Monthly Archives: November 2013

Occupy Wall Street’s “we are the 99%” catalyzed a broad realization/acceptance of income inequality.  I’m seeing signs we could be at another turning point in the US’s economic self-image.  This turns on the quasi-socialist slash crony-capitalist mess that underpins the … Continue reading →

So Reinhardt and Rogoff are back trying to regain their credibility (after their widely cited paper on debt levels got shredded for indefensible math errors).  I learned of it from a piece forwarded by a good friend and am shamelessly … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  It involves food.  It is entirely American.  It is entirely secular.  What culture or community can’t embrace getting together for a big meal?  So I absolutely hate the creep of Black Friday Christmas shopping into … Continue reading →

Not sure how much of this post it I really believe, but always worthwhile questioning the consensus.  A strong view, lightly held if you will. Larry Summers gave a widely referenced speech at the IMF (link below) exploring whether the … Continue reading →

Sprint abruptly pulled out of the H block wireless spectrum auction after pushing for it previously.   That apparently leaves Charlie Ergen’s DISH as the only likely bidder at a guaranteed-to-the FCC minimum reserve price of $1.56.   Lets leave … Continue reading →

AT&T has been loudly proclaiming its interest in buying into European Wireless for ages.  But I am still puzzling to figure out why.  There are few obvious synergies and the track record of cross-border telecom M&A is awful (absent naked … Continue reading →

My house-building effort has been wrangled into reasonable order, so I am finally catching up on reading.  The most marked change from a few weeks ago is a rash of “Has the market topped?” commentary from a pretty wide array of … Continue reading →

So China is holding its “3rd Plenum.”  And it is clearly a huge deal.  By advance billing, as big as the kick-off to Deng’s shift to capitalism (ahem “Socialism With Chinese Characteristics”). Best bet is that it introduces a ginormous … Continue reading →

Reading a few stray tea leaves here and there, it looks increasingly likely that the current budget negotiation will yield a revision of the US overseas profits tax.  This would almost certainly include provisions for some sort of one-time repatriation … Continue reading →

Voluntarily buying one of the new crop of Apple MacBook’s?  You are inviting ridicule and buyers remorse.  Buying one out of necessity (loss, theft, or acts of nature) invites sympathy, but similar regrets. Why?  No touchscreen. I was talking with … Continue reading →