Byron Wien 2012
#Finance #Byron Wien1\. The extraction of oil and gas from shale and rock begins to be a game changer. The price of oil drifts back to $85 a barrel and the United States becomes less dependent on Middle East supply. Deposits in Poland, Ukraine and elsewhere prove promising as well.…
The Great Global Warming Fizzle
#Global WarmingHow do religions die? Generally they don’t, which probably explains why there’s so little literature on the subject. Zoroastrianism, for instance, lost many of its sacred texts when Alexander sacked Persepolis in 330 B.C., and most Zoroastrians converted to Islam over 1,000 years ago.…
How Scientific Is Climate Science?
#Global WarmingFor years, some researchers have argued that the evidence for global warming is not nearly as strong as has been officially claimed. The details of the arguments are often technical.…
Byron Wien 2011
#Finance #Byron WienThe continuation of the Bush tax cuts coupled with the extension of unemployment benefits has put all working Americans in a better mood. Real Gross Domestic Product rises close to 5% in 2011 driven by improved trade and capital spending in addition to stronger retail sales.…
Byron Wien 2010
#Finance #Byron Wien1. The **United States economy** grows at a stronger than expected 5% real rate during the year and the unemployment level drops below 9%. Exports, inventory building and technology spending lead the way. Standard and Poor’s 500 operating earnings come in above $80.…
Bad Bad Banks
#Finance #Economy #Politics_And the financial crisis goes on … And the politicians still think they can avoid the painful solution and try to sustain asset prices. But the prices of many assets are bubble prices and these prices need to fall to market levels.…
Our Proxy War with Israel
#IsraelAs the world decries Israel’s attempt to defend itself from the rocket attacks coming from Gaza, consider this: When Hamas routed Fatah in Gaza in 2007, it cost nearly 350 lives and 1,000 wounded.…
Byron Wien 2009
#Finance #Byron Wien1. The **Standard and Poor’s 500** rises to **1,200**. In anticipation of a second-half recovery in the US economy, the market improves from a base of investor despondency and hedge fund and mutual fund withdrawals. The mantra changes from “fortunes have been lost” to “fortunes can still be made”.…
Ukraine Farming
#Economy #PoliticsBILYI KAMIN, Ukraine — The vast collectives that fed the Soviet Union are now a patchwork of tiny gardens, fields and vacant lots. But combined, they could help feed the world: Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine have fertile yet untilled land the size of Idaho.…
Global Warming Religion
#Global WarmingLast week marked the 20th anniversary of the mass hysteria phenomenon known as global warming. Much of the science has since been discredited. Now it’s time for political scientists, theologians and psychiatrists to weigh in.…