Ideas for Evolving ID's
Designs for the Game Changer
The Investor
Invest Smarter to Create Wealth
The Traveler
The World Is Yours
The Entrepreneur
Best Start-up's Gotta Be Yours
The Gourmet
Feasts, Fun & Follies
The Hobbyist
Do your Dream
The Creator
Foster the Artist in You
The Ethicist
Share & Honor our Planet, Cultivate Love
How to Be Happy, Starting... Now
What It Takes to Be Happy
Now is the time. Now is forever, the time to be happy. No matter what. How? Here is the secret. The great minds of the world tell you. Health. Ethics. Passion. Soulmates. Family. Work. Even how to deal with... the Impossible. The power of imagination. Humor. Money. Charity and generosity. Altruism. Enjoy and beware. FUNanc!al. Be happy.
Investors, Insiders, Hunters
Elliott's Investment in SalesForce is a Mere Sign that the Stock's Finally Reached Fair Value
Activist investor Elliott has made a multibillion-dollar investment in Salesforce (CRM). Elliott will probably push for CRM to make operational improvements (and possibly seek board representation). The company's already laid off 10% of its workforce. The fears of an economic slowdown may prompt potential customers to postpone the acquisition of new CRM functionality. Revenue has recently decelerated.The stock's lost about 50% of its value in a little over a year. A co-CEO's leaving the company, and so is the co-founder of Slack Tech, which CRM acquired last year (after buying Tableau and MuleSoft earlier). Starboard Value, another top investor, has also acquired a key stake in CRM. But, unsurprisingly, it's not advocated for major changes. Indeed, there is nothing too...
Howard Hughes & Pershing Square
Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P. has a 31.7% stake in Howard Hughes (HHC). If you believe Bill Ackman is a smart investor - and he is - 's got to make you... think.
The firm has strong management, a compelling portfolio of strategically-located real estate assets, and is rather cheap, making it a possible value investment.
Ackman serves as director and chairman, has waived all compensation.
Insiders Buy Shares at Varonis Systems
Key insiders including the CEO, CFO, and SVP of Sales, bought shares of Varonis Systems (VRNS). All three are key decision-makers. the purchases are also large enough that they warrant scrutiny. The Company is expected to be profitable over the next couple of years, as is made clear below: Meanwhile, the 17 analysts offering 12-month price forecasts for Varonis Systems have a median target of 25.00, with a high estimate of 63.00 and a low estimate of 20.00. The median estimate represents a +50.69% increase from the last price of 16.59. After their recent collapse (see stock chart below), the shares seem rather cheap. Varonis Systems, Inc. (Varonis)...
Flipped A Coinbase And Landed On Tailwinds: It's A Buy
Summary A bear in crypto, a deteriorating bottom line, intensifying competition, negative sentiment, and the prospect of heavier regulation, make any investment in Coinbase a contrarian play. But crypto will not go away. Coinbase knows it. BlackRock knows it. Even the government knows it. We go against the grain, make the case Coinbase is a buy. Coinbase has to regain profitability but network effects, a strong balance sheet, solid competitive positioning, and leadership in risk management and regulatory compliance, hold promise. Coinbase is actively fighting trading fee erosion via the creation of a unique ecosystem that offers a wide range of services (well beyond trading) and multiple income streams. Check out www.funanc1al.com for market insight and so much more. We...
Travelers, Explorers, Adventurers
São Jorge Castle, Belém Tower, Pastéis de Belém, Belcanto, The Four Seasons Ritz, Lisbon, Portugal
The people, weather, water, arts and architecture and other sights, shopping, and cuisines, make it well worth visiting Lisbon, Portugal, and we can't wait to be back already. Enjoy São Jorge Castle, Belém Tower, Pastéis de Belém, Belcanto, The Four Seasons Ritz, Lisbon, Portugal. Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, and the second-oldest European after Athens, predating other modern European capitals, not to mention New York City or Los Angeles, by centuries. But it's also beautiful, fun, and rejuvenating.
The Merrion, the Scones, Guinness, the Arts, Dublin, Ireland
First time in Dublin and hopefully won't be the last. It all started at the Merrion, one of the top hotels in town along with the Shelbourne and the Westbury. Located in the heart of Dublin city center (unlike the Intercontinental, another solid alternative), it is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. Service was magnificent. Truly one of a kind. They made Covid testing a breeze (right in our room, how much easier can it be?). Afternoon Tea in the Drawing Rooms was quite pleasant, the scone original, although the pastries in general weren't quite as good as we would have liked. Of course, I was born in France, feel free to disregard... Only hiatus, a last-minute...
Entrepreneurs & Game Changers
Start Your Own Business and Rock the Universe!
Did you found Google? Facebook? Twitter? A hundred percent of the people who started a firm that later rocked the world, well, STARTED IT. Sure, it’s honorable to work at a company, any company. But how about sailing on your own and flying to new heights? Taking a chance? Scary? Yes it is, but not much more than the prospect of getting fired or, worse(?), doing a possibly suboptimal job for the rest of your life somewhere in corporate America, I don’t care if it’s at Coca-Cola, General Electric, or some small outfit in Kansas, Texas, or California. You don’t have a job? Then it’s a no-brainer. Why wait to be hired when you can hire yourself? Right away, right now…...
Gourmands & Epicureans
Zuppardi's White Clam Pizza Puts Pepe's to Shame
Alright, there you have it. Don't get me wrong, the white clam at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana is a terrific pizza. But so is Zupp's. Just add a little lemon - or lots, as I do. Gotta love the lemon/white clam combo. The homepage of Zupp's states, "Anthony Zuppardi’s legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren who continue to operate Zuppardi’s Apizza today. Working with the same integrity as that of Dominic and Anthony, the Zuppardi family strives to provide their customers with quality New Haven-style apizza." It's true all the way. Zuppardi’s White Clam classic is a white pizza prepared with shucked-to-order littleneck clams baked on fresh dough with a mixture of garlic and spices. It is a delight....
Better than Ecstasy, Jacques Genin's Ganaches, Pralinés, Caramels, and Pâtes de Fruit
Better than Ecstasy, Jacques Genin's Ganaches, Pralinés, Caramels, and Pâtes de Fruit enchant and tantalize. Try any of the fondeur en cholocat's friandises, and you'll most likely become a regular.
4 Charles Prime Rib, Start Booking in Your Dreams
Pray. Pray that you are able to secure a reservation at 4 Charles Prime Rib. Cuz that's what it takes, gods, to land a spot. The swanky, carnivore-centric, clubby without the attitude, restaurant accepts reservations 30 days in advance, each new day released at 9 AM EST (per Resy's website, where you may secure yours, just don't hold your breath). At 9:01 everything's gone. Except if you're willing to eat at 3am while you sleep, you indomitable party-goer! It takes courage, persistence, hard work, dreams, passion, dedication, and it's only the beginning, to get a table. How many times did I initiate the process of trying to secure one right at 9:00:00 and, psss, gone. Both indoor and outdoor dining options (as well as brunch on the...
Belcanto, Cura, 100 Maneiras, Freda dos Mares, Some Top Restaurants in Lisbon, Portugal
A culinary tour of some of the best restaurants in Lisbon, Portugal, prompts many delightful moments, ignites many more trips within the trip to the beautiful capital, and reviews to match. Unfasten your seatbelt. Belcanto A well-known face on Portuguese TV for his cooking show Improbabilicious and the author of several published cookbooks, celebrity chef José Avillez has garnered international acclaim for his inventive cuisine. At Belcanto, the master uses the latest gastronomic techniques to transcend traditional dishes. Mission: accomplished. The restaurant occupies a former convent in the Bairro Alto (Chiado) district, its new home since 2019. It lies under high, vaulted ceilings and antique chandeliers; the architecture is sublime and the dining room just as refined, with every course presented before you by an expert, convivial staff. Belcanto offers its...
Hobbyists & PassionBeasts
Gardening for the Clueless
OK, I have never gardened. Not once in my life. Just read "Grow your Own Green Market," an article in the Wall Street Journal published on May 7, 2022. I live in a house and the house does have a garden. Brainstorming. Maybe I should give it a shot.
The News Made Personal
Old Is the New Young. Even in Hollywood!
"Top Gun: Maverick," the long-awaited sequel to the 1986 hit, opened to a blockbuster $156 million in the U.S. and Canada over the long Memorial Day weekend (2022), a box-office record for the holiday and a career-best debut for its lead, Tom Cruise. The movie creates a no-less-than-36-year-old franchise and reaffirms the 59-year-old (that's 60-1, if we're not mistaken) Cruise as a highly bankable movie star. Not exactly an elderly or a senior, the man, but he sure is, huh, mature. The movie stars Mr. Cruise as a veteran fighter pilot working with a group of younger recruits on a top-secret mission to destroy a uranium plant in an unidentified country. It has received rave reviews and ridden an aggressive marketing blitz by Paramount....
Traffic Deaths at 16-year High; Drive Carefully and Stay Safe
Traffic deaths reached a 16-year high in 2021 [as reported by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)]. The U.S. traffic fatalities increased 11% in 2021 from the prior year to the highest number since 2005, as the pandemic subsided and road travel increased. Good for the largest ever annual percentage increase in the nearly five-decade history of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Also notable are increases in several types of roadway deaths, including pedestrians (up 13%), on urban roads (up 16%), and in speeding-related crashes (up 5%). That's 42,915 deaths, or close to 120 a day. Next time anyone of us takes to the road, let's remember. 120 may die today, that's way too many, isn't it? The losses and...
Numbers to Numb Us
72% of Shoppers Are Trading Down
The penny-pinching is extending to more discretionary purchases. Seventy-two percent of consumers plan to look for less expensive alternatives this holiday season as a result of inflation, according to a survey of 2,200 U.S. adults by Morning Consult, a research company. That's a lot of people. But not me. It's because I know better. I'm buying zero. That's right, zero, as in 0. The US Inflation Rate has hit a delightful four decade and a half high at 8.20%, compared to 8.26% last month and 5.39% last year. This is rather comfortably higher than the long term average of 3.27%. Meanwhile, a rocky stock market is eroding the wealth of many. Count me in. Not just rocky. Innovators, the long-duration stocks of...
President's Jets, Z'That Count as Inflation?
Maybe that's why. Boeing Co. is trying to replace Air Force One, and it seems to be a challenging task. Costly, too, for both the plane maker’s shareholders and U.S. taxpayers (yup, that's us) who must foot the bill to keep the president’s aging float flying longer. The American multinational corporation, the same that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, satellites, telecommunications equipment, missiles, and rockets worldwide (It sure is rocket science, isn't it?) has a hard time getting its act together. It expects to lose $766 million more on the high-profile, years-late project to transform two 747-8 jumbo jets (2 is 1+1 so not that many, right?) into flying White Houses. This brings Boeing's total losses related to the endeavor to nearly $2 billion, according to securities filings (as...
Fun on Stars to Learn & Shine
Elon Musk, Much Elan = Must Emulate
In a tweet sent on July 25, 2022, Elon Musk writes that he "will try (his) best to be heads down focused on doing useful things for civilization." The founder, CEO, and Chief Engineer at SpaceX; angel investor, CEO, and Product Architect at Tesla, Inc., founder of The Boring Company; and co-founder of Neuralink and OpenAI (a sample of his achievements to date) has an estimated net worth of around US$242 billion as of July 25, 2022. As such, he qualifies as the wealthiest person in the world according to both the Bloomberg Billionaires Index and Forbes' real-time billionaires list. His bio is worth checking out, offers lots of food for thought. Here is a small sample. 1. Move, Move, and Move Again Elon was born in June 1971 in Pretoria, South...