Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Who knew???

I didn't know nuffin about it! Honest Ma!

"All the factors that created the market's collapse were hiding in plain sight in brokerage firm 10-K filings and news reports about the housing and mortgage markets. Hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals knew the risks in the collateralized debt obligations and credit default swaps marketplaces. Many of them even work in one place -- New York City," said Colas."

http://cxa.marketwatch.com/TSX/en/Market/article.aspx?guid=http%3a%2f%2fsystem.marketwatch.com%2fnewscloud%2fdocguid%2f{D20C36CA-47D0-48DC-A2E8-1A4D6CA9924A}

I see nothiiinnng!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34ag4nkSh7Q

14 comments:

  1. Continuing from a few days ago . . .

    3) I rear-ended a car this morning. So, there we were alongside the road and slowly the other driver got out of his car.

    You know how sometimes you just get soooo stressed and little things just seem so funny? Yeah, well I couldn't believe it . . . he was a DWARF!

    He stormed over to my car, looked up at me and shouted,

    'I AM NOT HAPPY!!!'

    So, I looked down at him and said,

    'Well, then which one are you?'

    And that's when the fight started . . .
    ***
    4) A woman is standing nude, looking in the bedroom mirror. She is not happy with what she sees and says to her husband,

    'I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you to pay me a compliment.'

    The husband replies, 'Your eyesight's damn near perfect.'

    And that's when the fight started . . .
    ------
    Newspaper funny stuff: -- http://criggo.wordpress.com/
    ------
    Hello, good evening and welcome! 'Tis I, the La Grate Chizzlleee. Mercy -- just another gloriously cool, sunny and cloudy day here in Le Voluptuous Okanagan!

    And that's when the fight started. Turns out I'm too old and decrepit to fight anymore, so instead I'll post jokes and links.
    ***
    From Grifters.

    "Hey, somebodies got to do it.. . . . $450 Trillion in derivatives? Did I hear that right?"

    Akin to what I posted here and Garthmeister's blogs a day or two ago -- total (so far) for Credit Default Swaps and Derivatives' debts, for each individual on this planet is US$190,000, which does NOT include any other debts.

    Now the current population is slightly over 6.75 billion -- http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html -- so, times $190(,000) x 7 (bln.) = 1,330.

    I 'll let y'all place further zeroes on, and then figure the mess out.

    It is quite easy to understand why we are where we are, that all govt. and political leaders, as well as the 'elite', 'supra-rich' and 'ultra-wealthy' are in the same boat as everyone else, except for one difference -- they have hard, paid-for assets.

    At least Sandy and I paid our mortgage off years upon years ago. Whether or not we will be around for any length of time remains to be seen. We all will finish our life cycles anyway -- birth, life, death or beginning, middle, end.
    ------
    Speaking of crooks, nasties and the like, it seems the fix is in at AIG. Except that Goldman Sachs execs. received US$10-11 bln. in bonuses -- plus their bailout -- compared to $165 mln. for AIG. execs.

    BTW -- WHERE THE HELL IS MY US$1 BLN. BONUS FOR DOING DIDDLY SQUAT?! -- http://www.dailyreckoning.com/

    More later!

    ReplyDelete
  2. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY! (Courtesy wrh.com)

    "If we run into such debts as that we must be taxed in our meat and in our drink, in our necessaries and our comforts, in our labors and our amusements, for our callings and our creeds, as the people of England are, our people, like them, must come to labor sixteen hours in the twenty-four, and give the earnings of fifteen of these to the government for their debts and daily expenses; And the sixteen being insufficient to afford us bread, we must live, as they do now, on oatmeal and potatoes, have no time to think, no means of calling the mismanagers to account; But be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains around the necks of our fellow sufferers; And this is the tendency of all human governments. A departure from principle in one instance becomes a precedent for a second, that second for a third, and so on 'til the bulk of society is reduced to mere automatons of misery, to have no sensibilities left but for sinning and suffering...and the forehorse of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follows that, and in its train wretchedness and oppression. -- Thomas Jefferson

    Ahhhh so, Quasimodo. One cannot see the forest for the trees anymore!
    ------
    From what I posted earlier here, and neither link has anything to do with money. This is the second 'unseen elephant' in the living room. See how the two links blend together. Rising population / food shortages and famines.

    "Now the current population is slightly over 6.75 billion -- http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html -- so, times $190(,000) x 7 (bln.) = 1,330." -- http://tinyurl.com/cetewl and http://tinyurl.com/dbr53p
    ------
    Russia is proposing a new 'reserve' currency -- http://tinyurl.com/ch283g -- while shopping malls in the US close every week. -- http://tinyurl.com/d5es9l (scroll down a little).

    "Russia is proposing that discussions into the possibility of creating a new world reserve currency are initiated at the upcoming G20 summit in London, a government source said on Wednesday."
    ------
    More 'net censorship. NWO is taking shape pretty darn quickly, yet almost no one sees their civil liberties, rights, freedoms, etc., going up in smoke. -- http://tinyurl.com/dcjjqh

    ReplyDelete
  3. Comrade

    You were quite right. The AIG bonus isn`t simple. AIG says are not performance rated but retention paid to employees that closed the book on their activity, `that satisfies the company`. I suppose you could argue retention even if they are activated by performance.


    It seems even more curious when a large number of experts have been recommending completely dismantling the company as the best solution.

    ReplyDelete
  4. May I ask you Comrade One, about W.Kinsella? I don't know much about him but I plan to read his books someday. It's been said that he's Canada's answer to James Carville, so that kind of makes him alright in my books. He disturbs the CPC tremendously so he must be doing something right! I've watched US politics for quite a few years, (family was there) and I love Paul Begala and Carville. They tell it like they see it and as far as I can tell, if the right could have found one speck of dirt to take them out- they would have by now! And defining Rush as the head of the GOP is about time. It seems up here they're defining Ezra as the 'force' behind the right. Or maybe Ezra's doing that. Ya gotta love it! Why should they be afraid of some exposure? Let's just see what the independent ad-makers are beginning to show us. With Steve's numbers going down and his itchy election trigger-finger, who knows what the Group of One has in mind. I know some of his (musical) ministers don't look very happy in their new chairs. James Moore looks like he would rather be doing anything except what he's doing! Oh, but he was answering in QP on cuts to the CBC, so I wonder what that will look like at the end of the day? It's connected Canadians for so long, that must be why CPC wants it changed. They truly make me sad on so many levels... 22 Minutes has really changed though- it's not very funny any more, just kind of mean. There are so many subtle ways to have fun and provoke thought, I don't know what happened to that show. No more Mary Walsh, I guess. I loved Gerry Boyle- he was 'my kinda people'- Greg Thomey. I hope they don't change the radio too much. I hear they're bringing in more commercials; that should help balance out the 'Liberal Media Bias'! I like the French version of CBC Radio. They have some great programming, a little different than the English version- and less talk! I heard an afternoon of some very old recordings recently and one song caught me... "I don't want to set the world on fire...." anyway it stayed with me for days because it was so familiar. Then it came to me- it's being used on TV to advertise one of the video war-games! Oh well, it's a beautiful song, wish I knew the name, it's from before WW2, I think. If anyone can share some thoughts or info, on any of my questions, thanks. linda.

    ReplyDelete
  5. NEVER, NEVER, EVER let the groom order the wedding cake ...

    (fortunately, I wasn't able to post the pic -- thank god!)
    ------
    Newfie Hooker

    A Newfoundlander was walking home late at night and sees a woman in the shadows.

    'Twenty dollars . . .' she whispers.

    Perry had never been with a hooker before, but decides what the hell, it's only twenty bucks, so they hide in the bushes.

    They're going 'at it' for a minute when all of a sudden a light flashes on them.

    It's a police officer.

    'What's going on here, people!!?' asks the officer.

    'I'm making love to me wife!,' he answers, sounding annoyed.

    'Oh, I'm sorry,' says the cop, 'I didn't know.'

    'Well, neidder did I, til ya shined that light in her face!'
    ------
    This is the only reason to avoid the msm. At last someone has laid it out for all to see, so I'm just passing it on. -- http://tinyurl.com/dx67kc
    ------
    Recall the French Revolution. The poor had nothing to lose and everything to gain. So they took on the 'establishment' and won.

    Maybe it's time for a new revolution, starting in Europe again but spreading like wildfire across the world. -- http://tinyurl.com/c9p7ra
    ------
    The greenback shot lower, the Euro was up slightly and the pound has gone to hell in a handbasket. God only knows where the Yen, Yuan, Ruble, etc. are.

    All of this 'money' is non-existent anyway (electronic paperless stuff), so why duzzent someone pull the plug out from the wall, send all the world's super-computers down and let this house of cards come crashing down?

    Better than what we've got now! -- http://tinyurl.com/cg5tfd
    ------
    Two links have opposite viewpoints. In the first, Ron Paul's words below are quite interesting. Second follows.

    http://www.dailypaul.com/node/86550 and http://tinyurl.com/cdcwcp

    "I see no reason for the Federal Reserve except for the mischief it causes". -- Ron Paul
    ***
    "For more than a year, the U.S. Federal Reserve System has been increasingly acting as the world's central bank, injecting hundreds of billions of dollars into foreign government treasuries in an effort to increase liquidity in those countries.

    "The foreign central banks have used the U.S. currency to bail out financial institutions within their borders. The Fed program links its balance sheet directly to the fates of foreign central banks at a time when they're on the ropes."

    ReplyDelete
  6. Linda, first thing I'll say regarding your question on Kinsella, is that I'm not going to say much about Kinsella. The 2nd thing is related to the first thing, and that is he sues a lot. Capish?

    Before he became involved with Iggnatieff, I read his blog almost daily and found his writings to be quite centrist. Some I agreed with some, and some I didn't, but that was ok. Now he is in Igg's camp, I agree with very little he writes and don't visit his site much. Rarely actually.

    Lining up Kinsella, Levant and Rush. It is my humble opinion that none of them are floating their brains at the same level I am, therefore I say Ezra who? And when I see the name Rush, I hurry to by pass whatever is written.

    I will read what John McCain has to say, as I do have some respect for his views and experiences and I like to read counter views in order to gain a more rounded perspective.

    On the CBC, I haven't spent much time focusing on that issue but my sentiments are in line with yours on This Hr. has 22. Beyond that, I believe the CBC is an important part of our identity as Canadians and should be preserved as whole as possible. I also believe they have much fat they can cut, but that is more admin and expense related. I'm very big on being efficient and respectful of the revenues they receive from tax payers. That doesn't mean they should cow tow to whatever government is in power.

    Can't help you on the song without more details. Sorry. Lastly, thanks for the plug on other blogs. I noticed that.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Charles, I read the article from the Daily Reckoning in your 1st post, and I thought it interesting for a couple of reasons.

    First was the incomplete arguments condemning socialism. That was just so typical of ultra Repub/Con mentality. His model of his Uncles success as a barber and entrepreneur measured against his disdain for his money being taken and used against his will in areas that he doesn't agree with. No mention though of the money of others being taken and used for projects that directly benefited him over the years. Pure Me ism. Pfft!

    The other thing I found interesting was his mention of the statement made by one of China's rep's at the recent G20 meetings. I mentioned that earlier, as well as the American reaction. I think this is very significant and is why we are seeing the current push on Wall St. It has been noticed that China is looking inward far more at this time than they have before, and that means reduced capital for the West to re-inflate the market bubble. In a direct way, the Chinese were letting them know it is their mess, and they best get busy fixing it. And they don't want no twofers.

    Thus, all the appearances by the Wizards of late. Also, I think "they", the Titans are having to draw down Gold investments in order to make the charge. I think they also selling off other equities as well, but everything they can generate is being pumped in, much of it going into the Big Three; Citi, B o Amer and now AIG. They may not be able to float the backing from derivatives markets any longer, thus the statements of Bernanke come into play. They will not let the Giants fall. Might be some Chinese money going there too. I don't know.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mornig Okie! Capish on the Kinsella thing, I got ya. As for spreading the word that there is some precious knowledge to be gleaned here, it's one of my ways of performing civic duty, I guess. No vain flattery intended Comrade but, in my humble opinion, you and your guests are elevating 'the discussion' on various topics to a level that scares the powerful, and enlightens the rest of us. Thanks be to you! Later and have a good one! (Check out Glenn #15 at Greater Fool. He has a similar experince happening with some friends, that you had, a little while back. How is your friend?) linda.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Just a quick question-I try to read counter-views as well; I used to hold some of them. Sigh. But how in the Dickens does one choose a blogsite, say, from the never-ending lists?? I mean, I tried to go by title for awhile, who would'nt check out "Pierre Elliott Trudeau is My Homeboy"? I did, anyway! So, how-could you maybe edit them down a bit for me? Thanks, linda:}

    ReplyDelete
  10. Morning Linda, I'm glad you find some things of value here. That is what I hope to accomplish. Many of the things I pick as topics are things I have had experience in. I know no one wants to hear about someone else's life, ongoing, so I try to convey what I have learned by using current events. I also have a personal interest in expanding my own knowledge thus making me better informed and more read worthy.

    My friend isn't doing so great. I talked to him last week and he can't keep a thought going for more than a minute or so. He jumps from topic to topic and I can tell his grasp on reality is thin at best. They did a 30 psych exam but it appears they didn't get to the root problems. I think that was just to rubber stamp him as fit to stand trial for what happened when he had the breakdown.

    I read Glenn's comment this a.m. He's not particularly PC, but he is very straight forward and comes across as sincere and intelligent. A realist too. He hit the nail on the head with the comment about too much time spent in one's own head.

    ReplyDelete
  11. It's too, too bad- no easy journey for so many of us. Myself, today, I'm thankful for the mountains and valleys. Wasn't always. Our pain can be used to help others- when they can see it. linda

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm thankful for the mountains and valleys. Wasn't always. Our pain can be used to help others- when they can see it. linda
    -------
    Pass the dube wild thang

    ReplyDelete
  13. What the hell do you know, MAN?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Not a fan of Cheech and Chong or Readers Digest, laughter is the best medicine?

    ReplyDelete