![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.technologyinvestor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/tnx23.jpg\" "\\"tnx23\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nMy favorite money manager, Scott Udine, writes:<\/p>\n
“As we approach year-end and everyone starts making their New Years Resolutions, now is the time to make sure your portfolio is working as hard and efficient as it should be. Here is an interesting statistic. At the close of trading in December 1998 the SP500 closed at 1225. As we close out the year 2010, the SP500 is trading at approximately 1225. That is 12 years of absolutely no growth. 12 YEARS!! Goes back to what I always say, you better make sure you are buying the right stocks at the right times and having downside protection in place so you don’t participate in the big down periods. If you are buying index funds or your generic type mutual funds, you are on a roller coaster to nowhere. There are better, less risky and more efficient ways to grow your capital in the equity markets.”<\/p>\n
Check out LuluLemon today. their stuff is hot. But when I looked at the stock, I thought it overpriced. I was wrong. Momentum still works. The top momentum stocks include Netflix, Amazon, Open Table,\u00a0 BIDU, MON, CAT, SGOL, PCX, ICO, WLT,\u00a0 and AAPL (especially when we see the new iPad with the camera for facetime and possibly a 3D screen.<\/p>\n
The tax deal. <\/strong><\/span>It’s good for you and me today, but horrible for Washington’ escalating National debt.\u00a0 But who cares? Our children will deal with that minor problem, while simultaneously paying our nursing home bills.<\/p>\n Terms of the deal, so far:<\/p>\n Extended for two years, through December 31, 2012:<\/p>\n \u2022 All 2010 individual income tax rates; + Estate and gift taxes return, with a $5 million per person exemption and a 35% rate. After 2012 they would revert to pre-Bush levels ($1 M \/ 45%) The easiest cloning and\/or backup kit. <\/strong>A reader asked about my backup\/cloning tools. The easiest way is simply to buy Kingston SSD kit, which consists of a sold state drive and an ultra-easy-to-use CD, which is a bootup drive containing Acronis cloning software, which works flawlessly.<\/span> I find the 128 gig $289 drive more than adequate for my daily work. I keep movies on a cheap external drive. My son prefers the more expensive 256 gig $655 drive, but he’s got an indulgent father. Buy the kit at Newegg.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Another great Internet idea I didn’t think of.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n So far, 1179 online companies (including Apple, Eddie Bauer, Brookstone, Lands End and Apple) have agreed to drop their shipping charges if you buy on December 17. They will have your goodies to you by Christmas.\u00a0 Neat idea. Click here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Emails with blank images?<\/strong> Hit “Reply.” Your images will appear. I don’t know how this magic works. But it does work.<\/span> Sharks on the Payroll of the Mossad? <\/strong><\/span>Recently there have been shark attacks\u00a0 along Egypt\u2019s coastline.<\/p>\n A\u00a0 regional Egyptian governor says Israel is responsible. He says Israel is trying\u00a0 to hurt his tourism and disrupt the Egyptian economy:<\/p>\n Israel says the claim is \u201ctoo ludicrous\u201d to comment. Conspiracy theorists say that means since Israel doesn\u2019t deny it, it means they did it.<\/p>\n How you train sharks to attack Egyptians and not Israelis is a Mossad secret. If I told you, I’d have to feed you to the sharks.<\/p>\n Harry’s Simple Guide to Buying a Camera — Part 2. <\/strong>This ugly thing is the Fuji W3.
\n\u2022 2010 capital gains and dividend rates (15%\/5%);
\n\u2022 Expanded Earned Income Credit is extended for two years
\n\u2022 Expanded child credit is extended for two years
\n\u2022 “American Opportunity” (education) tax credit
\n\u2022 Alternative Minimum Taxes as in the McConnell bill, such that no additional taxpayers face AMT<\/p>\n
\n+ Full expensing of business investment for all non-property investment for all businesses made between September 8, 2010 and December 31, 2011. 50% expensing for investment made in 2012.
\n+ Extended unemployment insurance benefits are available through December 31, 2011.
\n+ Two percent payroll tax credit for 2011 (employee side, replaces the refundable Making Work Pay credit)
\n+ The smorgasbord of “extender” provisions will run for two years, which is retroactive for 2010 and prospectively for 2011. Details on this are still TBD and will\u00a0 occupy every tax lobbyist in Washington.<\/p>\n
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