Bag boy: Hey, employer, you didn't give me a toy with
my worker fun meal. In California I get a toy with my
fun meal! Oh, and a nap -- I want a nap and a toy.
Wal-Mart: Shut up and get back to work.
Bag boy: Court, we're in California. I want my toy and
a nap.
Court: Wal-Mart, you're sanctioned ~$200MM for this
atrocity.
Bag boy: Ha ha! Now give me my toy.
Wal-Mart: Shut up and get back to work.
http://biz.yahoo.com/law/060629/7b22029f26ec66e33efb3cb204327f33.html?.v=1
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Ya Want Some Cake?
Cheesecake Factory (CAKE)
Share price as of Tuesday's close: $27.74
Share price now: $25.69
Percent change: -7.4%
Volume: 3.5 million shares, daily average 1.4 million
We've been to the Cheesecake Factory a couple of times lately. The portion sizes are absolutely massive; after ordering appetizers (stuff like potstickers and chicken satay, always served up by the boatload) we were, invariably, too full to think about the entree list, and generally not even still hungry enough to split a slice of their rich, decadent cheesecake.
Generally, any refusal of entrees or dessert led the waiters to look at us as if we'd slapped them in the face. I couldn't tell if they were desperate for tips or thought we were suffering from anorexia. We had been wondering if anyone had the appetite -- or expandable pants -- necessary to make it through a full meal with dessert there. Based on their recent results, I guess not.
They also have a new concept restaurant, the Grand Lux Cafe. We were in Houston a couple weeks ago and spotted one there across the street from the Galleria. Upon seeing it, I noticed immediately that it looked just like a Cheesecake Factory (the waitress eagerly confirmed). The look and feel, the price point, and the menu are all essentially similar. The portion size was, too, as a dim sum appetizer was enough for us to consider dinner. Decent, but they'd be better off, I think, if their "concept" restaurant were a new concept.
Share price as of Tuesday's close: $27.74
Share price now: $25.69
Percent change: -7.4%
Volume: 3.5 million shares, daily average 1.4 million
We've been to the Cheesecake Factory a couple of times lately. The portion sizes are absolutely massive; after ordering appetizers (stuff like potstickers and chicken satay, always served up by the boatload) we were, invariably, too full to think about the entree list, and generally not even still hungry enough to split a slice of their rich, decadent cheesecake.
Generally, any refusal of entrees or dessert led the waiters to look at us as if we'd slapped them in the face. I couldn't tell if they were desperate for tips or thought we were suffering from anorexia. We had been wondering if anyone had the appetite -- or expandable pants -- necessary to make it through a full meal with dessert there. Based on their recent results, I guess not.
They also have a new concept restaurant, the Grand Lux Cafe. We were in Houston a couple weeks ago and spotted one there across the street from the Galleria. Upon seeing it, I noticed immediately that it looked just like a Cheesecake Factory (the waitress eagerly confirmed). The look and feel, the price point, and the menu are all essentially similar. The portion size was, too, as a dim sum appetizer was enough for us to consider dinner. Decent, but they'd be better off, I think, if their "concept" restaurant were a new concept.
Friday, June 23, 2006
You Thought It Was Just GM, Part 2
Ford is now rated as more likely than GM to default on their debts: MSNBC article
Ford is, I think, paying the price for the ambiguity of their plans to return to profitability. GM has taken a lot of flak for all the jobs and plants they've expressed an interest in eliminating, but they know they have to do it or die so they've been extremely up-front about it.
Ford is, I think, paying the price for the ambiguity of their plans to return to profitability. GM has taken a lot of flak for all the jobs and plants they've expressed an interest in eliminating, but they know they have to do it or die so they've been extremely up-front about it.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
We're Bangers And Mash
Vonage asserts it is not toast:
Businessweek article
Their assertion makes some sense, because toast is, generally, hot. With a dead-in-the-water IPO, and shiny new lawsuit from Verizon kicking them in the shins, Vonage is anything but, unless you believe any press is good press.
What hope could they have? The short memory of greedy investors hoping for a rebound, perhaps? Not likely. Deep pockets making a grab like eBay and Skype? Not counting on that, either. In fact, I wouldn't expect anything beyond a fold, and the return of their crappy theme song in five years a'la pets.com's sock puppet, but that's just me.
Businessweek article
Their assertion makes some sense, because toast is, generally, hot. With a dead-in-the-water IPO, and shiny new lawsuit from Verizon kicking them in the shins, Vonage is anything but, unless you believe any press is good press.
What hope could they have? The short memory of greedy investors hoping for a rebound, perhaps? Not likely. Deep pockets making a grab like eBay and Skype? Not counting on that, either. In fact, I wouldn't expect anything beyond a fold, and the return of their crappy theme song in five years a'la pets.com's sock puppet, but that's just me.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Qibla Compass, The Next Killer App
I read that a company called Infocom is now selling a service to Muslims that will use cellphone triangulation to orient a person towards Mecca, and they'll also send five prayer-reminder text messages a day. There is a service by a different company that allows Hindus to text prayers to Ganesh.
Perhaps an unsolicited bid to the Catholic Church for offering the e-Body and e-Blood of Christ is in order.
Perhaps an unsolicited bid to the Catholic Church for offering the e-Body and e-Blood of Christ is in order.
Take This, All Of You, and Diet
Taking a page from Unilever, Nestle is making their first major diet-company acquisition, purchasing Jenny Craig for $600MM. What's next? McDonalds acquiring Nutri-System?
Unilever, as you may know, owns the formerly-granola-and-now-sold-out Ben & Jerry's ice cream brand and other tasty snacks, but also owns Slim-Fast and apparently bought up some rights to Phytofarm's hoodia extract. I hear hoodia goes well with spam.
Unilever, as you may know, owns the formerly-granola-and-now-sold-out Ben & Jerry's ice cream brand and other tasty snacks, but also owns Slim-Fast and apparently bought up some rights to Phytofarm's hoodia extract. I hear hoodia goes well with spam.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Two Middle Fingers From NYX
NYSE won't impose Sarbanes-Oxley in Europe
SOX 404 error, logic behind internal and accounting procedure disclosure regulations not found. Please consult a business-strangling politician or try again later.
SOX 404 error, logic behind internal and accounting procedure disclosure regulations not found. Please consult a business-strangling politician or try again later.
My Nominee For Fed Chairman
...is Jack.
"WEST MILFORD, N.J. - A black bear picked the wrong yard for a jaunt, running into a territorial tabby who ran the furry beast up a tree — twice.
Jack, a 15-pound orange and white cat, keeps a close vigil on his property, often chasing small animals, but his owners and neighbors say his latest escapade was surprising.
"We used to joke, 'Jack's on duty,' never knowing he'd go after a bear," owner Donna Dickey told The Star-Ledger of Newark for Friday's editions."
"WEST MILFORD, N.J. - A black bear picked the wrong yard for a jaunt, running into a territorial tabby who ran the furry beast up a tree — twice.
Jack, a 15-pound orange and white cat, keeps a close vigil on his property, often chasing small animals, but his owners and neighbors say his latest escapade was surprising.
"We used to joke, 'Jack's on duty,' never knowing he'd go after a bear," owner Donna Dickey told The Star-Ledger of Newark for Friday's editions."
Thursday, June 15, 2006
You Thought It Was Just GM
Volkswagen is in the doghouse with their union these days over plans to increase their employees' workweek to a whopping 35 hours. They've also had to offer some 85,000 workers buyouts with values up to $315,000 (which, it is expected, few workers will accept). Perhaps the union's next step will be to retain some soccer hooligans to convince management that 28-hour workweeks and substantial financial losses are okay business.
GM's in trouble in Europe as well. Their efforts to shut down a factory in Portugal have led to - surprise - the threat of strikes. The company has potential, but the now apparently international "full pay until the last day" mentality is looking more likely to eat them alive.
GM's in trouble in Europe as well. Their efforts to shut down a factory in Portugal have led to - surprise - the threat of strikes. The company has potential, but the now apparently international "full pay until the last day" mentality is looking more likely to eat them alive.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Great Views!
I was recently in Gulfport, MS, and noticed that almost every cleared lot overlooking the Gulf now has a "For Sale" sign on it. The water and beaches are both still full of chunks of insulation, books, clothing, and other random household items, but the views are otherwise awesome.
It seems people are waiting to see if the area takes another hit this season before rebuilding. Watermark's "indefinitely postponed" the Caribbean Dream; Harrah's unloaded the Grand Casino for someone else to rebuild. Beau Rivage looks almost functional but every lot promising a rebuilt Waffle House has yet to begin construction.
New Orleans was dissimilar. The destruction was really only obvious in impoverished areas like the Ninth Ward, with the French Quarter, Garden District and business district basically rebuilt (Harrah's is reopened there).
It seems people are waiting to see if the area takes another hit this season before rebuilding. Watermark's "indefinitely postponed" the Caribbean Dream; Harrah's unloaded the Grand Casino for someone else to rebuild. Beau Rivage looks almost functional but every lot promising a rebuilt Waffle House has yet to begin construction.
New Orleans was dissimilar. The destruction was really only obvious in impoverished areas like the Ninth Ward, with the French Quarter, Garden District and business district basically rebuilt (Harrah's is reopened there).