Lightwizard wrote:If that's how you get your point across, I don't believe it deserves a reply.
Then stop whining and stop replying. Besides, it's not like you really had any substantive response to my point anyway, right? :wink:
Brand X wrote:If you live life as a hammer, all you'll get are nails.
I don't know... maybe someone will get you a nice toolbelt to hang out in.
I couldn't out whine you if I were a motor with a cog missing. You have presented little or no evidence that the recession of 1987 - 1992 was not a severe economic downturn but merely a blip. Since you are unconvincing and underwhelming, the burden of proof is on you. Otherwise, I'm writing it off as an amateurish job of historic revisionism.
Now knock that crap off!!! Quit pokin' at one another!!! 
BTW, the new Initial Jobless Numbers are again not discouraging:
Quote:Initial jobless claims drop to 8-month low
By Bloomberg News Service
Friday, October 10, 2003
The number of Americans filing initial applications for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest in more than eight months, suggesting companies are retaining workers as the U.S. economy strengthens.
First-time jobless claims dropped to 382,000 during the week that ended Saturday from 405,000 a week earlier, the Labor Department said in Washington. . That's the lowest since 378,000 in the week ended Feb. 8
September was the first time in eight months that the economy added workers, indicating the labor market may have started to rebound after losing 2.6 million jobs since President Bush took office.
"DuPont will be hiring workers globally and will be hiring workers in the United States," Charles Holliday, chief executive officer of No. 2 U.S. chemical maker DuPont Co., said in a televised interview with Bloomberg News from White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.
Article
timber, Jobless numbers are almost meaningless, because many just drop out of the job market after looking for a few years. Look at it tis way; if there were over 3 million jobs lost during the past three years, and we've had only one month of job 'growth' of 57,000 jobs - mostly part-time, we can't assume that the unemployment at the present time is anywheres near 378,000.
You miss the point, c.i.; "First Time Jobless Claims" have nothing to do with long term unemployment, beyond shrinking the pool of candidates. Current unemployment remains slightly above 6%, which is roughly 1/2% greater than the 25 year average. That the initial claims are dropping means there will be a decrease in the unemployed. Things are a long way from being "All Better", but they're getting better report-by-report, projection-by-projection, indicator-by-indicator. Eourth Quarter sales and employment figures will likely be encouraging, even if only seasonal, but it will be First and Second Quarter '04 figures that will really tell the story. If momentum continues as appears evident, even on a Global basis, by the middle of next year The Economy will be a very much less critical issue.
I agree; the drop in jobless claims means there is 'some' improvement, but those numbers can change over-night, because they have some 'seasonality' to them. As you say, the telling will be in the pudding that will be reflected in the first two quarters of next year. Let me add one caveat: the market has been taking back much of this month's gains, which tells us that profitability is still elusive. Even Gateway computers has shown huge sales loss during the past quarter; not a good sign.
GAteway's been in trouble for a couple years. Overall, this month's earnings were quite good, despite a few disappointments. Interesting ... several BlueChips got hammerred this week on news that they had merely met or only sightly exceeded expectations ... which indicates to me that The Street expects, and has priced in, better-than-expected performance. That's silly, of course, but it happens all the time. Of particular note, however, is that both machine-tool orders and hard commodities, particularly metals, are clearly trending up. 4th Q seasonal inventory buildup would not by itself affect either index much, leading me to conclude there is substantive physical-plant expansion in the works, which in turn will entail significant hiring, though that likely won't be firmly evident untill after Q1 '04.
Those BC's that got hammered this week is not surprising, considering that their p/e ratios aren't that good to begin with. Haven't heard about the plant expansions from my neck of the woods, but that in of itself is surprising, since manufacturing has been taking a beating during the past couple of years, and capacity has dropped significantly. Why build more?
ci, rest easy, Wal Mart announced 40 new Super Stores for California, isn't that great?
Brand X wrote:ci, rest easy, Wal Mart announced 40 new Super Stores for California, isn't that great?
Yeah, but I just read Oakland and a couple other communities have refused to grant the building permits, and in fact have altered local zoning laws to preclude any further such ventures. Isn't California just
so, so SPECIAL?
I noticed a recent WSJ headline that UPS shipments were on the increase. Good signs, but surprises are always possible.
timberlandko wrote:Brand X wrote:ci, rest easy, Wal Mart announced 40 new Super Stores for California, isn't that great?
Yeah, but I just read Oakland and a couple other communities have refused to grant the building permits, and in fact have altered local zoning laws to preclude any further such ventures. Isn't California just
so, so SPECIAL?
Wal Mart used to be the great American story, now it's the scurge of retail hell. They take a liking to eminent domain to get prime location, and of course local governments love to oblige them in such devious ventures to get the almighty tax revenue.
Another good sign, though certainly subject to some seasonal influence, is that the available pool of railcars, containers, and conventional dry-van trailers is showing pressure ... more stuff IS getting shipped.
Yes an in Orange County, specifically Newport Beach, there's zoning that won't allow any high rise hotels or housing on the beach or the harbor. Makes developers frustrated and hopping mad. In fact, they can't build over two stories. Isn't that special?
timberlandko wrote:Another good sign, though certainly subject to some seasonal influence, is that the available pool of railcars, containers, and conventional dry-van trailers is showing pressure ... more stuff IS getting shipped.
Yep, the peak season surchange actually was preceeded by a GRI and my costs have gone way up. FDA is backed up at several ports.
Thing is, I'm talking about imports, so it's a mixed bag (both a blessing and a reminder of a curse).
The feds recently picked up some illigals working in their stores. Great American success story, that.
That's not all to the story -- they have evidence one of the execs at Wal Mart knew about the hiring of illegal aliens in the janitorial services for the stores and looked the other way.
The whole thing drives me nuts. The reason why we don't have a pure and simple immigration policy is because WalMart and many, many others who line the pockets of politicians, don't want us to. They love the cheap labor. So instead the gov swoops down, periodically, on a few unfortunates and make their life hell. Maybe it's just those of us who live near the border who've caught on to this, but the whole country, and particularly those who are so down on Mexican immigration, should be forced to take a look at hypocrisy in action.
Wouldn't remind anyone of slavery, would it?
