Thursday, August 28, 2008

Ruminations on Russia

I suppose that is a $10 word. This usage of "rumination" is from "ruminate" meaning "to meditate at length: MUSE". See below for more interesting meanings and usages.

China criticizes Russian actions in Georgia. So that's good-bye to Russia's delusion of Asian hegemony and Asian support.

Investors in Gazprom must be delusional to think they will ever see a dime from that company controlled by the Capone mob in Moscow.

Speaking of the "Russian economy", is there anything else significant than the oil industry, Moscow and the government ? Since we are re-thinking that nation's outlook, perhaps we should cease optimistic expectations that Russia will evolve into a normal, free economy anytime soon. Fascist China is much broader and more diverse.

Regarding investments in Russia, I think the boxing maxim, "protect yourself at all times" applies. I have none except indirectly via whatever the Vanguard Emerging Market Fund holds. I was asked about those a few years ago and used the Al Capone analogy in saying "no" with humor. I think that still applies. Any Russian play is a short term trade.

Markets

With good durable goods numbers and a reasonable upward revision of GDP expected today, the recession-mongers have a long row to hoe. For city-slickers, that is an American slang for a lot of hard work. A "hoe" is an agricultural tool and using it is to hoe; one hoes a row of plants to get rid of weeds, etc. I suppose the Urban Dictionary can give another definition of "hoe" but that won't fit here.

Recent data indication housing is bottoming. An uptrend might commence anytime soon. But don't be a hero - the beefers can still make Ms. Market dance to any tune they wish, short term. Wait for good entries.

Word of the Day

"Ruminate" - verb [$10]
Ruminate means (intransitive) 1. to chew a cud; 2. to meditate at length: muse, not the alternative definition of "to chew a cud"; (transitive) to reflect or meditate on.
Sentence: Bunkerman ruminates about the US and world economic trajectory for quite a lot of time every week.

By the way, for any city-slickers, here is a bonus word: "cud"
"Cud" - noun [$10]
Cud means 1. food regurgitated from the first stomach of ruminant [e. g. a cow] and chewed again; 2. Somethings, as a quid of tobacco, suitable to be held in the mouth and chewed. I suppose bubble gum or chewing gum is another example of a "cud".
Sentence: I once tried chewing a cud of tobacco, but in modern setting not on a baseball diamond, getting rid of the juice was disgusting.

And another bonus word: "quid"
"Quid" - noun [$10]
Quid means a cut of something to be chewed, especially a plug of tobacco. Another usage is British slang for a pound sterling.
Sentence: I wonder if teeny-boppers chewing quids of bubble gum are representative of youthful Obama supporters, or is it activist college kids with their bongs ?

And another related bonus word for city-slickers:
"Ruminant" - noun and adjective [$10]
Ruminant means (noun) a hoofed, even-toed, usually horned mammal of the suborder Ruminantia, as a cow, sheep, goat, deer or giraffe, having a stomach divided into four compartments, and chewing a cud consisting of regurgitated, partially digested food; (adjective) 1. that chews a cud; 2. of or belonging to the Ruminantia; 3. Meditative: reflective
Sentence: My dog Sky can herd almost any domesticated ruminant; he's great with sheep and could do cattle, but we've never tried goats.

34 comments:

Bud said...

MBI


"great trade bunkerman"

Bunkerman said...

it's an investment - holding for $20

Bud said...

i had no idea what hoe meant....and have used that phrase forever

ditti cud

no doubt i'm a city slicker

Bud said...

uhh.....i always use 'road to hoe'....and i think media guys say it that way too


is that wrong??

Bunkerman said...

I think it's wrong in general, perhaps a word slippage from a "long road to go".

But I see the phrase used in a parody or pun in an old Martin Van Buren political cartoon from 1840 on the Internet.

"Row to Hoe" is correct.

Bunkerman said...

Hmm that word "cud" might be useful describing some of Obama's political ideas - puked up old Bolshie slop.

;-)

Bunkerman said...

OED says "how to row" is correct and quite old with many variations.

Another related metaphor:

alternative to telling someone to mind own business, "Hoe your own row!"

Bunkerman said...

ooops typo alert - "hoe to row" is correct

Bunkerman said...

some "recession" - 3.3% GDP growth.

Bunkerman said...

Inflation ?

The price index for gross domestic purchases, which measures prices paid by U.S. residents,
excluding food and energy prices, increased 2.2 percent in the second quarter, the same increase as in the first quarter.

2.2% is good.

Bunkerman said...

Stagnation thesis is wheezing ... dying.

Just a mid cycle slowdon so far.

An "adjustion" to high oil prices and a "rich man's panic"

mfl59 said...

mern!!!! where are you sir? i know you don't believe the GDP number....

Bunkerman said...

Q1 final GDP is +0.9% - need quite a huge revision to get that number negative, but ...

Bunkerman said...

staggerlee is at risk of being stillborn.

Bunkerman said...

lolol Pakistan knows how to deal with shorts ... decreed prices are not allowed to go down below yesterday level

LMAOOOOOOOOOO

Bunkerman said...

that's a super-uptick rule

roflmaoooooooo

Bud said...

karachi stock exchange.......that is f'ng hilarious !!!!!!!!!!!!!


LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


uptick rlue indeed

Frosty said...

Spin MIA...hanging with his new best friend, DUG my guess...ever since he installed the home doppler radar like casper...perhaps pimping new $7 KSS golf shirts around scranton, either way no time for bunker boys.

Bunkerman said...

Interesting ... OED has a quote from Davy Crockett saying that to oppose Andrew Jackson would be "a long row to hoe."

Spin-em said...

Huggy Bear.."which row da hoes?"

Frosty said...

Bunky what we selling

Bud said...

is Arod the best player in baseball right now??


he could be......hank got him locked for 9 more years in pinstripes


'congrats spin'

Bunkerman said...

if MBI goes to 20, it's sayonnara.

Otherwise I'm holding all to the big move up.

;-)

Bunkerman said...

oh, and JPM can have my WM at 8 anytime.

mfl59 said...

anyone have the yankee scores form the last 2 nights? thanks in advance...

GO Scarlet Knights go!!!!

Spin-em said...

that aint right......








fine....LETS GO METS!!!!!!

ROFL

mfl59 said...

lmaoooooooooo......come on sir....

Spin-em said...

I dont kick em in the nads when their down like "The good sportsman " here


I choose not to run sirs

mfl59 said...

fair enough sir....the scarlet knights hat is in the mail...

Frosty said...

DELL ppffttt...I can fashion a fine PC from a turnip using my big tools...MIT indeed.

Spin-em said...

Scarlet Knights are goin down like one of fun Bobby's skankola's

LOOOOOOOOOOOOL

Bud said...

the yankees win!!!!! the yankees win!!!!


what a gutsy gritty team they are......they may be the best team in baseball


LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Spin-em said...

ya got 2 rings rat...dont forget the other 100 years...Billy Buckner

bet ya puked your daiquiri that night

LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Spin-em said...

prolly burned your Zuba pants

if you were in the country back then.......


LMAOOOOOOOO