Here’s oil. It’s driving everything. It’s lower this morning, again. You can run your cursor across and get different time frames. Different time frames make things feel differently. That’s why I run three charts of the S&P 500 below.
This is the S&P 500 from yesterday. Up in the morning. Down in the afternoon. Weird.
This is the S&P 500 from the last five days.
This is the S&P 500 year to date. Notice the bumps down — like the one in early October. Good buying opportunities. We’re still up on the year.
Be thankful you’re not in a commodities fund. Here’s results on one of the biggest. In contrast, the S&P 500 is up 6.88% so far this year.
News of TASR today:
LAPD Becomes Largest US Police Department to Outfit Officers With AXON Body Cameras and EVIDENCE.com by TASER
Fortunately, they’re on my list — see right hand column.
Not all Muslims are terrorists. But, these days all terrorists are Muslim. That’s a sad fact as I read today’s New York Times:
Taliban Besiege Pakistan School, Leaving 145 Dead
A student was carried from the scene as the Pakistani Taliban fought with security forces. For more photos, click here.
LONDON (The New York Times)– First the Pakistani Taliban bombed or burned over 1,000 schools. Then they shot Malala Yousafzai, the teenage advocate for girls’ rights.
But on Tuesday, the Taliban took their war on education to a ruthless new low with an assault on a crowded school in Peshawar that killed 145 people – 132 of them uniformed schoolchildren – in the deadliest single attack in the group’s history.
During an eight-hour rampage at the Army Public School and Degree College, a team of nine Taliban gunmen stormed through the corridors and assembly hall, firing at random and throwing grenades. Some of the 1,100 students at the school were lined up and slaughtered with shots to the head. Others were gunned down as they cowered under their desks, or forced to watch as their teachers were riddled with bullets.
Their parents crowded around the school gates, praying their children would survive while listening to the explosions and gunfire as Pakistani commandos stormed the building.
With its chilling echoes of a school in Beslan, Russia, where 186 children were massacred in 2004, the terrorist attack in Peshawar traumatized a scarred city that has suffered intense Taliban violence since the insurgency erupted seven years ago. By evening, mosques were filled with mourners carrying small wooden coffins, and residents cried openly in the streets.
A Taliban spokesman said the attack had been retaliation for the continuing military operation against the group in the North Waziristan tribal region. But the image of children’s bodies on the floor of their school auditorium, some of them not yet in their teens, again demonstrated how the Pakistani Taliban’s war has often been taken out on the country’s most vulnerable citizens.
Favorite things said by Southwest Airlines personnel:
+ As the plane has just arrived at the gate and people started standing up while the seatbelt light was still on,
“We need some help cleaning the lavatories, please stand up if you can pitch in.”
The people sat down fast.
+ I’m Captain ‘Amanda Smith’, yes, I’m a female pilot and as a benefit, if we get lost on the way, I won’t be afraid to stop and ask for directions.”
+ Upon hitting some turbulence. “No need to be alarmed folks. That was just the sound of your luggage being ejected from the aircraft.”
+ “If you are traveling with children, or an adult acting childish, be sure to place the oxygen mask over your face first, then theirs. If you are traveling with more than one child, choose your favorite one now.”
+ We have two smoking sections on this aircraft, both of which can be accessed by using the exit doors over the wings once we reach our cruising altitude.
+ “It will really boost our ego if you pretend to listen to our safety instructions”
+ “If you don’t like our flight, there are eight emergency exits. Feel free to walk out any time.
+ “We’ll be dimming the lights to enhance the beauty of our Flight Attendants”
+ After a great landing a flight attendant came on, “Wasn’t that great Ladies and Gentlemen? Yes that work release program is really something. He goes back in tomorrow though. Let’s give him another round of applause.”
+ “There is a button with a picture of a light bulb on it. If you push it, the light will turn on. Also there is a button with a picture of a flight attendant on it. If you push that one, no, you will not turn on the flight attendant.”
+ “If you are connecting on another Southwest flight, look for your flight on the monitors in the terminal. If you are connecting on another airline, we really don’t care what happens to you.”
+ As we landed, “I now release you into the real world. Be good to each other, call your mother and eat your vegetables!”
+ Landing Vegas, “For those here to gamble, good luck! For those here to take in a show, have a great time… For those here to get married… WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU THINKING!”
+ “We are now flying right by the Grand Canyon. If everyone will stand up and look out the right side of the airplane . . . the plane will tip over.”
+ Flight attendant wearing a pin that said “I’m here to save your ass, not kiss it”
This stuff must be working. Year to date in Southwest Airlines:
Harry Newton, who eyes diversification. Funny thing: This December a some old, dead property deals have sold or are selling. And some private equity deals are delivering surprise returns. sort of keeps the books steady while the stockmarket roils. Better strategy: Stay invested. Play tennis. Read a good book. Recommended: Kissinger’s World Order. Could be a great Christmas present for the right person, too.
The good news, if there is any, from Pakistan is that this horrible attack on innocent children might get the ambivalent Pakistani gov’t to stop supporting the Taliban and such. And the military is one of the worst supporters. Time for change.
Karachi, we got a problem.