The art of speculating in one form or another has been around forever.
When it comes to speculating, there are always three things that you can be sure of – there will be always people willing to speculate, there will always be people who will love to play the game with the first group. Lastly history can be counted on to repeat itself.
Sure the object of speculation may change, the rules may change and the technology may change. But in the end it is always the same.
However what has happened before is 100 % sure to happen again. You can count on it. Everyone thinks always that they are so original when it always the same story again and again. Whether it is tulip bulbs, precious metals, mutual funds, lottery tickets or penny stocks human nature is human nature.
Ignorance, greed, fear and hope determine how people react and thus how prices move and markets behave. People have speculated on everything at one time or another,
For the last hindered years and certainly into the foreseeable future speculating on stock prices offers liquidity combined with legitimacy and purpose. Stock speculation,
I had to laugh...
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<div class="field-item"><p>I stopped for gas today at a Shell gas station and had to chuckle as I filled up my car.</p><p>A sign on top of the pump urged me to sign up for a Citi Mastercard that gives 10 percent back on all Shell gas purchases. On the sign, in big, black type, the sign says "Earn 38 cents/gallon." Then underneath it in much smaller print, the sign says, "@ $3.82/gallon."</p></div>
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And in more restaurant news...
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<div class="field-item"><p>Raleigh's Rocky Top Hospitality has reopened its Michael Dean's and Bogart's restaurants for lunch service during December. Both had gone to evening-only hours this past summer. Michael Dean's on Falls of Neuse Road in Raleigh is open for lunch through Dec. 24. Bogart's on Glenwood South will be open for lunch through the 19th. Both are serving from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.</p></div>
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Urban Food Group expanding to Charlotte...
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<div class="field-item"><p>Raleigh's Urban Food Group is expanding to the Queen City. The company behind Porters, Frazier's, Vivace and the newly opened Coquette in North Hills is planning a new Vivace location at 1100 Metropolitan Ave. The restaurant will open in the summer.</p></div>
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Save on flowers...
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<div class="field-item"><p>If you need to send flowers this week, 1-800-FLOWERS is offering free shipping or no service charge when you pay with a MasterCard and use the promotion code M33. But the offer is only good through Sunday.</p></div>
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OpenTable for iPhones...
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<div class="field-item"><p><img src="/sites/projects.newsobserver.com/files/images/iphone3sm.thumbnail.jpg" alt="" hspace="7" vspace="7" width="83" height="100" align="left" />If you use the OpenTable Web site to make restaurant reservations, you might be intested to know that there's now a free OpenTable app for iPhone users.</p><p>The system will allow users to check real-time availability in restaurants, make reservations and get directions. Find out more on the OpenTable Web site <a href="http://www.opentable.com/mobile/">here</a>.</p></div>
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Walgreens prescription coupon...
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<div class="field-item"><p>If you missed the coupon that ran in the paper a few weeks ago, Walgreens has put its new prescription transfer coupon online as well. The deal is that you get a $25 Walgreens gift card when you transfer your prescription to a Walgreens pharmacy. These coupons can be a great way to get a little extra if you have a monthly prescription that you fill. However, I always caution people that this is not a good strategy if you take several medications that could have weird interactions. Fair warning. You can find the printable coupon <a href="http://walgreens.shoplocal.com/walgreens/Default.aspx?action=detailbrowselarge&storeid=2504303&title=$25+Walgreens+Gift+Card+&img=http://akimages.crossmediaservices.com/dyn_li/600.0.90.0/Retailers/Walgreens/081012_01DD_1CPN.JPG" target="_blank">here</a>.</p></div>
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Tree lighting in Clayton...
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<div class="field-item"><p>In Clayton, the Christmas Village & Tree Lighting is happening tomorrow (Thursday), beginning at 6 p.m. The tree lighting will take place just before 9. If you are interested in going, there's a schedule of events <a href="http://downtownclayton.blogspot.com/2008/12/2008-christmas-village-tree-lighting.html" target="_blank">here</a> and a map <a href="http://downtownclayton.blogspot.com/2008/12/map-of-christmas-village-tree-lighting.html" target="_blank">here</a>. And, if you happen to live in the area, you should know that Main Street will be closed from Smith Street to O'Neil Street between 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for the event.</p></div>
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How's this for a BOGO deal?
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<div class="field-item"><p>Buy one get one free deals are usually pretty good bargains, but most of the time they're on things like cans of soup. It's time to think much bigger.</p><p>Florida car dealers, who have seen sales plummet this year, have taken to offering BOGO deals on vehicles. Seriously! <a href="http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/smartspending/archive/2008/07/29/buy-a-gas-guzzler-get-a-second-car-for-free.aspx" target="_blank">MSN reports</a> on one Chevy dealer offering a free gas-efficient vehicle when you buy a SUV or truck. And check out <a href="http://www.universitydodge.com/specials/index.htm" target="_blank">this ad</a> from a Dodge dealer offering a BOGO deal on Dodge trucks. Feel free to place your bets on what the next big BOGO deal will be. Jet planes? McMansions? </p></div>
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Here's the deal...
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<div class="field-item"><p>If you are a fan of this blog, here's something that may interest you... The News & Observer has started a weekly e-newsletter for women called <strong>Here's the Deal</strong> that compiles information from Taking Stock as well as other N&O blogs. In the newsletter, which is e-mailed Wednesday mornings after Wednesday Deals is posted, you'll find information on deals, fashion, food and more. And as you all are well aware, it pays to be in the know!</p><p>You must be a registered user on newsobserver.com to get Here's the Deal. <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/heresthedeal/" target="_blank">You can sign up here</a>.</p></div>
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Know an outdoorsman (or woman)?
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<div class="field-item"><p>Outdoor superstore Cabela's is offering $20 off orders of $100 or more on its Web site through midnight on Dec. 8 (Monday). Of course, there's always a catch. To get the deal, you need to give up your e-mail address. And by entering your e-mail, you will be signing up for the Cabela's e-newsletter. But it's still a good deal and probably worth it, especially if you are shopping for an outdoorsman or woman. <a href="http://information.cabelas.com/cabelasrebates/offer.jsp?cmCat=email&cm_cat=3964&cm_ven=email-nl&cm_pla=HA-0100&cm_ite=offer.jsp&eid=8451667&cmp=I081203A&seg=AN1&cnt=3964&ctb=offer" target="_blank">Check out the details here</a>.</p></div>
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Wednesday deals...
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<p><img src="/sites/projects.newsobserver.com/files/images/coupon%20cart-sm.jpg" alt="" hspace="7" vspace="7" width="106" height="160" align="left" />Well, it?s a mighty fine deals week out there! The pharmacies are busy promoting holiday sales, and Harris Teeter has gone all out to promote its latest initiative involving lower prices on several store brand products and an expanded Unreal Deals selection. There are good deals this week on razors, candy and medications, and there are a few good ones that make the item free after rebate or coupon or both.<br /> <br /> And don?t miss the special Walgreens flier in today?s paper, which has a coupon to get $5 in Register Rewards (good like a $5 bill on a future Walgreens purchase) when you spend $25.<br /> <br /> Happy shopping!!<br /> <strong><br /> Deal of the week</strong>: At Harris Teeter this week, Fiber One toaster pastries are three for $5 and there was a 70-cent coupon on Nov. 16. That will double and make those 27 cents a box.<br /> <br /> Click ?Read more? to see the list! And remember, if the store has a loyalty card, you?ll need it to get the sale price. </p> <div class="node-blog-teaser-footer">
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Galleries staying open late...
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<div class="field-item"><p>If you're a fan of Raleigh's First Friday events, you'll be happy to know that 10 downtown art galleries have declared every Friday in December First Friday and are planning to stay open late for shoppers. Dates include Dec. 5, 12 and 19.</p><p>Most galleries will be open until 9 p.m. Participating galleries include:<br /><br /><strong>Adam Cave Fine Art</strong> - (<a href="http://www.adamcavefineart.com" target="_blank">Web site</a>)<br /><strong>Artspace</strong> - (<a href="http://www.artspacenc.org" target="_blank">Web site</a>)<br /><strong>The Collectors Gallery</strong> - (<a href="http://www.thecollectorsgallery.com" target="_blank">Web site</a>)<br /><strong>Flanders 311</strong> - (<a href="http://www.flandersartgallery.com" target="_blank">Web site</a>)<br /><strong>Lee Hansley Gallery</strong> - (<a href="http://www.leehansleygallery.com" target="_blank">Web site)</a><br /><strong>Lump</strong> - (<a href="http://www.lumpgallery.com" target="_blank">Web site</a>)<br /><strong>M Street Gallery - (<a href="http://www.mstreetgallery.net" target="_blank">Web site</a>)<br />Nicole's Studio & Gallery</strong> - (<a href="http://www.nicolestudio.com" target="_blank">Web site</a>)<br /><strong>Rebus Works</strong> - (<a href="http://www.rebusworks.us" target="_blank">Web site</a>)<br /><strong>Visual Art Exchange</strong> - (<a href="http://www.visualartexchange.org" target="_blank">Web site</a>)</p></div>
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What are people searching for?
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<div class="field-item"><p>Google has created a fun Web site that shows what the top 10 searches are in certain categories, including toys, food and cold weather clothes. I totally enjoy the fact that "ugly christmas sweater" made the list. You can <a href="http://www.google.com/landing/holidayshopping08/gifts.html" target="_blank">check it out here</a>. </p></div>
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Saving online...
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<div class="field-item"><p>If you like surfing the Web for online coupon codes, you might like <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/27/technology/internet/27coupon.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&emc=eta1&adxnnlx=1228238295-1lXLq8ojvpQ7iAzAS68uBA" target="_blank">this New York Times story</a> on the topic. The story lists several Web sites, including a few of my favorites. Share your favorites if they're not included! </p></div>
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Cashing in your points...
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<div class="field-item"><p>I got an interesting press release this weekend from American Express about how more consumers are using their credit card rewards points for holiday purchases this year. I'm particularly interested in this because I've found a lot of people will just sit on piles and piles of points because they don't know how to redeem them or they are waiting to make some huge purchase in the future.</p><p>What are you doing? Have you redeemed points this year, and what did you buy? Or, are you saving up 10,000 points for some big-ticket item? </p></div>
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and investing have become an essential and vital parts of both our economy and our lives.
Trading is just another word for speculating and investing is nothing more than speculating, except that it supposedly encompasses a longer time horizon and for some odd reason implies less risk. Speculators speculate, trader’s trade and investors invest to make money. Traders buy stock or any other object of speculation because they anticipate a price appreciation.
Speculation and gambling are similar, with a few important distinctions. One difference is the perception, sometimes true, that successful speculators profit due to their skill or an unseen advantage, while gamblers prosper due to chance or luck.
Remember though that it may not happen to you but in the end given enough time or chances the odds will always prevail. The casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas were not built with winner’s money.
Another distinction is that gambling in most forms has been illegal (at least until government got involved and changed the rules in their favor) while speculation plays an essential role in our markets and thus our economy.
These important distinctions make speculating which indeed is what our investment industry purveys as an accepted occupation – indeed one with one prestige and gamblers not being accepted in the same light.
Whether a gambler, a trader or a speculator, in all cases the attraction is the same – the chance to make a lot of money in a hurry. It is the immediate gratification of the win that makes these games irresistible - an opiate of sorts.
Indeed problem gamblers have been compared to alcoholics in needing that rush which gives them such pleasure and serves amazingly to release endorphins to relax their troubled minds.
On top of that the unpredictability of the wins serves to even reinforce this addictive behavior.
Not far off of the methods of B.F. Skinner and the rats of operant conditioning fame.
Indeed some people will tell you that “it will almost always end with crying!”
Amy Goodmann
