One of the economists which I read regularly is Marc Faber.  He is not too well known, but always has an interesting “take” on the US economy, as well as the world’s economy.  I saw an article about his views and I thought that I would reveal to you his thoughts on the US economy: [...]

The federal government’s control over GM and Chrysler brings with it many issues, as we are in uncharted territory.  One such issue has to do with the intersection of partisan politics business decisions.  Whether this story is true or not, it is an example of the types of issues which will always cloud the government’s [...]

Well, although I do not know how to play the piano and am totally uneducated, my two suggestions made earlier this week as to who to listen to on the “Cliburn TV” web site (http://www.cliburn.tv/#) both made the cut and will continue forward in the competition.  The other two “stories” about this group of semi-finalists [...]

“De Beers, the world’s largest diamond producer, reduced first-quarter output by 91 percent, according to Anglo American Plc, as the world economic slump cut demand for luxury goods.
Production slid to 1.08 million carats from 11.8 million carats a year earlier, London-based Anglo, which owns 45 percent of De Beers, said in a statement today. Anglo [...]

According to a new study, which has been presented as a chart, prepared by Credit Suisse, the foreclosure tidal wave is not yet spent.  In fact, the next wave of foreclosures will last until 2012, according to this study.  “These are the ultimate in “exploding mortgages.” The number of these recasts is relatively small right [...]

Using borrowed money and a series of options and related devices, Porsche engineered a take over of VW and made itself rich (on paper) in the process.  However, that all may be changing.  “Recall that Porsche engineered a massive short squeeze of Volkswagen common stock (VLKAF.PK) just a few months ago. Volkswagen’s common had been [...]

Every four years Fort Worth hosts the Van Cliburn piano competition. We are now in the preliminary rounds. I have been able to attend some of these and the whole experience is wonderful.  Now you can listen and watch via your computer.  The sound quality is excellent – so put on your good headphones and [...]

Another manifestation of the economic melt down is the decline and ultimate death of some underperforming malls. As noted in the article below, malls have been a central meeting place, like a town square for many cities.   That may be changing at least as to some malls which will not be able to survive.  “One [...]

The pattern is a) a government bail out of once private company followed by b) the need for more money by the target company followed by c) additional cash (read tax money) infused into target with the stipulation that the government will now have the ability (either immediately or at some future point) to own [...]

As previously noted, when GM closed Oldsmobile, it lost a division replete with good cars running great engines.  Olds had bad marketing.  Saturn was the polar opposite, great marketing even with far inferior cars.  Rather than taking the Olds products and rebranding them as Saturns, GM kept selling the inferior Saturn products until it was [...]