ask.com

robinhood1

Recent comments by this user

Growing Deficits Threaten Pensions

Vallejo does pay a lot of overtime to its fire department. The city does not appear to have been well managed in recent years. The bankruptcy judge could allow the city to cut pension benefit payments to retirees and even roll back the pension formula to what it was before it was improved a few years ago. It is one thing to protect lower paid employee pensions. No one wants to see retirees resorting to eating dog food. On the other hand, public safety pensions are way too high. posted 05/12/2008 at 21:51:10

Netflix: Don't Call Us Obsolete

Solve most of your advertising problems with free software called Ad Block Plus. It blocks many if not most ads and makes web surfing more enjoyable. posted 04/18/2008 at 15:27:10

Explosive Food Inflation -- The Big Presidential Issue?

Both Democrats and Republicans voted for the energy bills that boosted the use of ethanol. It's as if the politicians declared war on consumers. Why should the millionaire senators and house members care about the average consumer? I haven't heard Clinton, Obama or McCain criticize the use of ethanol. Do any of these politicians even shop for their own groceries? Ethanol = starving the poor. Right on. The Chinese 1 child per family policy is making more and more sense. At least the Clintons got that one right. posted 04/18/2008 at 15:36:17

Russian Billionaire Valery Kogan Outrages Greenwich, CT With Supermansion

I wonder how many French chateaux were burned down during the French revolution? If I were a rich Russian Jew, I wouldn't go flaunting my money around and stirring up all the WASPs of Greenwich. posted 04/17/2008 at 20:12:17

McCain's Plan To Cut Earmarks Would Eliminate Aid To Israel

Israel has nine members on the Forbes international billionaires list. It is no longer the poor country that it was in the 1950s. posted 04/16/2008 at 19:48:46

The Budget Debate for Grownups

Wasn't Steve Forbes (publisher of Forbes magazine) a big fan of the flat income tax? He didn't get anywhere with it, running as a Republican candidate for president. Would he have gotten any further with it running as a Democrat? I don't think so. posted 04/18/2008 at 15:53:29
One problem is that the bottom 50% of the population only pays about 3% of the income tax, so it has an incentive to demand more programs and have someone else pay for them. I used to be that someone. Now that I am out of the labor force, the big spenders will have to find another pigeon. posted 04/16/2008 at 19:05:55

Hillary Clinton On Southern Working Class Whites In 1995: "Screw 'Em"

The Environmental Protection Agency has been screwing California motorists for years. Thanks to the special gasoline requirements imposed on the state, gas prices are much higher here than in the rest of the country. My local Valero station was charging $3.95 this morning for regular. I guess it will break the $4 mark within a week. Senator Feinstein and her husband are worth tends of millions of dollars, so $4 gas won't impose a hardship on her. It is hurting my neighbor who depends on his vehicle for work. Too bad the California primary has already been held. posted 04/16/2008 at 18:53:12

Sticker Shock: Bread Prices Up 14.7 Percent, Milk Prices Up 13.3 Percent

It's $3.899 at my local Chevron station in California. Time to repeal those special environmental rules for California. posted 04/16/2008 at 14:53:11

Hedge-Fund Managers Score Biggest Ever Payday

Heads, the hedge fund people make billions. Tails, the government gets to clean up the mess, a la Bear Stearns. If the effects of hedge fund losses could be confined only to these funds, it would be one thing. Unfortunately, a lot of little people are getting hurt, from the thousands of low level employees at the banks and brokerage firms who are losing their jobs, to the households whose home values are deteriorating because their neighborhoods are filled with foreclosed homes. The leverage employed by the hedge funds is far greater than the 10% margin requirements of 1929 at the time of the stock market crash. It seems that the hedge funds are only part of a perfect storm that is hitting the US right now. To the hedge fund mess, we can add in the growing national debt, large annual deficits, a war in Iraq with no apparent end in sight and a Medicare funding crisis looming in just a few years. I don't know why anyone would want to run for President. posted 04/17/2008 at 23:31:00
If our society starts to unravel, the billionaire hedge fund managers will be no safer than the French nobility were after the storming of the Bastille. Those who did not flee the country in time were often executed, as were the King and Queen of France. Maybe some of these guys ought to quit while they are ahead, move to a quieter part of the world and keep a low profile. The US does not have a Bastille to attack, but it does have the Plaza Hotel and 747 Park Avenue, symbols of the super rich. Then, there is the entire town of Greenwich, CT.

Remember, even a Rothschild was gassed at Auschwitz (Robert, the French industrialist). posted 04/16/2008 at 19:37:59

Tax Internet Sales -- Just Like Local Stores

California already requires residents to pay use tax on out-of-state online purchases, via the state income tax return. Perhaps the State should hire a team of auditors in Washington state just to check purchases made by California residents at Amazon.com. Congress could simplify the whole problem by replacing the patch work quilt of state and local sales/use taxes with a national rate of 15% on all retail purchases and a similar tax on many services. It could split the proceeds with the states and use its portion to reduce the annual Federal deficit. Of course, it will probably never happen. Congress is too chicken and the people who pay little or no income tax to the Feds now would not want to start paying higher consumption taxes. A good tax is a tax that someone else pays. It was true when the late Senator Russell Long made the observation years ago and it is true today. posted 04/16/2008 at 20:34:32

People Have Every Right to Be Bitter

The hillbilly homophobes got their soulmate elected, twice. Whether they got to benefit from the dividend tax cut is another matter. Now they have to live with the consequences. Karl Rove took a leaf out of Richard Nixon's playbook. Nixon had his "Southern strategy" and Rove had his God, guns and gay strategy. posted 04/16/2008 at 15:19:54

Food Costs Rising Fastest in 17 Years

My local transit agency only increased fares by 5% on January 1, 2008, the first increase in 2 years. For all you people who have to drive, you can only dream about such a modest price increase for regular gas. Don't blame the food price increases entirely on Bush. Both the Dems and the Repubs were courting the Iowa farm vote and both parties voted for the ethanol program in Congress. Our primary process is screwed up. Iowa gets too much say. We're all paying for this antiquated system with higher food prices. We may not care much that the people in Haiti are rioting for cheaper food. We will care if the people in Harlem start rioting. The Plaza Hotel is not the Bastille, but is certainly a good metaphor for the conspicuous consumption of the super rich. A one-bedroom unit goes for $2.5 million and up. Don't even ask how high up is. posted 04/14/2008 at 23:50:30
Canada hasn't had a decent military since 1945. Maybe its time to use all those transfer payments to build up your military. Just in case. posted 04/14/2008 at 23:34:37
I hope all the hillbillies who voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004 are still happy with their choice. If they can't afford bread, let them eat cake. In the meantime, they can console themselves with the fact that gay marriages are not recognized in 49 states and by the Federal government. I doubt they received any benefit from the dividend/capital gains tax cut and very little benefit from the other tax cuts. So, how long will it be before there are food riots in the nation's big cities? Those ultra expensive co-ops and condos in New York, Chicago and San Francisco are only a few miles from the public housing projects. Beverly Hills is not that far from Watts. Barack Obama's house is only a few blocks from the south side slums of Chicago. "A Tale of Two Cities" coming to life. When will Mr. Obama get the courage to call for the scrapping of the entire ethanol program, which is using up a big chunk of the nation's corn crop and is directly or indirectly forcing up the price of all sorts of food products? We do not have a Bastille in New York to storm, but the Plaza Hotel or 747 Park Avenue would probably do. posted 04/14/2008 at 20:40:07

Do You Know Where You IRS Check Goes?

Social security was given automatic cost of living increases starting in 1975, when the reported inflation rate was much higher than it is now. A Democrat-controlled Congress passed the law which was signed by a Republican president (Gerald Ford). By putting cost of living increases on auto-pilot, both parties were spared the embarrassment of having to vote on the increases every year. The Baby Boomers did not get to vote for these increases. The older ones had not been in the work force all that long, the younger ones weren't even old enough to vote yet. Baby Boomers were stuck with the tab to pay for these higher benefits for their parents' generation. Generations X and Y will be stuck with even a higher tab, if the Ponzi scheme does not collapse of its own weight first. The recent Prescription Drug Benefit added to Medicare will make the financial problems even worse.

Unfortunately, we the voters do not have the ability to do much if we are upset with the laws our Federal politicians pass. There are no initiative, recall or referendum procedures at the Federal level. If you don't like the fact that the US is keeping tens of thousands of troops in Korea and Japan, you are out of luck. Both major parties support such programs. Both major parties keep voting to fund the war in Iraq. posted 04/14/2008 at 21:16:19

Food Riots Skyrocket, World Leaders Have No Solutions

The nation's hillbillies voted to put Bush into office in the name of God, guns and gays(anti-gay). They certainly didn't do it for the Bush tax cuts. Now they can't afford gas for their car, food for their table or health insurance. Their sons are coming home from Iraq in stretchers or boxes. I wonder if they are still happy with how they voted. posted 04/14/2008 at 14:25:20
Didn't Democrats vote to renew and expand the ethanol program a few months ago? It's only a question of time before food riots spread to the US. That's what we get when our politicians in both major parties pander to a few thousand farmers in Iowa. "if there is no bread, let them eat cake." posted 04/14/2008 at 14:09:01

Al Gore Unveils New Slideshow: Watch Video

Al Gore is on Apple Computer's board of directors so he could have more influence in getting the company to stop its wasteful energy practices than the average person. posted 04/10/2008 at 21:04:09
Can you imagine the matrons of Beverly Hills or Brentwood riding a public LA County bus? Can you imagine Al Gore riding a public bus? Get real. Energy conservation is fine as long as someone else bears the burden. Mr. Gore could set a better example by selling his Tennessee compound and moving into his recently purchased San Francisco condo full time. If he needs more space for his work activities, there is lots of office space available to rent within walking distance of his condo. The condo is a lot closer to his venture capital interests on the SF Peninsula than is his compound in Tennessee. There is also train service between downtown SF and the Pensinsula and a direct train line to SF Airport. It is very energy intensive to have multiple luxury residences. And while he is at it, maybe he should visit the Walnut Creek Apple Computer store on a hot summer day. The first thing he'll notice is that they keep the front door sopen even when the temperature is 90 F outside and the air conditioning is running full blast inside. Energy conservation begins with you Mr. Gore. Set a better example. posted 04/10/2008 at 21:00:28

Higher Cigarette Taxes Lure Buyers To Black Market

If the states want to eliminate smuggling, they will need to support a federal law which would set uniform tobacco tax rates across the country. To get rid of the Indian boondoggle, the tax should be collected at the manufacturers' level. States' rights have their price. posted 04/10/2008 at 21:23:29

Obama: Repeal of "Don't Ask" Possible

It seems that it is never a good time to address gay rights. Why do so many Americans have such great difficulty believing in equal protection under the law for ALL citizens, not just for some? The Third Reich started with the boycott of Jewish businesses and the expulsion of Jews from the German armed forces. It ended with the near total destruction of all of the major German cities by Allied bombings. Is there something we should be learning from history? posted 04/10/2008 at 15:59:50

Bush: General Petraeus "Will Have All The Time He Needs"

If you voted for Bush because you opposed equal protection under the law for gay Americans, I hope you are happy with the results. Your children and grandchildren will pay the price, if the republic survives at all. posted 04/10/2008 at 15:50:59

Boom Leaves Middle Class Behind

Millions of middle class Americans did not think gays and lesbians were entitled to equal protection under the law, so they voted for a president who shared their views. Now they are paying the price. Maybe if they pray extra hard, God will bail them out. As bad as these people think they have it now, things will even be worse for their children. Of course, the Democrats aren't entirely blameless in this fiasco either. They keep funding the war in Iraq, they keep voting for pork barrel spending, they support the use of corn to make ethanol (driving up the price of food) and they are largely responsible for all those environmental rules that drive up the price of gasoline in California to levels well above the national average. posted 04/09/2008 at 10:45:35

Govt Predicts Gas Could Hit $4 Per Gallon This Summer

Gasoline was $3.859 at my local (Calif. ) Chevron station on Tuesday. posted 04/08/2008 at 22:22:08
I'm surprised California drivers are so accepting of the high gas prices. They are about 50 cents higher than the national average. Maybe it's time to get rid of the special gasoline blend requirements for California. Amend the federal and state EPA laws. Many California drivers are hurting financially and can no longer afford to be gouged by an uncompetitive gasoline market. The California gasoline market has been effectively walled off from the rest of the country by the special blend requirements. posted 04/08/2008 at 22:20:04

On the San Francisco Olympic Torch Relay

Don't hold your breath. Many of Pelosi's constituents are gay but are denied equal protection under US law. I guess today is not a good day to speak out on behalf of gay rights. It never is. posted 04/08/2008 at 18:08:15

Tax Time Deliberation: Married or Not?

The system is unfair to gay people. So what else is new? If it really bothers you, move to Canada, where gay marriage is recognized across the country, but taxes tend to be a lot higher especially for successful people. In the meantime, take advantage of the tax breaks that are available to other single people (and to married couples), such tax free municipal bonds, contributions to a 401K plan or an IRA plan, or both etc. The Bush tax cuts actually benefited gay taxpayers more than straight ones, since gay couples, as you noted, can never file joint Federal returns and as a result, tend to be in higher tax brackets than their married colleagues who have similar incomes and stay at home spouses. If the Democrats control the White House, the House and the Senate in 2009, gay rights may be expanded, but I'd bet on tax rates going up first. You may end up worse than before, not being able to file a joint return and having your taxable income taxed at higher rates. By the way, Canada does not allow joint returns for married couples, gay or straight and there is no mortgage interest deduction either. posted 04/08/2008 at 15:42:38

Greenspan: Blaming Me For Mortgage Mess Is "Quite Unfair"

The man has no shame. He ought to keep a low profile and enjoy his retirement. Too bad he had a pressing need to stay in the limelight, get a lucrative book deal and go back to consulting. Jimmy Carter has set a much better example of how a retired high government official should behave. posted 04/08/2008 at 15:51:13

The Pricier Sandwich

China's one child policy doesn't look so dumb any more. Maybe the rate of obesity will finally start to drop in the US. posted 04/07/2008 at 14:58:04

Mark Penn Resigns As Chief Strategist For Clinton Campaign

Mr. Penn doesn't look like he is being hurt by the rising cost of food. posted 04/07/2008 at 15:01:20

Gay Paper: Obama Refuses To Talk With Gay Media

If either Democrat becomes president, the odds are pretty good that taxes for many gay taxpayers will go up. The odds of any Federal gay rights bills being passed and signed into law are much lower. Both candidates are reluctant to discuss gay issues unless they are talking to a or advertising to gay audience, which is not very often. Obama did not want to be photgraphed with Mayor Newsom a few years back, and Clinton didn't even have a link to gay issues on her web site when i checked a few months ago. Realistically, I don't expect many red state Democrats to support gay rights legislation in Congress. If you didn't qualify for a tax rebate in 2008 because Congress said you made too much, chances are you are a good candidate for a tax increase starting in 2009. If you live in market rate housing in San Francisco, Manhattan or much of Los Angeles, you are a good candidate for a tax increase, even if you don't think that you are rich. posted 04/05/2008 at 19:45:53

What Did Bill Clinton Do To Get $15M From Ron Burkle?

Only in America can a trailer park kid and his hippie wife rise to become A list celebrities, with incomes to match. Is America a great country or what? posted 04/05/2008 at 00:30:52
The 2000 and 2001 tax return buttons actually link to the 2006 return. Looks like a HuffPost screwup. To get to these two "missing returns", clink on the 2000 link and then change the number 2006 in the URL to 2000 or 2001, as the case may be.

The Clintons' returns certainly weren't very tax efficient. Too much taxable interest, not enough tax exempt interest. Not much in the way of ordinary dividends, given the high income they generated from other sources.

The George Bush years were certainly kind to the Clintons, financially speaking, and as they have remarked on more than one occasion, they have been among the biggest beneficiaries of the Bush tax cuts. I am not upset that the Clintons did so well. I didn't attend any of his speaking engagements, but obviously there were a lot of people who paid good money to be in the same room as Mr. C. I didn't even pay to read his biography. I got my copy from the local public library. Now that the Clintons have become one of America's wealthiest families (probably top 1% or 2%?), how about giving younger Americans the same opportunities. Instead of campaigning to raise taxes to raise on "the rich", why not campaign to stop pork barrel spending and reducing the costs of the US military by closing many foreign bases etc. A single person in Manhattan making $125,000 per year is hardly rich. posted 04/05/2008 at 00:03:37

Gas Prices Hit Record on Low Supplies

Premium is over $4 a gallon in parts of California. That's what happens when you wall off the California gasoline market from the rest of the country. You can blame Bush for a lot of things, but I don't recall him ever pushing for special blends of gasoline in California. That's a Democrat thing. posted 04/05/2008 at 10:38:04
The Clintons are certainly doing better. Poor old Bill only made $35,000 as governor of Arkansas before he moved to the White House. I don't know what he got paid as attorney general. Now he's raking in about $150,000 per speech! Hey, lots of Americans are doing better. What happened to you?

If you had sold your car during the Carter years and gotten by on public transit, you'd probably be a millionaire by now. posted 04/05/2008 at 00:16:11

10 Overlooked Tax Breaks

In 2008, the Federal tax rate on dividends and capital gains drops to 0 for taxpayers in the 15% tax bracket or less. For individuals that means about $40,000 in adjusted gross income, assuming you take the standard deduction. For married couples that means about $80,000 in AGI and taking the standard deduction. Depending on YOUR own tax situation, to keep yourself under these limits, you may want to avoid taking money out of your IRA even though you are between 59-1/2 and 70-1/2 and can do so without penalty . You may also want to think about postponing your social security if you turn 62 in 2008. The Bush tax cuts weren't only for the super rich. If you are an early retiree living off your dividend income, the tax cuts probably had a greater impact on your standard of living than the cuts did for much richer people, or much poorer people. In 2009, the low tax rates on dividends and capital gains will probably disappear if either Obama or Clinton becomes president. It is something to think about if it impacts you. Ironically, the 2009 tax increase, if it comes, will have a greater impact in high cost cities like San Francisco, which also has the nation's largest number of trust fund babies on a per capita basis. posted 04/04/2008 at 15:11:58

A Vote for Hillary Is a Vote for the Death of the Dollar

Actually, the US$ isn't dead yet. It is once again worth more than the C$ and certainly goes a longer way at the store. Have you ever shopped in Canada?

I would like to see an electable Libertarian running for President but I know that is an oxymoron in this country.

In the meantime, you can expect a big tax increase in 2009 if you live in a high cost area such as San Francisco or Manhattan and make more than poverty level wages, whether Obama or Clinton gets elected. Neither has promised to shrink the bloated US military and both have their special interest groups that will be expecting lots of Federal handouts. posted 04/01/2008 at 21:30:10
If you have to cash out of your 401K plan and have a $2 million house, maybe you'd be better off in a $1million house and keeping your 401K plan in tact until you reach 59 1/2. posted 04/01/2008 at 21:17:20

Weak Economy Forces Elderly To Delay Retirement

I think my replacement was a 25 year old, with a couple of years of work experience out of college. Certainly not enough to question any management decision. I heard he lasted a year of less and then quit. Fortunately, I had enough saved up to be able to leave the work force. Not everyone can afford to do so. That's why there are 70 year olds still working. posted 04/01/2008 at 21:11:02
Maybe we could start our spending diet by phasing out foreign aid to Israel. There are 9 Israelis on the Forbes billionaire list. It is not the poor country it was in the 1950's. Next, I'd like to see the US government shut down most of its foreign military bases and pull our troops out of Japan and South Korea. We can't afford to be the policeman of the world any more.

Yes, actions do have consequences. How many religious Americans voted for GWB because they wanted one of their own in the White House? Well, now they have him.

The party is over and the bills are coming due. We'll soon see just how willing all those right to lifers are to paying higher taxes so that every brave 83 year old like Paul Newman can fight the good fight (good and expensive) against cancer. Medicare will likely bankrupt the next generation if it is not changed. posted 04/01/2008 at 20:57:38

Food Price Inflation Changes How We Shop

Think of high food prices as another way to encourage family planning. Using corn to make ethanol was one of the dumbest ideas ever to come out of Washington. I wonder how it got by the right to lifers? posted 03/31/2008 at 16:18:50

Architect Of Vast Right Wing Conspiracy "Reassesses" Hillary

You are so right. posted 03/31/2008 at 15:52:37

Neediest Hit Hardest By State Budget Cuts

Instead of trying to pass a Federal constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, Congress should have tried to pass an amendment giving states greater power to reduce bloated government employee pensions. Public safety employees in California who work a lot of overtime in their final year of a 30 year career can often retire with annual pensions of over $100,000. In Vallejo, I think one guy retired with a pension of over $300,000 based on his 2006 compensation posted on the Internet a while back. Do we start closing libraries so retired policemen and firemen can continue to collect their bloated pensions? I guess the Democrats are afraid to antagonize the public employee unions and the Republicans don't care if poor gays start dropping like flies because they can no longer afford their AIDS medications. A pox on both political parties. posted 03/31/2008 at 17:59:23

Think Your Cash is Safe? Better Check With Your Broker

Auction rate securities were around even in the 1990's, although I don't recall any problems with this class of investments. They were never eligible investments for money market funds. However, Orange County, CA's money market securities had to be marked down for a while after the bankruptcy. One fund that I know of took a multi-million dollar hit on these securities, temporarily impacting the yield on the fund. However, I doubt that the average investor in the fund looked closely enough to care. posted 03/31/2008 at 18:07:30
I wonder how stable value funds in 401K plans are holding up? Could they be the next domino to fall? My former employer offered this type of fund and it yielded around 4% a few years ago when money market funds were yielding less than 2%. The stable value fund was considered to be the least risky option that we had in our 401K plan. posted 03/31/2008 at 16:12:43

Want To Save Money? Don't Eat Out

It won't just be restaurants that go under in this "recession". Bombay closed all of its US furniture stores earlier this year. I have been noticing more empty storefronts in recent months, even in more upscale areas. I suspect that customer traffic is way down in many other stores that are still open. posted 03/30/2008 at 15:40:15

Trust Not in Trust Funds

SS and Medicare benefits have always been negotiable. Sometimes they are improved, as when full cost of living increases were implemented in the 1970's and a Medicare drug benefit was introduced a few years ago. In 1983, benefits were effectively cut, as the full retirement age was raised and income taxes on benefits were raised for higher income beneficiaries.

SS and Medicare are not the same as the national debt. If the country defaults on its Treasury bonds, it will be locked out of the bond market for years to come. We'll either get runaway inflation or a collapse in the economy or both.

If you are a younger baby boomer, expect to get screwed. If you are member of Gen X or Gen Y, expect to be screwed even worse. In the meantime, we have a war to fight in Iraq and eventually, we will get the bills for it.

Blessed are the children, for they shall inherit the national debt. posted 03/29/2008 at 12:15:09

Bear's Cayne Takes $900 Million Loss, Seeks Answers in Religion

"In the past weeks, together with his wife, Patricia Cayne, who is a student of Jewish religious traditions, Mr. Cayne has spent considerable time searching for comparable events in religious history to see what lessons can be learned from the collapse of his firm..."

Perhaps Mr. Cayne ought to be reading 20th century German history and then hope that things don't turn out that way in the US. Maybe he ought to sell hi co-op at the Plaza while there is still a market for it and assume a much lower profile. What happened in Detroit in1967 cannot be ruled out for New York. posted 03/29/2008 at 11:37:07

British Airways Faces Chaos, Cancellations As Heathrow's New Terminal Stumbles

I have only connected through Heathrow once and had an unpleasant experience. Use hand luggage only and avoid Heathrow if you can. posted 03/28/2008 at 16:15:15

Market Pressure

When the Chinese and Japanese central banks stop buying US Treasury bonds, you'll get your financial equivalent of a San Andreas eruption. I wouldn't count on Mr. McWilliams getting much of a Social Security when he gets older. The big one will probably have hit by then. posted 03/28/2008 at 00:24:47

Super-Rich Actually See Wealth Grow

Don't believe everything you read in the media. James Cayne of Bear Stearns fame will not be the only wealthy person to have seen a significant drop in his wealth by the time the subprime mess plays itself out. Rich investors who put up billions of dollars to prop up banks and bond insurers in recent months have taken big hits to their net worth. So have owners of mortgage backed bonds and other exotic securities. So have senior executives at financial institutions, from Bank of America to PMI Group. Their stock options are probably worthless. During the Great Depression, the wealth gap between the upper class and the working class actually narrowed, since the rich had much more to lose. The 1929 drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average continued into the 1930's. A new high was not reached until 1954.

I agree with kellygrrrl, $1 million in financial assets hardly makes you wealthy and is certainly not enough to retire on unless you also have a fabulous pension coming to you. Many millions of Americans are in for a financial shock in the coming years.

The ongoing war in Iraq will continue to bleed the US economy and rich and poor alike will suffer. posted 03/29/2008 at 11:28:07

Bankers' Spouses Deprived Of Luxury Items During Downturn

I guess rentals in the Hamptons should be easier to come by this year.

Maybe the young unemployed investment bankers could go volunteer to fight in Iraq. posted 03/28/2008 at 00:20:17

Mike Gravel Drops Out Of Democratic Race, Seeks To Join Libertarian Ticket

The longer the current Democratic slugfest goes on, the more I'd just as soon vote for another candidate anyway. The Democrats are not talking about closing military bases abroad or reining in American imperialism. They are almost like Republicans, but with higher taxes and more big government. One of these day, the Chinese will stop propping up the US bond market and then the music will stop. I feel a little sorry for Gen X and Gen Y. They will inherit the mess left behind by the two traditional parties. posted 03/27/2008 at 21:57:13

Stephanie Kuleba, High School Cheerleader, Dies From Breast Implant Complications

Was this considered a medically necessary procedure covered by insurance or was the operation paid for by the girl's wealthy parents? I imagine girls from poor families would not get such "medical care".

"Experts note that Kuleba's death also serves as a reminder that any surgery, no matter how commonplace, has its risks." quote from the article posted 03/25/2008 at 22:15:46

Recession Hits Hollywood

As the economy continues to squeeze the average consumer, fewer people will be going to the movie theaters, with their overpriced popcorn, candy bars and soft drinks. People will be cutting back on their cable bills or canceling cable service altogether. It's not a good time for Hollywood. Even Las Vegas will have to adjust as fewer people will be able to afford $200 tickets for big name acts at Caesar's Palace. Las Vegas seems to be at or near the top of every foreclosure list I see in the media nowadays, with the blue collar suburbs (Inland Empire) of LA also high up in the lists. posted 03/26/2008 at 10:34:28

Bush Sympathetic As War Toll Hits 4,000

As much as you might dislike President Bush, don't forget that many millions of Americans voted for him in 2004 because they thought he would do a better job of upholding fundamentalist Christian values. All too many of them got hung up over the Book of Leviticus and its sanitized references to gay sex. They conveniently forgot all the other Old Testament proscriptions, like thou shalt not kill and thou shall not eat food that comes from unclean animals including pigs. These voters also conveniently forgot about the equal protection clause of the US constitution. Today we are all paying the price for their bad judgment but that's part of democracy. Some of us are only paying a relatively small economic price, such as more for our gasoline. Others have lost sons, daughters, grandchildren or spouses and they will bear those losses to the end of their days. While we are remembering the 4,000 soldiers who died in Iraq, maybe we should also remember the unknown numbers of gays and lesbians who have committed suicide in the past five years because they were rejected by their mothers and fathers, sisters and bothers, fellow students and co-workers. Ironically, the discrimination faced by gays and lesbians in the US armed forces under "Don't Ask, Don't tell" has discouraged them from signing up in the first place and has meant that they have most likely been underrepresented in the 4,000 death count. posted 03/24/2008 at 22:35:38

DiCaprio Promotes Green HSBC Credit Cards

I wonder if this guy has ever ridden on a Los Angeles County public bus or subway? Before you sign up for a "green card", find out what the interest free grace period is, what the penalties are if your payments are a day or 2 late, what the interest rate is if you carry a balance (not recommended) and what the foreign exchange conversion fee is. Green is nice, but low finance charges are even nicer. posted 03/24/2008 at 15:30:32

Four Thousand U.S. Deaths Should Spark Congressional Debate

If Congress had a debate on the 4,000 dead, they would have to admit they were wrong when they voted for the war, maybe even apologize to the nation and resign in disgrace. Don't hold your breath. posted 03/25/2008 at 11:05:40

"Bridge" Loan To Bear Stearns - Who's The Real Dummy?

If I were Jimmy Cayne, I would have been better diversified. Who keeps so much of his wealth in the stock of one company? Of course, he may be a lot wealthier than the people at Forbes gave him credit for. Hopefully, he has a home in Israel, London and maybe Australia, along with gold coins just in case the crap really hits the fan. When the peasants are running through the streets of New York demanding bread, I wouldn't want to be living at the Plaza Hotel or 747 Park Avenue. Shades of Paris, 1789.

I wouldn't characterize the Feds' role in the Bear Stearns merger as a bailout. Think of it as trying to prevent a financial meltdown. Let's all hope the Feds succeed. posted 03/21/2008 at 21:26:30

The 100 Years War

The US will be bankrupt long before the 100 year mark is reached. We're a country that doesn't like to pay taxes, remember. posted 03/28/2008 at 00:43:17

Wall Street's Crisis Hits Main Street

You and millions of other Americans will be cutting back. The times, they are a changing. Is it any wonder that Walmart's stock price reached a 12 month high yesterday (March 20), even as many other chains are hurting? Bombay Furniture closed its local store and I believe all of its other US stores after Christmas. Thomasville Furniture also closed its local store. Both spaces remain empty. Those of you who are too proud or too politically correct to shop at Walmart might change your tune when you get your own pink slip. Massive teacher layoffs are expected in California. posted 03/21/2008 at 21:13:11

Fans of this user

HarleyDave
YellowPanties
PlanetKansas

Log in to become a fan of this user.

Fan of

This user isn't a fan of anybody yet!

Bloggers I Like

Bill Maher
Dan Solin

Posts this user has commented on

 

 Site  Web ask.com