the Calendar Grand Slam requires luck

When asked if he thought the calendar Grand Slam was possible, Tiger Woods said, "It's about playing well at the right times, it's about getting lucky, actually.  You have to have everything go your way."

Another rogue trader ?

Here's another trading company blaming the trader . . . . trust me, the company knew what he was doing.

1-24-08 Societe Generale SA said unauthorized bets on stock index futures by an unidentified employee caused a 4.9 billion-euro ($7.2 billion) trading loss, the largest in banking history.

France's second-largest bank by market value plans to raise 5.5 billion euros from investors after the trading loss and subprime-related writedowns depleted capital, the Paris-based company said today. The Bank of France, the country's banking regulator, said it's investigating the situation.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

The surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

to err

I've said it before, and I'll repeat it again: To err is human, but it requires an MBA to create total clusterfuck . . .

The Facts ???

When it comes to "reporting" the "facts" I'm a skeptic of 99% of the media's attempt to do so and I really like this . . .

As Rob Corddry once asked, "How does one report the facts in an unbiased way when the facts themselves are biased?"

Countrywide Credit incentives for executives

get this . . . . I can't stop laughing this is so egregious

Countrywide's compensation committee has approved retention awards of cash and cash-settled restricted stock units for David Sambol, president and chief operating officer; Eric Sieracki, executive managing director and chief financial officer; Ranjit Kripalani, executive managing director, Capital Markets; and, Carlos M. Garcia, executive managing director, Banking and Insurance, according to the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The bonus portion of the incentive packages range between $2.5 million for Kripalani and $1.45 million for Garcia. The executives must remain with the company through at least March 15, when the bonuses are to be paid, according to the filing.

these people ought to be hung up not "incentivized". what could B of A learn from this bunch of losers?

AT&T in trouble ???

AT&T is disconnecting more home-phone and high-speed Internet customers for failing to pay their bills.

Wyatt Earp is buried in

Colma, CA is near Daly City

Edmund Hillary

Here's to one of the greatest adventurers of the ages.  I've been fascinated by Everest for 40 years recently watched the special on TV about climbing Everest and the most interesting part of the climb is the Hillary step.  It's hard to imagine how incredibly difficult it was for Hillary and Tenzing Norgay to climb Everest when they did and then come down . . . . here's toast to Sir Edmund Hillary who has done so much for the Tibetan and Nepalese people.

Eric Clapton

I just finished reading EC's autobiography and it's a fun read. From the Yardbirds to the recovery from alcoholism and happiness with 4 daughters by his current, you'll enjoy it.

Transcontinental Railroad

in 1868, every sawmill in the Sierra was cutting timber for the building of the famous showsheds for the Central Pacific RR.  65,000,000 BF of timber were used to build the snowsheds over the summit near Truckee, California.  900 tons of bolts and spikes were also used.

words of advice

you can plan plans, but you can't plan results

Bear Stearns problem

Watching the financials implode is an interesting experience since I own none of them but how about this . . . .

Paul Novelly, a director, sells 50,000 shares of Bear Stearns! At the lowest price since mid 2005 (about half of what it was a year ago), what does this say about the future of the company?

Who Do You Trust?

from a good website to monitor . . . http://bigpicture.typepad.com/

I quote Barry . . . "I am naturally skeptical. I see too much bullshit everywhere. Hence, I believe Trust is something that must be earned, not given away. Not demanded, not assumed, but actually earned. Especially if you are a startup company, with enormous access to lots and lots of very personal data. These firms should have to earn your confidence. They have gotten carte blanche so far, but I suspect the era of blind faith is coming to an end.

Ask yourself these questions: Who do I trust? Who can I rely on, confide in, bank on, have faith in? Who do you read? Who do you let get inside your head? Who do you believe? Who are you sure about? What companies do you entrust with your personal files and passwords? Your social security number, bank account data, personal financial info, data? Who do you trust?"

I am also a huge skeptic of everything which causes some friction among my friends as they see me as being "negative" NOT. They're not the same thing. I just don't trust anything I didn't see myself, experience myself or hear myself. I read and listen to lots of stuff and research it before I act on it but rarely do I blindly accept it as truth . . . . unless of course it's skeptical. :-) CK

Napolean's desire for luck

Napoleon, asked what qualities he looked for in his generals, replied, "Luck. Give me generals who are lucky."

Municipality losses from CDOs etc

get this . . . .

The investment by the Springfield, Mass Finance Control Board, the municipal body that manages the city's finances, is valued at $1.2 million, down from $14 million a year earlier, according to Secretary of State William Galvin. The finance board has hired Boston-based law firm Goulston & Storrs to investigate the investment, Springfield officials said in a statement. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has also started a probe into the matter, which was reported earlier today by the Boston Globe. The Springfield finance board said it ``believes that Merrill Lynch can and should be held fully accountable for any potential losses.''
The chairman of the Springfield finance board is Chris Gabrieli, who ran unsuccessfully for Massachusetts governor in 2006. Gabrieli, a venture capitalist, was defeated by Deval Patrick.

big surprise . . . . that everyone is trying to duck responsibility.

Buddha says

Remember Buddha's advice: "Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it, not even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."

Happy New Year to everyone

the landscaping is complete and we're enjoying the scene