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China drinks its milk
I have a dream to provide every Chinese, especially children, sufficient milk each day. - Wen Jiabao, Chinese Premier
A sprinkling of hysteria as Americans go crazy for cupcakes
Whatever the reason, the craze is unmistakable and, it seems, uncontrollable.
Call me an alarmist, but this is how wars start. So help me if there isn't enough milk to go with the cupcakes I am going to be one seriously bummed out American.
Interest rates slashed to help economy
"We're having champagne and cookies," Skrainka said.
Behold the power of hedonics! Milk runs a bit low just as the cupcake craze turns hysterical and we wisely switch to something else. However, it does sound a bit like a magical elixir to me. Will it actually prevent a war?
"This is not a magical elixir..."
Hurray!!
Special thanks to Kevin for supplying the cupcake link and inspiring this post.
Real Estate Newsletter Articles this Week: Existing-Home Sales Increased to
4.15 million SAAR in November
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At the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter this week:
[image: Existing Home Sales]*Click on graph for larger image.*
• NAR: Existing-Home Sales Increase...
11 hours ago
2 comments:
Mark,
I just don't get what it is with Americans or maybe it happens in all countries with when it comes to these kind of fads. Like Beanie Baby, granite counter tops, Krispy Cream donuts, Cabbage patch dolls and the rest of this heard behavior. I guess that is what makes me a contrarian, I usually don't get it what the fuss is about. Maybe Krispy cream can switch gears and go into the cupcake business before they go out of business. Krispy cream donuts suck IMHOP to sweet and nasty for my taste.
Kevin
Kevin,
The word "fad" has a special place in my head and I think much of it has to do with this next paragraph.
I learned to snowboard back in my college days. There weren't many of us and the ski resorts wouldn't take us (I had to go to Canada my first year). What did Time Magazine say? It was a fad. It would go the way of the hula hoop. Oh how I scoffed and ridiculed that article. Perhaps if the writer had tried a snowboard he wouldn't have called it that. You know?
It was a fad that retired me. I invested in a card company when it was run out of a basement. I looked at the product before it hit the shelves and pushed as much money into the company as I could without taking on debt (while continuing to drive a Hyundai no less, lol). I'll be darned if they didn't sell over a billion cards.
Later, I got caught up in the energy drink fad (almost completely by accident). I owned Hansen (HANS) stock heading into 2000. It was just a cheap value play and they seemed willing to try new things (saw their products at Costco). They stumbled into Monster. I cashed out after six times, and then it went on to another ten times after that. Go figure! I would never have guessed it. I don't drink Monster though so what do I know?
As for Krispy Kreme, when the first one showed up in our area complete with police escorts to guide the traffic, I passed. That's not how I like to buy "undiscovered" secrets. I kept trying to explain to my girlfriend that it could very well be their undoing. It doesn't look like a cheap way to make donuts. I do tend to like them. I think I've had about ten in my lifetime though so they better not be counting on me for growth, lol.
I think it is difficult to spot a true fad from a fake one sometimes. Coffee is a fad to me. I just don't care for it much. Coffee shops abound though so what do I know? Fortunately, I knew I didn't know. I didn't short Starbucks. I'm fairly certain it would have ruined me. ;)
I'm also a bit of a computer/video game addict. To me it would be impossible for these games to be fads (and I very much look forward to their future evolution). There is some talk that they are fads. I don't believe it for a minute. If I could simply take the bet that video games are not fads I'd probably put my life savings into it (assuming I got decent odds ;)).
I've had plenty of flops too though. I figure if I'm batting .501 or better I'm doing fairly well though.
I would certainly agree with you on this. If you are investing in a possible fad, it is much safer to be in early and out early. I think a lot of people forget that.
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