connoisseur series500

up with price reduction.

Interesting thread. I hope others can post stuff too. Have to commend Chris and Allen for not being shy to share personal stuff. Really appreciate the honor of seeing some of these private things.

I call this employee and consumer time theft. Saves the company money but robs us of energy and time.

Great thread! I agree with the complaints. Corporations have achieved cost cots in exachange for "time theft" on the part of the employee and consumer. I hate the fact that every new electronic device has to come with new and useless extra options and buttons. I can't exchange my old cellphone for another without having to go through a technical class to learn how to operate it.

Yet another socialist scheme. Government takes an 80% stake in AIG through the issuing of warrants. Hmmm, seems to me that this will dilute the crap out of the stock and individual shareholders will take a major pasting. I don't feel sorry for the fat cats who own shares, but I bet that most value-oriented mutual funds and index funds own a ton of AIG. All of our retirement accounts will take a bit of a hit, but if it saves the overall market... I think it is okay for government to bail out weak companies and take ownership stakes, but here we have them doing it to a basically sound company which was sent into a credit crunch via a combination of shortselling and bad timing (as far as creating an environment which didn't allow them to liquidate some of their assets to cover liabilities.) Not sure if all this is good.

"Always Let me Go." Live in Tokyo, 2-cds. $10 covers all costs to US addresses. cds in excellent condition. Slip case has a few minor marks

I agree. Some banks will shut down, but the financial system will survive. It always has.

It's still early. Nobody's out of it yet.

Here are week 2 results: Connoisseur se WAS JAC KC TEN IND NYG CHI GB SEA TB NE ARI DEN PIT DAL 49 11 Edward Tak NO JAC KC CIN IND NYG CAR GB SEA TB NYJ ARI SD PIT DAL 52 8 Soulstation1 NO JAC KC TEN IND NYG CAR GB SEA TB NYJ ARI SD PIT PHI 31 8 Aggie87 NO JAC KC CIN IND NYG CHI GB SEA TB NE ARI SD PIT DAL 49 8 Noj NO JAC KC TEN IND NYG CAR DET SEA ATL NYJ ARI SD PIT DAL 37 7 Van Basten II NO JAC KC CIN IND NYG CHI GB SEA TB NYJ ARI SD PIT DAL 36 7 vajerzy NO JAC KC TEN MIN NYG CHI GB SEA TB NYJ ARI DEN PIT PHI 47 7 Cumulative totals for the two weeks: Conn 24 Van B 19 Edward 19 Aggie 19 Vajerzy 18 SS1 15 Noj 14

I was told this when I worked at a bank, but it wouldn't hurt for someone to research this. I tell you what: if I had any decent assets in a bank right now, I would be scared. The money would be safer under my mattress. But I don't have any money and I only keep debt at my banks.

Was talking to a normally unflappable, conservative-minded, very experienced stockbroker today, and he agrees with Chuck. Of course he's concerned, Larry. He's going to have a tough time making any sales for a few months. The ironic thing is that people's money is safer in mutual funds right now than in a bank. Unless you think the US government is going to go belly up, bank deposits (up to $100K) are FDIC insured. Mutual funds are not. Guy FDIC is woefully underfunded and there is sufficient doubt that it could handle a full blown crisis. I still prefer my mutual funds, thank you, as I don't think all their holdings would necessarily go to zero. edit to add: another thing to consider is that you might have to wait a year for your insured deposits to be paid out. People might need their money next week. We can sell our mutual funds and get money within a week.

Fantasy players must be going crazy with this game. 54 points in the first half!

Was talking to a normally unflappable, conservative-minded, very experienced stockbroker today, and he agrees with Chuck. Of course he's concerned, Larry. He's going to have a tough time making any sales for a few months. The ironic thing is that people's money is safer in mutual funds right now than in a bank.

I get your point, Chuck. I know that employees might lose jobs and that company earnings will be reduced. I was referring to the greater impact of a failure. If that were to happen it would domino to other institutions and hurt everyone.

Any large financial failure is bad, but a credit downgrade does not mean that AIG is in danger of failure. It means that it costs them more to borrow and attract customers. It's not the same thing. Reports today on TV indicated that AIG is not saddled with loads of debt, although I haven't really checked it on the internet or anything.

Its a really exciting game so far. Do either of these teams play any defense?

AIG should be fine. They are seeking capital but they aren't awash with debt like Lehman was. A couple months or so ago, the Federal Reserve had identified over 300 banks who were vulnerable with bad loans. They didn't name any of them for fear of causing a run, but some of your local banks might definitely be on the list. There is a real danger that your local bank could go under.

Mike Shanahan's call to go for the two point conversion at the end of the San Diego game was amazing. As a NE Patriot fan, I fear no opposing coach more than I fear Mike Shanahan. He tends to put a quality team on the field most of the time, and he gives us fits. Matt Cassell era won/loss record: 2-0.

Yes, I think so. Not sold on Kitna at all. They have great receivers. Running backs should be fine. Where's the defense? Detroit used to pride themselves on stalwart defenses.

Happy Birthday Dan!!

Happy Birthday Vibes!

vajerzy still to pick for this week.

I thought the same too. Weird.

Topalov-Carlsen was a great game yesterday. Carlsen played a dragon and the two went at each other. I particularly appreciate Topalov's Qa5-Qd5-Qd1 intermezzo. Beautiful!

I was watching part of the game live. It was a beautifully played attack by Magnus. I particularly like the move 24. Bb7! which chessbase did not give an exclamation. It's a difficult move to find while 27. Rxb4! looks like a more obvious move to make. Nice opening prep by Magnus to sacrifice two pawns for an attack in this game.