Disqus - Friends of raznick

Re: Rachel is BUYING Google

McLarty — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:00:49 -0000

How about, "The Heir", ...as in "to the thrown" (Which also indirectly implies, that you're the king :P hahaha)

I picked up some shares of GOOG, right before the close Monday...shitty timing, but I decided $486 was fair.

Re: Thinking About GOOG This Morning

McLarty — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:18:34 -0000

Demographics Fred - you're GOOG purchase will amaze you in 10 years. Boomers don't use the internet nearly as much as echo's do. Echo's are getting older and richer, and are comfy purchasing online.

Also, the directions for innovation for google are limitless. Look what they have accomplished in the last 10 years. They are investing in ideas that could be just as big as their founding technologies. Eg. GrandCentral, you can see the widget on the side of my blog. it's the "call me" button. I know they aren't the first to invest in this sort of idea, but Google will make it great.

I was sitting at a pub last night, with my 20 somethin' buddies. Here's a glimpse of a small chunk of the conversation of what non-net-natives are saying:

"Did you know you can buy shoes online? It means I don't have to go to the store and wait in a line...plus I think it's a little cheaper."
"Yah man, the other day, I bought a jacket online, saved $100."
"I'm going to start shopping more online"

These guys are in their 20's and starting professional roles in the field of engineering.

Re: Gold to $2,000 and Oil to $200…Which First

McLarty — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 08:14:33 -0000

Gold @ $2000, next friday. Oil @ $200 the week after. The entire market thinks so, so, it will do it.

More Seriously, I think it will be gold in 2009. I have to believe some solutions will start to kick in that will hold oil back. Engineers around the world are working on optimizing the rates at which Oil can be harvested. Those are billion dollar present value solutions.

Re: Conviction and Discipline

McLarty — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:28:44 -0000

Great minds think alike I guess, Lindzon recommended a book; "A Zebra in Lion Country", by the guy that ran Acorn (Ralph Wagner). I picked it up. Ralph preaches discipline in one of the chapters. I was very impressed by the book, it was a great read, for the young "go getter" investors.

Re: Comments or Discussions?

McLarty — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 23:04:51 -0000

In the beginning stages of a blog launch, it can almost be depressing sending asynchronous communication into the world, without having any readers. But, I can't begin to put into words the high I got/get from from when readers started randomly adding comments, adding value, or better yet compliments. It's been almost half a year since I launched the blog at "blue moat". Since then, the comments have inspired me to actually write more, research more, and add more value to my own writing and thoughts.

I'm sure Fred already knows this, but I'm adding this comment for his readers and potentially the blog voyeurs. My point is, it's amazing how encouraging random comments can become. I can only hope that I continue to get the high from random value adding comments. I mean, I hope I never become too popular or too busy, that I get too many comments, and they simply become noise. *crossing fingers*.

Also, when you start taking digital relationships built from the comments, and doing things & networking, face to face...we'll, it's great.

BTW, I'll be switching to DisqUS, because of you and Howard, these features are great!

Re: Chaos…

McLarty — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:06:41 -0000

It's kind of funny, in a sad way, how it is going to snowball right into a mess of banks owning a bunch of property they don't actually want, right when the real estate market bottoms. The problem with the bottom is, I think it's further away than the market has priced in. The demographics card is just starting to be played in the real-estate mess. That is, boomers not needing as big of houses as they used to. But what do I know, I'm just an echo...trying to figure this mess out.

Re: Start-Up Itch…Again!

McLarty — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 22:49:44 -0000

I want to see you leverage your network 300:1, or more. You could build an army of talent. But, you know that.

Here, I'll seep some more "smart energy", maybe you'll think of something based on these. That is, if you haven't thought of 'em already.

1. New leaders I think will be emerging in the content ad space. Contextual ads are just being improved with better algorithms, but content ads that's a market still untapped. I've got ideas - many.

2. Another trend, aggregators that add value while they aggregate is a good space to be in. Old, subject based, eg google news, are doomed. Again, I've got ideas.

3. Last one, actually converting the eyeballs that read blogs to cash - and taking a slice of it. I've got one way better idea then have come out of feedburner and reviewme.com...maybe you can think of some more.

4. Taking the "string" out of searching, profit downstream. Another trend emerging - we're seeing user content based sites where people are getting information from asking questions in english eg tickerhound.com and either other people answer the questions, or a smarter computer algorithm is going to do it eg powerset.com. These are going to be unique solutions, that make internet more "english" more "image" more "video" more "flash" more "rich" less "text" based. These will be hit or miss ideas, but Ralph W. points out, invest downstream. I'm asking myself "Who or what is going to profit from this trend". No good ideas yet...maybe you have some.

Re: Start-Up Itch…Again!

McLarty — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 09:07:33 -0000

hahah ... no "douche" part, I'm in the Engineering wing. And, I got ~95 days before I start on Jul 28, I'm going to break Andy's 4 month (was it?) record.

Re: Start-Up Itch…Again!

McLarty — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 09:42:09 -0000

Raznick, I'm referring to ads that are placed with a small taste of the product or some other value component to it that is free for the advertiser, but useful to the viewer. Sort of like the dealbreaker.com ones, but that's more like a tease than a taste. It's hard to explain, as I have only seen these ads in the beta stage, and I don't want to give away specific ideas that me and my associates are working on. The thing is, you can think of content ads for one type of product, but then it totally won't work for other types of products.

Re: Coal on Wallstrip

McLarty — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:45:23 -0000

Don't know very much about Coal, but I'm trying to think of who ships coal...CSX and GWR come to mind, both of them are near all-time highs.

Re: Sirius and XMSR (Shit Squared) Still Kicking… But Why? AND Other Busted Trends

McLarty — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:14:18 -0000

Good tips in the videos, especially liked seeing the WFMI one, just now, for the first time - thanks!

I could use some more advice in the busted stock department...I own two, but I have to believe they are in the oversold territory now. Luckily, I raked in call premium on the one...and I got to tour Latin America because of the other one! I'm young and have learn, I guess.

Re: Risk Prison…It Is Time!

McLarty — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 15:42:19 -0000

Thanks for sharing. Digital age, nothing hides anymore, I'm glad it doesn't. Honest people don't have to hide anything.

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

McLarty — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:34:18 -0000

I hope you're having fun in Florida Matt. Really, your time in the warm south I'm sure is more precious than this.

Re: Smart Poll…Please Contribute

McLarty — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 12:40:24 -0000

- No. JPMorgan will take 'em out, or buy a large stake
- Yes. I went long SSO Friday, at ~$62.40 and am buying more. For what it's worth, I was on the phone with another fund runner 15 minutes after, he said it was smart.
- No, maybe 1/2 or 3/4, and if we see a full point, it is certainly not soon. Drastic measures have been taken, they need to work their way through the system
- Yes, but I'm an perma bull.

Re: Smart Poll…Please Contribute

McLarty — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:35:57 -0000

I'm such a dork, I love analytics. Quantitative results: http://www.jeffreymclarty.c...

Re: Bloomberg For President

McLarty — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 15:39:41 -0000

I'm Canadian and I agree with you completely. It's funny how much American votes are going to actually matter to the rest of the world. sigh......the responsibility of being a leader.

Re: Smart Poll…Please Contribute

McLarty — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:04:40 -0000

Hey Ross, Nicaragua is on my to do list...I'm doubting you have that much google time, likely you're on dial up, but check out Roatan Island when you get a chance. It's in northern Honduras. I was all over that place looking at real estate - I got to say - the best jungle, best diving, most surreal nightlife I've ever seen. I'd say a close tie with Bocas Del Torro, Panama.

Re: Daily Dopeness

McLarty — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:48:06 -0000

Pulp, that's right, the stuff they make paper with. ...just one of many global trends.

Re: Bear Stearns goes for $2…BEHOLD…The Financial Markets

McLarty — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:18:10 -0000

I've got nothing to say, that you all don't already realize - except 1/3 of outstanding shares were owned by employees - Think about that. That's deep. That means 1/3 of share holders, likely the most informed third, didn't understand the downside. Makes me rethink how sure I am about ANY stock I own. THAT's what is going to shake the market tomorrow. Same thing that's rallying gold (I guess the 1/4 point cut helped that tho).

And I know most of those shares would have likely been in the hands of the guys already banking +$150K/year anyway...but still. $2 - I'm baffled at how it's not worth more than THAT!

Re: Bear Stearns goes for $2…BEHOLD…The Financial Markets

McLarty — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:13:47 -0000

I get so damned tempted by those pennies sometimes, but you're right. Although on the other side, I mean, the stock looked cheap at $50, just days ago. It levels off at $30, suddenly shorting $15 puts with 5 days till expiry, looked like a steal, IMHO. I feel bad for the guy, no one deserves to go under over something like this. Hindsight is 20/20, we really should be figuring out who went long the $30 puts when it was at $50.

Re: Bear Stearns goes for $2…BEHOLD…The Financial Markets

McLarty — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:44:06 -0000

85 of them are Howard :P j/k ...This has truly been great. People are talking about books and futures and mybloglog being SO 2006....Sykes wanting to be cool...James Altchur with wise comments......Dogwood making a name for himself...and now even Fred Wilson dropping by! If there has ever been a case for Disqus needing collapsible threads - this is it. Don't know how Lindzon feels about it all going to his Black Berry. Hope you're having a good time in Hawaii Fred - if you see Dennis Blain say Hi for me - he owns half (small exaggeration) of Maui - he's my Uncle.

Re: Bear Stearns goes for $2…BEHOLD…The Financial Markets

McLarty — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:51:46 -0000

Sorry I butchered your name Mr. Altucher...Fred I wasn't kidding, if you see some guy with an entourage (he's all over Hawaii - at the cool places) ask him if he knows Jeff McLarty...tell him...you just about interviewed me, until my appendix kicked up a stink. He'll laugh, and likely buy everybody you're with a round of drinks.

Re: Bear Stearns goes for $2…BEHOLD…The Financial Markets

McLarty — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 01:46:05 -0000

Why do I say dumb stuff sometimes? Stupid permanent internet. Sorry for wasting your time.

Re: Video interlude: Big Dog robot

McLarty — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:55:24 -0000

That's awesome Mathew! Thanks for sharing. Hey - anybody from the Globe coming out to the University of Waterloo's Mechatronics Symposium? Fourth year students working on stuff, some pretty unique things, you may or may not dig it. I can get you details is you want. It's a bunch of Engineers working on small/strange/unique ideas, and we present prototypes...I'm a fourth year, I'll be presenting. Don't know if it's high enough profile stuff to peak your fancy.

Re: Daily Dopeness

McLarty — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:49:01 -0000

Is this for real? Shit.

Bespoke don't lie. They are champs.