zaterdag 30 juni 2012

Episode 378: How Spain Created A Banking Monster

A group of people tried to fix a problem, but wound up creating a banking monster.

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/06/12/154876489/episode-378-how-spain-created-a-banking-monster?ft=1&f=127413671

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Andrew J. Bacevich, Part I

Bill Moyers sits down with history and international relations expert and former US Army Colonel Andrew J. Bacevich who identifies three major problems facing our democracy: the crises of economy, government and militarism, and calls for a redefinition of the American way of life. "Because of this preoccupation with the presidency," says Bacevich, "the president has become what we have instead of genuine politics, instead of genuine democracy." Respected across the political spectrum, Bacevich has contributed to The Nation, The American Conservative, Foreign Affairs, among others, and his latest book is The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/VrTkwNql89I/profile.html

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A Baby Step Toward A United States Of Europe

If the euro is to survive, the eurozone needs to be more like one country, and less like a bunch of different countries that happen to sit on the same continent.

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/06/29/155973136/a-baby-step-toward-a-united-states-of-europe?ft=1&f=127413671

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Looking for Deep Value in International Stocks

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international stocksWith all the projections that the U.S. will experience a low-growth economic environment over the next year, investors may want to look to faster-growing international economies for investments that can yield better returns.

For those willing to take the risk of investing in individual stocks, independent research firm Value Investment Principals has identified what it considers some of the best global "deep value" stocks positioned for significant growth over the next year.

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Value Investment Principals' CEO Sandy Mehta says his firm focuses its research on companies that are positioned in growth markets that are trading at cheaper prices than traditional value stocks. The Hong Kong-based firm sells its research to institutional investors and major corporations.

Deep Value Growth Companies


"Typically our stocks have high single-digit or double-digit dividend yields, PE (price-to-earnings) ratios of five or less and the companies have lots of cash assets," says Mehta, who formerly managed a $200 million Asian hedge fund. "The companies that we recommend are actually growth companies trading at deep value multiples."

Mehta recommends Enerplus Resources Fund (ERF), which, through its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition and operations of Canadian oil and gas. Although the company's price-to-free-cash-flow ratio of 11.1 is higher than what his company normally uses for a guide, Mehta says Enerplus is still a bargain since it is trading near its lows for the past five years and is positioned to ride the energy sector's expected growth over the next five years. The company pays a generous 9% dividend and has sizable assets that make it a solid choice.

"This is one of the highest dividend yielding energy stocks anywhere in the world," says Mehta. "It's got 12 years of oil and gas reserves and it also has another 22 years of contingent or possible reserves."

On Wednesday, shares of Enerplus closed at $26.88, up about 19% year-to-date.

Most Profitable Company on the Planet

Mehta also recommends Gazprom (OGZPY), the Russian natural gas producer. Gazprom is not only the number one producer of gas in the world, but is also the most profitable company on the planet, hauling in more than $30 billion in profits this year alone. The company has so much cash that on Wednesday its board announced that it would increase the company's maximum level of dividend payouts from 30% to 35% (dividends can now range from 17.5% to 35%).

Mehta says that even with this level of profit, the $120 billion company is still trading at a P/E multiple of about 4.0. Although the company has had a bit of a down year, growth next year is likely because energy prices are trending upward. "Gazprom produces 17% of the world's gas and has 90 years of reserves," says Mehta.

On Wednesday, shares of Gazprom, which trades on the Pink Sheets, closed at $21.89, down 12.5% year-to-date.

Number One Maker of Diesel Engines in China

Another deep-value global company that Mehta likes is China Yuchai (CYD), a manufacturer of diesel engines for trucks and buses. Mehta says Yuchai should grow between 15% and 20% next year because it is the number-one maker of diesel engines in China, with a 22% market share in an industry that is rapidly expanding. The company has solid management and about 40% of the company's assets are in cash. Adjusted for the cash, Yuchai's P/E of 6.7 times falls to 4.0.

Mehta also says Yuchai has key agreements with other companies that will fuel future growth, including joint ventures with Caterpillar (CAT), Geely International (GELYY), the Chinese company that bought Volvo, and Chery, another large Chinese automaker.

On Wednesday, shares of China Yuchai closed at $25.59, up 73.4% so far this year.

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Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/10/28/looking-for-deep-value-in-international-stocks/

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Computer scientist John Chapin on software radios

Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/VideoPosts.aspx?id=17398

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Richard Trumka on the State of the Unions

America's workers need jobs, and AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka is calling on them to stand up and fight. Trumka joins Bill Moyers to offer his perspective on President Obama's first State of the Union address and on whether organized labor can grow and generate jobs in the 21st century. Trumka has previously worked as a coal miner, a lawyer, and president of the United Mine Workers of America.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/b52mzX5q6nQ/profile.html

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And...action! How to win Hollywood futures trading

oscarsAs the film world convenes this week at the ShoWest convention in Las Vegas, one of the hot topics is sure to be the box-office futures market. Come April, after expected approval by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, industry and regular folks will be able to purchase futures derivatives from Cantor Fitzgerald that basically bet on or against the success of studio movies six months before they open.

The tally covers the first four weeks of domestic release. Shares will be worth a millionth of the film's expected total, so a predicted $100 million movie would offer $100 contracts. The minimum contract will be $50.

WalletPop wants kibitzers who fancy themselves Hollywood players to get a head-start, so we've enlisted an expert for tips on how to spot potential winners.


Continue reading And...action! How to win Hollywood futures trading

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Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/03/15/and-action-how-to-win-hollywood-futures-trading/

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Safe Haven No More: The Smart Money Is Betting Against the Swiss Franc

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'Safe Haven' Swiss Franc Is Due for a DeclineAided by a number of developments, the Swiss franc has been the second-best performing major currency over the past six months, reports Bloomberg. Since March 29, the currency has outpaced the dollar and the euro by 8.9% and 7.8%, respectively.

First, growing fears about the risk of default by some European nations and the negative impact that could have on the eurozone economy -- and its common currency -- sent many investors scurrying to invest in what has long been seen as Europe's safe haven currency.

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The Swiss franc has also been bolstered by the purchases of those who fear that renewed weakness in the U.S. economy and the likelihood of more monetary accommodation by the Federal Reserve will eventually lead to inflation that will drive down the value of the dollar.

Moreover, efforts by Eastern European governments to unwind low-interest franc-denominated mortgages taken on by citizens in those countries -- which have suddenly become more costly in local currency terms -- are exacerbating the squeeze, according to Bloomberg.

The Smart Money Is Betting Against the Franc


The key question, of course, is will the trend continue? While there's no guarantee that the franc won't keep strengthening, various technical and sentiment indicators, as well as some fundamental developments, suggest the Swiss currency is due for at least a short-term correction.

To begin with, the franc is at a level relative to the dollar that has been a major barrier to further strength in the Swiss currency. At the same time, the F/X rate and the trend of its 14-day RSI (Relative Strength Index), a measure of momentum, are diverging somewhat, a development that has often marked short- and medium-term turning points.




In addition, the smart money is making sizable bets against the Swiss currency. Based on data from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, commercial traders -- defined by the CFTC as those firms that are engaged in business activities hedged by the use of the futures or option markets -- have their biggest short positions in the franc since December 2009, notes DailyFX.

Bullish sentiment towards the franc has also reached contrarian extremes. According to market blog Trader's Narrative, the Daily Sentiment Index reading for the Swiss unit has reached 95% (out of 100%), while a recent Financial Times report, Resurgent Swiss Franc Seems Unstoppable, was notable for its paucity of bearish perspectives.

To top it off, fundamental conditions are not as supportive as some might believe. In recent weeks, the Swiss National Bank has softened its previously hawkish stance (over inflation concerns), while the strength seen in the currency so far will likely weigh on the nation's exports, undermining growth overall and, ultimately, demand for the Swiss currency.

Right now, the Swiss franc might seem like the one investment you can't do without: That's often the time when savvy investors start thinking otherwise.

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Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/09/29/swiss-franc-safe-haven-is-due-for-a-decline/

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Mervyn King reiterates call to separate banks

Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England, urged the separation of lenders' retail businesses from their "casino banking" arms and a "real change in culture" at British banks.

Source: http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/579300/s/20d77247/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Cfinance0Ceconomics0C93641870CMervyn0EKing0Ereiterates0Ecall0Eto0Eseparate0Ebanks0Bhtml/story01.htm

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Why Is Sunscreen Forbidden For Kids At Some Schools And Camps?

Sunscreen is a friend to fair and dark complexions alike, protecting its wearers from sunburn and other forms of skin damage. So why would schools and camps ban kids from carrying the stuff without a doctor's note? After a recent story of a mom horrified that her two daughters were severely sunburned after a school [...]

Source: http://consumerist.com/2012/06/why-is-sunscreen-forbidden-for-kids-at-some-schools-and-camps.html

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Senator Dick Durbin

As the banking stress test results come in, the Journal takes a closer look at money's stranglehold on politics. Bill Moyers speaks with Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) - who declared last week that banks "are still the most powerful lobby on Capitol Hill. And they frankly own the place" - on campaign finance reform, big lobbying, and making Washington work for the people rather than special interests.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/TcfYQCzCpMc/profile.html

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Business Leaders 'Encouraged' by Obama Talks

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President Barack Obama walks back to the White House after his meeting with business leaders Wednesday.The CEOs of Boeing (BA), Honeywell International (HON) and United Parcel Service (UPS), among others, say they were encouraged by Wednesday's discussions with President Barack Obama about the U.S. economy and international competitiveness of domestic companies.

Eighteen CEOs met with Obama, including the heads of Google (GOOG), General Electric (GE) and Comcast (CMCSA). Obama and financial leaders spent more than five hours on Wednesday discussing topics such as government-funded incentives for employee training, improvements in trade agreements with other countries and a possible reduction in the tax rate on overseas profits.

"It all centered on competitiveness of our economy and the job creation that comes behind it," Boeing CEO James McNerney said in a CNBC interview.

The president vowed to try to make the government-business relationship more collaborative, the CEOs told CNBC. "There's an important recognition that business and government must work together," Honeywell CEO David Cote said in a separate CNBC interview. Meanwhile, UPS CEO Scott Davis and UBS (UBS) President Robert Wolf both characterized the discussions as "constructive."

Tax Package Remains Controversial

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But the CEOs were hardly unanimous in their support for the $858 billion tax package that the Senate passed the same day. The Senate on Wednesday agreed to extend tax breaks and unemployment benefits while cutting Social Security taxes. The bill, which Senate passed by a more than 4-to-1 margin, will now need to get approval from the House of Representatives, according to the Associated Press.

Tax cuts have been a point of contention between Obama and Republicans. The president wanted to increase capital-gains taxes while granting tax breaks for the middle class and for small businesses, while Republicans say ending any tax breaks -- even those for the highest earners -- would hamper the country's economic recovery.

The meetings Wednesday may have eased some of the tension. Boeing's McNerney told CNBC that "virtually all of the people in the room felt that it was a good step forward."

But not everyone agrees. Honeywell's Cote said that while the package may help the U.S. economy in the short term, it won't help the country's staggering debt levels, which will eventually take their toll on U.S. businesses. "That kind of compromise as an ongoing basis is going to sink us as a country," Cote told CNBC.

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Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/12/15/business-leaders-encouraged-by-obama-talks/

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Economic Challenges Can't Cloud Fourth of July Celebrations

Author(s): 

Here’s hoping America has enough hot dogs for everybody, because more Americans are planning to celebrate her birthday this year, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation.

More than 160 million people, or 67.6 percent of Americans will celebrate the Fourth of July by hosting or attending a cookout/barbeque and/or picnic. This is the most ever recorded in the survey’s history, the NRF said in a statement.

Americans can use a good party. Disappointing economic news (consumer spending was flat in May for the first time in six months, the Commerce Department announced Friday), escalating election-year partisanship, and the controversial Supreme Court ruling on President Obama’s health care law cast a cloud on Fourth of July celebrations.

But that’s not going to stop an estimated 115 million people from attending a fireworks or community celebration and another 35 million from attending a parade, the NRF forecasts. And perhaps because of the challenges the country is facing, Americans are rallying around their beleaguered country. More than 48 million people (23 percent) said they intend to buy additional patriotic merchandise within the next 30 days, a three percent increase over last year.

Americans will always rally around their country. A June Millionaire Corner survey finds that 70 percent of respondents said they are more likely to purchase goods made in America compared to before the 2008 economic crisis.  More than one-quarter (27 percent) said they will do this for patriotic reasons.

Eighty-four percent of Fourth of July holiday travels opt for the car, and automobile travel may get a boost from recent drops in gas prices, which are at their lowest level in five months. The national average price for a gallon of regular gas has dropped about .20 cents from last year, according to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report. AAA is forecasting that about 35.5 million people—a 4 percent increase over last year—plan to travel by car this holiday weekend, setting a benchmark for the decade.

Overall, AA is projecting that 42.3 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the holiday weekend, a 4.9 percent increase over last year.

 

Source: http://www.millionairecorner.com/article/economic-challenges-cant-cloud-fourth-july-celebrations

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Your Boss Doesn't Understand Your 401(k) Plan's Fees Either

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401k Boss work fees401(k) plans can be extremely useful tools to help you save for retirement. Lately, though, they've come under fire because of their high and often hard-to-figure-out fees and their limited investment options, which turn what should be a smart savings vehicle into one that robs employees of their investment returns.

Workers have tended to blame their employers for giving them bad investments at high costs. But a recent study from the Government Accountability Office found that when it comes to understanding the nuts and bolts of the retirement plans they offer, the bosses are just as much in the dark as workers are.

That's alarming, particularly considering that the companies that sponsor plans have a duty to their workers to look after their interests.

It's All Greek to, Well, Everyone

The GAO study found that employers have the same problems ferreting out esoteric fees that workers face.

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For instance, revenue-sharing arrangements under which mutual fund companies collect fees from fund shareholders and then divert some of the fee income to plan service providers can boost the total fees that 401(k) participants pay. Moreover, because these fees are usually charged on a percentage basis, they get larger as workers save more -- even though the services provided typically remain the same.

The study referred to one employer that actually paid record-keeping fees that were 16 times greater than it believed it was paying, because it didn't understand its revenue-sharing arrangement with its services provider. In addition, some investment options, such as variable annuities and other insurance products, come with additional expenses that add to the fee burden.

Moreover, the smaller the employer, the more likely it is you'll pay higher fees.

The GAO cited figures from BrightScope saying that plans with less than $10 million in assets pay 1.9% annually for 401(k)-related services, compared to just 1.08% for plans with more than $100 million. So if you work for a tiny company, you can expect your 401(k) choices to be more expensive.


Who Really Pays the Tab

Unfortunately, the main reason employers don't know about the fees their plans incur is that they tend not to pay them. Not only do workers pay fund management costs from their investments, but service providers often take record-keeping and administrative fees directly from plan assets as well.

In response to the GAO report, the Department of Labor is trying to educate employers about their responsibilities in providing retirement plans. In the end, though, it's up to you to make sure your employer's 401(k) plan makes sense for you. If the fees are too high, either ask for a change or choose other methods, such as IRAs, to save for retirement.

Motley Fool contributor Dan Caplinger has no one to blame but himself for his self-directed 401(k). You can follow him on Twitter here.


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Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/06/14/your-boss-doesnt-understand-your-401-k-plans-fees-either/

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Deepening the American Dream

Bill Moyers introduces "Deepening the American Dream," a Web-only project at www.pbs.org/moyers that features essays and videos of some of Moyers' notable guests laying out their vision for the future of the American dream.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/d-lNS7ZjEhI/index.html

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vrijdag 29 juni 2012

Your Boss Doesn't Understand Your 401(k) Plan's Fees Either

Filed under: ,

401k Boss work fees401(k) plans can be extremely useful tools to help you save for retirement. Lately, though, they've come under fire because of their high and often hard-to-figure-out fees and their limited investment options, which turn what should be a smart savings vehicle into one that robs employees of their investment returns.

Workers have tended to blame their employers for giving them bad investments at high costs. But a recent study from the Government Accountability Office found that when it comes to understanding the nuts and bolts of the retirement plans they offer, the bosses are just as much in the dark as workers are.

That's alarming, particularly considering that the companies that sponsor plans have a duty to their workers to look after their interests.

It's All Greek to, Well, Everyone

The GAO study found that employers have the same problems ferreting out esoteric fees that workers face.

Sponsored Links

For instance, revenue-sharing arrangements under which mutual fund companies collect fees from fund shareholders and then divert some of the fee income to plan service providers can boost the total fees that 401(k) participants pay. Moreover, because these fees are usually charged on a percentage basis, they get larger as workers save more -- even though the services provided typically remain the same.

The study referred to one employer that actually paid record-keeping fees that were 16 times greater than it believed it was paying, because it didn't understand its revenue-sharing arrangement with its services provider. In addition, some investment options, such as variable annuities and other insurance products, come with additional expenses that add to the fee burden.

Moreover, the smaller the employer, the more likely it is you'll pay higher fees.

The GAO cited figures from BrightScope saying that plans with less than $10 million in assets pay 1.9% annually for 401(k)-related services, compared to just 1.08% for plans with more than $100 million. So if you work for a tiny company, you can expect your 401(k) choices to be more expensive.


Who Really Pays the Tab

Unfortunately, the main reason employers don't know about the fees their plans incur is that they tend not to pay them. Not only do workers pay fund management costs from their investments, but service providers often take record-keeping and administrative fees directly from plan assets as well.

In response to the GAO report, the Department of Labor is trying to educate employers about their responsibilities in providing retirement plans. In the end, though, it's up to you to make sure your employer's 401(k) plan makes sense for you. If the fees are too high, either ask for a change or choose other methods, such as IRAs, to save for retirement.

Motley Fool contributor Dan Caplinger has no one to blame but himself for his self-directed 401(k). You can follow him on Twitter here.


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Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/06/14/your-boss-doesnt-understand-your-401-k-plans-fees-either/

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WSJ Story Hints At Bond Buying

The Wall Street Journal published an interview this morning with German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble. Since Germany holds the purse strings, his comments are important. Two potentially positive developments are included in the interview. The first relates to trying to calm markets in the short-term:
Mr. Schäuble acknowledged that Europe might have to [...]

Source: http://ciovaccocapital.com/wordpress/index.php/stock-market-us/wsj-story-hints-at-bond-buying/

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EXPOSE: A Private War

EXPOSE: AMERICA'S INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS examine a whistleblower's tale of military housing contracts gone awry

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/S4UnqaBE7Dw/profile3.html

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Will US Have the Sense to Repeal ObamaCare?

John Stossel, FOX Business
After the Supremes approved Obamacare yesterday, the President gave a speech. I think it needs de-coding.Obama: Today's decision was a victory for people all over this country... De-coded: It's a victory for central planners, not "people". One thing I've learned in 42 years of reporting is that centrally planned bureaucracy kills innovation, increases costs, and undercuts personal liberty. If you're one of the more than 250 million Americans who already have health insurance, you will keep your health insurance...

Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2012/06/29/will_us_have_the_sense_to_repeal_obamacare_283650.html

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Damn Rich Civil Servants

Before we all go off on the Big C8j let us remember that I am a Civil Servant, so I feel I can publish that kind of inflammatory title (even with more cuts going on in the Civil Service (although 540 are at the CRA, so that is actually financial news as well)). So why [...]


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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CanadianFinancialStuff/~3/GuuzVpYvhT4/

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Hard Times for Nonprod Workers in Manufacturing

Here's a bit of a good news-bad news chart.


newgdp_23631_image001.gif

The rate of job cuts for production workers in manufacturing has slowed dramatically in the past few months, as companies start to rebuild inventories.

However, they are still aggressively slicing their nonproduction workers--engineers, managers, sales staff, and the like. Over the last three months, employment of manufacturing nonprod workers is falling at a 7.6% annual pace, compared to a 4.2% pace for production workers.

Source: http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/economicsunbound/archives/2009/10/hard_times_for.html

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Good idea (really bad implementation)

About 6 years ago, I went on a pretty serious exercise regimen, and felt that if I had a stationary exercise bike I’d get great use out of it, so naturally I went off to a large box Exercise Store, and bought one of the dumber wastes of money in my life, a $1000 exercise [...]


Good idea (really bad implementation) is a post from: Canadian Personal Finance Blog and follow me on twitter as well: Big Cajun Man, daily updates from all over the Blogosphere. Subscribe to my comments feed as well!

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Kathleen Hall Jamieson

Contributor Kathleen Hall Jamieson returns with a recap of the key moments and messages of the Republican National Convention.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/9mRbaZEPcuA/profile3.html

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Computer scientist John Chapin on software radios

Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/VideoPosts.aspx?id=17398

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youngandthrifty’s June net worth update +0.14%

$150, 451 (+0.14%) Talk about barely squeaking by this month in the positive territory.  The major reason for this month’s lacklustre net worth performance is because the stock market has been lacklustre.  20/20 vision- should have sold in May and gone away!  I’m tempted to buy some more BMO at current pricing… tempted to sell [...]

%%postlink%% is a post from %%bloglink%%

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Youngandthrifty/~3/y6xAh0mBa08/

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A Democratic house divided.

Bill Moyers interviews Berkeley Law professors Christopher Edley, Jr. and Maria Echaveste - he's for Obama and she's for Clinton. They met working in the Clinton administration and now, having been married for nine years, Edley and Echaveste are both advising their respective candidates. Edley serves as dean and professor of law of UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law, where Echaveste is a lecturer in residence.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/MXw5jaae4PA/profile2.html

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donderdag 28 juni 2012

Playing for Change

Bill Moyers talks with Mark Johnson, the producer of a remarkable documentary about the simple but transformative power of music.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/9ygrJj8PfVM/profile2.html

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Moyers Digital Archive

David Lewis, renowned community leader was shot and killed in San Mateo, California on June 9, 2010. In 1992 Lewis, an ex-convict and drug addict, drew on his own experiences to help found Free at Last in East Palo Alto, California. The center helps more than 4,200 people annually and has become a model of community-based treatment. Bill Moyers and producers Kathleen Hughes and Tom Casciato met David Lewis in 1991 during the filming of the documentary Circle of Recovery. Then Lewis was 35 years old and he was just getting on his feet, having spent most of his adult life behind bars in some of California's toughest prisons: Folsom, Soledad and San Quentin. Kathleen Hughes continued to document Lewis' remarkable community efforts in Palo Alto for NOW with Bill Moyers in 2003. You can view that story online for the first time.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/yZiBB5o1_JQ/remembering_community_leader_d.html

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Debt crisis: live

Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande meet in Paris to try to square their differences over the debt crisis after the German chancellor ruled out eurobonds for 'as long as I live'.

Source: http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/579300/s/20c14abf/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Cfinance0Cdebt0Ecrisis0Elive0C935820A10CDebt0Ecrisis0Elive0Bhtml/story01.htm

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Beginning of Summer Blog Update

Is my cat celebrating my Alexa Ranking, summer or me being away? Well now that summer is finally upon us, the Vancouver weather decided to start cooperating. Good thing too because I’m going on a road trip to visit family … Continue reading

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ModestMoney/~3/j1hCE5VMSJY/

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Buying the Bench?

A Bill Moyers essay.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/rlm2ikqv6Cs/watch3.html

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PAID IN FULL!!!

That's right!!  You read it correctly :-)

Today is Car Loan Freedom, baby!!!

2 years ahead of schedule, the loan is now paid in full.  I have an at home day today so I slipped down (3 blocks) to the bank and put the final payment in on my vehicle. The teller smiled, leaned in, and whispered those sweet, seductive words "Your balance is zero".

The paper she handed me reaffirmed that fact. A sweet little sexy $0 at the bottom.

As I drove home, I patted her dash and praised her "You're all paid for now!!", with a finger crossed warning "Please don't start breaking down, now".

When I got home I logged onto my online account to check the balance. The account was gone. I didn't even get the sweet bliss of seeing that online.

I had forgotten it did the same thing when my consolidated loan was paid off too LOL

It feels good to have it paid off. I have learned a lot over the course of this loan and I am so grateful for the cheers and support of my blogging family. thank you so much.

Stay tuned for "Loan by the numbers" with more specific number details for those who like that sort of thing.

Source: http://shakingthemoneytree.blogspot.com/2012/06/paid-in-full.html

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EXPOSE on THE JOURNAL: Broken Justice

EXPOSE and THE JOURNAL follow a team from the Denver Post's award-winning reporting on the broken justice system on Indian reservations across the country.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/7Y6FRvNnVJE/profile2.html

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Ford's Earning Report and Intangibles

Ford's 3rd quarter earnings report, released this morning, showed a surprisingly large net income of almost $1 billion. The company reported that it:

...reduced its Automotive structural costs by $1 billion in the quarter, largely driven by lower manufacturing and engineering costs, which included benefits from improved productivity, personnel reduction actions primarily in North America and Europe, and progress on implementing its common global platforms and product development processes.

So this leaves two questions: First, how much of these cost reductions came from cuts in intangible investments such as engineering, research and development?

The answer is: The earnings report doesn't tell us. R&D and product development are not broken out separately on a quarterly basis, even though Ford has had an enormous budget for these items ($7.3 billion in 2008, according to the 10K).

Second, is engineering, research and development money being shifted to Ford's overseas operations? Once again, the earnings report is mute on this point. The 10K says

We maintain extensive engineering, research and design centers for these purposes, include large centers in Dearborn, Michigan; Dunton, England; Gothenburg, Sweden; and Aachen and Merkenich, Germany

As Ford makes "progress on implementing its common global platforms and product development processes," it would be good to know the size of the ER&D spending cuts and where they are hitting.

Source: http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/economicsunbound/archives/2009/11/fords_earning_r.html

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Bill Moyers on Afghanistan

Bill Moyers reflects on President Obama's recent announcement that he will send more troops to Afghanistan.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/Gp_j4bpbPlI/watch3.html

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A Struggling Brokerage House? Ex-Gov. Jon Corzine Should Fit Right In

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Former New Jersey Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine has more friends on Wall Street than he wound up with in the Garden State. Although the former Goldman Sachs (GS) co-chairman lost his bid for reelection in November to Republican Gov. Chris Christie, that hardly made him unemployable: He's now becoming chief executive of the struggling brokerage firm MF Global Holdings (MF), based in New York, which has reported four consecutive quarterly losses, The Wall Street Journal reported today.

Corzine succeeds Bernard W. Dan, who resigned as CEO and as a member of the board for what the company calls personal reasons. MF Global shares, up more than 90% over the past year, surged on the announcement, despite disappointing fiscal fourth-quarter revenue guidance of between $235 million and $245 million.

"Though we are surprised by current CEO Bernie Dan's departure. . . we consider Mr. Corzine's appointment as CEO and Chairman of MF a positive event for the company and the stock," wrote Keefe Bruyette and Woods analyst Niamh Alexander, who rates MF's shares as outperform, in a note to clients. "
We see many parallels between Mr. Corzine's tenure at Goldman Sachs, running its fixed income institutional business and then later, running the company (and MF Global)...Importantly, Mr. Corzine's vision for MF appears to be inline with the goals MF has been targeting."

A Bad Bet on Wheat

Corzine, who went into politics after losing a power struggle at Goldman Sachs, also was appointed an operating partner at J.C. Flowers & Co., the private equity firm that acquired a stake in MF Global for $300 million in equity in 2008 to help MF pay down debt resulting from unauthorized bets on wheat futures. Corzine will also be a lecturer at Princeton University.

Since losing the election, Corzine has hardly hidden from the media. He has been a frequent guest on CNBC and energetically denied rumors that he was in line to replace Kenneth Lewis as chief executive of Bank of America (BAC).

But for Corzine, another run at public office seems unlikely at this point. As governor, he failed to convince New Jersey voters that he could tackle the state's financial problems -- despite his decades of experience on Wall Street. Gov. Christie has more of a common touch and has proposed a budget that critics consider Draconian and that he himself calls painful. Whether Corzine or Christie will be more successful in their respective new jobs remains to be seen.

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Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/03/24/a-struggling-brokerage-house-ex-gov-jon-corzine-should-fit-rig/

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Renewable Energy Marketers Form Trade Association

(Washington, DC) Some of the most influential and competitive organizations in the renewable energy industry have now joined together to create the first trade association for organizations that market renewable energy. The Renewable Energy Marketers Association (REMA) has formed to vigorously promote the economic and national security benefits of domestic renewable energy.
REMA is comprised [...]

Source: http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/press/renewable-energy-marketers/

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79% of Fund Managers Didn't Beat the S&P

Market Risk

Yes, believe it or not, it's absolutely true.  Last year, 79% of fund managers did not beat the S&P, the worst result in 15 years.  These are the experts, the ones who wear flashy clothes and drive even flashier cars as proof that they know what they're doing.  So if they don't have a chance, what kind of chance do you have at creating a solid financial foundation as you prepare for your retirement? 

In order to beat their performance, you simply need to concentrate on financial products that provide a safe, steady growth.  While this strategy might not make your portfolio explode in value, it can help provide a solid outcome without the stress of losing it all.  To help you get started, we'll briefly discuss two such opportunities that will assist you with achieving your goals.
Opportunity #1:  Annuities
If you want to achieve safe, steady growth for your retirement portfolio, it's hard to beat annuities.  We've discussed annuities and their advantages in the past, but let's give a quick run-down for the uninitiated.  Basically, an annuity allows you to place money into an account either all at once or in intervals of your choosing.  Then, at a certain date determined by the agreement between you and the financial company, you will begin receiving checks each month (or all at once, if you prefer).  It is even possible to set up an annuity so that you receive payments for the rest of your life.
Annuities are a great way to begin investing without a large amount of available funds.  Depending on the financial institution you utilize, you may be able to open an annuity for only around $300, plus contributions of only $50.  Some may be higher or lower, but regardless of the exact amount, you can typically contribute on your own terms.  This flexibility is what many investors enjoy.
Opportunity #2:  Indexing
If you were to bring up the subject with a seasoned stock market investor, they'd scoff at the idea.  Why?  Because indexing is, for lack of a better term, boring.  There's really no excitement involved, and for those seasoned investors, they see it as a lesser option when compared to other products that offer a higher possibility of making money.  However, with that possibility also comes a higher chance of losing a great deal of funds on a bad investment.  To put it simply, indexing is for those who want to play it safe.
To begin, you'll want to obtain the assistance of a financial adviser who will give you a number of options, such as life insurance, certificates of deposit, fixed index annuities, etc.  Once you have chosen a financial product or two, indexing will begin by attaching itself to the market index of those products.  As that specific index increases, your own investment will increase as well.  And if you choose more than one product to latch on to, your financial portfolio will be helped by diversification.
The great thing about indexing is a total lack of risk.  While indexing allows you to make money by following a financial product's market index as it increases, you will not be affected by any decreases.  While this might sound like a pipe dream, it's absolutely true.  It's the way indexing is designed to perform.  Just keep in mind that, as stated earlier, it can be a rather boring investment.  But let those fund managers stick to the riskier products while you secure a solid retirement full of "boredom."

Source: http://firstsecurityfinancialshow.com/blog/bid/141653/79-of-Fund-Managers-Didn-t-Beat-the-S-P

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Bill Moyers Essay: Your Vote

A Bill Moyers essay on the importance of the vote.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bmjvodcast/~3/8gVeHlDn-qE/watch3.html

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Globalization and Measurement Conference

I'm about to go down to DC to attend this conference (I'm giving the after-dinner remarks as well)

Measurement Issues Arising from the Growth of Globalization

This is a very important conference as we try to figure what is *really* going on in the U.S. economy. I'll be writing more about it.

Source: http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/economicsunbound/archives/2009/11/globalization_a.html

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What Not to Say to Co-Workers

what not to say to co-workers

What not to say to co-workers is a topic that I thought of several months ago when I was writing up a list of blog post ideas. I jotted down a bunch of points under the title but never turned them into a post because I thought it might be viewed as old fashion and out-of-date.

But today while having lunch I thought that it might be a fun post to write because it will be interesting to see which points people agree with and which they disagree with based on their experiences.

Obviously it is important to build strong working relationships with your co-workers no matter where you work. And building those strong relationships can take time. After putting all that effort into building good relationships with your fellow employees the last thing you want to do is to jeopardize any of those relationships by talking about the wrong things.

We all know that every work environment is different. While one person could be working in retail, another could be working as a chef, and still others could be working in corporate offices.

As well, what goes on in work environments these days is different then what was happening 20 years ago. Add to that the fact that what is frowned upon in one work environment may be fair game in another location.

Okay, here are some guidelines on what not to say to co-workers.

Intimate Relationships

Don’t talk about your intimate relationships. Don’t tell your co-workers about your sexual encounters with your significant other, or your best friend’s mother, or the new hot girl in accounting.

Gossip

Don’t gossip. One of the things that happened over and over again in many of the corporate offices that I worked in was office gossip. Many people think that the best way to get to know their co-workers is through office gossip. I think they couldn’t be more wrong. You can quickly create a bad image of yourself by participating in gossip. While it may seem fun and harmless in the beginning, it can quickly create big problems. People hear you gossip and they remember that you like to gossip. Some even go so far as to form opinions around how good of an employee you are based on the gossip they hear you spreading versus the actual work that you get done.

Might be Pregnant - Might Not Be

Never ask a woman when she is due unless you are absolutely sure you are right.

Parties

Don’t talk about all the parties you attended on the weekend and how you drank gallons of beer and did drugs for 10 hours straight.

Personal Problems

Don’t whine about your personal problems on a regular and on-going basis. Everyone has stuff going on in their lives. While you may feel that some of your co-workers have become your best friends you never know what the future holds and how things can come back to haunt you until the first time it happens to you.

Paycheck

Don’t discuss your paycheck. This is typically a work place policy, but again every place is different. I would be quiet, just to be safe.

Finances

Don’t talk about your personal finances with your co-workers unless you work with financial advisors and it seems appropriate to discuss your personal finances with them.

Religion or Cultural Beliefs

Don’t talk about religious beliefs or different cultural beliefs. Work environments consist of different people from all over the world and it is important to keep that in mind when you speak. While your co-workers may smile or even laugh as you speak about different religions or different cultures, these things may actually make them feel quite uncomfortable.

Venting

Don’t vent to someone in your workplace about someone else in your workplace that you are having difficulties with. Again, some how, some way, it will come back to bite you in the ass. Trust me!

Jokes

Don’t toss out negative jokes about management or other co-workers. Just because you think it is funny doesn’t mean anyone else does. While everyone may laugh at the time, they may just be laughing because they now feel uncomfortable around you.

Swearing

Don’t swear at someone that you work with. While you may just be speaking to the person seated next to you, others may overhear you and may take offence.

Keep in mind that while many work environments can get quite stressful at times, for whatever reasons, talking about certain things and making co-workers feel uncomfortable will only add to the stress.

So did I miss any points on what not to say to co-workers? Again, I am interested in hearing your perspective of what should and shouldn’t be said based on your experiences in your present or past work environment.


Source: http://tacklingourdebt.com/2012/05/29/what-not-say-co-workers/

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Debt crisis: live

Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande meet in Paris to try to square their differences over the debt crisis after the German chancellor ruled out eurobonds for 'as long as I live'.

Source: http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/579300/s/20c14abf/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Cfinance0Cdebt0Ecrisis0Elive0C935820A10CDebt0Ecrisis0Elive0Bhtml/story01.htm

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