Gain and Pain

40 something Global Director of Business Development for a Security Software Manufacturer. Trading stocks for 15+ years - using primarily technical analysis
Joined Oct 26, 2011
128 Blog Posts

Gain and Pain

Joined Oct 26, 2011
128 Blog Posts

Today’s Best Political Attack Ad – Video

1
260 views

With election season in full swing, attack ads are coming to a TV near you. Some actually focus on issues – some don’t and those make for some pretty funny viewing

I don’t know who Jeff Brandes is, but according to his opponent Jim Frische, he obviously supports a Cyberdyne future where Robots will rise up and enslave their human masters starting with senior citizens in Florida

And it all starts with driverless cars from Google

 

RIMM Buyout Rumors – New Blackberry 10 / Dead Money or Comeback Kid? Chart

3
1,374 views

 

I’ve carried a blackberry for 12 years.

Why?

 

First off it was the phone my previous company told us we had to use when we entered the email age in the late 90s (yea we were a little slow rolling out technology).

But now I work for a different company and for the last 5 years I’ve still carried one because of all the other PDA/ Smart phones I’ve ever tried, it’s the only one that I can bang out a 3 sentence e-mail on in less than 5 minutes. That’s important to me and the 80 million other people still carrying blackberries around the world ( at least that’s what RIMM says the user base is in this article)

And the reason I can actually type a message on a berry is the ingenious little QWERTY pad that they invented and perfected. (If you ever wondered why it’s called a QWERTY just read the top row of letters on the berry or your keyboard). I’ve tried Apple and Android (Samsung and HTC) touch screens but never felt close to being able to work it like that stupid little keyboard. It’s why I have a love hate relationship with my Berry – I love it as an e-mail device (which is Job #1) but it sucks balls as a smartphone.

So it was with hope and trepidation and read that article – on the release of the new Blackberry 10 slated for early next year. Did they get it right? or will it be yet another piece of shit that does e-mail very, very well? – I don’t know but I’m willing to give it a try

Since this is IBC the Mother of all Stock sites, I should mention RIMM as an investment, or maybe more accurately a trade. There’s going to be buzz about BB10, and add in the rumors of IBM or amazon acquiring the enterprise services group .

It’s currently a dollar (14%) off it’s 52 week / 3 yr. low at $7.56. and the overhead supply of money losers is staggering. On the flip side, 18% of the float is short so if BB10 actually is something I could see a nice squeeze developing quickly.

First things first  it would have to bust through that 17 week EMA and it’s acted as a ceiling throughout the entire 15 month avalanche that saw it shed 90% of it’s value

 

 

 

NYPD Shoot Knife Weilding Suspect near Times Square – Videos

1
377 views
NYPD officers shot and killed a man with a large knife who they were chasing near Times Square Saturday afternoon.Police said the man, who they observed smoking marijuana, became belligerent when officers approached him. He was shot dead after he threatened officers with the knife, police said. The man had no identifcation on him, officials said. No officers were injured in the incident, which took place over a number of blocks and ended with the shooting at 38th Street and 7th Avenue, an area generally crowded with pedestrians. Witnesses to the shooting described a chaotic scene in Midtown. “I was standing at the corner of 42nd Street and saw this guy running in middle of street, police chasing him” said Edgar Delgado, who works in the area. “He had a machete type knife. He didn’t want to stop. Police told him to drop the knife. He didn’t. They shot him.” A witness’ cell phone video acquired by NBC 4 New York shows police chasing the man along 7th Avenue and then opening fire, shooting approximately 10 rounds. “It was scary because a shooting starts here someone could get hurt quickly,” Delgado said.

Apple Customer Demographic Shift – Pandering Commercials Target 35+

1
3,820 views

According to Brandindex – since mid-July 2011, Apple’s biggest supporters are consumers 35 years and older. Meanwhile, the younger age group of 18 to 34 — once the demographic most smitten with Apple — has trended downward. This reverses the positions of the two age groups before last July.

From early 2008 through mid-July 2011, Apple scored higher with the 18- 34 demographic but this group no longer constitutes Apple’s biggest banner wavers. There is another group, which may just need a “Genius” to help with their Apple products, as the new commercials imply.

Apple ran the ads, which featured a “Genius”  helping customers in high-pressure situations. The spots touted the Mac and appeared during the early days of NBC’s broadcast of the 2012 Olympics. They were discontinued within several days. The reaction among the Apple faithful was devastating:

“I honestly can’t remember a single Apple campaign that’s been received so poorly,” said Ken Segall, whose LinkedIn profile says he worked as the creative director for ad firm Chiat/Day and on that firm’s 1997-2002 “Think Different” campaign for Apple.

“These ads are causing a widespread gagging response, and deservedly so. This thing is so upsetting, it has me talking to myself,” said Segall in a post to his personal blog last week.

Judge for yourself – Here’s the Apple spots featuring 24-year-old comedian Josh Rabinowitz:

 

Protect Yourself from Credit Card & ATM Skimming

2
1,105 views

Identity theft, via Credit / Debit cards and ATM skimming is now a billion dollar a year crime.

If you’re not aware how the crime works, crooks can buy a magnetic stripe reader like this off the Internet for as low as $20. They can affix the device to a gas pump or ATM and when you insert your card, they read all of the information. In some cases a camera may be installed to watch the pinpad (where you enter your PIN ) or your zip code. Sometimes they will just loiter in the vicinity and watch you punch in the numbers.

Once the data is stored they download it to a computer and will either order product from merchants that don’t require extra information like the 3 digit CVV code on the back or they can simply buy blank cards and load your credit card information to it. Once they have a loaded card, they’ll use it at gas stations or self check-out at various stores.

Another way the scam works is they will give the skimmer to a waiter / gas station attendant / clerk and pay them to harvest the information. In this scenario the accomplice will write down the CVV after the skim has happened making it even easier for thecrime to happen. So how can you protect yourself?

Here are a few easy steps:

  1. If using an ATM, gas pump or any other manual device – grab the plastic area where the card inserts, If it feels loose or looks different than other readers – Don’t use it and alert the store / bank branch etc.
  2. Shield the keypad as you enter your PIN #. Simply place your hand over the pad and block it from view
  3. At bars or restaurants walk with the staff to the credit card terminal when it’s time to pay. Seriously. Explain to them “why” and you may be doing them a favor so they don’t get ripped off.
  4. Use cash – although as someone who travels for a living I know this isn’t always practical or safe in every instance.
  5.  Have your bank or card provider put you on alert for any suspicious activity. Many do this already but in some smaller banks you’ll need to request this service.

You’ve probably seen videos like these on your local TV news. In case you haven’t I’ve picked out some of the better ones:

 

 

Gain and Pain

40 something Global Director of Business Development for a Security Software Manufacturer. Trading stocks for 15+ years - using primarily technical analysis
Joined Oct 26, 2011
128 Blog Posts

Gain and Pain

Joined Oct 26, 2011
128 Blog Posts

Today’s Best Political Attack Ad – Video

1
260 views

With election season in full swing, attack ads are coming to a TV near you. Some actually focus on issues – some don’t and those make for some pretty funny viewing

I don’t know who Jeff Brandes is, but according to his opponent Jim Frische, he obviously supports a Cyberdyne future where Robots will rise up and enslave their human masters starting with senior citizens in Florida

And it all starts with driverless cars from Google

 

RIMM Buyout Rumors – New Blackberry 10 / Dead Money or Comeback Kid? Chart

3
1,374 views

 

I’ve carried a blackberry for 12 years.

Why?

 

First off it was the phone my previous company told us we had to use when we entered the email age in the late 90s (yea we were a little slow rolling out technology).

But now I work for a different company and for the last 5 years I’ve still carried one because of all the other PDA/ Smart phones I’ve ever tried, it’s the only one that I can bang out a 3 sentence e-mail on in less than 5 minutes. That’s important to me and the 80 million other people still carrying blackberries around the world ( at least that’s what RIMM says the user base is in this article)

And the reason I can actually type a message on a berry is the ingenious little QWERTY pad that they invented and perfected. (If you ever wondered why it’s called a QWERTY just read the top row of letters on the berry or your keyboard). I’ve tried Apple and Android (Samsung and HTC) touch screens but never felt close to being able to work it like that stupid little keyboard. It’s why I have a love hate relationship with my Berry – I love it as an e-mail device (which is Job #1) but it sucks balls as a smartphone.

So it was with hope and trepidation and read that article – on the release of the new Blackberry 10 slated for early next year. Did they get it right? or will it be yet another piece of shit that does e-mail very, very well? – I don’t know but I’m willing to give it a try

Since this is IBC the Mother of all Stock sites, I should mention RIMM as an investment, or maybe more accurately a trade. There’s going to be buzz about BB10, and add in the rumors of IBM or amazon acquiring the enterprise services group .

It’s currently a dollar (14%) off it’s 52 week / 3 yr. low at $7.56. and the overhead supply of money losers is staggering. On the flip side, 18% of the float is short so if BB10 actually is something I could see a nice squeeze developing quickly.

First things first  it would have to bust through that 17 week EMA and it’s acted as a ceiling throughout the entire 15 month avalanche that saw it shed 90% of it’s value

 

 

 

NYPD Shoot Knife Weilding Suspect near Times Square – Videos

1
377 views
NYPD officers shot and killed a man with a large knife who they were chasing near Times Square Saturday afternoon.Police said the man, who they observed smoking marijuana, became belligerent when officers approached him. He was shot dead after he threatened officers with the knife, police said. The man had no identifcation on him, officials said. No officers were injured in the incident, which took place over a number of blocks and ended with the shooting at 38th Street and 7th Avenue, an area generally crowded with pedestrians. Witnesses to the shooting described a chaotic scene in Midtown. “I was standing at the corner of 42nd Street and saw this guy running in middle of street, police chasing him” said Edgar Delgado, who works in the area. “He had a machete type knife. He didn’t want to stop. Police told him to drop the knife. He didn’t. They shot him.” A witness’ cell phone video acquired by NBC 4 New York shows police chasing the man along 7th Avenue and then opening fire, shooting approximately 10 rounds. “It was scary because a shooting starts here someone could get hurt quickly,” Delgado said.

Apple Customer Demographic Shift – Pandering Commercials Target 35+

1
3,820 views

According to Brandindex – since mid-July 2011, Apple’s biggest supporters are consumers 35 years and older. Meanwhile, the younger age group of 18 to 34 — once the demographic most smitten with Apple — has trended downward. This reverses the positions of the two age groups before last July.

From early 2008 through mid-July 2011, Apple scored higher with the 18- 34 demographic but this group no longer constitutes Apple’s biggest banner wavers. There is another group, which may just need a “Genius” to help with their Apple products, as the new commercials imply.

Apple ran the ads, which featured a “Genius”  helping customers in high-pressure situations. The spots touted the Mac and appeared during the early days of NBC’s broadcast of the 2012 Olympics. They were discontinued within several days. The reaction among the Apple faithful was devastating:

“I honestly can’t remember a single Apple campaign that’s been received so poorly,” said Ken Segall, whose LinkedIn profile says he worked as the creative director for ad firm Chiat/Day and on that firm’s 1997-2002 “Think Different” campaign for Apple.

“These ads are causing a widespread gagging response, and deservedly so. This thing is so upsetting, it has me talking to myself,” said Segall in a post to his personal blog last week.

Judge for yourself – Here’s the Apple spots featuring 24-year-old comedian Josh Rabinowitz:

 

Protect Yourself from Credit Card & ATM Skimming

2
1,105 views

Identity theft, via Credit / Debit cards and ATM skimming is now a billion dollar a year crime.

If you’re not aware how the crime works, crooks can buy a magnetic stripe reader like this off the Internet for as low as $20. They can affix the device to a gas pump or ATM and when you insert your card, they read all of the information. In some cases a camera may be installed to watch the pinpad (where you enter your PIN ) or your zip code. Sometimes they will just loiter in the vicinity and watch you punch in the numbers.

Once the data is stored they download it to a computer and will either order product from merchants that don’t require extra information like the 3 digit CVV code on the back or they can simply buy blank cards and load your credit card information to it. Once they have a loaded card, they’ll use it at gas stations or self check-out at various stores.

Another way the scam works is they will give the skimmer to a waiter / gas station attendant / clerk and pay them to harvest the information. In this scenario the accomplice will write down the CVV after the skim has happened making it even easier for thecrime to happen. So how can you protect yourself?

Here are a few easy steps:

  1. If using an ATM, gas pump or any other manual device – grab the plastic area where the card inserts, If it feels loose or looks different than other readers – Don’t use it and alert the store / bank branch etc.
  2. Shield the keypad as you enter your PIN #. Simply place your hand over the pad and block it from view
  3. At bars or restaurants walk with the staff to the credit card terminal when it’s time to pay. Seriously. Explain to them “why” and you may be doing them a favor so they don’t get ripped off.
  4. Use cash – although as someone who travels for a living I know this isn’t always practical or safe in every instance.
  5.  Have your bank or card provider put you on alert for any suspicious activity. Many do this already but in some smaller banks you’ll need to request this service.

You’ve probably seen videos like these on your local TV news. In case you haven’t I’ve picked out some of the better ones:

 

 

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