I am sitting at my desk at home getting ready to leave for London for a month of Macroeconomics at the London School of Economics.  However, before I depart I thought that I should write my first Blogging Stocks post while still on American soil. 

I hope to provide a unique perspective on companies that target my friends and me. I am a 19-year-old economics and political science major at Amherst College -- not an equities analyst, nor a stock trader.  However, I do know what products and technologies I like and what my peers will respond to.

The first stocks on my radar screen are Nike and Apple -- a match of two of the most iconic brands for my generation, which are also in business together.  In late May, Apple and athletic wear maker Nike announced a collaboration on new products that include the Nike+iPod Sport Kit.  As a result of this unusual partnership, the iPod nano doubles as one's personal trainer.  No longer does one have to shell out hundreds of dollars for a trainer at the health club or a thousand-plus for a fancy treadmill.  Instead, the purchase of the $29 wireless system will allow Nike+ footwear to communicate with the iPod nano, relaying information on time, distance, calories burned and pace.

That was late May.  Not much noise since.  The companies are finally getting their acts together.  Yesterday, Apple announced that its new iTunes 6.0.5 provides compatibility with new Nike+ products and offers a new security fix.   Let's hope this now allows their renowned marketing departments to "just do it."