July 2009

  • Online Politics and the New World Order

    By ecoscott on 7/29/09 8:11am
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    This is kind of a big deal. Whatever you want to think about the future of the economy, the future of politics, and the future of society in general, the Internet and computers plays a major role in that future. And since the Internet is this gigantic sea of information that no one would have any idea how to find anything on (can you imagine if we had a phone book for the Internet? Or if you had to call someone or get their business card to know what their web address was?). Point being, finding things on the Internet is big business. There are entire online industries that revolve around Search Engine Optimization, Search Engine Marketing, and a slew of personalized/ optimized advertisements that show up while you are doing your searching. That all said, it’s a battleground.

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  • These are some greedy rabbits

    By Anonymous on 7/27/09 10:06am
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    deceptively innocentdeceptively innocentI have a feeling that these guys had something to do with the collapse of our banking system. 

    I know they seem so harmless and cute, but whatever you do, don't give them your money!!  They're gonna take your dollars, and put it in a drawer! Bunnies in the bank, yo!

  • Cash Rules Everything Around Me

    By ecoscott on 7/24/09 9:44am
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    cashcashPolitics in its truest, boldest and most base form: Cash. Time is Money; Money is Power; Moneeeey… It’s a gas… Keep your hands off my stash…(Musical post: listen to this one while you read this post).

    This week closes with two important power-moves revolving around the cold hard cash. California, who doesn’t have any, finally agrees with itself on how to spend it and the U.S., who doesn’t really have any either, decides to give $200 million to the Palestinian Authority.

    Let’s start there.

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  • China and Russia: A Closer Look at the Economic Potential

    By dubayns on 7/15/09 11:44pm
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    There has been much speculation over the past couple of weeks that the most recent G8 Summit in Italy would bring talk of creating a one-world currency or reserve currency.  There have also been reports that Russia’s Medvedev openly suggested using gold to create a new reserve currency.  The gold coins, which would be minted in several countries, would hold an intrinsic value.  Something that the US currency has not had for decades.  Moving back to a global gold standard would have its pros and cons, but one thing is sure, if the global reserve currency changes from the US Dollar to anything else, the US is in for a real roller coaster of an economic shakeup, even more so than it is currently experiencing.

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  • Back on Track- Staying Focused

    By dubayns on 7/15/09 11:25pm
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    Stocks have rallied this week and have helped to bring back some of the upward market momentum.  Tech firms like Intel and Nokia have really benefited from the latest surge as well as many financials.  It is uncertain as to whether or not this recent corrective rally will actually take hold or whether it’s just a bump in the road.  But it is certain that this week’s gains have put optimism back in fashion.  This in the face of a growing national debt and massive problems in the commercial real estate sector.

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  • $1 Trillion in the Hole

    By ecoscott on 7/13/09 8:38pm
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    Can you imagine $1 Trillion dollars? How about $2 Trillion?

    Start imagining. Apparently the U.S. federal deficit is poised to top the $1 trillion mark for the first time ever, and may quickly rise to over $2 Trillion by the fall.

    I don’t really know what to say. A $2 trillion deficit? Is that even possible? How can the media be talking about the recession turning around or abating and the government is TRILLIONS of dollars off on the federal budget this year. I mean, California already dropped down to almost junk status as far as credit goes- where does the U.S. government stand?

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  • Gold and Other Commodities Take a Hit

    By dubayns on 7/8/09 11:17pm
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    goldgoldAs of Wednesday afternoon, gold had dropped to just above $900 an ounce.  That’s a drop on over 1.5% in one day.  Silver and other precious metals have also gotten swamped over the past week.  All of this comes on the heels of the US Dollar posting some serious gains.  Many investors are worried that commodities may drop even lower in stocks continue to lose steam.  The numbers and figures can be quite scary if you don’t know what you’re looking at.  But to the trained eye, the current state of affairs in the commodities markets is an excellent investment opportunity. 

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  • A Closer Look at Billy Mays and His Empire

    By dubayns on 7/2/09 12:44am
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    Billy MaysBilly MaysLast week famed pitchman Billy Mays passed away.  Many people remember him as the Oxy Clean guy or the guy in the blue shirt and khaki’s who yelled when he spoke.  He also had a show called “Pitchmen”, where he and a collegue were followed around by a camera crew through their pitch journeys and careers.  Billy was a very likeable guy, rising from modest beginnings to create an empire built around his style and voice.  In the end he died much too young of heart disease, leaving a pitchman legacy in his wake.  All of this is sad, but when I begin to feel sad, I often find myself wondering exactly what Billy contributed to society, besides all of the cheesy, gotta have it now type of products he sold on TV.

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  • Key Jobs Data Out Tomorrow

    By dubayns on 7/2/09 12:07am
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    The jobs data for the month of June is going to be out tomorrow and investors will likely react to the news in a very polar manner. Non Farm US Job losses have been slowly shrinking each month down from the January highs. If tomorrow’s data proves to be positive, and the trend continues, investors could be influenced to move their money accordingly.

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