“Fear Factor” producers’ plans to serve fresh glasses of donkey semen to contestants on the next episode had NBC execs so concerned … they gave serious thought to killing the stunt, TMZ has learned.
Sources involved in the production tell us the stomach-churning stunt was shot last summer — but NBC honchos were having a tough time swallowing this one as the air date approached.
SOURCE: http://www.tmz.com
JUST LETTING YOU KNOW…
I got a call yesterday. The guy tells me that I have just won $750,000. I knew it was a scam, but I played along with. I acted like a dummy. It turns out that in order to collect my $750,000, I needed to go to a Western Union and send $595 to a guy in Boca Raton Florida. I played along with and I hung up. He called me back asked if had sent the money and I gave him two initials that are not Happy Birthday. He didn’t listen to me and I hung up.
If I had done it, it would have cost me $595. I would have lived. But it’s not just these people. There’s’ just so many crooks out there. They play on your needs or your greed. It is amazing that I got this call. I realized that they would not be making these calls if they were not successful. So there are actually people out there who are sending $595 to these crooks, and getting nothing in return.
So I want to make sure that you never get into that situation. Here is what you need to know:
So be careful. I just find it amazing that I got this call. I’ve never gotten a call like that. And it just reminded me to remind you to watch out for these people. They’re out there…everywhere. And they’ll laugh on your last dollar.
Speaking of impact. I watched Joe Paterno’s tribute. It went two hours. This was a man that made a major impact on the lives of youths. One by one, people that he mentored walked up there and told their stories of what a great man he was.
And it got me thinking about making an impact. That’s what I’ve always wanted to do. I hope I am. I hope I have. Whether or not I’m right or wrong. I hope I’m doing things that benefit you. Get you thinking. Whether I’m whining about somebody in Washington or telling you about the leading stocks or what sectors are doing what, I hope am making some sort of impact. That’s the goal.
And even more so after watching 20,000 people salute a man who made such an impact on so many lives in different ways.
THE FED
They announced they’re gonna keep rates low until 2014. They’re thinking about buying more assets…meaning they’re going to print more money. They’re gonna buy up bonds to keep’em low so loans can be whatever. I hate all of this. It sickens me.
And if the past does represent the future, the market’s gonna bite them in the rear end.
We have seen outcomes of leaving interest rates too low. We have not seen outcomes of what they are doing by printing money and all the other things they’re doing because we have never seen this during the course of history. But just by way of history, I need to let you know that whenever we’ve seen something like this — OUT OF CONTROL INFLATION OCCURS. Interest rates will go higher in spite of them. I am hopes that this does not happen.
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Best of Investor’s Edge
Saturdays 1-2 am EST
Gary Kaltbaum owns Kaltbaum Capital Management, LLC (“KCM”), an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The opinions expressed herein are those of Mr. Kaltbaum and may not reflect those of KCM. The information offered in this publication is general information that does not take into account the individual circumstances, financial situation or individual needs of an investor. The information herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but we cannot assure its accuracy or completeness. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Any reference to past performance is not to be implied or construed as a guarantee of future results.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced his second bio-fuels loan guarantee in a week, revealing that the Agriculture Department (USDA) is slated to loan an Oregon biorefinery $232.5 million for a project expected to create 65 jobs and support 38 others.
“This project and others like it will help to establish a domestic advanced biofuels industry that will create jobs here at home and open new markets in the Pacific Northwest and across America,” Vilsack said in a statement.
SOURCE: http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com
The company, Ener1, received a $118 million grant from DOE in 2010 as part of the president’s stimulus package. The money, which went to Ener1 subsidiary EnerDel, aimed to promote renewable energy storage battery technology for electrical grid use.
But despite generous federal support for the company, Ener1 was racked by problems last year. In October, NASDAQ delisted the company due to non-compliance with Securities and Exchange Commission filing requirements. A month later, the company’s president, chief executive, and top financial officer were fired.
On Thursday, Ener1 announced it will initiate a pre-packaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan as part of an agreement to restructure the company’s debt obligations.
SOURCE: http://blog.heritage.org
Did I just read this correctly? Ben Bernanke just announced…and I quote: “In particular, the Committee decided today to keep the target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to 1/4 percent and currently anticipates that economic conditions–including low rates of resource utilization and a subdued outlook for inflation over the medium run–are likely to warrant exceptionally low levels for the federal funds rate at least through late 2014.”
2014? Are we in a depression? Are we even in a recession? Yet…these people actually think there will be no repercussions to 0% interest rates…as well as the continued printing of money. Ladies and gentlemen, this is only one man’s opinion…but there is just no way that there will not be issues at the end of this road. Just remember the outcome of the last time these people decided 0% was the tonic. It seems to me that no lessons have been learned and that these people live in the day…not in the outcome of an over-the-top, easy money and what I believe to be a very flawed policy. They have never seen anything coming. They missed the whole housing and lending debacle…yet they continue to believe they can interfere with the markets…that are no longer free markets…and think the markets will not eventually bite back. Maybe I am nuts. I hope I am.
Gary Kaltbaum owns Kaltbaum Capital Management, LLC (“KCM”), an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The opinions expressed herein are those of Mr. Kaltbaum and may not reflect those of KCM. The information offered in this publication is general information that does not take into account the individual circumstances, financial situation or individual needs of an investor. The information herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but we cannot assure its accuracy or completeness. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Any reference to past performance is not to be implied or construed as a guarantee of future results.
JUST LETTING YOU KNOW…
Let me summarize tonight’s State of the Union Address:
There are too many rich people in this country. So we are telling them that they have to pony up their money and give to us so that we give it out to whomever we want to give it out to. Oh, but we’re going to give it out to our friends like the people at Solyndra that we gave $500 million to…not to mention about a hundred other crony companies.
You don’t like it? Tough!
Actually, that’s not what’s going to happen, but you’re going hear nothing more than a campaign speech. It’s going to be “us against them.” “You are poor. You are not doing well because others are. They’re not doing their fair share. They’re making too much. Darn them.”
In case you don’t know, I teach my kids not to be jealous of successful people but to learn from them.
I was driving on Lake Mary Blvd. here in central florida just a few minutes ago and I saw a Chipotle. A little box with a few tables. A menu with six things on it. It started with one store. You know how it started with one store? Somebody risked their capital. Then they decided to open a second and third. You know how they did that? Someone decided to risk their capital. And then they went to 10 and 15 stores. Do you know how they did that? Somebody risked their capital and put up their money. And now there’s like 1100 of them. They do $2 billion a year. And they have a zillion employees. I want my kids to learn from the people who started those places.
That’s how I think.
Apple Computer…the Company
I’m not talking about the stock. I’m talking about the company.
Just an amazing company. To be a great company, you’ve got have the products and be able to price them correctly…and then market them. What an amazing story of the one percenters at Apple. Amazing that their earnings for this quarter will be up over 100% again after being up 52 last quarter. Revenues up 73% and this for a company that does billions and billions of dollars in revenues. iPhones…WOW. 37.4 million iPhones sold in the quarter , which I believe is ending December. Congratulations. What a legacy for Steve Jobs who passed away. They’re not curing cancer, but they are changing the way we’re doing things. I mean we are basically spoiled.
When I was a kid I had slinky. And I had a game called “Operation.” You had a little tweezer and you stuck it in the guy’s heart and if you touch the side, a buzzer went off. And I had the “Rock’em Sock’em Robots.
My kids have an iPhone. I want to learn from these success stories. I don’t want to be jealous of them.
I just have to applaud this company. They’ve changed the way we do things. So many people tried to come out with tablets. They did and they were successful and everybody else was a failure. I just find it to be an extraordinary story.
When I have to go to a mall at 10:00am on a Tuesday and the place is empty and the Apple Store has a hundred people…that’s what I’m talking about.
We want to find many more of those. That’s all we want to do. And the good news is…we will.
6-7 pm EST
Best of Investor’s Edge
Saturdays 1-2 am EST
Gary Kaltbaum owns Kaltbaum Capital Management, LLC (“KCM”), an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The opinions expressed herein are those of Mr. Kaltbaum and may not reflect those of KCM. The information offered in this publication is general information that does not take into account the individual circumstances, financial situation or individual needs of an investor. The information herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but we cannot assure its accuracy or completeness. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Any reference to past performance is not to be implied or construed as a guarantee of future results.
Mitt Romney just released his 2010 tax returns, showing that he paid 13.9 percent of his income in federal taxes. His rate is relatively low because most of his money comes from investment income, which is taxed at a lower rate than wages. But how does Romney stack up to previous presidential candidates? Here’s a chart for comparison:
Funny…I don’t remember the media crapping all over Kerry’s tax rate. Of course, only now does it matter.
JUST LETTING YOU KNOW…
I’ve never seen so many “blah” earnings reports in stocks that go higher. Seriously. Go figure.
We’ll call it a stalemate day. But out of days like today, there are some things I’m seeing that I want you to know about.
The bottom line is that the major averages are all above the major support areas that I told you about in the past couple of weeks. As long they stay above them, GOOD. They are stretched and extended to the upside now, which means they are away from the norm. Normally, when this happens, eventually they’re revert to the norm – meaning their 50-day moving averages. Whether or not it happens now…I don’t know. The Dow is a stone’s throw from the old high. Others not so close.
Remember I told you about all these triangle patterns in the major indices…if they break above it GOOD, if they break below it BAD. Well the XOP (The S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF) looks like it’s breaking above a triangle here. Which means it may be playing catch up with the rest of the market. I just noticed one name. This is not a recommendation. Noble Energy (NBL) broke out of a one-year base on significant heavier bottom. That would be the name to attack if this is going to go higher. We shall see what happens.
Natural Gas which is UNG (The United States Natural Gas Fund), which has been in a major bear market, I think had its biggest volume day ever today, from a very stretched and extended condition to the downside. So near-term I would suggest to you that the worst may be over for that.
I received 50 emails on Netflix stock in the past two weeks. Netflix when from 60 to 100. Frankly, it went from 70 to 100 in four days. The stock went from 304 down to that 62, before sitting around and then moving up. Netflix, in answer to all those emails, is going to lose money going forward. They’ve announced they’re going to lose money going forward. I don’t like buying companies that lose money. There’s my answer.
6-7 pm EST
Best of Investor’s Edge
Saturdays 1-2 am EST
Gary Kaltbaum owns Kaltbaum Capital Management, LLC (“KCM”), an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The opinions expressed herein are those of Mr. Kaltbaum and may not reflect those of KCM. The information offered in this publication is general information that does not take into account the individual circumstances, financial situation or individual needs of an investor. The information herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but we cannot assure its accuracy or completeness. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Any reference to past performance is not to be implied or construed as a guarantee of future results.
WASHINGTON — Soon after he retired last year as one of the leading liberals in Congress, former Representative William D. Delahunt of Massachusetts started his own lobbying firm with an office on the 16th floor of a Boston skyscraper. One of his first clients was a small coastal town that has agreed to pay him $15,000 a month for help in developing a wind energy project.
SOURCE: http://www.nytimes.com
The good news is that someone is writing about the fact that debt matters. The bad news is the author blames it partially on tax cuts. This is not true. In fact, revenues to the treasury soared during times when taxes were cut. It is all about the spending. May I repeat…it is all about the outrageous, out of control government spending started by George Bush and put into hyperdrive by Barack Obama. Of course, according to some, Obama had no choice. Oh yes he did!
Excerpt from the article:
WITH little fanfare, a dangerous notion has taken hold in progressive policy circles: that the amount of money borrowed by the federal government from Americans to finance its mammoth deficits doesn’t matter.
Debt doesn’t matter? Really? That’s the most irresponsible fiscal notion since the tax-cutting mania brought on by the advent of supply-side economics.
SOURCE: http://www.nytimes.com
