The Porn Dynasty

One of the reasons given by the Chinese government why they want GOOG to censor search results is that they want to protect their innocent citizens from pornography. I love data and numbers, so let's see if their claims hold up.

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China Cyber Wars?

I'm probably just hopped up on green tea, but the news of Google possibly pulling out of China is disconcerting to me.  In the big picture, it feels like China's global trade methods are about as honest as the guys selling fake watches on Canal Street.  I hope it's just my mind playing tricks on me. Some people are saying the Google threat to pull out of China is only a PR stunt.  I'm not that cynical yet.

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China Syndrome 2

Today I'm not going to take the time to remove the jargon or acronyms.  My apologies to normal people that don't think like a tech analyst.  

• Chinese stocks down across the board on interest rate hikes in China, growing concern over durability white-hot Chinese economy.

• HDD numbers from IDC – raising 1H10 units. 1Q10 now 151.2M v prior 147.6M and 2Q10 to 148.6M from 141.8M. estimates that WDC 4Q09 revenue will range from $2.33-2.43B v cons $2.33B

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Why I'm Still Long ANF - It's Not For The Enjoyable "Channel Checks"

Why I’m still long even though everyone thinks I’m crazy.

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Gone, Daddy, Gone?

Bill Gross talks his book again, saying markets can’t do that well again, without the “sugar daddy” of government stimulus. Jeremy Siegel says economy is recovering, we avoided deflation, Bernanke made the right moves and the Fed will take liquidity out by raising interest rates, which will also put pressure on govt to hold the line on spending. I of course, lean toward the Siegel point of view, but understand Mr. Gross' effort to keep bringing in assets to his ginormous Total Return Fund.

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Why I Hate Shorting Stocks (Redux)

As the calendar turns and we enter 2010, I think I will end up being nearly "long-only."  The "easy money" that was made shorting stocks in 2008 and early 2009 may be over, other than for specific company situations.

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If I Ruled the World, or Ran the TSA

I’m taking time off from my holiday cheer and the nice little Santa Stock Rally we’ve had to rant about my least favorite government agency: The Total Stupidity Agency, sometimes mistakenly referred to as the Transportation Security Agency.  (I will leave my comments about the Department of Hopeless Slouches, aka Department of Homeland Security for a future Blog.)

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Peace on Earth, or at Least in Midtown

It's so quiet and peaceful in Rock Center today.  Most major smidiots are not in their offices and I am not getting bombarded by the usual sell-side emails and phone calls.  I usually work hardest this time of the year, despite forays into poker tournaments and sledding.  This is the time to THINK and plan for next year's positions.  Once the action starts up again in January, it will be harder because the noise level will return.

Still some action left to the year:

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Things Are Getting Interesting

This time of year is quiet on Wall Street. But to me, this is when things actually get interesting. I am slowly and deliberately making my investment plan for 2010.  I am re-looking every position I have, and contemplating where the next winners will come from.  (Contrary to popular reports, I am not spending every day at the poker tables in Atlantic City, it's only on Fridays that I do that).  Any talk of my excessive consumption of Remy Martin like the nice young ladies in this ad campaign is purely fictional, I assure you.

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Master Extrapolators Trip On Their Knuckles Again

If you read my recent blog disparaging Master Extrapolators, you'll love this story.  When the iPhone launched in Japan, smidiots said it wasn't selling and was a flop.  They were later proven wrong.  So when the "usual gang of smidiots" to steal a line from the best-written magazine of all time, Mad magazine, started saying iPhone sales in China were weak, I was immediately suspicious.

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