- The market tried to act like it was open today, like American Idol contestant Bobby Bennett tried to sing Barry Manilow on the first elimination round. It wasn't even close in either case. Of course, American Idol made Bobby sing just "one more time" on his way out the door. Thankfully, the stock exchange won't give a replay.
- Maybe folks made a long weekend of it. Oil prices are "falling off a cliff" and tick at under $70 a barrel. Maybe folks are out on the highways in their SUVs celebrating a new era of cheap crude! OK, just teasing a bit here. Summer driving season is coming up fast here, so any lull will probably turnaround before Memorial Day.
- A made for TV movie about the bird flu has some "experts" predicting a potential panic. Who watches made for TV movies? It's on a tuesday night, so I'd imagine folks are either watching American Idol or on their phones for the 2-hours following voting for their favorite singers. My guess is that the audience for the bird flu movie will be weak.
- The number of online gamblers doubled in 2005. Doubled or doubled-down? You know, it makes sense. I can see folks making that transition. Here in CA, we used to have to drive to Nevada. Then the Indian casinos were built, so the long trip to the silver state was changed to a shorter drive to the local Indian casino. Heck, now folks can gamble in their PJs while watching American Idol in the background.
- Oh, 24 is on tonight. No brainer.
- Uneasy Rhetoric comments on the American River Bike Trail here in Sacramento. Absolutely correct. I think it's the crown jewel of Sacramento. I've been out 3 days in a row, and tonight will be number 4. Saddle sore and proud of it, baby. Anything for an endorphin rush! The weather here has been wet and cool, so I'm off to a late start and hoping to get in a 15-20 mile ride daily for the duration of the warm months.
- More politics? All Things Conservative notes Israel's response to Iran's "wipe Israel off the map" comment. Vice Premier Shimon Peres said Monday in an interview to Reuters that "the president of Iran should remember that Iran can also be wiped off the map," Army Radio reported. Let me add that I hope NOONE (sic) is wiped off the map. But I do remain alarmed at Iran's nuclear ambitions in light of their fundamentalist desire to kill infidels.
- More politics? Wuzzadem has a do-it yourself Cindy Sheehan post. C'mon, we all should play along!
- Dell reported afterhours, and I guess it wasn't that great. Is anyone surprised? Dell has continued to disappoint. I'm not sure this will have much effect on the market as a whole, as Dell seems like a stock from the last bull market and not this one.
