Where The Heck Is Everybody????

[B.J]

Obviously, you can put me on the recently inactive list. I've been working on a career change and relocation for the last half-3/4 year. Now that I've settled in a bit, I may work my way back into things.

I decided I was tired of LA and its never ending dense housing developments and decided it was time to leave. Ended up moving to a completely different part of the world: Wichita, KS. Why, you might ask? I'm an aerospace engineer, and there is a LOT of aircraft work there. Real cheap living and a good commute, too. Weather's been bone chilling this week, but other than that, 30-40 has been pretty much the norm this time of year. I can live with that. It's actually the 90-100 Summers that'll test me.

Now, if I can just sell my damn house already!

Glad to be back.

[Websman]

Welcome Back BJ!!!

[IIC]

Well...It is good to see some of you are still among the living

Kansas...Quite a change I suppose

[B.J]

Thanks, Doug, VTP.

Only regret about leaving the state is I left friends behind, and never got to meet the California HUGE investor contingent Doug and Jiesen. But, I plan to travel there periodically.

That and the Thai food's not as good here. But that's actually more a problem with my wife than myself.

[scifos]

I've been busy too. Work has kept my plate full, working for South Dakota DOE getting federal reports done. Those feds are crazy, they send a 30 page form that needs to be done in a week and you're still working on the last one.

I'm just trying to keep up reading the threads that I like and make a pick on the POTW (often under little research) and do a little bit with my own thread, which nobody reads and is instantly buried under all the newer posts.

[ninner]

i am still alive as well....making good money....by reading charts correctly and reading IBD!!! LOL....current holdings are SYX,SWS,VTAL,DRQ and GRP.

[mrmarket]

While the number of posts has declined, the web page hits are at around the historical averages, meaning people, though not necessarily members, are reading, or at least looking at, what all of you have to say.

[IIC]

While the number of posts has declined, the web page hits are at around the historical averages, meaning people, though not necessarily members, are reading, or at least looking at, what all of you have to say.

That's good to hear.

I've noticed a marked decrease in posts at Forums and Chats around the Net since last May. It appears to be getting worse this year.

My speculation is that even though some indices are at or near all time highs, many retail investors are losing money.

Last year was very tough for the MoMo crowd IMO...That can be evidenced about how bad CSSGX did.

Since 2000 there have been some big changes in the markets...notably, increased VOLATILITY. Although I wouldn't give up the Internet I believe that it has actually made it more difficult for the Average Jane and Joe Investor to do well on Intermediate term investments. There's a lot of sharks out there just waiting to take your $$$ IMO...It is very important to be flexible...Doug(IMO)

[spikefader]

Since 2000 there have been some big changes in the markets...notably, increased VOLATILITY.....Doug(IMO)

Doug, did you mean to say decreased volatility? Relative to late 2000, volatility has dropped close to 60%.

[IIC]

Doug, did you mean to say decreased volatility? Relative to late 2000, volatility has dropped close to 60%.

Sure...you can say that per the chart below...But from my own personal experience dating back to the 70's, individual stocks are much more volatile than they used to be...I remember back in the 80's when I mostly just checked my stocks when I got home from work...it was abnormal for one of my holdings to move up or down 5% in a week...Now it can happen in a few minutes.

It is not new the past couple of years...this has been going on since about '98. However, from '98 till '00 it didn't matter because it seemed like it was easy to find stocks going up.

The VIX and investing in individual stocks are 2 different animals IMO.

[spikefader]

VIX and investing in individual stocks are 2 different animals IMO.

Well, as far as the nature of VIX versus stocks goes, yep, for sure it is very "different". But the two are integrally related in a complex way.

Two questions on your comments would be a) are you trading the same kinds of issues these days, Doug? b) Do they have similar levels of beta?

I don't know, but maybe today you're scalping stocks with higher beta and higher % intraday range and risk.......perhaps not only compared to back then but compared to today's broader market issues that are more aligned with the indexes??

Always interested to read the perspective of an old market dog such as yer good self though Doug!

[IIC]

Well, as far as the nature of VIX versus stocks goes, yep, for sure it is very "different". But the two are integrally related in a complex way.

Two questions on your comments would be a) are you trading the same kinds of issues these days, Doug? b) Do they have similar levels of beta?

I don't know, but maybe today you're scalping stocks with higher beta and higher % intraday range and risk.......perhaps not only compared to back then but compared to today's broader market issues that are more aligned with the indexes??

Always interested to read the perspective of an old market dog such as yer good self though Doug!

OLD MARKET DOG...Sheesh...I'm not that old.

Right now I'm just studying options so I'm taking a little break...and yes, I'm looking at Beta for optionables...But for scalping stocks I don't have time to check the Beta.

As far as trading...for many years I just traded a modified Canslim...Since 2000 I just try to trade w/ whatever is happening

[MEA_1956]

Boooooo

Just finished another perposal and stopped in to catch up. Welcome to the midwest B.J., have kin in your new home town. Scifos, know what you are talking about with Fed reports. Doing some work with the USDA Rual Development, lots of hoops you have to jump through to land a contract. M.M., traveled alot of weekends with my son when he was younger & wanted to join the W.W.F. Hang in there, feed them right, and someday they just might make the cover of S.I. My son topped out at 6' 4"' and weights around #275. TTFN Marlin

[MEA_1956]

Has any body seen THE Husker Howling thread lately. I think it made its way to the basement. Still holding GIGM, AEOS, GACF.ob, & MWRK. Marlin