Buffett puts money on monkey to outperform Trump as an investor
Here’s the quote.
Source: Warren Buffett demolishes Donald Trump in a 3-point takedown
Buffett: “That was the only time Donald Trump went to the American people and said, ‘I’m a winner, invest in my company.’ … Over the next 10 years, the company loses money every year, every single year. He takes $44 million in compensation. If a monkey had thrown a dart at the stock page it would have made 150%. People who believe in [Trump] came away losing well over 90 cents on the dollar. They got back less than a dime.”
Considering that Trump’s public company was formed in 1995, when the stock market was still on a tear, this seems to be a fair assessment. Even with the “dot com crash,” a random selection of stocks would have been a better investment.
Buffett is perhaps too charitable. From 1995 to year’s end 2004, the S&P 500 did gain a 157% return. But if our brave monkey turned on dividend reinvestments and sported a return close to the S&P 500, then there would have been a 203% return (calculator).
I love great art, no matter the medium.
I think that the saddest thing about most films or shows about music industry personalities is that they seem to angst over explaining or making background details clear, and in the process become stiff, unnatural, phony and fake....The other major problem is that no one will willing to tell the truth ! In life we are all flawed, so why is every one trying to make the characters appear perfect.
As I scan through the list of talented people that I have had the pleasure of working with in the entertainment industry, throughout my life, they were all devils and angels, kind and cruel, wonderful thoughtful people and complete assholes at the same time. It is these dynamics that create those amazing personas. So why can't they be portrayed as they truly, and really were? I think that those who insist upon burying saints, are doing everyone, especially the fans, a huge disservice, and I wish they would stop.
Peace, Stephen-Craig Aristei
I love great art, no matter the medium.
From: Allison Hagendorf Subject: Re: Rockin' Vibes
If you go to Spotify Browse and click on "Rock" - the majority of the lists in there are mine. Yes, it is A LOT, but only a person as mental about music as I am could handle it. I know you can relate ;-)
Each one of my playlists is my pride and joy and is a living, breathing thing. I'm constantly adding to, updating, re-sequencing, finessing, and nurturing each list. It's extremely rewarding to witness the power of playlisting firsthand, and to feel the gratitude and appreciation from the bands on a daily basis. I view each playlist as a different flavor, so there’s something for everyone. Each one is a home for bands to live, and fans to love.
I’m so glad you discovered Kaleo. Great band. They, for example, already had 12 million streams from my playlists on the day they were added to KROQ. It feels great to be part of the story, and I absolutely love being on music early.
Another highlight for me, is that I curate these playlists in collaboration with the fans. Every single day I know exactly how these listeners feel about the songs and I make my adjustments based on their instant and consistent feedback. I'm a data nerd and obsess over seeing how songs are performing within a playlist and on the platform overall. I may create and oversee a wide network of global playlists, but at the end of the day, I'm a music fan curating the best possible playlists based on insight from and for other music fans.
Rock music may not live on Top 40 these days, but it's more than alive and well. In fact it's thriving in more forms than it ever has before. Growing up as a massive music fan, slaving over a mix tape was the ultimate gift I could give someone. Now I get to do that everyday on a global scale. It’s just beyond. I’m grateful, and I’m on a mission...and I’m loving every single second of it.
Your post made my day. Thanks so much for sharing the love.
All My Best,
Allison
Allison Hagendorf Spotify | Global Head Of Rock
I love great art, no matter the medium.
Defense Bill Passes, Giving Sacred Native American Sites To Mining Company
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FILE - Sen. John McCain, left, R-AZ, and Sen. Jeff Flake, R-AZ, hold a news conference to discuss recent reports that dozens of VA hospital patients in Arizona may have died while awaiting medical care in the Phoenix VA Health Care System, adjacent to the VA Hospital in this Friday, April 18, 2014 file photo taken in Phoenix. Growing concerns about allegations of gross mismanagement and neglect at the Phoenix VA Health Care Center have resulted in a commitment by the chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to hold a hearing, members of Arizona's congressional delegation said Thursday April 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate passed a measure authorizing the nation’s defense programs Friday, and along with it managed to give lands sacred to Native Americans to a foreign company that owns a uranium mine with Iran. The $585 billion National Defense Authorization Act of 2015 is one of the must-pass pieces of legislation that Congress moves every year. But like they did in attaching extraneous riders to the must-pass government funding bill, lawmakers used the defense bill as a vehicle to pass a massive public lands package.
The bill sailed through on a vote of 89 to 11. Many of the land measures were popular. But one, the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act, had twice failed to win support in the House of Representatives, blocked both by conservationists and conservatives. The deal gives a subsidiary of the Australian-English mining firm Rio Tinto 2,400 acres of the Tonto National Forest in exchange for several other parcels so it can mine a massive copper deposit. The Iran connection comes from a uranium mine in Namibia, in which Tehran has owned a 15 percent stake since the days of the shah. Rio Tinto, which removed Iran’s two members of the mine board in 2012, has argued that Iran gets no benefit from the property, that there is no active partnership, and that it has discussed the issue with the U.S. State Department to ensure that no sanctions against Iran are violated. A State Department spokesperson confirmed that officials had discussed the site, but declined to say that they could assure there were no violations of sanctions. “We are aware of the mine in question and have discussed relevant compliance issues with the company,” the spokesperson said. The official also declined to say if, as might be expected, Iran would be able to benefit from the mine if Secretary of State John Kerry is successful in negotiations to limit the regime’s nuclear aspirations, and sanctions are lifted. “We are not going to speculate on any hypotheticals,” the official said. A Rio Tinto official also declined to speculate, but noted that under the current sanctions and Namibian law, it’s impossible to buy out Iran’s share or sever the tie. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) mounted a bid to strip the entire lands package from the bill, but secured only 18 votes in his favor. It’s not only people concerned about any benefit Iran might get who were worried about giving American forest land to a foreign firm that has such a connection. Native Americans, particularly the Apache tribe in the area, say digging a massive mine under their ancestral lands will destroy sacred ceremonial and burial grounds. Rio Tinto says it will work closely with the tribes to ensure their concerns are heard, and will work with the U.S. Forest Service to protect the environment. The measure was added into the NDAA largely thanks to the efforts of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who, along with fellow Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake, sees the project as an economic boon that will create 3,700 jobs over several decades. Flake acknowledged that the deal never would have passed on its own, even as he lamented the process that got it through the Senate. “It’s never good to see big packages with so many things in them — that’s what we want to get away from,” Flake said. “But it’s been very difficult to move individual pieces of legislation over the last few years.” In this case, the addition of the Arizona swap and the other land measures were never discussed in public, and were added during secret negotiations between the House and Senate Armed Services Committee. the deal was never publicly revealed until the House started work on passing the entire defense bill last week. It will become law as soon as President Barack Obama signs it. Rio Tinto, though subsidiary Resolution Copper, will take possession of the land a year later. Although the land will then be private property and federal environmental reviews will no longer be enforceable, the company said in a statement after the measure passed that it would abide by such reviews. It also pledged to be a good neighbor: “RESOLUTION COPPER MINING IS PLEASED THAT THE SOUTHEAST ARIZONA LAND EXCHANGE AND CONSERVATION ACT PASSED THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE WITH STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. PASSAGE OF THE LEGISLATION MEANS THAT RESOLUTION COPPER CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS WORLD-CLASS ORE BODY WHICH WILL CREATE APPROXIMATELY 3,700 JOBS, GENERATE OVER $60 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT AND RESULT IN ALMOST $20 BILLION IN STATE AND FEDERAL TAX PAYMENTS,” SAID PROJECT DIRECTOR ANDREW TAPLIN. “THERE IS MUCH MORE WORK TO BE DONE BEFORE COMMERCIAL MINING CAN BEGIN AND RESOLUTION COPPER LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS AS WE CONTINUE TO PROGRESS THROUGH THE REGULATORY REVIEW PROCESS TOWARD RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF A WORLD-CLASS COPPER MINE THAT WILL SAFELY PRODUCE OVER 25 PERCENT OF THE CURRENT ANNUAL DEMAND FOR COPPER IN THE UNITED STATES.” ONCE THE LEGISLATION IS SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT OBAMA, RESOLUTION COPPER WILL FOCUS ON THE COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AND REGULATORY REVIEW UNDER NEPA, WHERE THERE WILL BE BROAD PUBLIC CONSULTATION, GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION WITH ARIZONA NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES AND A COMPREHENSIVE VALUATION APPRAISAL OF THE COPPER DEPOSIT AS REQUIRED BY CONGRESS. RESOLUTION COPPER PLANS TO WORK TO EXPAND EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS AND CREATE NEW ONES WITH NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES AND NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES. THE COMPANY WILL ENDEAVOR TO HIRE LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY WHENEVER POSSIBLE. THE HEART OF THE LEGISLATION IS THE EXCHANGE OF 2,400 ACRES OF FEDERALLY OWNED LAND ABOVE THE COPPER DEPOSIT FOR 5,300 ACRES OF LAND OWNED BY RESOLUTION COPPER COMPOSED OF VALUABLE RECREATIONAL, CONSERVATION AND CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT LAND THROUGHOUT ARIZONA. CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS MADE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND TRIBAL CONCERNS. THESE CHANGES INCLUDE PROVISIONS FOR COMPLETION OF A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) PRIOR TO THE EXCHANGE OF TITLE,
Stephany Suydam Floater at Powers and Sons LLC Nothing is sacred to our Corporate Masters.
Carolyn Pearl Our governments politicians only value their individual profits and John McCain, you're on the way out. You stole this sacred land and kept it secret while doing so. But the clock is ticking on the oligarchys rule and we're going to sweep the deck clean of you leeches.
Billy Wolf Works at Retired Hear, Hear....The Revolution is calling....We are going to exlode on these people...Once the fuse is lit....They wont be able to stop it....
Sara Greene Wtf! This needs to be stopped asap! Voting Stein! Leave behind the ones who profit off our lands and peoples blood!
Mark Rea What will Stein do? How will that help?
Keith Pratt Mcindoe Falls, Vermont america breakes treaties when it suits them..but the rath of god on all nations that break treaties..or international ones.make america great again...when was it great ..to begin with.
RaeJeanne Nilsen Portland State University Want to hear from Native American representatives. This sounds like entire congress is traitorous to all of us.
I love great art, no matter the medium.
MAKE NEWS
Trump owns the news cycle, he's the headline every damn day, whereas Hillary's nowhere to be found. Taylor Swift did not become the biggest star in America by laying back and resting on the laurels of "1989." She had listening parties, of both professionals and fans. She delivered Christmas gifts and filmed the ensuing hysteria. And despite experiencing a backlash, she could still sell out stadiums all across this great nation of ours. You see the fans don't care about the haters. Don't piss in the wind complaining, best your enemies by playing their own game, but better.
SPEAK TO HIS CONSTITUENTS
Want to replace Taylor Swift, do her act better than she does. Or come up with something transcendent that eclipses her. This election is about persuading the undecided. You've got to speak to their issues and convince them. The anybody but Trump faction is never gonna vote for him, don't bother preaching to the converted, if anything it alienates the middle. The middle is worried about jobs and their future. And you appeal to these people emotionally, you feel their pain, something Bill Clinton was so good at. Stop railing against the Donald and go after his fans.
INNOVATE
Kanye is the master here, he held rallies to roll out his fashion line and his video, and charged for the privilege of attending. Kanye thought outside the box, he realized it wasn't about unit sales, but mindshare.
ENGAGE
The person with the best message wins online. If Hillary were smart, she'd get into a flame war with Trump, engage him on his own terms online, spontaneously, on Twitter. The eyeballs and the news would be overwhelming. Trump's a man of no substance, Hillary's a wonk. She'd win any battle if she only played. Furthermore, it would set up the debates, it would defuse Trump's firepower and put him on his heels. And Hillary could reference the online shenanigans during the ultimate televised encounters. Once again, Trump wins by being outrageous, that's why people tune in, to see what he says next, it worked for him in the Republican primaries. Hillary's got to go for the jugular, she's got to be tough, we know she's got it in her, she's got to stop playing soft grandma and become bad ass grandma, which will further demonstrate her ability to lead, it's a win win. Hillary's not touchy-feely and that's okay with the women on the work front lines, who have to deal with a man's world every day and know how to play rough. 1992 was a generation ago, those ladies pissed off that Hillary didn't want to stay home and bake cookies are in retirement homes wondering how they're going to pay the next bill, if they're not still working. People want a fighter and a winner, and that's Hillary, not Donald, and if she'd just take off the gloves, stop smiling and start sneering...she'd issue the knockout punch.
ISSUES NOT PENUMBRA
Don't take the bait! Don't react to Putinism or the Muslim inanities, this election is about economic security, plain and simple. Once Donald gets you off point, you've lost. If someone was gonna be turned off by Donald's wild statements and flip-flopping they'd have already abandoned him. You think the press is doing your job, by hammering Trump every damn day, but when it comes to entertainment there's no such thing as bad publicity. And Trump has made this election about entertainment. You can't win on that level, he's better at that than you are, but if you illustrate his inadequacies by challenging him, you'll succeed. Trump is thin-skinned and cannot let a comment slide, he's always got to react. Go on Twitter and ask him how he's gonna balance the budget with his tax plan, ask him how he's gonna repair our nation's infrastructure, ask him how he's gonna keep black people and Latinos safe. Own the issues, play offense, not defense, that's when Trump looks worst, when he's force to respond to specific questions far from his wheelhouse, the ones important to undecided voters.
It's a game folks. And Trump has revealed it to be a completely different one from what has come before. And all the established players have been caught flat-footed. The Republican party, the media and now Hillary Clinton. Past is prologue. Don't be one of the seven dwarf Republicans playing your own aged game as Trump clears the board. Bush had a plan, no one cared, they want action and emotion. Rubio had no substance. And Carson was a dodo and Christie was tainted. And while they were jockeying for position, Trump redefined the race and then won it, to everybody's amazement.
He's gonna go low. He's gonna say things that are gonna make many wince. But his words won't be so different from those used in bars and households all over America today. Decorum is out the window, everybody uses the F-word, life is a rap battle, and the person who believes they're above this is seen as out of touch and ends up being squeezed out.
Beyonce tested limits and got even bigger. Standing up for something instead of just smiling and playing nice.
And the "Voice" contestants play by the rules and then never succeed in the marketplace.
And Drake releases new music constantly, he's always in the news.
And Bieber is the biggest and baddest, and he's left a trail of missteps in his wake, but no one who listens to his music cares, they just love the songs.
Sing your song Hillary. Say what you're gonna do instead of claiming America is already great. Be a leader, something Obama has faltered at. Challenge Congress. Push back. Organize. Have us follow in your wake instead of you following in ours.
As for Goldman Sachs and the speech money...do your Checkers mea culpa, say you needed the money and you kept making the money because money is power and you needed to accumulate so much to take on the corporations. Make your supposed flaws your assets.
Today's musicians may not be cutting edge musically, but no one has done a better job of harnessing the new communication tools to reach the populace. It's musicians who dominate social media, it's musicians who are now unfiltered and in the marketplace every damn day. Better to consult with Taylor and Kanye than Robby Mook. And Bill's aged and out of touch and Obama is so busy playing nice that he might have beaten Romney but would be challenged in today's world.
The battle will be won by making your own news, by controlling your own narrative, not by being interviewed on Fox News, but by being all over Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat. Never forget, the mainstream media is last, stories are built online. You can create your own narrative, musicians do it every damn day, Kim Kardashian is the master of this. Hell, she's a good example. People hate her for having no talent. But you know what talent she does have? Making money. By staying in the news and appealing to those open to her message.
And many more people would be open to your message Hillary if you just got into the pit and fought it out.
You can do this, I know you can.
Don't be afraid of mistakes, they're quickly forgotten, step up to the plate and take some whacks, it's the home runs we remember.
P.S. Own the criticism. Just like African-Americans took back the N-word and Obama called the Affordable Care Act "Obamacare," tweet Trump and tell him it's CROOKED HILLARY! And that you'd be tweeting from Benghazi, but you couldn't get a plane there fast enough, just like you couldn't get troops in to save...
P.P.S. Ask any golfer, you play to win or you don't. Sure, Hillary might eke out a victory with her present strategy, but who's she gonna kick if she fails but herself. No one is better informed on the issues than Hillary, no one knows better how to shepherd change through our system, she's got to stop having her seconds telling everybody this and DEMONSTRATE IT!
I love great art, no matter the medium.
I love great art, no matter the medium.
The stunning headline from Donald Trump's Wednesday news conference was that he asked Russia to find Hillary Clinton's missing emails. "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing," he said. "I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press."