XL-entLady's Account Talk

[JimmyJoe]

I normally would give you a great, deep answer. Now, today, probably for the rest of my life I recommend the following only because it's all beyond our control. Realize too that it never was in our control. That is...'Ride this train to your paradise." Have a happy day.

 

[XL-entLady]

Last week the snow melted off in the high country. And after one week back in the real world of financial malfeasance, ecological disaster and political snark, I need more fresh air. So as soon as the holiday crowds go back home we're heading out camping again.

This time I'm taking my wireless modem with me so that I can manage my TSP better than I did last trip. But I may not be on line much. I've asked spouse if we can leave Tuesday, and we will if we can get ready in time. When will we come back from those tall pines and cool breezes? How about "never"? .....

 

[jdphx]

And I wonder what happened to personal integrity?

And work ethic, and pride, and pulling your weight....


I work with a bunch of "newbies" myself. And in a bit of frustration one day,
a co-worker told me the following. Kinda made sense to me.

Today's generation is all about the "me - now". They are into personal,
and instant gratification. X-box and the Internet are more important than
doing your job well.

A large number of their parents could not imagine working for the same company for 30+ years. They change jobs whenever someone offers a "better" deal. Most companies, caring more about the bottom line, move
on with new, cheaper hires as opposed to keeping experienced workers.

These Generation now'ers have nobody at home leading by example or teaching these fundamental values that we older folks have ingrained
in us.

You cannot shame them or motivate them at all. More likely you will get
the blank stare, and a "whatever" attitude. Pisses me off to no end!!

Rant over... almost.

I guess this is probably the definition of a generation gap. We are all having
to suffer through it to some extent. I won't go quietly

Boy your time in the Pines is sure looking good!!!

 

[XL-entLady]

I pulled more into the Garage. At COB today I'll be 80% G, 5% C and 15% S. Things are too volatile right now as we all watch the (hopefully) bottoming process in this market. And I don't know if I'll have internet access this week while I'm in the tall pines.

 

[Viva_La_Migra]

Re: Eulogy for Integrity

I've been noticing all the TV commercials lately that are built around screwing the other guy however you can. I read in the newspapers that the greatest ecological disaster of our time was caused because people got payoffs for not doing their jobs correctly. Our country has gone from a balanced budget to being trillions of dollars in debt because big corporations figured out a way to screw us all out of our grandchildren's inheritance.

And I wonder what happened to personal integrity?

We used to have it. My children were raised with a family motto, "Knowledge, Integrity, Family," because in ascending order of importance that's what we wanted them to learn was vital to being a responsible adult. The motto was on family t-shirts and on decorated signs around the house and we talked about it all the time. And we still try to live that way. When I grew up that was not unusual. When did it change?

I was deposed once as part of preliminary actions for a state grand jury and a law enforcement officer who had known me for a long time told the rest of the room, "You can take what she says to the bank. She's the only really straight arrow I know." Huh?

I'm not saying this to pat myself on the back. I'm saying this because I read someone's comment recently that "we all have done something shady to get ahead in this world." Excuse me! ::::Waving hand!:::: Not everybody!

What happened to make this kind of a statement the norm? Why is that the excuse for the mess we're in now?

When did Integrity die?

Integrity died when the government said parents can't spank their children, when teachers started caring more for their paychecks than teaching children, and when politicians started providing welfare checks to people too lazy to get a job.

 

[nasa1974]

Re: Eulogy for Integrity

Integrity died when the government said parents can't spank their children, when teachers started caring more for their paychecks than teaching children, and when politicians started providing welfare checks to people too lazy to get a job.

Plus with the me first attitude of the last few generations, respect for your elders has become extinct.

 

[nnuut]

I STILL HAVE IT!!!!!

 

[Silverbird]

Say goodbye to full-time jobs with benefits
http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/01/news/economy/contract_jobs/index.htm
[Why kids these days don't believe in lifetime employment - they know better. Even when I was getting my first job, lifetime employment was beginning to look like the grand illusion, and I'm not a kid anymore.]

 

[XL-entLady]

Well folks, I'm sitting under the awning of my RV watching a spring rain shower and catching up on the MB.

We've been out riding the backroads in the high country, looking at the leaves budding out in the aspens, seeing the tight little pine cones starting to grow in the ponderosas, crossing cobblerock streams still swollen from snowmelt, and looking at the beauty of Mother Earth. The orange hoodoos are brilliant in the spring air. The antelope, deer and elk made it through the winter well and are sleeking up already.

It's so good to be out here and to remember that us humans haven't messed up ALL of God's country yet.

 

[XL-entLady]

I like Carl Swenlin's commentary because it's fact-based and no nonsense. In today's ChartWatcher's Newsletter he looks at the global markets and says:


"...While most of the charts may agree in directionality with the U.S. market and are showing weakness, it is interesting to note that five of the charts (25%) are showing considerably more weakness than the U.S. market. Unless we believe that the U.S. market will power upward with enough force to drag lagging global markets along, perhaps we should temper any optimism we may have regarding the market's recovery in light of global weakness."

Looks like it's time to start protecting the seed corn again.

 

[JTH]

Looks like it's time to start protecting the seed corn again.

Agreed, I recall pounding the weak Euro podium often enough, but at the time the markets weren't ready to make that play. It's now become apparent event the American Markets can't hold this world together anymore. This is a great time for capital preservation while we wait for the next buying opportunity, perhaps in August/September.

 

[Blindman]

Well folks, I'm sitting under the awning of my RV watching a spring rain shower and catching up on the MB.

We've been out riding the backroads in the high country, looking at the leaves budding out in the aspens, seeing the tight little pine cones starting to grow in the ponderosas, crossing cobblerock streams still swollen from snowmelt, and looking at the beauty of Mother Earth. The orange hoodoos are brilliant in the spring air. The antelope, deer and elk made it through the winter well and are sleeking up already.

It's so good to be out here and to remember that us humans haven't messed up ALL of God's country yet.

Lady,
Your killing me as I sit here reading this post in my 10 by 10 cubed office!!!:laugh: Sounds like we have something in common... RV'ing!! No better way to relax, than under an awning with a light shower tapping on the awning. We're headed your way in late July, well close, Colorado that is. We love the San Jaun Mountain area, but I believe we are headed farther north this year for something different.
Well, couldn't resist not to post... Hope you are still enjoying yourself and if not hope you had a great time!!
GL everyone!

Blindman

 

[nasa1974]

Just a drive-by. Sounds like you are having a good time. Do not forget the pictures.

 

[XL-entLady]

Okay, I'm in G Fund starting tomorrow. And for more fun things than the market has been lately, thanks JTH, Blindman and Nasa for the visits while I was gone. Yes, we had a blast!

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[nasa1974]

Lady, great pictures. Thank you. Our country has a lot to offer. You only have to take the time and open your eyes.

 

[Scout333]

Thanks for the pics Lady! Beautiful country! Reminds me of a Scouting trip back in the day to Providence Canyon (aka Little River Canyon) in Georgia. We stayed a week and climbed over every inch. No where to bathe so we all ended up covered in red clay dust. Quite a site!

 

[Blindman]

Nice Pics Lady. Looks like you guys do it up right. Yamaha Rhinos if I might say so...:laugh: I'll make sure I drop some pictures from CO. when I go. All that country is amazing,,,,, remember everyone when I say that,,,I'm an OK boy and its pretty flat around here... We do have a few Hills!!! :toung:

Just for thought - I think that G fund is the place to be right now lady. Been there for couple of months, wanted to try and hit some pops up (Hasn't worked yet), but this market has kepted me a little scared the last several weeks,,,, Defense is the play!
GL everyone!

Blindman

 

[XL-entLady]

Yes,, Blindman, I agree that for me defense is the play because I'm already retired. I thought this article from this week's issue of Time was interesting, however, and food for thought.

Monday, Jun. 07, 2010
Where the Wealthy (and Scared) Invest

By John Curran


Joseph Quinlan is the chief investment strategist for U.S. Trust, the private wealth management division of Bank of America. His mostly American clientele are well heeled — the less fortunate among them have at least several million dollars in tow — and they sometimes move outside the markets you and I may wade in. At a time when many investors are anxious, here's what Quinlan is advising U.S. Trust's clients to do:

...As we go forward, what is the outlook for the stock market? It seems to be unsure about the recovery.
I think there is more to go on the upside. Our firm's outlook is for the S&P 500 to end up the year at roughly 1250, so up about 17% from current levels. ....

Is this a good time to be in bonds?
For the next 12 to 24 months, we are favoring equities over bonds. It's not that fixed income is a bad area to be in. Many of our clients went into cash in 2009 and then moved into fixed income and then equities. ....

What about foreign stocks? With the world in such dicey shape, is it smart to be investing in emerging markets and such?
Once the dust settles over the current crisis in Europe and the correction in stocks ends, we expect a sharp recovery in the EAFE index. However, over the next one-year period, we do expect the developed non-U.S. markets to underperform both the S&P 500 and the emerging markets. ...

http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1994547,00.html

 

[nasa1974]

Thanks Lady. An interesting article.

 

[XL-entLady]

Birch will like yesterday's comments from Marty Chenard:


"Question: What happens in a down trend or when there is panic selling?
Answer: The number of New Lows on the NYSE trends higher.
It makes logical sense, doesn't it? As more investors panic while trying to get out of a stock, they have to sell lower and that increases the number of New Lows when done in mass.

So, why are the current number of New Lows at positive levels?
Take a quick look at today's chart, and you will see what we mean ...
Not only are New Lows very low, but they were below 50 yesterday which is a bullish level rather than a bearish level.

The New Lows indicator is reactive and not predictive ... but still, it is like the thermometer people use to see if someone is sick or not. At this moment, the thermometer is saying "healthy"."


http://stocktiming.com/Wednesday-DailyMarketUpdate.htm