Government

They asked me to go to the NYC Auto Show. I think they meant that high-falutin, tax-dollar subsidized NYC Auto Show from the Javitz Center. Instead, I headed up to Willet's Point, where there are no sidewalks or sewers, for a kept-real Pimp-My-Ride Auto show from the streets. As I ask in the video, I wonder just how much these people's lives could be improved with that $286 million of taxpayer ... read more

Every breath you take Every move you make Every bond you break Every step you take Ill be watching you - As if you don't know that's the Police The flare up in Tibet is already worrisome and saddening, but the Dali Lama, despite the NYTimes strange insistence on hidden political motivation on his part and the similarly strange refusal to take his ... read more

I keep hearing people confusing yesterday's stock market rally with an "all clear" signal for this financial crisis. While I do think the free market forces combined with this trillion dollar bail out for Wall Street have put us on a path for strong growth during the 2nd and 3rd quarter of this year, I'm far from thinking we're through with the ramifications of the real estate bubble popping. ... read more

Luke: You know, I think that R2 unit we bought may have been stolen. Uncle Owen: What makes you think that? Luke: Well, I stumbled across a recording while I was cleaning him. He says that he belongs to someone named Obi-Wan Kenobi. I thought he might have meant old Ben. Do you know what he's talking about? Uncle Owen: Uh-uh. Luke: I wonder if he's related to Ben. Uncle Owen: That wizard is just a ... read more

Wait a darn minute here...I thought we were supposed to be down 1000 points today!   What's this green doing on my screen? Remember -- you wanted to sell the euphoria of late 2007.  The markets are down 20-25% since then and many of the brokerage stocks are down 70% plus since then.    Not all of the brokerages were as big as idiots as the guys at Bear Stearns (remember they started SHORTING ... read more

Turnin the pages in this old book Seems familiar, it might be worth a second look Wrapping up dope in a paper bag Talking to yourself taking a drag Who are ya' kidding is what you say What does it matter, you'll never hear it anyway, Gotta get past the negative things Lawyers and business, you get what you bring No one's sorry you did it yourself It's time to relax now and then give it ... read more

I mean, come on, already with this endless reverse Robin Hood movement that we're all being subjected to because rich landowners speculated too much, funds-of-funds took ridiculously levered up institutional money, levered it up even further and gave it to hedge funds who borrowed more on top of that and used options to get even more exposure to the good times. As I wrote here on these pages a ... read more

Rather than having these politicians grill their former cronies to give Wall Street something to do besides writhe in liquidity-less pain, wouldn't it be great if we could get some citizens up there who have the right to throw stones? Like the foreman mob dude overseeing the remodeling of a luxury apartment building next to mine.  Well, maybe he's not quite got the same stone throwing ... read more

More proof of two realities we're living through -- 1. They can't stop the revolution. 2. Orwell had it wrong, it's Little Brother that's watching you.   Cyber-Rebels in Cuba Defy State’s Limits By JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr. A growing underground network of young people has been spreading news the official state media try to suppress. The best part of the article is the quote at the very ... read more