3) Purchases, most of them, are made on whims.


4) Set priorities. Since everyone has limited resources for keeping all that one would like to, choices must be carefully and thoughtfully made. Consider such factors as:

a) keeping to your budget, and everyone has one (if one pays for this, can one also pay for something else down the road. How much can one afford to pay for this item and still afford other purchases one must make?)

b) the utility of the purchase (does one really need it?). Think many times: why buy it? How much does one really need? What one cannot know is what one will not buy if one does buy now. The purchase might be cheaper or better made somewhere else.

c) the wisdom of the purchase (can one give it a good home and keep it well stored? Will it be regretted if it does not fit one's space?)

d) the beauty and desirability of the purchase (as often as possible).


5) Availability which would seem first in importance is actually last and, in America, least in significance. Just because if it is available for purchase does not mean it must be purchased. The internet is making so much available for purchase now that was not available in the past and widening choice. Be philosophical and humble; if it is not there when you want it, then it was somehow not meant to be yours. Save that money for something else. Don't forget that what is coming down the road toward you is likely to be huge and you will want to be ready with the money.


Happiness does not just involve making purchases. Studies show that we derive the most happiness from our relationships with others. lift your self-esteem or erase loneliness. Instead, find lots of ways to increase your cheerfulness. While it may seem that money and purchasing makes the world go around, it is best to aim to expand your friendships and interests. Purchasing to lift self esteem and erase loneliness spends our future benefit when we should be searching and educating ourselves in ways that will always, in many situations, meet these needs. While purchasing is a solitary activity and resourceful use of time, our relationships with others most influence our happiness.

Ultimately the goal of purchasing well is appreciation and satisfaction. Purchase wisely, so that one will not have buyer's remorse, or regret a purchase decision. While I, personally, always try not to judge or define anyone by their purchase decisions because I know how easy it is to make inappropriate purchases, please be aware that many out there do exactly that. We all sometimes make bad decisions from haste or inadequate funds. Your purchases are your choices and they differentiate you from others. What you think is a wonderful buy is individual to you, and not necessarily widely shared.

Choose carefully, but go ahead and shop. It is one of the great pleasures of life. There is scientific proof that your heart beats faster when a purchase is made and the interaction can be fun. It is a privilege to purchase and and a joy to receive.

An amusing Wiki: How to Spin Bad News

• People didn't buy from lower-priced competitors; they delayed premium buying decisions.
• You didn't have ineffective marketing; you delayed premium advertising to coincide with the delayed buying decisions.
• You aren't going to close stores; you're repositioning for market acquisition.
• You aren't laying off sales employees; you're elevating the consumer's experience through added independence.

http://www.wikihow.com/Spin-Bad-News

Brideshead Revisited

This movie is a masterpiece. It deserves a long review, but I will keep it short.

It's a romance whose hero Charles (Matthew Goode), although sympathetic, displays the flaw of uncontrollable envy. He will do anything to obtain Brideshead, a country house in England that he grows to desire as his own. He has a strong platonic or suggestively homosexual friendship with the owner's son Sebastian "Lord" Flyte (Ben Whishaw) who first meets him and invites him around. He then develops a romantic interest in daughter Julia (Hayley Atwell).

The story winds its way around the ambitious efforts of the "Painter/Artist from Paddington" to do anything to win Brideshead as his home. His envious desire motivates him to develop his friendship with the family. Brideshead's owners are notably acted by Lord Marchmain (Michael Gambon) and Lady Marchmain (Emma Thompson).

The movie ends twenty years later with military occupation during the Second World War. The hero visits the house as a military man and remembers his past. This section, set at Brideshead, is mercifully brief.

It's an enjoyable movie following a complex family and their friendships. References by all to education, economic circumstances, religion and alcohol addiction permeate the hero's experience with the family. "Responsibility to the family" and being of service are illustrated as foundations of friendship.

The movie keeps emphasizing the role of religion in this family. It shows that a powerful attraction of religion is its ability to save a person from himself (or herself). But within the dysfunctional relationships in this movie, religion both builds self-awareness and divides family connections and friendships. All ultimately grow and learn to stay true to their beliefs.

The photography of England in the countryside, Oxford, London, Venice and Morocco is very flawless and beautiful.

It is all carefully and perfectly acted by beautiful people in precious surroundings and well worth watching for escapism, its interesting and entertaining story and memorable romances. "Brideshead Revisited" is most likely the "most beautiful movie" of 2008.

Financial rewards of Olympians

What sort of financial reimbursement will Americans get for participating in the Olympics? I wanted to see how well they do by winning all those medals. Michael Phelps was already earning over $5 million a year from endorsements since the Games in Athens. He wants swimming to grow and for people to get involved. He stresses the psychic rewards. Now he will be making much more, endorsements are predicted in the $30-50 million a year range. Sounds like this is a country or maybe a world that has gone money-crazy about sports.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/08/18/phelps.endorsements/index.html

For many countries, simply attending the ceremonies is important as a political point for the international photographic airtime. Said a coach from the Maldives:

"The priority is to attend ceremonies," he said. "We are an unqualified country. The most important thing is to hoist the flag."

Some countries do not insist all athletes attend the opening ceremony. Lot of coaches attend the opening ceremony march. The Games are an intense, demanding two weeks long.

An article in the Wall Street Journal points out that it is not the Olympic Committee keeping the best statistics of the Olympics. Rather, there are hobbyists around the globe who keep the best historical records of scores. Surprising, but true. It surely makes sense to correlate Olympic results with population numbers, yet it is rarely done. Sounds to me a very useful hobby.

One such group makes www.sports-reference.com. They are the "Oly Madmen" (love that name!) led by Bill Mallon, a surgeon, and they make lists of wins in various sports.

Another good reference is at http://simon.forsyth.net/olympics.html. "A statistical juggle even the Madmen don't attempt is a medal count by wealth and population. At least one Web site tries it.... (by)Simon Forsyth, a researcher in Brisbane, Australia"

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121883421021145439.html?mod=2_1338_topbox

While this is a useful hobby, I am wondering if someone wants to track the correlation of pre-Games financial support with Olympic medals. It is surely very strong, if Michael Phelps is any indication. Are there many strongly qualified, extraordinarily well financed hopefuls who don't win as well as expected, and disappoint like horses that don't win races? Sounds like the "winner takes it all" at the Olympics. But surely anyone qualifying wins by my definition; you are not a loser just by participating. This is a hotbed competitive environment where losing by 1/100 of a second is officially a loss.

The Financial Rewards of Being an Olympic Athlete

Athletes visiting Beijing will have a hard time following the example of greatest all-time gold medallist Michael Phelps, who is already being dubbed the "greatest Olympian of all time". But most of them will be financially rewarded very well in their own countries, as will Phelps, no doubt. The Toronto Globe and Mail is reporting the following:

The Beijing Olympics marks the first time Canada's athletes will receive cash for medals. A gold will be worth $20,000, a silver $15,000 and a bronze $10,000.....

Brambell says one objective of the program is to keep athletes in the system longer.

“We want to retain those particular athletes as long as we can,” said Brambell. “Not only to hopefully win more medals but, more importantly, to have younger athletes learn from them.”.......

An athlete from the Philippines who wins gold in Beijing, for example, will head home with 15 million pesos (C$360,000), while a Russian gold medalist will collect C$50,000 for gold from the government, plus lucrative bonuses from various private sources that could add up to as much as C$500,000 in housing, cars and cash.....

The Globe and Mail, August 13, 2008

Vancouver will likely find that the Beijing Olympics will in very many ways be a tough act to follow on Canadian turf in the Winter Olympics of 2010. How can London in 2012 top this year's Opening Ceremony in Beijing? Good luck!!!!

America: Corporate Tax haven?

Here's an inspiring article from the Associated Press in the New York Times. It inspires me to try to avoid paying taxes! I used to think American tax rates were lower than those of other countries. But our taxes approach the 35-50% rate similar to those of many other countries.

Most companies in US avoid federal income taxes

...The study by the Government Accountability Office, expected to be released Tuesday, said two-thirds of U.S. corporations paid no federal income taxes between 1998 and 2005, and about 68 percent of foreign companies doing business in the U.S. avoided corporate taxes over the same period....

'It's shameful that so many corporations make big profits and pay nothing to support our country,'' said Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., who asked for the GAO study with Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Corporations-Income-Tax.html


Wikipedia has much to offer on the subject of tax havens, such as:

"What ... identifies an area as a tax haven is the existence of a composite tax structure established deliberately to take advantage of, and exploit, a worldwide demand for opportunities to engage in tax avoidance."

...On 25 January 2007 Senator Byron Dorgan (for himself and on behalf of Carl Levin and Russ Feingold) presented a bill to the U.S. Senate to amend the U.S. Internal Revenue Code 1986 to treat controlled foreign corporations which are established in tax havens as domestic corporations, and subject to full taxation as such within the U.S.^[36]
[....A CFC (controlled foreign corporation) is a legal entity that exists in one jurisdiction but is owned or controlled primarily by taxpayers of a different jurisdiction.]

Although the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act ran out of time in 2007, Senator Levin has promised to re-introduce it during 2008.

Hence, the focus above. Again, from Wikipedia:

...draft legislation was superseded late in the same year (2007) by the unambiguously named Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act which was introduced by Senator Levin together with Presidential candidate Barack Obama and Senator Norm Coleman.^[39] The Act would introduce a large number of measures designated to attack transactions perceived to facilitate unlawful tax avoidance by the use of offshore tax havens.

Here are ways they propose to mitigate tax avoidance, according to Wikipedia:

• creating a presumption that an offshore company or offshore trust is controlled by the U.S. taxpayer who formed it.

• empowering the U.S. Treasury to take special measures against foreign jurisdictions which "impede" U.S. tax enforcement.

• requiring U.S. financial institutions that open accounts for foreign entities controlled by U.S. clients, or open accounts in offshore secrecy jurisdictions for U.S. clients, or establish entities offshore for U.S. clients, to report such actions to the IRS.

• taxing income originating from offshore trusts used to buy real estate, artwork and jewelry for U.S. persons, and treating as trust beneficiaries those persons who actually receive offshore trust assets.

• increasing current penalties on promoters of unlawful tax shelter.

• prohibiting the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office from issuing patents for "inventions designed to minimize, avoid, defer, or otherwise affect liability for Federal, State, local, or foreign tax".

• requiring hedge funds and company formation agents to establish anti-money laundering programmes equivalent to those which apply to banks and other financial institutions.

Is this idealistic or realistic? Companies have left America and they won't come back if they will be double-taxed. They will only do what they must to do business. America loses unless it is lenient.

The point not to miss is that the official corporate tax rates are likely not true final tax rates, at least in the United States.

Here is a list of Tax Rates, corporate, individual, payroll and sales tax rates, around the world. It looks like North America and Europe have the highest rates.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_rates_around_the_world

Wikipedia, on tax rates in the United States, says that:

Nevada and Wyoming are particularly well known for not having any state income tax or corporation tax.

The United Arab Emirates would appear to be the clear winners on the tax avoidance list where all tax rates are 0%. Of course, then again, there are certain drawbacks to living in the U.A.E. where women aren't allowed to drive. That would nix it for me.

Playing for Pizza

By John Grisham

I have been reading John Grisham stories for fun since he started publishing. He helped perfect the "attorney novel" form along with Scott Turow and others.

I enjoyed them, and this one is fun in an entertaining and humorous way, too. It deals with the law in the form of judge, policemen and detective characters only marginally involved in the life of a football player transplanted to Italy for his final ball-playing years.

This is the story of the fictional Rick Dockery and his colleagues in a real-life Italian football team, the Parma Panthers, that he is persuaded to join for a year and the games they have. I really enjoyed all of the story, as it is a semi-travelogue of Italy, too. John Grisham clearly loves this sport and Italy.

Fortunately for me, it did not assume any technical knowledge of football and obligingly provides much of it to pamper the reader. Before I read "Playing for Pizza" I was worried that it would be rather too male-oriented and technical about a sport I don't watch. My fears of positive disinterest were unfounded, as technical rules are described in depth, with style and enthusiasm.The football scenes are quite intense but interesting enough to keep the reader moving along and engaged.

It is fun to travel along with Rick in his everyday life, almost in diary form. The photographic sort of description amplifies the kaleidoscopic nature of individual travel. The fact that Rick combines his travel with a job playing football makes the business of living in Italy removed from the mundane without the usual details that would haunt most year-long visitors.

Rick was given a car by the team owner, albeit a small stick-shift to drive. His description of an early morning drive around the city for practice was one of my favorite scenes in the story. It feels like you are there, watching too, and sympathizing with him. It was really funny each time he bravely ventured forth. But he did not have to buy the car and pay for it. Rick complained about the small size, but he was lucky it wasn't a motor cycle, and hey, the price was unbeatable.

Same story goes with the accommodation. Again, he lacked choice but won with convenience. His apartment worked out well for him and he was grateful for it. He seems like a pretty likable and reasonable guy. John Grisham wants you to sympathize with him.

The stories of the agent and the football teams in the U.S. and Canada and the journalists were interesting and did not put me off reading the story as they might have. Rick's attitudes, portrayed as normal for his role as a football player toward women and food were the most fun for me. What the women do and put up with, such as making impromptu meals and parties with relentless good humor, and so many quiet evenings probably alone on men's nights out must have tried the patience of some of the women. The fact that many of the players are unattached was not an area of exploration and rationalization.

The descriptions that I recognized made me almost wistful about traveling in old Italy. I trusted the author all the more because his descriptions complemented my visits to Italy and how the country works. Having visited that country more times than I can count, I found his story believable while also being humorous. I must say that I identified myself somewhat with Rick's final girlfriend, Livvy, the one our emotionally maturing hero is so happy to link up with by the end of the story. I traveled around Italy in a similar way at her age. I don't want to give away too much of the story, because there is a lot to like about it.

Of course, one always has unique travel experiences and takes away different memories from anyone else even on the same route. Whether or not you like the main character, you can certainly sympathize with his actions and reactions. He does what you might do in the same circumstances.

Anyone from post-teenage readers on will enjoy this tale. Anyone contemplating a trip to Italy, as well, will find this novel painless and illuminating as a semi-travelogue. This is a nice read that will keep you riveted and curious, a page-turner with a good story, offering up a slice of the life of a football player.

"Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2"

I really enjoyed watching this movie even more than I loved seeing the first "Traveling Pants". Both movies have many scenes filmed in the spectacularly beautiful Greek island of Santorini. The first "Traveling Pants" movie inspired me to look at the island's breathtaking cliffs on a visit there last year. "Traveling Pants 2" returns to this photogenic island again. Other scenes are taken in New York and various college campuses in the U.S. and abroad, perhaps in Turkey.

The story revolves around the adventures of four girlfriends who share a pair of jeans that they hope will keep them emotionally connected. It seems to work and they stay friends to the end, albeit with some bumps in the road. They each have the jeans for a short period of time and pass them along, rotating them. It's a clever idea! But this movie is all about emotional transformation. Each of the characters learns and grows from unique life experiences.

Bridget, played very sensitively by Blake Lively reconnects with her grandmother (Blyth Danner) after an educational anthropological dig in Turkey, though not where I've been in Turkey (also filmed spectacularly well). She learns about her father's attempts to shield her following the painful death of her mother, and has to understand her own feelings, maturing and growing beyond her special loss.

Carmen, a Yale rising sophomore played by America Ferrera finds love and semi-professional development unexpectedly in Vermont while away from her pregnant mother. Julia, her beautiful blonde Yale friend played by Rachel Nichols was also very convincingly portrayed and well-acted.

Lena, the cute "Greek-American" girl, played adorably by Alexis Bledel is well-developed as a sister, friend and love heroine. She chooses between two young men working to a satisfying conclusion with one of them.

Tibby, the "video-store girl"/ playwright played by Amber Tamblyn has emotional challenges worrying about a possible pregnancy, her relationship with her boyfriend, her friendship with America Ferrera, helping her with her mother's childbirth.

There were many male roles in the movie as well. All characters were played with depth, sincerity and sensitivity. I felt that all characters were on target and age appropriate with their concerns and problems. The way they helped each other solve love and life problems was beautiful and very modern and realistic. Photography was very complicated as scenes rotated following the characters (and the pants) but each scene segued into the next very seamlessly and understandably.

Other reviews I have read have not uniformly rated this movie highly, nevertheless, I enjoyed it a lot. The audience around me applauded after the end! Any time a reviewer pans a "chick flick" I have noticed the reviewer tends, almost always to be a man. Women will tend to give hot reviews, or at worst tentative or lukewarm, of this emerging group of female-oriented movies. In view of this, I must raise a virtual objection. I promise I won't write about most violent or male-oriented films at all because I have a problem sitting through some of them, let alone saying anything nice.

Moreover, maybe those male reviewers should be reminded that it is still a man's world and that they have the power with their unfavorable reviews to squelch this new category of female-targeted movies that is late but very welcome to very many of us. I can assure any reader that low-budget "chick flicks" like these tend to have most of the female half of the population gratefully (but maybe too quietly) loving them for giving us our chance in the limelight and at the very least admiring the guts and courage of the producers for making them.

Sadly, it is likely that these chick flicks will not win important critical awards. Indeed, they have so far usually been passed over for big awards, even as they have few if any special effects or expensive action-adventure machinery. But for lots of us, they are very satisfying, soothing and worthwhile for our souls. This is emotionally where we want to go for awhile and we are very happy we took the time out to see them.

Demonyms, Ethnonyms and Euphemisms

Wikipedia makes much use of descriptive words to describe different groups of populations and languages that I find quite fascinating to learn:

Demonym: from the Greek 'demos', populace, often used by geographers, denoting the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place.

Someone called a Briton has genetic ancestors from Britain, while anyone holding a British passport is considered British.

The Franks settled France, but its' citizens are French.

Ethnonym: from the Greek 'ethnos', name, is the name given to a given ethnic group, and can be divided into exonyms where the name of the ethnic group has been created by another group of people [ say, Germans ] and autonyms where the name is created and used by the ethnic group itself [ say, Deutsch ].

Ethnonyms can become political, and evolve from acceptable to unacceptable [ say, Gypsy
has referred to the Roma ]. Other examples include Vandal, Bushman, Barbarian and Philistine.

Euphemism: from the Greek for 'good/well' and 'speech/speaking', is the substitution of a less offensive expression in place of one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener; or in the case of doublespeak, to make it less troublesome for the speaker. Someone who died, 'passed away' .

Comedians make jokes of euphemisms and intend for them to be funny. Also used in job titles,
for example, a 'transparent-wall maintenance officer' is a 'window cleaner'.

The Euphemism Treadmill: In a well-known linguistic process known as pejoration, recently dubbed the "euphemism treadmill" by Steven Pinker, euphemisms often evolve into taboo words. [ 'toilet room', replaced by U.S. 'bathroom' and U.K. 'water closet' became U.S. 'restroom' and U.K. 'W.C.' ].

Adults used to be 'mentally retarded' but are now 'mentally challenged'.

Wikipedia says that a similar progression occurred with:

lame → crippled → handicapped → disabled → physically challenged → differently abled

( 'Lame', having faded in use, reportedly has been revitalised as a slang word meaning 'not living up to expectations').

Also, 'shell shock' and 'PTSD' are the same concept:

Shell shock (World War I) → battle fatigue (World War II)→ Operational exhaustion (Korean War) → Post-traumatic stress disorder (Vietnam War)

Certain euphemisms are controversial. 'Visually impaired' could mean any one of 'blind', 'having partial eyesight' and 'having uncorrected poor vision'.

Other euphemisms are innuendo if they are understood by two people, but not a third listening.

Others common in certain circles (such as the medical field, where 'myocardial infarction' means 'heart attack') are a type of jargon.

Not always euphemisms, but profane words and expressions in English tend to be taken from three areas: religion, excretion and sex.

In many languages, words that mean "swear word" are used as exclamations instead of the actual swear word [ say, sacre in French ].

Three antonyms (opposites) of euphemisms are dysphemism [ 'snail mail' for post office mail rather than email], cacophemism, which uses vulgarities [ 'sucks' is now a milder epithet] and power words, used in arguments to make a point seem more correct, uses presuppositions, and appeals to emotions rather than logic (asking a teenager, why did you stay out that late?)

Wikipedia has many more fine examples, no doubt added by readers. It is quite an interesting exercise to learn who lives where. Where does a Leopolitan come from? (answer: Lviv, Poland).

Tiger Noodles

Tiger Noodles is one of our favorite Princeton restaurants, and one we find ourselves visiting very often. We are definitely 'regulars' and have always been greeted with relentless friendliness and politeness. We love their menu and visit here much more frequently than the other Chinese food establishments in town. It could be the friendly welcome and the excellent food that pulls us in again and again.

Tiger Noodles on Nassau Street has two dining rooms and an outdoor area for dining in the summer months. This is the original, very busy in-town restaurant with a thriving take-out business, very large in reputation. Tiger Noodles also offers take-out for Princeton University students, and have food and tables at outdoor events around Princeton. This is a restaurant of hard-working, loyal employees who are always big on affection. They always remember our family and cheerfully ask about us all, something one might think 'impossible' to find in a place the size of Princeton.

The food is always delicious, and since we often have the same dishes, the staff tend to remember what we want, even to the extent of asking before we place our order, for the soups and scallion pancakes! They also do everything we ask, whether it's asking for an extra bowl of sauce or withholding ice cubes and scallions for my daughter. Generosity prevails in portion size and vegetables, always fresh. Their meat and fish dishes are superbly tasty and pleasingly arrayed in serving platters. Their colorful dishes are amusingly named, "purple action", our secret code for their classic, slow-cooked eggplant dish and "Lover's Nest" creations with mouth-watering beef and chicken. "Creaky chicken", the "Dragon and Phoenix" and the "Happy Family" are all worth trying. Their menu is always reliably delicious and filling.

The owners, Huey Yang et al, have several restaurants in the Princeton area with similar menus in different locations. They have Tiger Noodles, our most frequently visited in town close to the Blue Point Grill (across the street). They also own Ya-Ya Noodles in the Montgomery Shopping Center with a suburban, carpeted and relaxed ambiance which I also love. There are tables for large groups and Asian artifacts, even bubble tea. So you have the choice of one that is frenetic, while always respectful, and the other that is more relaxing. Then there is also a new location on Route 1 with Asian artifacts, with the same wonderfully familiar menu and excellent, attentive and quick service.

Tiger Noodles insists on simple payment by cash, while other locations also accept credit cards. All locations offer easy nearby outdoor parking. Walk-in traffic is fine any day of the week. So often we love this welcoming warm and cozy place to rest and eat, to look around and have fun in a friendly part of the universe.

http://yayanoodles.com/

finviz.com

Here is a website that I just found thanks to the blog tradinggoddess.com. There is a stock "map of the market" that is more detailed than any I have seen and is free and very clickable. I am so excited about this, I have yet to explore all it is offering, and would have liked to have known about it before now!!!

www.finviz.com

NEPAL

Here are three differentiating characteristics:

1) Popular with mountaineers, Nepal contains eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including Annapurna and Mount Everest (which it shares with Tibet/China to the north).

2) The modern formation of the Himalaya Range in Nepal has very intense microseismic activity.

3) Nepal is the only modern nation with Hinduism as its official religion, although it also has a strong Buddhist tradition.

Here are three historical and geographical facts:

1) A landlocked country in South Asia, Nepal's capital is Kathmandu. It is the largest city with around 1.5 million of the national population of almost 30 million. The country is now divided into 14 zones and three areas: the mountains, the hills and the lowlands (Siwalik and Terai regions).

2) Populated for over 9,000 years, Nepal was a monarchy from 1768 until very recently.
Its Gurkha army astounded the British in the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1815-6 with their valor, fierceness and ruthlessness. Its long-running civil war (1996-2006) resulted in the abolition of royal rule in December, 2007. The formation in May, 2008 of a federal democratic republic including government representation of the former Maoist rebels, has been led by President Yadav since May, 2008.

3) The word "Nepal" is likely, according to scholars, derived from Nepa, referring to the Sanskrit word for the Newar Kingdom in the Kathmandu valley. According to folklore, it could refer to the country looked after by a Hindu sage called "Ne" or it could be from the word "Ne" in Tibetan meaning wool and "pal" meaning house.

Here are three economic facts:

1) Nepal exports mainly carpets, clothing, leather and jute goods and grain. Natural resources are an area for future development. Agriculture accounts for 40% of Nepal's GDP, services 41% and industry 22%.

2) Nepal needs to improve its infrastructure and receives foreign aid from many other countries, such as India, Japan, the U.K., the U.S., and China. Poverty is acute and the average income is less than $470/year. Hospitality and tourism have been stifled by recent political events. Half of the working-age population are unemployed. Many citizens of Nepal move to India, the Gulf countries and Malaysia to work.

3) The currency, the Nepalese rupee has been tied to the Indian rupee at a 1.6 exchange rate for many years. The Nepali year begins mid-April and is divided into 12 months. Saturday is the official weekly holiday and the official language is Nepali, spoken by half the population.

Here are three general facts:

1) Nepal's flag is the only national flag in the world that is non-quadrilateral in shape. The top triangle represents the Shah ruling faction, and the lower triangle signifies the Rana family, or that "Nepal will continue to exist as long as the sun and the moon".

2) Nepal experiences five seasons a year: summer, monsoon, autumn, winter and spring (according to Wikipedia).

3) Nepal is culturally varied with unique traditions in music, dance, folklore, cuisine and architecture. The largest Shiva temple in the world, the Pashupatinath Temple is where Hindus come from all over the world for pilgrimage.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepal

Today in the market

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks closed sharply lower on Thursday, leaving the market with a mixed performance for July, as economic concerns resurfaced following weaker-than-expected growth numbers and a big jump in jobless claims......

$INDU 11,378.02, -205.67, -1.8%) fell 205 points, or 1.8%, to end at 11,378 on Thursday. Out of the Dow's 30 components, 25 retreated."
___________________________________________________________________

Another down day in the market on this, the last day of July. I heard on CNBC that August might be an up month because Congress will be out of session, not keeping the stock market down. We'll see.

Biotech stock Imclone Systems flew up 37.7% on news that Bristol-Myers-Squibb wants to buy the remainder of company stock it doesn't already own. But Elan and Biogen are down heavily on unfavorable drug-related news, and Akamai, one of my favorite tech stocks, fell 20%. The energy sector was down today as well.

Some experts are saying that this could be a market bottom with a run-up to the election, or there could be a run-up after October and the election are over. Despite rumors that the second half of the year will be down, I am hoping financial stock issues will be resolved and everything, including housing stocks and house prices will turn around again by the end of the year.

XLF

Today's market action was up nicely, amidst rumors on CNBC that the financial sector is moving up from mid-July lows. Here's a graph of XLF, the financial ETF that is at least treading water, and might be turning around. (Then again, it might just be regrouping and forming an intermediate base and then dropping some more.) Maybe the Bear Stearns fall-off in July really did form the low, as evidenced by the volume spike, and the recent Merrill Lynch news of the write-down will open the floodgates for more buying again. That is what I prefer to think. There was an interesting segment on Larry Kudlow analysing the news from Merrill both ways, as a good deal, or as an embarrassment. The financial sector is an amazing bargain at these prices. Doesn't it look like it will double before long?

On the other hand, the following chart of all historical information on XLF back to 1999 shows a more bearish graph, with lows reached at 20 in early 2000, about 19 at the end of 2002 and now about 17.5 mid-2008. It could go either way, from the look of the chart, in my view. Let the Buyer beware! It could make a long slow, up move from here, at least for awhile. Or does this look like the chart of a bubble? Maybe not that large a bubble! Let's think financials, along with everything else, turn around from here. Surely, by now, software has replaced much of the human element of the market. For the most part, that is for the better, I would say. Pity the ETF chart doesn't go back further.

Wonderful Up Market!

Markets

DJIA* 11397.56 266.48 2.39% Nasdaq* 2319.62 55.40 2.45% S&P 500* 1263.20 28.83 2.34% Russell* 714.55 18.44 2.65% 10-YR Note* 4 .046% -10/32 -0.30% * at closeSource: Dow Jones, Reuters The markets improved somewhat today, quite a bit actually. Perhaps they were just making up for weakness in the past session. Oil headed down, and that can only be a good thing for us bulls, because lower oil means that stocks generally head higher. Amidst all the mixed economic news, while technology stocks get pummeled, are healthcare, the drugmakers and biotechs emerging as leadership sectors, or is this possible trend going to fizzle? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lahiere's Restaurant, Princeton, New Jersey Review Today, I wrote a review of Lahiere's Restaurant, another of my favorite restaurants in Princeton, New Jersey. This is one of Princeton’s finest restaurants well-located in the middle of town across from the main gate of Princeton University at 5-11 Nassau St. (at Witherspoon St.) (609) 921-2798. With it's prime real estate and nearby parking ramps, this is the restaurant where you are most likely to find V.I.Ps in Princeton. Of course, it will cost you plenty for a nice dinner. But lunch is also a nice time to visit, for a business or somewhat lengthy meal, when the sun filters beautifully through the windows creating a cozy, soothing, restful location and offering a slower pace within a bustling town center. Along with this convenient, prime location and its’ celebrity-spotting possibilities, you will find a surprisingly comfortable place to relax (if you are not worrying about the bill), with European style ambience, multiple white tablecloths, candles, flowers and fine food. Lahiere’s offers fine wines in very generous glasses (or by the bottle) and has extra rooms upstairs for large, private dinners or tables joined for groups in the various rooms downstairs. Many smaller dining rooms on the main floor add to the charm and intimacy of Lahiere’s. The mirrors and wallpaper, art and nice lighting add a certain relaxed atmosphere that is rare to find in Princeton restaurants. I have been here often enough over the last twenty-five years to appreciate the reliable continuity of Lahiere’s and hope for more of the same. Menus vary with the seasons, with carefully prepared soups, salads and entrees, side dishes, cheeses and desserts made from the freshest ingredients. In my view, along with the relaxed ambience and fine food, it is the discreet and attentive service that differentiates Lahiere’s from most of the other, newer restaurants. The staff does not draw attention to themselves but I have not ever found their attention lacking. It tends to happen unobtrusively before it is needed. Whether you are with one other or with a large group,"rich and famous" or not, Lahiere’s will find a place for you (especially if you reserve ahead weekend nights) and make your dining experience memorable and pleasant. I only hope at some point that the chairs become slightly softer to sit on (maybe it's just me), and that entrees are very, very hot when delivered to table. Being an affectionate, loyal client, one tends to just forgive and enjoy everything, because of the exciting, prime location, management's constant attention to detail, good old-fashioned service, and relaxing ambience. It is probably the restaurant most relied upon by Princeton's elite. This fairly dress-up dining location, where jackets and ties are not “required” any more, is what most Princetonians consider the finest restaurant in town. Just be sure to be ready for that check. More information on this fine dining establishment is available on their website, along with some history. http://www.lahieres.com/ SADLY, THIS RESTAURANT IS NOW CLOSED. Sunday, July 27, 2008 Tibet TIBET Here are three differentiating characteristics: 1) Tibet has an average elevation of 16,000 ft, the highest region on Earth, a plateau region in Central Asia, and is often referred to as the “Roof of the World” 2) Several rivers have their source in the Tibetan Plateau, the Yangtze, Yellow, Indus, Mekong, Brahmaputra, Ganges, Salween and Yarlung Tsangpo. Their glaciers provide Asia with much of its water.* 3) The Tibet Autonomous Region’s population of 5,400,000 is 0.5 percent of China’s population.* Here are three historical and geographical facts: 1) Tibet’s general history begins (604-50 CE) with the rule of Songtsan Gampo who ruled Tibet as a kingdom and united parts of the Yarlung River Valley. If we jump to 1751, Chinese Emperor Qianlong installed Dalai Lama as the spiritual and political leader of Tibet. Since 1951, Tibet has been under China’s control, considered the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), although India and Republic of China (formerly Taiwan) also claim part. On March 10, 1959, the Dalai Lama fled to Dharamsala, India where there are now with him thousands of Tibetan monks and supporters in favor of Tibetan cultural autonomy. Repeatedly, the Dalai Lama has exhorted for Tibetan autonomy from the Chinese “to protect their culture”. 2) “The issue of the proportion of the Han Chinese population in Tibet is a politically sensitive one” (from Wikipedia). While the population of Tibet is primarily Tibetans, other groups include Menba (monpa), Lhoba, Mongols and Hui Chinese. There are also many Tibetan dialects, such as Kham, Amdo, Sherpa. China will not allow independent human rights organizations into Tibet or to meet with Tibetans. (Many Tibetans cannot understand each other’s dialects). According to USA Today (Aug 5, 2008), thousands of Tibetans are now "undergoing "patriotic education" campaigns to denounce the Dalai Lama". 3) The Tibetan Plateau includes the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest on Nepal’s border. Lhasa is the capital city and contains Potala Palace, most important example of Tibetan architecture. Lhasa has this 1,000 room former palace of the Dalai Lama (though smaller than the over 8, 700 room Palace of the Forbidden City in Beijing*) and his summer residence, Norbulingka. Lhasa also contains significant temples and monasteries, Jokhand and Ramoche. Shigatse, Gyantse and Chamdo are among the next largest cities. Here are three economic facts: 1) The Tibetan economy is dominated by subsistence farming, of livestock raising and crops of barley and wheat. Tourism brings in the most income from the sale of handicrafts and is actively promoted by authorities. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the first to link the region (to China) was opened in 2006. There are thought to be many undeveloped minerals in the mountains. 2) Unemployment is high and an unequal taxation system worsens poverty in rural areas. 3) By the 1850s Tibet had banned all foreigners and has denied Tibetans most rights, such as self-determination, freedom of speech, assembly, movement, expression, travel. Access to housing, education and health remain unfulfilled. It ranks lowest of China’s 31 provinces , and ranked 153 of 160 countries on the Human Development Index. Here are three general facts about Tibet: 1) Bon, the ancient religion of Tibet is extremely important to their daily lives. Tantric Buddhism is also practiced. 2) Tibetan music is religious and involves chanting in Tibetan or Sanskrit. 3) “Tibet” is derived possibly from the Arabic Tubbat ( derived via Persian from the Turkic Toban for “the heights”) , or from the people of northeast Tibet, the Tubut, or the Muslim writers from the 9thC Tubbett, Tibbat, or the People’s Republic of China, tubo. Many Tibetans go by one name only. Sources: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet *www.nytimes.com/edlife Saturday, July 26, 2008 AFGHANISTAN Today I studied Afghanistan and found these three differentiating characteristics: 1) Afghanistan is a landlocked and mountainous country in South-Central Asia. Large parts of the country are dry, subject to minor earthquakes and fresh water supplies are limited. 2) Revenue in Afghanistan is mostly taken from customs, as income and corporate tax is negligible. 3) Some private investment projects are starting to pick up steam, such as the "City of Light Development" in Kabul following a century or more of unstable transfers of power. Here are three historical and geographical facts: 1) Afghanistan's Total Population is 32,738,376. Kabul is the capital city with over one million residents. Other cities in order of size are Kandahar, Herat, Mazar-e Sharif, Jalalabad, Ghazni and Kunduz. The country is divided into 34 provinces. 2) Afghanistan dates from 50,000 years ago, though the modern state was created in 1747. In the last century, it has been a monarchy, republic, theocracy and communist state. It is currently a Republic led by President Hamid Karzai who was elected in October, 2004. 3) The tribal system orders life outside metropolitan areas. Under Islamic law, every believer should bear arms for the local clan leader (Khans) and tribal chiefs, if called upon. Afghanistan is about 40% Pashtun, 30% Tajik, 8.5% Hazara, and 8.5% Uzbek. Here are three further economic facts: 1) This mountainous country, generally traveled by bus, continues to recover and rebuild, but has excessive illegal poppy and opium trading and is subject to attack from al Qaeda. There is a great deal of poverty, poor infrastructure, and large concentrations of unexploded land mines. Afghanistan, land of the Afghans, is also subject to violent political jockeying. On the positive side: it harbors great quantities of natural metals and minerals and could export energy, oil and natural gas. 2) As of 2005, the official unemployment rate was set at 40%. There are over 70,000 police officers. 3) Literacy in 1999 was 36%. Male literacy: 51%, Female literacy: 21%. Some parents will not allow their daughters to be taught by men, and we hope this will change and improve literacy. Poetry events are popular. Source, and for further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan Friday, July 25, 2008 Upbeat health care story Another ho-hum day on the market. Of course, it is a Friday at the end of a prime vacation week in July, but at least the market is up: From the Wall Street Journal: Better-than-expected readings of new-home sales, consumer sentiment and durable-goods orders weren't enough to push stocks out of the ditch they rolled into Thursday. Markets DJIA*11370.69 21.4 10.19% Nasdaq*2310.53 30.42 1.33% S&P 500*1257.76 5.22 0.42% Russell*710.34 7.95 1.13% 10-YR Note4.103% -26/32 -0.82% * at close Source: Dow Jones, Reuters On more upbeat news: There was an interesting upbeat story at CNN.com today about Lincoln Industries, a 565-person metal part manufacturing plant in Lincoln, Nebraska, that successfully brought down health care costs in an extraordinarily successful and bravely innovative way. The cost-savings achieved were noteworthy and the methods used were praiseworthy. It is a wonderful story that inspires hope where we wish there could be some. It is also both a business and health breakthrough. Both for-profit and non-profit companies, like schools and hospitals, would do this, I bet, if they thought it could work. Who knew? Employees had annual health tests paid for and could win vacation trips. Just by taking the trouble to monitor their employees health, the company achieved significant savings from insurance companies. This company also rates high in caring, from the sound of it, too. The program has been in place for 16 years and it sounds like it is working. The company requires all employees to undergo quarterly checkups measuring weight, body fat and flexibility. It also conducts annual blood, vision and hearing tests..... The company ranks workers on their fitness, from platinum, gold and silver down to "non-medal." To achieve platinum, they must reach fitness goals and be nonsmokers -- and the company offers smoking cessation classes. For employees, reaching platinum means a three-day, company-paid trip each summer to climb a 14,000-foot peak in Colorado. This year, 103 qualified, the most ever. And 70 made the climb. For the company, the payoff is significantly lower health-care costs. The company pays less than $4,000 per employee, about half the regional average and a savings of more than $2 million. That makes the $400,000 Lincoln Industries spends each year on wellness a bargain. "The return on investment is extraordinary," Orme says. http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/diet.fitness/07/25/fn.healthy.company/index.html Thursday, July 24, 2008 "When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping" Here is this evening's Wall Street Journal's summary of today's market action: Dow Skids Amid Grim Housing Data The Dow industrials dropped 283.10 points, or 2.4%, to end at 11349.28 after grim data on housing and employment. Financial stocks dropped dramatically; builders also took steep losses. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 tumbled. 10:24 p.m. Yesterday I was stung by five wasps at once, I am not kidding. Today, I said "Big Ouch" again for a very different reason. This was not a good day for bulls on Wall Street, to say the least. But "when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping" and that is exactly what I did today. If "it is always a good time to buy stocks", as Warren Buffett has said on television, the same is true of jewelry. I went to the incredible Short Hills Mall and looked for necklaces. You will recall from a recent post (Precious Metals, Friday July 18) that I love the gemstones and necklaces at Dodi's Designs. http://www.dodidesigns.com/ I have to say that they compared favorably to gem necklaces at Tiffany, Neiman-Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. They are all so unique and creative, and great value. They are too good to be travel jewelry and are suitable for all kinds of occasions as they come in a great variety of unique designs. Dodi is sure to please and I just cannot say enough praise for her unusual, courageous jewelry. The Short Hills Mall is a fabulous Mall that has been my personal favorite since first visiting New Jersey. Try Legal Seafoods when you get hungry as their soups and fish are delicious. This Mall has historically had very strict leasing restrictions. Stores have to completely renovate every three years or else they must leave, with few exceptions, or they used to have to. There are lots of elite international businesses here with extravagant beautiful displays. It is definitely one of the most upscale, exciting, well-kept Malls in America only fifteen minutes or so from Newark International Airport, with convenient optional valet parking. Also, the music is really nice and soothing. Not much is here to invite children, just a gentle warning, as it is all designed to stimulate shopping whims and impulses, and the more money and time you can spend, the more fun it will be! At their website, you can see if your favorite designers and stores are in the Short Hills Mall's store directory, and find hours and directions. Welcome to The Mall at Short Hills! http://www.shopshorthills.com/ Big Change in Prescription Drug Advertising A CNBC "guest expert" Wednesday, July 23, 2008 said something that has stuck in my mind that I need to sort out. He said that the entire pharmaceutical industry of the U.S. is now changing its marketing practices by encouraging American patients to request specific medicines. This CNBC guest went on to say that this marks a "sea change" by drug makers trying a new marketing strategy that makes patients aware of certain prescription drugs with relentless advertising. As well as targeting the doctors as they have always done, now pharmaceutical companies are also aggressively targeting the end consumer, the patient, with prescription drugs and asking them in the ads to take the drug name to the doctor. I didn't think too much about it during my busy day, but it kept coming back to haunt me involuntarily because it explains what I have been suspecting for some time. I think this new "sea change" started with new "enhancement" drug advertisements that are certainly graphic and not suitable for family television. It looks like the revenues of pharmaceutical companies are being increased with this new, off-color advertising of prescription drugs with kissing, scantily clad actors making naughty look respectable. But now the prescription drug ads have moved on to other medical problems. These ads discourage keeping secrets of your medical issues and encourage you to learn about rather alarming issues that they focus on and describe and amplify, from restless legs to (big secret of millions!) constantly leaky bowels, to discuss them with your doctor and request their pill remedy by name. Drug companies have long widely advertised over-the-counter drugs, (Aspirin, Pepto-Bismol) but the difference now is that companies want patients to request certain prescription drugs from their doctors according to drug makers. Indeed, there is a new commercial that urges patients to say to their doctors, "Let's Have the ......(drug) Conversation". Scoldings have so far been my reward for mentioning a possible prescription drug to a doctor. I suppose this "sea change" in advertising to the patient is a capitulation, or at least acknowledgment by pharmaceutical companies, that consumers are informed enough (presumably it is the internet that has changed patient awareness) to be able to ask their doctors for specific drugs. Odd how the internet is blamed for changing the good and bad that has already long existed in society when it has only increased awareness and sometimes creates a sense of urgency or immediacy. I know that in my case, with most doctors I have seen, I tend to keep it fairly formal and avoid asking potentially embarrassing questions unless completely unavoidable, even childbirth specifics (for which there are classes). Doctors generally won't take the initiative to ask potentially embarrassing questions either, at least in America. I think doctors should take the lead and not be shy. Maybe they could try harder to create environments conducive to answering intimate questions. Sometimes having a caring, detailed questionnaire filled out before an appointment helps to remind a patient of issues to discuss and encourages openness. Sympathetic, non-judgmental conversations would be more caring to most patients and provide better care. Being judged harshly (or scolded) for making personal behavior choices inevitably produces hostility. Probably this is why doctors shy away from the intimate, embarrassing questions they should ask. They wait instead for confessions of weakness that might not come. I haven't requested any drug lately, as I generally avoid drugs, but that could change if everyone else is doing it, and if doctors know that the pharmaceutical companies are encouraging informed patients to request drugs. I thought we are all supposed to take our symptoms to the doctor and that the doctor is supposed to decide what the symptoms mean. Maybe lots of patients are suddenly showing up in doctors offices with the same (heavily advertised) unusual health problems, with drug suggestions. Here are my random questions: - Will unexpected knowledge of drugs on the part of a patient make a doctor impatient, or worse, ignore symptoms, if a patient self-diagnoses? - Will it create a sometimes sinister atmosphere of threat of possible litigation if the patient, a possible drug buyer (like a store customer) is usually correct and wants the medicine now "or else"? I have already felt this by doctors whose first priority, it would appear, is to cover themselves from that threat of legal consequences. - Will drug requests poison and erode a fragile doctor-patient relationship or will it not matter in the long run? - As patients, will we soon seem lazy or ignorant if we don't offer drug suggestions for our own health issues that we are consulting and questioning the doctor about? How crazy that would be. Maybe next, a way will be found (and probably already has been found) to profit from the internet by bypassing doctors completely. These profitable websites (definitely in business with drug makers) might encourage unsupervised self-diagnoses and self-medication with prescription drugs as we all do from time to time already with over-the-counter drugs. (I am sure the internet will again be heavily blamed as the enemy when things go wrong, as they inevitably will). Of course, this all sounds highly dangerous and undesirable. 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