Day: February 23, 2008

Categories
Chinese articles Politics

我说美国大选: I

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Last Updated on June 26, 2022 by stlplace

来美国已有十年, 美国大选也经历了三届. 从两千(1999)年的布什, 戈尔佛罗里达选举大战, 到最后最高法院介入. 套用我前同事的话, 最高法院(注意: 不是老百姓)选了布什.

2004年, 民主党想夺回白宫, 不少仁人志士跃跃欲试, 参与初选.

先是狄恩(HOWARD DEAN), 这老兄本是医科出身, 偶然的机会参政, 任美国东北部佛蒙特州长十余年, 倒是把这个东北农业州治理得井井有条. 想必也与医生出身, 做事理性务实有关. 他在任内最主要成就, 是实现了州财政盈余. 要知道在他当政之前该州多年财政赤字. 言归正传, 狄兄作为小州的州长, 虽有政绩, 但是缺少资金和全国的名气. 他想到了一招, 用网络来传播他的施政纲领和筹款. 还记得MEETUP.COM, 这个(网上)组织聚会的网站, 当时的名气有点像现在的YOU TUBE. 不知道是DEAN和MEETUP是谁帮谁出了名, 结果是DEAN筹的款最多. IOWA(衣阿华)CAUCUS之前, 戈尔大哥也宣布支持DEAN. 看来民主党提名是非DEAN莫属. 民意调查也显示DEAN领先.

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Categories
Stocks

Two strikes on CROX

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Last Updated on July 25, 2008 by stlplace

Last two quarter earning report has dragged Crocs stock from $75 to around $25. Many analysts, bloggers, pundits, pretty-much-everybody-wears-shoes (and consequently knows the shoe business) think the stock price is reasonable now.

That is, assume Crocs can unload its massive $250 million inventory successfully. By success I mean they did not give it away to charity, or dump it to PayLessShoes.

Let’s forget the financial analysis, technical analysis for a minute, just think a shoe company attributes its very success to sophiscated supply chain management, got an F grade on it. A lot progress has made in global supply chain management in last 10 years: many great companies have cut inventory level down (think DELL?). Some Japanese car maker (Toyota) even tried Just-In-Time manufacturing (zero inventory). Oh well, one can argue they are mostly manufacturers not retailers. But Crocs has been mostly a manufacturer too.

The bottom line is Crocs got two strikes in a row, one more strike they are out.

(update Feb 25) I read this article about CROX from theStockMasters. Very funny article, but I don’t think CROX is a stock worthy of our long term portfolio.

Categories
Life Tips

Two tips to share

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Last Updated on February 24, 2008 by stlplace

This blog is mostly about finance and stocks, but I will share other intereting things as well. After all, life is more than making (or losing) money. (It’s about spending money as well 🙂

Wind shield stopped working in ice storm
It happened to me last Thurdsay, in ice storm The wiper quit working after working for a while. I did not panic but decided to take it into shop.

It turned out that the snow/ice freezed the connection joint of wiper (a.k.a, the “root” of wiper). The mechanic can feel the motor was very hot (poor guy, it tried so hard to rotate but got stuck by the ice). After clean up, I was ready to roll again.

Find clean rest-room in China
Find your nearest KFC or McDonald. Besides cleaness, it’s free which is not true in the public restroom (bathroom, powder room, lavatory) China 🙂

Categories
Shanghai Composite

Can value investing work in China market?

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Last Updated on February 23, 2008 by stlplace

USA today has an interesting article regarding Chinese investors (speculator more precise) learning a tough lesson in the domestic stock market. The article used two example to explain:

China stock exchange pic
(Picture source: USAtoday.com)

In October (2007), Wang, 45, invested $2,800 in a Beijing real estate firm, chosen, Wang explains, “because it’s called an ‘Olympic stock,’ and ought to do well.”
…
But now Wang’s beginner’s portfolio is down almost $1,000, over three times her previous monthly salary.
…

Example 2 (quote from the article) again:
…

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