Are you Happy?

Before reading further, ask yourself: are you happy?

Each individual can each find a way to be happy. Collectively, and in the case below, for various nations, the prospects are dire.

Howard Marks, chairman of Oaktree Capital, has about $76B assets under management. He discusses the prospects for the United States, PIIGs, and Greece. In his latest memo, Marks expresses concern about austerity measures. For some nations, devaluation of its currency is required.
Its Greek to Me

Marks' Bottom line: anyone who invests today in a pro-risk fashion out of belief in the recovery must be confident he’ll be agile enough to take profits before the long-term realities set in.

Marks doubts his concerns are unfounded, but could not imagine silence would be preferable.

Who can disagree to that? Succeeding in the market requires being right and having a non-consensus view. Keeping silent on concerns enables ones concerns to be discussed and more likely to be addressed, collectively and for individual investors.

Essential Warren Buffett on Passion, BP, iPad

Warren Buffett is worth an estimated $62 billion in 2008. He is the second richest man in the United States, after Bill Gates, and net of Buffett's philanthropic activities.

Buffett shares his wisdom in the following assortment of interview clips.

On the best advice he received - Knowing you can always come back; that you can tell a guy to "go to hell" tomorrow:


Link here

On passion: spending on things that enrich his life, why prospects are better now for students than in his time, and on thinking "outside the box."



Link here


On British Petroleum (BP), and on why the BP CEO should be fired:


Link here

On YouTube and iPad (why Buffett spends more time on the computer than Bill Gates):




Link here

On why Buffett thinks the economy is coming back (contrary to views of Krugman):


Link here

Blackberry 9800 "Slider" Preview

A few months ago, a hideous low-resolution image of Research In Motion's "Slider" was leaked on the internet and shared among high-traffic gadget sites. The reaction was less than positive. Between that time, RIM's shares dropped 32%.

Below is another video leak of RIM's Blackberry 9800 Slider.

What is the verdict on the Blackberry Slider? Is it a "win" or is it "an epic fail?"





h/t K.S.

Disclosure: No position in RIMM stock. An intrinsic value for RIM is currently being assessed. Using a forward growth rate of 29%. and a 10-year avg EPS (2000 - 2009), RIM is currently trading at an implied margin of safety of 50%.

The Secret Powers of Time

In 'The Secret Powers of Time,' 30 years of research is summarized to explain about how different cultures view time differently. Using this theme, the video illustrates how the value of family values, happiness, and one's (or a society) view of the future are based on the perspective of time.

The video explains how many of life's puzzles can be solved by simply understanding our own time perspective.



h/t the big picture