patrick.net

@ray
"Barack Obama claimed he “barely knew” Toney Rezko."

Seriously? How would you define barely knew? Do you barely know your neighbors? Can you tell me their names? Can you tell me where they work? Can you tell me when they got married? What kind of investments are they in? You've got about 5-8 "neighbors" in all likelihood. A couple beside you, a couple on the other side of the street. How well do you know each of them? You sure as hell know them really well, I already know that because you are NEIGHBORS, which means you know everything about them. You're around them every day, you sleep within 500 feet of them every day!

How about your boss? His wife's name? What kind of activities does the wife like to do? Where does she buy her food? What can you tell me about her? You work with your boss, surely you know all this stuff! You can't claim barely know him, because that is an obvious lie on your part!

I'll call you a liar if you can't answer all of those questions, because you can't claim you barely knew your neighbors, they are your neighbors!

Word games, nothing more. Taking 2 words and expanding them like you know exactly what they mean and then creating these "facts" to prove those 2 words are lies. I've just shown you, you can be next to someone, work with them and barely know them. It's a huge and open ended phrase.

@jljoshlee3
Energy/Environment can generate a lot of jobs in itself. People working on installing, building, and designing new products. There aren't many new areas that we can explore and expand on easily, this seems to be a pretty good area to actually work on. Digging ditches gets old pretty quick. Building new bridges works for awhile. Building a new industry, like the internet, will create lots of new jobs. Not only jobs, but it will put the US on track to being a leader in those areas. Other countries such as China are destroying themselves with pollution currently. They're going to have to resolve their problems shortly, and if the US is there with the products and the know how, they will be the people making the sales. So it's a win/win there. Lots of opportunities. Jobs in all categories. From inception, design, manufacturing, installation. Digging a ditch has far fewer people involved, and mostly low paying jobs. There isn't a hope they're going to figure out how to dig a ditch better. At least with what he's pushing there is a chance.

Everything he is currently working on seems to have some potential to create jobs. Education, immigration, and health care all seem to have lots of potential for possible growth. Although alternative energy and environment really seem to be the best bets for future growth.

I think he's starting to really figure out how political politics is at his level. He's no longer trying to bring everyone into the room and say lets all work on this, and create a utopia government, he's getting agreement and consensus in his ranks and pushing things through, no matter how unpopular they are. When he tried to get everyone to play along, they just dragged their feet, like every government has done.

thomas.wong1986 says

pkennedy says

Once a company goes public, it has a huge liability on it’s hands. It’s an accounting and legal nightmare to keep a public company going.

Rubish! I done three public offerings. What you have today are chicken shit retarded MBA types who rushed into the valley over the past 10 years and dont know squat how to run public or private companies. You have old times like Andy Grove from Intel saying the same. Liability is the same both private or public. Shareholder can be the public or private placement, its the same.
The crux is we are back to mid 90s type economy rather than peak at 2000.

Disgree,

Companies don't go public because cost/benefit is not there. In 2000, Facebook would sure be listed. In 2010, they are not for cost/benefit reasons.

Costs go way up going public. Having been involved firsthand with VISA, it requires restatements of income statements, back filing, Hire staff for financial reporting, systems capability, SOX procedures, 3x more audit scrutiny from more sources and exponentially more professional fees, listing fees, SEC exposure, CEO, CFO, COO devoting time to non-productive conference and analysis calls, investor relations staff, shareholder meetings and communications and dozens of other costs associated with going public. What do you get, higher underwriting cost eaten up by Goldman Sachs and selling more company for way less money than in the 1990's and it is a recipe for why companies choose not to go public.

Having said that, there were close to 6000 companies listed on the nasdaq in 2000 vs 2934 today, so it is not a silicon valley issue, it's just that there are less public companies today for various reasons (liquidations, Mergers and less IPO replacement). That is somewhat probamatic but half the story. However, the public companies today are a lot bigger and in many lines of business. Intel has companies making flash chips and not processors, Seagate has companies that don't make hardrives and eBay has companies in payment processing and not auctions. It's just an evolution and I would not link the demise of silicon valley based just on the shrinking of the absolute amount listed.

SF ace says

In 2000, Facebook would sure be listed. In 2010, they are not for cost/benefit reasons.

Well, that and all the dumb money chasing dotcoms then.

SF ace says

Costs go way up going public. Having been involved firsthand with VISA, it requires restatements of income statements, back filing, Hire staff for financial reporting, systems capability, SOX procedures, 3x more audit scrutiny from more sources and exponentially more professional fees, listing fees, SEC exposure, CEO, CFO, COO devoting time to non-productive conference and analysis calls, investor relations staff, shareholder meetings and communications and dozens of other costs associated with going public. What do you get, higher underwriting cost eaten up by Goldman Sachs and selling more company for way less money than in the 1990’s and it is a recipe for why companies choose not to go public.

Congrats, you listed why many local SV companies are ill prepared for IPO, regardless if they are profitable or not. Few are! A successful IPO will have already in place for several years, properly stated audited Financials in GAAP format, with internal controls in place to pass SOX testing. Its not rocket science, this should already be in place. Staffing may be lean but its not a issue if you staff it with veterns and grow headcount wisely (few do!). The rest regarding current filings (S-1 reg, prospectus) are a no brainer and they fall right in place. Ongoing regulator compliance isnt a problem either. Thats how we did it back in the 90s, passed Audits and SEC review.

At the end of the day, we do need to see higher listings of public SV companies anyway you cut it. Otherwise, investment dollars will not flow into tech fueling growth and incomes.

This is NOT good...Another one bites the dust in a different way! Maybe?

Thursday, July 15, 2010
VeriSign mulls headquarters move to Northern Virginia from California
Washington Business Journal - by Sarah Krouse

The Symantec deal is expected to close later this month or early next month

RayAmerica says

Nomograph says

AM talk radio junkie, all you seem to have is empty anger- and hatred-based arguments.

I can’t think of a more perfect definition of ellie “I never, ever insult anyone” mae. Apparently she listens to lots and lots of talk radio.

I think it's cute how you think about me all the time, rayray. But I prefer grownups.

pkennedy says

@ray
“Barack Obama claimed he “barely knew” Toney Rezko.”
Seriously? How would you define barely knew? Do you barely know your neighbors? Can you tell me their names? Can you tell me where they work? Can you tell me when they got married? What kind of investments are they in? You’ve got about 5-8 “neighbors” in all likelihood. A couple beside you, a couple on the other side of the street. How well do you know each of them? You sure as hell know them really well, I already know that because you are NEIGHBORS, which means you know everything about them. You’re around them every day, you sleep within 500 feet of them every day!

Amazing example of the liberal convoluted thought process. Leave it to one of these Obamabots to make a connection between YOUR neighbors and Obama's Crook-Friend that he "barely knows." Too bad the evidence proves that the corrupt Chicago Politician Obama knew this crook very, very well and benefited from his friendship with him.

RayAmerica says

Too bad the evidence proves that the corrupt Chicago Politician Obama knew this crook very, very well and benefited from his friendship with him.

How do you figure? I see no such evidence. Your earlier post showed nothing of the sort.

> Amazing example of the liberal convoluted thought process. Leave it to one
> of these Obamabots to make a connection

Oh good god giggles, okay fine, your logic is crushing. I think it was the 43rd or 43th time you said "Obamabot" that really clued me in: I am a fool.

All the facts and all of the logic, all the articles and context that has been brought to bear on this point is simply swept away in face of this crushing weight of yours, this power with words you bring to the table... though it escaped me for a while because of the dexterity and subtlety of the points you make you've convinced me with the clear truth and simple goodness of your arguments and it has indeed won out in the end.

So yes I see now its true, Obama is basically the source of all woes facing the US today. He is an evil, a scourge unlike any other faced by the country ever before, he is a menace. Never has there been and possibly (OMG, hopefully) ever will be again such an insidious (dare I say it a Darth Insidious) force undermining the great goodness that existed here before this pale rider came skimming into town.

My lord, how could I not have seen it? It took the great power of your arguments to bring it tol ight and how I now long for what I now realize was the pure and undiluted goodness of the Bush years - the years where men were men, and truth was simple and pure. Like you.

Thank you for continuing this good fight and staying the course with the great logic and intelligence of your arguments. We need more men like you sir, to help us through this darkness.

tatupu70 says

How do you figure? I see no such evidence. Your earlier post showed nothing of the sort.

But he found his talking points on the Internets and all, so they must be true. Right Rayray?

@Troy,
that graph and your comments are simple - direct - and one of your best short-shot entires ever. I agree 100%.

simchaland says

But he found his talking points on the Internets and all, so they must be true. Right Rayray?

I would be totally and completely shocked if you ever posted even a half truth regarding your little messiah. Just keep on drinking your Kool-Aid and everything will work out for you.

Giggles, I've got it - you're actually not a human being, you're an automated Turing program. You've deceived me.

simchaland says

But he found his talking points on the Internets and all, so they must be true. Right Rayray?

It's not internets - it's interwebs. It's a series of tubes connected by nets that travel through the air. Duh.

Although alternative energy and environment really seem to be the best bets for future growth.
Id' throw efficiency measures in there too as it actually puts money in peoples pockets. I was reading about thermal air conditioners in the latest Economist -- who knew? The Germans have already designed a system small enough to meet the heating and cooling needs of two homes.

elliemae says

simchaland says

But he found his talking points on the Internets and all, so they must be true. Right Rayray?

It’s not internets - it’s interwebs. It’s a series of tubes connected by nets that travel through the air. Duh.

Dang, I can't even get that right. I must be just a dumb lefty because Rayray is all smart n' such. He finds all of this truth out there on the interwebs so it must be true. I don't understand what he means by "Just keep on drinking your Kool-Aid." I haven't had Kool-Aid since I was a little kid. I prefer water these days or unsweetened iced tea. Oh and I eat arugula.

And this really has me confused:

RayAmerica says

I would be totally and completely shocked if you ever posted even a half truth regarding your little messiah.

Doesn't he know that we Jews are still waiting for Moshiach (The REAL Messiah)? How can I have a Messiah when the Messiah hasn't come yet?

I'm so confused.

Once again, Simcha - you're wrong. Incorrect. Not right. Rayray referred to our "little messiah." I do believe that he was talking about Homer Simpson.

RayAmerica says

Just keep on drinking your Kool-Aid and everything will work out for you.

I'm proud to say that I drink koolaid:

Frog In A Blender
Drink Type: Cocktail - F
Ingredients
3 oz. Orange Drink - (more Orange Drink drinks)
2 oz. Kool-Aid Berry Blue - (more Kool-Aid drinks)
1 1/2 oz. Spiced Rum - (more Spiced Rum drinks)

Instructions
Stir and serve in a highball glass over ice. Decorate with a slice of orange.

In fact, there are 54 bar drinks that contain koolaid. I shall start to do my research tonight, care to join me?

http://www.barnonedrinks.com/drinks/by_ingredient/k/kool-aid-603.html

elliemae says

I’m proud to say that I drink koolaid:

Frog In A Blender
Drink Type: Cocktail - F

Ellie May, I pictured you as a little older. Are you a college student, in a sorority ? Or maybe a "little sister" to some frat boys ? (btw, I was never in a frat, but visited enough to know a lot about them).

I recentlly celebrated the 28th anniversary of my 21st birthday... I just figured that, since I've been accused of drinking the obama koolaid, I might as well try it. I haven't had any in the house since the kids were little.

elliemae says

I recentlly celebrated the 28th anniversary of my 21st birthday… I just figured that, since I’ve been accused of drinking the obama koolaid, I might as well try it. I haven’t had any in the house since the kids were little.

Dang, you're older than me. Who knew?
elliemae says

In fact, there are 54 bar drinks that contain koolaid. I shall start to do my research tonight, care to join me?

Well, if I've gotta drink Kool-Aid, I definitely want it with alcohol in it. So, sure, I'll join ya. Maybe we could find the Obama Kool-Aid cocktail that Rayray is talking about. It might be tasty.

simchaland says

Dang, you’re older than me. Who knew?

There's dirt in my yard that's younger than I am, but I'm cool with that.

.simchaland says

Maybe we could find the Obama Kool-Aid cocktail that Rayray is talking about. It might be tasty.

Someone needs to invent Obama koolaid, I'll bet it tastes great for 8 years, but that rayray would find it hard to swallow.

I stumbled across this rather old, but somewhat, brilliant (I’m forced to admit it) post regarding Obama’s broken promises. It seems rather apropos to post it again.

RayAmerica says:

NAFTA has been a disastrous trade agreement that has decimated the American worker. Barak Obama the Candidate promised to make “renegotiating NAFTA as a top priority.” Obama the President stated within the first several months that he had no intention of reworking NAFTA. Obama the Candidate promised to “never sign any bill that contained earmarks.” This promise has been broken as well. Obama the Candidate promised to “balance the budget in my first term.” He is on pace to outspend all other presidents combined. This is looking more and more like business as usual from just another politician. So much for hope & change.

RayAmerica says

NAFTA has been a disastrous trade agreement that has decimated the American worker. Barak Obama the Candidate promised to make “renegotiating NAFTA as a top priority.” Obama the President stated within the first several months that he had no intention of reworking NAFTA. Obama the Candidate promised to “never sign any bill that contained earmarks.” This promise has been broken as well. Obama the Candidate promised to “balance the budget in my first term.” He is on pace to outspend all other presidents combined. This is looking more and more like business as usual from just another politician. So much for hope & change.

Brilliant! Thanks for posting it.

did you forget to change your identity before patting yourself on the back?

tatupu70 says

did you forget to change your identity before patting yourself on the back?

I'm willing to bet he has many identities. One of them may even be human, but he hasn't shown that one yet.

a spear to the heart, with a bow on the staff, does not make it a present.

tatupu70 says

did you forget to change your identity before patting yourself on the back?

Nope. He think the post made by him is so great, and he thought it's even better after drinking the koolaid cocktail presented by ellie. :)

elliemae says

I’m willing to bet he has many identities. One of them may even be human, but he hasn’t shown that one yet.

And one of them might be, let me guess, Brad Pitt? :)

Obama Koolaid would be sweet then it will change and get sour.
Hope this helps.

Bush flavored Koolaid would be pop rocks and soda.
Hope that clears things up.

Nomo, I want to invest in Abengoa, S.A., a technology company.

I want to do so in a medium-safe manner. Not full gamble, but not full safe either. Just medium.

Would you (or some other savy poster) mind tossing out some input, please?

Nomograph says

Stoned and stupid is no way to go through life, son.

But I'll bet it's loads of fun.

Bap33 says

a spear to the heart, with a bow on the staff, does not make it a present.

Sure it does. Perhaps not a present that the average person would want, but rayray is well below average.

I should have used "gift" instead? Anyways, you know what I was trying to say. lol

Yea, it works both ways. :)

There is something going on behind the scenes no doubt to benefit the banks. This is not the free market at work.

>>The number of new homes on the market dropped 1.4 percent to 210,000 units, the lowest level since September 1968.

This is a very misleading number. What is the number of UNSOLD new houses, as opposed to "on-the-market" new houses?
Shadow inventory, as Nomo said.

>>Last month’s surge in sales saw the supply of new homes available for sale dropping to 7.6 months’ worth from 9.6 months worth in May.

Apparently, 7.6 months of unsold inventory is NOT a 42-year low. Well, imagine that. Someone in the press is highlighting the sensational statistic but not the other one.

justme says

You can count on the Mish blog to have a good analysis of new data, and here it is:

If by good, you actually mean extremely biased--then I'll agree with you.

tatupu70 says

justme says

You can count on the Mish blog to have a good analysis of new data, and here it is:

If by good, you actually mean extremely biased–then I’ll agree with you.

Correction, the article was from Calculated Risk, not Mish blog. Mish can be biased, especially against public unions, which seem to bug him severely. CR is very analytic and data-driven and calls the shots well, in my opinion.

Keep watching and thinking and talking about housing it's called fighting the last war... Move on ..

tatupu70 says

You guys crack me up. If anyone has the unmitigated gall to think that housing may be finished correcting, you accuse him of being: realtor, troll, Lawrence Yun, etc.

That's because the freefall in prices stopped right when the tax credit was activated. Either you can see the correlation and determine that it's too early to say the market bottomed or you're a realtard.

tatupu70 says

It’s OK to poke holes in his logic, but in my experience, people who are unwilling to listen to opposing viewpoints are usually incorrect….

I listen to his viewpoints, and notice that he does his best to not acknowledge those of others'.

His point about the inventory would have merit in a universe where things such as the tax credit, shadow inventory, and record-low interest rates didn't exist.

"You guys crack me up. If anyone has the unmitigated gall to think that housing may be finished correcting, you accuse him of being: realtor, troll, Lawrence Yun, etc. "

+1

klarek says

That’s because the freefall in prices stopped right when the tax credit was activated. Either you can see the correlation and determine that it’s too early to say the market bottomed or you’re a realtard.

Of course. That was the point of the credit. How does that mean that prices will fall from here out though?

klarek says

His point about the inventory would have merit in a universe where things such as the tax credit, shadow inventory, and record-low interest rates didn’t exist.

The credit is over. I've been hearing about shadow inventory for 2 years now. It's like the boogeyman that housing bears keep hidden in their closet. Why wouldn't banks have put this shadow inventory on the market over the last year while the credit was out there and prices were rising? And how do low interest rates factor in the equation at all?? Low inventory doesn't mean prices may rise in the future because rates are low?? Huh?