Apple_NN1 shares_NN2 hit_VVD record_JJ high_NN1 on_II more_RGR 'tablet'_JJ rumors_NN2 Santa_NP1 arrived_VVD early_RR for_IF Apple_NN1 Inc._JJ shareholders_NN2 :_: The_AT stock_NN1 today_RT surged_VVD $6.94_NNU ,_, or_CC 3.4%_FO ,_, to_TO close_VVI at_II a_AT1 record_JJ high_NN1 $209.04_NNU ._. 
That_DD1 topped_VVD the_AT previous_JJ closing_JJ high_JJ of_IO $207_NNU on_II Nov._NPM1 17_MC ._. 
The_AT buzz_FU continues_VVZ to_TO build_VVI about_II the_AT company_NN1 's_VBZ widely_RR anticipated_VVN (_( albeit_CS unconfirmed_JJ )_) tablet_NN1 computer_NN1 ._. 
The_AT Financial_JJ Times_NNT2 reported_VVD that_DD1 Apple_NN1 has_VHZ rented_VVN a_AT1 stage_NN1 at_II the_AT Yerba_NP1 Buena_NP1 Center_NN1 for_IF the_AT Arts_NN2 in_II San_NP1 Francisco_NP1 for_IF several_DA2 days_NNT2 in_II late_JJ January_NPM1 ,_, most_RGT likely_JJ for_IF a_AT1 product_NN1 announcement_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB as_CSA the_AT FT_NNU notes_NN2 ,_, "_" Apple_NN1 has_VHZ explored_VVN making_VVG tablet_NN1 style_NN1 devices_NN2 for_IF years_NNT2 ,_, only_RR to_II back_NN1 off_RP ._. 
The_AT company_NN1 also_RR has_VHZ a_AT1 history_NN1 of_IO scrapping_VVG products_NN2 very_RG close_JJ to_II their_APPGE scheduled_JJ launch_NN1 dates_NN2 ._. "_" 
No_AT matter_NN1 to_II Apple_NN1 stock_NN1 bulls_NN2 ,_, who_PNQS figure_VV0 something_PN1 good_JJ is_VBZ coming_VVG in_II January_NPM1 ._. 
The_AT shares_NN2 now_RT are_VBR up_RP a_AT1 massive_JJ 145%_NNU year_NNT1 to_II date_NN1 after_II plunging_VVG 57%_NNU in_II the_AT market_NN1 meltdown_NN1 of_IO 2008_MC ._. 
Apple_NN1 stock_NN1 's_GE price-to-earnings_NN2 ratio_NN1 is_VBZ about_RG 27_MC based_VVN on_II analysts_NN2 '_GE mean_JJ earnings_NN2 estimate_NN1 of_IO $7.83_NNU a_AT1 share_NN1 for_IF the_AT fiscal_JJ year_NNT1 ending_VVG next_MD September_NPM1 ._. 
That_DD1 's_VBZ expensive_JJ relative_II21 to_II22 the_AT average_JJ blue-chip_JJ stock_NN1 P/E_NN1 of_IO about_RG 15_MC based_VVN on_II 2010_MC earnings_NN2 estimates_VVZ ,_, but_CCB it_PPH1 's_VBZ a_AT1 far_JJ cry_NN1 from_II the_AT P/Es_NN2 of_IO tech_NN1 's_GE wacko_NN1 days_NNT2 of_IO the_AT late_JJ 1990s_MC2 ._. 
Apple_NN1 's_GE stock_NN1 market_NN1 value_NN1 now_RT is_VBZ $188_NNU billion_NNO ,_, which_DDQ tops_VVZ IBM_NP1 (_( $171_NNU billion_NNO )_) ,_, General_JJ Electric_NN1 (_( $164_NNU billion_NNO )_) and_CC Chevron_NP1 (_( $155_NNU billion_NNO )_) ,_, among_II others_NN2 ,_, and_CC is_VBZ closing_VVG in_RP on_II Google_NP1 (_( $196_NNU billion_NNO )_) and_CC Wal-Mart_NP1 (_( $204_NNU billion_NNO )_) ._. 
Besides_II the_AT hype_NN1 over_II the_AT tablet_NN1 ,_, Apple_NN1 is_VBZ benefiting_VVG from_II Wall_NP1 Street_NNL1 's_GE strong_JJ appetite_NN1 for_IF tech_NN1 stocks_NN2 in_RR21 general_RR22 in_II 2009_MC ._. 
And_CC in_II a_AT1 year_NNT1 like_II this_DD1 ,_, the_AT rich_JJ tend_VV0 to_TO get_VVI richer_JJR as_II the_AT calendar_NN1 runs_VVZ out_RP :_: Some_DD money_NN1 managers_NN2 most_RGT likely_JJ are_VBR adding_VVG hot_JJ tech_NN1 stocks_NN2 to_II their_APPGE holdings_NN2 to_TO dress_VVI up_RP the_AT portfolios_NN2 for_IF year-end_JJ statements_NN2 to_II clients_NN2 --_JJ as_CSA in_II ,_, "_" Hey_UH ,_, look_VV0 how_RGQ smart_JJ we_PPIS2 were_VBDR to_TO own_VVI these_DD2 winners_NN2 ._. "_" 
Other_JJ tech_NN1 issues_NN2 hitting_VVG new_JJ 52-week_JJ highs_NN2 today_RT :_: Google_NP1 ,_, up_RP $6.80_NNU ,_, or_CC 1.1%_FO ,_, to_II $618.48_NNU ;_; Microsoft_NP1 ,_, up_II 8_MC cents_NNU2 ,_, or_CC 0.3%_FO ,_, to_II $31_NNU ;_; IBM_NP1 ,_, up_II 57_MC cents_NNU2 ,_, or_CC 0.4%_FO ,_, to_II $130.57_NNU ;_; and_CC Xilinx_NP1 ,_, up_II 30_MC cents_NNU2 ,_, or_CC 1.2%_FO ,_, to_II $25.36_NNU ._. 
Tech_NN1 's_GE rally_NN1 helped_VVN push_VVI broad_JJ market_NN1 indexes_NN2 to_II new_JJ highs_NN2 for_IF the_AT year_NNT1 as_RR21 well_RR22 ,_, in_II a_AT1 shortened_JJ holiday_NN1 session_NNT1 ._. 
The_AT Dow_NP1 Jones_NP1 industrials_NN2 closed_VVN above_II 10,500_MC for_IF the_AT first_MD time_NNT1 since_II Oct._NPM1 1_MC1 ,_, 2008_MC ,_, adding_VVG 53.66_MC points_NN2 ,_, or_CC 0.5%_FO ,_, to_II 10,520.10_MC ._. 
The_AT tech-heavy_JJ Nasdaq_JJ composite_NN1 gained_VVD 16.05_MC points_NN2 ,_, or_CC 0.7%_FO ,_, to_II 2,285.69_MC ._. 
Year_NNT1 to_II date_NN1 the_AT Nasdaq_NP1 is_VBZ up_RP 45%_NNU to_II the_AT Dow_NP1 's_GE 20%_NNU gain_NN1 ._. 
If_CS you_PPY did_VDD n't_XX own_VVI tech_NN1 this_DD1 year_NNT1 --_NN1 what_DDQ were_VBDR you_PPY thinking_VVG ?_? 
So_RR the_AT majority_NN1 of_IO our_APPGE representatives_NN2 may_VM congratulate_VVI themselves_PPX2 on_II reducing_VVG the_AT number_NN1 of_IO uninsured_JJ ,_, while_CS quietly_RR understanding_VVG this_DD1 can_VM only_RR be_VBI the_AT first_MD step_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 multiyear_NN1 process_NN1 to_II more_RGR drastically_RR change_VV0 the_AT organization_NN1 and_CC funding_NN1 of_IO health_NN1 care_NN1 in_II America_NP1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 have_VH0 met_VVN many_DA2 people_NN for_IF whom_PNQO this_DD1 strategy_NN1 is_VBZ conscious_JJ and_CC explicit_JJ ._. 
We_PPIS2 should_VM not_XX be_VBI making_VVG public_JJ policy_NN1 in_II such_DA a_AT1 crucial_JJ area_NN1 by_II keeping_VVG the_AT electorate_NN1 ignorant_JJ of_IO the_AT actual_JJ road_NN1 ahead_RL ._. 
