Feds plan 'surge' if Mexico drug war spills over

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28589917/

The plan includes federal homeland security agents helping local authorities and maybe even military assistance from the Department of Defense, possibly including aircraft, armored vehicles and special teams to go to areas overwhelmed with violence, authorities said.

I think the drug war will heat up as crime increase during a economic downturn. It just another reason to end the war on drugs as soon as possible. Otherwise I fear we are going to escalate to very scary levels.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/08/us/08chertoff.html?ref=world
The times story is more detailed

DXO and SNTA

So for those who road DXO and sold at 3.50ish congrats. You made 35% in about a week. When it goes below $2.70 I plan to buy more.

Next up
SNTA -I love this play. Very interesting what they are doing. If phase III works out this will be a huge blockbuster.

Remember it is dangerous out there. Stop Loss is your friend.

If you lose money following my trades it is your own damn fault :)

Nationwide Inquiry on Bids for Municipal Bonds

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/09/business/09insure.html?_r=1
Funny what no one will question in a boom time, is rapidly exposed when a recession hits. This appears to a huge scandal.

People with knowledge of the evidence say investigators are not just looking at a few bad apples, but also at the way an entire market has operated for years.

Gold does not lose its luster

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/4177766/Merrill-Lynch-says-rich-turning-to-gold-bars-for-safety.html

FHLB

http://optionarmageddon.ml-implode.com/2009/01/08/the-fanniefreddie-rescue-bill-just-got-a-lot-steeper/
Just another problem waiting to blow up.

What is the FICO of the US?

http://www.creditloan.com/blog/uncle-sams-credit-score/

Paulson screwed us all for the Bankers

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aAvhtiFdLyaQ&

Just confirmation how bad the TARP is for us the taxpayers.

A look at U6 over the years.

In my mind the close represention to the unemployment numbers from the 30's.

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t12.htm
We just broke the 1980's numbers with U6 now at 13.5
Ugly.

2009 Headlines. One may happen soon.

http://doomisnigh.blogspot.com/2008/12/2009-headlines-of-year.html

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008602532_mexico08.html
Wow I did not expect to see this thread so soon. Guess I will get at least one right

Drug-related violence in Mexico, already at unprecedented levels, is expected to escalate further this year, with targets likely to include top Mexican politicians and law-enforcement agents and possibly even U.S. officials, according to diplomats and intelligence experts on both sides of the border.

CitiBank see writting on the wall accepts Cramdowns

http://www.cnbc.com/id/28562632
In another attempt to slow foreclosures citi is prepared to accept cram downs (Altering terms of mortgages in BK court). This is landmark since he mean contracts can be altered after the fact by a judge. Very interesting stuff.

PIMCO says buy ahead of the government

http://clusterstock.alleyinsider.com/2009/1/bill-gross-no-way-feds-will-let-california-go-bust

Bailout nations continues....

Dr. Doom Faber

http://www.bloomberg.com/avp/avp.htm?clipSRC=mms://media2.bloomberg.com/cache/vFxGybnAJsiA.asf
Highlights
3 months of 'good' news followed by more drops.
Obama plan is only temporary help. Likey to be a disaster.
If you can not live with the downside go somewhere that has planned economy in place.
Buy Gold now. Target rate of 25% increase.
Gold Mining shares beat down may be a good buy.
Look for a rally in other oversold metals.
Long Term demand for Oil is there, will go up.
WWWIII !?!?! China and Russia will oppose any American success in Far East. In short geo-political conflict will drive oil higher.
More money equals a survivor. Intel, Cisco, Microsoft and Oracle.
Asian Companies now at a level not seen in years. Great buying chance.
April will mark the peak for the current rally, then a big drop.
Long Bearish, Short Treasury Bonds.
5 years of recession.

Why is she not in the government

http://clusterstock.alleyinsider.com/2009/1/enough-of-this-crap-time-to-fix-the-banks

Christmas worse then expected

http://www.cnbc.com/id/28554298

A long list of bad news.

7%

http://www.gallup.com/poll/113665/Unemployment-Rate-Likely-Surge-Friday.aspx
Ouch we break 7% on Friday and I think we see some pain in the rally. However for the next several months I remain bullish. After March watch out below.

Vampires

http://awesome.goodmagazine.com/transparency/008/trans008vampireenergy.html
No this is not a sci-fi post :)

51 things you cannot see on Google Maps

http://www.curiousread.com/2008/12/blurred-out-51-things-you-arent-allowed.html

Truckers hit hard

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-nutruckers7-2009jan07,0,5231456.story

Debt time Bomb

http://community.marketwatch.com/groups/us-politics/topics/us-facing-debt-time-bomb
At some point something big is going to break. When that happens our government will need to rethink spending.

Problems increase for Russia

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/600/42/373091.htm

Problems mount in China

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2009/01/more-bad-news-out-of-china-including.html

Here Comes the Commodity Index Rebalancing

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/01/here-comes-the-commodity-index-rebalancing/
Could be strong signal Gold will increase soon.

More problems for Banks

http://www.cnbc.com/id/28534319
Oppenheimer analyst whitney who has been dead on so far, predicts more problems.

Wow I am moving to Tunisia

http://bespokeinvest.typepad.com/bespoke/2009/01/2008-country-returns.html

Monatery Reset

http://www.minyanville.com/articles/economy-risk-rates-debt-recession-depression/index/a/20514

Conventional wisdom is putting us on a path to total destruction of our currency. For those who don’t understand that, understand this: Economically, a currency holds a nation together. Without currency, the economy and perhaps society are at great risk of breaking down.

Monatery Reset. Ugly word. Ugly times ahead.

Why government bonds are a bad investment now

http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2009/01/06/50821/battle-of-the-bears/

Excellent read.

TIPS and the not the kind you leave

http://www.andrewtobias.com/newcolumns/000512.html
If you interested in capitial preservation this is the way to go.

China 2009

http://clusterstock.alleyinsider.com/2009/1/desperate-china-to-flood-the-world-with-even-cheaper-goods
If you start dumping, which is what the Chinese are talking about, look for Obama to retaliate

I laughed hard over this one.

http://clusterstock.alleyinsider.com/2009/1/the-economy-of-2009-dont-buy-stuff-you-cannot-afford

2009 worse then we think?

http://www.cfr.org/content/publications/attachments/2009OutlookFinal_Long.pdf

Oil and look at a possible future

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/4884#more
I guess 2009 starts off with plenty of scary stories.

More reasons to be short Google

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20090102-contemplating-the-consumerist-sale-and-the-adpocalypse.html

Taser

http://www.contrarianprofits.com/articles/a-stunning-profit-opportunity-with-taser-international-tasr/10793
Profits ahead or problems ahead? Lots of lawsuits out there for this stock. Hard to say but I like the thoughts.

U.S. governors seek $1 (monoploy) trillion federal assistance

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5014F120090102


http://www.wakeupfromyourslumber.com/node/730
Check out the video (heavy on why gold is good and bankers bad)

If you wonder which has more money in circulation?
Over 200 million MONOPOLY games have been sold worldwide each comes with $15,140 and 20,580 since 2008. Given a rough amount of 20 trillion in circulation. Verus around $10-$11 Trillion of USD in circulation.

There's No Pain-Free Cure for Recession

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123033898448336541.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Excellent artilce from the WSJ.

CRE market troubles mount

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/05/business/05real.html?_r=1