I don't know about you, but I always need a day off to recover from my day off.
An Apple a Day
- Apple (AAPL) rocked earnings, as everyone is buying an iPhone. Including me in a few weeks! I think now that they've opened up the applications to outsiders, the phone is a great and easy tool. The iPhone is nearly 40% of AAPL's business!
- There are some interesting competing phones that run Windows Mobile. But Windows is just so click intensive. While in Las Vegas, I'm trying to find some NFL box scores to check on how my fantasy football players are doing. You can run down a battery pretty quickly doing that.
- AAPL also is selling the iPhone for $199 with a contract. Much better than the previous version of the phone which required no contract but had a hefty buy-in price. Those fancy Windows Mobile phones can run a lot more. Although, the iPhone is putting pressure on those prices.
- I think this is going to eventually hurt Blackberry (RIMM).
Vote Early, Vote Often
- I missed the Joe Biden gaffe.
- I think the election is already decided. Polls are showing Obama up in Red States.
- The Democrats also have a chance to control 60 seats in the Senate, which would eliminate the filibuster for the Republicans and basically move them aside during Obama's registration. The Democrats would have the ability to do whatever they want without input or opposition from the Republicans.
- Unless the GOP can convince a Senator to switch sides, go Independent, or vote with the GOP. Maybe Joe Lieberman will decide to caucus with the Republicans. I was reading on Wikipedia that he's officially Independent, but was caucusing with the Democrats. Because he endorsed McCain, he no longer attends the Democratic Senate leadership strategy meetings or policy lunches.
- Anyways, I'm ignoring the tax cut nonsense coming from Obama. I can't imagine a tax cut happening with Obama, Reid and Pelosi calling the shots. I expect the opposite: A middle-class tax hike. Not a cut, a hike. And of course, higher taxes on the rich.
- I also think they'll take a stab at nationalizing health care. You'll hear it first here: The costs will be exponential from whatever estimates they make.
What Happens in Vegas...
- Gambling damage wasn't too bad. I can't believe how crowded the casinos were. Las Vegas was jam-packed. What economic slowdown?
- I like to play 4-team teaser parlays in the sports book.
- So the show I saw was Criss Angel Believe at the Luxor. It was okay. Least favorite of the Las Vegas' Cirque du Soleil for me. It wasn't bad, don't get me wrong. I liked the music.
- I haven't seen the Zumanity Cirque du Soleil, but if I had to rank the others in Vegas that I have seen I'd go:
- O
- Mystere
- Ka (loved that rotating platform!)
- Love
- Criss Angel Believe