I am continuously amazed at how much of a control-freak Lucas is. That man is so anal retentive it is amazing. I am actually shocked that he never did take Francis Ford Coppola's advice and start a new religion based upon the idea of "The Force".
For me, what I love about rock is energy, pure and simple. That is their real talent to me. Some may surpass those blues musicians that you speak of in talent, and some play with the skill of a preschooler... but a great rock band has energy. They make you want to stand up, shake your fist and scream "Band at the time) Rules!!!"
Jazz, blues and R & B is what rock & roll came from. To complain that Rock has tampered with the purities of these music forms is sheer nonsense. Do you complain that the Blues has fouled up jazz, or that R & B has fouled up the Blues. Do you bitch that reggae ruined ska, or that punk ruined rock? Music is constantly going through cycles, evolving and meshing with other forms. It pisses me off when people try and get in the way of that process.
BTW I think today's Rock & Roll (in the pop culture) is completey dead. The bands that I see on MTV nowadays and hear on the radio are simply rehashing the same grunge basics from the early nineties. Personally, I think a fusion of heavy rock/glam bands would be great for the pop musical scene. I am sick of what is out there today.
The majority of the music that I now enjoy and listen to was derived not from the Beatles, but from the Kinks. The Beatles were good, but nothing that great came from them (Oasis..ha!)
I would have to say that the greates single moment in Rock & Roll History would be Bob Dylan going electric. This single act was more important than anything the Beatles ever did!
The Clash would have to be my favorite band ever. But I will tell you, The Who had a lot more influence on The Clash than The Beatles and Led Zepelin. The Who has to be one of the most under-rated bands out there at the moment. They were absolutely incredible, but you do not see them getting much credit at all in today's music press.
Well, Microsoft has seen this move to non-PC platforms quite a while ago. A lot of their press releases emphasize their intention of working with companies similar to 3com. With 27 billion dollars sitting in cash, Microsoft is going to be able to make a lot of friends in this area. That is just the sort of catalyst a lot of these smaller (well, when compared to Microsoft) are going to need to get their products out. And, low and behold, they will be coming out with MS OS's.
Yes, I absolutely agree. It is in Microsoft's best interest right now to see Linux succeed and gain market share. It is foolish to think that Microsoft really is running with its tail between its legs. They could crush Linux in one open scource swipe. One thing about geeks and nerds, is that they are idealists. You want the best product to succeed. Well, it rarely works this way. We all know plenty of better products that have failed miserably. Intel is doing the same thing with AMD!
Please pardon my ignorance, I'm not acting stupid. No, really, I'm not acting -:)
People really do this? I mean, give you a loan based on a potential for stock revenue? If I have you right, I can borrow money toward buying stocks, buy the stock, sell it right off the bat, pay back the loan (and the IRS:P) and shniv off with the profit?
*We only do it for employee option agreements though. That is important to realize. This is a case where you really are guaranteed to be able to pay off your loan.
In regular accounts, you are normally allowed to set up a margin account. This essentially allows you double the buying power of how much money you have in the account. So that is also, essentially a loan, but you do need to have some dough upfront for that.
But anyways... by all means, take advantage of any stock options your employer gives you!
People have to realize that the first out of the gates, is very unlikely to make it.
For example, let's say you got into the computer craze in 1984. You knew computers were going to change the world as we know it, and you wanted in on that action. Well here are a few of your choices at the time (see how many you can remember):
Apple, Atari, AT&T, Burroughs, Coleco, Columbia Data Systems, Compaq, Digital Equipment, Eagle, Franklin GRiD Systems, Hewlett Packard, Hyperion, IBM, ITT, Kaypro, Mohawk Data Sciences, NCR, Olivetti, Osborne, Sanyo, Seequa, Sunrise Systems, Tandy, Tava, Televido Systems, Texas Instruments, Victor Technologies, Xerox and Zenith.
Obviously most of these companies are not in the PC business anymore, and many of them are not even IN business anymore.
This is a losing game. Those that did the best, invested in companies that were already well established, such as IBM, Hewlett Packard and Texas Instruments. These were companies that were already profitable, but stood to gain even more as computer sales took off.
There will be a few pure web companies that make it, and become hugely successful. But your chance of finding those few will be slightly better than winning the lotto. AND chances are, those companies have not even formed yet.
As soon as we see this bull market lose its steam, you are going to see a lot of shit hit the fan. Over the past 9 years, you could have thrown money at virtually anything and made money at it. This will not be the case forever.
And you are correct, day traders that use internet brokers are getting ripped off because they will often receive very poor execution. Because of this, they will often lose more money than they are thinking they have saved from the commision of a broker.
Historically, IPO's have only had a 5% average annual return for the next ten years after their initial price surge. These are not good investments to "buy and hold".
However, generaly speaking, the unsophisticated "investor" has done the best... by far. This can be proven by simply looking at the results of the 1,000's of investment clubs around the country. And the fact that the majority of them beat market averages each year, and also beat the vast majority of the paid "expert" portfolio managers (mutual funds) out there.
This is really not necesary... most full service brokerage firms (we do at least) will simply give you a loan to purchase the shares at the striek price. You do however, have to turn around and sell the shares so you can immediately pay of your loan.
How are the internet connections going to work on the new systems? Are we going to have to pay a monthly check to Sega/Sony/Nintendo if we want to take advantage of their modems? Or can we just plug the suckers into what we already have?
Business does not work this way. In no way would AT&T "laugh in AOL's face". One does not do this to a cash rich company with huge market capitlization and over 17 million subscribers. AT&T is looking for investors. I deal will be made with AOL at some point in the future. You heard it here first.
actually.... not naive at all. AT&T has essentially done the same thing with Microsoft. They are definitely looking for entities willing to invest with them. And if you think that AT&T is just going to turn their back on 17 million AOL subscribers, I think that is naive.
If you can lose $1500 in a day due to simple routine online problems, just think what will happen to you and the countless other online day-traders when we enter into a major stock market correction, and you will have absolutely no access to your accounts (for up to 60 days). But that risk is definitely worth not paying the commisions for a full-service broker, who can execute better trades for you, and enables your account to always be available. A lot of shit is going to hit the fan when that happens.
Slashdot Mirror
I am continuously amazed at how much of a control-freak Lucas is. That man is so anal retentive it is amazing. I am actually shocked that he never did take Francis Ford Coppola's advice and start a new religion based upon the idea of "The Force".
For me, what I love about rock is energy, pure and simple. That is their real talent to me. Some may surpass those blues musicians that you speak of in talent, and some play with the skill of a preschooler... but a great rock band has energy. They make you want to stand up, shake your fist and scream "Band at the time) Rules!!!"
Jazz, blues and R & B is what rock & roll came from. To complain that Rock has tampered with the purities of these music forms is sheer nonsense. Do you complain that the Blues has fouled up jazz, or that R & B has fouled up the Blues.
Do you bitch that reggae ruined ska, or that punk ruined rock?
Music is constantly going through cycles, evolving and meshing with other forms. It pisses me off when people try and get in the way of that process.
BTW I think today's Rock & Roll (in the pop culture) is completey dead. The bands that I see on MTV nowadays and hear on the radio are simply rehashing the same grunge basics from the early nineties. Personally, I think a fusion of heavy rock/glam bands would be great for the pop musical scene. I am sick of what is out there today.
Anyone not on drugs.
You want Teen Angst?
try "Teenage Wasteland"
...and there it is.
The majority of the music that I now enjoy and listen to was derived not from the Beatles, but from the Kinks.
The Beatles were good, but nothing that great came from them (Oasis..ha!)
I am a big fan of Rock in general.
I would have to say that the greates single moment in Rock & Roll History would be Bob Dylan going electric.
This single act was more important than anything the Beatles ever did!
The Clash would have to be my favorite band ever.
But I will tell you, The Who had a lot more influence on The Clash than The Beatles and Led Zepelin.
The Who has to be one of the most under-rated bands out there at the moment. They were absolutely incredible, but you do not see them getting much credit at all in today's music press.
Simple:
They will just make millions off of selling advertising space. Duh.
"Great, Tommy sent me 500 bucks... and look at this sweet ad for Nike!!"
;P
That website addresses next to nothing....
while making it sound like this thing should be roling out next week some time.
And I thought financial ruin was close enough for all of us with simple credit cards and on-line brokers/auction houses/stores!
The only good thing that could possibly come out of this would be seeing the headline:
"GEEKS PISSED!"
probably followed by a smaller subtitle:
"football team brought in to cease protesting at local movie theatre"
My love knows no boundaries ;)
Ack, I think I am going to be sick now.
Sorry if this is a waste of space... but this comment made me laugh. HARD.
:)
Well, Microsoft has seen this move to non-PC platforms quite a while ago. A lot of their press releases emphasize their intention of working with companies similar to 3com. With 27 billion dollars sitting in cash, Microsoft is going to be able to make a lot of friends in this area. That is just the sort of catalyst a lot of these smaller (well, when compared to Microsoft) are going to need to get their products out. And, low and behold, they will be coming out with MS OS's.
Yes, I absolutely agree.
It is in Microsoft's best interest right now to see Linux succeed and gain market share. It is foolish to think that Microsoft really is running with its tail between its legs.
They could crush Linux in one open scource swipe. One thing about geeks and nerds, is that they are idealists. You want the best product to succeed. Well, it rarely works this way. We all know plenty of better products that have failed miserably.
Intel is doing the same thing with AMD!
Hindsight is always 20/20....
yes indeedy.
??????????????
:P) and shniv off with the profit?
Please pardon my ignorance, I'm not acting stupid. No, really, I'm not acting -:)
People really do this? I mean, give you a loan based on a potential for stock revenue? If I have you right, I can borrow money toward buying stocks, buy the stock, sell it right off the bat, pay back the loan (and the IRS
*We only do it for employee option agreements though. That is important to realize. This is a case where you really are guaranteed to be able to pay off your loan.
In regular accounts, you are normally allowed to set up a margin account. This essentially allows you double the buying power of how much money you have in the account. So that is also, essentially a loan, but you do need to have some dough upfront for that.
But anyways... by all means, take advantage of any stock options your employer gives you!
People have to realize that the first out of the gates, is very unlikely to make it.
For example, let's say you got into the computer craze in 1984. You knew computers were going to change the world as we know it, and you wanted in on that action. Well here are a few of your choices at the time (see how many you can remember):
Apple, Atari, AT&T, Burroughs, Coleco, Columbia Data Systems, Compaq, Digital Equipment, Eagle, Franklin GRiD Systems, Hewlett Packard, Hyperion, IBM, ITT, Kaypro, Mohawk Data Sciences, NCR, Olivetti, Osborne, Sanyo, Seequa, Sunrise Systems, Tandy, Tava, Televido Systems, Texas Instruments, Victor Technologies, Xerox and Zenith.
Obviously most of these companies are not in the PC business anymore, and many of them are not even IN business anymore.
This is a losing game. Those that did the best, invested in companies that were already well established, such as IBM, Hewlett Packard and Texas Instruments. These were companies that were already profitable, but stood to gain even more as computer sales took off.
There will be a few pure web companies that make it, and become hugely successful. But your chance of finding those few will be slightly better than winning the lotto. AND chances are, those companies have not even formed yet.
As soon as we see this bull market lose its steam, you are going to see a lot of shit hit the fan. Over the past 9 years, you could have thrown money at virtually anything and made money at it. This will not be the case forever.
And you are correct, day traders that use internet brokers are getting ripped off because they will often receive very poor execution. Because of this, they will often lose more money than they are thinking they have saved from the commision of a broker.
Historically, IPO's have only had a 5% average annual return for the next ten years after their initial price surge. These are not good investments to "buy and hold".
However, generaly speaking, the unsophisticated "investor" has done the best... by far.
This can be proven by simply looking at the results of the 1,000's of investment clubs around the country. And the fact that the majority of them beat market averages each year, and also beat the vast majority of the paid "expert" portfolio managers (mutual funds) out there.
This is really not necesary... most full service brokerage firms (we do at least) will simply give you a loan to purchase the shares at the striek price. You do however, have to turn around and sell the shares so you can immediately pay of your loan.
How are the internet connections going to work on the new systems?
Are we going to have to pay a monthly check to Sega/Sony/Nintendo if we want to take advantage of their modems?
Or can we just plug the suckers into what we already have?
Business does not work this way. In no way would AT&T "laugh in AOL's face". One does not do this to a cash rich company with huge market capitlization and over 17 million subscribers. AT&T is looking for investors. I deal will be made with AOL at some point in the future. You heard it here first.
actually.... not naive at all.
AT&T has essentially done the same thing with Microsoft. They are definitely looking for entities willing to invest with them.
And if you think that AT&T is just going to turn their back on 17 million AOL subscribers, I think that is naive.
If you can lose $1500 in a day due to simple routine online problems, just think what will happen to you and the countless other online day-traders when we enter into a major stock market correction, and you will have absolutely no access to your accounts (for up to 60 days). But that risk is definitely worth not paying the commisions for a full-service broker, who can execute better trades for you, and enables your account to always be available.
A lot of shit is going to hit the fan when that happens.