Friday, February 10, 2012

Markets Actually Dropped, but Friday Only Rises

Snow on the way for tomorrow. I so love winter.

Market Observations
I did not like the action on Wednesday and Thursday. Today markets had their first real test to the downside. A late day run helped keep the damage contained. I guess it's put up or shut up time. None of my positions stopped out, which was a surprise. Maybe that bites me on Monday, but trade your plan and stops. Not really much more to add at this point, more market thoughts on Sunday night.

Friday Night Entertainment
Let's see what's interesting.

Running Liquor During Prohibition
I stumbled upon a cool tale on, wait for it...., Wikipedia this week that I thought was worth a look.

During Prohibition all kinds of alcohol smuggling was done. This gave rise to many of the embedded organized crime families of the future. How all the booze made it into the United States has many tales and this is just one.

The ship that delivered more liquor than any other ship was The Malahat. The 5 masted schooner would take alcohol brewed in Canada and shuffle off to the Pacific Rum Row which was outside the maritime limits of the United States. The ship would anchor there and await smaller, faster boats to come and load the booze, then run it to ports on the West Coast. I would point you to the article for even more details it's quite a story. The Malahat:

Friday Funnies
Crawling the Internet for material for a smile.

"They all float, down here.":
demotivational posters - YOUR FEAR OF CLOWNS IS VALID
see more Very Demotivational
CREEPY!

AT-AT not a Transformer!:
funny facebook fails - Failbook: Commuting on Hoth
see more epicfails
Fool.

Big George Foreman
Robert Sinn (The Stock Sage) was looking for some George Foreman clips and as things are, I am well versed in Foreman fights.

Maybe the most thrilling heavyweight fight of all time featured a young George Foreman (after losing the title to Ali) versus the stubborn veteran Ron Lyle in 1976. You can see Foreman's complete record here.

There are too many great parts to try and single out, so here is a great 6 minute compilation of the fight, you will be stuck in your seat (if in a hurry skip to the 2:40 mark on):

With Howard Cosell on the call no less. Be quiet Kenny Norton!

I missed this fight live sad to say but it's my favorite Foreman moment. Trailing on points in a fight he had to score a knockout to win, Foreman lowers the BOOM on champion Michael Moorer in the 10th round after the late Angelo Dundee told Foreman "You gotta put this guy down!":

Jim Lampley's "IT HAPPENED, IT HAPPENED!!" is so classic!

Film Clip
Go to a Red Box, stream via Netflix, or just hit an On Demand button but check this film out. "Revolutionary Road" a new era classic:

Great film.

Rock Blogging
Tunes on the way.

My go to expert on all things vintage Rock is loyal reader Gawains. Tonight he suggests The Faces and "Stay with Me" and here is a great live version:

I can't believe Rod Stewart used to rock. Who knew?

Wanted to give a shout out to one of the hardest workers I know. New member of the Stocktwits team, tireless San Francisco real estate professional, and a great friend - Julian Hebron (The Basis Point). Luckily he is also into the best metal songs so here is Ministry and "New World Order":

Like that one! Hang in there Julian!

That song got me all amped up! Let's go right into "Guerrilla Radio" via Rage Against the Machine and turn the dial way UP:

Sick!

A blast from the past comes from Gtotoy and his pick for Paul Pena with "Jet Airliner" and this is a fine tune:

Smooth.

My great friend Jennifer Hillier (who I heard a rumor may have her second book coming out this year!) was looking for some Talking Heads, and how can I say no? Here is "Once in a Lifetime":

Like that tune.

Last two songs.

Get up and get wild with Dragonforce's epic tune "Through the Fire and the Flames":

"So far away, we wait for the day" so good.

Last call, grab a girl a drink or the mouse.

Needed a little Creedence and "Lodi" will do just fine:


Have a good night.

6 comments:

GawainsGhost said...

Rod Stewart and the Faces were one of the original bad boys of rock and roll. Their breakthrough album was A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse.

That's Ron Wood on guitar. He later left the band and joined the Rolling Stones.

That's Ronnie Lane on bass. He was an incredible musician, but unfortunately he passed away early.

I forget who the drummer and piano player are, but they're damn good as well.

Don't discount Rod Stewart. He's written over 200 top ten hits. Not many song writers can make that claim. It's just that he varies his style. His version of the Great American Songbook, classic songs from the 40s and 50s, is excellent.

What gets me about that video is the fashion. Plaid, are you kidding me? Yeah, I remember the 70s well.

GawainsGhost said...

Also, regarding prohibition, there's an interesting book titled Imbibe! about the history of the American cocktail. Here's the Amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/Imbibe-Professor-Featuringthe-Selection-Contributed/dp/0399532870/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328997520&sr=1-1

It tells the whole story of the American cocktail. Wines, champagnes, whiskeys, gins, etc. were all invented elsewhere. But the Americans turned drinking into an art form.

The book is derived from one Jerry Thomas, who wrote the very first bartending guide in 1862. And it includes recipes.

You wouldn't believe what people would drink back then. And that was when the alcohol was 120 proof.

In the early days, it was mostly punches, made in large bowls with crushed fruits, wine, champagne, grenadine, and a big chunk of ice. It wasn't until the early 1800s, when crushed ice was developed, that the cocktail emerged. That was when bartenders got creative.

It's aboslutely fascinating. The history of America is the history of the cocktail. And those guys in the 1800s and early 1900s were some hard drinking men. They had morning drinks, afternoon drinks, dinner drinks, before-bed drinks. None of them were ever sober.

Prohibition passed after women got the right to vote in the 1920s. That was the first thing they did, outlaw alcohol. Of course, all it succeeded in doing was to create a lucrative market for bootlegging and underground bars, speak easies, mob wars and the like.

When prohibition was repealed, alcohol was limited to 80 proof. But that didn't stop moonshiners.

It really is a fascinating read. Most of the recipes can't be duplicated today, not without enormous expense, but the author provides alternate ingredients that will work.

My sister sent me this book for my birthday last year, because, you know, I was a bartender back in the day. On 6th Street in Austin, no less.

Here's one recipe you won't find in very many bartender's guide. It's for an Orgasm. I call it Lady's Delight.

6 oz cream
1/2 shot of Khalua
1/2 shot Amaretto
1/2 shot Bailey's Irish Cream
Build over ice, shake and strain

Women love it! I got my mother, my sister, my neices, and my cousins smashed on that about four years ago.

EconomicDisconnect said...

LOL great story Gawains!

The Basis Point said...

thanks for the shout (just reading your Friday post now!). also i didn't know Steve Miller 'Jet Airliner' was a cover until now. Enjoyed the original.

EconomicDisconnect said...

Thanks for stopping in Julian.

Jennifer Hillier said...

In my mind I commented here, but obviously didn't! Sorry about that, I did listen to all the tunes.

Thanks for playing my Talking Heads song. Love that one.