AdamFaragalli.com

Thoughts on Ford

Before I start, who knows what may come out. Blogging is writing on digital paper, with an eraser and spell check too. (thank god for that!)

Those who read my posts and comment- thank you, getting to know some of you has been great. So- if you are interested in buying Ford stock, or a Mustang, or maybe even just a little curioius about the current market and how Ford might react, this could help. You be the judge.

I would bet if you watch TV you would have seen the commercials about the automotive company Ford switching cars with random customers. They have been running this for some time now. I believe they called this advertising campaign (take) “The Ford Challenge.” In my experience, I never had a good chance to develop a first hand opinion of a Ford car.

I suppose, before saying anymore, one word that would sum up my thoughts on Ford is respect. Not only do we owe the Ford Model T changing who can afford to drive a vehicle, but Ford in recent years turned down (by seeking private funding) of the governments public takeover of their debt. In fact, G.M and Chrysler have not yet repaid their loans and are still under governmental supervision. —- (G.M is close and is near an IPO offering AND with all that exposure in China, I could see a huge new middle class their make that an attractive long play with G.M-maybe. Ford does not have the exposure but that could always change.)

Ford on the other hand has not performed better in decades. Ford stock is up 40% since 2009 lows and I believe their is still room for growth after this market stops moving sideways. Although, some would not recommend auto companies as long-term investments. This is somewhat because it is very hard to produce (and market) a car with a competitive enough of an advantage to make people take on credit to afford it. And also way too much of a changing business environment (demands of consumer, re-tooling factories, etc).

Now my daily driver car is a 97 Honda Accord sedan. I love this car. The Accord’s cockpit is open, body is nimble and light and it’s above average on gas mileage, a good mix between power and fuel economy.

The commercial tag line”you know someone who loves a Honda” is true, for me. This car is 13 years old, has 99,791 miles on it and runs better than ever. You could say I baby it. Full syn oil, detailed washes ever few weeks, driving it with intelligence, etc. This Accord is a 4 cylinder, 2.2 liter engine, plenty of power for me. And it gets 30 mpg on the freeway, another 26 in town. So I am not complaining. Over the years, custom suspension, high performance tires (3 sets), intake, exhaust, engine tune and a bumping 1,000 watt 4 channel amp for door/rear custom speakers with two 12’s on 1,600 watts. Took me many years to afford all this but hey it was worth it.

But, back to the the Ford talk. I would like to shift gears and talk about the Mustang V8. As I wanted to share my thoughts about the Mustang in this post. I drove the 2007 Mustang GT Premium, black, with custom exhaust.

I guess I have never driven a real V8 car before. Yes, I have ridden in many, and had the opportunity to drive a few SUV’s with these big engines, but never a Ford Mustang GT with the 4.6 300 hp 320 lb-ft torque V8.

When it comes to cars, I am all about tuning small engines, forced induction and light weight bodies, three things the Mustang is not. For example, if I put, some how, this massive engine in my Honda, it would never be able to get traction in the first few gears. However, driving the Mustang GT, if I turn TCS (traction control system) off, I can barley get this heavy thing lose. It perplexes me that they would design a sports car with such excess weight. But I suppose that is the true muscle car heritage, heavy frames to handle the big engines. Nevertheless, if it were possible to strip about 400 pounds off the frame it would scream with the stock engine and a few minor modifications.

Now the engine is the best part of the Mustang GT, probably the best part of any Mustang. The engine just has this sound, that Mustang pitch of three valves per cylinder combined with all those cubic inches. Fuck, it just oozes sex, and power.

First time my good friend Jason sat in it, first words out of his mouth, man this thing sounds mean! One should experience the sound sometime. Also, this particular Mustang has the Ford Racing pipes installed, so it’s a more intense version of whats already golden.

Unfortunetly, the 2007 Mustang is quite non-ecofriendly, which lets face it, leads to this being an expensive toy. Not a car that is meant to be a daily driver to work. But the new Mustangs are looking real good on performance, looks and fuel costs.

Check their new ad out.

So to wrap up this post and my thoughts. I like the Ford Mustang, alot. My roommate has been driving the 2009 Mustang convertible for some time and we love it. I am even considering buying one next year. And if I were you and had some risk capital, I might consider buying some Ford stock. It could even drop below 11 dollars again in this market.

Hope some of this in some way helped someone. Please, let me know if it did by commenting. Thank you.

Ford Stock in real time.

Adam Faragalli (.com)

This blog post is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, to buy or sell any security or other product. Information contained in this communication is not an official confirmation of any transaction or an official statement from Adam Faragalli. Adam Faragalli receives no compensation for this blog and has not affiliated with any authors, publications or companies cited above. Adam urges everyone to understand the risks involved with investing and can not be held responsible for any losses accrued from investment advice cited.

Fast Company: From “Top Kill” to “Dead Man’s Switch: “What BP’s Oil Spill Lexicon Reveals About Its Brand”

Jamey Boiter on Fast Company’s site wrote about how B.P’s mismanagement of core oil fundamentals has ultimately, in my opinion, also sunken the B.Ps brand under a mile of water. If a company cannot fix a hole a mile under water then how can they justify drilling one in the first place.

The following paragraph made me laugh, and then it made me sick. The public continues to hear about the “solutions” but when you place their actual terms (and see B.P’s thought process)- I seriously question their ability to end this diaster. Any doubt that it will go down in history as the worst ocean oil disaster in history? In conclusion, if you own B.P stock, get out while you can! I would wait on the sidelines to see what eventually happens in the long term. B.P could fail just like all their laughable attempts at a solution. The well, MC252, has lead to a disaster that will forever stay in my memory. This travesty also serves as a first rate national crisis failure. I won’t get into politics in this post. However, Obama’s speech yesterday sums it up well, check it out below.

“Strategies to stop the leak are named “Top Kill,” “Top Hat,” “Hot Tap,” “Junk Shot.” They’re using something called “Corexit” as the oil dispersant. We have heard that the explosion was caused by “dead batteries in the dead man’s switch.” What is up with these heinous words being spewed about like oil leaking into the Gulf? Who came up with these names? I know what a “dead man’s switch” is, but given there have been 11 fatalities in this disaster, one would think BP would be more considerate about what they are saying. Or is “spilling” everything just part of their M.O.?

You could certainly argue that names don’t matter–that they can call their fixes Little Bo Peep as long as they do something that actually works. But it’s hard to fathom why BP isn’t branding the possible solutions to this crisis with more positive names that resonate a good outcome, even if it’s only their hope. Where is the crisis management group, and why aren’t they working with the same brand geniuses that brought us the Helios House and the beautiful iconography to at least make us feel a little better about this debacle?

I suspect there is group huddling as we speak, with marketers clicking their gooey, tar-ladened heels together and saying, “There’s no place like home.” Sorry, BP, you’ll be living with what may be the worst man-made environmental disaster in history for a long time.”

May god forgive us for our sins against mother nature.

-Adam Faragalli

2010 Devastating Nashville Flood

I live in Nashville in an area that has been severly hit by some of the worst storms to ever hit the United States. Believe it or not, my area was drenched in 18 1/2 inches of rain over the course of just a few days. I was not even aware this was possible. Nashville is now left with the effects of such extreme weather.

For the past many days, the national media has ignored Nashville for the most part. This is not right! We are in need of assistance and support. I think this interview sums this disaster up very well as well as sharing the media’s ignorance. Please watch the video by clicking on the link below. I tried my best to embed the video but CNN’s program pretty much sucks with wordpress.

Kenny Chesney Talks About the Flood In Nashville

This article on We Are Nashville Section 303 said it well, “The Cumberland River crested at its highest level in over 80 years. Nashville had its highest rainfall totals since records began. People drowned. Billions of dollars in damage occurred. It is the single largest disaster to hit Middle Tennessee since the Civil War. And yet…no one knows about it.

Does it really matter? Eventually, it will…as I mentioned, there are billions of dollars in damage. It seems bizarre that no one seems to be aware that we just experienced what is quite possibly the costliest non-hurricane disaster in American history. The funds to rebuild will have to come from somewhere, which is why people need to know. It’s hard to believe that we will receive much relief if there isn’t a perception that we need it.”

Here is a video that is of a Kroger that I normally shop at, just minutes down the road from me.

I volunteered my time on Monday where I caught something that had me in bed most of Tuesday and Wednesday. Who knows what it was when you walk through nasty water and get bumps and scraps all over. In addition, I was saddened by the sheer loss many individuals are now faced with.Nightmares and strange dreams happened throughout the week. I helped empty offices, garages, living rooms and kitchens where there was five feet of standing water just hours before I arrived. The fact that this was just a few miles from my place is hard to believe.

Here are some pictures on Flickr of the 2010 Nashville Flood. Have a look and if you are at all familiar with the Nashville area you might be shocked by the flood.

If you would like to donate some of your time here locally, or some funds for the cause, please visit Hands On Nashville.

May god bless this great city I call home. Everyone here knows that we will recover and prosper. Nashville truly is one of America’s best cities because of its people.

An Account of the Worst American Financial Collapse in History

Message from the editor: “Before I officially begin, this is my best attempt at breaking down a very complex financial meltdown with a bi-partisan approach. In other words, the facts are facts and are presented accordingly. It has taken me hours and hours to piece it all together. Conflicting opinions and views are everywhere. I poured through books, videos, articles and contacted individuals first hand. I wanted to learn the truth and share it with my readers, but I had no idea just how complex and surprising my search would eventually reveal. I wanted this to be short enough to read in one sitting but long enough to explain the full story. Thus, I believe all the elements of the big picture of what happened to the American financial system is here. This piece was created and dedicated to those out their who are still unsure what happened and distrust Wall Street. In many ways, I wrote this because there many good individuals working in the financial industry right now. Lastly, I have the highest hopes for America and believe, without a doubt, that this country has a fantastic future ahead. Please enjoy, and comment accordingly.”

Intro:

Sometimes we find ourselves caught in a full blown paradox of beliefs, questions and ultimately change brought on by some need. This is America right now, going through painful change brought by fear. Change is heading into the unknown, the dark abyss. No ones enjoys the painful process of real change. What feels familiar feels good.

Societies since Rome have thrived on the concepts brought by rules. However, like Rome and countless empires the world has known, all have failed. But why? A solid question would be what separates where we are now from where they were then?

The American Dream?

Fact or Opinion- The average middle class American loves the idea of the free market, of pure Capitalism, of the ability to have the America dream? This “dream” has been drilled into our psyche. Many believe it is our right to own land, a home, to raise a family, own a business and give our children a better life than we had. And, if fact, it is.

Is this the real definition of Capitalism? Better yet, could you please point out in the United States Constitution where it states, “America shall have a pure-free-market Capitalistic economy?” Please find where it states capitalism once, because it ain’t there. But, are we finding out the American dream is unattainable, or even worse, unsustainable?

The 1 %

This is also a piece inspired by the wealthiest 1% in America, for whom control the other 95% of America’s wealth combined, and ultimately, the ability to control power on Capitol Hill. This a post that was inspired by greed and the powerful inside individuals in banks, top government regulation committees and law.

However, the fundamental fact here, my main point, is that because we the people can vote, thus we the people have the ultimate power to change who runs our democratic society. Please let me try to explain.

Knowledge, Capitalism and Democracy

Knowledge has forever changed how humans perceive their world and themselves. Knowledge truly is power. Knowledge is the fact or state of knowing; the perception of fact or truth; clear and certain mental apprehension. When one travels down the road of knowledge, especially specific knowledge in specific areas, one can eventually become an expert. Now I am no expert, but I have laid the foundation for sound financial knowledge apprehension.

It is with this foundation I get to my point, our current democracy vs. capitalism.

Like any lawyer, one could argue two sides of this story. For example, most everyone loves the concepts of socialism, of social programs like welfare, social security, medicare, public schools, law enforcement, military protection, etc.

Then there is the other side, with pure capitalism’s free-market financial industry, privatized health care and social services, health insurance and pharmaceuticals, private banking, etc. I can go on.

Greed and Mankind

Gordon Gekko states in “Wall Street” words that practically sum up my two points of this debate. This quote is from Oliver Stone’s 1987 “Wall Street”, “The richest one percent of this country owns half (today more than 95%) our country’s wealth, five trillion dollars. One third of that comes from hard work, two thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons and what I do, stock and real estate speculation. It’s bullshit. You got ninety percent of the American public out there with little or no net worth. I create nothing. I own. We make the rules, pal. The news, war, peace, famine, upheaval, the price per paper clip. We pick that rabbit out of the hat while everybody sits out there wondering how the hell we did it. Now you’re not naive enough to think we’re living in a democracy, are you buddy? It’s the free market. And you’re a part of it. You’ve got that killer instinct. Stick around pal, I’ve still got a lot to teach you.”

Gekko is also famous for saying greed is good. “greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA.”

I illustrate that quote because in too many ways greed has caused the markets to implode. Yes, it is true that greed in the financial markets has always existed. The market always runs in a sicklicle cycle, bull markets (up) give to bear markets (down), good years turn to poor years. To truly understand how we got to where we are, one really has to go back years and years.

The American Financial Story Begins- years and years ago.

In all honestly, having spoken to a number of people and reading a number of books, I am even hard pressed to say what was the defining element. Truth is, there are several large factors. One could say things like going off the gold standard, complex technology entering into the trading system, quantitative financial theory’s, sub-prime CDO mortgages backed by insurance, Fed Reserve policies, derivatives, deregulation of the banking industry, etc. That about covers it.

Continue reading An Account of the Worst American Financial Collapse in History

Financial and Investment Book List for Advisors or Investors

Navigating the markets these days is an interesting process. If you still have a thriving financial practice or capital to invest after the August 2007 to mid-2009 market fall out, great for you. However, I would make a bet that you took a sizable hit to either your clients or your own personal portfolio. Thus, I am creating this post containing a book list because I believe there are always ways that we can be better investors and better financial professionals.

For those of you interested to know, the process to become a financial advisor is down right challenging. It is full of hurdles that happen well before you ever solicit any type of securities products. First, there is the process of making the decision that your heart is truly in this career decision. Because if it ain’t, you will fail. Then, there is research and reading to both see if you have the skills necessary and where you need improvement. And trust me, as a rookie seeing Wall Street and the industry from the outside, very few go into this business without needing improvement. Or maybe you could be the investor looking for the right financial professional. I guarantee in any market that there is at least several firms and hundreds of professionals that can meet your needs.

So- have said that, I decided to write this post about some of the books that have helped me become much better educated about not only the markets but the business of the money culture. In fact, almost all of these were recommendations from the dozens of financial professionals and investors I have spoken with over the past many months. In many ways these financial related books helped me understand the business, give specific information about how to start, expand and some really fascinating and sometimes hilarious stories along the way.

In addition, if you have very little interest in working in this industry but want some information to help you make better financial decisions and/or learn about the shenanigans that goes on at times, I have divided this book list into two categories. One category for the Financial Advisor and one for interested individual investors looking for a good read. And probably the best part is that I have linked each of these books to Amazon.com so you can read reviews and buy new or used copies. I highly recommend Amazon to purchase used books as many of their sellers are reliable and you just can’t beat the price. I have given a small and very short summary about a few of the books I really enjoyed as well.

Click continue reading if on the home page. Thank you.

Continue reading Financial and Investment Book List for Advisors or Investors

Questions and Answers, The United States Census

Today I decided to write about the 2010 United States Census. I was inspired by an article in the Wall Street Journal called, “Republicans Fear Undercounting in Census.” I have more personal experience with the census than most Americans because this year I have applied to be a supervisor for the Davidson (Nashville metropolitan) county zone. I thought many of you who read my posts might be interesting in learning a little information from the inside. Here is the 411 on the census, questions and answers.

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New iPhone Could End AT&T’s U.S. Monopoly

I was reading my usual morning Wall Street Journal articles and came accross this article, “New iPhone Could End AT&T’s U.S. Monopoly.” For some time I have been closely following the iPhone and the almost unreal deal with AT&T. This deal has in many ways made it possible for AT&T to maintain consistent growth in market share, and not only in cellular technology. I believe investors, consistently collecting on a 6.4% dividend, could not be happier with the deal that was struck.

Continue reading New iPhone Could End AT&T’s U.S. Monopoly

Landing Your Dream Career in this Recessive Economy

I made a comment on my Twitter page about my ability to write a book called “Landing Your Dream Career in a Recessive Economy.” I thought I might elaborate on this with short summaries on twelve methods that have worked well for me. You could say this would be the outline of my book’s content.

This goes out for all you soon to be graduates or the many out there trying their best to succeed. If you follow these tips with absolute dedication to a singular goal of landing your dream career, you can only succeed given a long enough time table. I wish you the best of luck. This is all about getting that dream job. Personally, I have been at it for six months. I continue to bust my tail, knock on doors, call/interview with anyone who will give me the time of day, network and above all I refuse to give up. Good luck to you. I honestly hope these steps help- even for just one person, that would mean the world to me.

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Three iPhone/iPod Games I recommend

There needs to be something said about the quality of the iPhone/iPod games. However, not all of them are without flaws, and some are just not worth the money. I decided to share three games that I have been playing in my limited spare time. If you like these three game types in general, you will enjoy playing these three games. I have picked one game from sports, strategy and music. They are all from EA publisher.

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