this excellent review by J.T. of a spookily fascinating book by max gunther is perfect for HALLOWEEEEN..... enjoy ! i recently was given a book on loan after a discussion about rational vs. irrational. I certainly was in for a "treet",the title is "Wall Street and Witchcraft" by Max Gunther written in 1971. this author set out to better understand those of whom speculate and have unusual success. he started by giving background of witchcraft/esp/telepathy/ghosts by mentioning the Dutch and their uses of such during he Tulip Mania. Cornelius Vanderbilt a Dutchman himself used ghosts for his earlier success. Then he moved on to the famous Livermore of which he suprisingly characterized as one whom had somewhat clairovoyant powers and ironically had roots and upbringing in Mass. He tried to explain his methods through book of which we've read in which "secondary rallies, and pivot points" were explained but his "restiveness and uneasyness" and his uncanny ability to pick winners after the "feeling I get from watching stock go up and down" was more in the irrational category. and no rational man would've shorted Union Pacific at that time? Later Mr. Livermore in his elder yrs. just couldn't "feel" his way to success by saved his Swiss banker friend Hans by letting him know that trouble or something not right was ahead, this of course was month prior to Great Crash in late 20's. Mr. Gunther sets up the book by categorizing these "irrationals" into two main groups and then saving the third for those that exhibit some of both of the first two. Categories as follows: 1. Feelers (hunches) - through the use of telepathy and esp they find their winning ways 2. Formulators (foretellers) - they all exhibit recipes or rituals, all seem to have a "codified set of procedures" 3. Unclassifiables (witches) - these tended to Gunther to be and do those things that fall into both the first two categories. He then starts the book by visiting with all of the people that he can find that fit into these categories and have helped him to write this book. He starts out in Delmonico's (The Coachman another hangout for irrationals) drinking a Chevas Regal with a gentleman T. O. Tulley of whom has never seemed to have a losing trade per his broker. He falls into the Feeler category w/ Livermore and another lady named Mary Talmadge of whom was Scientifically studied by Professors Mihalsasky and Dean at Newark College. along with a nice statistical (random number generaing) study that people had to guess. Most of these feelers seem to possess or know through feelings and other methods but what was striking and pointed out by Gunther was that all interviewed said that they practice this ESP or Telepathy ie. sitting on subway and trying to make people scratch nose. Other studies on ESP from Prof. Joseph Banks Rhine of Duke University was mentioned for those wanting to be amused or inquisitive. Another important Feeler hangout in NYC is on the eastside. Evidently Table Eight at Maria's Cin Cin Restaurant is and has given insightful market predictions to those that dine at this table. The Formulators were a group that used the well known methods of Astrology, Tarrot Cards. A one Lt. Commander David Williams was the known astrologer that had a fabulous ability to make market and individual predictions using the stars and planets. I certainly didn't know or think that companies have Natal Charts that come from their birth or IPO date. This obviously couldn't be as precise as a human because we have ability to know exact second and time as Companies only have day known. One other formulator was a Johhan Brenner a Swiss man that once wanted to be a mathmatician but couldn't afford to finish college so became a bank teller and devoted his life inside NYC libraries trying to find source codes to "Magic Squares". and he not only believed in those Magic Squares he also sat and solved the famous Hypermagic Square of the 8th order. This not only fits the usual magic square guidelines but if you square ea. number then that level of numbers can form a seperate magic square. here it is: 5 31 35 60 57 34 8 30 19 9 53 46 47 56 18 12 16 22 42 39 52 61 27 1 63 37 25 24 3 14 44 50 26 4 64 49 38 43 13 23 41 51 15 2 21 28 62 40 54 48 20 11 10 17 55 45 36 58 6 29 32 7 33 59 these so-called Numerologists call this double-interlocked orderliness! When asked how he used his self-found hypermagic square he replied that he takes the 64 numbers and has a deck of Tarrot cards of which he takes out the Cup cards so that he has 64 Tarrot Cards only hen uses these to swing key on a string and asks this concoction questions pertaining to stocks and market in general. Wow and once again according to broker it works for Mr. Brenner! The nonclassifiables were the Witches of which are a secret society and tough nutt to crack according to Gunther in his search. The operate in Covens and have ritualistic meetings that involve kissing, flagellation and the such. Talk about Sexulation as mentioned in Educ. of Spec. by Chair. These witches get together male and female (males called Warlocks) and strip naked get in circle and have orgy and speak incantations to come away with picks in stocks they purchase or market movements. Gunther views this ceremony but of course can't watch with naked eye, he is asked to sit backwards and view through piece of mirror given to him through reflection. When he asks High Priestess why being naked is important relpy is that "vibes and powers flow from nipples and sexual organs and they are better recieved when in the open air and not hidden behind clothes". they didn't have to tell me this, i'm not suprised! The conclusion that Gunther came to involved his self discovery in the beginning of the book "No rational approach to the market can Guarantee success. Only irrational approaches can make such a Guarantee." All of these Irrational types that he interviewed and spoke with did just that. The other conclusion that Max Gunter made was that all that he interviewed (1) aren't afraid to make predictions about tangible events and companies and (2) they all made money doing just that. This is something that I hopefully being a rational being felt could adapt and try to improve my speculation. Not be afraid to predict using rational approaches and to definately make money doing it. My other points drawn from this was that all of these irrationals were Bullish, though most played the short side as well. None seemed to be doom and gloom that abelprechtsonian types would exhibit or try to predict. All seemed to want and try to make money going long whatever. It was a fun read, and turned out to be Seasonal (no pun intended). Happy Halloween ! J.T. ________________________ "Let's Go Do What Happpens...." marketsurfer 10.2004 This message was edited by marketsurfer
Aaah, not much, really. I might give the impression of Aussies being very interested in this hullaballoo, but trust me - apart from Americans, and maybe a few of their enemies, nobody else out there really gives a damn. It's just that I hang around too much on American markets and American chat boards. We did celebrate Halloween though yesterday... Trick or treat?!
I'm not sure if I agree with you, Wittgenstein. I'm just taking an educated guess. If you figure out a way to tell with any degree of certainty, let me know. One of Marty Schwartz's quotes comes to mind though: "Never short a Republican." ...
That is a VERY valid point indeed... Alright, no outfalling statements here, as this thread is run by a Republican...
try libertarian with anarchist leanings. however, i do prefer republicans over democrats when forced to make a choice. surfer
allright, just returned from standing in a voting line for 2 hours. in 2000 there was no wait at all at the local polling place. what i found ver interesting, was the "legal team" in place at the polls--what the purpose of these apparently out of work lawyers was/ is --i have no clue. what's next, dudes with assault rifles ? who knows ? the DJIA is currently above the death channel and we are LONG from 10077. short OIL here, holding. surfer