(no subject)

[vicarz]

Just saw the funniest commercial...mocking the victoria secret lingerie concept of guys trying to get their women out of their clothes, and instead into some horribly uncomfortable and expensive things "for her" so she will pleasure his visual whims...
http://www.pajamagram.com/ says give her what she really wants, some big floppy comfortable pjs! In my world view - that's for the win.

To my dismay, after sitting around last night watching the "How it's made" special on chocolate, which included Lindt truffles, I did some research to find out if I cound sink my retirement investment for the new year into truffles rather than doing any serious research. Instead, I found that LDSVF.PK is barely tradeable - showing up as $1900 a share US, but upon further research it hasn't sold since 2006 and then for about $3200.

I'm thinking of trying to balance investment with environmentally friendly activity, from organic food to solar power. These areas appear to be all research and fluff, with no profit at this time however.

I have a hard time investing because I'm so far outside the mainstream...how can I predict what people will buy if I don't even understand what music they listen to, shows they watch, and social networking sites they use?

Comments

[cristiex.livejournal.com]

My MIL's method of investing: Buy what she uses/likes. Somehow this has managed her into things like AOL, Apple and Harley Davidson. Investing in these right now might not be so easy, but she bought into them a gazillion splits ago. Her portfolio is sick. I wish I could make good investing choices too. Just hoping she doesn't gamble it all away during her half-years in Vegas. I'd imagine that the 'green' fad my bring some profit eventually, though.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Well as noted, the things I like are not popular - I'm a freak! There is no money in what I like. The clubs go out of business, nobody likes my music, I don't get the latest and the greatest and I don't understand what those are or the people that buy them.

For normal people that's a great strategy, for freaks it's a sure way to sink.

[grymnir.livejournal.com]

By the way, completely OFF TOPIC, but I've been thinking of much of your recent series of rants.

When you have some time you wish to waste (given existential philosophy) you may want to look up Jean-Paul Sartre's concept of "bad faith." In a nutshell, it isn't about religion, but rather personal responsibility. Current Sartre-ists contend that our "over medicalized" Western culture is all about using medical diagnosis to explain away errors in judgment and personal culpability, rather than taking responsibility for our actions.

Now, while I disagree with a number of your points regarding finances, opportunity, and bankruptcy, I do see that the overall trend to expect someone or something to arrange a bailout is related to a similar interpretation of "bad faith."

Just a thought and research project to go with your Lindts or truffles.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Neat! I will be doing much reading I think, when I finish invading france and working my abs. Oh, and truffles.

[cweaselle.livejournal.com]

I can't help you with anything because nothing like this is really in my life. I hope you do well with your investments though.

[samaritan1975.livejournal.com]

Have you read "A Random Walk Down Wall Street" by Malkiel? If not, you should!

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Haven't...last financial book I did was by motley fool.

[pictsy.livejournal.com]

PajamaGram is a new sponsor of WAMU (or maybe NPR itself), so I get to smile about them every morning. :)

I get Pax World Funds (http://www.paxworld.com) to do my socially responsible investing for me, but I realize that's no fun for you.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

I'm ok with funds - their perf isn't stellar though. I have some $ in Domini, but they also avoid "liquor" which I find absurd. I'm even up to the point I figure it's ok to invest in tobacco...

But avoiding environmentally destructive groups, horrible human rights records, and supporters of politicians I hate is worth a few % points.

[shesquint.livejournal.com]

Are you kidding me? There's a How It's Made about Lindt truffles? Because my boss just gave us each a bag of 50, and we were sitting in the office today trying to figure out, well, how they're made. All the while I was thinking to myself that that would be a great topic for that show. I'll be damned.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Yes and no - it's about how chocolate is made, but they featured Lindt amongst others.

i was getting into it so much...

[cyaneyed.livejournal.com]

i DVRed it.

it wasn't something i was _planning_ on watching, and yet... i couldn't look away. i just hate commercials so I recorded it and started channel surfing, but found myself coming back to see if the commercials were over.

amazing how much work goes into even our crappy .50 hershey bars.