ronz28

Predator nation could have been called predator world- how a predator elite took over the USA:

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2012/06/predator-nation-how-wall-street-crashed-the-economy-got-off-scott-free/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Interesting thread. I live in Central Texas and a lot of the shrimp sold in the grocery stores here is from Thailand and the Gulf Coast of Texas. I suspect the Thai shrimp exported to the US is Gulf of Siam or Andaman Sea caught or farmed to get such large quantities for export but I guess it could be fresh water raised. It sells for about US$7-8 a pound here.

Thai shrimp looks and tastes good but I have concerns with pollution in Thailand and probably don't buy as much as I want to because of those concerns. I certainly don't buy fish or shrimp from Japan and China based on radiation & pollution concerns, but they are on sale everywhere here.

Carter Worth opines that gold is merely rallying back to the uptrend line (throat) it recently broke and should be shorted. See first part of the video for Gold charts as rest of it is options, FB, etc.:

http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000093602&play=1

Interesting panel discussion featuring Bill Gates of Microsoft and Sol Kahn of Kahn Academy about using new innovative teaching methods with interactive online self paced learning vs. traditional lecture based same size fits all teaching methods. http://www.thegatesn...WT.tsrc=Twitter

A similar Thai version might be a good use of the computers to be distributed to students and http://www.khanacademy.org/ might be useful now in the international schools.

Free online open courses at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Some of the best in the world for free...

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/

New study suggest increasing good cholesterol (HDL) may not help. The real help comes from lowering the bad cholesterol (LDL).

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57436495-10391704/good-hdl-cholesterol-may-not-protect-heart-after-all-study-suggests/

Yep, Hollie should go. Joshua almost did himself in with his first tune but was fantastic with Its a Man's World. Jessica sounded great to me too and Phillip better but no cigar.

I am adding 250 mg daily of Pomegranate (40 % Ellagic Acid & 30 % Punicalagins) to my daily Vit. C. based on discussion with my doc today. Still taking Pravastatin Sodium in the evening with 2 chewable baby aspirin (timing is important- about 6 PM as studies show it is more effective then) as previously discussed but will take Pomegranate in the morning to avoid any potential problems like you get with grapefruit juice.

Here is some info. on Pomegranate from http://www.longecity.org/forum/topic/13255-who-is-taking-pomegranate-juice-or-extract/:

Heart doctors who do not recommend to their patients to take high dose

vit. C and a pomegranate supplement are doing their patients a serious

injustice. Note the benefits of pomegranate alone...

"Pomegranate juice consumption inhibits serum angiotensin converting

enzyme activity and reduces systolic blood pressure." (PMID:

11500191)

"Effects of a Pomegranate Fruit Extract rich in punicalagin on

oxidation-sensitive genes and eNOS activity at sites of perturbed

shear stress and atherogenesis." (PMID: 17014835)

"Beneficial effects of pomegranate juice on oxidation-sensitive genes

and endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity at sites of perturbed

shear stress." (PMID: 15781875)

"Pomegranate juice flavonoids inhibit low-density lipoprotein

oxidation and cardiovascular diseases: studies in atherosclerotic mice

and in humans." (PMID: 12224378)

"Pomegranate juice (PJ) consumption for 3 years by patients with

carotid artery stenosis reduces common carotid intima-media thickness,

blood pressure and LDL oxidation." (PMID: 15158307) Also from this

report: "The patient's systolic blood pressure was significantly (P<

0.05) reduced by 7%, 11% ,10%, 10% and 12% after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12

months of PJ consumption, respectively, compared to values obtained

before treatment." And: "In the control group that did not consume

PJ, common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) increased by 9% during

1 year, whereas, PJ consumption resulted in a significant IMT

reduction, by up to 30%, after 1 year."

These are hugely significant findings of the vascular benefits of

pomegranate polyphenols, and cannot be duplicated by modern medicine.

Both pomegranate and vitamin C are hugely beneficial in preventing

heart disease. I challenge everyone to ask their doctor if they

recommend either of these two supplements for the prevention of heart

disease. Me, I've been taking pomegranate for two years already. And

vit. C for six.

For fun, here's a report by the American Medical Assoc. from 2004

showing that statins do not increase lifespan (well, they do, by a

statistically unimportant 0.4%, less than one percent!).

"Conclusions: For patients with coronary heart disease, intensive

lipid-lowering treatment with atorvastatin reduced progression of

coronary atherosclerosis compared with pravastatin. Compared with

baseline values, patients treated with atorvastatin had no change in

atheroma burden, whereas patients treated with pravastatin showed

progression of coronary atherosclerosis. These differences may be

related to the greater reduction in atherogenic lipoproteins and C-

reactive protein in patients treated with atorvastatin."

http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/291/9/1071.abstract

Note that atorvastatin is only deemed better than pravastatin because

pravastatin basically resulted in no change, while atorvastatin merely

slowed down the build up of arterial plaque. There are other reports

showing that statins do not actually increase lifespans. But, these

remain the drugs of choice if you ask your heart specialist.

Ask your doc about this.

I think the sudden overnight implementation of a change in margin requirements to have been implemented May 7 that doubles requirements for some and then today's 90 day reprieve may spook some in the commodity markets for awhile. http://www.bloomberg...s-on-may-7.html

Those affected will be shedding their part of their positions funded with margin and will potentially have a negative impact on prices in those markets including gold.

It may not stop with those initially identified to be subject to the change in the rule book, IMHO.

I take it and have not had the experience you did. We are all different so I understand your concern. It might also be a problem with the manufacturer and you might have taken pills from a bad batch. I would pay up if needed for a known good source to be sure. I don't live in Thailand, but am curious to learn who are the trusted sources other than overpriced hospitals.

DoctorOz.com recommends taking 5-HTP with Melatonin to sleep better.

.

According to the international betting results on the Intrade Futures site, Phillips will win with Jessica the runner-up.

This site has a very high accuracy record in several different genres, but can change quickly if unexpected events occur. It has predicted all recent U.S. political elections with 100% accuracy.

http://intrade.com/v.../?eventId=91456

.

Cool, I have never heard of this site before. Looks interesting and I will be digging through it today.

I think its Ledet's to lose and trying something like an evangelical song now would do him in, but I am not sure what he meant by message. Just a turn away from some offensive music would be message enough. He certainly has the talent to win it as does Jessica with the right song choice (and apparently dress, dance and mannerisms too).

The Worst Yet to Come? Why Nuclear Experts Are Calling Fukushima a Ticking Time-Bomb It's a scenario that would literally threaten Japan's annihilation and civilization at large, with widespread worldwide environmental radioactive contamination.

http://www.alternet.org/health/155283/the_worst_yet_to_come_why_nuclear_experts_are_calling_fukushima_a_ticking_time-bomb?page=entire

Yes, Joshua appears to be heavily influenced by gospel music and remarked that he wants to bring a message with his music. Maybe we will hear some refreshingly new lyrics from him but still hear that range, passion and soul that he has in him. But, there's a lot of great music from the past that he can bring back to life.

So, Hollie won out over Skylar and Phillips and Sanchez made it in the top three with Joshua. I didn't much care for Skylar's attack mode trying to sing rock music or the C&W style.

I guess Joshua and Jessica have to learn to dance while they sing and everyone needs to pick the best music. I was surprised Jessica got criticized one week for looking and singing beyond her age and this week she gets criticized for looking too hot and wearing too tight a dress. So, what's she supposed to be- Grandma or teenager that she is?

Nothin could be finer than to hold a gold miner in the morning... well maybe not. Last time at this level we bounced but previously we sliced right through support. Things are different now....right? Chart from Gann360 on Twitter.

http://screencast.com/t/K5BWgtQBhWf

Joshua Ledet was exceptional last night so he still is in the lead to me. Jessica was better but not enough. She really is a pro as the judges said. Idol or not Jessica will sell records. Cavanaugh improved and gave Skylar a run for the money but both were better. I am thinking Phillips goes next but the girls still scream for him so I don't know...

The SPX bottomed at about 666 so its obvious that the devil controls the markets. Down to $666 on Gold?

Uncle Sam gave me a 21 month job in Bangkok, but it was "volunteer" or else a tour of duty in Vietnam situation. I had no idea when I volunteered what it was all about and how much I would like it... just figured I could end up dead in Vietnam.

Congratulations, to the best new investment professionals in the world. Here is the Bloomberg interview of these Thammasat University students.

To me, its still a Joshua Ledet and Jessica Sanchez race with Joshua in the lead. Jessica is a great performer and may continue to develop into another Beyonce/Whitney Houston/Jennifer Lopez some day. Joshua has the talent and is ready now so he will probably win it.

Phillips may have the demographics to win but doesn't take direction well, yet he has succeeded with the audiences in doing it his way. I don't care for his music- just nothing special to me.

I think Hollie Cavanagh goes next, then Phillips, and then Skylar Laine.

Testone was on Jay Leno last night briefly and she sounded good so she may have a future in the business as some of the others will whether or not they are named American Idol.

If you are going the United States and happen to need a simple operation like an Appendectomy, you may get a hospital bill ranging from $1,529 to $183,000 depending on which hospital you roll up to. You can't shop around they won't reveal their prices and an Appendectomy is often an emergency. You just get stuck with a bill at the end.

Even with insurance you may end up getting screwed without even being kissed.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/medical-costs-vary-wildly-hospital-hospital-study/story?id=16196700#.T5Xx57MvmUI

I think Joshua Ledet is in the lead now but Jessica Sanchez has a chance if she makes better song choices. They are both exceptional talents and should sell a lot of music if they are marketed & managed better.

Country and Western girl Skylar Laine is good but I am not into that so I don't care. Hollie also did well on her last performance but maybe she should compete in Britain's got talent.

I thought Elise Testone would be leaving before Colton Dixon.

They all better make better song choices and no Addell songs. Between, Music Award shows, The Voice and Idol, I have heard enough of Addell.

A bearish view on Gold:

http://chart.ly/mwj6rwf

Online security remains a problem as NYC/Russian hacker ring succeeded in hacking into retail brokerage accounts and executing sham trades. They stole from online trading accounts at Scottrade, E*Trade, Fidelity, Schwab and other brokerage firms. Members of the ring first gained unauthorized access to the online accounts and changed the phone numbers and email addresses on file to prevent notice of unauthorized trading from going to the victims.

http://www.financial-planning.com/news/hacker-ring-online-brokerage-accounts-2678401-1.html