Year: 2012

Posted on

Apple (AAPL) may get to $600 a share this year. Who cares?

Not mortal men.  Everyone is buying Apple (AAPL) right now because of their strong holiday sales. They may continue their record margins throughout the year? Maybe not. They could get to $600 a share as a result. So if you have enough to spend $446 a share tomorrow morning you could jump in. But you might be making a mistake.

There are several equities that could very well double this year under the same market conditions that would push AAPL to $600. I believe a few of these are Sirius (SIRI), Ford (F) and AMD (AMD). Sirius is flush with cash, a possible acquisition target of the Liberty Media Group. Or they may pay down some debt with their cash or make an acquisition of their own (Pandora?). Not such bad options. Ford closed at 12.93 today. With an EPS of 1.66 and a PEG ratio of .11, which could change on this Friday’s quarterly call, it’s safe to believe they could hit $24 a share this year because of the P/E ratio and comparison of other EPS in the auto industry. Ford’s under valued. AMD has paid off their failures and continues to make headway into the server market with their processors. Now that the great Thailand flood hard drive shortage is history they might start selling more GPU’s. Wells Fargo has them rated Outperform.

All of these tickers cost a fraction of the AAPL juggernaut and chances are they will produce a higher yield than Apple even if they don’t double. Personally I’m targeting 80% return in 2012. This could be the year it is possible.

Disclosure: I am long AMD. Soon to be long F.

Posted on

How do I monitor and protect my kids on the Internet?

I am often asked by friends and co-workers what I do to protect my kids when they are using their computers and the internet.  I decided to document, in Lehman’s terms, how I’ve set up my kids systems so in the future I can direct anyone to this post.  This is an overview of the steps I have taken to make sure the kids in our house, not limited to our own, ages 4-13 can use any computer we allow them access to without worrying about them straying to the Porn Parkway, or the Exploitation Expressway.

1. Only install Linux. This is the primary component of protection.  Not Windows XP, Windows 7 or any other flavor of Microsoft operating system.  Why Linux?  First because Linux is no where near as susceptible to web based viruses and malware as Windows based PC’s.  Second, they do not cost as much as Apples.  It is true the Mac OSx and iOS can provide as much protection as a Linux based PC, but not likely.  Malware is now being targeted at the growing Apple user base, because of the flood of devices, so it won’t be long before Apple devices rival Windows for the volume of malicious content approaching them.  That said, just days ago I was told by a co-worker that my recommending a Mac for his kids was the “best advice” he got last year.  But he had no problem paying $1400 for it.  Linux is free and will run on a $200-300 laptop with ease.  There is more information about Linux distributions at the bottom of this post.

2. Install a keystroke monitor with remote reporting capability. There’s no better way to know what kids are doing on-line than well, knowing exactly what they’re doing and saying on-line, per keystroke.  I prefer logkeys from Google.  Available for download right here on my site.  A good keystroke monitor will allow the service to run in “promiscuous mode”, that’s the term you’re looking for, meaning that it runs in the background secretly without any user awareness.  It should also be able to email report logs secretly so physical access to the PC is not required to monitor the keyboard activity.  Keep in mind one of the big benefits of keystroke logging is that even if the visible contents of a website is not logged, any user ID’s and passwords typed in to gain access to a site are captured.  Isn’t this spying on kids?  Ya.  Is it better than wondering what they’re up to on-line for which you, the parent, may ultimately be liable?  Yep.

3. Use browser based parental controls. Did you know that Firefox has several free parental control browser extensions, such as FoxFilter, that are easy to install and configure?  Do you know how many free browser based parental controls Internet Explorer has built in?  None.  Internet Explorer relies on the Windows operating system parental control settings that are much more difficult to configure and have questionable reliability.  Again, a Windows PC running IE is the most insecure setup you can hand over to a kid.  This is coming from a guy who cleans viruses off of a corporate Vice Presidents laptop routinely.  If adults can’t control their browsing habits and security how much attention do you think kids are paying?  Ya, I know, probably more than the adults.   Forget those subscription based filters like Net Nanny for Windows.  I would only recommend these paid services for those bound to Windows without any alternative.  Save your money, get off Windows, abandon Internet Explorer, protect your kids on-line.  Nothing but winning.

There are many variations of Linux available for free, known as “distributions”.  Not long ago I championed Ubuntu Linux.  When Connor was just 4 years old his first laptop ran Ubuntu so he could play Disney and PBS Kids games on-line.  More recently I prefer Linux Mint due to it’s ease of installation and more friendly graphical interface.  Ubuntu recently incorporated a more unique style of user interface (I’ll spare the technical details) but it is not as familiar as the “windows icon” style of desktop kids would be more comfortable with and accustomed to.  With the exception of the wireless network adapter configuration almost anyone can install a Linux Mint distribution on a Intel or AMD processor based laptop or tower PC.  Another great benefit is free software.  From games to OpenOffice there is a software solution that will keep kids and teachers happy.  As a matter of full disclosure another well known Linux limitation is printer compatibility. It can be a challenge to find driver software that is Linux compatible for many printer models.  It is almost unheard of that a Linux print driver will support all of the features of many multifunction printers.  This is because the printer manufactures target all their internal software development at Microsoft and Apple.  Open source community developers are responsible for most of the free Linux print drivers available today.

Posted on

Oh Yea – Oh Yeah – Oh Yay! Let’s get it straight.

I have read the word “Yea” used out of context more than 4 times on forums and facebook today alone.

“Yea” is the legally formal way of saying “yes,” used mainly in voting and to call courts into session. It’s the opposite of—and rhymes with—“nay.” When you want to write the common casual version of “yes,” the correct spelling is “yeah” (sounds like “ya” ). When Connor’s third grade teacher announced a class trip to the zoo, the kids yelled “yay!” (the opposite of “boo”!).

The most incorrect usage is those who want to exclaim “Yay!” in excitement but end up calling court into session “Oh yea, Oh yea, Oh yea”….God save the state and this honorable blog.

Posted on

Blog Pitches

One of the most disturbing and irritating new marketing trends is companies who send out marketing spam with links to their “impartial and informative” industry blogs which are nothing more than sales pitches in disguise. Bad disguises. Bad disguises that generally never fool anyone touting “trends” and “directions” in their respective industry.

Their “Featured Articles” are generally no more than detailed articles about industry products strikingly similar to products the sponsoring company offers. Surprise, surprise. This has been going on for a while now but it’s becoming more prolific. The biggest problem this trend presents is the way it makes it difficult to find real information about an industry trend or technology without the bias of a corporate revenue agenda. In other words: they screw up the Google search results.

On a few occasions I’ve been asked to write a blog article for various technology manufacturers. Once I accepted such an offer from a company that manufactures PDU’s (power distribution units) and my writing was soundly rejected, as expected, because I told the truth. The truth was occasionally counter to the companies product offering even though they claim their published articles are unbiased opinion. Bullshit. I never accepted another offer to write an article for a corporate “blog”.

Posted on

My letter to NC General Assembly Representatives

Let’s see if this will be left unanswered….

Representative Weiss,

“Just over two years ago I lost a friend, Ian Quick, known locally as “Spyk”, who was killed by a hit and run driver named Gavin Clifford Hawk.  In depth details about the entire incident can be found here: https://toddsingleton.net/chronicle/?p=492

At the time of Spyk’s death it was suspected, but could not be proven by investigating detectives, that Mr. Hawk had been drinking with his father at a Hurricanes game minutes before he hit Spyk on I-40.  It is the suspected reason he left the scene of the fatal collision.  I was with the family at the time authorities identified and apprehended Mr. Hawk who ultimately received the maximum sentence available in NC for a Felony Hit and Run, 24 months.  Mr. Hawk was recently released from prison.

As you may well know from media reports there has been another hit and run incident resulting in the death of Melissa Sue Johnson as she crossed South Saunders Street this past Sunday evening.  The incident prompted my correspondence.  As of the time of my writing investigators are still trying to identify the perpetrator.

The problem is obvious:  If and when investigators locate the driver who struck and killed Mrs. Johnson the most this person is eligible to receive is 8-24 months in prison dependent upon prior convictions etc.  Fleeing the scene of a hit and run accident is far more beneficial to a drunk driver than hanging around to face increased charges of attempted homicide, manslaughter or murder.  Two years is a pittance compared to the sentence levied upon conviction of any of those charges.  The state needs a solid deterrent to fleeing the scene of an accident when death or injury may have occurred.

As a constituent of Wake County, and a supporter of the family members who have lost loved ones to hit and run drivers, I humbly ask that you consider introducing legislation into the North Carolina General Assembly making a hit and run conviction a Class C Felony at minimum with a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison.  It is currently a Class H felony, the same classification as felony possession of stolen goods.  This is an insult to the families of the victims since, in great probability, the assailant had a reason to flee the scene that could include, but is not limited to drunk driving, outstanding warrants or an illegal immigration status.    It’s time for NC felony hit and run sentencing guidelines to catch up with the times.

Thanks for your time.”