Phantasmix December 27th, 2008
Financial Times, front page headlines:
- US retailers in battle at dawn — Drastic price cuts after poor sales
- Pakistan moves troops to Indian border — Apparent escalation of tensions
- China’s state sector urged to boost economy — Response to rapidly cooling growth
- Russia braced for unrest — Moscow continues rouble devaluations
- New threats to online security — Criminal gangs blamed for attacks
- Japan suffers record fall in output — Gloomy data underscore troubles for world’s second-largest economy
I skipped 3 headlines as they were neutral. Not a single positive news item. How depressing *sigh*
Someone just said it means “time to go long”.
Phantasmix December 14th, 2008
Source: Financial Times
At the 21 Club, a longtime redoubt of corporate chieftains and big names, alcohol sales are up 9 per cent from last year, and businessmen can be seen drinking $14-a-glass cocktails as early as 3pm on a weekday.
If you believe that alcohol is a recession-proof business, take a look at Corby Distilleries (CDL.A on TSX), or (DEO: 58.44 +1.67%) Diageo, the largest multinational beer, wine and spirits company in the world.
(MO: 15.38 +1.18%) Altria (Philip Morris) also goes well with these. Where there’s drinking, there’s smoking.
Phantasmix December 8th, 2008
(Singledom?)
Demographics discussions are usually focussed on baby boomers. Here’s a new trend emerging worldwide:
…singlehood is rising in prevalence worldwide…
…the number of singles in the U.S. rose from 38 million in 1970 to 90 million today. Only 16% are looking for a partner.
In Europe, the trend is tied to rising costs of living. As young adults choose to live with parents or in shared households longer, they delay marriage and family.
Japan has the highest number of singles than any other industrialized nation. In addition to the prevalence of adults staying at their parents’ homes well into their twenties and thirties, Japanese women continue to choose higher education and employment over traditional roles.
In China, the rise in the number of singles coincides with the growth of middle class. As the country gains economic importance on the global stage, many younger people are choosing to remain single to reap the rewards of disposable income.
Across the globe, younger generations are increasingly focusing on individual pursuits: travel, education and career.
What does this mean for the economy? I don’t know. But if I were single I would definitely spend MORE money.
I think that more single people means more money being spent on frivolous things and experiences.
Phantasmix November 27th, 2008
Source: Natural News
Phantasmix November 22nd, 2008
Stock market must be starting to worry people again.
Here’s a chart for “recession” and “great depression” Google searches in the United States this year. Interest in these peaked in winter, returned in October and is on the rise again….
Sorry for the useless noise, but these charts really prettify my blog 
Phantasmix November 14th, 2008
Hormel Foods struggling to keep up with SPAM demand
Pay attention to the expiration dates (on everything). We noticed a lot of stuff is close to or even past expiration date in the stores, even in the ones that pride themselves on being “fresh obsessed”.
Some weekend fear-mongering for your pleasure.
Phantasmix November 14th, 2008
Inflation levels in Zimbabwe are running at 13.2 billion per cent a month and could reach an all-time world record within weeks.
The latest figures put the country’s annual rate at 516 quintillion per cent – 516 followed by 18 zeros – overtaking Yugoslavia in 1994 and putting it behind only Hungary in 1946.
Zimbabwean prices are currently doubling every 1.3 days.
Scary stuff.
Phantasmix November 14th, 2008
I noticed in the past couple of years that whenever one of our credit cards is renewed, the term is 2 or 3 years. It used to be 5 minimum! Nothing to do with our credit score, it’s perfect (not sure it’s an honor, maybe just a sign of stupidity for not taking advantage of the free money).
I just checked and there’s not a single card with expiration beyond 2011 in my wallet. Freaky… They’re not planning on sticking around to 2012.
What’s in your wallet? Check your expiration dates and let me know.
Phantasmix November 10th, 2008
You dummies are gonna pay my mortgage for me!
Pony up, you skinflints. I took $200K out of my house equity and pissed it away on a big honkin’ Hummer and 3 TV’s so big you gotta sit across the street to watch ‘em, and a big Goddamn gold watch and a speedboat and a whole buncha primo dope.
Now I’m underwater and the value of the house is goin’ down faster than a cheap whore, and the government’s gonna cut the $200K I pissed away off the balance, and give me a new FHA guaranteed loan at better interest rates than any of you get on your mortgages, and your taxes are gonna pay for it all. What a great country! It’s morning in America!
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