Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Roubini


The Financial Times profiles my favorite economist. I will admit that that is the first time that I have ever seen the words playboy and economist within seven city blocks of each other.

Oh and 2009 = "Worst year". Happy New Year!

Calculus

David Aaronovitch asks a very important question. Is Israel doing exactly what Hamas wants it to do? What is the move after the move after the move?

Monday, December 29, 2008

Welcome to Israel

In the wake of the latest Israeli action in Gaza against Hamas, CFR has posted an interactive guide to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

It will be interesting to see how Obama approaches Israel and the Palestinians. 11th hour efforts like Bush and Clinton or something more meaningful?

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Friday, December 26, 2008

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Legacy

More on Bush's legacy in The Boston Globe.

And from The Weekly Standard. Lincoln. Bush. REALLY?

Snobbery

It's thinking like this that will destroy the GOP for a generation (if it hasn't happened already).

Palin. Thatcher. Really? Now that's Kool-Aid.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Sunday, December 21, 2008

43

There is no way that President George W. Bush can be considered anything other than one of the three worst presidents in U.S. history (along with James Buchanan - uh, The Civil War and Warren G. Harding - Teapot Dome).

What a complete putz.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

But it is AAA Rated!

Not enough talk about the culpability of the rating agencies (SROs) in this mess. The RGE Monitor discusses the FER's recommendations for SRO reform.

Gokouun o Inorimasu

It's funny that in Japanese wishing someone good luck consists of praying for them. So even though my links are mostly downers (and this one from the WSJ about Japan's experience with Keynesian stimuli is no exception), I'm still on a running high from this morning's 7 miles on a treadmill, which is strange considering I hate the treadmill, and this didn't depress me as much as it should have. I think the fact that I was cozy inside instead of freezing in the 19 degree weather outside had something to do with it.

Sometimes I really love the WSJ. In the face of capitalism's failure, they press on. Ganbarimashou!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Dinner Time

Finally, a well-deserved bailout. Denying access to the King of Cheeses would spell certain global chaos. If Blue Stilton, Point Reyes Blue, Ballerina (local to WA - no link), or Winey Goat (second one down) are having trouble, then please bail them out as well.

Investing In Infrastructure

Where do I sign up for my piece of the $1T deficit (to be paid back by myself at a later date of course with interest)? I've got a slew of ideas.

1. Skeet shooting park in the huge dirt lot across the street
2. Widen Gilbert road to 12 lanes
3. Build a freeway underpass underneath downtown Gilbert
4. Olympic size swimming and diving pool (salt, not chlorine) across the street
5. Free heliport and helicopters .... hmmmm ... 1 mile north of my house
6. Lifetime national hunting and fishing licenses for myself and all of my family and friends
7. Lots of desalination plants for Southern California (I'm sick of them stealing water from the Colorado)
8. Freeway system that is vertical (like in Minority Report), as well as forcing The Big Three to build cars that can use the vertical freeway system
9. Personal nuclear reactors (think Mr. Fusion)
10. A moon base and transportation to it for all Americans that pass the travelling to a moon base test (I should be paid $1B to create the test)

I know I didn't ask for anything completely outrageous. I'm simply trying to be reasonable here.

Nationalization

The New York Times discusses the nationalization of The Big Three (not the biggest three).

Five years from now when the government owns most financial institutions and the largest manufacturing sector in the U.S., will we say, "Well done."? Ten years? Fifty years?

Brinksmanship

Stratfor takes a look at the escalating India-Pakistan crisis and how the current crisis could affect the two countries, as well as Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, and the U.S. Pretty grim stuff. Let's hope for a troop build-up along the border and a couple of artillery duels.

Monday, December 08, 2008

Repeatability

Stratfor looks at the similarities between the Mumbai attacks and the New York Landmarks Plot that was broken up.

Ok, so on my list of things to do to ensure survival:

- Hoard food. Check.
- Don't spend money (except on food and ammo). Check.
- Get a vicious attack dog that can survive by hunting and killing its own food (small animals or criminals). Still searching.
- Buy a diesel powered generator and build an underground storage tank. Still digging.

And new this week:

- Don't visit well known public places. Check.

Saturday, December 06, 2008

The Big 3 Lose Again

Reposted in its entirety, as Craiglist took down the ad. Very disappointing Mr. Craigslist.

"OK, let me start off by saying this Xterra is only available for purchase by the manliest of men (or women). My friend, if it was possible for a vehicle to sprout chest hair and a five o'clock shadow, this Nissan would look like Tom Selleck. It is just that manly.

It was never intended to drive to the mall so you can pick up that adorable shirt at Abercrombie & Fitch that you had your eye on. It wasn't meant to transport you to yoga class or Linens & Things. No, that's what your Prius is for. If that's the kind of car you're looking for, then just do us all a favor and stop reading right now. I mean it. Just stop.

This car was engineered by 3rd degree ninja super-warriors in the highest mountains of Japan to serve the needs of the man that cheats death on a daily basis. They didn't even consider superfluous nancy boy amenities like navigation systems (real men don't get lost), heated leather seats (a real man doesn't let anything warm his butt), or On Star (real men don't even know what the hell On Star is).

No, this brute comes with the things us testosterone-fueled super action junkies need. It has a 265 HP engine to outrun the cops. It's got special blood/gore resistant upholstery. It even has a first-aid kit in the back. You know what the first aid kit has in it? A pint of whiskey, a stitch-your-own-wound kit and a hunk of leather to bite down on when you're operating on yourself. The Xterra also has an automatic transmission so if you're being chased by Libyan terrorists, you'll still be able to shoot your machine gun out the window and drive at the same time. It's saved my bacon more than once.

It has room for you and the four hotties you picked up on the way to the gym to blast your pecs and hammer your glutes. There's a tow hitch to pull your 50 caliber anti-Taliban, self cooling machine gun. I also just put in a new windshield to replace the one that got shot out by The Man.

My price on this bad boy is an incredibly low $12,900, but I'll entertain reasonable offers. And by reasonable, I mean don't walk up and tell me you'll give me $5,000 for it. That's liable to earn you a Burmese-roundhouse-sphincter-kick with a follow up three fingered eye-jab. Would it hurt? Hell yeah. Let's just say you won't be the prettiest guy at the Coldplay concert anymore.

There's only 69,000 miles on this four-wheeled hellcat from Planet Kickass. Trust me, it will outlive you and the offspring that will carry your name. It will live on as a monument to your machismo.

Now, go look in the mirror and tell me what you see. If it's a rugged, no holds barred, super brute he-man macho Chuck Norris stunt double, then contact me. I might be out hang-gliding or BASE jumping or just chilling with my ladies, but I'll get back to you. And when I do, we'll talk about a price over a nice glass of Schmidt while we listen to Johnny Cash.

To sweeten the deal a little, I'm throwing in this pair of MC Hammer pants for the man with rippling quads that can't fit into regular pants. Yeah, you heard me. FREE MC Hammer pants.

Rock on."

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Ch. 11

The WSJ reports on the latest bailout request from the Big Three.

Let them file Chapter 11 and have the government guarantee DIP financing while they restructure and are protected from their creditors. The "people won't buy cars from a bankrupt auto maker" argument is bunk.

Mumbai = Sarajevo?

I hope that India shows restraint. The last thing the world needs is for two nuclear armed nations to go to war.

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Ostrich Time

I'm about to stop reading the news and just start stockpiling food, ammo, and Dairy Queen coupons.

The Financial Times looks at the recession news. But listen to Big Ben (not Roethlisberger) and just don't worry. Everything is a-ok.

Mumbai

Stratfor looks at the strategic motivations and potential geopolitical consequences of last week's attacks.