Wii Internet Channels

This is the first time I have use the Wii Internet Channel to write a blog. It is still easier to do this via the computer but for sheer laziness it is very convenient to sit and switch between watching T.V. and seeing what's online right from your couch. The biggest downside is the you do not have an up to date flash video software to enjoy some sites the good news I can still enjoy Youtube.

CNBC's Million Dollar Challenge

It is that time of year again CNBC's Million Dollar challenge is back. To learn more and register click here

A Misleading Signal on First-Quarter GDP

From Kiplinger

By Jerome Idaszak, Associate Editor, The Kiplinger Letter

Don't be too heartened by the news that the economy didn't shrink last quarter. What looks like good news actually signals deeper trouble ahead. Thank inventory growth for the positive first-quarter growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). If it weren't for that jump, which contributed about an eight-tenth of a percentage point to GDP, the 0.6% overall growth rate would have been negative. But that means, during this quarter, businesses will work through the inventory piled up on shelves of stores and warehouses, rather than order more goods, cutting into second-quarter GDP growth.

The positive first quarter belies the fact that the economy is in a mild recession. The key yardstick is employment, and in that respect, the picture isn't pretty. There has been a net job loss of about 230,000 in the first three months of the year. Friday's employment report is likely to indicate that another big chunk of jobs evaporated in April.

Moreover, total consumer spending rose a paltry 1% over the January-March period, compared with an increase of 2.3% in the fourth quarter of last year. Spending on durable goods declined by more than 6%. Previous quarter, spending on cars, appliances and other durables rose about 2%. In another sour note, business investment fell 2.5%, after racking up a 6% gain at the end of 2007. And housing remains a giant drag, with residential construction again shrinking more than 25%.

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Federal Realty Investment Trust

Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT) is what a I see as a shining star in the realty stock plays. I know everyones is scared of real estate and financial. Things will be changing and this is a good time to get into cheap stocks.

FRT is a great realty investment stock they pay a strong dividend and at this time dividends stocks are important to protect your portfolio, they pay a $0.61 dividend and they have strong rental properties. These properties consist of high end stores and malls located in areas of great wealth. They own real estate through out California and with the writing strikes over people are working again.

Give this stock a good look over and see what you think.

The WWE is Worth Wrestling With.

WWE is a stock you may want to put in your portfolio. Recently Word Wrestling Entertainment Inc. has raised it's dividends 50%, but not for private share holders, they raised the dividend for the small investor like you and I.

The WWE has great growth over seas with offices in Tokyo, Sydney and with other offices opening in Sao Paulo, Bazil. With the planned summer tour of western Europe it's a no brainier why their growth is up 25%.

The other growth you may find is pay-per-view along with live event growth in the states. This is the best wrestling match up, I like for us regular Joe's.

You will be Missed Gary

I was very saddened today to find out that Ernest Gary Gygax passed away. He was such an inspiration to, a generation of gamers. He co-created one of the best games of all time Dungeons and Dragons. I was fortunate to have met him and one of many who got to sit in on some games he DMed. You will be missed greatest of all Dungeon Masters. I wish condolences to family and friends. -Eric

clipped from www.wizards.com

Readers Weigh in on Spitzer's next step

So much conflict over Gov. Eliot Spitzer. I truly feel bad for his family and friends it is unfortunate that Gov. Spitzer got himself mixed up in something we all thought he was fighting against. He lead a great campaign for the small investor. From CNN some news and comments from concern citizens.

On Monday, federal prosecutors unsealed an affidavit that details a rendezvous in a Washington hotel room last month between a prostitute and "Client 9," who a CNN source says is New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer. That afternoon Spitzer addressed the press and apologized for letting voters and his family down.

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer addresses the media on Monday.

Now, some leaders are calling for Spitzer to step down from his post as governor, a position that Spitzer rose to with tenacity and a penchant for rooting out corruption, earning himself the nickname "the dragon-slayer."

Some CNN.com readers say that they feel even more betrayed by Spitzer because of his reputation for fighting corruption. Others say that, as long as he is doing a good job as governor, his private matters should remain private. Below are a selection of responses from our readers, some of which have been edited for length and clarity.

John Juhasz of East Setauket, New York Well ... he blew it as far as I'm concerned. True, he's only human, but he is in a high-level public position and should've known better.

Sorry, but here's someone who was also Attorney General who oversaw various related scandals. His credibility is definitely in jeopardy. He should resign.

Don Persons of Elyria, Ohio This is not a scandal involving misuse of position or public funds. Take this immediately off the politics section and put it where it belongs: a footnote in the lifestyle section. I don't care about which party is "guilty" or which "key" state they are from. Stop this!

Mel Grove of Deer Creek, Minnesota I don't understand how he could get so arrogant or reckless. After the Republican and Wall Street people he had prosecuted and sent to prison, I can't believe he would not know they would be watching every breath he took.

"Concerned Citizen" of New York, New York I think it's unfortunate that news of this nature causes so much anxiety, turmoil and political upheaval. Like other politicians who have been involved in sexual scandals, this is a personal matter that he has to handle with his family. Something of this nature would have been a side story in Europe.

On the other hand, we have laws that prohibit prostitution and he, being a prosecutor, should have known what the legal consequences are. The irony is that legal consequences are few, but political ones many. If so many politicians, both Republicans and Democrats, enjoy the company of prostitutes, why not legalize it? Let's stop the hypocrisy. Why didn't Mr. Spitzer take a trip to Nevada and for less money and greater discretion enjoy some of the benefits of a right that visitors to that state enjoy?

Kevin Rundle of Victoria, British Colombia The prosecution should show him the same amount of mercy he displayed when he was a prosecutor. People that live in glass houses should not throw stones.

Mohammed Sbia of Salt Lake City, Utah I believe that if Gov. Spitzer has engaged in this behavior for months or years, repeatedly, then he has to step down ASAP. But if this behavior is recent and is his first, then I believe (if this is not a crime), the man needs to get a second chance. He has done tremendous work for NY and the country.

At the end, his career may very well be over. His work as DA will not be forgotten. I wish him the best.

Lynn Gray of Verbank, New York If all Congress was cleared of men who had been with prostitutes -- including interstate transactions -- the Congress would be just about empty. Lets get European and leave personal to personal and political leadership to leadership. It is absurd that a political career would be in jeopardy because of sexual activity during personal time. The people who condemn this the most are often offenders themselves. Such hypocrisy.

Don't Miss

• Is scandal enough to sink Spitzer for good?
• Read the criminal complaint (PDF)
• Spitzer made name fighting Wall Street crime

"Johnny Lawless" of Brownsville, Texas When it has become suspicious to transfer your own money from one account to another, the terrorists have won.

What IS suspicious is that a corrupt Bush Justice Department would be wiretapping the most hated man on Wall Street? All because he wanted to spend his own money? It doesn't make sense.

Why is no one asking how long the Bushies have been wiretapping the Governor and what other Democratic politicians are being wiretapped?

Spitzer should admit his sins but stay on. If they threw everyone out in Washington with sexual sins there would not be anyone left. Did Larry Craig resign yet?

"Small investor" of West Windsor, New Jersey Spitzer is the best friend of small investors in this country. While the Fed is sleeping on the wheel, Spitzer cleaned up those fat rats on the Wall Street and the insurance industry. I am not surprised at all that those rats will jump on him whenever they get a chance. The Fed should focus on how to clean up the subprime mess instead of being interested in what is going on in guy's private bedroom.

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When to Sell a Stock

Here is a great article I read at Kiplinger.com With everything in the market being so up and down you may find this article useful plus you can find a whole bunch of great articles and tips just by visiting Kiplinger.com

To make the decision easier, look for these four signs.

By Cameron Huddleston, Contributing Editor, Kiplinger.com

January 31, 2008

The right time to unload shares is one of the toughest calls investors have to make. Even professional traders and money managers admit it can be difficult. "It's a lot easier to buy a stock than to sell a stock," says David Giroux, manager of T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation fund.

That's because if you sell when a stock is down, you feel like you're giving up, Giroux says. And it rarely feels right to sell when a stock's price is soaring -- even though that can be the best time to sell.

Now, there's nothing wrong with holding a stock 20 or more years -- if it's the stock of an exceptionally well run company, says Giroux, who tends to hold stocks for three to five years in his $10.5 billion fund. But even if you're a buy-and-hold investor, you need to learn to say "sell" sometimes.

The market's recent volatility might be making you want to say, "Sell it all. I'll sit this out until things calm down." But you shouldn't let fear guide your investment decisions. Instead, look for these four signs to help you decide if the time is right.

1. A change in the company's fundamentals. Usually the best clue for when to sell a stock comes from the issuing company, itself. If a company's earnings stop growing, if its top management quits or is forced out, if it stops creating new products, or its products aren't receiving regulatory approval, the company's shares could be headed for a fall. Kiplinger's Portfolio Tracker can help you keep tabs on a company's performance.

One sure sign of trouble is if a company is having cash-flow problems, Giroux says. A cash flow statement gets to the guts of a business -- the cash it receives and the cash it pays out. It's especially handy when researching companies that don't have profits. You can find the information in the company's annual reports, accessible on its Web site, or sites such as Yahoo! Finance and Zacks.

Giroux says look for changes in free cash flow: 1. Is operating cash flow growing slower than net income? 2. Is inventory rising faster than sales? 3. Are receivables rising faster than sales? These are early warning signs that it might be time to sell the company's stock.

2. The stock's too hot. If a company's stock price is soaring but its fundamentals, such as earnings growth, aren't following suit, it's time to sell, says Jerry Jordan, Jr., manager of Jordan Opportunity fund. A stock with an especially high price-earnings ratio may be the victim of investors' unrealistic expectations. To calculate this familiar measure of a stock's value, divide the current share price by the company's earnings per share.

You can compare a stock's P/E with that of the overall market, the average P/E of its industry, or against the company's past P/Es. If the company's ratio is unusually high, it could have a hard time sustaining that price.

Jordan recommends picking a target P/E when you first invest in a stock. If the price jumps but the earnings keep up, you won't have to sell. This method can help give you the discipline to dump the stock before it becomes overpriced.

3. The stock's not keeping up. The market's rallying, but your stock isn't. This can be a sign to sell, Jordan says, especially for popular or trendy stocks that tend to move in sync with the market. For example, if stock was $100, drops to $80 but doesn't bounce back or even falls below that level, sell.

4. The stock is taking over your portfolio. If you went into your stock purchases aiming for diversification, revisit your portfolio once a quarter to see if your holdings are still in balance. If you have one or two big winners and their futures still look bright, you may want to consider taking some profits off the table -- and adding to your other holdings -- just so you won't be overexposed if the unexpected happens.

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HOG a Great Stock

HOG Harley-Davidson is one of those great stocks I think you should own. They have paid great dividends and continue to do so. This is a stock you want to start buying at the beginning of every spring when it is cheap to buy then hold some and sell some, of what you bought around the fall never sell all of it. This is my own opinion and take as you like. From PR Newswire

Harley-Davidson, Inc. HOG announced today that its Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.30 per share for the first quarter of 2008. The dividend is payable March 18, 2008 to the holders of record of the Company's common stock on March 5, 2008.

Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company for the group of companies doing business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Buell Motorcycle Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight motorcycles and offers a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel, and general merchandise. Buell Motorcycle Company produces sport motorcycles in addition to motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. provides wholesale and retail financing and insurance programs to Harley-Davidson dealers and customers.

Copyright 2008 PR Newswire

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Yuwie news back in December

Social networking site attempts to outflank MySpace & Facebook by sharing advertising revenues with end-users.

Norma, Okla. (PRWEB via PRWebDirect) December 3, 2007 -- Yuwie.com, one of the Internet’s newest social networking sites, today announced the details behind their innovative and highly successful new online business model.

“MySpace and Facebook have already proven how business can make money from the efforts of end-users,” said Korry Rogers, founder and CEO of Yuwie. “Yuwie is proving that both businesses and end-users can finally share the $100 million per month advertising revenue that floods into the social networking market today.”

Rogers explains that Yuwie’s business model is based upon two core tenants: 1) End-user participation is free – no sign-up fees or subscr i ption fees are required, and 2) Yuwie currently distributes well over half of the site’s advertising revenue back to participating end-users. Not only are Yuwie’s end-users paid for the traffic generated for their own personal page, but also for the traffic generated by friends they refer to the site, in addition to traffic generated from their friends’ subsequent referrals (for up to ten (10) layers or generations of personal referrals).

"The revenue potential for end-users is striking and very exciting once you start to run the numbers;” explained Rogers. "If someone only refers three of their friends, who refer three of their friends through ten levels, that one person will ultimately collect a percentage of advertising revenues from about 88,000 end-users, which can translate to about $8,800 per month for that person – every month."

So far, end-users’ response to Yuwie’s new business model has completely shattered initial projections by attracting 300,000 registered members to Yuwie’s brand of social networking – in just five (5) months. Moreover, Yuwie’s growing page views, which currently total 1,800,000 per day, have catapulted the website’s global ranking from below the top 100,000 list, to one of the top 2,500 websites in the world.

About Yuwie.com Yuwie (www.yuwie.com) is the world’s first social networking site that truly allows end-users to collect a percentage of online advertising revenues generated from the website. By integrating end-user personalization, social networking tools, and monthly income potential for end-users, Yuwie appears poised to usher in the next-generation of online business.

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