Saturday, October 14, 2023
Sunday, September 03, 2023
Been a while, eh?
The fire's been gone for a while. I don't know if Donald Trump going to jail will bring it back or not?
Thursday, July 06, 2017
Lennar and Atlantic & Pacific are creating more homeless in San Diego
And the NIMBY's on the PQ planning board? Shame on you. Good luck with the traffic.
Saturday, June 17, 2017
Greedy developers (reposted and updated)
Residents have been led to believe that they have no choice and that is BS, the entire city council has to vote on this. The inevitable homelessness for some of the long time residents with section 8 vouchers nobody wants to honor in this grossly overpriced area is not a done deal.
(from Aug 20, 2016)
I'm looking at the property where I have rented an apartment for 17 years. 350 apartments. Lots of grass and trees. Some of these trees are probably 50 years old. I'm sure they absorb some of the pollution that the 14 lanes of adjacent freeway spew. There are only 10 units max in each building, which makes it easy to control cockroaches. Contrary to popular belief, cockroaches are usually a sign that building maintenance sucks, not that the tenant is dirty.
(from Aug 20, 2016)
I'm looking at the property where I have rented an apartment for 17 years. 350 apartments. Lots of grass and trees. Some of these trees are probably 50 years old. I'm sure they absorb some of the pollution that the 14 lanes of adjacent freeway spew. There are only 10 units max in each building, which makes it easy to control cockroaches. Contrary to popular belief, cockroaches are usually a sign that building maintenance sucks, not that the tenant is dirty.
Sometime in the next 18 months all of the residents (some with section 8 vouchers) will be booted out so that the property can be redeveloped into a mix of single family homes for sale and multi-family units for sale and rent. Over 600 units, with 240 for rent. No doubt the rentals will be much less affordable. They redeveloped the apartments across the street and the rent over there is twice what it is here.
I really don't know where the people who work in nursing homes, or food service or all of the other low wage workers are supposed to live? Average rent in San Diego is 175% of a full-time minimum wage workers pay. That is a crap studio in a crap neighborhood. It's not uncommon to see entire families in one bedroom apartments. And how many minimum wage workers can actually GET work full time? The employers have to pay BENEFITS to full time employees. Oh my, the horrors.
So, Mr. Big shot developer,
Where does that kind lady who takes care or your mother in the nursing home live? How about that waitress your greedy ass habitually under tips? The crew that takes care of your yard? Do they all get up at 2AM because it takes forever to get across the US-Mexico border every day? Ahhhh, it's ok, they can sleep,when they're dead. Right?
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Surviving Trump. Barely
and soon I will be involved with local politics. Ewwwwww, but they're so dirty here. Deep breath. Gotta do it. Gotta do what I can.
Wednesday, January 04, 2017
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Friday, November 25, 2016
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Wednesday, November 09, 2016
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Greedy developers
I'm looking at the property where I have rented an apartment for 17 years. 350 apartments. Lots of grass and trees. Some of these trees are probably 50 years old. I'm sure they absorb some of the pollution that the 14 lanes of adjacent freeway spew. There are only 10 units max in each building, which makes it easy to control cockroaches. Contrary to popular belief, cockroaches are usually a sign that building maintenance sucks, not that the tenant is dirty.
Sometime in the next 18 months all of the residents (some with section 8 vouchers) will be booted out so that the property can be redeveloped into a mix of single family homes for sale and multi-family units for sale and rent. Over 600 units, with 240 for rent. No doubt the rentals will be much less affordable. They redeveloped the apartments across the street and the rent over there is twice what it is here.
I really don't know where the people who work in nursing homes, or food service or all of the other low wage workers are supposed to live? Average rent in San Diego is 175% of a full-time minimum wage workers pay. That is a crap studio in a crap neighborhood. It's not uncommon to see entire families in one bedroom apartments. And how many minimum wage workers can actually GET work full time? The employers have to pay BENEFITS to full time employees. Oh my, the horrors.
So, Mr. Big shot developer,
Where does that kind lady who takes care or your mother in the nursing home live? How about that waitress your greedy ass habitually under tips? The crew that takes care of your yard? Do they all get up at 2AM because it takes forever to get across the US-Mexico border every day? Ahhhh, it's ok, they can sleep,when they're dead. Right?
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Game Interruption
Opium. Crack. War. Profits.
Opium throughout history (Frontline PBS)
Key Figures In CIA-Crack Cocaine Scandal Begin To Come Forward
HUFFPOST POLITICS
10/10/2014 07:30 am ET | Updated Oct 10, 2014
I Miss Iraq. I Miss My Gun. I Miss My War.
BY BRIAN MOCKENHAUPT
JUN 26, 2007
Esquire
A year after coming home from a tour in Iraq, a soldier returns home to find out he left something behind."
War Is a Racket
By General Smedley Butler
WikiLeaks Reveals That Military Contractors Have Not Lost Their Taste For Child Prostitutes
Jason Linkins HuffPo 12/08/2010 12:09 pm ET | Updated May 25, 2011
ECHO PAPA EXPOSED
Inside Erik Prince's Treacherous Drive to Build a Private Air Force
Jeremy Scahill, Matthew Cole
Apr. 11 2016 2:50 a.m.
Why the Banks Should Be Broken Up.
Bernie or no Bernie, 'Times' columnist Paul Krugmnan is wrong about the banks
Rolling Stone
Matt Taibbi April 8, 2016
Panama Papers and America's problem By Matthew Gardner Updated 10:03 AM ET, Tue April 5, 2016
If you don't think these things are connected you're probably too brainwashed or stupid to think. It ain't rocket science.
Opium throughout history (Frontline PBS)
Key Figures In CIA-Crack Cocaine Scandal Begin To Come Forward
HUFFPOST POLITICS
10/10/2014 07:30 am ET | Updated Oct 10, 2014
I Miss Iraq. I Miss My Gun. I Miss My War.
BY BRIAN MOCKENHAUPT
JUN 26, 2007
Esquire
A year after coming home from a tour in Iraq, a soldier returns home to find out he left something behind."
War Is a Racket
By General Smedley Butler
WikiLeaks Reveals That Military Contractors Have Not Lost Their Taste For Child Prostitutes
Jason Linkins HuffPo 12/08/2010 12:09 pm ET | Updated May 25, 2011
ECHO PAPA EXPOSED
Inside Erik Prince's Treacherous Drive to Build a Private Air Force
Jeremy Scahill, Matthew Cole
Apr. 11 2016 2:50 a.m.
Why the Banks Should Be Broken Up.
Bernie or no Bernie, 'Times' columnist Paul Krugmnan is wrong about the banks
Rolling Stone
Matt Taibbi April 8, 2016
Panama Papers and America's problem By Matthew Gardner Updated 10:03 AM ET, Tue April 5, 2016
If you don't think these things are connected you're probably too brainwashed or stupid to think. It ain't rocket science.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Sarah Palin Endorses Donald Trump, Which Could Bolster Him in Iowa
POLITICS
By ALAN RAPPEPORT and MAGGIE HABERMANJAN. 19, 2016
Sarah Palin Endorses Donald Trump, Which Could Bolster Him in Iowa
Oh Lord have mercy. Get the popcorn.
Thursday, December 03, 2015
Gun Business by the numbers
NBC News Thursday Dec 3, 2015
$13.5 billion
Annual revenue of gun and ammunition manufacturing industry, with a $1.5 billion profit. (IBIS World)
$3.1 billion
Annual revenue of gun and ammunition stores, with a $478.4 million profit. (IBIS World)
10,847,792
The number of pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns and miscellaneous firearms manufactured in the U.S. in 2013, the latest full year available. That's 4,441,726 pistols, 725,282 revolvers, 3,979,570 rifles, 1,203,072 shotguns, and 495,142 miscellaneous firearms. (ATF)
4%
Percentage of the above guns which were exported. Of those 10.84 million guns, 10,413,880 stay in America. (ATF)
270-310 million
Estimated number of guns in the U.S. (Pew Research Center)
263,223
Number of full-time jobs related to the firearm industry, up from 209,750 in 2012. (NSSF)
$42.9 billion
Estimated overall economic impact of the firearms and ammo industry in the U.S. (NSSF)
20,968,273
Number of firearm background checks initiated in 2014. Because a background check is required before a gun is bought, this numbers gives insight into gun sale trends. However, just because a background check was initiated doesn't mean a gun was purchased. (FBI)
9,138,123
Number of firearm background checks in 1999. (FBI)
5
Average number of firearms owned by a gun owner once you toss out the top 3% of gun owners who own more than 25 guns. (Journal of Injury Prevention)
31%
Percentage of American households with guns. (NORC)
29%, 43.7%, 55.9%
Adults living in a household with firearms: percentage by suburbs, other urban areas, and rural counties, respectively. (NORC)
60%
Percentage of Americans who say personal safety/protection is the reason they own a gun. (Gallup)
$229 billion
The cost of fatal and non-fatal gun violence to the U.S. in 2012, representing 1.4% of total gross domestic product.(Mother Jones)
San Bernardino suspects identified; probe turns to motive, planning
WaPo Dec 3 2015San Bernardino suspects identified; probe turns to motive, planning
Monday, November 16, 2015
Wall Street jumps 1 percent, looks beyond Paris attacks
"Wall Street surged over 1 percent on Monday as investors bet Friday's deadly attacks in Paris would have little long-term effect on the U.S. economy and corporate earnings.
U.S. oil prices rose after French air strikes in Syria in reaction to multiple attacks in Paris on Friday that killed 129 people, with Islamic State claiming responsibility. Exxon's (XOM.N) shares rose 2.65 percent, while Chevron (CVX.N) was up 3.45 percent. [O/R]
The three major U.S. stock indexes opened with a loss but soon turned around, with the Dow Jones industrial average and S&P 500 climbing more than 1 percent.
"Markets are slowly becoming more and more immune to these types of events," said John Brady, managing director at R.J. O’Brien & Associates in Chicago. "Right at the opening there was a bit of a panic trade and then from there more steady hands - more professional, deep-pocketed hands - came in and bought the market."
All of the 10 major S&P sectors rose, led by telecom .SPLRCT and energy .SPNY stocks, although companies linked to travel and leisure took a hit.
American Airlines (AAL.O) dropped 2.07 percent, United Continental (UAL.N) fell 1.41 percent and Delta Airlines (DAL.N) lost 2.59 percent.
Cruise operator Carnival Corp (CCL.N) fell 2.04 percent, while travel company Expedia (EXPE.O) was down 2.63 percent.
At 2:34 pm, the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was up 1.11 percent at 17,436.48 points and the S&P 500 .SPX gained 1.11 percent to 2,045.4.
The Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 0.8 percent to 4,967.37.
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett told CNBC he was not selling any securities from his portfolio as a result of the attacks.
Buffett cut his stakes in Goldman Sachs (GS.N) and Wal-Mart (WMT.N) in the quarter to Sept. 30, and raised his holding in IBM (IBM.N), according to a regulatory filing. Goldman was nearly flat. IBM was up 1.65 percent and Wal-Mart 1.8 percent.
Investors remain focused on expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve could hike interest rates in December for the first time in nearly a decade, Brady said.
Last week, U.S. stocks logged their largest weekly loss since August on the back of weak economic data and disappointing earnings from retailers such as Macy's (M.N).
Starwood Hotels (HOT.N) fell 4.7 percent to $71.47 after agreeing to be bought by Marriott International (MAR.O) for $12.2 billion, or $72.08 per share. Marriott rose 0.22 percent.
Advancing issues outnumbered decliners on the NYSE by 2,051 to 945. On the Nasdaq, 1,551 issues rose and 1,203 fell.
The S&P 500 index showed four new 52-week highs and 14 new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 12 new highs and 144 new lows.
(Additional reporting by Abhiram Nandakumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza, Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Chizu Nomiyama)"
Hmm. That's interesting- the earnings started before the attacks in Paris
5 Defense Stocks that Crushed Q3 Earnings Estimates
by Zacks Equity Research Published on October 29, 2015 |
Don't be influenced by widespread concerns that budgetary belt-tightening on Capitol Hill will hit the bottom lines of U.S.-based defense contractors. Every fiscal year, no matter how constrained is the funding picture, the Pentagon almost always gets its way.
This is quite evident from the recent Zacks Earnings Trend. The earnings beat ratio of 77.8% of the aerospace and defense companies that have already unfolded their Q3 earnings results is a stellar 85.7%.
These defense companies were not only up against the ongoing budget austerity but were subject to a tepid economic growth scenario throughout the third quarter of 2015. Growth remained challenged for most of the quarter thanks to a strong dollar and weak energy prices. Moreover, the persistent slowdown in China deepened global economic woes. Cracks began to appear in the economy at a time when the U.S. was reasserting itself as the global growth leader.
In spite of the macro issues, the defense companies held up well this past quarter. They have not only reported better-than-expected results but also lifted their views. Let’s have a look at some of the defense companies that have crushed the Street expectations this Q3 season:
Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT - Analyst Report)
The Pentagon’s prime contractor – Lockheed Martin − opened this earnings season with robust third-quarter profits. It reported better-than-expected earnings along with higher revenues, solid margins, and strong cash flows, buoyed by robust sales of its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The solid quarterly results have enabled it to lift its 2015 guidance for sales, operating profit, and EPS.
Lockheed Martin continues to be a strong cash generator helping it to take important cash deployment decisions. In the third quarter, it achieved over $1.5 billion in cash from operations compared with $990 million a year ago. Also, during the quarter, the company’s board of directors approved two major moves in the areas of cash deployment.
First, Lockheed Martin increased its quarterly dividend by 10%, bringing the annualized payout to $6.60 per share from $6.00 per share earlier. This marked the 13th consecutive annual double-digit increase in Lockheed Martin’s quarterly dividend rate. Along with that, this defense behemoth has also increased its share repurchase authorization by $3 billion, consistent with its plan to have less than 300 million shares outstanding by the end of 2017.
This military super hero is the main beneficiary of war and armed conflict, of which the world has no dearth. The company's third-quarter results reveal that this defense company is overflowing with orders, comprising both foreign and domestic, that will boost its bottom line through 2016 and beyond.
The Boeing Company (BA - Analyst Report)
Aerospace giant delivered third-quarter 2015 adjusted earnings of $2.52 per share, confidently beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 13.5%. Earnings also increased 18% year over year on the back of strong operational performance.
Revenues came in at $25.85 billion for the quarter, exceeding Street expectations by 4.5% and improving 9% from the year-ago level on solid commercial aircraft deliveries. Free cash flow was strong at $2.3 billion compared with $317 million a year ago.
The company raised its full-year earnings outlook to the range of $7.95–$8.15 per share from the prior guidance of $7.70–$7.90 per share. Boeing also lifted its revenue guidance for the year to the range of $95−$97 billion from $94.5–$96.5 billion expected earlier driven by increased commercial delivery outlook.
Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC - Analyst Report)
Just after winning a multibillion-dollar contract to build a new U.S. bomber, Northrop reported solid third quarter 2015 results with revenue and earnings beating the Street expectations by 6% and 2.4%, respectively. The maker of the current B-2 bomber and Global Hawk unmanned planes has also increased its profit outlook for the full year.
Operating margin expanded to 13.3% from 12.9% due to higher pension adjustments and a $21 million decrease in corporate expenses. Chief Executive Officer, Wesley Bush, said that the international market accounted for 15% of its business so far this year and the company is witnessing demand from Europe on the Triton plane.
Northrop reported a 3.9% rise in third-quarter adjusted earnings to $2.41 per share from $2.32 a year earlier. It also raised the low end of its 2016 revenue guidance.
Apart from the solid earnings report, Northrop shares climbed 5.48% on Wednesday after winning a contract from the Department of Defense for the Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B), beating out a Boeing-Lockheed Martin team. The new B-3 bomber will replace Boeing's B-52s, which have been in operation since the 1950s. The Air Force plans to buy 80 to 100 of the new airplanes, and the contract could go up to $50 billion to $80 billion. The first airplanes are scheduled to enter service around 2025.
General Dynamics Corp. (GD - Analyst Report)
The company’s third-quarter earnings from continuing operations of $2.28 per share topped the Street consensus by 8.6% and also increased 11.2% from the year-ago period on the back of higher defense orders and solid demand for its Gulfstream airplanes.
Revenues of $7.99 billion surpassed the Street expectation by 3.1%. Notably, General Dynamics delivered 31 "outfitted" large-cabin aircraft in the third quarter, up by 6 units, while deliveries of mid-cabin jets doubled to 12.
General Dynamics’ third-quarter results were also driven by international defense orders, comprising a contract announced in September to refurbish and upgrade 150 Abrams tanks for sale to the Kingdom of Morocco.
The company raised its 2015 profit outlook based on Q3 results, higher deliveries of Gulfstream business jets and surging sales at the submarine-building unit. Earnings are expected to be between $8.90 and $9.00 per share for 2015, up from $8.70 to $8.80 projected earlier.
Textron Inc. (TXT - Analyst Report)
Diversified U.S. conglomerate Textron reported third-quarter 2015 earnings from continuing operations of 63 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 60 cents by 5%. The reported figure also increased 10.5% from the year-ago quarter, driven by solid margin contribution across all its segments despite the plunge in revenues.
The company’s share prices also moved north as the maker of Bell helicopters and Cessna business jets is valiantly weathering turbulence in the aerospace market. Although Bell was hurt by slumping oil and gas industry demand, its 13.1% margin grew from a year earlier, reflecting solid performance.
Profit for 2015 is now expected to be $2.40 to $2.50 a share, narrower than the earlier forecast range of $2.30 to $2.50.
Bottom Line
Although a stronger dollar and budget austerity were deterrents, we believe these stocks have played well in this earnings season considering their cost-cutting measures, stock buybacks and earnings gains from overseas businesses.
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >>
- See more at: http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/195804/5-defense-stocks-that-crushed-q3-earnings-estimates#sthash.7JCXcjFA.dpuf
Read more at Reutershttp://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/16/us-markets-stocks-idUSKCN0T516220151116#c9cQOfhAlmk286rZ.99
U.S. oil prices rose after French air strikes in Syria in reaction to multiple attacks in Paris on Friday that killed 129 people, with Islamic State claiming responsibility. Exxon's (XOM.N) shares rose 2.65 percent, while Chevron (CVX.N) was up 3.45 percent. [O/R]
The three major U.S. stock indexes opened with a loss but soon turned around, with the Dow Jones industrial average and S&P 500 climbing more than 1 percent.
"Markets are slowly becoming more and more immune to these types of events," said John Brady, managing director at R.J. O’Brien & Associates in Chicago. "Right at the opening there was a bit of a panic trade and then from there more steady hands - more professional, deep-pocketed hands - came in and bought the market."
All of the 10 major S&P sectors rose, led by telecom .SPLRCT and energy .SPNY stocks, although companies linked to travel and leisure took a hit.
American Airlines (AAL.O) dropped 2.07 percent, United Continental (UAL.N) fell 1.41 percent and Delta Airlines (DAL.N) lost 2.59 percent.
Cruise operator Carnival Corp (CCL.N) fell 2.04 percent, while travel company Expedia (EXPE.O) was down 2.63 percent.
At 2:34 pm, the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was up 1.11 percent at 17,436.48 points and the S&P 500 .SPX gained 1.11 percent to 2,045.4.
The Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 0.8 percent to 4,967.37.
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett told CNBC he was not selling any securities from his portfolio as a result of the attacks.
Buffett cut his stakes in Goldman Sachs (GS.N) and Wal-Mart (WMT.N) in the quarter to Sept. 30, and raised his holding in IBM (IBM.N), according to a regulatory filing. Goldman was nearly flat. IBM was up 1.65 percent and Wal-Mart 1.8 percent.
Investors remain focused on expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve could hike interest rates in December for the first time in nearly a decade, Brady said.
Last week, U.S. stocks logged their largest weekly loss since August on the back of weak economic data and disappointing earnings from retailers such as Macy's (M.N).
Starwood Hotels (HOT.N) fell 4.7 percent to $71.47 after agreeing to be bought by Marriott International (MAR.O) for $12.2 billion, or $72.08 per share. Marriott rose 0.22 percent.
Advancing issues outnumbered decliners on the NYSE by 2,051 to 945. On the Nasdaq, 1,551 issues rose and 1,203 fell.
The S&P 500 index showed four new 52-week highs and 14 new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 12 new highs and 144 new lows.
(Additional reporting by Abhiram Nandakumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza, Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Chizu Nomiyama)"
Hmm. That's interesting- the earnings started before the attacks in Paris
5 Defense Stocks that Crushed Q3 Earnings Estimates
by Zacks Equity Research Published on October 29, 2015 |
Don't be influenced by widespread concerns that budgetary belt-tightening on Capitol Hill will hit the bottom lines of U.S.-based defense contractors. Every fiscal year, no matter how constrained is the funding picture, the Pentagon almost always gets its way.
This is quite evident from the recent Zacks Earnings Trend. The earnings beat ratio of 77.8% of the aerospace and defense companies that have already unfolded their Q3 earnings results is a stellar 85.7%.
These defense companies were not only up against the ongoing budget austerity but were subject to a tepid economic growth scenario throughout the third quarter of 2015. Growth remained challenged for most of the quarter thanks to a strong dollar and weak energy prices. Moreover, the persistent slowdown in China deepened global economic woes. Cracks began to appear in the economy at a time when the U.S. was reasserting itself as the global growth leader.
In spite of the macro issues, the defense companies held up well this past quarter. They have not only reported better-than-expected results but also lifted their views. Let’s have a look at some of the defense companies that have crushed the Street expectations this Q3 season:
Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT - Analyst Report)
The Pentagon’s prime contractor – Lockheed Martin − opened this earnings season with robust third-quarter profits. It reported better-than-expected earnings along with higher revenues, solid margins, and strong cash flows, buoyed by robust sales of its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The solid quarterly results have enabled it to lift its 2015 guidance for sales, operating profit, and EPS.
Lockheed Martin continues to be a strong cash generator helping it to take important cash deployment decisions. In the third quarter, it achieved over $1.5 billion in cash from operations compared with $990 million a year ago. Also, during the quarter, the company’s board of directors approved two major moves in the areas of cash deployment.
First, Lockheed Martin increased its quarterly dividend by 10%, bringing the annualized payout to $6.60 per share from $6.00 per share earlier. This marked the 13th consecutive annual double-digit increase in Lockheed Martin’s quarterly dividend rate. Along with that, this defense behemoth has also increased its share repurchase authorization by $3 billion, consistent with its plan to have less than 300 million shares outstanding by the end of 2017.
This military super hero is the main beneficiary of war and armed conflict, of which the world has no dearth. The company's third-quarter results reveal that this defense company is overflowing with orders, comprising both foreign and domestic, that will boost its bottom line through 2016 and beyond.
The Boeing Company (BA - Analyst Report)
Aerospace giant delivered third-quarter 2015 adjusted earnings of $2.52 per share, confidently beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 13.5%. Earnings also increased 18% year over year on the back of strong operational performance.
Revenues came in at $25.85 billion for the quarter, exceeding Street expectations by 4.5% and improving 9% from the year-ago level on solid commercial aircraft deliveries. Free cash flow was strong at $2.3 billion compared with $317 million a year ago.
The company raised its full-year earnings outlook to the range of $7.95–$8.15 per share from the prior guidance of $7.70–$7.90 per share. Boeing also lifted its revenue guidance for the year to the range of $95−$97 billion from $94.5–$96.5 billion expected earlier driven by increased commercial delivery outlook.
Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC - Analyst Report)
Just after winning a multibillion-dollar contract to build a new U.S. bomber, Northrop reported solid third quarter 2015 results with revenue and earnings beating the Street expectations by 6% and 2.4%, respectively. The maker of the current B-2 bomber and Global Hawk unmanned planes has also increased its profit outlook for the full year.
Operating margin expanded to 13.3% from 12.9% due to higher pension adjustments and a $21 million decrease in corporate expenses. Chief Executive Officer, Wesley Bush, said that the international market accounted for 15% of its business so far this year and the company is witnessing demand from Europe on the Triton plane.
Northrop reported a 3.9% rise in third-quarter adjusted earnings to $2.41 per share from $2.32 a year earlier. It also raised the low end of its 2016 revenue guidance.
Apart from the solid earnings report, Northrop shares climbed 5.48% on Wednesday after winning a contract from the Department of Defense for the Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B), beating out a Boeing-Lockheed Martin team. The new B-3 bomber will replace Boeing's B-52s, which have been in operation since the 1950s. The Air Force plans to buy 80 to 100 of the new airplanes, and the contract could go up to $50 billion to $80 billion. The first airplanes are scheduled to enter service around 2025.
General Dynamics Corp. (GD - Analyst Report)
The company’s third-quarter earnings from continuing operations of $2.28 per share topped the Street consensus by 8.6% and also increased 11.2% from the year-ago period on the back of higher defense orders and solid demand for its Gulfstream airplanes.
Revenues of $7.99 billion surpassed the Street expectation by 3.1%. Notably, General Dynamics delivered 31 "outfitted" large-cabin aircraft in the third quarter, up by 6 units, while deliveries of mid-cabin jets doubled to 12.
General Dynamics’ third-quarter results were also driven by international defense orders, comprising a contract announced in September to refurbish and upgrade 150 Abrams tanks for sale to the Kingdom of Morocco.
The company raised its 2015 profit outlook based on Q3 results, higher deliveries of Gulfstream business jets and surging sales at the submarine-building unit. Earnings are expected to be between $8.90 and $9.00 per share for 2015, up from $8.70 to $8.80 projected earlier.
Textron Inc. (TXT - Analyst Report)
Diversified U.S. conglomerate Textron reported third-quarter 2015 earnings from continuing operations of 63 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 60 cents by 5%. The reported figure also increased 10.5% from the year-ago quarter, driven by solid margin contribution across all its segments despite the plunge in revenues.
The company’s share prices also moved north as the maker of Bell helicopters and Cessna business jets is valiantly weathering turbulence in the aerospace market. Although Bell was hurt by slumping oil and gas industry demand, its 13.1% margin grew from a year earlier, reflecting solid performance.
Profit for 2015 is now expected to be $2.40 to $2.50 a share, narrower than the earlier forecast range of $2.30 to $2.50.
Bottom Line
Although a stronger dollar and budget austerity were deterrents, we believe these stocks have played well in this earnings season considering their cost-cutting measures, stock buybacks and earnings gains from overseas businesses.
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >>
- See more at: http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/195804/5-defense-stocks-that-crushed-q3-earnings-estimates#sthash.7JCXcjFA.dpuf
Read more at Reutershttp://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/16/us-markets-stocks-idUSKCN0T516220151116#c9cQOfhAlmk286rZ.99
Friday, November 13, 2015
Paris Attacks Kill More Than 100, Police Say; French Seal Border
Paris Attacks Kill More Than 100, Police Say; French Seal Border
By ADAM NOSSITER and RICK GLADSTONENOV. 13, 2015 NYT
"PARIS — The Paris area reeled Friday night from a shooting rampage, explosions and mass hostage-taking that President François Hollande called an unprecedented terrorist attack on France. He closed the borders and mobilized the military in a national emergency....
The world is watching in horror as a flurry of violence is erupting in Paris. Here's what we know about what's happening:
— The Associated Press is reporting that the siege at the Paris concert hall is over and at least two attackers have been killed.
usa today what we know now
I'm saddened by this.
By ADAM NOSSITER and RICK GLADSTONENOV. 13, 2015 NYT
"PARIS — The Paris area reeled Friday night from a shooting rampage, explosions and mass hostage-taking that President François Hollande called an unprecedented terrorist attack on France. He closed the borders and mobilized the military in a national emergency....
The world is watching in horror as a flurry of violence is erupting in Paris. Here's what we know about what's happening:
— The Associated Press is reporting that the siege at the Paris concert hall is over and at least two attackers have been killed.
usa today what we know now
I'm saddened by this.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Dear Randall L. Stevenson, CEO AT&T
Dear Sir,
I cancelled my AT&T internet service in December of 2014 and asked during the phone call to Mexico City with customer service if I could settle up any monies owed to the company. No, no no, I was told, I would need to wait for the bill. Got it, paid it, was using another ISP, didn't think about it.
Recieved another bill the following month. ??? Called customer service again, was assured that service had been cancelled, was told to ignore bill, Yadda, yadda yadda.
Same thing the next month and the following month.
Yesterday I received a bill that had gone to collections. For service I cancelled REPEATEDLY and never used.
Your mother must be so proud.
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Saturday, April 18, 2015
I've lost interest in blogging
Mostly I'm dinking around on FaceBook. Reading much the same type of information, with breaks in the outrage to play stupid games that make me laugh.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
The "failed"drug war
Wow, this is a great article detailing some of the failures of the drug war. In detail. Bravo Rebecca Gordon.
What Do ISIS and Drug Cartels in Mexico Have in Common?
The failed drug war in the U.S. and the billion-dollar cartels have created an ISIS-like reality right across the border.
By Rebecca Gordon / TomDispatch
March 22, 2015
The fact is if the fat cats weren't getting fatter the war on drugs would end.
You see a whole lotta prosecutions for money laundering for the big drugs cartels in this list?
Yeah, me either.
What Do ISIS and Drug Cartels in Mexico Have in Common?
The failed drug war in the U.S. and the billion-dollar cartels have created an ISIS-like reality right across the border.
By Rebecca Gordon / TomDispatch
March 22, 2015
The fact is if the fat cats weren't getting fatter the war on drugs would end.
You see a whole lotta prosecutions for money laundering for the big drugs cartels in this list?
Yeah, me either.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Major media and scholars side with Taya Kyle against Jesse Ventura
Article by: RANDY FURST ,(Minneapolis?) Star Tribune Updated: March 10, 2015 - 10:00 PM
"Heavy hitters in U.S. media joined prominent First Amendment scholars to file two amicus briefs challenging last summer’s jury verdict that favored former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura in his defamation trial in St. Paul.
The friend-of-the-court media brief, filed with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, characterizes the $1.3 million jury award to Ventura as unprecedented, with no basis in common law.
The scholars’ filing faults U.S. District Judge Richard Kyle’s instructions to the jury.
The briefs support Taya Kyle, widow of Chris Kyle, author of the bestselling memoir “American Sniper.”
Ventura’s lawyers convinced the jury in a 10-2 decision that he had been defamed by Chris Kyle, who wrote in the book that he punched Ventura and knocked him down in a California bar after Ventura made disparaging remarks about Navy SEALs and the U.S. government.
Ventura denied the incident happened.
He was awarded $1.8 million, including $500,000 for defamation and $1.3 million for Kyle’s unjust enrichment. Taya Kyle, who oversees her husband’s estate, has appealed the decision to the 8th Circuit.
The brief by 30 media organizations, filed Tuesday, is signed by Floyd Abrams, a well-known First Amendment attorney who represented the New York Times in the Pentagon Papers case.
They said they are concerned about the negative impact on media organizations of “unjustified and potentially crippling awards” such as this one.
The other brief, written on behalf of eight scholars and filed Monday, includes Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the School of Law at the University of California Irvine.
Joseph Daly, emeritus professor of law at Hamline University, who has followed the Ventura case, said that the amicus signers are “extremely impressive and without a doubt the Eighth Circuit judges will read these amicus briefs very, very carefully.”
Among the news organizations that signed the media brief are the New York Times, the Washington Post, the American Society of News Editors, National Public Radio, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the Minnesota Newspaper Association.
In challenging the $1.3 million unjust enrichment award, Abrams contends it is unprecedented in a libel case for jurors to award a portion of the book profits to Ventura.
“An award of profits has nothing to do with the harm suffered by the plaintiff; it is punishment, plain and simple,” he wrote.
The media brief questions the assumptions in the verdict but does not challenge the $500,000 defamation award.
However, the scholars in their amicus brief, written by attorney Leonard Niehoff, urge the 8th Circuit to reverse the entire jury decision, contending that the threshold of defamation is very high and that Judge Kyle gave the jury improper instructions.
Niehoff wrote that to prove defamation, Ventura had to prove that Chris Kyle knew his account was false or had serious doubts about it, but recklessly wrote it anyway.
Niehoff said Judge Kyle did not adequately explain the issue, and when jurors submitted follow-up questions he did not properly answer them.
Court Anderson, one of Ventura’s lawyers, said he had not yet read the amicus briefs. But he added, “We’re confident the jury verdict will be upheld by the 8th Circuit. This case has never been a case of the media publishing an inaccurate statement. Instead this case is about a first-person account from Mr. [Chris] Kyle that the jury found to be a complete fabrication.”
Randy Furst • 612-673-4224
Twitter: @randyfurst"
Hmmm. So, supposedly there were witnesses in McP's that night.
I think Kyle was a liar based on my experience. I never met him, but I've certainly met the type to spout off "unfverifiable" stories.
Frankly, the fact that Chris Kyle's story is wildly popular irritates the fuck out of me. Foreign Policy Journal lays it out better than I could ever hope to.
"Heavy hitters in U.S. media joined prominent First Amendment scholars to file two amicus briefs challenging last summer’s jury verdict that favored former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura in his defamation trial in St. Paul.
The friend-of-the-court media brief, filed with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, characterizes the $1.3 million jury award to Ventura as unprecedented, with no basis in common law.
The scholars’ filing faults U.S. District Judge Richard Kyle’s instructions to the jury.
The briefs support Taya Kyle, widow of Chris Kyle, author of the bestselling memoir “American Sniper.”
Ventura’s lawyers convinced the jury in a 10-2 decision that he had been defamed by Chris Kyle, who wrote in the book that he punched Ventura and knocked him down in a California bar after Ventura made disparaging remarks about Navy SEALs and the U.S. government.
Ventura denied the incident happened.
He was awarded $1.8 million, including $500,000 for defamation and $1.3 million for Kyle’s unjust enrichment. Taya Kyle, who oversees her husband’s estate, has appealed the decision to the 8th Circuit.
The brief by 30 media organizations, filed Tuesday, is signed by Floyd Abrams, a well-known First Amendment attorney who represented the New York Times in the Pentagon Papers case.
They said they are concerned about the negative impact on media organizations of “unjustified and potentially crippling awards” such as this one.
The other brief, written on behalf of eight scholars and filed Monday, includes Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the School of Law at the University of California Irvine.
Joseph Daly, emeritus professor of law at Hamline University, who has followed the Ventura case, said that the amicus signers are “extremely impressive and without a doubt the Eighth Circuit judges will read these amicus briefs very, very carefully.”
Among the news organizations that signed the media brief are the New York Times, the Washington Post, the American Society of News Editors, National Public Radio, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the Minnesota Newspaper Association.
In challenging the $1.3 million unjust enrichment award, Abrams contends it is unprecedented in a libel case for jurors to award a portion of the book profits to Ventura.
“An award of profits has nothing to do with the harm suffered by the plaintiff; it is punishment, plain and simple,” he wrote.
The media brief questions the assumptions in the verdict but does not challenge the $500,000 defamation award.
However, the scholars in their amicus brief, written by attorney Leonard Niehoff, urge the 8th Circuit to reverse the entire jury decision, contending that the threshold of defamation is very high and that Judge Kyle gave the jury improper instructions.
Niehoff wrote that to prove defamation, Ventura had to prove that Chris Kyle knew his account was false or had serious doubts about it, but recklessly wrote it anyway.
Niehoff said Judge Kyle did not adequately explain the issue, and when jurors submitted follow-up questions he did not properly answer them.
Court Anderson, one of Ventura’s lawyers, said he had not yet read the amicus briefs. But he added, “We’re confident the jury verdict will be upheld by the 8th Circuit. This case has never been a case of the media publishing an inaccurate statement. Instead this case is about a first-person account from Mr. [Chris] Kyle that the jury found to be a complete fabrication.”
Randy Furst • 612-673-4224
Twitter: @randyfurst"
Hmmm. So, supposedly there were witnesses in McP's that night.
I think Kyle was a liar based on my experience. I never met him, but I've certainly met the type to spout off "unfverifiable" stories.
Frankly, the fact that Chris Kyle's story is wildly popular irritates the fuck out of me. Foreign Policy Journal lays it out better than I could ever hope to.
Sunday, March 08, 2015
Attorney: 'American Sniper' defamation verdict should be thrown out
Vengeance is mine sayeth the Taya.
Man, this woman is getting comfortable in court rooms. Looks like she is trying to get the Ventura verdict thrown out on a technicality .
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Killer of 'American Sniper' Kyle sentenced to life in prison
Killer of 'American Sniper' Kyle sentenced to life in prisonB
BY JON HERSKOVITZ
STEPHENVILLE, Texas Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:17am EST
Well, that was predictable. He done kilt a boh-nah-fied Texas Hee-roh and betcha most Texans think he shoulda been shot or hung with no trial atalll!
Let me repeat; No wonder dad couldn't wait to get the fuck out of Texas. They do everthin' big there, including stupid. What kind of arrogant dumbass lets a guy who he texts is "straight up nuts" have a gun? An arrogant dumbass with a death wish, that's who.
I also predict that Taya Kyle beats feet out of Texas purty darn quick now. I just hope she doesn't come back here.
Now let me predict that Routh will not last 3 years in prison unless he's in protective custody, nor will he get the help he needs. The VA and the military recruiting procedures can continue being just as shitty as they are now.
Carry on, justice was served..(can ya hear the sarcasm dripping?)
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
My opinion of Routh trial
As far as I'm concerned if Eddie Ray Routh is convicted of capital murder during this trial, then the military recruiters and the VA are off the hook.
Not cool.
Not cool.
Thursday, February 05, 2015
Jury selection for alleged American Sniper killer begins today
Jury selection in Routh trial begins today
Pretty tall order since Chris Kyle has been glorified since the movie American Sniper was released worldwide about 3 weeks ago and is quite popular. As is Kyle in Texas, where the killing took place and they are trying to pick jurors for the trial.
A Reporter at Large JUNE 3, 2013 ISSUE
In the Crosshairs
Chris Kyle, a decorated sniper, tried to help a troubled veteran. The result was tragic.
BY NICHOLAS SCHMIDLE
The New Yorker
I wonder if Kyle knew that Routh's family and friends had hidden firearms and ammunition from Routh because they knew he was a danger to himself and others the day he and Littlefield were killed on the rifle range? I wonder if that will come up in the trial?
I also wonder if the trial will shed light on the Veterans Administration (who paid this dinky, no hit blog a visit the day I posted my last post) and the indadequate treatment of PTSD. Does the VA need to take a different tack? You know, mabye get a clue from the fact that thatthe war on drugs is a complete fucking failure also?
Or will it all be swept under the rug and the Texas HEE-Rohs murderer be executed? They execute a lot of people in Texas. The biggest executers in the US, in fact. (Feb 7 prosecution not seeking death penalty)
Jebus, no wonder my dad couldn't wait to get the fuck out of there.
This case just brings up how goddamned stupid the whole Iraq war is for me. The bitterness I feel at watching a whole new generation of broken vets. Lives lost or wasted and the only people benefitting from this war are people who are part of the war machine.
That includes me, because I wouldn't have a roof over my head, food to eat and insurance to cover my counseling for my PTSD if not for my husband's service and current employment with a mil contractor. My counselor should have been able to help a shit ton more veterans, but the nature of the military beast is to hide it's wounds, lick them when they are alone, don't let it become part of the service jacket. To suck it up, Buttercup, to soldier on,to ride the waves of bu·reau·crat·ic indifference at the highest levels right down into the gutters of a freeway underpass.
Pretty tall order since Chris Kyle has been glorified since the movie American Sniper was released worldwide about 3 weeks ago and is quite popular. As is Kyle in Texas, where the killing took place and they are trying to pick jurors for the trial.
A Reporter at Large JUNE 3, 2013 ISSUE
In the Crosshairs
Chris Kyle, a decorated sniper, tried to help a troubled veteran. The result was tragic.
BY NICHOLAS SCHMIDLE
The New Yorker
I wonder if Kyle knew that Routh's family and friends had hidden firearms and ammunition from Routh because they knew he was a danger to himself and others the day he and Littlefield were killed on the rifle range? I wonder if that will come up in the trial?
I also wonder if the trial will shed light on the Veterans Administration (who paid this dinky, no hit blog a visit the day I posted my last post) and the indadequate treatment of PTSD. Does the VA need to take a different tack? You know, mabye get a clue from the fact that thatthe war on drugs is a complete fucking failure also?
Or will it all be swept under the rug and the Texas HEE-Rohs murderer be executed? They execute a lot of people in Texas. The biggest executers in the US, in fact. (Feb 7 prosecution not seeking death penalty)
Jebus, no wonder my dad couldn't wait to get the fuck out of there.
This case just brings up how goddamned stupid the whole Iraq war is for me. The bitterness I feel at watching a whole new generation of broken vets. Lives lost or wasted and the only people benefitting from this war are people who are part of the war machine.
That includes me, because I wouldn't have a roof over my head, food to eat and insurance to cover my counseling for my PTSD if not for my husband's service and current employment with a mil contractor. My counselor should have been able to help a shit ton more veterans, but the nature of the military beast is to hide it's wounds, lick them when they are alone, don't let it become part of the service jacket. To suck it up, Buttercup, to soldier on,to ride the waves of bu·reau·crat·ic indifference at the highest levels right down into the gutters of a freeway underpass.
Sunday, February 01, 2015
American Sniper
I read the book . I saw the movie. I've read a few articles and reviews online. I didn't really hate the book or the movie. What I hated was the fact that I've lived 45 out of my over 50 years in San Diego and I call bullshit. That's because I know of these guys and they bullshit a lot, and they back each other's bullshit up. I'm not doubting that Chris Kyle believed in all that jingoistic bullshit and I don't doubt that he killed a shitload of Iraqis. Or that he loved his wife and kids and Texas and the USA and blhah blah zipityfuckindoodah. The movie made me want to drink copious amounts of tequila.
Dude has been proven a liar in court. I also got the idea that his wife is the kind of Navy wife that turned me off to Navy wives forever.
I am a retired veteran's wife and I was born here in San Diego and have lived here for MOST of my life and was single for a long time. I know how full of crap many military guys are. I've seen and heard shit that wives don't see and hear. I've worked on a base, a couple in fact. I'm not a veteran and never thought that was a realistic goal for me. I have asked quite a few young, active military guys why they joined and very few spout the kind of uber-patriotic nonsense that oozes out of the book or the movie. Their girlfriend broke their heart or their girlfriend got pregnant or they timed out of foster care or they wanted to go to college on the GI bill or there just weren't any JOBS back home. Or my favorite- they wanted to be in the MPs so they could go be a cop back home when they got out.
Frankly, I'm a much bigger Michael Moore fan than I am a Clint Eastwood fan and Eastwood became just another asshole like Charleton Heston in my mind when we were reminded of the incident where he said he would shoot MM if MM ever came to his door.
Dude has been proven a liar in court. I also got the idea that his wife is the kind of Navy wife that turned me off to Navy wives forever.
I am a retired veteran's wife and I was born here in San Diego and have lived here for MOST of my life and was single for a long time. I know how full of crap many military guys are. I've seen and heard shit that wives don't see and hear. I've worked on a base, a couple in fact. I'm not a veteran and never thought that was a realistic goal for me. I have asked quite a few young, active military guys why they joined and very few spout the kind of uber-patriotic nonsense that oozes out of the book or the movie. Their girlfriend broke their heart or their girlfriend got pregnant or they timed out of foster care or they wanted to go to college on the GI bill or there just weren't any JOBS back home. Or my favorite- they wanted to be in the MPs so they could go be a cop back home when they got out.
Frankly, I'm a much bigger Michael Moore fan than I am a Clint Eastwood fan and Eastwood became just another asshole like Charleton Heston in my mind when we were reminded of the incident where he said he would shoot MM if MM ever came to his door.
And oh by the way, Fried Green Tomatoes is streaming on Netflix right now.
Saturday, November 08, 2014
uh huh
The $9 Billion Witness: Meet JPMorgan Chase's Worst Nightmare
Meet the woman JPMorgan Chase paid one of the largest fines in American history to keep from talking
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
You're only paranoid if they're not after you
A Valuable Reputation
After Tyrone Hayes said that a chemical was harmful, its maker pursued him.
BY RACHEL AVIV
Just read it. Then see if your reaction is like mine. Disgusted at yet another corporate campaign to discredit scientists who might get in the the way of their profits with Oh,, I dunno, sciency stuff that indicates that their products might cause physical harm to living things.
Corporate power and Zombie shows getting bigger, or is it just me?
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