Even after the constant onslaught from the right on the value of the dollar. How the sky is falling and oil will be 120 a barrel and hyperinflation will cause gold to go to 3000 an ounce. Look where we sit today. I look for interest rates to fall even further these next 6 months. I think shorting gold may be a good play here. I'm still long on bank stocks and shorting makes me too nervous, but I see clear sailing ahead. I know all of you are happy the stimulus worked. After all, we're all happy our country isn't staring into the abyss we were two years ago................ right. You guys can stop stockpiling the guns. It's morning in America, we dodged last night's storms.

When there is a job out there for me (college degree, plenty of experience, ability to live wherever) then I'll consider it a break in the storm.

On a less personal level, when we stop the deficit spending, I'll consider the storm to be waning.

I was thinking about a poll. Are you better off today then you were in 2008? I wonder how the spin room has fared. Personally, I am better off today.

(05-18-2010 06:32 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  I was thinking about a poll. Are you better off today then you were in 2008? I wonder how the spin room has fared. Personally, I am better off today.

I can absolutely say I am not better off today...I drew 19 weeks of unemployment last year and 7 thus far this year. I drew none in 2008. Our industry has not recovered from the housing bubble bust.

I see no reason to be optimistic in any fashion. I guess if I had a government job...I might see things differently.

(05-18-2010 06:32 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  Are you better off today then than you were in 2008?

No.

(05-18-2010 06:14 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  I look for interest rates to fall even further these next 6 months.

Rationally, how can you justify why are interest rates low now, and why do you think they will fall?

(05-18-2010 06:32 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  Are you better off today then you were in 2008?

No. I was laid off and had to take a job that pays about half of what I used to make and has no benefits (I'm a heart patient) On June 1, my wife will close her business of 26 years due to the decline in the construction industry. We have a house payment of almost $4k and it costs us $1k for medical insurance and we spend another $500 on medications each month (my wife and kid are both severe asthmatics)

Unless Obama's home saving program works (and it doesn't) and his healthcare plan adopts me and mine real fast we'll probably lose the house and most of the stuff in it. As it stands right now, I have to sell my cherished stereo to help make ends meet. Anyone want a good deal on a pair of MBL speakers that retailed for $27k or the amp that goes with it for $23k? I'll be lucky to get $15k for both.

Edit: Mach, I happy for you that you're doing well. And welcome back.

(05-18-2010 09:42 PM)I45owl Wrote:  

(05-18-2010 06:14 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  I look for interest rates to fall even further these next 6 months.

Rationally, how can you justify why are interest rates low now, and why do you think they will fall?

I'm guessing he doesn't understand the relationship between interest rates and rate of return for the people actually providing the capital. You can drop interest rates to 0. Great, right? Ok, who's going to provide the capital?

(05-18-2010 09:43 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(05-18-2010 06:32 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  Are you better off today then you were in 2008?

No. I was laid off and had to take a job that pays about half of what I used to make and has no benefits (I'm a heart patient) On June 1, my wife will close her business of 26 years due to the decline in the construction industry. We have a house payment of almost $4k and it costs us $1k for medical insurance and we spend another $500 on medications each month (my wife and kid are both severe asthmatics)

Unless Obama's home saving program works (and it doesn't) and his healthcare plan adopts me and mine real fast we'll probably lose the house and most of the stuff in it. As it stands right now, I have to sell my cherished stereo to help make ends meet. Anyone want a good deal on a pair of MBL speakers that retailed for $27k or the amp that goes with it for $23k? I'll be lucky to get $15k for both.

Edit: Mach, I happy for you that you're doing well. And welcome back.

wait, you spent 50 grand on sound equipment?

(05-18-2010 06:14 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  Even after the constant onslaught from the right on the value of the dollar. How the sky is falling and oil will be 120 a barrel and hyperinflation will cause gold to go to 3000 an ounce. Look where we sit today. I look for interest rates to fall even further these next 6 months. I think shorting gold may be a good play here. I'm still long on bank stocks and shorting makes me too nervous, but I see clear sailing ahead. I know all of you are happy the stimulus worked. After all, we're all happy our country isn't staring into the abyss we were two years ago................ right. You guys can stop stockpiling the guns. It's morning in America, we dodged last night's storms.

We are nor seeing strength in the dollar, but greater weakness in other currencies. There is a major difference. Strength in dollar to due to capital moving for a better economy a better return on capital is one thing, but moving to the dollar out of fear that what you have in your pocket in monopoly money (i.e. EURO/ greek dinari).

BTW, where does rt/left have to do with a belief in $2,000 - $3,000 gold? Talk about a straw man argument. There are MANY Obama supporters who see such crazy numbers as Obama opponents.

What you are seeing is China manipulating the money markets to prop up their party in the November elections.

(05-18-2010 10:14 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  

(05-18-2010 09:43 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(05-18-2010 06:32 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  Are you better off today then you were in 2008?

No. I was laid off and had to take a job that pays about half of what I used to make and has no benefits (I'm a heart patient) On June 1, my wife will close her business of 26 years due to the decline in the construction industry. We have a house payment of almost $4k and it costs us $1k for medical insurance and we spend another $500 on medications each month (my wife and kid are both severe asthmatics)

Unless Obama's home saving program works (and it doesn't) and his healthcare plan adopts me and mine real fast we'll probably lose the house and most of the stuff in it. As it stands right now, I have to sell my cherished stereo to help make ends meet. Anyone want a good deal on a pair of MBL speakers that retailed for $27k or the amp that goes with it for $23k? I'll be lucky to get $15k for both.

Edit: Mach, I happy for you that you're doing well. And welcome back.

wait, you spent 50 grand on sound equipment?

No, the above stuff is just for the speakers and amp. Then there's the CD transport, digital-to-analog converter $8k, $7k, Pre-amp, $7k, room correction system $6200, lap top to run the room correction system $1,100, speaker cables, $3,300, various interconnects, $2,500 or so, power cables $900 each (and I have a lot), custom equipment rack $2500, AC power conditioner $2500, accoustic treatment for the room $2000, extra pair of speakers just sitting around not being used $13,500. And then there's the cost of a few thousand CD's.

The good thing about the stereo is that, unlike my wife, I can turn it off.

(05-18-2010 10:55 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(05-18-2010 10:14 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  

(05-18-2010 09:43 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(05-18-2010 06:32 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  Are you better off today then you were in 2008?

No. I was laid off and had to take a job that pays about half of what I used to make and has no benefits (I'm a heart patient) On June 1, my wife will close her business of 26 years due to the decline in the construction industry. We have a house payment of almost $4k and it costs us $1k for medical insurance and we spend another $500 on medications each month (my wife and kid are both severe asthmatics)

Unless Obama's home saving program works (and it doesn't) and his healthcare plan adopts me and mine real fast we'll probably lose the house and most of the stuff in it. As it stands right now, I have to sell my cherished stereo to help make ends meet. Anyone want a good deal on a pair of MBL speakers that retailed for $27k or the amp that goes with it for $23k? I'll be lucky to get $15k for both.

Edit: Mach, I happy for you that you're doing well. And welcome back.

wait, you spent 50 grand on sound equipment?

No, the above stuff is just for the speakers and amp. Then there's the CD transport, digital-to-analog converter $8k, $7k, Pre-amp, $7k, room correction system $6200, lap top to run the room correction system $1,100, speaker cables, $3,300, various interconnects, $2,500 or so, power cables $900 each (and I have a lot), custom equipment rack $2500, AC power conditioner $2500, accoustic treatment for the room $2000, extra pair of speakers just sitting around not being used $13,500. And then there's the cost of a few thousand CD's.

The good thing about the stereo is that, unlike my wife, I can turn it off.

are all those things on top of the 50K, or included in it?

(05-18-2010 10:14 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  wait, you spent 50 grand on sound equipment?

If I had it, I would.

I wouldn't spend that much on 2 components of my system, but I could easily fork over that much for a stellar DVD/SACD/CD player, turntable, amp, 7.1 speaker system. . . and if I'm conservative (knowing me, I would be since I rarely buy big-ticket items) I could get a PS3 and B.A. HDTV too.

But, to each his own.

(05-18-2010 10:55 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  The good thing about the stereo is that, unlike my wife, I can turn it off.

To clarify, you're saying your wife doesn't know how to turn the stereo off, right?

Am I the only guy who gets the impression Mach makes posts like this primarily because he needs us to know how well he does playing the markets? One of the first lessons in finance I got from my dad was "never tell anyone how much money you make unless they have to know." I've always tried to obey that rule and usually get the creeps when I watch others violate it.

(05-18-2010 09:43 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(05-18-2010 06:32 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  Are you better off today then you were in 2008?

No. I was laid off and had to take a job that pays about half of what I used to make and has no benefits (I'm a heart patient) On June 1, my wife will close her business of 26 years due to the decline in the construction industry. We have a house payment of almost $4k and it costs us $1k for medical insurance and we spend another $500 on medications each month (my wife and kid are both severe asthmatics)

Unless Obama's home saving program works (and it doesn't) and his healthcare plan adopts me and mine real fast we'll probably lose the house and most of the stuff in it. As it stands right now, I have to sell my cherished stereo to help make ends meet. Anyone want a good deal on a pair of MBL speakers that retailed for $27k or the amp that goes with it for $23k? I'll be lucky to get $15k for both.

Edit: Mach, I happy for you that you're doing well. And welcome back.

Not trying to be an ******* here but are you serious? $27,000 for speakers? $4,000/month for a house? Good lord.

50 GRAND for an amp and speakers WTF...For once I agree with Robert. That's why your broke, live within your means and be prepared for the worst. I graduated school, have a good paying job, and I still drive the same POS 92 junker Buick Park Ave with 250,000 miles that my parents gave me after the engine/tranny in my truck blew up while I was in school back in 06. That alone has saved me 20+ grand over the last 4 years.

(05-19-2010 01:55 AM)wild bill Wrote:  50 GRAND for an amp and speakers WTF...For once I agree with Robert. That's why your broke, live within your means and be prepared for the worst. I graduated school, have a good paying job, and I still drive the same POS 92 junker Buick Park Ave with 250,000 miles that my parents gave me after the engine/tranny in my truck blew up while I was in school back in 06. That alone has saved me 20+ grand over the last 4 years.

I'm not going to fault the guy for making an investment in something that he is obviously passionate about. He wasn't complaining about having to give them up, just saying that he had to sell 'em to make ends meet.

He could afford it before, now he can't. It's no different than purchasing season tickets to FB games. Many can't justify donating $X0,000 just for the right to purchase $50/game/seat tickets, but people do it (probably an investment many on here would make if they could). And I'm sure many have sold their PSLs or tickets because of what has happened over the past 2+ years.

His quality of life has dropped, which answers Mach's question.

(05-18-2010 06:32 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  I was thinking about a poll. Are you better off today then you were in 2008? I wonder how the spin room has fared. Personally, I am better off today.

No, I will lose my low cost quality health insurance in a few years when my company has to drop it to compete with other companies doing the same, all because someone wanted more gubment. I will see a 200/mo. tax increase when "W's" tax cuts are allowed to expire by the dumbocrats. As for right now, nothing has really changed.