Valuing the Market

The Biggest Secret in the Stock Market By Bill Mann (TMF Otter) , August 30, 2004

So when someone comes out and says "the market is overvalued," or its opposite, be sure to set your garbage filter on "high." . . . . The person making this statement is still grossly overstating his or her knowledge. . . Such a statement presupposes that this manager's knowledge of every single sector of the stock market is complete. . . .Now, I'm not suggesting that folks suddenly change their standards to respond to the overall market's losing its mind one way or another. What I am suggesting is: Look harder. Look in new places. Look where no one else seems to be looking.

Mettle

Bush Acknowledges Iraq 'Miscalculation'

In an AP story reporting on an interview with President Bush,

President Bush said for the first time on Thursday he made a "miscalculation of what the conditions would be" after U.S. troops went to Iraq, The New York Times reported. The insurgency, he maintained, was the unintended result of a "swift victory" that led to Iraqi troops disappearing into the cities and mounting a rebellion.

That's the reward for winning the war too quickly? Great prize. The logic is sound, and admitting the mistake is honorable. In retrospect, the end (we're not there yet) would likely be the same although the means may have been different.

Bush also said,

The president has to make hard decisions. My job is to confront problems not pass them on. And the American people have seen me make the hardest of decisions. That's just going to have to be a part of their decision-making process.

Iraq was a festering zit that would eventually explode. Doing nothing is an easy choice, but it is not likely the best choice. In conclusion, Bush illuminated his unwavering determination when he discussed why he remains in politics.

There's a lot of my friends who come and bass-fish with me. They don't say it out loud, I know they're thinking it: Why?" Bush said. "And the answer is because the stakes are high. Because there is more work to be done to make the world a freer and more peaceful place. . . .I know what needs to be done, I see clearly where we need to go and I want to spend four years leading toward that goal.

Shine

I could not say this any better, so I am posting it as is with a citation:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson

Be there.

Satellite TV Gains in Race Against Cable One quote in this article rang dissonantly with me.

Goldman. . .particularly enjoys the DVR, which allows him to record multiple showings of a program his 3-year-old son loves. "That's extremely important when you have a kid that loves a certain cartoon and they may be in school or unavailable," he said. "You want to get them so they can watch that at some point in the day when you need a few minutes to yourself.

Too many people finds ways to avoid parenting and TV is numbing. Find better ways to entertain children or teach them to entertain themselves. Television, despite visual and audio stimulus requires no interactive participation. It is sedentary. You can find something better for you child to do!

As Groucho Marx said,

I find TV very educational. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.