Utter Postulation

A senior executive said the other day....it is "Utter Postulation" that the exchange traded funds were influencing the stock markets wild volatility. We confess to investing with these vehicles because now they are of size and liquidity that make for proper use in portfolios. Also many now invest in securities that are hard to buy because of the demise of Wall Street and it's market makers.

A famous international BRIC investor said last week, "We're having a wonderful time buying tremendous bargains." We agree and are.

Another famous local value investor says, (this is) "one of the great buying opportunities of your lifetime." Sighting $8.85 trillion held in cash, bank deposits and money-market funds that is equal to 74% of the market value of U.S. companies, the highest ratio since 1990. We agree and are.

A famous bond investor says the "government already owns 15% to 20% of the banking industry and guarantees 75% of it's liabilities. He is excited to invest along side the Government's investments. We disagree. Like becoming a Cyborg or Borg we choose not to be assimilated into the collective.

Although 2008 had the coolest average global temperatures since 1997, preliminary data suggests the Arctic had the lowest volume of Arctic Sea ice on record. The Arctic now in it's 30th year of downward trending pack ice has scientists saying the arctic is more vulnerable than ever. It will be interesting to see how our new President handles this....acts, reacts or over reacts.

Contract for deed, this is the new trend....sellers financing the sale of their house to the new buyers, by passing the banks! The Commercial banks better be careful and START lending because they will be by passed by American Capitalism soon if they don't!

We break tradition today from a picture of Danny Boy. Over the holidays we saw for this one time a picture worth posting. Enjoy it .....it is not the future!