What transforms a regular object into a collectible? At our live show earlier this month, we went on a journey through collectibles history. And we had a goal: to turn our Micro-Face comic book into the most collectible item of all time. | Bid on our collectible Micro-Face comic book here!

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This episode, Micro-Face: The Musical. A full concert recording of a one-of-a-kind Planet Money superhero musical, taped during our recent live show at the Roulette Theater in Brooklyn, New York.

Here's more from our project We Buy A Superhero.

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*Note: This episode originally ran in 2020*

'Tis the season for Americans to head out in droves and bring home a freshly-cut Christmas tree. But decorative evergreens don't just magically show up on corner lots, waiting to find a home in your living room. There are a bunch of fascinating steps that determine exactly how many Christmas trees get sold, and how expensive they are.

Today on the show, we visit the world's largest auction of Christmas trees — and then see how much green New Yorkers are willing to throw down for some greenery. It's a story where snow-dusted Yuletide dreams meet the hard reality of supply and demand. We've got market theory, a thousand dollars in cash, and a "decent sized truck"... anything could happen.

This episode was produced by James Sneed. It was edited by Bryant Urstadt. It was engineered by Gilly Moon. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer.

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People often say that money can't buy you happiness. Sometimes, if you ask them to tell you more about it, they'll mention a famous 2010 study by Nobel Prize winners Daniel Kahneman and Angus Deaton. That study found that higher household income correlates with greater emotional well-being, but only up to around $75,000 a year. After that, more money didn't seem to matter.

This was a famous study by two famous academics. The result stood for over a decade. And it feels good, right? Maybe the rich aren't so much happier than anyone else. But researchers have recently done a complete 180 on this idea. In 2021, psychologist Matt Killingsworth found nearly the opposite: That more money does correlate with more happiness. And that the relationship continues well beyond $75,000 per year.

Today on the show: Does more money mean fewer problems? Two researchers with totally different takes come together to hammer out a better understanding of the relationship between money and happiness.

This episode was hosted by Sally Helm and Nick Fountain. It was produced by Sean Saldana, Sam Yellowhorse Kesler, and Emma Peaslee. It was edited by Meg Cramer and fact-checked by Sierra Juarez. Engineering by Cena Loffredo. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer.

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Former Best Buy CEO Hubert Joly: Empowering Workers to Create ‘Magic’

The question of who is going to buy your business can be just as important as the cash for the sale itself.

Dan Moore, cofounder of Vaporware, discusses the benefits and drawbacks of building or buying software solutions, including evaluation criteria, how to inspect an API, and cost considerations for purchasing software from external vendors.

In response to an explosion of “toxic mold” claims in 2000-2001, the insurance industry acted in unprecedented unison to universally get rid of all claims related in any way to mold. They didn’t stop at just excluding claims from mold; they threw bacteria into the exclusion as well.

ProjectorCentral's Buyer's Guide to 4K UST Laser Projectors will help you compare specs and features and find the living room projection TV that's right for you.

Bubble cushioning, inflatable air pillows and bubble mailers supplied by Sealed Air all include recycled content.

Is Google Stock a Buy or Sell?

Hello, this is Itai Levitan at ForexLive.com. Today, I’m analyzing whether Google stock (Alphabet Inc.) is a buy or sell, and my take may surprise you. Unlike many who are looking to buy now, I’m approaching this with a lot more patience. In this update, I’ll walk you through my expert strategy based on precise technical analysis, which targets an entry at specific lower prices. Let’s dive in.

The Patient Approach: Wait for the Right Moment

Imagine you’re buying real estate: you wouldn’t rush to buy if prices were high; instead, you’d wait for a 20-25% correction before diving in. That’s precisely the mindset I’m applying to Google stock. While the market currently has Alphabet trading around $181 in the pre-market, my plan focuses on buying during a deeper dip if specific conditions align.

For those currently holding Alphabet shares, I’d be cautious. If the price reaches between $186 and $188.5, I would consider diluting my position or even selling a significant portion. The reward-to-risk ratio in this range may not justify holding. But my main focus here is not on where to sell but on where to buy.

Anchored View of Key Earnings Levels

I’ve anchored my technical analysis to three key earnings dates: October 24, 2022, January 30, 2023, and April 24, 2023. Each of these dates marked points where Google stock consolidated before a strong upward move. These are essential reference points because they show where major buyers entered, likely including institutions and insiders who had a solid long-term outlook. The anchored VWAPs from these dates provide an orientation for where support may lie, but they are not definitive buy triggers. I’m clearing these lines from the chart to avoid confusion.

The Dip Buying Plan

I’ve set up a structured dip-buying plan with four pre-prepared limit orders at specific technical levels. Here’s the breakdown:

1. First Buy Order at $158.53 – Initial X amount of shares purchased.
2. Second Buy Order at $153.06 – Doubling the initial share quantity (2X).
3. Third Buy Order at $140.79 – Tripling the initial amount (3X).
4. Fourth Buy Order at $137.42 – Quintuple the original quantity (5X).

By following a Fibonacci-inspired scaling, each buy increases in size, creating a weighted average entry price of $143.10 if all orders are filled. This disciplined approach allows for capturing a better entry price while managing risk effectively.

Risk Management: Stop Loss and Profit Target

Once the final buy order at $137.42 is filled, I’ll set a 5% stop loss at $135.95. The goal is not just to protect capital but to control potential downside if the market moves against me.

On the profit side, my target is a 35% increase from the average entry price, aiming for $193.10 per share. This setup offers a 7:1 reward-to-risk ratio—an attractive profile for a patient, disciplined trader. If only some of the buy orders are filled, the average entry price will be slightly higher, but this can still yield a strong return.

Flexibility with Profit Taking

Although my final target is $193, flexibility is essential. For instance, if three of the four buy orders are filled and the price begins to rise, I may opt to take partial profits along the way, mitigating risk and locking in gains. This adaptability allows for adjustments based on market conditions and evolving technical signals.

Why Patience Pays Off

This isn’t about reacting to the latest market move or speculation. It’s about waiting for the right setup and not feeling pressured to jump in too early. I’m not concerned with immediate market trends, potential new all-time highs, or the impact of macro events like the "Trump effect" or other news. This plan is grounded in sound technical analysis, targeting precise entry points and disciplined risk management.

Key Takeaway: If Google stock dips to my target prices, I’m ready to buy. However, if the price doesn’t reach these levels, I may miss out—but that’s part of my strategy. I’d rather miss an opportunity than enter at the wrong price, compromising the risk-reward balance.

Closing Thoughts

Is Google stock a buy or sell? For me, it’s a buy, but only if it meets my conditions. I know targeting an entry at $143.10 may seem extreme, but often, patience and discipline deliver the best results. This method allows for a 5% risk with a potential 35% gain, translating into a high reward-to-risk ratio. Remember to set your orders in advance; you don’t want to chase the market when it hits these levels, as high-frequency algorithms can drive the price up quickly, making it difficult to achieve your planned entry.

Buy or sell Google stock at your own risk. Visit ForexLive.com for more expert insights, and thank you for following along.

Hello, this is Itai Levitan at ForexLive.com. Today, I’m diving into Natural Gas Futures (NG), which are trading around 2.92 as of yesterday's close. This analysis will be relevant to those of you looking at CFDs, futures themselves, or stocks related to natural gas. Here’s a detailed view of my approach:

Natural Gas Futures Overview

Currently, we’re seeing Natural Gas Futures in a significant channel on the weekly time frame. There’s potential for a bullish breakout from a large bull flag formation, highlighted by the recent piercing through the upper edge of this channel. However, we’re still in uncertain territory—it’s possible the price may reverse back down, retesting the flag before making any decisive move.

Dip Buying Extreme Targeting

I’m looking closely at the potential for an extreme dip buying opportunity in natural gas. When I say “extreme dip buying,” I’m talking about setting up a longer-term, strategic plan that goes beyond typical levels. Instead of just waiting for an undefined "deep drop," I'm identifying specific price levels that could offer remarkable buying opportunities if the market hits them.

Long-Term Support Levels to Watch

Here’s what I'm focusing on for a deeper dip buy:

1. 1.612 (Low of 2016) – This level may present an attractive medium-term long position, suitable for swing trades.
2. 1.44 (Low of 2020) – Similar to 1.612, this level could offer a profitable swing opportunity, though not necessarily for a prolonged hold.

While these are appealing points for shorter-term trades, I recommend partial profit-taking here to mitigate risk if the price reverses sharply.

Generational Low Opportunity at 1.25

For the patient, long-term investors, my primary area of interest lies around 1.25—the historic low from 1995, nearly 30 years ago. This level represents a “generational low,” providing a triple layer of support:

• The lower bound of the channel.
• The major, longer-term channel trendline.
• The historic 1.25 support level from 1995.

If natural gas reaches this area, it could be a highly attractive long-term buy. I suggest setting several buy orders around 1.25 to capture a position here and holding for substantial potential upside. Patience will be key—having some trading capital reserved for this area could be a game-changing strategy.

The Ultimate Extreme at 1.04

If something drastic occurs and the price reaches 1.04, the all-time low from the 1990s, it would represent a multi-generational low. This level would likely attract significant buying interest from funds, institutions, and individual investors. Similar to the parity level we saw with EUR/USD, this psychological round number could spur major accumulation and serve as an unparalleled buying opportunity.

Summary and Final Thoughts on Natural Gas and Exteme Dip Buying

In summary:

• Stay Patient: This strategy involves waiting for rare, extreme dip-buying levels.
• Allocate Capital Strategically: Save some ammunition for these lower levels, where the upside potential is considerable.
• Monitor Support Levels Closely: Levels like 1.25 and 1.04 represent deeply discounted entry points that could yield long-term gains.

Follow ForexLive.com for additional insights for investors and traders, and let’s keep an eye on these setups. Extreme opportunities don’t come often, so be prepared and thank me later!

Japan's Seven & i Holdings is considering a management buyout to take itself private with funding from banks, Itochu Corp. and the founding Ito family in a transaction that could be worth US$58 billion

"People with knowledge of the matter" cited in the reports via Nikkei and Bloomberg.

The Japanese owner of 7-Eleven is considering going private by buying back its own shares in a bid to avoid a takeover attempt by Canadian rival Alimentation Couche-Tard, the news report says.

Communist China solar CEO admits to buying US politicians and lobbyists. Longi’s chairman, Zhong Baoshen: “We paid billions in tuition fees to learn how to navigate U.S. politics.”https://t.co/KoZ96WQJUF pic.twitter.com/4ao1bXkVQI — Steve Milloy (@JunkScience) November 5, 2024 https://www.wsj.com/world/china/why-chinas-solar-boom-is-a-bust-for-its-leading-players-a869ccab

JetBlue Airways' bid to take over Miramar-based Spirit Airlines has drawn more opposition as California, Maryland, New Jersey and North Carolina joined a U.S. Justice Department lawsuit to stop the transaction.

Yes, we're not yet two full weeks into November, and also yes, the Black Friday deals and promotions have already begun to appear (like discounts on the Galaxy S24 FE and iPhone 16 bargaiins, as well as a massive discount on TCL's 98-inch behemoth of aTV). We suspect things will ramp up this week and as we further approach the real Black Friday—November

Southwest Airlines is offering buyouts and extended leaves of absence to airport workers to avoid what it calls “overstaffing in certain locations,” which it blames on a shortage of new planes from Boeing.

The move on Monday comes as a hedge fund presses Southwest to increase profits and boost the stock price, which has fallen sharply since early 2021.

A Southwest spokesperson said the offers of “voluntary separation” are limited to 18 airports. The company declined to identify the airports or say how many jobs it hopes to eliminate.

All the targeted jobs are in ground operations, including customer service agents, baggage handlers and cargo workers. Pilots and flight attendants are not included in the buyout offer, the spokesperson said.

Southwest officials have said that the Dallas-based airline plans to end this year with 2,000 fewer workers than it started. That is after Southwest grew from 66,600 to nearly 75,000 employees last year. The figures count part-timers as one-half.

“Southwest has reduced overall capacity to meet demand with a constrained fleet due to aircraft delivery delays,” the company said in a statement. “Offering voluntary separation and extended time off to contract and noncontract employees, along with continued slowed hiring, will help us avert overstaffing in certain locations.”

Southwest had originally expected about 85 new Boeing 737 jets this year but has cut that number to 20 because of production problems at Boeing that began after a panel blew out of the side of an Alaska Airlines 737 Max during a flight in January.

The Southwest fleet consists solely of Boeing 737s, including the Max and older versions of the plane.

Starting in June, hedge fund Elliott Investment Management built an 11% stake in Southwest and pressed the airline to improve its financial performance. The two sides reached a truce last month to avoid a proxy fight, but Elliott won several seats on the Southwest board, which it can use to keep pressure on CEO Robert Jordan and other executives.

Even before Elliott, Southwest limited hiring and stopped flying to several airports to save money. It also announced plans to target premium travelers.

Southwest shares rose 3% Monday and are up 13% this year. That is far behind the 117% jump at Delta Air Lines and the 58% gain at United Airlines.

—David Koenig, AP Airlines Writer

Stylish and unique laptop sleeves and bags to add a personal touch to your tech.

The post 30 Best Laptop Sleeves and Bags to Buy (2024) appeared first on Hongkiat.

Do You Want to Buy a Distributor? Because Exertis Is Possibly for Sale!  rAVe [PUBS]

3 Technology Stocks to Buy Hand Over Fist in November  The Motley Fool

Altair is known for its computational science and AI for industrial simulation and data analytics.

Read more: Siemens to buy Altair for $10bn to boost industrial software

Learn the risks and rewards of planning for a management buyout to exit your contracting business

Beacon announced the acquisition of Extreme Metal Fabricators and Integrity Metals, expanding its metal roofing offerings in Florida and enhancing service for contractors along the state's Atlantic coast.  

Beacon completed the acquisition of Chicago Metal Supply, a family-owned firm specializing in customized architectural sheet metal and intricate metalworks to enhance its commercial and residential offerings.

Aligned Exteriors Group has partnered with Trinity Exteriors, adding the Minneapolis-based company to its Midwest brand portfolio. Trinity's owner, Ted Swanson, will continue in his current role.

[New Zimbabwe] THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) says local companies recently struggled to snap up US$25 million floated on the market in a development indicating limited ZWG availability in the market.

The Office of Management and Budget told agencies in a new memo to proactively manage AI risks, promote a competitive market and manage business processes.

The post OMB’s new memo details new requirements for buying AI technology first appeared on Federal News Network.

GSA does not have authority to craft FSS policy and contract terms consistent with the key characteristics of leveraging collective buying power.

The post What does the FAS mean by ‘leverage the collective buying power of the federal government?’ first appeared on Federal News Network.

What does it take to buy an electric car now?

Amazon is buying MGM, the studio behind James Bond, for €6.9 billion

With so many great Macs to choose from, it can be difficult to decide. Worry not, because help is here. #apple #mac #macbookpro #applesilicon

OpenAI has acquired Chat.com, a domain name previously purchased for $15.5 million by HubSpot's co-founder Dharmesh Shah. Initially registered in 1996, the domain saw significant investment due to its prime fit with the rapidly growing AI chatbot sector, especially as tools like ChatGPT gain mainstream attention.

Many businesses don’t know what an MSP is, let alone why they should buy from one. But by understanding what motivates them to buy, you can start to build a steady stream of customers.

Source: What Motivates MSP Customers To Buy? [3 Important Things You Need To Know] - Technibble.com

Instead of celebrating a closing, some US home buyers lost everything.

Undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as kids, who have legal status as DACA recipients, can buy subsidized health plans through Obamacare starting Nov. 1. But 18 states are suing to stop it.

How to Buy Stocks (paperback)

Ted Leonsis, the owner of Washington's NBA, NHL, and WNBA teams, could be stepping up to the plate in the bidding for the Washington Nationals.

Cory Doctorow: "I will never again devote my energies to building up an audience on a platform whose management can sever my relationship to that audience at will." It's a good practice, and while I completely support it, I am part of several communities that could remove me without recourse. I do it because I value the people in the community, and feel that life is too short to wait for everyone to get it right.

Doctorow was writing about Bluesky, and once again, on Bluesky a discussion starts on what it would take for Bluesky to attract developers, and each time I am told that they have done enough, and I go away thinking that their pitch is a scam, and they're building value in a user base that they will sell. They certainly could do it, and for all we know the founders may have already sold some of their stock in the latest investment round which valued the company at $x billion. (I did a search to find the evaluation but it appears to have not been announced.)

I gave them a roadmap, again, of how to demonstrate that they're open, and finally concluded that the only way to really do it is to "provide a download that you can install on any popular operating system to get an instant blue sky network, running on its own without any help from anyone else. Then you can claim to be really open and until then there will be a lot of confusion." (And I was generous at that. More accurately, people with experience in tech will be certain this is yet another deal where the founders get rich, where the users are the product and have read too much into their promise of being open.)

I'm still on Bluesky but I expect them to be another Twitter, which btw had an open API too, and it's pretty good, but they never offered the option of people running their own twitters. That would have been good protection against a Musk buying them out and turning us into pawns in his plan for world domination. Do we really want to help someone else build one of those?

In early 2017 I observed that Twitter had just been used to route around journalism and elect a president. This value wasn't on their balance sheet as an asset. I felt its stock was vastly underpriced. Exactly as it turned out when Musk bought it. Everyone still thinks he paid too much, at this moment it could possibly gain him control of part of the US government's $6 trillion per year budget early next year, and if they start selling the assets of the government he could be in the best position to buy them at pennies on the dollar, or take a percentage of each saleAt this point it doesn’t matter what the NYT says. Either way they jumped the shark for the last time in this election.. He could probably start borrowing against it the day after the election is called for Trump.

In the title I ask if a Musk could buy Bluesky, it's possible they have a way to prevent that in the design of their corporation, that's why it's a question. But if the price were right maybe the founders would sell out even if they didn't have to.

marusin posted a photo:

via Instagram ift.tt/2jrcdi8

The Bhartia family and Goldman Sachs are joining forces for a significant deal. They are planning to acquire a large stake in HCCB, the bottling arm of Coca-Cola in India. Goldman Sachs will provide substantial financial backing for this venture. The deal involves a planned future listing of HCCB, allowing Goldman Sachs to exit strategically. This move mirrors PepsiCo's successful strategy with Varun Beverages.

Godrej Industries is set to acquire the food additives and emulsifier business of Savannah Surfactants Limited for Rs 76 crore. The deal will see Godrej Industries expand its product offerings to the Food & Beverages segment. Savannah Surfactants Ltd has a manufacturing capacity of 5,200 tonnes per annum of finished products.

I've been missing Miami's Cuban bakeries. My plans to visit have been put on hold indefinitely, so I'm looking for options to have a few items (cuban crackers, cuban bread and pastries) shipped overnight to my house a few states to the north. Does a service that does this exist? I'm willing to put some dollars toward paying for this, but would prefer something established as opposed to posting a Craigslist ad.

I know that Vicky Bakery ships guava pastries and croquetas, but I'm looking for a wider selection. Thanks everyone!

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit AILSA CHANG, HOST: The United Kingdom is banning Huawei, the Chinese telecom giant, from developing Britain's 5G network. The U.S. welcomes this decision. It's just the latest move in a global struggle between the U.S. and China over technology, business and political power. As NPR's Frank Langfitt reports, it's also a sign of how China's increasingly assertive diplomacy has backfired. FRANK LANGFITT, BYLINE: The British government will forbid companies here from buying Huawei equipment for 5G beginning next year and require the removal of all Huawei equipment by 2027. The government says the decision was triggered by U.S. sanctions on Huawei suppliers that could make the company's equipment easier for China to use for spying. Oliver Dowden is the U.K.'s digital secretary. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) OLIVER DOWDEN: The security and resilience of our telecoms networks is of paramount importance. We have never and will never compromise that

Presentan innovación que contribuye en el control del covid-19.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the coming throne speech will be a watershed moment for the nation — but a prominent New Democrat says he's taking an awful risk.

Many famous advertising campaigns were laid to rest over the years. Then suddenly they were brought back to life. The Coca-Cola "Hilltop" ad has been revived over and over and over again. Here's why.

A South Florida investor and local developer are teaming up to convert an extended-stay hotel in Denver into apartments. The hotel closed in tandem with the real estate last week.