BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[95 years later, The Titanic still commands attention and dollars]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/03/95-years-later-the-titanic-still-commands-attention-and-dollars/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/03/95-years-later-the-titanic-still-commands-attention-and-dollars/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/03/95-years-later-the-titanic-still-commands-attention-and-dollars/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In April 1912, the RMS Titanic, a luxury passenger liner billed as unsinkable, took its maiden voyage and was felled by an iceberg. Lifeboats were scarce, and more than 1,500 passengers perished in the icy seas of the North Atlantic. The tragic irony of the surrounding circumstances are fit for a movie ... but we'll get to that later.

A Christie's auction in New York City last week featured memorabilia from the ill-fated voyage, including a lengthy handwritten description of the ordeal, penned by a 16-year-old survivor. The account, which mentions witnessing the "most terrible shrieks and groans from the helpless and doomed" from her perch in a lifeboat, attracted $16,800. The auction featured 18 lots in total, including telegrams, letters, and deck logs. In all, the products fetched $193,140. An original list of the first-class passengers aboard the ship fetched $48,000, surpassing pre-sale estimates.

Sunday night, flipping through cable stations, I came across James Cameron's epic blockbuster tribute to the sunken ship, which was released by News Corp.'s (NYSE: NWS) 20th Century Fox and Viacom's (NYSE: VIA) Paramount Pictures almost 10 years ago. It remains the highest-grossing film of all time, with worldwide box office receipts of over $1.8 billion.

I'll admit, with mild sheepishness, that I was among the throng of Titanic devotees that took multiple trips to the theater (my count was five) to follow the story of Jack and Rose. While it's a rare moment that I pull out my DVD to spend more than 3 hours in anticipation of a teary finale, it's still a good movie, made great through the performances of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet before they were superstars.

Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.

95 years later, The Titanic still commands attention and dollars originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20th century fox20thCenturyFoxauctionschristy's auction houseChristy'sAuctionHousejames cameronJamesCameronkate winsletKateWinsletleonardo dicaprioLeonardoDicaprionwsparamount picturesParamountPicturestitanicviaTue, 03 Jul 2007 13:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Is Jennifer Aniston's latest endorsement deal a 'smart' choice?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/19/is-jennifer-anistons-latest-endorsement-deal-a-smart-choice/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/19/is-jennifer-anistons-latest-endorsement-deal-a-smart-choice/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/19/is-jennifer-anistons-latest-endorsement-deal-a-smart-choice/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Jennifer Aniston has three new movies in the pipeline, a new man, and a new ad campaign that has stirred up a bit of controversy. The former Friend is the newest spokeswoman for smartwater, bottled by Glaceau -- a new acquisition for Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO).

Ms. Aniston's latest gig has reportedly ruffled the proverbial feathers of some environmentalists who see bottled water as yet another trapping of consumerism junking up the nation's landfills. The organization Food and Water Watch is launching a "quit the bottle" campaign, championed by some restaurants who are starting to serve from the tap instead of the bottle. Group leader Victoria Kaplan noted that "consumers are waking up to the myth of bottled water, despite celebrity endorsement." According to the Watch's research, 86% of all used water bottles are simply discarded rather than recycled.

Some of Aniston's Hollywood peers are among the anti-bottle brigade; according to Radar Online, Green spokesman Leonardo DiCaprio has produced the short film Water Planet to help raise awareness of the issue, while Sarah Jessica Parker is working to improve tap water regulations.

Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.

Is Jennifer Aniston's latest endorsement deal a 'smart' choice? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 19 Jun 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coca-colaenvironmental concernsEnvironmentalConcernsGlaceaugreen movementGreenMovementJennifer AnistonJenniferAnistonKOLeonardo DiCaprioLeonardoDicaprioSmartwaterTue, 19 Jun 2007 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[What I hope Leonardo DiCaprio includes in his Enron movie]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/02/13/what-i-hope-leonardo-dicaprio-includes-in-his-enron-movie/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/02/13/what-i-hope-leonardo-dicaprio-includes-in-his-enron-movie/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/02/13/what-i-hope-leonardo-dicaprio-includes-in-his-enron-movie/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Leonardo DiCaprio is set to produce and star in a movie about the collapse of Enron based on Kurt Eichenwald's book "Conspiracy of Fools." I plan to see it.

That title resonates with me because I was one of the many fools who bought Enron's bull, hook line and sinker. I liked the company. It seemed brash, daring and ready to change the world. For a reporter, Enron was a great story.

I spoke with Enron traders while reporting on the natural gas markets. I even met Jeffrey Skilling once or twice. He was tall, good-looking and wore a suit that I couldn't have afforded in my wildest dreams. Enron's headquarters in Houston was sleek and modern. The trading floor was buzzing with activity, at least when I was shown it during the tours run by Enron's PR staff.

Only years later did I realize that it was all a lie and I haven't been the same. As Eichenwald's book points out, Enron was a mess behind its shiny shell. Things were not nearly as great as I thought.

Whenever I hear someone say that investors need to "believe" in a company, I cringe. Yeah, investing is an act of faith, but it's not blind faith. You need to look very, very carefully before you leap.

The lesson of Enron is one that everyone's mother taught them long ago: if something is too good to be true, it probably is. Unfortunately, people seem to keep forgetting this and history continues to repeat itself.

What I hope Leonardo DiCaprio includes in his Enron movie originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>enronfilmleonardo dicaprioLeonardoDicapriomovieswall street scandalsWallStreetScandalsTue, 13 Feb 2007 15:15:00 EST