Episode 14: Does Apple have a Kindle killer?

Episode 14 - Does Apple have a Kindle Killer?

Is Apple Entering the Tablet Space?

The market is a funny thing.  Whenever we look back, we wax poetic about our brilliance and why we did what we did.  But, in most instances, the feeling is this…

We either break out higher, lapse into a trading range, or do some serious damage.  Yep, I’m calling it — either up, sideways or down! Brilliant

This quote comes from Phillip Davis  (http://philstockworld.com/)  who is a founder of Phil’s Stock World, a stock and options trading site that teaches the art of options trading to newcomers and devises advanced strategies for expert traders.

Citigroup is back in focus for me. They have been hovering a bit lately and I think ready for a move. I tried buying $10,000  of C yesterday at the close but missed it by 1 minute. I am anxious to see what that means from a short term gain or loss. I really like C as a long term play although $10,00o might be a little to much to bet. I may limit my position to $5,000 in case things get worse.

Profound shift in kind of families who are home schooling their children – USATODAY.com.

The article is about how home schooling is growing. The article is a good one but the comments are the real draw. I really cannot believe the amount of complainers out there. I agree with change. I agree with trying new things. But what I have a really hard time with is all of the parents who, have grown up and lead successful lives who want to so dramatically change what seems to have worked for them. If it’s broke fix it. If it’s not broke, improve it but don’t completely get rid of it. 
I think home schooling is productive as long as you continue to expose your children to the “real world.” Public school is an small example of the real world. I realize some public schools are really in tough shape. But a large majority of them are your average makeup of society. Every kid is different and kids have to learn how to understand other kids.

We have problems in our country. If we teach our kids to run from the problems by staying home, what will that do for them when they’re adults? What will they do when they are confronted with the needs of others? The article says only 17% home school because they are dissatisfied with the academic instruction. Aren’t we a nation of people who help each other?

At the end of the day, it’s all about the parents. We either make the right choices or the wrong choices and our kids are affected by these choices. Home schooling, and the desire to do it, has nothing to do with the kids. Parents who home school want to keep their kids away from children raised by parents who don’t care or aren’t willing to set a good example for their children. These children show up to school unprepared and we blame the children. Children aren’t the problem in this country. Schooling isn’t the problem in this country. PARENTING IS THE PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY.

UK sues Gillispie in Kentucky – Yahoo News.

Let’s rename the Kentucky Wildcats the Kentucky snakes. UK didn’t sign a contract with Billy Gillispie but was working under an “understanding” about his employment there. I’m sure they shook hands on it.

Southerners pride themselves on their word and all that but now UK is claiming the contract isn’t binding. I’m sure there are plenty of people, including the Athletic Director at UK who have uttered the words “my handshake is as good as that agreement we’re signing” or “my word is my bond” or whatever but now its all about the contract not being signed. When things were good with Gillispie, the contract understanding was great. Now, all up for grabs. 

I kind of like the Kentucky Snakes.

First Niagara appears to be clicking.  Their stock has lagged the rest of the sector.  Perhaps that is the case because too much is known.  It is almost like the upside is limited because the picture is clear.

I could equate that to the NBA where a prospect like Kwame’ Brown (I know, remember that stellar pick) will generate much more interest than a proven player like Shane Battier.  The one hit with the unknowns might make up for  5 busts.

The unknowns in C, BAC, BKK, STT, USB, etc….. could provide a greater long term upside than a steady company with good, but not stellar, upside.

First Niagara - FNFG

First Niagara Financial Group said it has become one of the first banks in the country to repay the federal government’s capital investment, freeing the Lockport-based bank from an array of restrictions the government placed on recipients.

Read More: First Niagara Bank becomes one of first in the nation to pay off federal loans : Latest Local News : The Buffalo News.

Upset with a 14% one day gain.  In 1 day! Bob discusses more success by Tim Sikes. Tim is on a roll and Bob is benefiting from his picks. Bob and Scott discuss the fun they had with a MAP Pharmeceuticals trade yesterday. Scott reacted to information from Bob and booked a $304 gain. It could have been a lot more.  Sorry about the poor quality in the first minute. We have some Verizon line issues.

Episode 13 - Upset with a 14% Gain

To say Tim Sykes is on fire (TimAlerts.com) is probably putting it mildly at this point!

Another huge winner in the pump and dump fakers identified by Tim Sykes. I am out of my shares in USCN with a 25.5% profit in one day. Even at that, I left another 20% of profit on the table. I shorted USCN @ $0.77 and set an order to cover at $0.56. Just covered. The stock dipped down to $0.32 minutes later. I am getting up the nerve to take a bigger position next time.

Tim charges $29.95/month (less for an annual) to receive his daily watch list and to be alerted when he places a trade. I can’t say enough about a guy who is telling it like it is in this pump and dump penny stock game. I am just happy I could get some shares to short on this one.

Big recent winners for Tim Sykes

• USCM pump and dump
• UOMO pump and dump
• MAPP buy even after it was up 180%

Tim is making me some money and doing it in an arena where it feels like we are fighting the bad guys (AKA: the stock promoters).   My fear is that the following of Tim will get so large that it will be more difficult to play in the names that he suggests/recommends/trades.

Timothy Sykes

Costco net falls on weak discretionary spending – Yahoo! News.

Is it me or is everything a bellweather now? It seems every piece of news is the most important news. The markets whipsaw back and forth based on every quarterly profit (or loss), every piece of data, etc. etc. etc.

The most critical piece of economic news is due out at 10am to be followed by the next most criticial piece of economic news to be followed at 2pm by the most important earnings release of all time. After the market closes the release of data will determine if the government fails and whether the economy will ever work again. 

…wait until tomorrow. The news is really important.

I don’t like Michael Moore. He does the exact same thing he accuses other people of doing. He manipulates the truth. He twists the truth to his advantage. His is in the truest sense of the word…a hypocrite.

BUT, in a documentary about him, there was footage of him mocking the press for not doing their jobs. I agree. The press doesn’t do their jobs. They focus on negative news for ratings. They sensationalize the news and create the best headline possible. They don’t report the news. They twist the news.Financial news reporters do it about as good as anybody does. I’m tired of seeing headlines that, upon further review, don’t tell the real story.

Micheal Moore is worthless because he is not for any cause. He is for himself. He is a self promoter disguising himself as an advocate for change. He doesn’t fool me. He shouldn’t fool you. Neither should the reporters who twist news to get us to read their articles. We all need news to keep us informed. Just have a shaker of salt with you.