Day: October 19, 2013

On Negative Book Reviews

On Negative Book Reviews

Occasionally, I write negative book reviews.? I am not always right, but sometimes I locate books that are not up to par, or are downright mistaken.? I try to back up my findings with facts, but there is still a problem.? If I publish the negative review at Amazon, it is in the interests of the author and publisher to recruit people to vote my review down.? My Amazon reviewer rank isn’t bad, but it would be a lot higher if I hadn’t written negative reviews that I believe are correct.

So what to do?? There are some books that should not have seen the light of day, and others that are just subpar — don’t waste your money.

As I see it, there is an asymmetry in voting on reviews at Amazon, and it comes down to concentration of interests.? Though I have a bigger voice than many reviewers because of my readership here, if I write a negative review, it is easier for the author/publisher to gather a group to vote me down, than it would be for me to get it voted up, should I try that.

I will continue to post negative reviews at Amazon, and I will try not to care about my reviewer rank.? But Amazon needs to tweak its system — when a voter votes too much for a given reviewer, he is deemed a “fan,” and his votes stop counting.? The same does not apply to negative votes, but I could be wrong there.

Advice is welcome, but it really seems that constructive critics are at a disadvantage with book reviews.

Sorted Weekly Tweets

Sorted Weekly Tweets

US Politics & Policy

 

  • How the Tea Party Will Die?http://t.co/EgEnMQVsZB?Gets 1thing right: gerrymandering is behind much of our gridlock $$ http://t.co/rOugB104TN?Oct 18, 2013
  • Even When the GOP Loses, It Wins?http://t.co/6CLe41CJDp?New baseline favors deeper cuts as we may go through sequestration again $$?Oct 18, 2013
  • The Tea Party and the GOP Crackup?http://t.co/a3wLOJ7raO?t-party represents Jacksonian America: angry & in full revolt against new elite $$?Oct 17, 2013
  • How Delayed Inflation Data Mess With Social Security and More?http://t.co/d8BKFRd1g3?US Treasury will have 2 estimate best they can $$?Oct 16, 2013
  • Though it might b better if the govt weren’t calculating the data; gives them too much power to fiddle w/the #s. But no one is neutral $$?Oct 16, 2013
  • McConnell?s Favored Dam Project Included in Debt Deal?http://t.co/8d9jraD29v?Pork is not dead in DC, whether GOP or Democrats $$ #shame?Oct 18, 2013
  • Crop-Insurance Cuts Test Farm Power as Lobbies Push Back?http://t.co/p59uqsRgDX?If can’t be cut when Ag does well, then nothing can b cut $$?Oct 16, 2013
  • Factional conflicts have the power to destroy empires – and republics?http://t.co/TeuFlo7tsW?Reminds me of Europe in 1840s: too much debt $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • Reformers hail limit on US crop insurance subsidies?http://t.co/EEn5n9jOYX?Let’s c if it actually gets passed; Ag subsidies tough 2 kill $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • EPA?s McCarthy Says No Decision Made on Renewable Mandate?http://t.co/wi7kzgGl0L?Believe no rumor until it is officially denied $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • A Slowdown on the Road to Recovery?http://t.co/3Pd6dDeVgL?Decaying Bridges, Highways Raise Costs for Truckers, Manufacturers $$ $SPY $TLT?Oct 14, 2013
  • Fiscal negotiations sputter as deadline looms?http://t.co/h73IOeaS36?Obama could end this here by tossing the GOP a bone 2 avoid MAD $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • America?s default on its debt is inevitable?http://t.co/jLSqxj42gG?America has defaulted 3 times already. No way we can fund entitlements $$?Oct 13, 2013
  • Republicans Need a Graceful Exit Strategy, Now?http://t.co/9hjoD6L0hV?@asymmetricinfo explains y the GOP should cut their losses here $$?Oct 12, 2013
  • Is US Political Bubble About to Burst??http://t.co/bipVe5brA0?If there is no permanent default, no, b/c the world needs flexibility of US $$?Oct 12, 2013
  • How to Handle a Debt Default. You Know. Just in Case.?http://t.co/m3j1wilU7R?In a longwinded way comes 2 correct answer: no good strategy $$?Oct 12, 2013
  • 10 ‘Poorest’ Members of Congress Owe Big?http://t.co/cmMpRI2rNR?The same list with a little more data to flesh it out $$?Oct 12, 2013
  • The 10 least wealthy members of Congress, from Roll Call?http://t.co/pO7HBfAlkh?They r not just least wealthy; they r broke 8 Ds, 2 Rs $$?Oct 12, 2013

PPACA / Obamacare

 

  • Health Website Woes Widen as Insurers Get Wrong Data?http://t.co/kNIQrXoDVK?4 something so critical, the healthcare website has failed $$?Oct 18, 2013
  • Another reason y PPACA is a sham; resources don’t appear from nowhere; low cost plans don’t chg the underlying cost of services $$ $SPY $TLT?Oct 16, 2013
  • Patients Pay Before Seeing Doctor as Deductibles Spread?http://t.co/SGly5lDxX7?Big: as deductibles rise, so does prepayment, b/c bad debt $$?Oct 16, 2013
  • Obamacare Needs a Drop-Dead Date?http://t.co/Qe4OORe5AV?@asymmetricinfo ably argues if exchanges aren’t functioning by 11/1, delay PPACA $$?Oct 16, 2013
  • Petco, Applebee’s employees join growing list on private exchanges?http://t.co/00tiYWUrPz?If this works, maybe can replace govt exchanges $$?Oct 16, 2013
  • Obamacare marketplace could get partial rebuild?http://t.co/cwjqbEakyT?If ppl have a hard time signing up, they will have to fix or delay $$?Oct 14, 2013

 

Rest of the World

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  • Time to take bets on Frexit and the French franc??http://t.co/McwX1vZNvG! Weird: Marine Le Pen’s Front National most popular French party $$?Oct 16, 2013
  • China CPI Speeds Up in September, Mainly on Food Prices?http://t.co/blyIxmplSq?Woe betide when Chinese Inflation starts running hot $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • Merkel Faces Decision on Coalition Partner?http://t.co/0BqUYzoiV6?Grand coalition coming, may have impact on German Constitution $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • The Long, Slow Process of IKEA Design?http://t.co/O6FWUi8RHh?Company’s Commitment to Shaving Costs Makes Designing a Kitchen a 5-Yr Task $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • Japan May Hire Firms to Manage Foreign Reserves?http://t.co/EWOzlEKp1d?A small experiment where they take illiquidity & credit risk $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • Malaysia Rules Catholic Paper Can’t Use ‘Allah’?http://t.co/OLNJiLId6q?Go back to the original, and use “Elohim,” not the Arabic version $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • French Fume Over Speed Traps That Cut Hollande Budget Gap?http://t.co/solddgufg3?An irritating way 2 tax people, would try 2 avoid that $$?Oct 14, 2013

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Berkshire Hathaway

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  • Buffett?s Son Calls Junk Bonds Model for Charities?http://t.co/QF89ou2F0S?Howard Buffett wants charities 2try hard projects, risk failure $$?Oct 18, 2013
  • Buffett Adds Stocks in Pension Handoff to Lieutenants?http://t.co/zdgnFteYp3?Long duration, higher cost float 4 $BRK.B 2 invest $$?Oct 18, 2013
  • Buffett Defends Dimon, Says Regulators Take Ton of Flesh?http://t.co/Ax3YjbANui?Difficult to pin down liability w/large complex firms $$?Oct 16, 2013
  • As a result, there is the bias toward fines, a little criminal prosecution. Fines should go to those harmed, rather than govt $$ $JPM $BRK.B?Oct 16, 2013
  • Tracy Britt Cool on Management Lessons From Warren Buffett?http://t.co/7s5QP3I9Pw?Buffett gives his managers freedom & flexibility $$ $BRK.B?Oct 16, 2013
  • Buffett Turns to Deputies to Help Find Successors for Unit CEOs?http://t.co/YLt3NquVbM?Berkshire is a complex company; requires much mgmt $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • Warren Buffett’s Lieutenants at Berkshire Hathaway?http://t.co/nclA8Vqsep?Possible Buffett replacement Matthew Rose, CEO of BNSF $$ $BRK.B?Oct 14, 2013
  • CEOs to Face Berkshire-Loyalty Test?http://t.co/peoPfaJ2Hb?How will $BRK.B retain managers after there is no Warren Buffett 2 disappoint? $$?Oct 14, 2013

 

Companies & Industries

 

  • Can Coke and Pepsi Overcome Shrinking Juice Demand??http://t.co/6JzH27NKSQ?Far better to have fruit & get the fiber, not just the sugar $$?Oct 18, 2013
  • A SWAG Surprise in the $19 Billion Chevron Case?http://t.co/PUrxEMlmvp?Defense atty surprised when witness says the damage # was made-up $$?Oct 18, 2013
  • Ursula Burns: ‘Chill out a little bit’?http://t.co/j80WyoKUQq?Pick the places where u want 2b great, focus energies there & then go do it $$?Oct 18, 2013
  • Hollywood Steps Up Security to Keep Scripts Secret?http://t.co/We49CbLssh?Interesting: tech & methods Hollywood uses 2 protect scripts $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • ‘Clean Coal’ Costs Are on Display at Mississippi Plant?http://t.co/omVqqflAl7?Clean coal is likely a pipe dream 4 coal producers $$?Oct 14, 2013

 

Finance

 

  • Dimon Said to Have Given Up Role at Bank Unit on OCC Request?http://t.co/KC09IBMymM?He stepped down, but not w/o the OCC giving a push $$?Oct 18, 2013
  • Stockbroker Requests to Scrub Complaints Are Often Granted?http://t.co/Hpiir2YBtg?Bad stuff; makes u want to beef up the SEC & end FINRA $$?Oct 17, 2013
  • NY Fed Fired Examiner Who Took on Goldman?http://t.co/z2CBD8DmLw?$GS $$ $SPY She analyzed conflict of interest rules & found them lacking.?Oct 16, 2013
  • Simon Says: ?Toughen Up??http://t.co/yDmroZcNDz?Simon Business School attempts to get students ready 4 the hard aspects of business $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • Big Banks Can Be Dismantled, Say US & UK Regulators?http://t.co/i0KCOMIl4d?I will believe it when I see it. Regulators r2 optimistic $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • Debt moves the world?http://t.co/knHet0TrjN?This article moves the ball forward; overall debt levels should help decide monetary policy $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • Beyond Earnings: A Simple Method 2Pick a Winning Stock?http://t.co/N2AlhUTX2K?”Quality” or gross return on assets, measures moat strength $$?Oct 12, 2013
  • When Analysts Sober Up?http://t.co/yPt8kJO8gr?Sell side analysts tend 2b very optimistic & revise as reality intrudes. CFOs don’t mind $$?Oct 12, 2013

 

Other

 

  • Houston Texans Running Back Arian Foster Is Going Public?http://t.co/GG11tRFIbe?Step right up, buy a share of a football player’s pay $$ #no?Oct 18, 2013
  • How I Learned to Haggle Over Prices?http://t.co/LMgLRP1GQs?Never thought I would b good at haggling until I traded corporate bonds $$?Oct 17, 2013
  • Harrisburg?s Parking Bond Sale Avoids Chicago Regret?http://t.co/sT0dSsUmhS?Key is 2align incentives; Harrisburg/investors both make $$ same?Oct 16, 2013
  • Axel Merk: In our assessment, a central bank pursing an employment target… has given up its independence?http://t.co/tp4MDrixjm?$$ $TLT?Oct 16, 2013
  • Regional Fed Bosses Struggle With Communication Issue?http://t.co/aOZ2CQ2iGt?Talk is cheap 4 the Fed; the expenses get charged to us $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • BuzzFeed’s Brazen, Nutty, Growth Plan?http://t.co/YMYFpymfEI?Translation by foreign-language speakers learning English using Duolingo $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • Google Is Going to Include Your Face in Its New Ads?http://t.co/MbV0XgLphb?U did not know that u have signed up 2b an ad pitchman w/G+ $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • The Cheap Way to Watch Every NFL, NBA, NHL Game Online?http://t.co/hsrxfC4XDm?The genie is out of the bottle, will b hard 2get it back in $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • Bit by Bit, Virtual Reality Heads for the Holodeck?http://t.co/U1l99HThFa?Think the technology will get bogged down on multiple players $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • ‘Jumping Genes’ Bring Unexpected Twists 2 DNA?http://t.co/0IXG7BvBlO?1 shouldn’t b overly impressed w/idea of strict genetic heritability $$?Oct 12, 2013
  • Wire Fraud Is on the Rise?http://t.co/dlDn7nBMHK?Double check transfer requests; you could be on the hook for any losses $$?Oct 12, 2013

 

The Swedish Central Bank Prize

 

  • If you have 2shorten it further, call it The SCB Prize. But it is not a Nobel Prize; none of the economists winning it deserve the honor $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • The official name is The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. Call it the Swedish Central Bank Prize. $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • Note2journalists: there is no Economics Nobel Prize . Nobel knew economics was not a science. We should agree given failures of ec theory $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • Fama, Shiller, Hansen Win 2013 Nobel Prize in Economics?http://t.co/R5Vg7XM67P?Can anyone explain why Hansen shared the SCB prize? $$?Oct 14, 2013

 

?

Wrong

  • Unreliable research: Trouble at the lab?http://t.co/hXsQYejcTR?The main problem is that scientists do not understand statistics $$?Oct 19, 2013
  • Also, they r incented to find positive results, when there may be none, & they are not neutral observers, sometimes they push an agenda $$?Oct 19, 2013
  • Wrong: Fed Official Says Big Banks Should Be Required to Hold Long-Term Debt?http://t.co/9KVgFf66NW?Job is 2 protect subs not holdcos $$?Oct 18, 2013
  • Wrong: Hey China, Stop Laughing at the US?http://t.co/t9dulVuJ6z?W/any fair rendering, China’s economic &political problems > those of US $$?Oct 18, 2013
  • Wrong: Al Gore: ?Carbon Bubble? Is Going to Burst ? Avoid Oil Stocks?http://t.co/ShdX90aLeD?The “carbon bubble” is between his ears $$?Oct 18, 2013
  • Difficult to say: Investors Seek Bargains in Battered Munis?http://t.co/LoBJgds82u?2 many major weak credits & 2 many weak holders $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • Tenuous: US Corporate Profit Growth Slows as Shutdown Risks Rise?http://t.co/EPZedodSTn?Link more tenuous as economy was slowing already $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • Bad HL: Default Doubters Repudiated by Republican Economists?http://t.co/GClDYBVnLF?Comments of GOP economists r more nuanced than that $$?Oct 14, 2013
  • Wrong: Don’t Shoot the Messaging?http://t.co/prnAskf4ZB?Fed puts 2much effort into fwd guidance, should not b surprised @ mkt reactions $$?Oct 12, 2013

 

Replies, Retweets & Comments

  • @marcmakingsense A competitive market in data. Let the best data win. Democracy ain’t what it used 2b w/gerrymandering, thus current fight?Oct 16, 2013
  • @JPDesloges not my article, but the Economist’s. Do what you like.?Oct 16, 2013
  • @pkedrosky I wouldn’t have said it that way, but you are correct.?Oct 15, 2013
  • Commented on StockTwits: Good point. The successor will have 2go2 great pains to prove he will keep the old hands …?http://t.co/ky8jWaL9n3?Oct 14, 2013
  • RT @EpicureanDeal: Want cleaner banking? Pay litigation, settlement, and penalty costs directly out of the employee bonus pool. $JPM?Oct 13, 2013

 

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