DirtyDawg

Some people go to jail. Lots of others just get fined. And accounting scandals continue, just like that game wack-a-mole.

Instead of 'Who's on First?' you would get get; " Why did the chicken play first?"😁

I did a quick google search for you. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-ceo-iconix-brand-group-convicted-trial-accounting-fraud https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2022-180 https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2022-191 https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2021-127 https://www.clearyenforcementwatch.com/2021/09/two-recent-settlements-highlight-heightened-sec-focus-on-accounting-fraud-and-potential-benefits-of-cooperation/ https://fortune.com/2020/06/25/wirecard-auditing-is-broken-fintech-ey-ernst-and-young/ https://www.wealthprofessional.ca/news/industry-news/bdo-slapped-with-35m-penalty-for-audit-failures/325423 https://www.ft.com/content/2c1a79e6-8cb0-4895-9005-9515e24c8677

So I guess we should have all taken those Enron earnings as facts because Arthur Anderson signed off on them? Or Lehman Brothers just because Ernst & Young (EY) signed off? I'm sorry to be flippant, but if one of my equity analysts said to me; No worries boss, the earnings are OK because 'so and so' accounting firm signed off on them, that would be that analyst's last minute on the job. Yes there is a U.S. GAAP's but company managements can produce very different earnings numbers depending how aggressive they want to be interpreting GAAP.

👍 I was on the buy side managing pension and mutual funds for most of my investment career so me and my analysts had the pleasure of regularly interpreting company's 'opinions'.

When will I ever learn not to post before at my second cup of coffee in the morning! ☕ ☕ Or after my second Irish whiskey in the evenings! 🥃🥃 😁

Also, even 'facts' like earnings are subject to interpretation. My old accounting prof use to say cash flows are facts, net earnings are just an opinion. (yes, he ripped off somebody who said this earlier) 😉

Interesting. While I agree economies of scale are important but costs are only one side of the comparative advantage equation. The other is revenue. I might have EOS in making widgets and can produce them for $10 each vs. a less comparative producer whose cost to produce might be $12. Let's assume both me and my competitor have exactly the same capital structures so relative returns are not affected by financial leverage. If I can only sell my widgets at $15 vs. $20 for my competitor, my business strategy might not produce superior economic performance. Do you have any numbers that show Carnival's approach is superior? Profit/cash flow per square foot? Per passenger day? ROA? Another metric? I have never bothered to look into this question for cruise companies so any numbers would help. Thanks.

Morel of these stories...... Russians wanting to smuggle horse feed supplements into Canada - BEWARE! Our border patrol use hockey sticks for their full diagnostic searches! 🏒 🤯

Just one final question. Won't cruising at this time of the year interfere with you watching Da Bears playoff run? 😇

@chiguypaul, It' sounds like you have things covered. Have a great cruise.

What cruise lines do you sail on? On ours we see DA VINCI's, MONET's, and VAN GOGH's all the time at the art auctions. 🖼️ Of course they're Lenny DA VINCI, Chuck MONET, and my cousin, Vinnie VAN GOGH, but they are originals and pretty recognizable! 😁

Well, I said; And you said Of course my comment has everything to do with your post. Never pass up a great straight line! 😁

You never bother with an oil change? I guess you drive a fully electric car. Because if you don't .... 💥 No worries. I can get you a good price on a new engine. 😁

🤯 What? There's angst and chatter and non-sense on CC? Surely you jest!

How are rental car prices these days? I rented in the summer and WOW talk about sticker shock! Prices were double to triple what they were pre-Covid.

I agree, you should be fine but just in case does your car have winter tires? Does the oil need changing? You might need to do some prep on your car his week just in case.

YES, its those horny cruisers who took the ultimate symbol of hospitality and turned it into a symbol of ultimate hospitality! I bet the whole thing was thought up at one of those secret Diamond Plus gatherings. Now we all know what Royal's description of those Diamond lounges really mean; "From concierge access to complimentary continental breakfast (including pineapple) , and even complimentary cocktails at happy hour, our most loyal guests enjoy special perks in a space reserved just for them." 🤯 😁

Well there's a good reason not to book a cruise with MSC.

Dang it with; Who Shot JR? Did the fiancé make the ship?

Interesting. Have you tried using a VPN with a U.S IP address and/or a U.S. dollar credit card?

There are SO many jokes on this subject that include scooters and other motorized things but I can't post a single one. 😥

I agree, it can be frustrating but sometimes the rates used by Royal and NCL for their Canadian prices are not very good. We were looking a one Royal cruise recently and the implied exchange rate Royal was using looked like about 60 cents when the official rate was 73.5 cents. I was far cheaper to book in USD and then convert than to pay though Royal in Canadian dollars (for that cruise at least. I wasn't checking every other cruise's pricing). Other times the rate through Royal is much better than the official rate, so it's nice (and profitable) to have the option.

When we sailed with our kids the minimum dress code was the cruise line's dress code. So as far as Carnival is concerned there are no issues with golf shorts. But then our boys had to pass Mrs. Dawg's dress code which was long pants only on Elegant night (and shirts and shoes of course😉). At least until after dinner and after photos. Never a battle over this as they all knew who was paying for the cruise and, by then, they had figured out if their mom wanted them to do something, they'd better just do it. Anyone remember the line from one of the Star Trek series when the Borg said "Resistance is futile", guess where the writers got that line from? 🤔 😁

Not just the younger folks, I hear there are lots of upside-down pineapples on Holland America cruises. Those folks know how to party!🥳