Birchtree's Account Talk

[Sensei]

School Budgets: The Worst Education Money Can Buy

I drive to Camden, NJ every day to catch the commuter train to Philly. It is a complete S**T hole and really should be bombed off the face of the earth. The school taxes we pay in this state are killing everyone. The state workers here including teachers do not have to pay anything for health insurance. No premiums what so ever. It's funny because I keep hearing how Federal Employees have such good benefits. Yet I pay $3,600/yr in health insurance premiums and at least $8,000 more a year in co pays, deductibles, and co-insurance.

All right, I bit - clicked the link, read the article. The basic gist is that this district in Camden that is 50% black with high crime and unemployment spends more per student than a nearby community that is 95% white, safe, and prosperous. At the end, it vaguely alludes to the fact that several factors contribute to the higher costs, but who really wants to know about that, right?

Here are just a couple reasons: free & reduced lunch, and students with disabilities. In the 95% white district, probably 95% of the kids buy their own lunch. In Camden, probably 95% get it for free. Is that the district's fault? In the white district, probably very few kids are in special ed. programs, and those that are can probably function on their own with limited support. In Camden, there are probably tons of kids that need one-to-one support from an aide or behavior specialist. There are probably some kids with needs so severe that the schools can't accommodate them, so the district has to pay a "non-public" school to take them. Reasons like that.

Sorry to pollute your thread Birch - let's make some money!

 

[WorkFE]

No doubt Camden, NJ has some rough parts of town. Having worked in NJ for 7 years. 1 in Blackwood, 2 in Marlton, 1 in Camden and 3 in Northfield. There are some rough parts of AC as well.
As a recruiter I visited all types of HS and College kids, from everywhere on the economic ladder. Kids that wanted to lift themselves up.
In some cases the education system was set up in such a way that it held them back. Mostly because of the school they were in. But not all public schools ran this way. I had some public HS that were just trying to get them out the door and others that prepared them.
In every case the community was the difference maker. Not a parent but parent(s)

 

[Birchtree]

I increased my positions in OSG and LNG this morning. I now have 27 dividend increase announcements so far this year - hope that momentum continues. I can always use the increase in income even if Obummer wants more of it for his distribution to the welfare classes.

 

[nnuut]

Looks like Obama is falling in love with your dividends. How do you think this will effect your investments?
Obama Aims Tax Increase at Highest Earners


Q
By Richard Rubin and Steven Sloan - Feb 14, 2012 10:31 AM ET

Higher Rates

Obama is proposing a top individual income tax rate of 39.6 percent in 2013, up from 35 percent. His budget would tax long-term capital gains at a top rate of 20 percent, up from 15 percent. The top dividend tax rate is now 15 percent.

Obama Aims Tax Increase at Highest Earners - Bloomberg

 

[Birchtree]

The president has flatus coming out of his mouth - his budget is DOA.

 

[Birchtree]

http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article33120.html

 

[Birchtree]

The SPX is going to kick up to 1360 once the morning profit taking is finished.

"This is the longest period of sustained improvement we have seen in the HMI since 2007, which is encouraging."

February builder sentiment rises for fifth month - MarketWatch

 

[Fran1775]

That's good because I was wondering whether not we're on a downward slope

 

[MrJohnRoss]

Birch, the market hasn't done diddly squat for about two weeks now. Looks like we've reached a plateau. I'm hoping we get a healthy correction going, drop 5-10%, a little dip to refresh the senses, then charge back up to tackle the next mountain.

 

[Birchtree]

There has been a good deal of internal rotation going on below the surface and may not be that noticeable but does contribute to reducing sentiment. I wouldn't count on any serious consolidation at this point - it has been ongoing but just not visible unless you are a tape reader. The risk at this stage of the bull is to be sitting at the station waiting for the next train....Snort.

 

[Birchtree]

Well bull tinky - AAPL is pulling down the Dow because of its weightings - but there is still three hours to go and I have several dividends due today. It's all happening on an intraday basis and hard to play in the TSP game. It's always wise to build outside accounts away from a fiduciary account. We'll see how it ends COB.

 

[Birchtree]

"My advise is to buy now to beat the rush."

Fisher: PIIGS Won’t Stop Market This Year | The Guru Investor

 

[Birchtree]

For a market that is down 118, the A/D line is not rolling over as much as it should. We'll see if programs step in prior to the close. If the I fund can hold the unchanged level - I'll move forward against the S funders.

 

[Birchtree]

My TRW is blowing up today with a +5.87 gain so far - perhaps someone has made a buyout offer. I'll have to search around for the answer.

 

[MrJohnRoss]

My TRW is blowing up today with a +5.87 gain so far - perhaps someone has made a buyout offer. I'll have to search around for the answer.

Good gawd! +12%. Heh heh heh.

 

[Birchtree]

It's just earnings - TRW Automotive net doubles on gain - $3.27 versus $1.56. Now they can afford to pump up their dividend and pay me my fair share.

 

[RealMoneyIssues]

...pay me my fair share.

Wow, didn't think I would hear that from you...

 

[Birchtree]

When you put up your capital for risk to help companies there should be a return - rather than giving it to Adolph Obama. The market is getting stronger - it's a good day to be long.

 

[Birchtree]

There is a flower smell wafting the board today - can you smell it. It's the sweet smell of superlative bull manure. Anyone going to safety please protect your neck as the angle of ascent strengthens and you look longingly sky wards. In a bull market this strong like 2003 you gotta be in to win. Snort. We could be seeing some velocity in buying panic that will carry into tomorrow. Remember a Dow P/E of 13 will take us to 14,300.

 

[Birchtree]

This permabull believes we have been in the early stages of another mega trend multiyear secular bull market - and my money is where my mouth is. My Kung Foo buddy says that one who buys right must stand still in order to run fast. I suspect there may be considerable short covering going into a three day weekend due to sheer panic of getting caught in a bull stampede. This type of shrugging off of bad news reaction is typical of powerful major 3rd waves in Elliott Wave terms. The future is now for the bold and assertive. There is nothing screaming look out for a VIX rally.