Well, we've had a great year here in Cleveland and we hope that you, wherever you are, had a great year too! That said, it's now that time of the year where we reflect on our lives and become, formally, officially thankful.....I'd like to take a minute to wish everyone a Happy/Merry:
Christmas
Hanukkah
春節 (In advance)
Kwanzaa
Pancha Ganapati
Diwali (Belated)
Boxing Day
Las Posadas
Feliz Navidad
Eid al-Adha (Belated)
and, of course
Festivus (for the rest-of-us)
Most of all, I'm honored and blessed that you, my wonderful readers have chosen to spend some of your precious time, apparently on a regular basis, reading and contemplating our favorite, cutting-edge genre....
I'm also really grateful that some pretty important, savvy thinkers are taking notice of my work as well. (Don't worry, I won't name names....but you know who you are!)
"Financial Comedy"
I'm also really grateful that some pretty important, savvy thinkers are taking notice of my work as well. (Don't worry, I won't name names....but you know who you are!)
In that light, I'd like to attach a link to a podcast (Episode 11) I did with Anne Stevenson-Yang just before Thanksgiving this year. I've known Anne for years, and frankly, without mincing words, I think she's brilliant. What else can I say? She's done everything I'd ever want to do, seen everything I'd ever want to see, and she's much more polished than I could ever hope to be. (As you will experience first hand from my sometimes rambling/mumbling dialogue on the podcast)
I am flattered that Anne chose to spend some of her valuable time chatting with me on "tape". When reviewing some of her other podcasts, you'll also note that she has interviewed some pretty heavy hitters, for example, one of my all-time heroes, Roger Lowenstein (Episode 9) ("When Genius Failed") gives his thoughts on the economy and investing in a prior podcast.....tough act to follow!
In any case, I hope you enjoy, and can get through, my extemporaneous musings (45 min.) relentlessly framed by Anne's best effort to keep me on topic. I must say, when I first heard the finished product, my immediate reaction was "Hey! I've got a future in Presidential Politics!"....followed by "Yeesshhh....stick with the blog..." But, as they say, it is what it is. I hope you enjoy my/our thoughts.
Finally, a note to all of you trolls out there that are just waiting to pounce at every one of my slip-ups. Since this is an unedited, shoot from the hip interview, I freely admit that there are a few errant "facts", and dare I say, outright misstatements in what I had said.....my memory fades from time to time. Forgive me.
I've already identified these miscues, but I'll leave it up to you good folks to find them and report them in the comment section, like I know you are itching to do....consider it a Christmas Quiz! There might even be a prize for the most thorough troll-job!
All the best!
DT
OK....One last bit of Financial Comedy for the Year
I just couldn't let this one go without mention. From a reader.....here's another page from TaoBao....
You might want to point out that Alibaba has a whole site dedicated to selling non-performing assets:
https://www.taobao. com/markets/paimai/zc_npl?spm= a213w.6688509.0.0.fhERXC
The banner says "Marketplace for collateralized assets. Recommended by banks! Starting from 50% off."
There are hundreds of thousands of these "asset" listings...So Alibaba's fastest growing business segment is "Winding down the busted Chinese economy"?? Alibaba is a giant on-line pawn shop?
I wonder why they don't showcase this huge, lucrative, gold-mine business segment in the 6-K/20-F, Investor Calls, Press Releases, Presentations or the filings? Why do they keep focusing on all that low margin cookware, socks, coats and underwear?....and I thought these guys knew how to market?.....Samsonite!.....I was way off!
https://www.taobao. com/markets/paimai/zc_npl?spm= a213w.6688509.0.0.fhERXC
The banner says "Marketplace for collateralized assets. Recommended by banks! Starting from 50% off."
You can buy financial assets, real-property collateral, or valuables like cars and watches (https://paimai.taobao.com/? spm=a219w.116665.a214uxf.9. 879aa89TjPtx4),
Participate in court-organized auctions. Today the featured offering is discounted parking spaces.
(https://sf.taobao.com/?spm= a219w.116665.a214uxf.8. 879aa89TjPtx4
Isn't that wonderful! "Well.....if these deals are recommended by banks!....they've gotta be a good!"There are hundreds of thousands of these "asset" listings...So Alibaba's fastest growing business segment is "Winding down the busted Chinese economy"?? Alibaba is a giant on-line pawn shop?
I wonder why they don't showcase this huge, lucrative, gold-mine business segment in the 6-K/20-F, Investor Calls, Press Releases, Presentations or the filings? Why do they keep focusing on all that low margin cookware, socks, coats and underwear?....and I thought these guys knew how to market?.....Samsonite!.....I was way off!
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