Monday Sept 5, 2011 I have mentioned in class the importance of obtaining a certification in you field. For an up close and personal view of the real jobs picture in America, click on this Business Insider article.  I thought the graphs comparing this with past recessions were interesting. No net job s have been created since…

The New Civil War The very phrase ‘American Civil War’ conjures up all sorts of images. One recalls a dashing Clark Gable courting a standoffish Vivian Leigh in Gone With the Wind. Or perhaps one remembers Clint Eastwood playing the hard bitten loner searching for gold in The Good, Bad, and Ugly. Still one thing…

Friday August 26, 2011   Looking past the News   Okay, name the most important event of the day. Hurricane Irene Set to Hit New York City. Bernanke speaks at Jackson Hole, WY (is QE 3 in the wings)? Danica  Patrick makes move to Nascar. Ashton Kutcher to replace Charlie Sheen on Two and a…

Tues Aug 2, 2011   I don't know what interest rate this presentation assumes but when interest costs finally rise, that cost will consume the federal budget.

Friday July 22, 2011 The end of Borders Bookstores is bringing growth to the remaining independent book sellers. Small retail has long lamented the dominance of national chains with their buying power. Funny thing, not long ago many feared Wal Mart, now we don't hear so much about that any more as the Dollar Stores invaded WMT…

Monday July 18, 2011 Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff wrote This Time is Different. Eight Centuries of Financial Folly reveals for example that modern Greece, since 1823, has been in default as much time as it has paid its debts. Now they explain why QE 3 won't work. Eventually the debt becomes a drag on growth. And…

Tuesday June 21, 2011 Chinese ENergy Company CNOOC is paying $2.2 billion for a one third stake in assets. Apparently they are interested in the Eagle Ford play south of San Antonio among other interests. This bears watching. Recall our post on Halliburton moving into South San Antonio to work this area as well. 

Tuesday June 7, 2011 The soap opera begins early today (at least in the US), after the Irish Times reports that the IMF is open to delaying Greece's repayment of its international loans but believes a major restructuring of its debt would create untold problems in the euro zone, a senior IMF official said today. "Athens has…