Week 0 — Tue Sep 8 16:17:29 PDT 2009
From: Jeff
To: mnf@doobie.com
Date: Tues Sept 8 16:17:29 PDT 2009
Subject: Are You Ready? Have you told your friends?
On Thursday, the 2009/2010 NFL season will start, when the 0-0 Tennessee Titans take on the 0-0 Pittsburgh Steelers, at 5:30 PM Pacific time (that's just over 48 hours away).
At least some of us will be watching the game at Steff's sports bar, at 141 2nd street (near Minna). You should come. You should bring your friends. You should be prepared to say the words "Touchdown Steelers", but not as often as you should be prepared to hear "...and Roethlisberger's been picked off".
You should also tell your friends to join the mailing list. It's easy! Just send a message to mnf-subscribe@doobie.com.
There are two significant changes to the Monday Morning Mailing this year. The first involves the Smart Money. In the past, the object of the Smart Money has always been to beat the S&P 500 over the course of the season (because buying an index fund is just so boring). Last year, the Smart Money returned 14.5% in a 17 week season, beating the S&P 500 for the fourth consecutive year. Considering that the S&P lost almost 30% during those 17 weeks, the Smart Money was almost guaranteed to win.
This year, the economy continues to remain in the shitter. To honor this, and to really make it a fair challenge, I'll not only be tracking the Smart Money against the S&P, but I'll also be tracking it against the Euro, to simulate the "mattress stuffed with cash" investment strategy favored by arms dealers and octogenarians alike. Prices for the S&P and the Euro/Greenback exchange will be based on spot prices as of close of business tomorrow (9/9/09). Both are trading at historic lows. The Smart Money hopes to return a record high this year.
The other change for this year is that I'm going to start including a URL with the Monday Morning Mailing. For some time now, I've also posted these messages on http://doobie.com/monday/ (and quite a few people read them there). As of this year, I've turned on comments (you know, like a blog). So, if you've ever wanted to berate discuss the contents of these mailings with me, or with other readers, you now have the opportunity; just follow the link.
So, to summarize.
1. You're going to be at Steff's at 5:30 on Thursday.
2. You're going to tell your football-loving friends to send mail to mnf-subscribe@doobie.com
3. You're going to wonder why you can't give the contents of your 401k to your bookie.
4. You're going to post a comment on the website, and you'll regret it later in the season.
48 hours and counting.
UPDATE: Yesterday, the iShares S&P 500 ETF closed at 104.06. The Euro closed at €0.686 per dollar. The Smart Money is taking Tennessee +6.