These Rankings are FIFAesque

Who knew that Institutional Investor ranked analysts? Well, their third-ranked computer analyst reported this just before Apple reported earnings:

Apple Computer Inc, maker of the Macintosh personal computer, may report its slowest profit growth in more than two years as demand wanes for its iPod music players.

Net income in the third quarter ended July 1 probably rose 17% to $375 million, or 42 cents a share, from $320 million, or 37 cents, a year earlier, said UBS AG analyst Benjamin Reitzes, Institutional Investor’s third-ranked computer analyst. His estimate is 2 cents lower than the average of 21 analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial.

About half an hour or so later, Apple "said third- quarter profit rose 48 percent on demand for Macintosh computers," according to Bloomberg.

I Need Something to Catch the Drool

Dear Stepmill 7000pt,

You are a cruel, cruel machine. Like a battering spouse, you lure me in with the "I love you's" and "I want you's." Within thirty minutes, though, there I am, aching, soggy and out of breath, my ass thoroughly kicked. Yet I come back for more.

Why? Could it be the "I am only doing what's best for you's" or the "you need me's?" Could it be my own insecurities about my physical appearance? I don't know what binds me to you.

But sometime, when I think about you, I feel twin rushes of desire and revulsion. I know you will shape me into something prettier than I am now. But I know your chiselling will cause me great pain.

Why do I come back?

Allow Me to Pimp....

TripAdvisor.com, for its usefulness in planning a vacation. I used it to plan our honeymoon and it couldn't have been more spot on in terms of hotel reviews and area summaries. In fact, both hotels that I booked using TripAdvisor were amazing experiences. La Villa Marbella was a wonderful little B&B, located in the old town but within a ten-minute walk of the beach. The service there, along with the rooms, was first-class. Casa Camper was a revelation, located in the heart of Barcelona's artsy Raval district. Truly my kind of hotel.

The third hotel, which I got a good deal on, but is part of a 5-star chain, was just OK.