MANY AMERICANS LIKE TO PAY MORE FOR NUMBER ONE

Astoria, New York
" Let me pay more because the product is better, I feel better, the company is better, the salesman is better. " are the comments of many American consumers in the Queens area. Companies that deliver innovation, advertising, superior product image are winning the show as they hook up consumers who become addicted to paying more causing higher profit margins for star companies like Apple and McDonald's  " I always say that profit margins are the key to success and these above mentioned companies are able to do better than their rivals and many american consumers are following the trail in supporting them. Apple's computers might offer better value at a higher price but my HP is sufficient in doing the job for me at a lower price. Apple 's stock has been the spark to the Nasdaq's gain in the last few months as the company continues to grow fast in every way from revenues to earnings to quantity of products sold. For McDonald's I repeat better value as I believe Wendy's is offering better quality and value at a lower price. And while Wendy's ( of which I nibbled at it lately)  has been capturing market share by taking second place from Burger King in the hamburger business, its much lower profit margin keeps it from gaining success in the financial markets. Both Apple and McDonald's are considered number one and many Americans feel that the right way to go is to go with the flow. I, on the other hand, am a contrarian and I feel that price without sacrificing quality is the right way to go.

WAR AGAINST PARTHIA SIMILAR TO US WAR AGAINST MID EAST NATIONS

Astoria, New York

If Rome went to was against Parthia, it was because it was attacked. In 161 AD, the roman province of Syria was attacked by the Parthians seeking to expand their decadent empire. Rome had enjoyed a Pax Romana under some of its good emperors. Now, it had to go back to war as the co emperors Varus and Marcus Aurelius needed to stop the threat. It took just about 4 years to invade and conquer the parthian capital. Back then, the Romans didn't have what America has today. Jets,tanks,missiles and all the costly 9 yards of technology. But in both circumstances, these war have depleted the treasuries and financial system. Emperor Marcus Aurelius auctioned his own private imperial belongings in a sign of sacrifice. He also looked at raising money by increasing taxes. In America, cutting expenses and raising taxes have been the agenda for the last few years.

Back in roman times, spoils of war and taxing the new conquered provinces would help boost the finances. Today, the fight against terror and dictators, democracy and hope for future business contracts are the norm. In both instances the population makes the sacrifice and in both instances the politicians would like to bring conflicts to a faster end if plausible. In both instances there are people just like Marcus Aurelius who know the finances are in trouble way before it takes its toll and others who keep being careless in their spending. Please visit YouTube.com and watch videos on the Roman Empire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP4U-Mz0vy8

BREAKING NEWS : LOS ANGELES UNDER SIEGE BY ARSONISTS

CARS AND PROPERTY BEING SET ON FIRE , WILL THE LAPD CATCH WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

Astoria , New York

" Barbarians and pirates are setting cars on fire. These are savages and enemies of the civilized Americans. Barbarians and pirates destroy and feast on the hard work of the American civilians. Its up to the LAPD to stop this monguls from continuing their seige on Los Angeles. Perimeter security, cameras, intelligence and whatever is needed should be used to stop them. "

TAX SELLERS FINALIZE TODAY FOR 2011 LOSSES

Astoria , New York

With the 2011 market year coming to the end, tax sellers have only a few hours left in the United States to sell their position to get a tax loss on their tax return. Some sellers came in late this week to sell their positions. Selling their stocks late may cause price fluctuations to the downside especially for micro caps. Swaps from one equity to another could be a valuable tool here, since tax sellers have to wait one month before repurchasing the sold equity. " Also, beginning with 2011 , 1099 statements now disclose the purchase as well as the sell price of each transaction. This will allow the taxing authority to view if there is a gain or loss on each trade for tax purposes. " FPG added.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AUDIENCES AND FOLLOWERS TO THE REAL ECONOMIST

* CHRISTMAS DAY ON THE DECEMBER 25TH FOLLOWS ON THE SAME DAY AS THE ROMAN EMPERORS' SOL INVICTUS

Astoria , New York

The management of this blog spot wishes everyone Happy Holidays. With Christmas tomorrow December 25th , historians are debating if the Roman Christians and the breakaway Byzantine Orthodox followed the Roman Pagan and later only God Sol Invictus feast and birth day. " We know that Sol was initiated in Syria from evidence. Also many pagans eleswhere saw the sun as a form of deity. " FPG said. When Emperor Aurelian in about 274 AD made the official claim of Sol Invictus as only God of the Romans, it was because he was victorious in his campaigns against the enemies of Rome. Temples were erected and there were annual celebrations of this God.

The December 25th date coincided with the Winter Solstice period. " We don't have historian evidence that this celebration took place on December 25th at the time of Aurelian. This occurred about a century later when the Christian religion was already accepted by the roman emperors. Whether or not this is coincidence both Roman Pagans and Christians were celebrating on the same day. " FPG finalized.

PRINCETON SECURITY DECLARES 1 CENT DIVIDEND

Princeton Security Tech based in New Jersey has declared a one cent dividend payable to shareholders at the end of December. For additional info, you can review its latest 8 k filing. Princeton Security ( PSGY ) is a technology company that manufactures radiation , x-ray and nuclear detection equipment.

LARGE COMPANIES CAN AFFORD KICKBACKS, MICROCAPS CAN'T

Astoria, New York

The big keep getting bigger while the small get smaller may be real when it comes to persuading clients to use their products with kickbacks. Medtronic is now paying more than 23 million to settle allegations by the Us Dept of Justice for paying these to doctors to encourage them to use their medical devices , as reported by Yahoo News. " Doctors have to buy what is best for them and their patients but sometimes, they are not going to get probably the same service they get from a Medtronic, a Ge or a Boston Scientific. A kickback on top will definitely seal the deal for the doctor to be devoted to one particular product. " FPG commented. Mass production and lower costs of the product doesn't mean that the product is better than a product made by a micro cap. There are laser companies, medical device companies and other technology companies out there that offer better products but are faced with a capital crunch. Large companies know that and that's how they are able to inflict damage. Take for example Lumenis, one large laser company, based in Israel,that was able to fiddle with Trimedyne ( TMED ), a micro cap headed by Chairman Marvin Loeb and his family. The company claims to have a better product but Lumenis was able to sell more as well as infringe on Trimedyne's fibers. Immagine that Loeb was a poor man. Trimedyne might not exist today. Instead, Loeb injected family money into the company and went after monster Lumenis. The conclusion was a early this year settlement of 2 million dollars for Trimedyne and royalties for the short term. This injected fresh capital into TMED has provided a wild card and hope for the future. Meanwhile Loeb has also engaged an investment banker to explore other oppurtunities. " The bottom line is money and the power of persuasion. Hopefully this settlement can be a lesson to other large companies." FPG finalized.

THE REAL ECONOMIST BECOMES SISTER BLOGSPOT TO BERLUSCONI ITALIA

Astoria, New York

Berlusconi Italia ( www.berlusconiitalia.blogspot.com ) is now joined by The Real Economist (www.therealeconomist.blogspot.com ) as sister blogspot. " This means that news among sites will be shared continuosly. With the worldwide economy being in disarray , I believe that economic issues as well as political ones will benefit both blogspots . " FPG said.

MARKETS JOLTED UPWARDS ON LAST ROUND OF BANK EASING

Astoria, New York

China ignites a monster rally after a round of bank easing to stimulate the economy. After being down in the morning, European markets revert and soar to the upside 4 percent across the board. Wall Street followed as the Dow closed above 12,000 with a near 500 point monster move. " This is a positive day for the markets that have been battered because of European woes , but caution is still in peoples mind as they may trade into these wild swings. " commented FPG. The rally affected mostly larger equities with the smaller and micro caps lagging behind. " It is my belief that these micro caps, after being pressured to very undervalued levels lately, will be able to shoot up quickly in the near term. The issue is finding the right one with the ingredients that will facilitate a comeback rally" added FPG. Back in December 2009 , a microcap named Implant Sciences (IMSC) traded at 3 cents. Today, it is trading at 70 cents wuth no reverse split. " You can be holding the next power micro cap in your portfolio and you may not even know. Frustration over good tiny microcaps can lead to an excessive negative performance of these equities before a monster recapture of valuation rally begins. "

EUROZONE HOPES AND RETAIL SALES SEND US FUTURES HIGHER

Astoria , New York

Worldwide markets are soaring and that was good for US futures as they are higher by more than 2 percent. Retailers did very well in post Thanksgiving sales and they are forecasted to be about 1 billion dollars more than last year. " We need to see item sales versus total sales as I may see inflation trickling into all of this, but even so it is very good and a morale booster for the economy. " commented FPG. " With the euroone, it has been a cat and mouse game and every time there is hope, that bodes well for the markets."

CAN RETAILERS REVERSE NEGATIVE WEEK DOWNTREND?

Black Friday or perhaps Black Thursday night for some stores has begun early for US retailers. Best Buy on Northern Boulevard in Woodside , Queens had between one thousand to two thousand early bird shoppers in the midnight hour early Friday morning. " The line of shoppers waiting outside was wrapped around the block. Hot items on sale were computers , flat screens and gaming equipment. " said Berlusconi Italia blogger FPG. Target in College Point had an almost full parking lot of cars. There were people on line but I was able to get in after 10 minutes. A security guard advised that the line was very long before the store opened at midnight. More than a thousand shoppers were at that location too. There were many items on sale. People snapping up flat screens , cleaning equipment , gaming items and towels. " I believe that people are coming out to buy hoping for a good deal and they are getting a lukewarm welcome from retailers. Deals are not that hot but good enough for bargain hunters " commented FPG. Police presence was evident as retailers try to prevent any stampede. Markets may signal some reversal in the negative trend of the past week once retailers begin to release their sales.