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nape
QUOTE (Rob Hood @ Jul 15 2008, 11:26 PM) *
Nah....now is the time to buy (buy low, sell high). Get a good financial investor/planner though - the market is fixing to go on an E-ticket ride... The two words my guy said to me was "buy silver"....and it's starting to creep up now.


The BLSH mantra is contingent on being able to do the "sell high" portion. Any of the houses I can afford to buy low, I don't know if they'll ever sell high. We'll see what another 5+ months of a bad economy brings though...

I've been half ass watching GM stock. They're either going to fall into oblivion or make a crapload of cash. Now, is the glass half full or half empty? unsure.gif
trackbird
QUOTE (Eugenio_SS @ Jul 15 2008, 06:34 PM) *
no guns, etc...



Don't start down that path.... blink.gif
Rob Hood
QUOTE (nape @ Jul 15 2008, 10:06 PM) *
QUOTE (Rob Hood @ Jul 15 2008, 11:26 PM) *
Nah....now is the time to buy (buy low, sell high). Get a good financial investor/planner though - the market is fixing to go on an E-ticket ride... The two words my guy said to me was "buy silver"....and it's starting to creep up now.


I've been half ass watching GM stock. They're either going to fall into oblivion or make a crapload of cash. Now, is the glass half full or half empty? unsure.gif


Well, that's the risk to take. Have also heard they may require government assistance if things don't turn around soon. This reminds me of Chrysler in the early 80's (K-car anyone?)...They turned around and made a decent profit after a few years, but there were several crutches placed then that I doubt would happen today (but who knows). A free-market perspective would let them fall on their sword. A government bailout would (probably IMO) be the right thing for a speculative investor. More than likely the bailout would occur, as you could not not bailout GM after bailing out Chrysler, politically speaking. Michigan (and Detroit in particular) has much worse unemployment than the rest of the country. I'm just curious who would carry that debt, since the dollar is so weak right now.
pknowles
I honestly think GM is doing OK and people buy more magazine headlines that spell doom and gloom for GM then something the says they are shifting to adjusting market trends. Honestly, the media is a business too. I believe Wagner when he says GM has enough cash to go 1-1.5 years without selling anything, THAT'S A LOT OF CASH! I'll believe Wagner way before I believe wall street or the mass market media. I'm actually excited about cars like the Chevy Volt. Series Hybrids seem like a much better idea then parallel hybrids and the return of the electric car is exciting. Please GM make it slightly sporty and I'll buy it.

I really don't want Universal Health Care. The biggest problem with the Government providing ANYTHING is that the Government doesn't have any real competition. The rules for the Government aren't the same as for the private sector. Free market and competition at least keep prices somewhat in check. My fear is similar to what Eugenio_SS said, basically if someone else is footing the bill everyone with a stubbed toe will go to the ER for care, which will drive the cost for care way up. If you think big business health care profits are big, I think the Government will take a lot more off the top of a Universal Health Care system. Basically treating Universal Health Care as a cash cow like the borrowing they have done from Social Security. They really don't have anyone to regulate them.

As someone who lives about 8 miles from the White House, I can say that this town is sick with selfishness. The American dream of working hard is dead here. There is so much competition for everything here (housing, parking, traffic, service of any kind) that the new American dream is how can I undercut this person to take their spot. There is no more unmarked claims for anything around here, you have to take from someone else to get what you want. I'm so sick and tired of it that I'm moving and taking a job 2 hours south of DC. I just can't stand it anymore. I seriously think this mentality has penetrated into the Government (since the Government is here) and everyone is looking out for self interest. If your not in the 6 figure salary club, then you have no representation in the federal government. I know it's a dark picture, but it's the reality of living in and around DC. Competition for everything has corrupted peoples sense of "love your neighbor". If we continue down this path I think we are going to hear the word "revolution" a lot more.

edit: can't spell
sgarnett
QUOTE (Eugenio_SS @ Jul 15 2008, 06:34 PM) *
I dunno how you guys can live knowing that from one day, a health bad luck can ruin your whole life, not only physically, but financially as well.

Well, you're right about that. My wife has cancer, and her treatment expenses exceed my gross, pretax salery. My only pension is my savings, and I would have to burn through most of it before Medicaid would kick in. I have no expectation of getting to choose my "retirement" date in my industry. My Healthcare Flexible Spending Account is maxed to the Federal limit, and my wife burns through it by July (and that's just for the expenses that are unpaid by the best and most expensive health insurance plan my employer offers). Living in the Western Hemisphere has become a huge disadvantage in my career field.

To put it very bluntly, if I get laid off before my wife dies, I'm in deep trouble. Obviously we hope to postpone both events as long as possible, but both are probably inevitable.

Oh, and my daughter is four.

No, I don't sleep all that well.
trackbird
Seems that this is a second report to back up the one I posted earlier about prices hitting a wall. Suddenly "extra stock". Hmm...


http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/16/markets/oi...dex.htm?cnn=yes

QUOTE
Oil's 2-day decline: $11 a barrel
Futures plummet after surprise growth in crude, gasoline stockpiles hints at impact of high prices on usage.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Oil prices plummeted Wednesday, bringing a two-day selloff to more than $11 a barrel, after the government's weekly inventory report suggested record high gasoline prices may be reducing the nation's energy consumption.

At 11:19 a.m. ET, light, sweet crude for August delivery was down $5.09 to $133.65 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Oil was down $1.17 before the report's release. Wednesday's drop followed a $6.44 plunge Tuesday that was the second largest decline ever on a dollar basis.

The government's weekly stockpile report showed that crude supplies rose by 3 million barrels in the week ended July 11. Analysts were looking for a drop of 3 million barrels according to a poll by energy research firm Platts.

Gasoline supplies rose by 2.4 million barrels, rather than the 1.1 million decline analysts expected.

Distillates, used to make diesel fuel, jet fuel and heating oil, rose by 3.2 million barrels. Analysts were looking for an increase of only 1.7 million barrels.

Bernanke: The two-day oil selloff also reflected the gloomy economic picture being painted by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke in his Congressional testimony.

On Tuesday, Bernanke told the Senate Banking Committee that high energy prices and slower economic growth have limited ability of U.S. households to purchase fuel and other necessities. Bernanke appeared Wednesday before the House Financial Services Committee.

The price of gasoline and diesel fuel in the U.S. touched new records Wednesday, according to a daily survey from motorist group AAA. Gasoline is more than 35% more expensive than last year.

"The weaker economic outlook, the inventory build all contribute," said Amanda Kurzendoerfer, commodities analyst with Summit Energy. However she warned that long-term investors may see the price decline as a buying opportunity.

"The one thing we can be sure of is that we're looking at a lot of volatility going forward," she said.

OPEC, Brazil: The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which supplies about 40% of the world's oil, cut its demand forecast for 2009 Tuesday to an increase of 900,000 barrels a day, 100,000 barrels less than 2008.

There were also reports that production in Brazil had not been hurt as much as originally feared by a labor strike in the Campos Basin, which supplies about 80% of the country's oil, and tensions eased with Iran, the second largest producing member of OPEC.

State-owned oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA said production had not been affected by the ongoing strike at 33 offshore platforms that began on Monday.
00 Trans Ram
See - this is how a political discussion SHOULD happen. We all kept it civilized, we presented info in a logical manner, and we all agree to disagree. Thanks!!

Oh, Mark - to answer your question about who is paying for those who don't have insurance right now (Mcare, Mcaid and uninsured), they would pay their own premiums, just as the rest of us do. Everyone gets money from somewhere - the unemployed and underemployed get it from the government, we get it from our jobs. If those people who don't have insurance now refuse to take their money (that the government is giving them) nd buy health insurance, the government would withhold the amount of the premiums and pay an insurance company directly.

As for people who have jobs, don't receive government benefits, and still don't make enough money to pay the premiums, they'd have to make some tough decisions.

OK, back to GM!!
rpoz-29
Hey Phil, where are you locating to 2 hours south of DC?
Crazy Canuck
QUOTE (trackbird @ Jul 16 2008, 01:18 AM) *
QUOTE (Eugenio_SS @ Jul 15 2008, 06:34 PM) *
no guns, etc...



Don't start down that path.... blink.gif

i'm staying on-topic... GM survival making us sick.. lol tongue.gif
nape
I wish I had an online stock trading account last night. GM went up over a point and a half.

"Are you guys denting cans?" "Yeah, Microsofts down 3 points!"...
mitchntx
QUOTE (00 Trans Ram @ Jul 16 2008, 11:31 AM) *
See - this is how a political discussion SHOULD happen. We all kept it civilized, we presented info in a logical manner, and we all agree to disagree. Thanks!!


I have a cat.
Rob Hood
No cats allowed...wink.gif
rpoz-29
I have 2 ferrets. Elvis and Jerry Lee.
Crazy Canuck
QUOTE (mitchntx @ Jul 16 2008, 10:01 PM) *
QUOTE (00 Trans Ram @ Jul 16 2008, 11:31 AM) *
See - this is how a political discussion SHOULD happen. We all kept it civilized, we presented info in a logical manner, and we all agree to disagree. Thanks!!


I have a cat.

you adopted midnight ?
sgarnett
I see the Camaro press release mentioned "excellent fuel economy".
pknowles
QUOTE (rpoz-29 @ Jul 16 2008, 12:45 PM) *
Hey Phil, where are you locating to 2 hours south of DC?

I have a word of mouth job offer at the Naval air base in St Mary's county, MD. I have to make a decision this month which of the 3 offers I'm going to take. I forwarded my high offer to the others, so we will see what happens.
Todd
QUOTE (pknowles @ Jul 17 2008, 09:27 AM) *
QUOTE (rpoz-29 @ Jul 16 2008, 12:45 PM) *
Hey Phil, where are you locating to 2 hours south of DC?

I have a word of mouth job offer at the Naval air base in St Mary's county, MD. I have to make a decision this month which of the 3 offers I'm going to take. I forwarded my high offer to the others, so we will see what happens.

congrats on escaping the hell that is DC metro!!! I did it 5 years ago and they couldn't PAY me enough to go back and deal with it again. Best of luck!!
trackbird
QUOTE (Eugenio_SS @ Jul 17 2008, 12:44 AM) *
QUOTE (mitchntx @ Jul 16 2008, 10:01 PM) *
QUOTE (00 Trans Ram @ Jul 16 2008, 11:31 AM) *
See - this is how a political discussion SHOULD happen. We all kept it civilized, we presented info in a logical manner, and we all agree to disagree. Thanks!!


I have a cat.

you adopted midnight ?


Nope, he lives with my ex wife as of last weekend. Mitch is safe. 2thumbs.gif
T.O.Dillinder
QUOTE (trackbird @ Jul 17 2008, 08:57 AM) *
Nope, he lives with my ex wife as of last weekend. Mitch is safe. 2thumbs.gif

That sucks!

I have the following:
Lady, tan and black German Shepard
Phoebe, Rat Terrier
Tank, a large black Lab-Retriever mix
Snowball, an albino cat
Angel, black and white rabbit.

Jordon, 15 year old son
Dustin, 13 year old son
Trevor, 12 year old son

Ohh, the kids are not included as pets?! unsure.gif
trackbird
I still have 4 cats, but the hellion is now in the custody of my ex wife. That leaves me with 4 of the fuzzballs (which is 3 more than I have time to deal with these days). I'm not cat free, just less one problem child.
prockbp
I'm not worried about GM. If they can't adapt, then it's time for them to die. But I suspect that they will adapt and find success again.

If the US Government helps GM out, I will be pissed if there isn't a ~3200 pound, 350+ horsepower Z28 by 2010. If my tax dollars help that company out, then they should be providing me with products that I want.
Mean Green Z28
I'm not surprised that they are in this situation right now. I just rode in a Trailblazer the other day and I was looking around and it just sucked! The interior was plain ugly with crappy designed dash and huge panel gaps and to finish it off, crappy materials ... and this was an important market segment where it's up against the Ford Explorer (which I have) and although I would like to own a GM, I would not waste my money on that hunka shit!

Don't even get me started about the crappy ass Chevy Cavalier that ruined GM's reputation and sealed it off ... I own a Focus 'cos that's built better and arguably, looks better.

Ofcourse, I wouldn't own anything else but a GM muscle car (I hope I can stick to that, what say you GM?) ... had a '94 Camaro (did the LS1 conversion) and recently upgraded to a '98 T/A
Rob Hood
QUOTE (prockbp @ Jul 17 2008, 08:13 PM) *
I'm not worried about GM. If they can't adapt, then it's time for them to die. But I suspect that they will adapt and find success again.

If the US Government helps GM out, I will be pissed if there isn't a ~3200 pound, 350+ horsepower Z28 by 2010. If my tax dollars help that company out, then they should be providing me with products that I want.



Not so sure about the weight, but the power should be over 400 (supercharged) for the Z. IIRC the Z should come back in 2011.
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