Is house an assest or liability?

Own a house is a American dream. Many people think a house is an assets.
House equity is a piggy bank. I don't think so. If you have only one
house and you live there, even you paid off the mortgage, you still pay
for maintenance, painting, plumbing, tax, ... It's a liability :(

ConAgra Foods Q1 2014 Earnings Call

Today I listened to ConAgra Foods Q1 2014 Earnings Call to learn more
about this company and food industry.

Transcript:
http://seekingalpha.com/article/1703222-conagra-foods-management-discusses-q1-2014-results-earnings-call-transcript

Webcast:
http://seekingalpha.com/article/1691852-conagra-foods-inc-discusses-q1-2013-results-webcast

Will Janet Yellen be a next Federal Reserve Chair?

With Lawrence Summers withdrew from consideration to succeed Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, will Janet Yellen be a next Federal Reserve Chair? Will she do a good job as Allan Greenspan and Ben Bernanke?

Let see...

Minimum wage in California to be $10 an hour

Good. But ... it may be a reason many companies moved to other states
like Texas or Arizona. I'm afraid the job market will be more
competitive. I'm rather have a job with lower pay better than unemployment.

http://news.yahoo.com/california-senate-votes-raise-minimum-wage-10-2016-001949422--business.html

Realty Income Corp

It keep going down. Almost 52 week low. $39.58 down 28% from 52 high.

Why? What's happen? Is there any change in fundamental?

Microsoft Stock Up On the News that CEO Steve Ballmer to retire

On Friday, Aug. 23rd, Microsoft announced Steve Ballmer will retire
within a year. Its stock up 7.2%, closed at $34.75.

Last year, on Nov. 13, 2012, Steven Sinofsky suddenly left Microsoft.
MSFT dropped more than 5%.

Further reading:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/microsoft-ceo-steve-ballmer-to-retire-2013-08-23-91033834

http://buzz.money.cnn.com/2012/11/13/microsoft-stock-sinofsky/

Special Dividends

According to Wikipedia:

A special dividend is a payment made by a company to its shareholders that the company declares to be separate from the typical recurring dividend cycle, if any, for the company. Usually when a company raises its normal dividend, the investor expectation is that this marks a sustained increase. In the case of a special dividend, however, the company is signalling that this is a one-off payment. Therefore, special dividends do not markedly affect valuation or yield calculations. Typically, special dividends are distributed if a company has exceptionally strong earnings that it wishes to distribute to shareholders or if it is making changes to its financial structure, such as debt ratio.

Vincent Mao, Investor's Business Daily, in 'Department Store Dillard's Unveils Special Dividend'

With the tax rate on dividends possibly rising in 2013, many companies are announcing special dividends to spare shareholders from an increased tax burden.

Department store operator Dillard's (DDS) announced a special dividend late Monday of $5 a share. 

... 

Companies from Drew Industries (DW) to Las Vegas Sands (LVS) to TransDigm (TDG) recently have announced special dividends paid out this year, before taxes go up.

Read More At IBD: http://news.investors.com/investing-the-income-investor/112712-634797-dillards-announces-special-payout-to-shareholders.htm#ixzz2DUCgrtyF

AGNC and NLY

Just remove these stocks AGNC and NLY from my watch list. AGNC is not own a real property and just four years old. NLY performance is not good. I love dividend paying stocks but not these high yield stocks.

Romney will lose to Obama this November

I'm so disappointed with Mitt Romney when he picks Paul Ryan as his running mate. His first important decision that the voter can evaluate his judgment, his ability to run the White House is select the Vice Presidential candidate. To me, he made a mistake to not chose a woman as a running mate. He need women vote to win the election. He need minority vote to win the White House. He need to energy the people by something new.

You made a first mistake, Romney. You lost my vote today. Both Republican and Democrat are same shit :(

Vote all incumbents out!

Security deposit required by wireless company

I'm shocked to learn that AT&T Wireless required me to have security deposit on the fourth and fifth lines. Ten years ago I was with AT&T before switched to Verizon Wireless. I liked Verizon Wireless network and its customer service. However, Verizon is a most expensive. Thus, I move all five lines from Family Sharing account to AT&T Wireless. I never pay late any payment. I have very good credit that the bank love to lend me a lot of money. I could not understand why AT&T Wireless require customer put deposit? Five high-end smartphones less than $3000 is nothing to my mortgage, my car loans.

If a customer pay late, you cut off the phone. Same thing as the other utility companies: gas, electric, garbage disposal.

Require a good credit customer make a security deposit for the fourth and fifth lines in family sharing account is not reasonable. It's suck!

Who might be Romney's running-mate?

During the interview with CBS New few days ago, Mrs. Ann Romney hinted Mitt Romney might pick a woman as his running mate.

I guessed Mitt Romney will announce his choice sometime next week. Who will be? New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte or New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez.

Either one will be a good choice. She will help Mitt Romney to win the election.

Verizon Wireless should remove $30 upgrade fee

I'm waiting for Verizon Wireless to announce family data share plan. Instead I got this news "On April 22, Verizon Wireless is implementing a $30 upgrade fee for existing customers purchasing new mobile equipment at a discounted price with a two-year contract"

I disappointed. I did not use Verizon Wireless workshop, why I must pay $30? I did not call Verizon Wireless for support to use the phone, why I must pay $30?

Verizon Wireless should not follow the crowd to charge loyal customers the upgrade fee. Do Verizon Wireless learn any lesson from NetFlix, from Bank of America?

Drop the upgrade fee and introduce family data share plan ahead your competitors.

Dividend Stocks

With the interest rates is too low, it's make sense to invest in dividend stocks with a yield more than 3% such as Verizon (VZ), AT&T (T), Eli Lilly (LLY), ... Dividends is also a passive income.


How about Apple (AAPL)?

Buy American and Save Bucks

Found this writing on the Net. Re-post here.

Buy American and Save Bucks

This probably sounds crazy, but just yesterday I was in Wal-Mart looking for a wastebasket. I found some made in China for $6.99. I didn't want to pay that much so I asked the lady if they had any others. She took me to another department and they had some at 2.50 made in USA. They are just as good.

Same as a kitchen rug I needed. I had to look, but I found some made in the USA and they were 3.00 cheaper. We are being brain washed that everything that comes from China and Mexico is cheaper. Not so. That is also why I don't buy cards at Hallmark anymore. They are made in China and are expensive. I buy them at Dollar Tree.... 50 cents each and made in USA.

One Light Bulb at a Time

A physics teacher in high school, once told the students that while one grasshopper on the railroad tracks wouldn't slow a train very much, a billion of them would. With that thought in mind, read the following, obviously written by a good American ...

Good idea. One light bulb at a time...

Check this out. I can verify this because I was in Lowe's the other day for some reason and just for the heck of it I was looking at the hose attachments. They were all made in China .

The next day I was in Ace Hardware and just for the heck of it I checked the hose attachments there. They were made in USA. Start looking...

In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else - even their job. So, after reading this email, I think this lady is on the right track. Let's get behind her!

My grandson likes Hershey's candy. I noticed, though, that it is marked made in Mexico now. I do not buy it any more.

My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico... now I have switched to Crest. You have to read the labels on everything.

This past weekend I was at Kroger. I needed 60W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets.

I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off-brand labeled, " Everyday Value ." I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats they were the same except for the price . . .

The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in - get ready for this - the USA in a company in Cleveland , Ohio.

So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here.

So on to another aisle - Bounce Dryer Sheets... yep, you guessed it, Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada... The Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price!

My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA - the job you save may be your own or your neighbors!

If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American , one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from overseas companies!
(We should have awakened a decade ago...)

Let's get with the program and help our fellow Americans keep their jobs and create more jobs here in the USA.

Spam Text Message from 92466502

Few minutes ago, someone from 92466502 send me a text message. As usual, I ignored the strange message and blocked it using the tool from wireless company. Google 92466502, I found a lot complaints against this short code.

Netflix

When they raised the price, they lost customers. Lost customers means its stock goes South.

What's a mistake! How do they fix?

Which side of the fence?

Found this from internet. It make me laugh. So, repost here to share.

If you ever wondered which side of the fence you sit on, this is a great test!

If a Republican doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.
If a Democrat doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed. 

If a Republican is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat.
If a Democrat is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.

If a Republican is homosexual, he quietly leads his life. 
If a Democrat is homosexual, he demands legislated respect. 

If a Republican is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation. 
A Democrat wonders who is going to take care of him. 

If a Republican doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels. 
Democrats demand that those they don't like be shut down. 

If a Republican is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church. 
A Democrat non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced. 

If a Republican decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it. 
A Democrat demands that the rest of us pay for his. 

If a Republican reads this, he'll forward it so his friends can have a good laugh. A Democrat will delete it because he's "offended".

Jobs is a Key to Economic Recovery

Jobs is a key to economic recovery. Without jobs, people cannot spending. When people don't have money to spend, how can business can sell the house, the car, the TV, the smart phone, etc? When people have income, they can pay the tax, contribute to the church or other charity organization.

So, we need to create more jobs. The first step to create more jobs is stop sending jobs to oversea. Government need to reduce number of H1B visa. Stop offshore outsourcing.

There is no short of talents in technology as long as you are willing to hire and to train American citizens or residents.

HP

HP was one of my favorite company when I was in college thirty years ago. Now, this finest company was ruined by incompetent executive. I did not buy HP stock since Carly Fiorina left. I'm total agree with Jeff Reeves on his article posted on Marketwatch:
"Hewlett-Packard is everything that’s wrong with corporate America right now — stupidity, a lack of innovation, bloated operations and no leadership."
The original founders, board of directors and stockholders need to kick these incompetent executives out of the Hewlett-Packard. Yesterday, HP stocked down more than 6%. Today, downed more than 20%.

Just waiting for HP down to single digit, below $10.

H-P Shares Dive to 6-Year Low - WSJ.com

Protect your privacy data when looking for job

When I'm looking for job, I make up another new email for job searching. Why?

• Should my current employer know I'm looking for job? Note: Don't use your work email!
• To deter spam. My brand new email for job search start getting spam as soon as I signed up at a big, well known job listing web site. Sorry, I cannot disclose the name of this big and well know job listing web site.

Should I use my cell phone? No. I don't want the recruiters disturb me. I use my Google Voice. I love this free tool from Google.

Should I disclose my address? No. I don't want people using Google Maps or similar tools on the web to view my home. I let you know my city in general. That's enough.

Should I disclose my current salary? No. I don't want disqualify myself for a chance to talk to hiring manager.

Should I disclose my social security? No. Sent me the offer and I will release my social security if you need to do background check.

Should I disclose my driver license or identification number? Nope. Same reason as above.

As you know, 99% your job application will not read by hiring manager but data mining for marketing companies are reading. There, you get bulk of spam and naked on the web.