Well, it's Saturday. My wife and I celebrate our six-year anniversary on Saturday, in case you didn't know. We are going out to Front Royal to see a Front Royal Cardinals game and a Little League Challengers game. Apparently the Front Royal Little League Challengers competition has been invited to watch the Little League World Series and is raising money to do this. I'm not sure how Front Royal got selected but they will be having a special game on July 22 as part of the ceremonies to open Bing Crosby Stadium.
One of these days I am going to copy and paste all my posts on fark.com onto here so you can get an inkling of what I think, politically and otherwise. It makes little sense to type a post there and then post something similar here.
But I've decided to keep a spam diary. I got 42 spams between yesterday afternoon when I left to see Assassins at the Signature Theater last night.
Here's how it's running so far.
For 7/14:
Free products (i.e. "Home Depot vouchers", etc.)
11
Enlarge my penis/cum more/Viagra (I'll also include the enlarge my breasts spam here)
7
Low cost products (such as genuine replica Rolex watches)
6
Mortgage/loans
4
Self-improvement (lose weight, get diplomas from quality non-accredited schools, etc.)
4
Porn
2
Meet women
2
Stock tips
2
PayPal or eBay scams
1
419 or other money-based scams (lotteries, etc.)
1
Casino/gambling
1
Political spam
1
Of course, no spam is complete without remembering how much foreign language spam you get and how much gender-inappropriate spam you get.
Spanish
2
Chinese
1
Japanese
1
Gender-inappropriate
0
For the one or two readers of this blog, let me know if you have any ideas. I won't start trying to hotlink my friends until I've been at this regularly for a couple weeks or so.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Well, here I am again.
A cousin of mine is getting married on Saturday. I just found out that my sister didn't get an invitation, but my wife and I did. Needless to say, my wife and I are a bit annoyed by this -- so we are not going. Am I rude in doing this?
Post 212068 on the FNM board is a challenge I am making to a Chomskyite on that board (at the least, he quotes Chomsky frequently). The honest ones are interested in discussion about the challenges of setting up proper international institutions, whereas the dishonest ones are more interested in complaining about the USA's allged "hyperpower," when they fail to realise that a duopoly in power leads to a Cold War and a multipolarity of power seems to lead to frequent jockeying for power, as the history of Europe between 1500 and 1945 seems to indicate.
I have commented frequently that World War II was the equivalent of the Ludovico Treatment from A Clockwork Orange regarding Europe. Witness Europe's inability to handle civil strife of a hateful nature in its own backyard during the 1990s.
It is my fervent hope that (1) the USA's excessive militarism and Europe's excessive pacifism can be balanced out -- neither is exactly helpful to the world as it stands -- and (2) that the USA does not need to undergo further Ludovico Treatments a la 9/11 to be cured of this miltarism.
A cousin of mine is getting married on Saturday. I just found out that my sister didn't get an invitation, but my wife and I did. Needless to say, my wife and I are a bit annoyed by this -- so we are not going. Am I rude in doing this?
Post 212068 on the FNM board is a challenge I am making to a Chomskyite on that board (at the least, he quotes Chomsky frequently). The honest ones are interested in discussion about the challenges of setting up proper international institutions, whereas the dishonest ones are more interested in complaining about the USA's allged "hyperpower," when they fail to realise that a duopoly in power leads to a Cold War and a multipolarity of power seems to lead to frequent jockeying for power, as the history of Europe between 1500 and 1945 seems to indicate.
I have commented frequently that World War II was the equivalent of the Ludovico Treatment from A Clockwork Orange regarding Europe. Witness Europe's inability to handle civil strife of a hateful nature in its own backyard during the 1990s.
It is my fervent hope that (1) the USA's excessive militarism and Europe's excessive pacifism can be balanced out -- neither is exactly helpful to the world as it stands -- and (2) that the USA does not need to undergo further Ludovico Treatments a la 9/11 to be cured of this miltarism.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Well, I am feeling much better. The doctor prescribed a decongestant for me, and I've been faithfully taking it twice a day. I woke up today and had the least amount of gunk in my throat/nose/lungs that I've had in weeks.
Right now the speculation is that Karl Rove will get indicted. Of course, Bush has the potential to screw up the immigration speech, as well. I don't think most people really care about illegal immigration until their jobs are at stake. For now, at least, we are living an OK existence, with any shortfalls between lifestyle expectations and the ability to pay for it covered over by home equity loans, credit cards, etc.
In finance, I see no reason why oil and gold won't keep on going up.
Regarding American empire, here is a post I made on the FNM board: "I do wish opponents of American hegemony would provide better alternatives than police-state PRC, theocratic Iran or wanna-be dictator Hugo Chavez." While the Bushite model, for lack of a better word, sucks, the alternatives seem to be the ones I mentioned, or the de facto isolationism of the European Union combined with the unable to agree on anything United Nations.
Well, I'm about ready to head off to work and deal with the fallout of the backups. I hope no drives got damaged over the weekend.
Right now the speculation is that Karl Rove will get indicted. Of course, Bush has the potential to screw up the immigration speech, as well. I don't think most people really care about illegal immigration until their jobs are at stake. For now, at least, we are living an OK existence, with any shortfalls between lifestyle expectations and the ability to pay for it covered over by home equity loans, credit cards, etc.
In finance, I see no reason why oil and gold won't keep on going up.
Regarding American empire, here is a post I made on the FNM board: "I do wish opponents of American hegemony would provide better alternatives than police-state PRC, theocratic Iran or wanna-be dictator Hugo Chavez." While the Bushite model, for lack of a better word, sucks, the alternatives seem to be the ones I mentioned, or the de facto isolationism of the European Union combined with the unable to agree on anything United Nations.
Well, I'm about ready to head off to work and deal with the fallout of the backups. I hope no drives got damaged over the weekend.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Ah -- how could I forget -- my FBR was stopped out today at 10.25. If it gets down to $9 a share, I'll get back in. For now, I'm out. My portfolio is getting smaller and smaller!
I *really* mistimed KMP. I suppose investing in high-yield, interest sensitive stocks in a time of rising interest rates wasn't the greatest of ideas.
I *really* mistimed KMP. I suppose investing in high-yield, interest sensitive stocks in a time of rising interest rates wasn't the greatest of ideas.
Well, Bush's approval ratings have hit 29%. We have gone out of Carter 1980 territory and entered Nixon 1974 territory; the next stop is Truman 1952 territory. Let's see if there are more polls showing a sub-30 rating -- remember these polls were taken before the NSA database. I'm not sure whether this'll up his ratings or drag it down a few more points, since it seems Mr. and Mrs. America don't have a problem with this. It's as if Bush gets a new scandal every week, one worse than the next.
The doctor told me that I had an allergy and a viral cold showed up sometime early this week. He prescribed a decongestant.
I'm bummed. I spent all day at work installing some application, and then as soon as I did what I could there, I had to babysit a tape drive replacement on the jukebox. Apparently, the backup server no longer sees that particular drive, and a jbconfig and a boot -r haven't fixed the problem. I'm out of patience and since backups start in about 40 minutes, out of time.
Well, we'll see what my wife wants for dinner. She's been known to change her mind on a dime, but since I'm not really set on anything, it's no big deal.
The doctor told me that I had an allergy and a viral cold showed up sometime early this week. He prescribed a decongestant.
I'm bummed. I spent all day at work installing some application, and then as soon as I did what I could there, I had to babysit a tape drive replacement on the jukebox. Apparently, the backup server no longer sees that particular drive, and a jbconfig and a boot -r haven't fixed the problem. I'm out of patience and since backups start in about 40 minutes, out of time.
Well, we'll see what my wife wants for dinner. She's been known to change her mind on a dime, but since I'm not really set on anything, it's no big deal.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
One of these days I will figure out how to turn comments on. Of course, the only person who'll comment will be the occasional relative and the more occasional spammer, but I suppose a guy can dream, can't he?
Still sick. I have a doctor's appointment scheduled for 11:30am tomorrow. Hopefully the doctor won't automatically assume it's an ordinary cold and tell me to drink plenty of orange juice and get lots of sleep (stuff I'm already doing.) I'm not sure what they do to check for other things, like strep throat, sinus infections, etc. I just hope I'm not spreading this to everyone at the office, but I've thought that the contagious period is early on when you're not sure if you're sick or not. By the time you're sounding horrible, you're already getting better.
I got stopped out of my GOOD position, but I only got 17.55 for it, instead of the 18.00 I was hoping to get. Small annoyance, but I made well 15% on the stock including dividends. If we get below 17, I will jump back in. There is a decent management team -- these are the guys who made ALD a powerhouse.
In other news, it seems I might want to acquire a firearm. I need to double-check post 201,283 on the FNM board, there is some advice on there.
Side challenge: Can anyone name anything that the Bush team has done right in the past year? The most recent scandal as I'm sure you've read, is the NSA generating a database of ALL calls.
Of course, most of the Kool-Aid Republicans aren't going to care one bit. It's for our safety, we're told. The options seem to be a 0.01% chance of dying in a terror attack with our pre-9/11 freedoms, or having a 0.001% chance of dting in a terror attack with our freedoms slowly and surely being taken away. FWIW, why didn't the terror law passed after OKC stop the 9/11 plotters?
Still sick. I have a doctor's appointment scheduled for 11:30am tomorrow. Hopefully the doctor won't automatically assume it's an ordinary cold and tell me to drink plenty of orange juice and get lots of sleep (stuff I'm already doing.) I'm not sure what they do to check for other things, like strep throat, sinus infections, etc. I just hope I'm not spreading this to everyone at the office, but I've thought that the contagious period is early on when you're not sure if you're sick or not. By the time you're sounding horrible, you're already getting better.
I got stopped out of my GOOD position, but I only got 17.55 for it, instead of the 18.00 I was hoping to get. Small annoyance, but I made well 15% on the stock including dividends. If we get below 17, I will jump back in. There is a decent management team -- these are the guys who made ALD a powerhouse.
In other news, it seems I might want to acquire a firearm. I need to double-check post 201,283 on the FNM board, there is some advice on there.
Side challenge: Can anyone name anything that the Bush team has done right in the past year? The most recent scandal as I'm sure you've read, is the NSA generating a database of ALL calls.
Of course, most of the Kool-Aid Republicans aren't going to care one bit. It's for our safety, we're told. The options seem to be a 0.01% chance of dying in a terror attack with our pre-9/11 freedoms, or having a 0.001% chance of dting in a terror attack with our freedoms slowly and surely being taken away. FWIW, why didn't the terror law passed after OKC stop the 9/11 plotters?
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
As promised, my filk. This is a 70s hit called "Ooh Child" by the Five Stairsteps. Yes, I should be ashamed of myself for thinking it was by the Wondermints. Here's the post I made. When another poster on the FNM Yahoo! board said it was terrible, I posted the lyrics to Melanie's "Brand New Key." I love me some bad 70s music. LOL
I say we should all put our thoughts to song.
Ooh Child (orig. by the the Five Stairsteps)
(remake lyrics adapted by S. Pickrell, and perf. by the Original Mudd Band)
Ooh child earnings gonna get submitted
Ooh child 10-K'll be all right
Ooh child earnings gonna get submitted
Ooh child 10-K'll be all right
Someday yeah, we'll put it together and we'll get all GAAP'ed
Someday when we value things rightly
Someday yeah, we'll get the value of derivatives mapped
Someday when Franklin is still sprightly
Ooh child earnings gonna get submitted
Ooh child 10-K'll be all right
Ooh child earnings gonna get submitted
Ooh child 10-K'll be all right
Someday yeah, we'll put it together and we'll get all GAAP'ed
Someday, rightly
Someday yeah, we'll get the value of derivatives mapped
Someday, sprightly
Someday yeah, we'll put it together and we'll get all GAAP'ed
Someday, rightly
Someday yeah, we'll get the value of derivatives mapped
Someday, sprightly
Ooh child earnings gonna get submitted
Ooh child 10-K'll be all right
Ooh child earnings gonna get submitted
Ooh child 10-K'll be all right
Right now
You just wait and see, things are gonna be
I say we should all put our thoughts to song.
Ooh Child (orig. by the the Five Stairsteps)
(remake lyrics adapted by S. Pickrell, and perf. by the Original Mudd Band)
Ooh child earnings gonna get submitted
Ooh child 10-K'll be all right
Ooh child earnings gonna get submitted
Ooh child 10-K'll be all right
Someday yeah, we'll put it together and we'll get all GAAP'ed
Someday when we value things rightly
Someday yeah, we'll get the value of derivatives mapped
Someday when Franklin is still sprightly
Ooh child earnings gonna get submitted
Ooh child 10-K'll be all right
Ooh child earnings gonna get submitted
Ooh child 10-K'll be all right
Someday yeah, we'll put it together and we'll get all GAAP'ed
Someday, rightly
Someday yeah, we'll get the value of derivatives mapped
Someday, sprightly
Someday yeah, we'll put it together and we'll get all GAAP'ed
Someday, rightly
Someday yeah, we'll get the value of derivatives mapped
Someday, sprightly
Ooh child earnings gonna get submitted
Ooh child 10-K'll be all right
Ooh child earnings gonna get submitted
Ooh child 10-K'll be all right
Right now
You just wait and see, things are gonna be
Well, trying to get over a cold right now. I'll be heading to work but I'll be taking Blue Top to and from work -- I don't know if I can handle the mile of walking through the dusty air that usually hasn't given me a problem.
In investment land today, we found out this week that Warren Buffett sold his silver. To think that silver has gone from $7-8 an ounce to $14 (!) an ounce -- while Buffett was presumably unloading his silver -- over the past year is astounding. I will sink a few grand into SLV, the new silver ETF, if the price dips below $13.50 again.
I am still at a loss on USO (the oil ETF) and have made a bit more with GLD, now that gold is touching $700 an ounce. I will unload my physical if I can get enough money to pay off my mortgage. Otherwise, why sell now?
I got to cover my GM short at a loss today -- $26. Ugh. That stunk to high heaven. Still long ACAS, FBR, GLD, GOOD, KMP, USO and WRE. I have moderate stop losses on those, and am sitting on a decent gain with GLD (8-10%), GOOD (15%) and WRE (30%) , and a moderate loss on ACAS, KMP and USO (in the range of 4-6% on each of them.)
FNM is also rolling. One of these days they will release an earnings report. I'll post a song I modified in my next post.
In investment land today, we found out this week that Warren Buffett sold his silver. To think that silver has gone from $7-8 an ounce to $14 (!) an ounce -- while Buffett was presumably unloading his silver -- over the past year is astounding. I will sink a few grand into SLV, the new silver ETF, if the price dips below $13.50 again.
I am still at a loss on USO (the oil ETF) and have made a bit more with GLD, now that gold is touching $700 an ounce. I will unload my physical if I can get enough money to pay off my mortgage. Otherwise, why sell now?
I got to cover my GM short at a loss today -- $26. Ugh. That stunk to high heaven. Still long ACAS, FBR, GLD, GOOD, KMP, USO and WRE. I have moderate stop losses on those, and am sitting on a decent gain with GLD (8-10%), GOOD (15%) and WRE (30%) , and a moderate loss on ACAS, KMP and USO (in the range of 4-6% on each of them.)
FNM is also rolling. One of these days they will release an earnings report. I'll post a song I modified in my next post.
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