look closer

Holiday Price War Dooms Most U.S. Retailers

This gives me even greater worry for the not too distant future --- when walmart solely inherits the retail resources available to the American masses. We are screwed !! Once there is no competition, walmart will call the shots on pricing.

Climate Change: How to Invest for the Possibility

It seems to me that reducing global CO2 emissions would be a prudent course of action, for more than a few reasons, none of which are mentioned here. However, to overlook the possible outcomes of excess emissions in favor of the more immediate profit venue is exactly the route many idiots have taken in our economic venue over the last 40 years. As this writer has stated, he is not interested in possibilities of 'what if' as much as he is in what have I got in my pocket. This is the problem we, the caretakers of the earth our children will inherit, must work with and change the attitude -- that things will get better on their own, regardless of how poorly we treat our environment.
Sure, invest to make a profit but do so with an understanding and knowledge of what those companies do and how they do it.

The Gold Standard: As Relevant as Ever

nuclear1929
Central bank buying supports the price, but it's not a guarantee of future performance, because already supply is higher than demand.


You obviously have not tried to purchase any gold, silver or platinum from the US mint this year. For the first time since 1986 the US mint does not have any PM's available for direct sell to collectors and the public. All their supplies are tied up with bullion sales to dealers of PM's. That means no proof gold eagles or buffaloes nor any proof silver eagles. So to say that supply is higher than demand is foolish. The mint will not release any proofs until it satisfies the bullion demand and presently there is no end in sight for that to happen this year.

Credit Suisse's Take on Flash Trading, Dark Pools and National Market Regulation

I have been enjoying TD's comments for some time, they normally come across quite easily, however, this one went right over my head in technical analysis. Sure I could have a dictionary handy and research each and every sentence, but I'm not here to do homework, I am here to gain a overview of the mechanics in play with the 'big boy' trading methods and how they are causing a lopsided trading disadvantage. I have a great job that has nothing to do with Wall Street missteps, but TD does hold me captive with great insight and when he goes technical I feel the loss. If I needed or wanted the high tech I'd subscribe to the publication and take classes. This is Seeking Alpha not the WSJ.

Banks Not Letting Owners of Foreclosed Homes Walk Away

chkrazer,

I had a house foreclose years ago (9) that was a second property of mine, all the regular foreclosure methods went through. The bank will not get a deficiency judgement or freeze your bank account or garnish your wages, only the failure to pay taxes will. I had a good job at the time and got sick of making payments that were greater than the rental receipts. The renters kept paying me until the day they were told to move out by the bank (1 year later) and the house was sold in auction and just barely covered the bank loan. I got more out of the house this way (rental receipts) than I would have by selling it outright. Hurt my credit, but refinanced my primary residence 3 years later for an excellent rate. You'll need to pay cash and not use credit cards for a few years as those CC co's will stick it to you 29.9% for 7 -8 years.

Employment: Minimum Wage, Maximum Stupidity

Great article, I grew up with exactly the story told. I worked odd an end jobs for years --- building up experience and then used those images of low paid toiling to convince myself to return and earn a degree while getting minimum wage. I'm sure millions of Americans did the same, but today my kids have found fewer and fewer jobs to tweek their skills and this hike in min. wage will only put a greater damper on their efforts.

The Cap and Trade Delusion (Part II)

Well lets face the fact, complete melt down at the poles within 100 years and just in time for interplanetary travel for the wealthy. Cutting back on greenhouse emissions within our lifetime just isn't going to happen, we have fools at the helm.
I can't tell if this author is perturbed or just sadistically humored.

California's Pension, Education Costs: Out of Control

Teachers are already some of the lowest paid workers in govt service, now you want to wipe out their pensions, yea GREAT!!! now we'll have to outsource for teachers too. God help the kids, this article was written by an idiot.

TARP Mission Creep Watch, SBA Edition

Road building program ???? What we need are repairs on bridges, dams, water pipes, and critical infrastructure collapsing all around us. Screw the banks and SBA, they will find a way to survive or someone will find a way to replace them. We may as well get a decent bang for the stimulus bucks being thrown around as the country descends into chaos.

California's Economy: Disaster Developing

What's astonishing is that after a fairly well written article, there are two jack ass responses although I suppose the initial sentence is suspiciously suspect of bias and leads one to stray in interpretation. No, forget that, this article is biased from start to end -- no food for thought --- just manure.

More Good News: Record High Credit Card Defaults

Well written article. As for the above comment, it has also been my belief that integrity is paramount to personal success, however, the loss of integrity at nearly every level of financial management in most countries is inexcusable.
Losing most of our savings to corrupt bankers, having our childrens' future sitting in uncertainty and millions of honest folks waiting for foreclosures in this environment of fear is a national loss of integrity. It's true that bankruptcy is never good, but it also may not be bad to deleverage, as our government is assisting the banks to do. The people should have been given the money in income tax returns, to pay off their credit card bills, the banks would be financed and the people would be in a position to buy again.

Is Gold on a Deflationary Death Watch?

Excellent article, well stated and great use of analogy.

Stewart vs. Cramer: A Cheap Shot

Personally I do not like Cramer or his methods of selling -- however, Cramer did not have anything to do with this Wall Street originated mess. He calls it as he said from info handed down to him from people like Fuld etc. who he said lied to him. I believe this --- most of those CEO's lied constantly to their employees and the America people. We need to indict them and those who profited from this CDS insurance scam. Selling mortgages to the poor to move them off the govt housing rolls was the work of Barney F. and Chris D. with the revoking of the Community Act and uptick rules --- both from Franks and Dodd. Put the blame where it rightly belongs --- Wall Street, SEC and Congress.

Cramer's Mad Money - 10 Stupid Assumptions About the Market (2/18/09)

I took a chance and read this article and lo and behold he did darn right GREAT .... until #10. There he went off again on his old BS again. Well I do have to give him some credit 9 outta 10 his way above his average.

GM May Be Considering Bankruptcy (at Last)

GM should go under, as a group they have been as uncompromising a group as any in this crisis.
GM has and continues to bring its weight against efficient electric modeled cars for the last 20 years, and continue to have pending lawsuits to alter laws requiring them to do so. LET GM BURN !!! and good riddance !!