Clipmarks | SDracourge's clips

Merrill Lynch Searching For Hitman

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 17:32:39 GMT

clipped by: SDracourge
clipper's remarks: I wonder if the conversation in the Merrill Lynch boardroom for the hiring of Blackrock CEO, Laurence Fink, went something like this:

Suit 1: We're fucked.
Suit 2: No, no, no... we're fucked.
Suit 1: You know someone is going to have to take care of O'Neal.
Head Suit: Yes, you're right. (sighs) Who do we know who can kill people?
Suit 1: Google.
Head Suit: No, no. Literally kill. With guns.
Suit 2: ... Blackrock?
Head Suit: Hmm... We could hire them, yes. That would take care of all our problems in accounting. Maybe even some of those sub-prime loan holders.
Suit 1: (points to the side of his head) Take... care?
Head Suit: Someone get me their number. Call Cheney and ask him. Do you think we should offer options in the package?
Suit 2: (looks down at quarterlies) No. Cash.

Clip Source: www.reuters.com

BOSTON (Reuters) - Merrill Lynch & Co Inc (MER.N: Quote, Profile, Research) has offered the post of chief executive to BlackRock Inc (BLK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) CEO Laurence Fink, CNBC television reported on Monday.

Nevertheless, investors and analysts see Fink as the antidote to Merrill's fixed-income problems. Considered to be a leading bond manager, Fink built BlackRock from scratch. Continued...

Tags: credit, finance, market, stock market, blackrock

Sites moved into a PageRank Goolag?

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:50:47 GMT

clipped by: SDracourge
clipper's remarks: Not that this is the first eerie thing that Google has done with its massive power over information control, but it certainly is attention-grabbing. The pravda from Google is that those who sell paid links mess with their search engine algorithms, therefore you should only participate in the official sanctioned, Googlegrad-approved AdWords program, a convenient and effective way to distribute money from your bank account into the stock value of GOOG, which as we know is good for the whole of the Internet.

Google is always looking out for the Internet's best interests.

Google is more than just a friend. Google is your mentor. Do not be seduced by the rotten bourgeois ideology of the warmongering capitalist blogger jackal! Google: We Won't Let You Make A Bad Link (TM).

See:

Clip Source: www.forbes.com

On Thursday, Web site administrators for major sites including the Washingtonpost.com, Techcrunch, and Engadget (as well as Forbes.com) found that their "pagerank"--a number that typically reflects the ranking of a site in Google (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people ) results for key search terms--had dropped precipitously according to Google Toolbar, a software program that tracks Google's assessment of a site.

Search engine marketer and blogger Rand Fishkin agrees that the pagerank shift was likely meant to send a message to link buyers and sellers. "Google has said in many conferences that this number isn't accurate, that it's a rough signal but shouldn't make any determination about a site," says Fishkin. "This is meant to be a more public way of saying,'we know what you're up to.'"

Tags: google, controversy, control, search engine, stock

Colbert & ComCent: In Like Flynn

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:51:40 GMT

clipped by: SDracourge
clipper's remarks: I have to give my respects to Comedy Central and the Colbert team for the brilliant strategy they've concocted in the Colbert for President bid. This will provide Colbert and ComCent with lampoonage of the presidential races the likes of which we have never seen in the history of ever. The last two elections were angry farces, this one may shape up to be a more engaging farce with Colbert there to skewer the candidates in a way they can't dodge and the Daily Show eyeballing the whole thing.

In a capacity as a show host, you can be snubbed by candidates who don't want to face the heat, but as a candidate they cannot help but face him during debates. I have no doubt that Colbert has no real wish to be president, but rather to force the candidates to deal with his "truthiness" as it were. Meanwhile, ComCent rakes in the ratings, Colbert makes his point and sells his books and we all get a good laugh... something we could use right about now.

I hope he makes it past South

Clip Source: blog.washingtonpost.com

In the Democratic primary, Colbert takes 2.3 percent of the vote -- good for fifth place behind Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (40 percent), Sen. Barack Obama (19 percent), former Sen. John Edwards (12 percent) and Sen. Joe Biden (2.7 percent. Colbert finished ahead of Gov. Bill Richardson (2.1 percent), Rep. Dennis Kucinich (2.1 percent) and former Sen. Mike Gravel (less than 1 percent).

He was less lucky in the Republican field, where he took less than 1 percent of the vote behind even longshot candidates like Reps. Tom Tancredo and Ron Paul. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani led the Republican field with 29 percent, followed by former Gov. Mitt Romney at 12 percent, former Sen. Fred Thompson (11 percent) and Sen. John McCain (10 percent).

"It's clear that Colbert's truthiness image and 'I am America' message has serious resonance among Democrats," said Neil Newhouse, a POS partner.

Tags: colbert, president, vote, election, elections, republicans, democrats

More Pagan Than Pagan

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 13:55:56 GMT

clipped by: SDracourge
clipper's remarks: I live next door to a church. Really, I could throw a rock from our balcony and hit the steeple... not that I am suggesting anything. Anyway, the church provides endless hilarity as I drive past it to get to my parking lot, what with its Harvest Festival pumpkins festooning their lawn and large banner advertising the harvest season. I suspect this vaguely pisses off all the pagans, though really they should be used to having their holidays hypocritically pilfered from them ever since Yule went the way of Christmas. I wonder what would happen if I went over there with a magic marker and decorated their pumpkins with pentacles...

Well, it seems I'm not the only one to live near enough to a church to notice this happy irony:

Clip Source: mycropht.wordpress.com

*Am I the only one amused at all of the various religious places that have Harvest Festivals in lieu of celebrating Halloween? I mean, from the perspective of a person who has spent the majority of her life in comparative religious study I think I can safely say that Harvest Celebrations have just as much of a pagan root as Halloween–perhaps more so. It’s sort of like saying “I won’t celebrate Blessed Virgin Day, but I’ll celebrate Beltaine.”

Tags: christianty, church, halloween, christian, pagan, wiccan

Google to make Wifi-enabled mobile voice-over-IP phones?

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:14:00 GMT

clipped by: SDracourge
clipper's remarks: Google is buying up broadcast frequencies, mobile Internet-capable data centers, cell phone tech and pressed the government for rights to provide "Free wifi for everyone". I think they're gearing up to make mobile VOIP phones using wifi technology.

Clip Source: www.informationweek.com

Google Wins Patent For Data Center In A Box; Trouble For Sun, Rackable, IBM?

Granted to Google inventors William Whitted and Gerald Aigner, the patent also covers a method for deployment that includes building one module within a ready-to-ship container, shipment via a transport infrastructure, several computing systems mounting within the container and transporting the container to a new site via the infrastructure. Finally, it states that deployment will involve connecting at least one resource connection -- like electricity, natural gas, water and Internet access -- to at least one module.

If this sounds familiar, it might just be. Google's patent description resembles Sun Microsystems' data center in a box, called Project Blackbox. During its debut last year, Sun installed a Blackbox -- essentially a cargo container for 18-wheelers -- outside of Grand Central Station in New York City to show how easily one of their data centers could be installed.

Tags: google, phone, cell phone, cell phones, cellphone, technology, communication

Cell Phone Wars, Episode IV

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 15:48:05 GMT

clipped by: SDracourge

Clip Source: www.thestreet.com

Nokia (NOK - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr - Rating) jumped into the navigation game Monday with a $8.1 billion cash deal for digital map maker Navteq (NVT - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr - Rating).

The acquisition gives Nokia a host of mapping and navigation services including Navteq's traffic.com site, a live traffic report system. The move adds to pressure building on Navteq customer Garmin (GRMN - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr - Rating). But shares in both Nokia and Navteq fell in early trading Monday as well.

Investors say Garmin is suddenly looking at a squeeze among its map data suppliers. In July, Garmin rival TomTom offered to pay $2.5 billion for Tele Atlas, the map maker for outlets like BlackBerry maker Research in Motion (RIMM - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr - Rating), MapQuest and Google (GOOG - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr - Rating).

RIMM uses mapping data from closely held TeleNav, a Navteq rival.

Tags: cell phone, rimm, grmn, nok, nokia, cell, phone, cellphone, cell phones

First Solar Wins on Analyst Target Hike

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 15:44:43 GMT

clipped by: SDracourge

Clip Source: www.247wallst.com

Analyst coverage on First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) has been updated by Sanjay Shrestha, Managing Director, Senior Analyst, Alternative Energy & Industrials at Lazard Capital Markets:

Today Lazard has maintained its Buy rating on First Solar shares, although the research note discusses a higher target and higher estimates: price target raised from $115 to $125, which reflects 30x modestly raised 2010E EPS of $5.00 and discounted back 20% for a year.

First Solar recently announced the signing of 625MW of long-term contracts worth approximately $1.1 billion between 2007 and 2012; FSLR now has visibility on 2.8GW or about $5.5 billion in sales or average annual sales visibility of 565MW per year till 2012. This research note follow's last week's news that it was building a new plant in Malaysia and follows last week's note on how the company was a beneficiary of quarter-end Window Dressing. Shares are actually up about 4% at $123.00 after the open.

Tags: fslr, solar power, solar, energy, alternative energy, environment

Medical Companies Give Doctor Kickbacks, Gives US Gov't Theirs...

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:04:49 GMT

clipped by: SDracourge
clipper's remarks: Just keep in mind, dear consuming public, that your health and safety is worth $311 million dollars to the government. In the scheme of things, that's nothing. The doctors got their kickbacks, now the government has their's. No harm, no foul... right? Capitalist healthcare at work!

Clip Source: investing.reuters.co.uk

Zimmer Holdings (ZMH.N: Quote, Profile , Research),Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N: Quote, Profile , Research) unit DePuy Orthopaedics, Smith & Nephew (SN.L: Quote, Profile , Research) and Biomet (BMET.O: Quote, Profile , Research) will pay civil settlements and avoid criminal prosecution by agreeing to reforms, said U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie in New Jersey.

NEWARK, New Jersey, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Four medical device implant makers will pay about $311 million and agree to federal monitoring and other reforms to settle a government probe into improper consulting contracts with surgeons, prosecutors said on Thursday.

Tags: healthcare, health, medicine, medical, insurance, corruption, legal

Company refuses Viagra, Men Strike...

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:45:45 GMT

clipped by: SDracourge
clipper's remarks: You know, if women did this until companies agreed to pay for their orgasms, the world would be a much better place.

Clip Source: www.bloomberg.com

Sept. 27 (Bloomberg) -- The United Auto Workers union soon might find itself in the unaccustomed position of battling its own members and retirees over reimbursements for everything from Viagra to angioplasty.

Two years ago, when GM was pushing the UAW to reduce health-care costs, the co-payment for the impotence drug Viagra and some other medicines rose to $18 from $15. Maybe the UAW ought to reclassify the blue pill as ``entertainment'' for purposes of medical reimbursement.

Tags: viagra, sex, insurance, medical, labor, work, medicine

Oil Industry's terminal illness becomes more apparent...

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 20:02:18 GMT

clipped by: SDracourge
clipper's remarks: Well, there is only so much oil, and we aren't slowing down are consumption even a little. I'd think that the coughing sputtering deaths of some of the smaller big oil companies is inevitable, being as how they aren't making any more crude.

But everyone will panic, of course, and act all surprised in the market. *GASP!* You mean that there ISN'T ENOUGH OIL to support the industry infinitely? SELL! SELL! SELL!

Well, go on... go look at your portfolio. I know you want to.

Clip Source: www.marketwatch.com

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Chevron Corp. on Wednesday announced plans to buy back up to $15 billion in stock as the energy giant moved to return to shareholders some of its windfall from higher oil prices.

Meanwhile, No. 1 oil firm Exxon Mobil (XOM:

exxon mobil corp com

News, chart, profile, more

Last: 92.28+0.32+0.35%
2:37pm 09/26/2007
Delayed quote data

Add to portfolio
Analyst
Create alert

Insider
Discuss
Financials

Government orders 18 million Anthrax vaccine doses...?

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 19:52:29 GMT

clipped by: SDracourge
clipper's remarks: I guess... this is... good. But, I seem to remember that the anthrax mail scare ultimately came to nothing... right? So what is this about? WHAT DO YOU KNOW, BUSH?!

Clip Source: news.moneycentral.msn.com

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. won a three-year contract worth up to $448 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to beef up the national stockpile of a vaccine for anthrax.

The company said it anticipates delivering a third of the doses, or 6 million, by the end of the year.

Tags: anthrax, disease, vaccine, government, us, terrorism, terrorists

Corporate Eavesdropping... Here! Now! On Sale!

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 19:45:14 GMT

clipped by: SDracourge
clipper's remarks: You knew it was coming. Now it's here. You can talk on the phone for free as long as you're willing to let a corporation listen in to your conversations for profit. You don't really need to talk that badly, but I know you will...

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

The trade-off is that Pudding Media is eavesdropping on phone calls in order to display ads on the screen that are related to the conversation. Voice recognition software monitors the calls, selects ads based on what it hears and pushes the ads to the subscriber’s computer screen while he or she is still talking.

“We can never obtain too much information from the targets, and I would love to get my hands on that information,” said Jonathan Sackett, chief digital officer for Arnold Worldwide, a unit of the advertising company Havas. “Still, it makes me caution myself and caution all of us as marketers. We really have to look at the situation, because we’re getting more intrusive with each passing technology.”

Mr. Maislos said that during tests he noticed that the content had a tendency to determine conversations.

“The conversation was actually changing based on what was on the screen,” he said. “Our ability to influence the conversation was remarkable.”

Tags: privacy, technology, media, phone, tech, legal

The Flat-Chested Truth

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 19:24:45 GMT

clipped by: SDracourge
clipper's remarks: So it seems that with new advances in technology, men have gotten more lazy while women have gotten more stressed. Ah, men...

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Two new research papers, using very different methods, have both come to this conclusion. Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers, economists at the University of Pennsylvania (and a couple), have looked at the traditional happiness data, in which people are simply asked how satisfied they are with their overall lives. In the early 1970s, women reported being slightly happier than men. Today, the two have switched places.

Mr. Krueger’s data, for instance, shows that the average time devoted to dusting has fallen significantly in recent decades. There haven’t been any dust-related technological breakthroughs, so houses are probably just dirtier than they used to be. I imagine that the new American dustiness affects women’s happiness more than men’s.

Government policy isn’t the only problem, either. Inside of families, men still haven’t figured out how to shoulder their fair share of the household burden. Instead, we’re spending more time on the phone and in front of the television.

Tags: gender, feminism, women, men, work, labor, research

Apple is served by an iJudge.

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 18:49:13 GMT

clipped by: SDracourge
clipper's remarks: What the heck is going on here? Some random reason to bring down the APPL.O stock from its soaring post-iFone high?

Clip Source: investing.reuters.co.uk

Judge to order Apple to show option records--paper

Tue Sep 25, 2007 10:06 PM BST

LOS ANGELES, Sept 25 (Reuters) - A California judge plans to order Apple Inc (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) to turn over company board-meeting minutes and records relating to stock options accounting to an investor, according to a newspaper report on Tuesday.

California Superior Court Judge Jack Komar in a hearing on Monday said he plans this Friday to order Apple to turn over the documents, dating from 1997 to the present, to the Boston Retirement Board, a shareholder, the San Jose Mercury News said in a report.

Komar denied the group's bid to get documents related to the iPod maker's internal investigation into options back-dating and said any documents turned over would be subject to a protective order barring disclosure to any other parties.

A representative for Apple could not be immediately reached for comment.

Tags: appl, apple, market, technology, tech, stocks, stock, stock market, ipod