Elitist Snobbery, The Social Security Administration, the U.S. Postal Service, and Whole Foods

This afternoon I wasted about 45 minutes with two different customer service representatives from the U.S. Social Security Administration. 

All I inquired was to schedule an appointment for my parents with the local office.  I did NOT inquire any information about their personal account.  After waiting 15 minutes, the first representative kept insisting I was already collecting SS and couldn't make an appointment.  After he finally mentions the direct contact to the local office; called,  wait another 15 minutes, and it was talking to another elitest snob.   After going through another song and dance about "Are you sure they're not collecting?"  (I thought they weren't supposed to give out confidential information); his exact words were "Appointments are only allowed for first time claimers......I'm sorry (smirking) but only the account holder can make an appointment."

This is a nutshell is what's wrong with America.  When even the next of kin or direct family member cannot MAKE AN APPOINTMENT to see a representative for a retiree, it shows our government agencies are dysfunctional and should be scrapped.

For those who have jobs with the SSA, while you live in your ivory towers with your two or three hour lunches and medical benefits that none of us private sector laborers can ever purchase or much less afford; we get half hour lunches if we're lucky; and if it weren't for our labor, you spoiled government bureaucrats wouldn't have a job.

Oh, and don't get me started about the local Post Office branch.  U.S. Postal workers earn on average about $21 an hour in wages, plus the same medical benefits as an SSA employee.  And their snobbish attitude is unreal, "We need to see the nine-digit zip code on your parcel"  (Excuse me, nine digits?, you're lucky most people put the correct five-digit zip code).
 
One establishment I will no longer patronize is the Whole Foods Market on Charleston.  The seafood department in the mid to late afternoon on weekdays is run by a arrogant snobbish loser named Memo.  (What kind of parents name their son Memo?)   Apparently, my money wasn't good enough for him since his demeanor quickly changed from accomodating to the hot caucasian female he was cutting fish for; to, what makes you think you belong in my store, much less my seafood section.

First Day of Month was down, then 1 1/4% loss in IWM and 3/4% loss in QQQ Tue

YTD Winners have been getting killed the past two days.

AGQ the Silver double long ETF dropped over 20% or 62 points on Mon, and fell another 37.50 or 12.6% to close at 259.

Chinese Internets dropped today, BIDU down 7.67 to 139.80, SINA down 13.50 to 121.50.

Only positives were rare earth metals play in China, MCP up 5.98 to 77.50 , earnings report on May 10.

Afterhours, GMCR rose 9.83 to 76.02 on positive earnings numbers.

Dow, SPX, IWM at new 52 week highs

While the U.S. indexes marched higher, earnings reports from Nasdaq companies were sold off as an unexpectedly lower 1.8% increase in GDP Growth for the 1st Quarter was well below economists estimates.

In yesterday's earnings, software company CTXS rose 7.67 to 85.31 positive guidance.

On the bright news:

CRR rose 21.29 to 162.52 on explosive earnings in the energy sector.

PCLN touched another new high up 10.10 to 549.55.

PSA led the reits up 2.08 to 118.66.

On the negative side:

Despite an 88% increase in profits, BIDU dropped 3.72 to 147.39 after initially rising 5 to 156 in the opening 3 minutes.

Afterhours, Chemicals component EMN was up 7.57 to 110.50.

Retailer DECK was taken to the woodshed down 9.71 to 87.01.

U.S. avg rise 2/3%, AMZN up 7.9%

Afterhours Tue, AMZN initially spooked traders dropping to 165 but recovering rising throughout the day closing up 14.33 to 196.63.

REITs hitting new 52-week highs with PSA up .98% to 116.58.

FOMC rate announcement at 12:30pm EST followed by statement at 2:15pm EST was non news as the markets grinded slowly higher.

Silver via the double long, AGQ recovered rising 43.31 to 361.75.

U.S. avgs rise 1% nearing 52 week highs, but NFLX, TZOO, and SLV selloff

NFLX extended its declines from after-hours yesterday dropping another 10 points to 229.

AGQ had its first down day in a few weeks down 26.31 to 318.44

TZOO down 14.98 to 86.02. No specific news but maybe the high flyers for the year have pretty much had day ending.

Chemical company NEU reported last Thur up 23 points. After pulling back 4 yesterday, it rose 6.04 today 181.37.

Tomorrow at 2:15pm Eastern Time, another Federal Reserve announcement.

Chinese Internets lead the way but NFLX disappoints

Monday before the bell, SOHU rose 8.45 to 104.14 on excellent earnings and guidance.

TZOO continued its run from last Thur earnings jump rising another 6.18 to 100.40.

BIDU rose 3.31 to 151.96. Earnings on Wed after the bell.

AAPL rose 2.31 to 353.01.

NFLX reported after the bell on Mon, great earnings, poor guidance dropping 13.82 to 238.40.

U.S. Markets essentially flat.

A little from running on Tue but AAPL charges higher

As mentioned Tue after the bell, WYNN rose 9 pts or 6.2%.

During Wed, AAPL rose 5 pts to 342 after being up 7 as a little front running seemed to be in play. It was up 6 pts on Tue after hitting its recent low on April 15 of all days. 30 min after the Wed close the stock closed at 353 or up 11 points. In premarket Thur, the stock rose to 360 in the first hour. Opening the regular session at 355 the stock held at 353 before selling off in the final hour to close at 350.70 or 8 pts.

The real winners were TZOO up 19.53 (earnings) to 94.22 after two down days where it dropped 5 points. BIIB after a new Alzheimer's drug went through up 13.63 to 99.70.

Notable 52-week highs were NFLX up 7.79 to 252.22, PCLN up 12.60 to 543.95, and the rise of silver via AGQ up 20.40 to 340.96.

Markets are closed for Good Friday as Easter is on a late Apr 24.