Friday, September 25, 2009

Life as an Anachronism

G20: 20x garbage in, garbage out. What a contrived media event ! Boob bait for the bubbas. L'appât ballot des nigauds ... L'appât nigaud des ballots ... L'appât bête des imbéciles. I need to work out how to say that in other languages.

I am a Luddite. I don't Twitter, I don't do text messages. I don't accept cell phone calls (unless pre-arranged). I cook food. I fix things myself. I know how to use tools, and do use them. I prefer paying cash for anything under $100. I don't go to the movie theater. I drink hard liquor on ice, red wine and real beer - no sweetened, "light" beverages.

I like fried eggs, Spam, Valveeta cheese, McDonald's food, big, rare steaks, homemade apple pie, hardtack with peanut butter & jelly, MREs, and turnips.

I read books - physical books, not electronic. I read newspapers - both physical and online. I read magazines - in paper. Mostly I read non-fiction, but lately I've been reading well-known classic works of fiction.

I'm trying to learn a foreign language as an adult - six, actually: French, German, Polish, Italian, Spanish and Latin. So far it's working. The human mind is the greatest tool by far.

I lift weights - the real, iron weights; practice boxing and knife fighting; and shooting all types of firearms.

I don't watch much TV. Everything I know about 21st century "new modernity" comes from South Park.

I have four dogs as pets - and I treat them as important parts of the family, not as stuffed animals or slaves.


I think the controlling ruling classes is the principal political problem to be solved. I want maximal freedom for the common man, and tight controls on antics of the rich & powerful - the ruling classes. I am neither a Republican nor a Democrat. I am a Populist Libertarian.


Modern life hasn't changed much in its large scale structures since 1925. Read "Main Street" by Sinclair Lewis. Watch "Thoroughly Modern Millie". The social issues facing people aren't much different.


With a few exceptions, no good music has been written since December 31, 1947 and no truly good recording has been made December 31, 1954.


I walk through a mall perhaps once a year and see so much crap I can't imagine ever wanting to buy.

I like movies with happy endings.

Fine, call me an anachronism. I admit it. I like the old ways better.

PS: Mrs. B points out correctly that I am using a computer to proclaim myself as a Luddite - a bit of inconsistency. I am modernizing the use to mean a rejection of superfluous equipment, machinery and software that mostly distracts from real, physical life: nintendo, video games, gameboys, wii, cell phones, Twittering, texting, on and on and on.

Actions

It's good I listened to my fears and the warning of an astute commentor by selling RIMM. It got crushed last evening after reporting disappointing numbers, particularly its gross margins. That probably reflects the high defect and return rate. Not good - that makes for poor word of mouth as consumers do talk.

Otherwise I am sitting and waiting. No changes in my thinking ... yet.

Word of the Day

"Dolorous" - adjective [$10] literary or jocular
Dolorous means 1. distressing, painful; doleful, dismal; 2. distressed, sad.
Sentence: Looking across the human landscape of the world, I feel dolorous that so much human capital is being wasted on so much nonsense.

60 comments:

Bud said...

LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Bman



this post has to go in the hall of fame



PS........no good music since 54........ummmm................Bman what about neil diamond?........one of the all time greats

Bud said...

G20 is a joke..............and our bootlip president apologizing to every other leader............he's a disgrace

Bud said...

does kevin warsh read this blog ??


in his op-ed in wsj today ............'panic of 2008'

mfl59 said...

"anachronism"

wow Bman must be taking an SAT prep course chucking out words like that...

mfl59 said...

Bman perhaps you should give Jon Krakauer's book "Where Men Win Glory" about the life of Pat Tillman....Tillman's philosophy to life sounds similar to yours...to expand his mind and body to its utmost limits...the "polymathic path", if you will.....

mfl59 said...

Bud any "locks" for the weekend?

Did you see how Rutgers fought off a valiant Florida International squad last week? very very impressive indeed...

Bunkerman said...

Neil Diamond has a crappy voice and can't play an instrument.

Bunkerman said...

hmmmm maybe I am thinking about Neil Young.

I've heard of Neil Diamond, but can't place a song of his.

Bunkerman said...

haha, anachornism is engraved on my brain.

Bunkerman said...

oops anachronism.

If anyone is re-incarnated, it's me.

Bud said...

ummmmm.............we are already 1-0 for the weekend ( now 3-1 on thursday night)................head ball coach delivered big last nite................gamecox have a D


you didn't get that pick ace ??? aaaaaww shucks..........that's too bad

mfl59 said...

must have been a private email...

mfl59 said...

is it me or does Obama walk like Vinny Barbarino?

Bunkerman said...

lol, mfl, you mean he has "rhythm" ?

Spin-em said...

lmaooooooooooooooooooo

Who???.....What??....Wherya??

Baaaaar--baaaaar-baaaar-------baaaar--baaar--baarino


I think he walks more like Washington...Mr Koterrre

Spin-em said...

Bunk doesnt know Vinny...only South Park.....pfffttt...Who is this Neil Diamond fellow??....ceo of HWD??

Frosty said...

Bunky...please post any panic sales...thanks in advance.

Bunkerman said...

ooops I got confused with Travolta in Saturday Night fever ... that was made in the 1970s.

And I did see a few episodes of Welcome Back, Kotter long, long ago.

My lifestyle wasn't well entrenched until the 1980s.

Bunkerman said...

panic sales ?

Qui moi ?

I am a rock. Je suis un roc.

Spin-em said...

your right ....Vinny,Tony....same walk Bunk..lol

Bunkerman said...

hmm guess I owe frosty a helmet with a RIMM

Mikey said...

when i see the president i can visualize Will Smith playing his life story....and he wouldn't have to chang his ears

Bunkerman said...

Mrs. B has a good point ... I am using a computer to say I'm a Luddite.

OK, I'm modernizing the word to mean a rejection of superfluous silly modern equipment like video games, nintendo wii, cell phones, pagers, etc.

Ooops, and it's Twitter, not Tweeter. Too much Bugs Bunny & Daffy Duck, I guess.

Mikey said...

change not chang

Spin-em said...

Luddite-ish..lol....Hi Mrs B!!!

Frosty said...

Bunky...a rimm badge on the umemployment helmet will be fine...a battle ribbon perhaps...I dumped rimm common ah and cashed 3/4 of the puts this morning...we take another look 65.

mfl59 said...

Great trade Bob!!!!

Bunkerman said...

hmmm .. neoluddite or paraluddite sound a lot better.

Maybe I need a Greek combining form for "modern" ?

Bunkerman said...

yeah, that 13 points includes a whole lotta high fives & danke veilmals..

Bunkerman said...

but who's counting ... I want all to make oodles of money however it can be done (legitimately).

Bunkerman said...

hmm the sausage bin is empty ... going to the euro-sausage maker for some Baurenwurst for breakfasts and maybe some smoked Polish sausage for a pizza.

Bud said...

luddite ?? i have no idea what these words mean

here's a word i would use...............phony


why ?? a beefer university educated rich man with rich tastes 'pretending' to be a common simple man with old west values..................ya..........phony fits just fine

mfl59 said...

Bunkerman may I suggest a nice piece of Polish kielbasa? grill it just right...a little German sauerkraut.....oh man...pure heaven...

Bunkerman said...

Bud, savez-vous ce que veut signifie, "imbécile" ?

Bunkerman said...

Hmmm sounds good mfl... maybe this place has good sauerkraut ...

Bunkerman said...

oops, quick change-over left an extrea word in ...

Bud, savez-vous ce que signifie, "imbécile" ?

lolol I suppose one can guess the meaning of that without knowing French, from the first & last words.

;)

mfl59 said...

Bud may I please get a handicap update? Thanks in advance...

Bunkerman said...

I found some mild champagne sauerkraut from Germany as the euro-sausage store.

To use per mfl suggestion with the smoked Polish sausage. Salivating ...

Bud said...

DRAM



nailed it !!!!........almost a stick on an overnite trade............is that an inflied single Bman ????



danke vielmals jim !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bud said...

why you so concerned about my handicap ?? are you scared ???


relax ace..........i won't take your money away from you................we'll play for a couple smirnoff ice's.............i am sure you can afford that.............just follow my college pix

Bud said...

listen bob

nobody............and i mean NOBODY !!!!

gives an F what you did last nite afterhours or what you did this morning with your stupid puts ............post the trades in advance or shut the F up..........retroactive douchebag




PS.....still wanna be friends ???

mfl59 said...

hey Bud thanks for posting that DRAM trade last night...much appreciated...

Bunkerman said...

hey, I was interested in how frosty was playing that.

Was thinking about re-buy, didn't, but was wondering where it might be interesting again if the fundies are OK.

not everyone is a flipper.

Frosty said...

Bunky...seeing any real buyers...fat al stacking flapjacks today.

Bunkerman said...

bot more MT

New buy in Fido: CLF.

mfl59 said...

what is your thesis on steel stocks Bunkerman?

Bunkerman said...

uh ... return to normalcy.

CLF as it might get taken over; I like BHP but its a buyer.

Bunkerman said...

add to COF in Fido.

Spin-em said...

thanks Bunk...you take it easy...have a buuuteeful weekend

Bunkerman said...

sheesh, Blabberg touting a Harvard game.

mfl59 said...

way to pounce Bunkerman....real buyers do it on the dips....

That kielbasa idea sounded pretty good...I'll be heading to see my boy tomorrow at the local butcher store to pick some up...enjoy Bman!!!

Bunkerman said...

thanks, should be a good weekend here.

Bud said...

BLDP


nailed it !!!!!!!! 50cents in minutes..........he frosty ....can you help me....what % is that ?? i can't figure it out.........ya'know..........since i 'ain't too bright'



danke vielmals jim!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bud said...

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz




gettin bored ace ??? yeah??..........good !!!! traitor.....deserter.......judas........benedict arnold

mfl59 said...

hey way to go Bud...thanks for posting BLDP earlier...I couldnt have done it without you...

Bud said...

do i really need to post those in advance here ??? really ???

you mean to tell m you ain't ......uhhhhh......how shall i say it.........'monitoring'.........sharkinvesting.com ?? really ?? you ain't ????


sell that shit somewhere else

Bud said...

speakin of sharkinvesting.com.................what a week!!!!......holy smokes............dozens and dozens of winners............or as the Bman calls them ............blip hits


let's see now...........a dozen blip hits...........that sounds like a pretty big inning to me Bman


no doubt about it............sharkinvesting.com easily the best place on the web for winning stox

Bud said...

e-mini account...............i'm a novice...........a rookie....a neophyte

but...so far so good........those things are f'ng nuts.........learning every day.........i been watchin the spoos for over 10 years so i am coming with a little background

but as with any trading vehicle..........money management and discipline are the most important attributes



PS......hey frosty...........would you like me to private email you my 'ops expo open interest spreadsheet' ????

Bud said...

have a great weekend Bman !!!!



go crimson.................beat brown

Bunkerman said...

yes, a dozen blips is a few runs.

Merci beaucoup.

Yes, Go Crimson, crush those brownies.

We used to smash them in rugby. They really stunk.