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.

India!

I bought tickets for myself and my wife to go to India this January. I can't wait. I have not seen my grandfather in three or four years. I think the wife will love the clothes shopping in my birth city of Ahmedabad. And I will be going to Dehli for a week or so, to see my wife's family. I have never been to India's capital, so it will be a treat for me.

I wonder if I can work in a side trip somewhere, too. Hmm.... The beaches of Goa? The French colonial splendor of Pondicherry? Maybe the traditional desert elegance of Udaipur?

Lost in All this Plame Business

She was probably quite a looker back in the day.

AJC Endorses Reddy

In what must be great news for my friend and colleague, Shyam Reddy, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution announced today that he is the best Sec'y of State candidate on the Democratic side of the ballot. I hope those of you reading this blog in Georgia will go out and vote on Tuesday for Shyam.

According to the paper, "The six Democrat candidates offer a range of experience and ideas about how to protect investors, the elderly and the integrity of the elections system. But the standout is Shyam Reddy, an attorney making his first run at elected office."

Congratulations, Shyam!

Apologies to TINA

We've all had our heads knocked against somebody else's head at some point, be in it in sports, bowling accidents or dirty dirty old people sex.

The Big Unanswered Zidane Headbutt

question is simply this: Why not punch the guy? Or kick him (I mean, if you've seen these guys try to catch water bottles thrown at them, you realize their hands have atrophied)? Or maybe the classic spit? Perhaps the Mike Tyson ear snack?



Instead, Zidane chose the headbutt. Why? Is there some sort of Franco-Tunisian proclivity to the head butt? Does Zidane have a weapon hidden in that skull of his -- Materazzi went down kinda hard. Why headbutt? That's what I want to know.

I love Dieter!