I have another website

I have another website which is the root of this domain; www.DavidFrancis.org. I frequently post my thoughts there before posting them here. There is a "blast message" feature at the top of each page that kind of gives daily status as well.

If you can't get enough of my writing (puhleeze), you can always check that site out for temporary information, latest information, photos as well as a means of contacting me.

www.DavidFrancis.org

Thank you for reading!

Bad Economy? My portfolio is doing fine.

About a year ago, I decided to "play" the stock market game. I purchased 1000 shares of four of my favorite stocks. It cost a tad over $500,000 to buy in because the stocks were expensive. This morning I checked my portfolio and whoa... other than Yahoo, I didn't do so bad. Expedia was a gut call and I should have put it all in there... darnit! :)

Symbol	Company	Last Trade	Performance	Percentage
BA	BOEING CO	96.77	+$16,905.00	+21.17%
EXPE	Expedia, Inc.	29.16	+$14,525.00	+99.25%
GOOG	Google Inc.	530.38	+$150,335.00	+39.56%
YHOO	Yahoo! Inc.	26.86	($3,695.00)	-12.09%
		Totals	+$178,070.00	+35.25%

No, I didn't actually buy the stocks. I simply used an online portfolio manager. Using the price of the stocks on the day of purchase (plus $15 commission per), my pretend portfolio is worth $683,170.00.

For the record, I have no interest in the performance of these or any individual stocks. This is just an example and for entertainment purposes... at least my own entertainment. I am not a stock broker nor involved in the trading of financial instruments in any way.

With the DOW over 13,500, I wonder how much better I would have done if the economy was not in such "disarray" as the MSM like us to believe. Oh, wait... the DOW has never been so high and economy is booming despite the highest energy costs in history. Funny how blind so many people choose to be.

Simply put... thanks G.W.! You done good!

Mitt Romney has a shot I think

If you know me, you know that I'm a republican and a supporter of the Bush administration. I don't write about it too often because of how passionate people can get on the topic. Frankly, I don't even talk about it much because many of my friends are democrats and some lean to the far left... even so far as to passionately hate the current administration. I take no pleasure in debating or discussing politics with anyone who has already made up their mind and will defend their position at all costs. It just seems pointless to me.

I've been so busy building websites and now working on the magazine that I have not been able to keep up with politics at all. I haven't been watching the news nor have I been reading political articles, blogs or feeds. I feel a little out of the loop but as we get closer to the election, I'm sure my interest will be rekindled.

One of my best friends is a self admitted liberal, (which is the first step to recovery... grin) and we have had some lively political discussions in the past. He is a reasonable fellow though and that's why I enjoy our discussions. We both allow each other to hold our opinions without finding it necessary to correct one another.

My friend is a smart guy and he enjoys politics. He posted a blog last night that was mildly surprising, quite revealing and most refreshing. I'm reposting it here with his name removed and without his permission.

Mitt Romney in '08 (seriously... )

    Okay...   I've got people asking me "who's Mitt Romney?" ... and others who say "Seriously, do you realize he's a Republican?"...   and here I am super liberal {name removed} stumping for the enemy...

Well  as I've always said... I vote the issues .. not the party.. and here I am putting my vote where my mouth is...

Mitt Romney is the closest person I've seen to the ideal candidate in my entire life (even more so than Bill Clinton, although I think Clinton was a good president... blowjobs and marijuana smoking excluded.. or not)

Here's why...   Mitt Romney is concerned about the budget deficit and the effect on the future of our country.  In my opinion our debt is the #1 issue at play... even more so than the war in Iraq or on terrorism (bankrupt countries can't fight wars)... so here we have a guy who as the governor of Massachusetts balanced the budget, paid off the debt and in the process still managed to develop a system that will help everyone (actually 95% of the people) in the state get health  insurance by July 1, 2007. 

He understands that the threat of not keeping up with Asia in our business practices will crush our economy, he knows the importance of giving teachers the tools they need then holding teachers and parents responsible for the education of our children... He realizes you don't spend more than you make... He knows that the tax system we have now is too complicated and rewards the wrong people... and he is aware that we need to break our dependence on foreign oil

This only scratches the surface of how talented this guy is... If you check his business background, his intervention in the Olympics and his ability to be conservative but reasonable you'll understand why I'm voting for this guy. 

go to www.mittromney.com and check out the tab that says  "Issue Watch"

I followed the link and it is difficult to get past all of the registration requests. I think I will be keeping my eye on this guy. Like my friend, I will vote on the issues as well and though I have remained in the GOP camp for presidential campaigns, I would like to think I could vote democrat... fortunately, it looks like I can remain comfortably encamped with a GOP candidate that has what it takes to lead this country.