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| Author: Mike Celeste | Editor: Tony Ponzo | September Circulation: 13076 |
STAT SHEET WEEK ENDING Sept. 3 / 05
2005 Month of August Percent Points
Dow August Change - 1.5 % - 159
S&P August Change - 1.1 % - 14
Nas August Change - 1.5 % - 33
SplitMaster August Basic + 0.72 %
Big Dipper + 5.2 %
Option Calls - 24 %
Option Puts - 9 %
Week ending 9/2 Percent Points
Dow Weekly Change + 0.5 % + 50
S&P Weekly Change + 1. % + 13
Nas Weekly Change + 0.9 % + 20
Comments:
The stats above speak for themselves, and we have posted our plays on the web site www.SplitMaster.com so you can see the winners and losers there. We have other thoughts on our mind this week.
This week our thoughts are about being thankful, and caring---caring about our fellow
human beings. The scenes that have been playing out this past week are those that we have never seen in the United States. Hurricane or Tsunami--the results are the same. This is the greatest loss in the history of this country when calculating the economic losses that haven't seen the total yet. We have no idea how many lives were lost as they are still recovering bodies from the areas hit. Our readers in the area hit can't see this week's letter as they have no electricity and probably no computers. Most were lucky to get out with the clothes on their backs. We are thankful that they are still alive, but there are going to be many more die due to lack of medication or they were too far gone by the time they were taken to safety and care. The number of people affected directly far surpasses that of 9/11 and the dollar loss is undoubtedly going to surpass that of 9/11, also. We are also thankful that we, outside that area, didn't have to go through something like that. We can complain about lots of things, but we have to be thankful we weren't there. Let's hope and pray that matters only get better.
There are already many millions of dollars that have been sent as donations from the private sector of this country--both individual and corporate. Concerts, etc. are being planned to raise money for aid for the victims. However---I would like to point out that you should all be very careful in choosing who you make contributions to. This is the time when there will be many scam artists out there, rubbing their hands together, as they just wait for these special opportunities to steal money from worthy causes. Remember the uproar over the 9/11 contributions---who got the money, what was done with it, who received it---and when did they receive it, if at all. People are generous when tragedy strikes, but that generosity is often taken advantage of---so be careful out there.
If you find somewhere to donate that is reputable, you just might be doing yourself some good, also. Out here in CA we are hearing about credible sources that are raising money by offering something for the contributor, too. Our partner, Pat, for instance, just heard about a special being offered by our Los Angeles County Fair (larger than most state fairs). It's a great deal. For a minimum $25, you will get 2 tickets to the fair. Now those tickets aren't cheap. They are $15 each for adults on weekends and $10 on weekdays. So, basically, you are making a donation to the Red Cross and getting your tickets free ($ must be donated this weekend). Personally, when I make contributions, I usually like to receive something in return. There are exceptions, but it usually works out well for both sides. For example, I don't mind overpaying for cookies from the Girl Scouts as I'm helping a fantastic organization and getting a good tasting snack besides.
Look around your area to see about any possible plans like these---and if you are in a group, why not think up a special that your group can offer? There is a tremendous amount of satisfaction to be gained by helping others. Having been a teacher and volunteer in many activities, I can speak from personal knowledge. Come on, put your thinking caps on (as teachers always say) and come up with something. You will have fun doing it, too. Tragedy always brings people together and makes them stronger. Life is not easy, at best, and times like these test our character. Do we care about our fellow human beings in need, or don't we? Time and again we have shown that we do, but the question remains--how much do we care? So far, the news is reporting that contributions are ahead of the contributions for 9/11, at this point in the drive. I just hope that it gets to the people that really need it--
Now it's time to complain--and I'm pretty good at that. And I don't think that is all bad. I read one time that other countries thought that Americans complained too much. The response was that complaints are what makes America great. We are never satisfied and want to make things better, so we complain--but it should be constructive criticism.
When I heard the hurricane report on Sunday, I went right out and bought gas, knowing that the prices were going to rise--and substantially. I'm not a rocket scientist to figure that out. Here in CA we constantly face the fear of earthquakes. Do we prepare ourselves for that eventuality? Many of us do, and my family is one of them. We keep a supply of food and water, flashlights, etc., for just such a happening. Maybe we will never need it, and I hope we don't--but we are as prepared as we can be. My question is---With all the advance warning about the severity of that hurricane, how come the aid response from the government was so slow it getting there? Why weren't there all sorts of relief programs put into effect as soon as it was determined that this was going to be very destructive. My little thing was to go get gas before the gouging started (and it is gouging)--Our high paid government leaders couldn't even have trucks of supplies being loaded and ready to go? Airplanes, trains--any sort of transportation use could have been planned on--and pre-loaded. Security from the National Guard should have been at the ready to go. That's what they are there for--guard our national security. It turns out that most of them are in Iraq, helping out over there. I'm sorry, but we have to be able to take care of ourselves or we won't be in any position to help others. It's been just gut-wrenching to see these people suffering so much and to see how long it took to get any kind of help to them---and some still haven't received ANY help yet. I don't care what the politicians say, this relief effort was not a proud moment in our history. Previously, on a much smaller scale, we had price gouging here in CA in the electricity sector. Prices skyrocketed and who paid for it--us ordinary citizens. The electric company tripled our rates. It turns out that the whole thing was manipulated by the greedy, illegal controlling companies that were found out and exposed, eventually. What did that mean to us citizens? Nothing--the electric company stock is one of the huge winners in this whole thing---check the price of their stock. They had to pay higher prices, oftentimes, and just passed it on to us. Has the price of electricity come back down? Heck, no, it hasn't. When prices go up for special circumstances or for certain time frames, they hardly ever come back down, nor are short term taxes eliminated when their time runs out--they are either extended or the money is allotted for other "needy" reasons. I'm not the kind of person that complains and never does anything about it. I offered to run for governor, and there was only one item on my agenda. That was to bring the cost of electricity back down, and send the crooks to jail. Needless to say, I didn't get enough support, but I can still complain.
We hope and pray that by next week we hear of better news.
Today's Thought---
The whole newsletter is Today's Thought---
Mike
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