I'm not in the business of advertising Barron's, but have now mentioned the publication in two successive blogs. You could do worse than reading this (Jan. 18) and next Monday's (Jan. 25) editions. Each contains a part of the annual Barron's Roundtable meeting, where you can peruse the wit and wisdom of people like Bill Gross, Scott Black, Meryl Witmer, Felix Zulauf, Abby Joseph Cohen and others. Why is this important? Had you paid attention last year, you could have made a fair sum with their stock picks (however, you have to decide who are the winners and losers each year — the prognostications don't always work, but when they do…).
While you're reading that stuff, also consider that tech seems to be making a comeback. Pixel Qi (pronounced chee) says it is shipping a million new screens that require less energy (according to Popular Science, they can switch back and forth from color to black and white), and, aside from Pixel Qi, lots of folks bought new computers in the 4th quarter of 2009. Apple is rumored to be unveiling a new tablet, and anything Apple gets its hands on can be a game-changer. It's to be announced this month and may be available in March.
This is written on the day devoted to Martin Luther King, one of America's greatest orators; a brave man totally committed to right and justice. Being a civil rights leader in the 1960s and 1970s was courageous; being a black civil rights leader in that time period was incredibly courageous. It seems right and fitting that we are finally treating this as a real holiday with the markets closed completely (not just a shortened day).
