So we have looked at Blockbuster and NetFlix as retail operations and also as investments.   Since we have also comparison shopped at both Amazon and Ebay, it is easy to follow up on these two companies with a look at their stocks as a way to get a better look at the dynamics of the stock market.   Amazon,... read more

Every female ballet student will probably think about proceeding to pointe shoes for the dance experience to be complete. I have been on and off pointe for most of my life and those shoes hold every ounce of mystique and allure that they always have. My fascination with them has not ebbed in the least,... read more

Even in a rising stock market, there are always stocks that fall. Pfizer, PFE, is a good current example.   Bad news about dangerous side effects of a drug candidate named Torcetrapib that was looked upon as a way of increasing good cholesterol in the body sent the stock down more than 10% on Monday... read more

Since we have looked at the web sites and stocks of NetFlix, ticker symbol: NFLX, Blockbuster, BBI, Ebay, EBAY, and Amazon, AMZN, the business history and stock of General Motors, GM, and Ford, F, along in addition to Dow Jones components Wal-Mart, WMT, General Electric, GE, and Pfizer, PFZ, it is very... read more

By now, if you work in any kind of team or group, you’ve probably been asked to participate in an office grab bag/gift exchange for the holidays. It may be an awkward situation. Heaven forbid you appear Scrooge-like and say no, especially if, as in most places, you really don’t have much of a choice.... read more

As I unpacked bags today, I happened to look out of my window. My neighbor, on a stretcher, was being wheeled out of an ambulance and into the back door of her house. She’s been suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease and has been away since Mother’s Day. Coming back home to spend Christmas with... read more

Do Highway Lights Turn Off Around You?Do Highway Lights Turn Off Around You? This is a test of the national testing center.  view post

Just when everything was rolling along smoothly, one of my computer adapter plugs decided to call it quits and break apart. No fewer than three salesmen stared at me today and muttered, “Hmmm…that’s strange.” Funny me; I thought it’d be a simple matter of just going to an IT outlet and picking... read more

It’s the time of year when I start asking myself about the cumulative psychology of the hundreds of millions, or billions, who will be celebrating Christmas in a few days. For the majority, it’s ingrained in us that the big deal is waking up on Christmas morning and opening presents. Of course,... read more

Has anyone else noticed what seems like a glut of phone calls from various organizations with whom they do business? At a recent social event, I was speaking with a woman who told me that she had booked a party at an elegant restaurant for her dad’s 70th birthday. She stressed that it was a surprise... read more