July 2004

On Trial

File photos(clockwise from top left) of former Iraqi officials President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz, military commander Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as 'Chemical Ali', Baath party regional commander Aziz Salih Numan, Saddam's half-brother and adviser Barzan Ibrahim Hasan al-Tikriti, and presidential secretary Abid Hamid Mahmud al-Tikriti. Iraq (news - web sites)'s newly installed government took legal control of Saddam and 11 of his senior lieutenants on June 30, 2004. (Reuters)

July 1, 2004

Well, this trial will go on forever.  I suppose that is inevitable.  It may increase the ratings of Court TV, but it will not provide much new information.  The case is pretty much open and shut, although the people of Iraq may learn some things.

July 3, 2004

Definitely not a good couple of days for the market.  The jobs situation does not look terribly good.  The Fed has raised interest rates, but this may have been premature unless the economy picks up.  I just hope that we do not have a terrorist attack over the long weekend.  Yahoo will report earnings next week, and that may cause things to pick up a bit if the earnings are good.  After the close on Friday Gibraltar Steel (ROCK) posted an increase in their earnings estimates.  Earlier the stock was downgraded by some analyst.  Tuesday might be interesting for that stock, assuming anybody can remember what happened after the long weekend.

July 4, 2004

Fourth of July fireworks explode in the sky behind the U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument, Sunday, July 4, 2004, in Washington. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

It rained all day, but stopped in time for the festivities on the mall.

July 7, 2004

Well yesterday I sold everything that looked bad yesterday, and then we got sell indications for the major signals, all except MICROC2X.  So I am now 100% cash. Definitely not a good month so far, or a good year, for that matter.  I really hope that the market will sell off significantly now, so that we can have a good rally. TimingCube is still on a sell, but with a small loss in the short positions.  Cash has been king for some time, I think.

July 22, 2004

You must be a redneck if you hit your girlfriend with an alligator you have been keeping in the bathtub of your trailer, or if you escape from jail to buy beer and then come back.  I cannot think of anything else to say.

July 25, 2004

Lance Armstrong wins the Tour de France again.  He is not very popular with some of the fans in Europe.  Too bad for them.

Lance Armstrong Wins Number 6

Now six-time Tour de France winner lance Armstrong, of Austin, Texas, center, waves from the podium, flanked by second-placed Andreas Kloeden of Germany, left, and third-placed Ivan Basso of Italy, after winning the 2004 edition of the Tour de France cycling race, after the 20th and last stage of the race between Montereau, southeast of Paris, and the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris, Sunday, July 25, 2004. (AP Photo/Jean-Louis Fel, Pool)

July 30, 2004

In two weeks we take a vacation to visit with my daughter in Columbus Ohio, Harry Larson near Dayton, Ohio, and also to see some of the sights in Chicago.  I regret not being short, but still there will be time for that later.  Actually, at this point we may have the beginning of a rally.

Definitely Not My Dogs.  China Has Become too Affluent.

A pet groomer trims the dyed fur of a poodle at a pet grooming parlor in Chongqing, southwestern China, July 30, 2004. Pet grooming, including haircut and coloring, starts at 300 yuan (about $36) for small dogs. REUTERS/Issei Kato