A)
Videos clips relating to avariety of current topics.
B)
Graphs from a variety of sources that offer some clear cut data relating to current problems political, social, economic.
C)
Random notes: some useful stray data
which I may have picked up from a t.v. program,
- magazine, journal, newspaper, radio (whatever)
source and which I wanted to keep around. This is mostly for my convenience, but you are welcome to rummage.
D)
Glossary - an attempt to keep Laws, etc. sorted in my head. (This helps me too much to leave
- it this way. I will try to provide better explanations. The jargon could drive you crazy.) There are many and making sure which established which program or legal constraint on some key process or common activity is critical to me. This is mostly for my convenience, but you are welcome to rummage. Some of the definitions are really only reminders which I use to keep the titles and acronyms straight.
E)
Stock Inventory (with key characteristics for each TIC).
Every few months, in despiration, I do an inventory of the set of stocks in the accts. for which I buy/sell. It serves me well just keeping track, setting up columns to compare, and updating data - filched from my infamous RR spreadsheet and from a variety of info sources, especially Schwab and Scottrade.
- Note: I like the info presentation from Scottr. but dare not trust them with money! They repeatedly lost track of incredible amts. of cash/stocks in accts. and said silly things like, "Don't be concerned, we will sort it out"-- for a day or so! They always did?? But, the worst was over $200,000. Don't trust them with much, unless you like an adrenalin kick every once in a while).
Each version seems to be a bit different from the last. In part that's because I seem to need a moderately different set of specific characteristics to identify what might be a promising investment at the moment when the "inventory" is under construction,and in part because I shuffle things around looking for patterns. Nontheless, I am positive I should share it with you, AND share it in a manner that lets you use it.
Several of our group have tried to help me move such large Excel spreadsheets around and it is a tragedy reminiscent of Odyseus's life story. Sharing might be easy if everyone used the same version of MS Excel. That is NOT worth the time and trouble - really. But, this site may just unscramble the nonsense. It should be accessible HERE! If it works, you can call it to your pc via Netscape or I.E. and wander thru the info.
Stock-picking is not magic, but it is really difficult to get started. With very little pain this will help. One problem. If you are not familiar with the older versions, or if much of the jargon is new to you, you really need a walk thru with me to find stuff. I try to add functional labels, but------------? (Maybe if I could set it up in Esparanto?)
F)
Distinguishing between the National Debt and the Annual Budget Deficit- Washington Post.
BTW-the "Debt Ceiling" really has nothing to do with spending even one additional penny. The Debt Ceiling relates directly to money spent in the past (Our BILLS), and allowing our bills to be paid. Buffet just suggested it would be "dumb" to attempt not to raise the Ceiling and, thus, to refuse to pay our bills!! I think he's charming (and brilliant.)
Etc.)
Some aging lectures that target basic understanding of the global ecosystem.
- Getting the basics right makes a big difference when you try to sort out why certain political and social groups make certain demands.
Topics related to water are particularly relevant to current concerns over water shortages (U.S. agric., middle east oil), destructive contamination, dams (tens of thousands of drownings vs. ecological costs is not a simple trade-off in China), fisheries, ocean and coastal claims (esp. by China).
One, that has all sorts of intriguing facts that are universally mistated, is entitled, "Maps". Just knowing where the continents actually are really does help one understand all sorts of current, critical problems (and I bet you don't actually know - until some obvious positions are pointed out!! What say, John, think anyone would believe it?)
Material relating to global warming, and to population growth can help you understand why emerging martkets produce such a conundrum.
Some stuff is just there so I can find it at some future date (storage)!
For your convenience; i.e., another "nudge", let me know if you spot, or suspect, a problem, or if you have a suggestion that might just happen to help, or any old thing? If you click on my address, below, a blank e-mail should drop down.
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