Saturday, October 22, 2011

Saturday Mixed Bag

I finally have a few minutes this evening after doing stuff all day.

Asked and Answered
On Thursday night I welcomed all questions from anyone and promised to answer them all as best I could. Here we go.

StockSage1 (you can visit his site here) asked:
Which will come first S&P 1100 or 1300?
I think 1300, and not just because of Friday. As an aside, I also do not think the S&P will ever go below 1000 as long as the FED is so actively in market watch mode.

Loyal reader Watchtower asked:
Is Ag going to touch $25, move sideways, or resume it's climb
I was hoping for more than a few minutes of silver at $25-$27 to add some (I hold physical gold/silver in long term portfolio) but it did not happen. If market improves and fiat money bombs keep coming, silver will run up again but I think anytime it gets near $40 will be a sell as the memory of the last drop will be too strong.

Stagflationary Mark was wondering:
How many total fruit flies can 3 pounds of bananas (bought at Sam's Club) generate?
143 , +/- 5 flies

Jennifer Hillier asks:
What's your favorite thing about being a scientist? And what's your least favorite?
I love solving difficult problems. For years if the group is having an issue with a project, I am the last line of defense. I have yet to be unable to clone any gene in 13 years of doing it. The times when I have to get creative are the best.

The worst thing is the monotony of my job sometimes. I have to make DNA preps all the time and it's not glamorous or fun or interesting. Gets boring.

The Sovereign Bohemian asks:
What was the first stock you ever sold for a profit?
Back in 1999 I was at a hot biotech firm. Biotech was super hot and I bought stock in a competitor of my firm, Human Genome Sciences (HGSI). I bought some stock in fall 1999 around $40 I think and sold early 2000 around $100. Wild times, and I had a ton of stock options at my firm that I sold then too.

Reader Gawains asks:
As a geneticist, how much do you really know about DNA?
Too much.

Going further:
Do you actually believe in random mutation? I don't. It seems to me that transposons allow for a DNA molecule to not only determine which genes are transcribed and when, but also can affect the structure of the protein coded for.
Smart observation. It it believed that the system my which mammals make antibodies through gene shuffling was directly stolen from the transposon mechanism of action. Fascinating stuff, but that's a LONG blog post!

Thanks for the questions and always feel free to ask anything anytime.

San Francisco Financial Field
In March 2010 my friend Jake of EconomPic was looking for a new job in the San Fran area. He is still looking as of now and so I renew my request that if any readers are in a position to offer an opportunity I would look at it as a personal favor and would owe you one.

EconomPic's general resume can be seen here.
You can grab his contact information on his site. Here is his post about this from yesterday:
EconomPics of the Week: Get Me a Job in SF Edition
Thanks!

Coins
I am an old coin lover. I prefer Mexican and South American coins from before 1900. Just something about them. I buy certain kinds to have them, not for profit later. I enjoy holding them and thinking about where they have been and what they have seen.

When I do trading homework I usually have my 1869 Peruvian Un Sol coin in my hand. It's been a lucky coin for me. Here is what one looks like as my pictures of coins always come out terrible:

My favorite coins are the Mexican Zacatecas 8 Reale coins. I usually will only buy ones from the Zacatecas mint. Here is an example:
I have several and the earliest is an 1860 coin.

Have a good night.

17 comments:

Mr Slippery said...

AVA for next week? I am on board for utilities generally (fat divvys), but the market has been whipsawing lately. We saw a bear trap a few weeks ago and maybe a bull trap here. I am concerned about the market staying elevated long enough to collect those divvys. I was seriously considering a short at S&P 1250. Once it is clear that whatever solution is proposed for the EU won't work.

GawainsGhost said...

Hmmm. Old coins, yeah they're a keeper.

You should see my stamp collection. It's not much, just all the stamps from the American Revolution, the Bicentennial, and the Space Program, stamped and dated on commerative envelopes. I have the lunar landing stamp, dated not only on the day of the landing but also on the day of release. That's extremely rare and valuable.

I also have an autographed picture of Elvis from 1956.

Sigh, these things that we hold on to. Any of them get you past TSA at an airport? No.

But for some cologne and shaving cream, I'd be in Dallas right now.

I'm still really pissed off about that. I will never make another airline reservation again. Never.

EconomicDisconnect said...

Mr. Slippery, it's hard to tell. Ne warticle out tonight (via Zero Hedge from Telegraph) that makes the Euro deal seem impossible. In any case utilities have been solid even in market chaos and NI and AVA are my top picks. Thanks for coming by!

Gawains,
Man you are pissed off!

Stagflationary Mark said...

GYSC,

How many total fruit flies can 3 pounds of bananas (bought at Sam's Club) generate?

143 , +/- 5 flies

Based on personal experience, I will assume that your estimate is a "per day" generation rate, lol.

We're starting to win the war. Numbers have fallen dramatically since we found their alternative food source (related to our pet bird).

EconomicDisconnect said...

It a scientific caluclation and I cannot share the details, it's also a HFT algo. Sorry. :)

Jake said...

Much appreciated. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Stagflationary Mark said...

GYSC,

It a scientific caluclation and I cannot share the details, it's also a HFT algo. Sorry. :)

I could be getting 143 fruit flies every 22 seconds? Holy crap! ;)

EconomicDisconnect said...

Jake, No problem, I am sorry last year my contact did not deliver for you.

Mark, 70% of the time I am correct every time.

Stagflationary Mark said...

GYSC,

I am right at least twice a day.

I use this proven technology to ensure success! ;)

EconomicDisconnect said...

No post tonight. Doing homework and still pretty pissed Kevin Harvick got wrecked today. If you are on Twitter I will be gabbing there mostly. See you tomorrow.

Jennifer Hillier said...

Great answers.

FYI, yours is one of the few non-writing blogs I read. Coins and stamps and DNA and stocks? Do I even fit in here?

EconomicDisconnect said...

Of course you do JH, you are brilliant and fun. Fits right in here!

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