The BoormanBlog

OK, so my Emcore play didn’t turn out like I thought. That things in the doldrums and seems to have grown roots. I’m this close to cutting my losses.

One of the few investing successes I had this year was the Matthews International Funds China Fund (MCHFX). I started a position in May, and I’m up 23% so far. Too bad I bought it at a bad time, though. The fund is up 48% year to date.

The Eurozinc mining thing didn’t turn out so bad. Glad I got out before the merger went though, however.

For some reason, I’m still holding on to the Lucent after pretty much losing my shirt. The Alcatel merger did nothing. Once I change brokers, I’m getting out. This was an expensive lesson for me. DON’T BUY SOMETHING JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE TELLS YOU TO! I was a kid fresh out of college, and eager to get started investing. A broker (yes, I’m calling you out Norman) convinced me to buy this tech stock in the late 90’s. What did I know? But we all know what happened after that, don’t we? I’m down 86% on that stock. I’m still waiting for the call to sell.

If you don’t know what you’re buying, don’t buy it.

   So Rosie decides to go on a tirade about Donald Trump being such a cruel bastard that he gave Miss USA an opportunity to retain her title by going into an alcohol treatment program, which Mr. Trump is likely paying for. The ‘Queen of Nice’ sarcastically referred to The Donald as “the moral compass for 20 year olds”.

Well let’s look at the facts.

1) Trump OWNS the Miss USA pageant, which means he can do whatever he pleases.

2) Part of being Miss USA requires a certain standard of behavior when out in public.

3) Tara Conner clearly didn’t live up to that expectation, which is a breach of contract.

4) He was fully within his rights to fire Miss Conner, but he didn’t. He gave her another chance.

5) He is most likely paying for Tara’s alcohol treatment program.

So let’s see…

Trump doesn’t tolerate underage drinking. He offers second chances. He shows mercy to someone who screwed up. He gets them help, and pays for it himself.

Sounds like a damn good moral compass to me.

So a friend of mine from back in the Grove City days (mad shout outs to Tom!!!) was asking me why I haven’t update the blog lately. Actually, I was wondering that myself. So here I am to let everybody know I’m still here.

Thought I’d post a little update on my portfolio. Despite the run up in the market, my individual equities are languishing. I dumped some of my Lucent at a huge ass loss, sold all my Eurozinc mining at a small profit, and opened a position in Coldwater Creek. Jim Cramer has praised this thing over and over. It has possibilities, a regional upscale clothing retailer looking to go national. Of course, the day I bought it, the stock tanked  almost 4%, and has been slowly clawing its way back. I’m almost at the breakeven point! I’m sticking with Coldwater.

As for Emcore, I’m holding on for dear life here. At about $5.30, I may just buy some more to lower my average share price.

Thankfully my mutual funds are doing pretty well, especially one investing in China. I’m up almost 20% since May! Booyaa!