Sunday, April 19, 2009

...but I thought the world was gonna like us now!?!

"President Obama endured a 50-minute diatribe from socialist Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega that lashed out at a century of what he called terroristic U.S. aggression in Central America"

Interesting, though, how President Unicorn responded: "I'm grateful that President Ortega did not blame me for things that happened when I was three months old. "

Translation: "It wasn't me, it was those other guys."

So much for being President of all the people......

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Might as well go nuclear.....

.... right out of the box

Stuck on the couch for a few days due to my back going out, I had the opportunity to spend more time on the tubes, as well as catch some baseball on THE tube. I was a HUGE baseball fan as a child, drifted away in the 80s and 90s, and have slowly reconnected in the past couple years. Thanks to no DST in wild west Arizona, and having glorious liquid crystal wide screen high definition cable, I was able to watch 3 ballgames in living color on Wednesday, April 15. That date is significant for a couple reasons that I'll explore here.

In Major League Baseball, April 15 is Jackie Robinson Day, to memorialize the day in 1947 when the Brooklyn Dodgers put a black man in the lineup, breaking the informal but very real "color line" that kept many of the most talented players out of the game, just because of the color of their skin. In this regard, baseball was no different from the military, education, industry and most other segments of American society at that time: it wasn't just whether you could do the job, you also had to have the right-- white --skin color. Jackie Robinson, as the first black baseball player of the modern era, had to be almost literally twice as good as the average white player, to be accepted. But due to his ability, and the strength of his character, he WAS accepted, not because of his skin color, but because he could perform. In subsequent years, baseball has seen more blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and god forbid, even Australians become major league players and stars.

The modern era of baseball is generally considered to have started in 1900. Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947. Thus, there have been black players in MLB longer than there weren't. Jackie Robinson deserves to be remembered, and honored for what he did. So does Branch Rickey, the President of the Dodgers who hired him, who famously said "my selfish objective is to win baseball games."

So how was he honored on this April 15? Every player, on every major league team, wore a jersey with Robinson's number, 42, and no name. Every player was introduced as "....number 42, ....". On scoreboards, the section showing other games which usually has a standard abbreviation that includes the numbers of the pitchers, just showed 42, because, everywhere, #42 was pitching. Although one of the Arizona Diamondbacks announcers pronounced that "beautiful", I found it confusing, because I wasn't sure who was who. In fact, in the Milwaukee Brewers game, no one seemed to realize that Craig Counsell was playing instead of JJ Hardy, cause, after all, they were both number 42.

The only exception I saw all day to the 42-fest was Paws, the Detroit Tigers mascot, who at least has a pretty cool myspace page.

The depths were plumbed when the DBacks Eric Brynes, who could easily change his name to Whitey Whitepants and no one would bat an eye, hit a homer; the Dbacks announcer Daron Sutton proclaimed, "He must be so proud to hit a homer on Jackie Robinson Day, since when he was an undergrad at UCLA, he wrote a paper on the importance of Jackie Robinson to the civil rights movement." Byrnsie may be pretty fly for a white guy, but c'mon, honky please.....

The whole thing reminded me of a Saturday Night Live skit "new Baseball rules", (sadly the transcript is not online). As I recall it, Phil Hartman plays Fay Vincent, the new commissioner of Baseball after A. Bartlett Giamatti died suddenly. As Hartman explains, because Bart Giamatti was so extraordinary, and so loved, he was changing his own name to "A. Bartlett Giamatti", the game was being renamed "Bartball", and all baseball players first names would immediately be changed to "Bart". When a reporter attempts to ask a question, Hartman says to him "yes, Bart?" It was hilarious 20 years ago; today it's a little too real.

When real life actions become reminiscent of an SNL skit, then, my friends, things have sunk to self parody.

Honor Jackie Robinson? HELL YES!

Honor him by praising what's good, and criticizing what's bad no matter WHO does it.

Baseball, at its best, is beautiful that way: hit a home run, "YAY!" drop an easy fly ball "BOO!".

Break the color barrier "YAY!" Make everybody wear 42 and mouth inanities "BOO!"

So the other significance of April 15? Tax Day, and Tea Parties. (Stick with me, this is not a non sequitor). All over the country, ordinary people gathered, in the finest traditions of the republic, to express their displeasure with a government that is spending more and more of the people's money on things it was never empowered to spend money on. Auto company bailouts? Carbon emissions cap and trade? Socialized medicine? Show me where those are in the constitution.

Many in the establishment media expressed bewilderment at just what was being protested. One CNN info-blonde tried to argue with a protestor, essentially asking him if he understood that this government is giving something for nothing?

I'll tell you what people are mad about.

People are mad about a President, a Congress, a media and an "establishment" that is telling Joe Average Hardworking American that he needs to be taxed more, needs to apologize to other countries, needs to be considered a possible terrorist if he is a gun owner, and on and on.

People are mad about somebody slicing up baloney and telling them "hey, look at this fine steak here."

And though many people are afraid to say it, people are mad that somehow we need to say "YAY!" to the first black president but can't say "BOO!" when he drops the ball.

And here's the point. We'll never be post-racial in this country, if we can't call a black president a bum.

I think ObamaTheMostMerciful(PeaceBeUponHim) and his ilk suck. I think he's a bum. Not because he's black, but because I think he's red.

We have a long tradition in this country of being able to say our leaders suck. People exercised this right repeatedly with George W. Bush in office. This right didn't go away on January 20.

I don't care what color the batter is. If he homers for my team, "YAY!" If he whiffs on what was clearly ball four, "BOO!"

Friday, April 17, 2009

New and Improved

He's baaaaaaaaaack!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

LoserList for February 13, 2008

ON THIS DATE IN 1635, THE FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE US, THE BOSTON LATIN SCHOOL, IS FOUNDED. IN 1914, THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF COMPOSERS, AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS IS FOUNDED. TODAY CHUCK YEAGER IS 85 AND RANDY MOSS IS 31.

For entertainment and/or education only. I may be long, short or out of any of these stocks, and positions may change in a flash. . .

ABX long, stop at 43
BIG long, stop at 14.9
BBBB short, stop at 33
DEPO long, stop at 3
RDY short, stop at 15
MCO long, stop at 32.6
SMTS long, stop at 23

How to use this list. And don't forget the disclaimer . . .

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

LoserList for February 12, 2008

ON THIS DATE IN 1855, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY IS ESTABLISHED. IN 1914, THE FIRST STONE OF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL IS PUT INTO PLACE. TODAY JOE GARAGIOLA IS 82 AND RAY MANZAREK IS 69.

For entertainment and/or education only. I may be long, short or out of any of these stocks, and positions may change in a flash. . .

AAV long, stop at 9
AGYS short, stop at 14.7
ALGN short, stop at 15.8
ZNH short, stop at 56
FEIC short, stop at 24.3
FAF long, stop at 35
SVU short, stop at 32.3

How to use this list. And don't forget the disclaimer . . .

Monday, February 11, 2008

LoserList for February 11, 2008

ON THIS DATE IN 1752, THE PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL, THE FIRST HOSPITAL IN THE US, OPENS. IN 1808, ANTHRACITE COAL IS FIRST BURNED AS FUEL. TODAY LESLIE NIELSEN IS 82 AND MANUEL NORIEGA IS 70.

For entertainment and/or education only. I may be long, short or out of any of these stocks, and positions may change in a flash. . .

CBEY short, stop at 31
CBG short, stop at 21
CERN short, stop at 53
INIS long, stop at 0.8
PTI short, stop at 16
PDLI short, stop at 16.6
SJM short, stop at 50.7

How to use this list. And don't forget the disclaimer . . .

Thursday, February 07, 2008

LoserList for February 7, 2008

ON THIS DATE IN 1812, AN EARTHQUAKE ESTIMATED AT 8.0 ON THE RICHTER SCALE STRIKES NEW MADRID, MISSOURI. IN 1962, THE US GOVERNMENT BANS ALL TRADE WITH CUBA. TODAY JUAN PIZARRO IS 71 AND CARNEY LANSFORD IS 51.

For entertainment and/or education only. I may be long, short or out of any of these stocks, and positions may change in a flash. . .

ACIW short, stop at 17.5
ABCO short, stop at 62
FIC short, stop at 27.7
FDX short, stop at 95
KRC short, stop at 53
KMR long, stop at 50.5
MOV short, stop at 27
STSI long, stop at 1.4

How to use this list. And don't forget the disclaimer . . .

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

LoserList for February 5, 2008

ON THIS DATE IN 1778, SOUTH CAROLINA BECOMES THE FIRST STATE TO RATIFY THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION. IN 1924, THE ROYAL GREENWICH OBSERVATORY BEGINS BROADCASTING THE "BBC PIPS". TODAY HANK AARON IS 74 AND DARRELL WALTRIP IS 61.

For entertainment and/or education only. I may be long, short or out of any of these stocks, and positions may change in a flash. . .

ACI long, stop at 41
ABG short, stop at 17
CVBT long, stop at 1.1
IT short, stop at 17
GNOLF long, stop at 0.6
GLD long, stop at 84
HAR short, stop at 53
IYH long, stop at 64
PBT long, stop at 15.5
PPDI long, stop at 38

How to use this list. And don't forget the disclaimer . . .

Monday, February 04, 2008

LoserList for February 4, 2008

ON THIS DATE IN 1789, GEORGE WASHINGTON IS UNANIMOUSLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. IN 1801, JOHN MARSHALL IS SWORN IN AS CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES. TODAY DAVID BRENNER IS 72 AND ALICE COOPER IS 60.

For entertainment and/or education only. I may be long, short or out of any of these stocks, and positions may change in a flash. . .

ABX long, stop at 44
TRAK short, stop at 32
LUK long, stop at 41
PPDI long, stop at 39
PTEC long, stop at 13
SMTC short, stop at 14.2
TIE short, stop at 26.5
XNPT long, stop at 55

How to use this list. And don't forget the disclaimer . . .

Friday, February 01, 2008

LoserList for February 1, 2008

ON THIS DATE IN 1790, THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES CONVENES FOR THE FIRST TIME. IN 1913, GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL OPENS IN NEW YORK CITY. TODAY GARRETT MORRIS IS 71 AND LISA MARIE PRESLEY IS 40.

For entertainment and/or education only. I may be long, short or out of any of these stocks, and positions may change in a flash. . .

COIN long, stop at 5.8
CZZ long, stop at 11.3
CROX short, stop at 40
KMR long, stop at 50
MRX short, stop at 24
REXX long, stop at 9
SPTN short, stop at 20
XNPT long, stop at 55

How to use this list. And don't forget the disclaimer . . .

Thursday, January 31, 2008

LoserList for January 31, 2008

ON THIS DATE IN 1936, THE GREEN HORNET RADIO SHOW DEBUTS. IN 1958, JAMES VAN ALLEN DISCOVERS THE VAN ALLEN RADIATION BELTS. TODAY ERNIE BANKS IS 77 AND HARRY WAYNE CASEY IS 57.

For entertainment and/or education only. I may be long, short or out of any of these stocks, and positions may change in a flash. . .

TLT long, stop at 92
ADTN short, stop at 24
DEPO long, stop at 3
LUK long, stop at 39
PTEC long, stop at 12
SJM short, stop at 49.4
THI long, stop at 31.5
TIE short, stop at 25
WLK short, stop at 21.5
XNPT long, stop at 52

How to use this list. And don't forget the disclaimer . . .

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

A big Fed day . . . ..

No loserlist.

Could be a lot of volatility in both directions today . . . .

Everybody's looking for 25-50, but I'm not sure I can see that . . . .

But then, what the heck do I know . . . .

I can't game this one . . .

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

LoserList for January 29, 2008

ON THIS DATE IN 1595, ROMEO AND JULIET IS PERFORMED FOR THE FIRST TIME. IN 1944, THE USS MISSOURI IS LAUNCHED. TODAY TOM SELLECK IS 63 AND JODY SCHECKTER IS 58.

For entertainment and/or education only. I may be long, short or out of any of these stocks, and positions may change in a flash. . .

CVBT long, stop at 0.9
CBG short, stop at 22
FCFS short, stop at 12.5
FL short, stop at 14
HWAY long, stop at 60
NETL short, stop at 29
NIHD short, stop at 49
SUI short, stop at 22

How to use this list. And don't forget the disclaimer . . .

Monday, January 28, 2008

LoserList for January 28, 2008

ON THIS DATE IN 1915, THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD IS CREATED. IN 1986, THE SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER BREAKS APART 73 SECONDS AFTER LIFTOFF. TODAY NICOLAS SARKOZY IS 53 AND MO ROCCA IS 39.

For entertainment and/or education only. I may be long, short or out of any of these stocks, and positions may change in a flash. . .

TLT long, stop at 92
ACIW short, stop at 16
ALGN short, stop at 16
CBI long, stop at 39
CPS short, stop at 36
FDX short, stop at 99
FEIC short, stop at 24.2
INCY long, stop at 9
ININ short, stop at 18
INIS long, stop at 0.8
WWW short, stop at 24
WATG long, stop at 7.5
XNPT long, stop at 53

How to use this list. And don't forget the disclaimer . . .

Thursday, January 24, 2008

LoserList for January 25, 2008

ON THIS DATE IN 1924, THE FIRST WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES OPEN. IN 1961, JOHN F. KENNEDY HAS THE FIRST LIVE PRESIDENTIAL PRESS CONFERENCE. TODAY ERNIE HARWELL IS 90 AND BUDDY BAKER IS 67.

For entertainment and/or education only. I may be long, short or out of any of these stocks, and positions may change in a flash. . .

RNT short, stop at 22
BIG short, stop at 19
BDH long, stop at 11.4
FL short, stop at 15
FCE/A long, stop at 34
OXY long, stop at 57
SLV long, stop at 150
SEO short, stop at 16
SUI short, stop at 21.5
WLK short, stop at 20
WWW short, stop at 24.5

How to use this list. And don't forget the disclaimer . . .

LoserList for January 24, 2008

ON THIS DATE IN 1848, GOLD IS FOUND AT SUTTER'S MILL. IN 1935, BEER IS SOLD IN CANS IN THE US. TODAY ERNEST BORGNINE IS 91 AND MARY LOU RETTON IS 40.

For entertainment and/or education only. I may be long, short or out of any of these stocks, and positions may change in a flash. . .

RNT long, stop at 16
CHT long, stop at 18.6
CLWR short, stop at 14
TRAK short, stop at 31
INCY long, stop at 9.2
KRC short, stop at 57
PTEC long, stop at 12
RL short, stop at 65
RSH short, stop at 19
THRX short, stop at 23

How to use this list. And don't forget the disclaimer . . .

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

LoserList for January 23, 2008

ON THIS DATE IN 1571, THE ROYAL EXCHANGE OPENS IN LONDON. IN 1968, NORTH KOREA SEIZES THE USS PUEBLO. TODAY JERRY KRAMER IS 72 AND SONNY CHIBA IS 69.

For entertainment and/or education only. I may be long, short or out of any of these stocks, and positions may change in a flash. . .

FLY short, stop at 18.8
DBC long, stop at 29
DHT short, stop at 13.2
HBI short, stop at 26
KMR long, stop at 50
LUK long, stop at 38
OCR short, stop at 25
WAT short, stop at 67
WATG long, stop at 7.5
XNPT long, stop at 56

How to use this list. And don't forget the disclaimer . . .

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Today

A list would be pointless today, because in all likelihood all entry points and stops would be irrelevant by the open.

Things are likely to fall, until they reach support, at which point they will bounce.

The fall could be 5 or 10%, and the bounce could be less, or more.

Sorry if this is simplistic, but it is what it is.

This is a real animal spirits kind of day, like September of 2001, or October of 1987, or any one of several other days like this in market history.

About the only other thing I can say, is that it won't always be like this.

Try to keep that in mind today.

Man up.

~j

Friday, January 18, 2008

Time to . . .

. . . .just stand aside.

~j

Thursday, January 17, 2008

LoserList for January 17, 2008

ON THIS DATE IN 1929, POPEYE THE SAILOR MAN FIRST APPEARS IN A COMIC. IN 1985, BRITISH TELECOM ANNOUNCES THE RETIREMENT OF THE UK'S RED TELEPHONE BOXES. TODAY EARTHA KITT IS 81 AND MUHAMMAD ALI IS 66.

For entertainment and/or education only. I may be long, short or out of any of these stocks, and positions may change in a flash. . .

AMG short, stop at 107
NLY long, stop at 17.2
GNOLF long, stop at .68
GLD long, stop at 82
GBX short, stop at 22
JLL short, stop at 75
REXX long, stop at 8.3

How to use this list. And don't forget the disclaimer . . .