Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia = BID

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia

Question:

What stock has the stock symbol BID ?

Answer:

Sotheby's, the famous auction house.

These stock symbols are known as Personalized Stock Symbols (TM), similar to personalized license plates. The symbol spells out a word, which is not a word in the company name and is not the initials of the company name. However, the word does describe the company's business. (Special thanks to InvestmentTrivia.com )

Google buying JotSpot, the Wiki Maker

Google (traded with the symbol GOOG on NASDAQ) is buying JotSpot.com, the Wiki company. More info:

http://www.jot.com/google/faq.html

The proprietor of Stockerblog is a shareholder of GOOG. No recommendation relating to the purchase, sale, hold or short of this stock is expressed or implied.

Apple Releasing Tiny iPod on Friday

Apple Computer (traded on NASDAQ under the symbol AAPL) will be releasing their new iPod Shuffle which is half the size of the original Shuffle. It will have a gig of memory which will hold about 240 songs.

The proprietor of Stockerblog is a shareholder of AAPL. No recommendation relating to the purchase, sale, hold or short of this stock is expressed or implied.

More High Yielding High Income Dividend Paying Stocks

More high yielding stocks, high income stocks, high dividend stocks, some paying monthly, some paying quarterly:

Stocks which pay their dividends monthly:

Advantage Energy Income Fund (AAV) 15%
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGH) 13.3%


Stocks which pay their dividends quarterly:

New York Mortgage Trust Inc. (NTR) 14.4%
Saxon Capital, Inc. (SAX) 14.1%
Western Asset Emerging Markets Income Fund II Inc. (EDF) 13.3%
Hanover Capital Mortgage Holdings Inc. (HCM) 12.4%

Please note: Just because a stock is paying a high dividend does not mean that it will continue to do so. The dividend may be reduced or eliminated at any time. The stock may fluctuate and may drop in value, the loss of which might offset any dividends received. In the interest of full disclosure, the proprietor of Stockerblog may own one or more of the mentioned stocks. None of these stocks are recommended as buys, holds, sells or shorts.

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia = LUV

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia

Question:

What stock has the stock symbol LUV ?

Answer:

Spark Networks plc which provides an online dating service.

These stock symbols are known as Personalized Stock Symbols (TM), similar to personalized license plates. The symbol spells out a word, which is not a word in the company name and is not the initials of the company name. However, the word does describe the company's business. (Special thanks to InvestmentTrivia.com )

The Jim Cramer Popularity Index

Check it out. For the first three columns, the lower the number, the better. For the last three columns, the higher the number the better. (Unfortunately, you need to scroll down to see it. I still can't figure out why Blogger is putting all the paragraph breaks in.)

Date	Amazon	Bus&Inv	Investg	Yahoo	Goog	uTube
2-Oct	116	17	2	5470	4280	42
9-Oct	88	13	3	5570	4280	48
16-Oct	71	12	3	5500	268	53
30-Oct	68	9	3	6340	3550	69

As you can see, the popularity of Jim Cramer's book is continuing to rise in the all books category and the Business & Investing Category. It is holding its own in the Investing books category. With regards to search engines, he's increasing in Yahoo but dropping in Google. As a matter of fact, he's bouncing all over the place with Google pages found when Jim Cramer is entered into the search. And of course in YouTube, he's skyrocketed up by more than 50%.

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia = LENS

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia

Question:

What stock has the stock symbol LENS ?

Answer:

Concord Camera Corp., which designs, developments, manufactures, and sells cameras.

These stock symbols are known as Personalized Stock Symbols (TM), similar to personalized license plates. The symbol spells out a word, which is not a word in the company name and is not the initials of the company name. However, the word does describe the company's business. (Special thanks to InvestmentTrivia.com )

Follow-up on the neighboroo.com website

In addition to the political affiliations shown on the neighboroo.com website, it also shows:
Lifestyle (number of singles, marrieds, retirees)
Crime Rate
Elementary School Rank
Air Quality
Home Price
Apartment Rents
Cost of Living
Commute Time
Household Income
Tax Rates
Unemployment
Population Density
Ethnicity

Political Affiliation of your City: Website

There is a website that allows you to enter your city and state and immediately shows you how Republican or Democratic your city is. It's even color coded to show how blue (Democrat) or red (Republican) your city is. The site is called neighboroo.com. Check it out:

http://www.neighboroo.com

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia = BTU

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia

Question:

What stock has the stock symbol BTU ?

Answer:

Peabody Energy, which owns coal companies in the United States and Australia. (BTU is a measurement of heat value (energy) and stands for British thermal unit.)

These stock symbols are known as Personalized Stock Symbols (TM), similar to personalized license plates. The symbol spells out a word, which is not a word in the company name and is not the initials of the company name. However, the word does describe the company's business. (Special thanks to InvestmentTrivia.com )

You Can Buy Stock in the Happy Birthday Song

Not many people are aware that the song "Happy Birthday To You" is not in the public domain but actually owned by a music publishing company. That is why if you appear on TV to play an instrument, you are told not to play Happy Birthday, since the TV station doesn't want to pay a royalty on the song.

The rights to the song is owned by a company called Warner/Chappell Music Inc. which owns a huge library of songs including the songs of Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Dr. Dre, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, and Sheryl Crow. Warner/Chappell is in turn owned by Warner Music Group Inc., traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WMG.

As always, this is not a recommendation to buy, sell, hold or short this stock.

PepsiCola is an anagram for Episcopal

Pepsi Cola, the original drink of Pepsico Inc. (Traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PEP) is an anagram (a word that can be made out of the letters of another word) of Episcopal. There is a theory that the name Pepsi-Cola came about because Caleb Bradham, the pharmacist who created Pepsi on August 28, 1898, had his drugstore across the street from an Episcopal Church. (This is one of several name derivation theories, by the way.)

Special thanks to:
pepsi-cola-history.blogspot.com

http://pepsi-cola-history.blogspot.com/

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia = TAP

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia

Question:

What stock has the stock symbol TAP ?

Answer:

Molson Coors Brewing Company, which is a producer and distributor of beer.

These stock symbols are known as Personalized Stock Symbols (TM), similar to personalized license plates. The symbol spells out a word, which is not a word in the company name and is not the initials of the company name. However, the word does describe the company's business. (Special thanks to InvestmentTrivia.com )

Get 50% (Yes 50% !) First Year Depreciation on Real Estate

Are you a real estate investor? Very few people are aware that if you purchase residential real estate in the areas that were hit by Hurricane Katrina, you can take a 50% first year depreciation on residential real estate. This is 50% over and above the regular depreciation. This area is known as the GO Zone (Gulf Opportunity Zone).

The allowance is an additional deduction of 50% of the property's depreciable basis (after any section 179 deduction and before figuring your regular depreciation deduction). The special allowance applies only for the first year the property is placed in service.

The allowance is deductible for both the regular tax and the alternative minimum tax (AMT). There is no AMT adjustment required for any depreciation figured on the remaining basis of the property.

Counties and parishes included in the GO Zone are following:

Alabama. The counties of Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Mobile, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, and Washington.

Louisiana. The parishes of Acadia, Ascension, Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana.

Mississippi. The counties of Adams, Amite, Attala, Choctaw, Claiborne, Clarke, Copiah, Covington, Forrest, Franklin, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, Holmes, Humphreys, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Kemper, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Leake, Lincoln, Lowndes, Madison, Marion, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, Smith, Stone, Walthall, Warren, Wayne, Wilkinson, Winston, and Yazoo.

For more information, check out:

http://www.irs.gov/publications/
p4492/ar02.html#d0e1253

and

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-06-77.pdf

VW profits drop by 92%

Earnings for Europe's largest automobile manufacturer, Volkswagen (traded on numerous stock exchanges), dropped by 92%. VW attributed this to the cost of eliminating 20,000 jobs.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6090846.stm

Fake US Dollars one of top Colombian Exports

According to a recent study by the US government, 15% of all the fake US currency in circulation was created in Colombia. North Korea has been considered the second biggest producer of fake dollars.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/
business/6087438.stm

Fraud Against Brokerage Firms are Increasing

Two different types of scams are being perpetrated against online brokerage firms and their clients. Frauds include stealing clients' ID's and passwords to steal the money in their accounts. It also includes taking over clients' account and having them buy penny stocks (owned by the fraudsters) to drive up the price, at which time the fraudsters sell their holdings.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/
story/9Q853kx8dVWG49zwPB5WqQ0?
siteid=mktw&dist=TNMostRead

Apple Allowed Continued listing on NASDAQ

In spite of the delayed filing of their quarterly report, Apple Computer Inc. (traded under the stock symbol AAPL) has been allowed by NASDAQ to continue to be listed provided the filing is complete by Dec. 29.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/
story/story.aspx?siteid=mktw&guid
=%7B7CECDD07-D338-4AB0-93B8-8A410E3FE034%7D

Free Subscription to RealMoney (if you are a college student)

A great deal for college students only. RealMoney is offering college students a free subscription through May 31, 2007. (An annual subscription to RealMoney is $229.95.) RealMoney features real time commentary from more than 25 popular columnists including Jim Cramer. The only requirement is that you must have an email address that ends in .edu. Email collegetour@thestreet.com to receive a personal invitation.

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia = TUG

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia

Question:

What stock has the stock symbol TUG ?

Answer:

Maritrans, Inc., through its subsidiaries, which provides marine transportation services to the oil industry.

These stock symbols are known as Personalized Stock Symbols (TM), similar to personalized license plates. The symbol spells out a word, which is not a word in the company name and is not the initials of the company name. However, the word does describe the company's business. (Special thanks to InvestmentTrivia.com )

Candidate for Alabama Governor Promotes her Cleavage

Loretta Nall, who is the Libertarian Party candidate for governor of Alabama, is giving out free T-shorts featuring a picture of her low cut neckline showing off her cleavage. May the best candidate win!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061024/
ap_on_fe_st/candidate_s_neckline

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia = RX

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia

Question:

What stock has the stock symbol RX ?

Answer:

IMS Health Incorporated which provides services to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

These stock symbols are known as Personalized Stock Symbols (TM), similar to personalized license plates. The symbol spells out a word, which is not a word in the company name and is not the initials of the company name. However, the word does describe the company's business. (Special thanks to InvestmentTrivia.com )

Ads Now on Checkout Conveyor Belts

Just when you thought that advertising was everywhere in supermarkets (coupon dispensers sticking out from shelves, ads on the floor, etc.), you will soon start seeing ads on the checkout conveyor belts, thanks to a company called Envision Marketing Group (a privately held company).

http://www.envisionmarketinggroup.com/news.html

Highest Yielding Stocks that pay Dividends Monthly and Quarterly

MONTHLY DIVIDENDS

Enterra Energy Trust (ENT) 16.6% Monthly

Penn West Energy Trust (PWE)10.2% Monthly

For a list of all the monthly dividend stocks in an Excel format which you can download, sort, add to, delete from, and change, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.


QUARTERLY DIVIDENDS

HomeBanc Corp. (HMB) 20.2% Quarterly

New Century Financial Corp. (NEW)18.8% Quarterly

Novastar Financial Inc. (NFI) 17.7% Quarterly

Frontline Ltd. (FRO) 16.5% Quarterly

BlackRock Global Energy and Resources Trust (BGR) 16.2%

Please note: Just because a stock is paying a high dividend does not mean that it will continue to do so. The dividend may be reduced or eliminated at any time. The stock may fluctuate and may drop in value, the loss of which might offset any dividends received. In the interest of full disclosure, the proprietor of Stockerblog may own one or more of the mentioned stocks.

Scientists Create Invisibility

Scientists ad Duke University, University of Michigan, Imperial College in London and a company called SensorMetrix (not a publicly traded stock), have developed a way to make a copper pipe invisible.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061019/
ap_on_sc/cloak_of_invisibility

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia = DNA

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia

Question:

What stock has the stock symbol DNA ?

Answer:

Genentech, Inc. is involved in the discovery, development, manufacture, and marketing of bio-therapeutic drugs.


These stock symbols are known as Personalized Stock Symbols (TM), similar to personalized license plates. The symbol spells out a word, which is not a word in the company name and is not the initials of the company name. However, the word does describe the company's business. (Special thanks to InvestmentTrivia.com )

Biggest Gainers Today

Biggest Gainers on the New York Stock Exchange

Barnes Group (B) +14.6%
Texas Industries Inc. (TXI) +10.7%
Global Tech Appliance (GAI) +10.7%

Biggest Gainers on the American Stock Exchange

Paincare Holdings (PRZ) +25.6%
Hyperspace Communications (HCO) +20.2%
Uranerz Energy (ERZ) +16.6%

Biggest Gainers on NASDAQ

MSGI Security Solutions, Inc. (MSGI) +54.8%
Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (ABPI) +41.7%
Zanett Inc. (ZANE) +32.8%

Stock Market Breaks 12,000

Today the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 12,000 for the first time ever, closing at 12,011.73 !!!

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia = IT

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia

Question:

What stock has the stock symbol IT ?

Answer:

Gartner, Inc. which is a provider of research and analysis on information technology (IT), computer hardware, and software


These stock symbols are known as Personalized Stock Symbols (TM), similar to personalized license plates. The symbol spells out a word, which is not a word in the company name and is not the initials of the company name. However, the word does describe the company's business. (Special thanks to InvestmentTrivia.com )

Interested in the Stock Market? Work for Jim Cramer

Are you looking for a job? How about working for the famous television personality and investment guru. Jim Cramer is looking for an experienced research assistant based in the New York metro area. You can send your resumé and cover letter to resasst@gmail.com.

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia = FIX

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia

What stock has the stock symbol FIX ?


Answer:

Comfort Systems USA, Inc. which is a provider of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement services.

These stock symbols are known as Personalized Stock Symbols (TM), similar to personalized license plates. The symbol spells out a word, which is not a word in the company name and is not the initials of the company name. However, the word does describe the company's business. (Special thanks to InvestmentTrivia.com )

Backdating of Stock Options - Not Necessarily Illegal

By now, you've heard of dozens and dozens of companies that have been cited as being involved in the "backdating of stock options" scandal. However, the backdating of stock options may not even be illegal, as long as certain conditions apply, such as full disclosure to the shareholders, no forging of documents, etc. For a great write-up on the stock option backdating issue, check out the article by Erik Lie at the University of Iowa:

http://www.biz.uiowa.edu/faculty/elie/backdating.htm

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia = FLI

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia

Question:

What stock has the stock symbol FLI ?



Answer:


CHC Helicopter Corporation

(These stock symbols are known as Personalized Stock Symbols (TM), similar to personalized license plates. The symbol spells out a word, which is not a word in the company name and is not the initials of the company name. However, the word does describe the company's business. Special thanks to InvestmentTrivia.com )

3 European Stock Exchanges Plan Merger

Three European stock exchanges, Borsa Italiana in Italy, Deutsche Boerse in Germany, and Euronext, a pan-European exchange that has exchanges in Paris, Lisbon, Belgium and Amsterdam.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6046696.stm

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia = EAT

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia

What stock has the stock symbol EAT ?


Answer:

Brinker International, Inc., the restaurant company that owns Chili's Grill & Bar, Romano's Macaroni Grill, Maggiano's Little Italy, and On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina


These stock symbols are known as Personalized Stock Symbols (TM), similar to personalized license plates. The symbol spells out a word, which is not a word in the company name and is not the initials of the company name. However, the word does describe the company's business. (Special thanks to InvestmentTrivia.com )

Disney Goes After Inappropriate Mouse Video

The Disney Company (traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DIS) has taken action after a group of Disneyland Paris employees simulated a sexual oriented video.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/
nm/20061013/wr_nm/disney_dc

The Jim Cramer Index Update

Jim Cramer, the famous stock market commentator, has become a very popular personality, and his investing book has become very popular also. Comparing from Saturday, October 7 to Saturday, October 14, the number of TouTube listings when "Jim Cramer" is entered went from 48 to 53, an increase of 10.4%. Listings in Yahoo went down 1.2%. For some bizarre reason, the number of Jim Cramer listings in Google dropped substantially, from 4,280,000 last week to 268,000, a drop of 93.7%. Google must have gone through and cleaned up old or bad links to cause a drop by this amount.

Amazon Sales Rank for his book, Sane Investing in an Insane World, went from 88 to 71, an increase of 17 points in one week. Sales Rank for Business and Investing books went from 13 to 12, an increase in rank of one point. In the very narrow category of Investing books, the sales rank stayed the same at 3, exceeded in first place by Creating Wealth and Rich Dad Poor Dad in second place.

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia = CAR

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia

Question:

What stock has the stock symbol CAR ?


Answer:

Avis Budget Group Inc., the rent-a-car company.


These stock symbols are known as Personalized Stock Symbols (TM), similar to personalized license plates. The symbol spells out a word, which is not a word in the company name and is not the initials of the company name. However, the word does describe the company's business. (Special thanks to InvestmentTrivia.com )

Origin of Hedge Funds

Many sources have reported that the Hedge Fund was first created by Alfred Winslow Jones in 1949, who bought some stocks and shorted others in the same fund.

However the first Hedge Fund was managed by Benjamin Graham during the mid-1920's, which set up a limited partnership which had long and short positions in the portfolio. Subsequently, Ben Graham partnershiped with Jerry Newman in the 1930's to form the Graham-Newman Corporation which managed another hedge fund.

Remember, you heard it here first.

This information is based on information from Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Financial History Magazine, Issue 86, Summer 2006, Letter to the Editor, page 8.)

Stock Exchange Stock Market Trivia = GRR

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia

Question:

What stock has the stock symbol GRR ?


Answer:

Asia Tigers Fund Inc., a closed end fund that invests in Asian companies.


Follow-up question:

What stock used to have the symbol GRRR ?

Answer:

Lion Country Safari, the company that owned the drive-through zoos.

These stock symbols are known as Personalized Stock Symbols (TM), similar to personalized license plates. The symbol spells out a word, which is not a word in the company name and is not the initials of the company name. However, the word does describe the company's business. (Special thanks to InvestmentTrivia.com )

Online Gambling Companies Sell Their US Business for $1 (one dollar)

Two British online gambling companies, Sportingbet and Leisure & Gaming have sold most of their US business for $1 shortly before a law was passed today outlawing internet gambling across the country. President Bush is expected to sign the law today. The London Stock Exchange has launched an investigation.

Remember you heard it here first.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/
business/6046674.stm

Stock Market Trivia for the Day = BUD

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia

Question:

What stock has the stock symbol BUD ?

(Come on, this should be an easy one)

Answer:


Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc., the famous beer producer, including Budweiser.

These stock symbols are known as Personalized Stock Symbols (TM), similar to personalized license plates. The symbol spells out a word, which is not a word in the company name and is not the initials of the company name. However, the word does describe the company's business. (Special thanks to InvestmentTrivia.com )

Stock Market Trivia of the Day = EYE

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia

What stock has the stock symbol EYE ?

Answer:

Advanced Medical Optics Inc. which is involved in the development, manufacture, and marketing of medical devices for the eyes.

These stock symbols are known as Personalized Stock Symbols (TM), similar to personalized license plates. The symbol spells out a word, which is not a word in the company name and is not the initials of the company name. However, the word does describe the company's business. (Special thanks to InvestmentTrivia.com )

Another stock picking contest $250 prize

In yesterday's blog, there was a write-up of how you could win the portion of mutual fund management fees. Check it out if you didn't read it.

There is another site, ValueForum.com, that has a stock picking contest every quarter based on the investors three best stock picks. The prize is a $250 Amazon gift certificate.

Investing in Hollywood Movies? Investing in actors?

How would you like to invest in your favorite actor or actress, or maybe an investment in a blockbuster movie? You can do it through the Hollywood Stock Exchange (http://www.hsx.com) and using free Hollywood dollars.

Stock Market Trivia of the Day = GAS

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia

What stock has the stock symbol GAS ?

Answer:

Nicor Inc. which is involved in the natural gas distribution business.

These stock symbols are known as Personalized Stock Symbols (TM), similar to personalized license plates. The symbol spells out a word, which is not a word in the company name and is not the initials of the company name. However, the word does describe the company's business. (Special thanks to InvestmentTrivia.com )

Get Paid to Tell Others How You Invest

How would you like to get paid to come up with a portfolio (a virtual portfolio, not a real one). Here is the catch. There is a company called
Marketocracy.com, which allows you to compete with other investors. The 100 top investors with the best performing million dollar virtual portfolios will have their stock picks invested in by the Marketocracy Masters 100 Fund, a real mutual fund. The best 100 will then share in the management fees, which can be as much as $750 per quarter. There is no charge to join the basic service on the site and create a virtual portfolio.

Stock Market Trivia for the Day

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia

What company stock has FUN as its stock symbol?

Answer:

Cedar Fair, which owns amusement parks and waterparks.

These stock symbols are known as Personalized Stock Symbols (TM), similar to personalized license plates. The symbol spells out a word, which is not a word in the company name and is not the initials of the company name. However, the word does describe the company's business. (Special thanks to InvestmentTrivia.com )

Jump to any floor on an elevator

Are you tired of trying to go up or down a bunch of floors on an elevator, only to stop at several floors along the way because of people trying to get on? There is actually a trick to getting right to your floor and bypassing the others. Check it out here:

http://www.i-hacked.com/content/view/186/48/

Stock Market Trivia for the Day

Stock Market Stock Symbol Trivia

What company has the stock market symbol HOG?

Harley-Davidson Inc., the famous motorcycle company.

The Jim Cramer Index

Jim Cramer, the famous stock market commentator, has become a very popular personality, and his investing book has become very popular also. Comparing from Saturday, Sept. 30 to Saturday, October 7, the number of TouTube listings when "Jim Cramer" is entered went from 42 to 48, an increase of 14%. Listings in Yahoo went up 2%, and Google, no change.

Amazon Sales Rank for his book, Sane Investing in an Insane World, went from 116 to 88, an increase of 28 points in one week. Sales Rank for Business and Investing books went from 17 to 13, and increase in rank of four points. Surprisingly, in the very narrow category of Investing books, the sales rank went down from 2 to 3, exceeded in first place by Unconventional Success and Rich Dad Poor Dad in second place.

Outrageous Outsourcing

Outsourcing has gone very extreme, according to an article in the latest issue (October 2006) of Wired Magazine. Wombs are being outsourced to India, tutors are being outsourced to Latin America,the voice on the McDonald's drive-thru is outsourced to a call center in North Dakota, prayers are being outsourced by the Catholic Church to a church in India !!!

Kerkorian Drives Away from GM

Kerkorian's ally, Jerry York, has left GM's board, the company ended talks relating to a potential alliance with Nissan and Renault, and Kerkorian has decided not to buy more shares.

3G Data Cards better than Wireless

Three of the major phone companies, Verizon (traded with the symbol VZ on the New York Stock Exchange), Cingular (Cingular is a joint venture between the domestic wireless divisions of AT&T Inc., traded on the NYSE with the symbol T and BellSouth traded on the NYSE with the stock symbol BLS), and Sprint (traded under the symbol S on the NYSE), have come out with high speed 3G Data Cards which can be used with your laptop in areas where you don't have wireless availability but do have cell phone availability.

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/samiljan/31

An Unusual Website

Although this site I discovered has nothing to do with investments or stocks (at least not directly), it is an unusual site relating to matchmaking that I had never heard of. It's called SugarDaddyForMe.com and it matches up young women looking for "Sugar Daddies" with older wealthy men who are looking for (and willing to support) young women. Young women can register and wealthy men can register, and searches can be done based on the type of person you are looking for.

Exxon Mobil workers kidnapped in Nigeria

Five Exxon Mobil oil workers have been kidnapped in southern Nigeria.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/
hi/africa/5404886.stm

Seven Year High, Seven Month Low

By now you've probably heard, the Dow made a new all time high for the first time in seven years. Oil has dropped again, the lowest in seven months. Unfortunately, NASDAQ is only half of what it was during the year 2000.

Using PowerRatings to Rate Stocks (or Options)

There is a website called PowerRatings.NET, which rates most major stocks based on a rating of 1 to 10, where 10 is best, using proprietary software. The rating gives the projected performance over the next week. They claim that the stocks with a PowerRating of 1 perform 5.5 times worse than the S&P 500. Stocks with a PowerRating of 9 perform 12.5 times better than the S&P and a PowerRating of 10 perform 16.3 times better. This is a free service; just type in the stock symbol and it gives you the rating. Check it out.

http://powerratings.net/index.cfm

Penthouse Magazine gets new Editor-in-Chief

Mark Healy, who was the Articles Editor of GQ magazine, has been appointed as Editor-in-Chief of Penthouse Magazine, according to Diane Silberstein, who is Penthouse Magazine's President and Publisher. Penthouse is still a publically traded company, trading at less than a penny a share on the over-the-counter Pink Sheets market, with the stock symbol PHSL.

Brothel Owners Accuse Newspaper of Discrimination

Sydney, Australia's brothel owners have accuesd The Daily Telegraph of discriminating against them by charging significantly higher advertising rates than what are charged to other businesses. Brothels are legal in Sydney and must go through a government approval process.

http://www.crikey.com.au/Media/
20060928-The-Daily-Tele-v-the-
adult-industry-no-happy-ending.html

$8.6 million Embezzelment Florida Catholic Priests

Two Catholic priests at St Vincent Ferrer Church, in Delray Beach (near Palm Beach), Florida are accused of embezzling $8.6 million from their parishioners for over forty years. They are alleged to have spent the money on homes, travel, gambling, and girlfriends.

http://news.independent.co.uk/
world/americas/article1772329.ece

Short Workweek Ends at Volkswagen

Volkswagen AG and its primary union reached an agreement to extend its workweek for German employees with no additional pay. Volkswagen is Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen is traded on all major European stock exchanges.

http://news.usti.net/home/news/
cn/?/world.europe.germany.biz/1/
wed/do/Ugermany-volkswagen.
Ri5M_GSU.html

10.5% Growth Rate for China this year

Although China's economic growth is slowing marginally, their economy is still forecast to grow by 10.5% this year, according to the central bank's research bureau. China's economy grew by 10.9% for the first six months.

http://www.rte.ie/business/2006/
0929/china.html?rss

Online Gaming Boss Freed

Peter Dicks, the former chairman of Sportingbet.com, who was arrested on onling gambling charges, was freed by a New York judge. He can now return to England.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/
business/5393226.stm

3 homes for sale above $100,000,000

There are currently three homes on the market breaking the $100 million price level:
Aspen, Colorado house $135 million
Donald Trump's Palm Beach house $125 million
Lake Tahoe, Nevada house $100 million

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/
20060930/ap_on_bi_ge/100_
million_dollar_homes;_ylt=
Ar5t9HnY9Vy_R8kga7ezVsKyBhIF;
_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

Playboy Club to Reopen

The last Playboy Club closed in the 1980's. After 20 years, it will reopen in Las Vegas ar the Palms Casino Resort. No membership card required, but there will be cover charge of $20 to $50.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/
destinations/2006-09-28-playboy
-club_x.htm?csp=34

Chocolate Bar Opens in New York City

The Chocolate By The Bald Man bar opened up in Union Square in NYC, where they squirt liquid chocolate in the mouths of patrons. In addition, they werve chocolate pizza.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060929/
od_nm/restaurant_chocolate1_dc;_ylt=
AnYkPjdai_6PJ9pMQmKJ8lHtiBIF;_ylu=
X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA--