May the Speed Force be with you.

—Cisco to Barry, The Flash, “Fast Enough”

Don’t be afraid, Cisco. A great and honorable destiny awaits you now. I only hope that as you’re living your great adventure… that you remember who gave you that life. And that it was given out of love.

EOBARD THAWNE THE FLASH - 1.23 “Fast Enough”

3. Barry meets his dying Mother (The Flash Episode 1.23 Fast Enough)

Jobless Claims Tick Up, Showing a Long Road to Recovery: Live Updates Here’s what you need to know: The Forecast Salon in Birmingham, Ala. A pickup in business activity nationwide has fed hopes that workers’ prospects are improving. Credit…Wes Frazer for The New York Times A year after they first rocketed upward, jobless claims may finally be returning to earth. More than 714,000 people filed for state unemployment benefits last week, the Labor Department said Thursday. That was up modestly from the week before, but still among the lowest weekly totals since the pandemic began. In addition, 237,000 people filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, a federal program that covers people who don’t qualify for state benefits programs. That number, too, has been falling. Jobless claims remain high by historical standards, and are far above the norm before the pandemic, when around 200,000 people a week were filing for benefits. Applications have improved only gradually — even after the recent declines, the weekly figure is modestly below where it was last fall. But economists are optimistic that further improvement is ahead as the vaccine rollout accelerates and more states lift restrictions on business activity. Fewer companies are laying off workers, and hiring has picked up, meaning that people who lose their jobs are more likely to find new ones quickly. “We could actually finally see the jobless claims numbers come down because there’s enough job creation to offset the layoffs,” said Julia Pollak, a labor economist at the job site ZipRecruiter. But Ms. Pollak cautioned that benefits applications would not return to normal overnight. Even as many companies resume normal operations, others are discovering that the pandemic has permanently disrupted their business model. “There are still a lot of business closures and a lot of layoffs that have yet to happen,” she said. “The repercussions of this pandemic are still rippling through this economy.” Shoppers in Berlin’s Alexanderplatz. Germany and other countries have cut their value-added taxes to encourage consumer spending.Credit…Lena Mucha for The New York Times The European Central Bank’s chief economist argued on Thursday that fears of a big rise in inflation are overblown, a sign that the people who control interest rates in the eurozone are likely to keep them very low for some time to come. The comments — by Philip Lane, an influential member of the central bank’s Governing Council whose job includes briefing other members on the economic outlook — are an attempt to calm bond investors who are nervous that the end of the pandemic will lead to high inflation. Fueling their fears, inflation in the eurozone rose to an annual rate of 1.3 percent in March from 0.9 percent in February, according to official data released on Wednesday, the fastest increase in prices in more than a year. Market-based interest rates have been rising because investors worry that President Biden’s $2 trillion stimulus program will provoke a broad increase in prices for years to come. The interest rates that prevail on bond markets ripple through the financial system and can make mortgages and other types of borrowing more expensive, creating a drag on economic growth. Despite big monthly swings in inflation during the last year, the average had been remarkably stable at an annual rate of about 1 percent, Mr. Lane wrote in a blog post on the central bank’s website on Thursday. That is well below the European Central Bank’s target of 2 percent. “The volatility in inflation over 2020 and 2021 can be attributed to a host of temporary factors that should not affect medium-term inflation dynamics,” Mr. Lane wrote. That is another way of saying that the European Central Bank is not going to panic about short-lived fluctuations in inflation and put the brakes on the eurozone economy anytime soon. On the contrary, Mr. Lane’s analysis suggests that the European Central Bank will continue trying to push inflation toward the 2 percent target. In March, the central bank said it would increase its purchases of government and corporate bonds to try to keep a lid on market-based interest rates. Mr. Lane said it was no surprise to see “considerable volatility in inflation during the pandemic period.” He attributed the ups and downs to quirky factors that are not likely to recur. Germany and some other countries cut their value-added taxes to encourage consumer spending, then raised them again later. The price of fuel fluctuated wildly. People spent almost nothing on travel, but increased spending on home exercise equipment or products that they needed to work from home. That affected the way inflation is calculated and made the annual rate look higher, Mr. Lane said. “The medium-term outlook for inflation remains subdued,” he wrote, “and closing the gap to our inflation aim will set the agenda for the Governing Council in the coming years.” Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the Saudi oil minister, has argued that increasing oil output too fast would be risky.Credit…via Reuters OPEC and its allies, including Russia, are expected to meet by videoconference Thursday to discuss whether to ease production curbs on oil as countries around the world try to expand from pandemic lockdowns. Analysts say recent events will support the views of Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the Saudi oil minister, who has argued for caution in increasing supply, noting the risks of swamping the market. But other outcomes are possible at the meeting of the group known as OPEC Plus, including modest increases and even cuts in oil production, France’s reimposition of a national lockdown, announced Wednesday, underlines persistent doubts about the pace of recovery from the pandemic, as have rising case numbers in the United States. After modest increases when the Suez Canal was recently blocked by a cargo ship, oil prices were rising again on Thursday, with Brent crude, the global benchmark, about 1.6 percent higher, to $63.75 a barrel. “All signs seemingly point to the group maintaining current production levels,” Helima Croft, head of commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets, an investment bank, wrote in a note to clients on Wednesday. Yet pressure may also come to increase supply. Members of the OPEC Plus group are withholding an estimated eight million barrels of a day, or about 9 percent of current global consumption. As the global economy recovers, it will become increasingly difficult for the Saudis to persuade others to restrain supplies. A ChargePoint charging station in Berkeley, Calif. Shares in ChargePoint rose 19 percent on Wednesday. President Biden’s infrastructure plan supports the use of electric vehicles.Credit…John G Mabanglo/EPA, via Shutterstock U.S. stock futures rose on Thursday and tech stocks were set to extend their rally as traders focused on optimism about the economic recovery. Shares in Europe and Asia were also higher before the Labor Department’s latest weekly report on initial applications for state unemployment benefits. Bond yields pulled back from their recent 14-month high. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note fell 3 basis points, or 0.03 percentage point, to 1.71 percent. Last week, jobless claims were at the lowest for the pandemic, but economists have warned against assuming this is the new trend because of measurement issues. New data released on Thursday showed a slight rise in claims for unemployment benefits, On Friday, the Labor Department will publish its monthly jobs report for March. Biden’s Infrastructure Plan On Wednesday, President Biden laid out a $2 trillion infrastructure plan, which included money for a range of activities, including repairing roads and bridges, building affordable housing and caregiving facilities, and expanding access to broadband. It would be paid for by an increase in corporate taxes, undoing some of the cut by his predecessor, President Donald J. Trump. The infrastructure plan also includes spending about $50 billion on the semiconductor industry, where a global shortage in chips has disrupted car manufacturing. Shares in Micron Technology, an Idaho-based chip maker, rose nearly 5 percent in premarket trading. The plan includes $174 billion to encourage the manufacture and purchase of electric vehicles. Tesla shares rose 2.7 percent in premarket trading and ChargePoint Holdings, which has a large network of electric-vehicle charing stations, rose 9 percent premarket, extending a 19 percent increase on Wednesday. Elsewhere in markets Most European stock indexes were higher even as more lockdowns were announced in the region. In France, restrictions have been expanded to more regions and schools will close for several weeks. In Italy, business closures will extend until the end of April. But a series of reports published on Thursday showed manufacturing activity picking up in Europe. Oil prices rose ahead of a meeting between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, at which they are set to decide production quotas for May. Brent Crude, the European benchmark, rose 1.23 percent to more than $63 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark, climbed 1.5 percent to just above $60 a barrel. QuantumScape, a California-based start-up working on a technology that could make batteries cheaper, said it had reached a technical requirement that would clear the way for a $100 million investment by Volkswagen. QuantumScape’s shares jumped 13 percent in premarket trading. On Friday, markets will be closed in the United States, Europe and some other countries for Good Friday. The occupancy rate in nursing homes in the fourth quarter of 2020 was down 11 percentage points from the first quarter, but there are hurdles to staying out of facilities.Credit…Amr Alfiky/The New York Times The pandemic has intensified a spotlight on long-running questions about how communities can do a better job supporting seniors who need care but want to live outside a nursing home. The coronavirus had taken the lives of 181,000 people in U.S. nursing homes, assisted living and other long-term care facilities through last weekend, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation — 33 percent of the national toll. The occupancy rate in nursing homes in the fourth quarter of 2020 was 75 percent, down 11 percentage points from the first quarter, according to the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care, a research group. The shift may not be permanent, but this much is clear: As the aging of the nation accelerates, most communities need to do much more to become age-friendly, said Jennifer Molinsky, senior research associate at the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard. “It’s about all the services that people can access, whether that’s the accessibility and affordability of housing, or transportation and supports that can be delivered in the home,” she said. But there are hurdles for those who wish to stay out of a facility, Mark Miller reports for The New York Times: A major shortage of age-friendly housing in the United States will present problems for seniors who wish to stay in their homes. By 2034, 34 percent of households will be headed by someone over 65, according to the Harvard center. Yet in 2011, just 3.5 percent of homes had single-floor living, no-step entry and extra-wide halls and doors for wheelchair access, according to Harvard’s latest estimates. Medicare does not pay for most long-term care services, regardless of where they happen; reimbursement is limited to a person’s first 100 days in a skilled nursing facility. Medicaid, which covers only people with very low incomes, has long been the nation’s largest funder of long-term care. From its inception, the program was required to cover care in nursing facilities but not at home or in a community setting. “There’s a bias toward institutions,” said Judith Solomon, a senior fellow specializing in health at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Marigold Lewi and Kimberley Vasquez outside their high school Baltimore City College this month in Baltimore, MD.Credit…Erin Schaff/The New York Times A year after the pandemic turned the nation’s digital divide into an education emergency, President Biden is making affordable broadband a top priority, comparing it to the effort to spread electricity across the country. His $2 trillion infrastructure plan, announced on Wednesday, includes $100 billion to extend fast internet access to every home. The money is meant to improve the economy by enabling all Americans to work, get medical care and take classes from wherever they live. Although the government has spent billions on the digital divide in the past, the efforts have failed to close it partly because people in different areas have different problems. Affordability is the main culprit in urban and suburban areas. In many rural areas, internet service isn’t available at all because of the high costs of installation. “We’ll make sure every single American has access to high-quality, affordable, high speed internet,” Mr. Biden said in a speech on Wednesday. “And when I say affordable, I mean it. Americans pay too much for internet. We will drive down the price for families who have service now.” Longtime advocates of universal broadband say the plan, which requires congressional approval, may finally come close to fixing the digital divide, a stubborn problem first identified and named by regulators during the Clinton administration. The plight of unconnected students during the pandemic added urgency. “This is a vision document that says every American needs access and should have access to affordable broadband,” said Blair Levin, who directed the 2010 National Broadband Plan at the Federal Communications Commission. “And I haven’t heard that before from a White House to date.” Some advocates for expanded broadband access cautioned that Mr. Biden’s plan might not entirely solve the divide between the digital haves and have-nots. The plan promises to give priority to municipal and nonprofit broadband providers but would still rely on private companies to install cables and erect cell towers to far reaches of the country. One concern is that the companies won’t consider the effort worth their time, even with all the money earmarked for those projects. During the electrification boom of the 1920s, private providers were reluctant to install poles and string lines hundreds of miles into sparsely populated areas. Taxpayers who received unemployment benefits last year — but who filed their federal tax returns before a new tax break became available — could receive an automatic refund as early as May, the Internal Revenue Service said on Wednesday. The latest pandemic relief legislation — signed into law on March 11, in the thick of tax season — made the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits tax-free in 2020 for people with modified adjusted incomes of less than $150,000. (Married taxpayers filing jointly can exclude up to $20,400.) But some Americans had already filed their tax returns by March and have been waiting for official agency guidance. Millions of U.S. workers filed for unemployment last year, but the I.R.S. said it was still determining how many workers affected by the tax change had already filed their tax returns. On Wednesday, the I.R.S. confirmed that it would automatically recalculate the correct amount of benefits subject to taxation — and any overpayment will be refunded or applied to any other outstanding taxes owed. The first refunds are expected to be issued in May and will continue into the summer. The I.R.S. said it would begin processing the simpler returns first, or those eligible for up to $10,200 in excluded benefits, and then would turn to returns for joint filers and others with more complex returns. There is no need for those affected to file an amended return unless the calculations make the taxpayer newly eligible for additional federal credits and deductions not already included on the original tax return, the agency said. Those taxpayers may want to review their state tax returns as well, the I.R.S. said. People who still haven’t filed and expect to do so electronically can simply answer the questions asked by their online tax preparer, which will factor in the new tax break when they file. The agency provided an updated worksheet and additional guidance in March for taxpayers that prefer paper. Microsoft’s HoloLens headsets, demonstrated above in 2017, will equip soldiers with night vision, thermal vision and audio communication.Credit…Elaine Thompson/Associated Press Microsoft said Wednesday that it would begin producing more than 120,000 augmented reality headsets for Army soldiers under a contract that could be worth up to $21.9 billion. The HoloLens headsets use a technology called the Integrated Visual Augmentation System, which will equip soldiers wearing them with night vision, thermal vision and audio communication. The devices also have sensors that help soldiers target opponents in battle. The deal is likely to create waves inside Microsoft, where some employees have objected to working with the Pentagon. Employees at other big tech companies, like Google, have also rejected what they say is the weaponization of their technology. But Microsoft has long courted Defense Department work, including a $10 billion contract to build a cloud-computing system. Amazon had been seen as a front-runner to win the contract, but the Defense Department chose Microsoft. Amazon claimed that President Donald J. Trump had interfered in the process because of his feud with Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s chief executive and the owner of The Washington Post. A legal fight over the contract is still active. Soldiers have tested the Microsoft headsets for two years, the company said. The Army said the devices would be used in combat and training. Microsoft said its testing of the headsets had helped the Defense Department’s “efforts to modernize the U.S. military by taking advantage of advanced technology and new innovations not available to military.” The devices will “provide the improved situational awareness, target engagement and informed decision-making necessary” to overcome current and future adversaries, the Army said in a news release. In 2018, Microsoft won a $480 million bid to make prototypes of the headsets. The Army said Wednesday that the new contract to produce them on a larger scale was for five years, with the option to add up to five more years. Source link Orbem News #claims #Jobless #Live #Long #recovery #road #Showing #Tick #Updates

Five Favorite Episodes of "THE FLASH" Season One (2014-2015)

Below is a list of my five favorite episodes from Season One of the CW series, "THE FLASH".  Created by Greg Berlanti, Geoff Johns, and Andrew Kreisberg; the series stars Grant Gustin as Barry Allen aka the Flash:

FIVE FAVORITE EPISODES OF "THE FLASH" SEASON ONE (2014-2015)

1.  (1.15) "Out of Time" - A meta-human criminal named Mark Mardon returns to Central City to seek revenge against Barry Allen aka the Flash's guardian, Detective Joe West.  

2.  (1.23) "Fast Enough" - In this season finale, Barry Allen contemplates on going back in time fifteen years earlier to prevent his nemesis, Eobard Thawne aka Reverse-Flash, from killing his mother.

3.  (1.13) "Nuclear Man" - Team Flash attempt to help scientist Dr. Martin Stein and STAR Labs engineer Ronnie Raymond, whose atoms have been in conflict ever since the lab accident.  The team discovers that their merged bodies forms into a being with a powerful fire power.  Meanwhile, Joe enlists the help of STAR Labs' other engineer, Cisco Ramon, to investigate Nora Allen's murder.

4.  (1.07) "Power Outage" - While the Flash's speed is drained by a meta-human with electrical energy, a murderous thief named William Tockman aka the Clock King holds Joe, his fellow cops and his daughter Iris hostage at the police station.

5.  (1.10) "Revenge of the Rogues" - Thief Leonard Snart aka Captain Cold makes a second appearance in Central City with a new partner in tow, Mick Rory aka Heatwave.  Snart and Rory hope to set a trap for the Flash in order to prevent the latter from interfering in a heist.

Honorable Mention - (1.17) "Tricksters" - Twenty years ago, a criminal named Jesse James aka the Trickster terrorized Central Ctity.  A copycat has appeared to carry on the original criminal's misdeeds.  Flashbacks reveal how the Reverse Flash assumed the persona of Harrison Wells, owner of STAR Labs.

Nate Pearson (2020) Photo retrieved from nate pearson spring training - Bing images

This Ain’t a Season, It’s an Arms Race

If you are like me, the Toronto Blue Jays left you a little wanting this past offseason. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love the George Springer signing. How can you not love the Jays bringing in an All-Star calibre centerfielder (3 times from 2017-2019) with a career .270 BA? He makes an already lethal lineup even deadlier. Heck, I even love the signing of Marcus Semien who will make a great double play duo with Bo Bichette. What’s best about that signing is if Bichette misses time (as he did last season), Semien can seamlessly slide over to fill shortstop. When Bo was out last year, the Jays struggled out of the shortstop position and he left a big hole at the top of the lineup. Now, Springer is there to keep the top of the lineup moving for the boppers in the middle. In fact, it seems Springer will be the lead off man in 2021 instead of Bo. Don’t worry though because he will be right behind Springer in the 2-hole. The Blue Jays lineup now has an immense amount of length and an ability to keep the opposing pitcher on alert from 1-9. They are going put up runs by the buckets full, with above average defense there to make plays when needed. All those runs may be greatly needed as a lack of a significant addition or 2 to the rotation leaves question marks throughout.

The Jays needed to make more of a splash this off season in the starting pitching market. Perhaps it wasn’t for a lack of trying. Perhaps it was a lack of monetary fortitude to bet on such a volatile postion. Sure, the signing of Hyun Jin Ryu last off season paid off wonderfully and he is the unquestionably the ace of the staff. In his first season for Toronto, he made 12 starts pitching to a 2.69 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, with 72 K’s in 67 innings. I fully expect Ryu to again lead the starters in all categories, and even compete for the AL Cy Young. The question marks start immediately after him though. From an already banged up Nate Pearson to an ineffective Tanner Roark, not a single other starting pitcher can be counted on going into 2021.

Let’s start with question number 1 and the pitcher who was expected to be the number 2 starter, Nate Pearson. A lot of great things are expected out of Nate’s golden arm in the future, with the Jays betting on that future coming this season. As the 28th overall pick in the 2017 draft, there is a lot of promise and hope that he can be the next top arm for them. He moved through the system incredibly fast taking only 3 years to reach the majors in 2020. Unfortunately for him last season never really got going. He battled right elbow tightness causing him to only pitch 18 innings, as the Jays wanted to be careful with their prized young pitcher. Luckily the tightness never turned into anything serious as it can indicate a need for the cursed Tommy John surgery. It’s likely that meant his innings were going to be monitored this year anyway, with them not wanting him to go above 120 innings. That means if they theoretically want him to be available in the postseason, Pearson is going to skip some starts along the way. Well, things have a way of working themselves out sometimes. As spring training is underway, he is already on the side lines with a groin strain that will most certainly cause him to start the season on the IL. Nate will be treated no differently than last season and will be handled cautiously. That takes Toronto’s expected number 2 arm out of action even before it begins.

Coincidently enough question number 2 comes from expected number 3 starter, Robbie Ray. At least this question isn’t injury related though. Ray’s issues all stem from inconsistent performance and unreliable control. Sure, he has a big arm as recognized by his enormous strikeout numbers (1042 K’s in 842.1 career innings), but it also comes with high walk numbers (401 BB’s). This combination of high K’s and BB’s leads to rapidly escalating pitch counts and an inability to pitch deep into games. His numbers last season speak to that (2020: 6.62 ERA, 51.2 innings, 68 K’s, 45 BB’s, and only 2 wins in 11 starts). It’s extremely hard to earn a win when rarely pitching into the 5th inning nor limiting extra baserunners. Ray is capable of providing good pitching though as evidenced by his 2017 season with the D backs (2.89 ERA, 162 innings, 218 K’s, 71 BB’s, and 15 wins in 28 starts), which lead to his lone All-Star appearance to date. Even more recently, he had a solid 2019 season for Arizona (4.34 ERA, 174.1 innings, 235 K’s, 84 BB’s, and 12 wins in 33 starts). If Ray can get back on track and give the Jays something in that 2017-2019 numbers range, that would go a long way to help stabilize the rotation.

If you guessed question number 3 comes from the 4 spot, congratulations you are right. That slot is the newly acquired Steven Matz’s to lose. He was brought over from the New York Mets in the off season for a trio of minor league arms in the hopes he can put his injury history behind him. Never the picture of health in his early days as a Met, there were signs maybe he was finally putting it all together in 2018 and 2019. In those 2 seasons he averaged a 4.09 ERA, 152 K’s, 55 BB’s, 157.1 innings, and 8 wins in 30 starts. Then 2020 hit and he only managed 6 starts with a disaster filled 9.68 ERA while dealing with shoulder issues. That can ruin a pitcher if they linger and lead to surgery, but so far this spring Matz he has shown improved control with no residual shoulder pain. Like Ray, if Steven can get back to pitching the way he showed in 2018/2019, then the Jays could have a solid trio of lefties in Ryu, Ray, and Matz.

The last question of the rotation comes not just via the 5th slot, but also the depth behind that. Currently Tanner Roark is expected to be an innings eating back of rotation piece. He has shown he is capable of that by averaging 174.2 innings per season from 2014-2019 with a mutually dependable 3.90 ERA. He has never been a power pitcher, generally trying to pitch to weak contact and allowing his defense to vacuum everything up behind him. Now at 34 years old, it remains to be seen how much more he has left in the tank. If he can fill 150 innings with an ERA around 4.00, the Jays will have more than enough depth behind him to get through the season.

That depth comes in the resigning of swing man Ross Stripling, who already appears headed for a spot in the opening day rotation due to Nate Pearson’s injury. With a career 3.77 ERA and 1.23 WHIP, he should remain the next man up throughout the season. In fact, Ross Stripling, Trent Thornton, Thomas Hatch, Anthony Kay, and T.J. Zeuch should all see significant roles in and out as a starter due to teams not sure how the lack of games and innings on pitcher’s arms in the shortened 2020 season, will affect their ability to take a regular turn. After that, perhaps a couple of the other young promising arms in the minors like Woods-Richardson and Manoah, will get their first tastes of the MLB. The Jays also have Tyler Chatwood in the bullpen, but as the only real lefty out there, he is likely to be cemented in the pen.

So, barring further injuries the starting 5 for the Blue Jays when they break from camp will be, Ryu, Stripling, Ray, Matz, and Roark (assuming Stripling slides in between the 3 lefties somewhere). It’s not an intimidating group by any means, but should everything go right they will be able to navigate the treacherous AL East. That is a lot to ask though in a season where a lot of teams are going to be wondering how to get through it without wearing out their arms. I assume we will see the use of the dreaded opener increase across the board to aid in this. That’s why of all off seasons, it would have been great if the Jays could have reeled in the big fish of Trevor Bauer (extremely expensive, but the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner) or even a Charlie Morton (older but has had his best years in his 30’s). Coulda, shoulda, woulda isn’t going to help now though. All Toronto can do is work hard to keep guys fresh while giving the team the best chance for success. It’s something all teams are going to have to deal with, and whomever gets to the end with their arms intact will have the best chance to win the race that matters…the playoff race.

*All stats come courtesy of baseball-reference.com

By: Jaymee Kitchenham

—The Flash, "Fast Enough"

My 15 Favorite Episodes of The Flash:

15.  The Reverse Flash Returns (Episode 2.11/34, Written by: Todd and Aaron Helbing, Directed by: Michael Allowitz)

 „There's nothing you can do about it. This is his origin story, and it's going to happen no matter what you do."

 The one in which: Eobard Thawne meets Barry Allen before he ever met him on this show before.

14.  Flashpoint (Episode 3.1/47, Written by: Greg Berlanit, Andrew Kreisber, Brooke Roberts, Directed by: Jesse Warn)

 "So, what should we call this brave new world that you have whipped up for us? I was thinking... Flashpoint."

 The one in which: Barry lives in a fake reality and holds Eobard in a cage.

13.  Enter Flashtime (Episode 4.15/84, Written by: Todd Helbing, Sterling Gates, Directed by: Gregory Smith)

 "Well, I'm sorry, Jay. If this is the only way to save everyone in the city, I have to."

 The one in which: A bomb is going to destroy Central City und kill everyone.

12. Infantino Street (Episode 3.22/68, Written by: Andrew Kreisberg, Grainne Godfree, Directed by: Michael Allowitz)

 "Piece of advice: stop trying to beat Savitar at his own game. Your goodness is your strength. Call me sentimental. Think the Flash should remain a hero."

 The one in which: Barry teams up with a time traveling version of Captain Cold to rob Argus.

11.  Pilot (Episode 1.01/1, Written by: Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Geoff Johns, Directed by: David Nutter)

 „You can do this, Barry. You were right. I am responsible for all of this. So many people have been hurt because of me, and when I looked at you, all I saw was another potential victim of my hubris. And yes, I created this madness, but you, Barry, you can stop it. You can do this. Now run, Barry, run!"

 The one in which: Barry Allen is hit by lightning, wakes up with superpowers and becomes a hero.

10.  Flash Back (Episode 2.17/40, Written By: Aaron Helbing, Todd Helbing, Directed By: Alice Troughton)

 "Just one thing that occurs to me, I don't need you, do I? Not this you certainly. Oops, you probably should have thought of that before you came back here. Shame... you ran all the way back here just to die."

 The one in which: Season 2-Barry time travels into Season 1 because he needs Eobards help.

 9. The Last Temptation of Barry Allen Part 1 (Episode 6.07/121, Written By: Jonathan Butler, Gabriel Garza, Directed By: Chad Lowe)

 "My name Is Iris West-Allen, and I once met a young man - a superhero - who I called the Streak. The world has come to know him as the Fastest Man Alive, the Scarlet Speedster. The Flash. But no matter what title you choose for him, he'll always be remembered as the protector of our amazing city and it's citizens, as a beacon of hope for us all, and as the man who sacrificed himself again and again so we could live. Today we say goodbye to him. Today we say goodbye to him, not because he was taken but because he gave himself willingly. And in the end, that's what makes him deserving of the greatest title of all: Hero."

 The one in which: Barry is sick, Ramsay is the devil and the Speed Force gets a nasty surprise.

8.      The Once and Future Flash (Episode 3.19/65, Written by: Carina Adly MacKenzie, Directed By: Tom Cavanagh)

 "Cisco told me, or showed me, that you all haven't been a team in a long time. And I know that I'm the reason for that. Iris' death shouldn't have driven me away from you all. I mean, it should've driven me closer. This isn't what she would want. But I'm here now to tell you that no matter what happens in the past, I will not abandon you."

 The one in which: Barry travels to a dark future and learns a couple of things.

7.      Nora (Episode 5.01/93, Written By: Todd Helbing, Sam Chalsen, Directed by: David McWhirter)

 "My name is Nora West-Allen, and I'm the fastest woman alive. When I was a child, my father disappeared in something impossible. Then I grew up and became the impossible. Now I'm trying to live up to the legacy he created so that one day, I'll stop him from ever disappearing. I'm XS. How schway is that?"

 The one in which: Nora meets the younger versions of her parents and screws up the timeline.

 6.      Welcome to Earth-2/Escape from Earth-2 (Episodes 2.13-14/36-37, 36: Written By: Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Katherine Walczak, Directed By: Millicent Shelton, 37: Written By: Aaron Helbing, Todd Helbing, David Kob, Directed By: J. J. Makaro)

 "So, which one of you lounge lizards is in the wrong universe?"

 The ones in which: Barry und Cisco visit Earth-2, where everything is different.

 5.      Out of Time (Episode 1.15/15, Written By: Aaron Helbing, Todd Helbing, Directed By: Thor Freudenthal)

 "Do you know how hard it has been to keep all of this from you, especially from you? Because the truth is, I've grown quite fond of you. And in many ways, you have shown me what it's like to have a son. Forgive me, but to me, you've been dead for centuries."

 The one in which: A lot of stuff happens, that never actually happened.

4.      Flash VS Arrow (Episode 1.8/8, Written By: Ben Sokoloswki,m Brooke Eikmeier, Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Directed By: Glen Winter)

 „There is a difference, Barry, between having powers and having precision."

 The one in which: Oliver, Felicity and Dig visit Central City, but their timing is very bad.

3.      Elseworlds Part 1 (Episode 5.9/101, Written By: Eric Wallace und Sam Chalsen, Directed By: Kevin Tancharoen und Tom Cavanagh)

 "Just focus for just a second and take this seriously, because the world thinks that you're Oliver Queen and I'm Barry Allen, and I would really like to know why! Is that cool?"

 The one in which: Oliver and Barry switch identity and seek out Kara to prove it.

2.      Fast Enough (Episode 1.23/23, Written By: Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Gabrielle Stanton, Directed By: Dermott Downs)

 "You will have a father - your real father. Wells has messed with our lives long enough. This is why you became The Flash, Barry. To put things right. You saved a lot of people's lives this past year. Now it's time to save yours."

 The one in which: Barry almost changes the timeline, a member of Team Flash dies and the city is about to get eaten.

1.      Duet (Episode 3.17/63, Written By: Aaron Helbing, Todd Helbing, Greg Berlani, Andrew Kreisberg, Directed By: Dermott Daniels Downs)

 "Everything is better in song. When you speak, it's just words. But when you sing, you open up your soul and let who you really are shine through."

 The one in which: Barry and Kara are trapped in a Musical Nightmare.

The hunger was that real, I wanted the opportunity to be great more than life. I was hungry enough to drive to you (broke) take your photos on my rebel (income tax investment) use that adobe 30 day trial back in the day and edit what I thought was dope back then. Long story short, I would give you a free 8x10 from Walmart, $1.23 and deliver the photo to you not knowing how I was going to do it, but I would just make it happen. Fast forward 10 years later, I won’t take a phone call for less than 2K, but trust and believe me, I paid my dues. . . . #longlivethehussle #jayikemp #originstory #ambition #grind #gogetter #toledo https://www.instagram.com/p/B-HtzqJn1yI/?igshid=10beasyz39lau

#ForSale Canon c100 mkii The Canon EOS C100 Mark II Cinema Camcorder is a professional video camera with a Super 35mm 8.3MP CMOS sensor and is compatible with Canon's line of EF-mount DSLR and cinema lenses. With continuous autofocus and 1080p HD video capture, it is an excellent choice for event videography, documentaries, and independent filmmakers. The camera uses Dual Pixel CMOS AF for fast and reliable focus acquisition. Generals Release Date: April 2015 Sensor resolution: 1.2 MP Storage media: SD Card Video format: AVCHD, H.264 / AVC Brand: Canon HD format: 1080p Highlights •Super 35mm 8.3MP CMOS Sensor + EF Mount •1920 x 1080p 59.94/50/29.97/25/23.98 •Built-In Dual Pixel CMOS AF Hardware •AVCHD + MP4 Recording •Dual SDHC/SDXC Media Card Slots •HDMI Output with Timecode and Canon Log •ISO 320 to 102,400 •Canon Log and Wide DR Gamma •Two XLR Audio Connectors •Built-In 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi Capability LCD Display Accurately check focus, composition, and exposure with the 1.23 million dot-equivalent 0.45" electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage. The built-in 3.5" 1.23MP equivalent OLED panel tilts 100 degrees for flexibility when composing tough perspective shots and rotates 180 degrees to protect the screen when not in use. Use the LCD display to review footage or to view the camera's waveform monitor Microphone Including a top mounted handle unit, which features two XLR connectors and a microphone shock mount. XLR connections offer a high quality audio input for professional grade microphones and facilitate 2 channel 48kHz linear PCM (24 Mbps) audio recordings. Compact Design Designed with the solo shooter in mind it is 85% the size of the Canon C300, and it is based on a mobile core design that allows additional accessories to be attached depending on the situation. Strip the camera down for a "run-and-gun" style, or complement the camera with the full range of camera-mounted accessories. With a compact body, you can even shoot dual-camera 3D without an over-sized and cumbersome rig. Its light weight reduces user fatigue and allows even elaborate rigging systems to remain mobile enough for a single operator. The removable accessory hand grip rotates 360 https://www.instagram.com/p/B4blnP_HVpE/?igshid=tnv9bgfgzb0b

best facts of McDonald’s

McDonald’s just reported its first quarter financial results this morning.  The global fast food chain generated $6.54 billion during the period and delivered earnings per share of $1.23. Global comparable sales increased 7.3 per cent.While the top and bottom line came in line with analysts’ expectations, there are plenty of facts about the company that you may find completely unexpected. The restaurant giant has grown through the recession and recovery. Which makes sense since it sells more than 75 burgers every second.McDonald’s just reported its first quarter financial results this morning.  The global fast food chain generated $6.54 billion during the period and delivered earnings per share of $1.23. Global comparable sales increased 7.3 per cent.While the top and bottom line came in line with analysts’ expectations, there are plenty of facts about the company that you may find completely unexpected. The restaurant giant has grown through the recession and recovery. Which makes sense since it sells more than 75 burgers every second.

A little more liberal than their North American counterparts, you can buy beer at select McDonald's locations across Europe, such as in France and Germany.

McDonald is a very Popular Food Restaurant Chain origin From America.Its Franchises are everywhere. If a small town with only one stoplight has a fast-food restaurant, it will be a McDonald’s. The Main Attractive thing Apart From Food Is, They open early in the morning to late at night. In some locations, the drive-thru is open 24 hours. Mcdonald has enough variety on their menu that it’s a good choice for a family or other group of people who don’t all want to eat the same thing.

McDonald’s operates 36,899 restaurants worldwide, from the total of 5,669 company-owned locations.

The most iconic McDonald’s menu item is also everyone’s favorite: french fries.Today, the fries are an iconic part of the company image.

Eobard Thawne in every episode → The Flash 1.23 “Fast Enough”

“I've controlled your life for so long, Barry. How will you get along without me?”

Black Coffee: Separating the Sheep from the Goats

It's time to sit back, relax and enjoy a little joe …

Welcome to another rousing edition of Black Coffee, your off-beat weekly round-up of what's been going on in the world of money and personal finance.

Let's get right to it this week …

Money is stored labor. Labor is part of human life. To devalue money is to debase life.

- John Kenneth Galbraith

Divorce is the one human tragedy that reduces everything to cash.

- Rita Mae Brown

If wisdom were measured by the size of the beard, the goat would be a philosopher.

- Danish proverb

Credits and Debits

Debit: Amazon CEO and founder, Jeff Bezos, announced he and his wife are divorcing after 25 years of marriage. Barring the presence of a prenup, Bezos' net worth is set to drop by half - that would see him lose the “world's richest man” crown to Bill Gates, forcing him to settle for being “only” the world's fifth-richest. His wife, however, would become the world's richest woman.

Credit: On a related note, last week Amazon overtook Apple and Microsoft to become the world's largest company. Unfortunately for Mr. Bezos, while Amazon now sells more stuff than ever, they still haven't penetrated the quicky-divorce market. Yet.

Debit: Looking at the other end of the socioeconomic divide, a new study has determined that 4 in 5 American workers are living from paycheck to paycheck. Yes, yes … I know exactly what you're thinking:

Debit: But seriously, how can so many working people be living from paycheck to paycheck in a “booming” economy? For the answer, look no further than our corrupt, debt-based fiat monetary system; American living standards have been steadily dropping ever since the US dollar's anchor to gold was broken in 1971. And things will only continue to get worse while the current monetary system remains in place.

Debit: By the way, those American workers who are barely making ends meet will be dismayed to learn that JP Morgan is now pegging the odds of a recession at 60% within the next year. What makes this notable is two months ago the very same JP Morgan forecast a 60% chance of recession … two years from now. Did I mention that unemployment more than doubled during the last recession in 2009? It did.

Debit: Indeed, the crashing oil, banking and utility sectors, coupled with slumping home and auto sales, are now at levels not seen since 2008. Of course, this suggests the global economy is headed for a severe recession, which explains the recent rotation into US Treasury bonds - and the resulting decline in interest rates. That makes perfect sense, especially with global confidence in the dollar stronger than ever. Oh, wait …

Credit: Hedge fund manager Harris Kupperman warns that, “When the (stock) bubble unwinds, it will be fast and vicious as there is no natural buyer for a money losing business that's run out of capital. It took half a decade to create the Internet bubble, yet it all vaporized in a few months; this bubble will collapse at a similar rate.” That's bad news for companies like Uber, Tesla, and Twitter. Probably Amazon too.

Debit: Falling stock prices are bad news for pensions too. Thanks to the Fed's decade-long low interest rate policy, the only hope pension managers had of meeting 8% return goals was by stretching into high-risk assets, which are now imploding. The US pension funding shortfall - public and private - is now $6.2 trillion. If the last two cycles are any indication, the next market downturn could see that triple. Yikes.

Debit: With the stakes so high, it's no wonder Fed chairman Jay Powell announced last week that rate hikes are off until further notice and that he's even looking at scaling back the Fed's liquidity-draining quantitative tightening program. Since then, stocks have been rallying. Hard. As macroeconomist Jim Rickards notes, “If you need proof that today's rigged markets still require Fed support, there it is.” Uh huh. Speaking of unwelcome support …

Credit: Meanwhile, Fitch is threatening to cut the United States' AAA credit rating. According to Fitch's global head of sovereign ratings, James McCormack, “There is a meaningful fiscal deterioration going on. If this shutdown continues … we may need to start thinking about whether that is consistent with AAA.” Psst. Hey, Mr. McCormack … that “fiscal deterioration” has officially been in hyperdrive for a decade now.

Credit: So, with the US economy now completely dependent on the Fed's printing press, it's no wonder that the world's largest hedge fund manager, Ray Dalio, all but admitted last week that the US dollar's time as the global reserve currency is coming to an end. No, he didn't say when. Frankly, I don't think he'll have to wait too long.

By the Numbers

Here's a summary of investment returns by asset class in 2018:

0.0% US Treasury Bonds

-1.5% Gold

-4.4% S&P 500

-4.4% Nasdaq

-6.0% Dow

-8.6% Silver

-11.0% Russell 2000

The Question of the Week

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Last Week's Poll Result

What is the brand of your mobile phone?

Apple (42%)

Something else. (33%)

Samsung (20%)

I don't own a mobile phone. (5%)

More than 1400 people responded to last week's question and it turns out that, when it comes to mobile phones, slightly more than twice as many Len Penzo dot Com readers own Apple as Samsung. Another third own a different brand, while 1 in 20 say they don't have a mobile phone. I've got an Apple, but I didn't pay for it - my employer did!

Useless News: The Forbidden Island

A Frenchman, an Englishman, and a New Yorker launched an expedition and discovered an uncharted island.

Unfortunately, the island was home to a tribe of cannibals. Soon enough the three men were ambushed and overrun. They were then tied up and taken to see the tribe's chief.

“You were forbidden from setting foot on this island!” the chief said. “We're going to eat you and use your skins to build a canoe. However, we're not without compassion - we'll let you choose how you're going to die.”

The Englishman said, “Give me a gun.” So the cannibal chief handed him a gun. The Englishman then raised the gun to his head and yelled, “God save the Queen!” before blowing his brains out.

The Frenchman and the New Yorker watched as the cannibals proceeded to skin the dead Englishman.

Inspired by the Englishman's bravery, the Frenchman then said, “Give me a sword.” So his wish was granted and he yelled “Viva la France!” before impaling himself.

The cannibals then skinned the Frenchman.

Finally, it was the New Yorker's turn. “Gimme a fork!” he demanded. The cannibal chief complied, and the New Yorker then jabbed himself over and over with the fork until he was covered with thousands of blood-oozing holes.

Puzzled at the spectacle he just witnessed, the cannibal chief asked the New Yorker, “So … any last words?”

“Yeah,” said the New Yorker. “There goes your God damn canoe!”

(h/t: resistedliving via Zero Hedge)

Other Useless News

Here are the top - and bottom - five states in terms of the average number of pages viewed per visit here at Len Penzo dot Com over the past 30 days:

1. New Mexico (3.13 pages/visit) !! 2. West Virginia (2.65) ! 3. Alaska (2.18) 4. Idaho (2.11) 5. Arkansas (1.86)

46. Hawaii (1.23) 47. Oklahoma (1.20) 48. Vermont (1.19) 49. Mississippi (1.14) 50. Wyoming (1.04)

Whether you happen to enjoy what you're reading (like my friends in New Mexico) - or not (ahem, Wyoming …) - please don't forget to:

1. Click on that Like button in the sidebar to your right and become a fan of Len Penzo dot Com on Facebook!

2. Make sure you follow me on Twitter!

3. Subscribe via email too!

And last, but not least …

4. Consider becoming a Len Penzo dot Com Insider! Thank you.

Letters, I Get Letters

Every week I feature the most interesting question or comment - assuming I get one, that is. And folks who are lucky enough to have the only question in the mailbag get their letter highlighted here whether it's interesting or not! You can reach out to me at: [email protected]

From Terri, who left an urgent request in my inbox this week:

Pick me! Pick me! Pick me! PICK ME!

Okay, Terri … I'm picking you! But if this ends up being the highlight of your week, then we really need to talk.

If you enjoyed this, please forward it to your friends and family. I'm Len Penzo and I approved this message.

Photo Credit: brendan-c

—The Flash, “Fast Enough”

Zero-Sum

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2p0Xhbw

by trufflemores

1.23. Eddie doesn't kill himself; the singularity doesn't happen. But it's still hell for Barry.

Words: 2692, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: The Flash (TV 2014)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Gen

Characters: Barry Allen, Harrison Wells | Eobard Thawne

Relationships: Barry Allen/Harrison Wells | Eobard Thawne

Additional Tags: Angst, Whump, speedsters, Rivalry, 1.23, Fast Enough, reaction fic

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2p0Xhbw

PG&E: Let Them Eat Stocks

PG&E: Let Them Eat Stocks:

A Hill of Beans

Of all the financial newsletters in all the towns in all the world … the “people familiar with the talks” had to walk into mine.

You know how those “people” said that a trade deal would happen before the deadline for new Chinese tariffs on December 15? About that … we’re apparently kicking the can down the road once more.

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. and China are “laying the groundwork” to delay this Sunday’s tariff increase. Part of the delay, the Journal says, is getting China to agree to considerable purchases of U.S. farm products (i.e., soybeans) — a key point President Trump has harped on for some time, though it’s not why the trade war started in the first place.

While the two sides are still reportedly haggling over the finer points of a very close trade deal — you wouldn’t believe how close — White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said that there are “no arbitrary deadlines” in the trade talks.

I’ll take that as shorthand that December 15 isn’t a deadline for an agreement.

The market sees it that way as well. After yesterday’s pause in the action, stocks are rallying once again on temporary good news.

The Takeaway: 

I get it, I get it. Things change. This is a negotiation, after all. It’s just that … we’ve heard this all before.

The actors are the same. The words are the same. We’re “very close” to a trade deal for, what, like the 14th time this year? How many times have we delayed tariffs, only to have them ratcheted up when things go south?

So far, we’ve only heard from President Trump’s advisers. We have yet to hear from Trump himself on the current trade deal’s prospects or the reported delay of this weekend’s new tariffs.

What’s more, the issues at the heart of the U.S.-China trade war — Chinese subsidies for domestic companies, technology transfer, intellectual property protections — aren’t even included in the talks for a “phase 1” deal, according to the Journal.

As it stands, though, the markets will be happy with a deal … any deal that eases tariff pressures on U.S.-China relations. Right now, such a deal is tied directly to Chinese agricultural purchases, which China has tied to tariff rollbacks.

Once again, we’re in “wait and see” mode. All the bluster has been taken out of this week’s manufactured urgency for a trade deal. We’re kicking the can down the road once more.

In the end, it would be nice if a U.S. trade deal amounted to more than just a hill of beans.

The Good: Breaking out of the Zone

AutoZone Inc. (NYSE: AZO) is humming like a well-oiled machine today.

The do-it-yourself auto parts retailer posted a stellar quarterly report this morning, beating both top- and bottom-line targets.

Earnings arrived at $14.30 per share, blowing past Wall Street’s target of $13.70 per share. Revenue rose to $2.79 billion, also besting the consensus estimate. Finally, same-store sales completed the trifecta, rising 3.4% and towering over expectations for a gain of just 2.5%.

As a result, AZO investors stepped on the gas today. The stock broke out to fresh all-time highs, eclipsing former resistance at $1,200.

That said, investors probably shouldn’t chase AZO today. The stock is sure to consolidate these gains in the coming week. If you’re looking to add AZO to your portfolio, look for a test of support in the $1,230 to $1,220 area before jumping in.

The Bad: Chewy Results

Last week, I bought my cat Kylo a new cat tower. It’s covered in carpet and dangly toys, and it has a nice comfy hammock for him to sleep in.

Kylo, however, sleeps in the cardboard box the cat tower came in.

That’s kind of how investors have treated Chewy Inc. (NYSE: CHWY) since the online pet supplies retailer’s initial public offering.

It has all the bells and whistles that pet owners love, but investors still prefer that big brown box with the smile on the side (you know the retailer).

I don’t blame them … I got Kylo’s cat tower from Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN), not Chewy.

This morning, Chewy proved that it’s still hanging in there … barely. Earnings for the third quarter came in at a loss of $0.20 per share, whiffing expectations by $0.04. Revenue was a better-than-expected $1.23 billion … but only by about $30 million.

Still, Chewy put fourth-quarter guidance in line with expectations and said that Chewy.com’s active users rose 33%.

The biggest problem for the company remains customers like me, who are already set in their ways with where and how they shop. For me, Amazon beats Chewy on price, and local pet shops beat both on loyalty. It’ll be interesting to see if Chewy can overcome these hurdles down the road.

The Ugly: Catching Fire

Yesterday I wrote about PG&E Corp. (NYSE: PCG) and how the company might finally put the 2017 and 2018 California wildfires behind it.

In my research for Great Stuff, I typically avoid linking to paid or paywall-restricted news sites such as The Wall Street Journal.

It’s easier for you to read these articles if there are no paywalls.

However, in doing so, I overlooked a key piece of information in PG&E’s $13.5 billion settlement with wildfire victims.

I am rectifying that oversight today and issuing a warning on PCG stock. Digging into a report by the Journal, I noticed a key part of the settlement agreement: “PG&E will pay half of the $13.5 billion in cash and half in stock…”

Did you catch that? “Half in stock.” There are two things wrong with this:

“We’re sorry your loved ones died and you lost everything. Here’s some stock.” I hope I don’t have to explain to you the callousness of providing compensation in the form of stock. If I do, you probably eat your fast-food hamburgers with a fork.

What are the victims going to do with that stock?

Think about that last one long and hard. These people need money to get their lives going again. PG&E is handing them $6.75 billion in PCG stock. That’s more than the company’s current market cap of $5.91 billion.

So, where will those compensation shares come from? Out of thin air. Rather, the current PG&E shares will disappear when the company comes out of bankruptcy, and new ones will be issued in their place. The new company’s value will be determined by the bankruptcy experts handling PG&E’s case, and you can bet that valuation will be big enough to cover this settlement and then some.

But what then? The survivors have these shiny new PG&E shares, but what they need is cash … so they’ll sell. They’ll sell nearly all $6.75 billion of those shares when they get a chance. Some will be financially stable enough to hold, but how long will they hold once the selling starts?

In the end, PG&E may nearly be out of the woods on lawsuits and bankruptcy, but investors holding PCG stock are going to be left with the bill.

The Banyan Hill experts were buzzing this morning. What got them all riled up?

An article in Bloomberg about EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is a creative accounting method. While it isn’t a generally accepted way of reporting financial results, that doesn’t stop companies from using it — especially when it comes to securing corporate loans.

The Bloomberg article takes aim at this practice, raising alarms that it could spark the next economic slump. So, how did Banyan Hill’s experts feel?

Charles Mizrahi, editor of Alpha Investor Report, had this to say:

I never look at EBITDA and think I’m looking at real numbers.

For years I thought I was the only one who didn’t take EBITDA seriously.

That all changed when I heard what Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett’s partner, said about it:

“I think that, every time you see the word EBITDA, you should substitute the word ‘bullshit’ earnings.”

I guess that would make the word E-BS-ITDA?

Charles is a no-nonsense guy who looks at investing with the real world in mind … not the one Wall Street’s talking heads try to sell you. This is the kind of “everyman” investing research that you need right now in this questionable market.

Click here to find out how to get started with Charles’ research today!

Great Stuff: Feed the Beast

You better believe it’s that time again.

It’s time to write to Santa — er, Great Stuff. Forgive me, it’s starting to look North Pole-esque near me this week.

You have two days to drop me a line at [email protected] to make this week’s edition of Reader Feedback.

We take all kinds here: comments, questions, witty remarks and holiday recipes. As always, no cursing, please. We can’t publish that s#&%.

I’ll get the festivities started for you:

What’s your “bull case” estimate for Tesla? And why is it $50,000 per share?

Have you ever invested in biotech stocks?

How about that trade war?

What’s your family’s favorite holiday treat to make?

I truly, madly, deeply look forward to hearing from you. (Whoa there, Great Stuff, slow down a bit!) And you can look forward to what your partners in crime write in this Thursday.

In the meantime, don’t forget to check out Great Stuff on social media. If you can’t get enough meme-y trade war goodness, follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Until next time, good trading!

Regards,

Joseph Hargett

Great Stuff Managing Editor, Banyan Hill Publishing