Here's another one:

I went on a long hike recently, and after the second day, my toes were numb. All day. All night. Even still, a week after the end of the hike, the tips of my great toe and the tips of the next two are numb. I can move them ok, they respond to pressure, but not to light touch. The range of the unsettling effect seems to be shrinking, but very slowly.

I was kind of alarmed when this happened. The hiking was rigorous, and wet. My feet were wet during the day but managed to dry out overnight. There is some family history of diabetes, and I am overweight, but nothing like that was revealed in my July physical.

I'm trying to polish the shine on my shield of denial here... can anyone help?

Perhaps your shoes are too small and were pressing on your toes. Or, you could have a pinched nerve in your lower back (perhaps the sciatic nerve?).

What's additionally confusing - and l123 correct me on this - is that the companies themselves have a take on the number, and can send their stock down before the forecast by just saying something like "uh... that's a pretty high number... uh... the bosses' auntie says we could have trouble in our international markets...."

My ex was a very strong accountant and would talk about the pressure to "make" the number, where the companies push things around the books in order to have a bigger earnings number. Fuckin' accountants.

I do have a pair of hiking boots that crowd my toes. I left those at home for this trip though. The ones I took have plenty of room. There were many elevation changes and I could feel my feet moving forward in my boots on the longer downhills. No more than usual, though. And here we are a week later...

As for a pinched nerve. perhaps. I don't know. I'll add that to my list of possibilities.

Yeah, that happens way too much, that's why I should have stressed the "in theory part". The truth is that companies frequently downgrade their own forecasts simply so they can beat them with the real numbers. Straight shooting has gone away as a consequence of the rise of the trader (rather than investor). Traders are looking for action and are simply buying and selling numbers rather than companies they believe in. Because of that the numbers games are constantly being pushed farther and farther. or is it further and further? hmmm.

some companies refuse to issue an earnings 'guidance' (forecast) report to reduce the speculative pricing of their equity.

yes, but any company with larger earnings than our tip mug has at least one analyst watching them and forecasting numbers.

no internal forecast; external is always up for spec.

I wonder how many CEOs/COOs, are making decisions harmful to the company long term, to satisfy the forecasters/traders, and keeping their own compensation maximized? :eyebrow:

Re: Big V's toes

Some possible causes:
pinched nerve
poor circulation caused by: (a) cold) (b) tight shoes/socks (c) diabetes? (d) smoking (e) interactive combination of the above.
The lingering numbness sounds a bit like mild frostbite (which I have never had).

My best guess is the combination of cold and perhaps tight socks caused lessened blood flow which may have caused localised nerve damage. I don't know if they'll recover on their own.

How are they going?

The numbness has receded considerably, but it is not gone completely. Thank you for asking. I think I injured them with too loose boots on the downhills from the hike. I will be much more careful in the future.

********

I'm not clear on what is meant by "the fed pumping billions into..." or in foreign markets, the national government pouring money into the system (?).

Yeah... I have a big ignorant spot on this particular news topic. Any help is appreciated.

I have another request. I recently saw a lolcat post with the text "o death where is thy sting" but... I can't find it now. Li'l help, please?

tia

Total Information Awareness???

thanks in advance

It's on this page.