Are these not some of the most loved products and companies in the country?

March 1, 2013, 9:57 a.m. EST

Warren Buffett's top dividend stocks (click here)

Despite Berkshire BRK.A +0.10%   BRK.B -0.11%  achieving a $24.1 billion net gain for shareholders and the conglomerate’s book-value rising 14.4% in 2012, he deemed it a “subpar” performance.

“For the ninth time in 48 years, (click here) Berkshire’s percentage increase in book value was less than the S&P’s percentage gain (a calculation that includes dividends as well as price appreciation),” wrote Buffett, who for decades has measured Berkshire’s overall performance in terms of book value....

...Buffett told Berkshire shareholders that paying them a dividend from the company’s large cash stockpile would be detrimental to the value of their shares over the long term.

“Dividends impose a specific cash-out policy upon all shareholders,” he said. Many shareholders, he added, would prefer to sell a portion of their stock and create their own income stream, or have a lengthy time horizon and therefore “should prefer no payment at all.”

Dividends also are tax inefficient, Buffett said. All of the cash from dividends is taxed every year, he pointed out, whereas shareholders are taxed only when they sell....

Buffet recently has sold some of his smaller stock holdings. He stated the returns were flat lining. One was Walmart.

In my opinion, it is the return of the USA local economies. Americans learned their lesson in 2008 and the development of local economies while trusting people that live in the community with quality control has the best return in life.

In return, Buffet reduced three stocks. (click here) The biggest changer on the short side was Mondelez.

Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT : 71.79, 0.97) has a market capitalization of $230.02 billion. The company employs 2,200,000 people, generates revenue of $446.950 billion and has a net income of $16.454 billion. The firm's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $34.688 billion. The EBITDA margin is 7.76 percent (the operating margin is 5.94 percent and the net profit margin 3.68 percent).

Financial Analysis: The total debt represents 27.62 percent of the company's assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 74.92 percent. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 22.55 percent was realized. Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $4.86. Last fiscal year, the company paid $1.46 in the form of dividends to shareholders....

A little surprised about Archer Daniels Midland Company. I see ADM as a moral choice. They are very involved in alternatives to the traditional chemical industry. They have significant manufacturing plants for ethanol in the USA. It is involved in American agriculture in a big way.

...Since joining ADM, (Patricia A.) Woertz (click here) has led the company to record financial results while growing its sourcing, transportation and processing networks through select acquisitions, strategic capital investments, and a number of global joint ventures and partnerships.  She has also worked with ADM’s board and senior leadership to strengthen the Company’s strategic focus and planning, and to promote safety, continuous learning and sustainability initiatives companywide....

He may not like her global focus. Bringing a lot of international flavor to a company does dilute economics in the USA. She has lead any company she worked for into international relationships, including China. That is not necessarily Buffet's enthusiasm. But, Buffet likes Berkshire Hathaway to out perform other companies with a healthy margin. 

...She serves on the board of directors of The Procter & Gamble Company and the US-China Business Council.  She is a member of the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum and The Business Council. In 2010, she was appointed to the President’s Export Council by President Obama....

He is right. She is everywhere. Holding too many companies reliant on each other's performance is not good. It is like holding shares in one company rather than a diversification to 'hedge' markets. Yep.

The surface area of the sink hole is not necessarily it's depth.

There are companies that can mitigate these damages. There payments are suppose to be covered by homeowner's insurance. But, there is a blog stating the insurance companies are becoming more and more resistant to paying the claims. With an increase in the occurrence of the sink holes that will create reluctance to cover the damages by insurance companies.

...Jeff Bush was in his bedroom when a sinkhole opened up and trapped him underneath his home at 11 p.m. Thursday.

While the sinkhole was initially estimated to be 15 feet deep on Thursday night, the chasm has continued to grow. Officials now estimate it measures 30 feet across and is up to 100 feet deep. (click here)

The Hillsborough County Fire Rescue has set up a relief fund for all families affected by the growing sink hole....

The actual depth of the sink hole is filled in by falling debris. So, while the surface appears to be about 30 feet deep, the actual depth of 'instability' can be far more.

Remco is an example of a remediation company. (click here)

Our clients have depended on us for quality geotechnical services for over 25 years. We provide a variety of geotechnical services including ground improvement, rock slide stabilization, excavation shoring, sinkhole remediation, encapsulation grout of hazardous materials, and controlling of underground liquid migration. We are committed to (1) the safety and well-being of our employees and our clients, (2) achieving technical excellence in the design and installation of our projects, and (3) providing our clients with service that exceeds their expectations.

Another name for a sink hole is 'bridging.' Bridging happens when a granular material becomes tightly packed and provides a solid surface. The area below the 'bridge' is actually unstable and filled with air space or shifting material. The collapse is what is called a sink hole. 

One of the most dangerous bridging materials has been agricultural grain in a silo. The grain would be removed from the bottom to feed cattle or milking cows and the grain would bridge at the top. Farmers have been known to die when they entered the silo to break up the bridge.

Today, many silos are replaced with more sophisticated mechanized systems and this doesn't occur anymore. But, the basic dynamics are the same. Something occurs underneath the granular material and it eventually gives way to the void.

Government needs to pay attention to what is occurring here and stand with the consumer when they have paid for homeowner's insurance. There also needs to be assessment of the areas in Florida more frequently when drought occurs. That is true for any of the soils that can dissolve into sandy and dangerous outcomes. The USGS would have an inventory of such soils and where they are found in the USA.

Sinkhole Damage Blog (click here)

We have noticed a growing trend in the past year or so that many insurance companies are hiring different lawmfirms left and right to handle their sinkhole work. It used to be that when an insurance company found a law firm they liked and thought did good legal work they would stick with them for years and trust their advice, and listen to their advice. I dont know why lately it seems that many insurance companies will hire multiple law firms for one case, sometimes changing law firms three times during one case or hiring two law firms to team up against us on the same case. I can only speculate because I do not have any insight as to why this is happening. Strictly my guess is some of these insurance companies want a law firm that will be overly agressive on their behalf and a law firm that will agree with their recommendations. If that is the case, things are completely backwards now. It is supposed to be that the client listens to its lawyers advice but it seems the trend now is the lawyer is listening to its clients advice and if the lawyer doesnt agree with the insurance companies approach, they get fired and the insurance company finds a lawyer who will go along. - See more at: http://sinkholedamageblog.com/#sthash.5l0m43KI.dpuf

One other aspect is when water is diverted for agricultural use leaving such soils void of stability. Before there is water diversion for agriculture every means possible should be instituted to understand exactly where the water is actually being diverted from. This is not an outcome that should be allowed in any water diversion program.

This is also are reason for planting agricultural crops with deep roots. These crops are not annuals, they are perennials. These perennials add stability to soil and fight drought and erosion. There are lots of reasons to abandon old farming practices, including, annual seeding.

I think it was battered woman's syndrome. There was far too much rage.

I don't doubt she lied, but, a woman who believes she is facing death herself will lie. There is no reason not to.

It brings me to my favorite pet peeve regarding some relationships. There is this 'attitude' that is accepted all too often where relationships are permitted to be sadomasochistic. S&M relationships do not have to include violent behavior, but, it can. One of the aspects of S&M relationships is humiliation. Unless that tee-shirt is a joke at a party of some kind or another; that is humiliating. I would never wear a tee-shirt stating I belonged to someone else regardless of whom that was.

I don't know what the sexual activity was like between her and her lover(s), but, if this is an indication of where she fell into relationships, I am not surprised there was rage within her that found it's way to the surface. I don't approve of S&M relationships. There are all kinds relationships that actually uphold the idea of subservience to maintain the relationship. That is simply wrong. It victimizes women. I don't care how anyone wants to uphold the 'concept.' The idea a man has complete control over a woman, her behavior and even her thoughts is abuse. It just absolutely is.

I have no doubt Ms. Arias has a borderline personality disorder. But, to realize how it may have been developed is something a psychiatrist has to address. If there was oppressive demands on her in the relationship; that will mitigate the trial's outcome. It should at any rate.

S&M is a bedroom antic. It can be fun. You know? A Dominixtrix is a venture into Halloween outfits. Basically. Dressing up as a Maid and all the cuteness that occurs in sexual behavior is healthy and fun, but, it is just that, FUN. It goes on. Meeting a husband at the door wrapped in saran wrap and all that nonsense is simply adding spice to life. But, to define a relationship with that as a basis of understanding is not at all healthy. I do not appreciate any man or woman who seeks to own another person in a relationship. There is mutual respect or there is nothing.

I have my doubts about her and her life and what brought her to this point. Unless there was some kind financial gain, an insurance policy or someone waiting in the wings for her to be free of her relationship there is enough here to cast doubt about her emotional stability.

As far as I am concerned, anytime a dysfunctional relationship results in abuse, beating or murder there is a reason for pause about the ultimate sentence. Automatically. There is that shadow of guilt by the other party that drives a person to act in ways that is outside their normal purview.

There are many women in prison for The Burning Bed. When is that going to be defined as self-defense and not murder? I have never heard of a Burning Bed manifesting in relationships where the woman was endeared in a loving way to her spouse. It is always a nightmare. I heard many stories I could write that would reveal living nightmares women live, but, in court it rarely holds up. Why? That question should be a topic of a documentary.

When a relationship is over, it is over. To have a relationship linger for purposes of financial need is dangerous. It brings me to state, every man and woman needs a way of supporting themselves outside a relationship. Education is important from the high school diploma through PhD. There is no one person that should be in relationships without a way out. Every relationship should be an open door, married or not. Dependency is for children and not adults.

The Lies:

Arias gave three conflicting stories to police, (click here) losing any perceived credibility she may have had. The prosecution made a point to attack Arias’ credibility by showing extensive portions of her interrogation videos, spanning several days during the testimony of the investigating officer Detective Esteban Flores.

-   Version 1: She said she wasn’t even there.

-   Version 2: She said she was at the apartment with Alexander but two masked robbers (at first two males, then later in the same interview it became one male and one female) came into the apartment, murdered Alexander, and let Arias go. She told Officer Flores she did not tell anyone because she feared for the safety of her family. Arias loosely compared it to the show The Sopranos.

-   Version 3: She acted in self-defense against an abusive ex-boyfriend that became   enraged when she dropped his camera and she had to protect herself by stabbing him 27 times, slitting his throat, and shooting him in the head.

CNN 1st Time on TV, Jessica Yellin Hologram - Star Wars

CNN has their own holodeck and Jessica was the first engagement of the technology.

It appears the USA House is going through a 12 step program to reduce the strain on military transports,

posted Wed 27 February 2013 02:30 PM
House Speaker John Boehner (click title to entry - thank you) today House members that they may no longer use military aircraft for domestic or international trips because of forced spending cuts imposed by the looming sequester, set to go into effect Friday. 
The move effectively puts on hold so-called “CODELS” or congressional delegation travel, often overseas, which regularly involves military aircraft and has to be approved by the Speaker.

Jessica Yellin also started the gotcha question about skeet shooting. So, the entire scope of questions at times seems more trivial pursuit than actual journalism, but, there is that 'odd' messaging in the viewership of CNN and FOX. So, in an off-handed way the Yellin questions are important to those seeking tabloid journalism in place of facts and information. Whether that has merit in White House Press discourse is the question. Does the National Enquirer have White House press credentials?

But, the House Speaker uses commercial airlines to travel and now is demanding the House members to stop seeking free travel on military transports.

Sink Hole prone counties need to rethink their strategy for property values and safety.

A massive rescue (click here) shifted to a recovery effort Friday after a giant hole swallows up the bed where a 36-year-old man slept.

Hillsborough ranks third in the list of the top 10 sinkhole-prone counties in Florida. (click here)

People shouldn't be living there anymore. Seriously. Now, human death because of it. The rate of sink holes has increased by 300% in four years. Between drought and storms the land is becoming more unstable. Hillsborough County is considered to be a Moderate Drought area. It is near Tampa. USGS needs to perform some testing. It has nothing to do with politics. This is about land and it's stability in a changing climate. Water can be as much a part of the integrity of Florida soils as the type of stone.

Hillsorough County Among Top 10 Sinkhole-Prone Florida Counties (click here)

...The company reports that sinkholes have been on the rise in Florida the last few years. Sinkhole property insurance claims increased from 2,360 in 2006 to 6,694 in 2010.

Pasco County tops the list, followed by Hernando County and then Hillsborough....