Zuckered and Happy Memorial Day

I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day. A very special person sent me information on the history of the song Taps which is shown at the bottom. This week a new word was created, Zuckered which is not a very flattering word. The first paragraph is from Vanguard.






Vanguard



Be it ever so humble, the current housing market recovery may have a foundation. Although the numbers are still low by historical standards, reports on existing-home and new-home sales were both encouraging in a light week for economic news. There was also a bump in durable-goods orders, largely because of a rise in orders for transportation equipment. For the week ended May 25, the S&P 500 Index rose 1.7% to 1,318 (for a year-to-date total return—including price change plus dividends—of about 5.70%). The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose 4 basis points to 1.75% (for a year-to-date decrease of 14 basis points).





Zuckered



This week the word Zuckered was created, not a very good word. This week was the first full week of trading for Facebook. During the week this stock went from about $38 to about $31 and then recovered to about $32. So in the 6 days of trading the stock went from about $42 to about $32. So you can imagine that some people are not very happy. Three investors are so upset they filed a lawsuit against Morgan Stanley, Facebook, and Mark Zuckerberg.



Mark Zuckerberg is the CEO of Facebook. So the word comes from first part of the last name. It comes from investors who bought the hype and at the end realized that reality was far from the hype especially when some analysts put the value of the stock between $13 and $22.



So what is the thing to learn from this word? Buy the facts and sell the hype.





History of the Song Taps



We in the United States have all heard the haunting song, 'Taps...' It's the song that gives us the lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes.



Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Elli was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.



During the night, Captain Elli heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment..



When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead. The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.



The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted.



The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician.



The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes

he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted.



The haunting melody, we now know as 'Taps'used at military funerals was born. The words are:



Day is done. Gone the sun.

From the lakes From the hills.

From the sky. All is well. Safely rest.

God is nigh.



Fading light. Dims the sight.

And a star. Gems the sky.

Gleaming bright. From afar.

Drawing nigh. Falls the night.



Thanks and praise. For our days.

Neath the sun. Neath the stars.

Neath the sky

As we go. This we know.

God is nigh