What Does Masco Say About Home Depot?

Ka-thump: Was musing Wednesday on the RealMoney.com Columnist Conversation about how absurd it seemed that Thoratec Labs (THOR - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr), in its preannouncement, blamed its shortfall on seasonality in demand for its medical devices. But these guys make things that keep your heart beating. Can't defer that. Ah but, counters CFO Cheryl Hess, you can't implant one of their devices if the docs are on vacation! Well, if one doc is gone can't you use another doc? Sure, Hess says, but the devices are used in only 80 hospitals. Oh. Besides, she says, based on the number of preannouncements by other device companies, Thoratec isn't alone with seasonality.

To be sure, after mocking ArthroCare's (ARTC - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) claim of seasonality, I've heard from a half dozen docs who say that people really do avoid certain procedures in the summer. Then why don't they disclose seasonality as a risk in their 10-k's?! Because it never hurt earnings before, that's why!

Hey, how about that Gap? (GPS - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr): Comp store sales down 8% in September. (No surprise when everybody you know talks about quality issues and an inability to find something they like.) Must be rubbing off on Williams-Sonoma (WSM - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr), whose stock over the past week acts as if somebody knows something that isn't kosher. (CEO Howard Lester can't be counted among my fans; he never forgave me for the time, years ago, when I dared question his company's fundies before one of its many blowups. But to show I don't mix biz with pleasure, Howard, I remain a loyal customer.)

Speaking of blowups: If you haven't already done so, you must read Peter Eavis' series of analyses on Conseco (CNC - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) on TheStreet.com, especially Wednesday's explanation about why something in his last piece was wrong. Class act, that Peter, plus incredibly talented and (you'd know this if you met him) very focused on the details. (Unlike somebody I know! Jus' kidding!)

The company and Irwin Jacobs, one of its largest shareholders, in separate press releases, made it seem as if Peter didn't try to get the company's side of the story and was willy-nilly spreading misinformation. Couldn't be further from the truth. My take on this story is that Conseco boosters expected its stock to rise via a short squeeze after it announced a debt restructuring deal a week ago. Just the opposite happened. Then along came Peter with his take on the story.

And you thought I was always so negative: You obviously missed last week's ridiculously over-the-top positive piece on Read-Rite (RDRT - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr), which came just about when the market was at its top. And you obviously haven't yet seen my equally ridiculous over-the-top positive piece on Ford (F - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr), and why it may be cheap, in the issue of Fortune that should be hitting the newsstands right about now.

Finally, join me right here, on this stage, next Tuesday at 5 p.m. EDT for my first RealMoney.com chat. Go Giants. Go A's. (Yep, my heart is still there!)