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Too-Big-to-Fail and the Gang that Couldn't Shoot Straight

Amen.

Is Saving Really for Suckers?

We need to differentiate between types of banks here. The consumer end of banking is making their money from fees, not lending. 60% of fee profit (widely publicized) from insufficient funds fees on checking accounts alone and massive dollar amounts from credit cards.
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For stodgy savers? Avoid the fuss - buy a gold brick. It'll be a safe choice.

How GE Beat Our Consensus

C'mon, give them a break. Banks (and Investment Banks) have nothing to peddle but paper. GE has in addition to paper real, manufactured products - globally distributed. Given the absence of government "assistance", who is best prepared to survive in the long term?

Correlations Between Oil, Natural Gas, S&P500 and Alt Energy Stocks

"as reputable as Bank of America Merrill Lynch" - ????? Best you clarify that one, brother.

How Natural Gas Can Save the U.S. Economy

Amazing! I, too, worked on the gasification of coal in the late '60's-'70's and also drove a natural gas powered vechicle. Sure enough, those things have been around a long time. And they are feasible.

You are right on target about moving toward energy independence, though I would like to toss in nuclear power for electricity generation to ultimately replace natural gas generation. It isn't necessary to waste natural gas on that for the long term.

And we will need petroleum for the foreseeable future for air transportation - unless someone comes up with something quite innovative. We could always put a few windmills on top of an airliner and hope for the best (perpetual motion) or maybe pack it full of batteries (no room for passengers or freight, though).

Me? I'll hopefully be driving my natural gas/electric hybrid car - if anyone will make it commercially.

Former Assistant Treasury Secretary: 'The Treasury Works for Goldman Sachs'

And our President, who was initially fired up to "slay the dragon" has since semi-abandoned the idea, finding out first-hand who the boss is and who runs things. Now he is diverting attention by spending money: health care and energy fiascos, pawning off the real problems to his underlings so they can take the blame when it goes wrong. Bah!

Book Review: 'Game Over' by Stephen Leeb

As an (old) engineer in the natural gas industry, I view much of this talk as too little too late. I'm with Michael. We were operating natural gas vehicles successfully 40 years ago. What happened? Politics, and the do-gooders closed down natural gas drilling many times in the earky 70's.
Yes, we need alternative fuels but why isn't nuclear in the forefront for electricity? Natural gas was a quick, cheap alternative to coal to satisfy environmentalists relative to electricity generation but let's move forward and shift that natural gas to the automotive world for a few years. Instead our trustworthy government is using its government-controlled auto companies to develop a whole new generation of small cars running on what? GASOLINE! The other half of the govenment is weaning the country from oil. Please!
Until I see a jumbo-jet taking off with a couple of windmills strapped to the wings or hear about a fighter pilot who is confident flying into combat in his plane loaded with 20 tons of batteries, I'll bet that oil is here to stay. Let's not dream: let's reapportion the technology and resources we have and let them efficiently sustain us during the development and implementation period needed for new technology to take hold.

CEOs Must Bring Investors Along for the Ride (WSJ)

Amen to both the first two comments. Let 'em go. There are plenty of competent people to move into those positions, just like "lesser" automobile manufacturers will take up the slack left by Detroit.

Dividend Aristocrats Will Continue to Outperform

How true. Solid, healthy companies hang in there thru thick and thin.


On Apr 28 03:50 PM notsosmart wrote:

> if you have time on your side drips are the way to go.it worked great
> for me over app.40 yr period. small fees & cost averaging was
> lucky for me.i avoided the tech bubble cause no yields.good cos that
> pay a fair div. is the way to go.wall st now has a new mantra-trade,trade,tra...
> aware that they cant make money anymore on phony rated AAA worthless
> paper so they want you to believe long term investing is dead.dont
> believe them. think for yourself & caution your friends to think.

Bullish Picture for Energy Once Economy Picks Up

Comments and points are well taken. Toeser and I apparently are twins and just never met. Wind and solar, it's true, will have a very difficult time ever becoming anything but "minor" in our world and yes, the US will remain well behind the curve in the world of energy. Prices will rise, but play it long and you'll be rewarded - well.