TEN TRILLION and Counting

"All of the federal government's efforts to stem the tide of the financial meltdown have added hundreds of billions of dollars to an already staggering national debt, a sum that is expected to double over the next 10 years to more than $23 trillion. In Ten Trillion and Counting, FRONTLINE traces the politics behind this mounting debt and investigates what some say is a looming crisis that makes the current financial situation pale in comparison."

Lawyers do not run companies so why would it be a good idea to let lawyers run the country which is the biggest business of all.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tentrillion/

Marketwatch Reporter Meltdown

rex (MarketWatch newsroom)

"This is a story about attitudes, not home sales. I never wrote that recovery may be near. I never wrote that things are getting better. I wrote that surveys show that fewer people are deeply pessimistic about the economy's course. Those people may be deluded, or they may be prescient, but I don't know why their opinion is any more worthless than anyone else's. They are living their own lives, not yours. They have different experiences. They go to work, and go the mall, and go to church and PTA meetings, and talk to their neighbors, friends, relatives and co-workers.I guess the only opinions that count are from people who try to "out-bear" everyone else on this community board. Get out of the survival shelter you've built in the backyard, and talk to some actual flesh and blood people. It's not so bad out here."


Haha, arrogance.

Chicago Sun-Times Circles the Drain, Marketwatch is Next?

Sun-Times Media Group Files for Voluntary Bankruptcy (Update2) - Bloomberg.com — This just keeps getting worse by the minute

Sun-Times Media Group Inc. became the second major Chicago newspaper publisher to seek bankruptcy protection as plunging advertising revenue makes debt payments more difficult.
The company, the owner of the namesake newspaper, and its principal operating subsidiary, the Sun-Times News Group, will continue to run their newspapers and online sites while they focus on further improving cost structure and stabilizing operations, the publisher said in a statement today.

Chicago Tribune owner Tribune Co. and Philadelphia Newspapers LLC, which runs the Philadelphia Inquirer, are among four other newspaper publishers to file for bankruptcy since December. Chicago is the third-largest U.S. city.

GM Message from Rick Wagoner

On Friday I was in Washington for a meeting with Administration officials. In the course of that meeting, they requested that I “step aside” as CEO of GM, and so I have.

Fritz Henderson is an excellent choice to be the next CEO of GM. Having worked closely with Fritz for many years, I know that he is the ideal person to lead the company through the completion of our restructuring efforts. His knowledge of the global industry and the company are exceptional, and he has the intellect, energy, and support among GM’ers worldwide to succeed. I wish him well, and I stand ready to support him, and interim Non-Executive Chairman Kent Kresa, in every way possible.

I also want to extend my sincerest thanks to everyone who supported GM and me during my time as CEO. I deeply appreciate the excellent counsel and commitment of the GM Board and the strong support of our many partners including our terrific dealers, suppliers, and community leaders. I am grateful as well to the union leaders with whom I have had the chance to work closely to implement numerous tough but necessary restructuring agreements.

Most important of all I want to express my deepest appreciation to the extraordinary team of GM employees around the world. You have been a tremendous source of inspiration and pride to me, and I will be forever grateful for the courage and commitment you have shown as we have confronted the unprecedented challenges of the past few years. GM is a great company with a storied history. Ignore the doubters because I know it is also a company with a great future.

Fox News Likes YouTube Censorship?

"No, Youtube shouldn't "censor" the material on it's own website, a website renowned for it's idea of providing all a means of mass distribution of free ideas. It isn't for businesses or the government to control profanity. It is the responsibility of people to have decency with regard to how they talk. i.e. a vast majority of the below comments use profanity, POINTLESSLY. That is the problem. If everyone had a sense of decency with regard to their speech, this issue wouldn't be happening. "

Jonestown Tragedy

"Around 914 followers of Jim Jones committed suicide or were murdered by drinking or allegedly being forced to drink cyanide-laced grape Flavor Aid in 1978.[2] Erroneous references to the mass suicide, in combination with existing references to The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test of the Merry Pranksters, gave rise to the saying "Don't drink the Kool-Aid" as a reference to those who blindly follow an authority even if it leads to serious harm or death. A camera from inside the compound shows a large chest being opened showing boxes of both drinks.[3] There is also testimony from criminal investigators at the Jonestown inquest stating that there were "cool aid" (sic) packets there.[4] It is unknown whether these are a reference to the Kool-aid brand packets from the trunk, or simply a generic use of the more popular brand for the product."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavor_Aid

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Jones

For all the obama followers (this includes the Marketwatch Admin) who think the term "Kool-Aid" is racist, wake-up! This past event still concerns many who remember and now see the same disturbing parallels occurring 30 years later.

2009 Pontiac G8 GT Review

This is the part where we say, "Oh, snap!" An interesting internet video hosted on the PontiacIsCAR YouTube channel, which makes it at least semi-official, pits the Pontiac G8 GT against the BMW 550i in a 1-minute, 21-second-long homage to the quick cut. Seriously, we've seen MTV promos that keep an image onscreen longer than this video. Obviously, the G8 GT is made to look good in this epileptic seizure-inducing vid, coming in at half the price than the BMW, but being faster, more powerful and offering more interior space. It's a clever vid, though not as good as the Pontiac G8 Spy Hunter commercial, which is awesome on an epic scale. Rather, this little ad goes after the Bavarian brand with a blatant disregard for the premium image that BMW has earned over the years by actually building the Ultimate Driving Machine in every segment that it competes. Sure, BMWs cost a pretty premium over comparable cars, but when was the last time – before the G8 arrived – that Pontiac could claim it actually built excitement? Take a chill pill over there, Pontiac. The G8's a good car, just let it ride.

Barack Obama Followers

Barack Obama - Gaffe Mania I - Dumber than Dumb

Spoiled Child Slaps and Chokes Mother In Public For Toy

Setting: Temple

Characters: Loving Mother VS Disobedient Son

Incident: Mother and son, after visiting the Buddhist Temple, are on their way home. Darling son is crying and making a fuss demanding to buy a toy from a roadside toy stall. The mother scolds the son for wanting everything he sees and since there is no reason to buy an unnecessary toy, she refuses to buy.

Act 1:
In the midst of the crowd, suddenly see a child pulling his mother’s hand crying and making a fuss…

Act2:
Mother: “You buy so many useless things to do what? At home there is a large pile I never see you play…”
Son: “I just want it, buy it for me!”

Act3:
Mother: “Only liking these meaningless things, I will not buy it!”
Son: “Wu…even if refuse to buy, you must buy…wu…”

Act4:
The son slapped the mother and then asked again: “Are you going to buy it or not?”
The mother was speechless…

Act5:
Angry, the mother wanted to leave, but the son quickly pulled her. His voice softened but he continued to harass her.
The people around could only smile nervously.

Act6:
The son suddenly used all his strength to pull at his mother’s hair to force his mother to give in.
The mother was speechless, the crowd was speechless.

Act7:
Son: “Wu…I want, you will not buy it for me, I like it this much yet you will not buy it for me…wu…”
Mother: “Hurry and let go, it hurts…”
(Just what kind of toy is so fun? Incomprehensible.)

Act8:
Son: “Such a cheap thing yet you will not buy for me, my schoolmates all have it, I want it…”
Mother: “I already bought a small chicken [toy] for you, you simply…” (did not hear clearly)

Act9:
Some company’s promotional girl came to break up the fight saying: “Little friend, what do you want? I will go buy it for you, okay?”
Son: “I only want my mother to buy! You get lost!!!”
Her face full of embarrassment, the pretty girl walked away.
(”You get lost” was something everyone heard very clearly.)

Act10. The son went crazy, reached out and grabbed his mother’s throat.
In the middle of the tussle…

Act11:
The mother’s face is bright red from being suffocated…

Act12:
The mother is being strangled.

Act13:
Again the son grabbed the hair.
The son went mad: “Will you buy or not??”
Mother: “Again, it hurts so much, hurry and let go, I will buy it! I will buy it, okay…”

Act14:
After giving in to her son, the mother and son walked to the toy stall.

South China Sea Confrontation, Chinese Netizen Reactions

From Tom.com:

America’s Military Again Claims the Right to Enter China’s Special Economic Zone Waters

The foreign ministers of both China and the United States have met at a conference and agreed to do their best to avoid incidents similar to the “Wuxia” event [the Chinese name for "Impeccable", the American vessel in the South China Sea], but the American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen still says that China’s strategic intentions are not clear. He claims that “Wuxia” [Impeccable] has the right to operate in the South China Sea and that the actions of the mainland fishing boats were “irresponsible.”

The article goes on to say…

Mullen again spoke of China and the United States’ difference of opinion on this matter, saying that the Chinese side believes that the incident occurred in China’s exclusive economic zone, an area within 200 km of the coast, but that America has the right to enter this area. “These aren’t territorial waters. Territorial waters go out to 12 km, and exclusive economic zones go out to 200 km. Any country has the right to enter.”

In fact, China’s Ministry of Defense spokesperson Huang Xueping has previously refuted this argument. He said that the American surveillance vessel had not yet received China’s permission [to enter the waters] and was illegally carrying out surveillance activities in China’s special economic zone, breaking the United Nation’s “Convention on the Law of the Seas”, “The People’s Republic of China Special Economic Zone and Mainland Framework,” and “The People’s Republic of China Foreign Overseas Research Regulations.”

This article appeared in the Oriental Morning Post (东方早报). It was reprinted on Tom.com where it had 452 “supports” from users and 31 “not supports” at the time it was translated.

The Who - You Better You Bet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir2rFb_ghn0&feature=related

Roubini Says Stocks Will Drop as Banks Go ‘Belly Up’

“The stock market is a bit ahead of the real macroeconomic and financial news,” Roubini, a professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business and the chairman of consulting firm Roubini Global Economics, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television in London today. “We’ll have some major banks going belly up that will need to be taken over.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aUzSQ01UhV6s&refer=home

Rahm Emanuel the Putz

Rahm Emanuel’s profitable stint at mortgage giant — chicagotribune.com — There are so many conflicts of interest in the Obama administration. Of course the New York media refuses to give this much attention lest they get cut out of those press conferences.

Before its portfolio of bad loans helped trigger the current housing crisis, mortgage giant Freddie Mac was the focus of a major accounting scandal that led to a management shake-up, huge fines and scalding condemnation of passive directors by a top federal regulator.

One of those allegedly asleep-at-the-switch board members was Chicago’s Rahm Emanuel—now chief of staff to President Barack Obama—who made at least $320,000 for a 14-month stint at Freddie Mac that required little effort.

As gatekeeper to Obama, Emanuel now plays a critical role in addressing the nation’s mortgage woes and fulfilling the administration’s pledge to impose responsibility on the financial world.

Found by Mike Cosmi.

California to Reduce Carbon Emissions and Global Warming by banning black cars?

Henry Ford’s Contribution to Global Warming

California to reduce carbon emissions by banning black cars? — It’s harder to make black cars ever look clean too. My superstitious mother used to think black cars were evil, apparently the Air Resources Board agrees!

In yet another case of Regulators Gone Wild, California legislation may soon restrict the color options for your next car. The specific colors that are currently on the chopping block are all dark hues, with the worst offender seemingly the most innocuous color you could think of: black. What resentment could California possibly harbor against black cars, you ask? Apparently, the Air Resources Board figures that the climate control systems of dark colored cars need to work harder than their lighter siblings, especially after sitting in the sun for a few hours. Anyone living in a hot, sunny climate will tell you that this assumption is accurate. Similar legislation already exists for buildings and has proven successful at reducing the energy consumption of skyscrapers.

So, what’s the problem? Paint suppliers have reportedly been testing their pigments and processes to see if it’s possible to meet CARB’s proposed mandate of 20 percent solar reflectivity by 2016 with a phase-in period starting in 2012, and it’s not looking good. Apparently, when the proper pigments and chemicals are added to black paint, the resulting color is currently being referred to as “mud-puddle brown.” That doesn’t sound very attractive, now does it? Windshields, backlights and sunroofs are also slated to get reflective coatings starting in 2012.

Found by Guilherme Cherman.

U.S. Stock-Index Futures Advance; Bank of America Climbs

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aAPzY2p8rYVs&refer=home

BAC is the leading indicator that financials are on the move.

AIG will hide behind a different name

Gothamist has some photos of 175 Water Street in NYC — which until recently proudly displayed the name and logo of the American International Group. What happened?

Well, it seems that there’s a little rebranding going on. AIG told the NY Post that “the company had decided to replace the large AIG sign — outside the entrance to its property-casualty offices — as part of its plan to change that operation’s name to AIU Holdings Ltd”

From the NYPost:
A rebranding to distance the giant insurer’s sprawling operations across 130 countries away from the AIG name are likely to continue.

“I think the AIG name is so thoroughly wounded and disgraced that we’re probably going to have to change it,” Liddy told a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee last Wednesday.
Any suggestions for him?

I would think that changing your corporate name has to be an enormous and unnecessary expense. But we don’t mind paying for this too….correct?

Geithner Relies on Investors for $1 Trillion Plan

"The plan is aimed at financing as much as $1 trillion in purchases of illiquid real-estate assets, using $75 billion to $100 billion of the Treasury’s remaining bank-rescue funds. The Public-Private Investment Program will also rely on Federal Reserve financing and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. debt guarantees, the Treasury said in a statement in Washington. "

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aE.lfx34k8bI&refer=home

tk3 on Marketwatch Censorship

tk3 :

MW response;
Hello tk3,Updated Patric Henry is not Patric Henry. The first paragraph and the foot notes are not Patric Henry. We do not republish cut and paste. Please make your case and feel free to pull a few quotes with appropriate attribution.Cheers-

As I noted="and I expect he would-update his famous speech slightly. What do you think?"

If you knew history you would know sir there is NO Copyright on the 1773 Patric Henry speech and there is NO Violation and it can be used as one pleases, including my stated updating for review! My updating was not 'Cut and Paste" and I don't need your permission to use or quote in whole or part or alter or review or update or Critique Patric Henry or George Washington, Thomas Jefferson or any of our great patriot forefathers.

As I said before, restore the post or put me in contact with your manager or legal department.
Thank You;
TK3

The Big Takeover

The global economic crisis isn't about money - it's about power. How Wall Street insiders are using the bailout to stage a revolution.

It's over — we're officially, royally fucked. no empire can survive being rendered a permanent laughingstock, which is what happened as of a few weeks ago, when the buffoons who have been running things in this country finally went one step too far. It happened when Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner was forced to admit that he was once again going to have to stuff billions of taxpayer dollars into a dying insurance giant called AIG, itself a profound symbol of our national decline — a corporation that got rich insuring the concrete and steel of American industry in the country's heyday, only to destroy itself chasing phantom fortunes at the Wall Street card tables, like a dissolute nobleman gambling away the family estate in the waning days of the British Empire. -MATT TAIBBI

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/26793903/the_big_takeover/2

Do you think Obama going on The Tonight Show is conduct becoming the president?

We need a President who is presidential. Even today's generation want him to preside over our nation with honor and to provide guidance, in a responsible direction, and with self control. Instead we have a person who is famous and celebrated, especially by the press. Few dare to address his lack of serious accomplishment. He is more renowned than he is distinguished. -Michaelene

He is the first President to go on one of these kind of "entertainment shows". It brings his credibility into question even more. It also brings up his "celebrity divaness". And being a mother to 2 special need children I personally took it offensive to make fun of the special olympics. He was implying he was a retard by scoring low and was meaning special need children cant amount to what everyone else does. Very low and shows his sick sense of humor. If he doesnt like race jokes towards african americans then he shouldt be making fun of anyone else based on something that is not in their control. -Nicole

I think Obama thinks that "special needs children" are a choice... I'm sure he'd rather they be eliminated... I'm sure they're a drag on the beautiful people like the Obamas! I can't see Barry and Michelle schlepping all over the country with... say a baby with Down's Syndrome... it wouldn't conform to their image. Here's a BIG, FAT appreciative RAVE to Mom's like you, Nicole, and Sarah Palin! My pleasure... I find intolerance and thoughtlessness bad characteristics in a "savior". -Pistol

Absolutely not he dumbed down the dignity of the office while insulting the mentaly challenged, a twofer .. Bush can't shoot that well !!! -Bob

Only a beast would degrade retarded children. Obama has disqualified himself to lead this Country.The reason why you Democrats are trying to minimize this disgrace is that this is the way you ALL talk among yourselves and in the privacy of your homes. You pontificate in public about discrimination and hatred, yet YOU are the ones doing all the hating.Obama has inadvertantly let us all witness what a Democrat is all about. Was it a mistake? Of course it was....to say it in public under the lights. But in private, when they think nobody is looking, this is how Democrats are....hateful bigots, to be sure. -Jay

Any president of the USA can get all the time needed on TV or any media for that matter if need be, problem is the publicity like stunt of joining Jay on The Tonight Show does not portray what a standing president ought to portray...in other words Jay actually exploited the president and the president let it happen...like I have said before Obama is a puppet at the hands of whoever may be the puppeteer...also Jay is not as stupid as some may think... Time and Place matter....just as Time and Space... -amaterasu

Obama is nothing without his teleprompter other then a good public speaker and that is why he screwed up and made an idiot of himself without it. A slick dude. -Peace within

Obama is over his head (above his pay grade as he used to say). Instead of being presidential and tackling the massive problems of our Country, he's running around still in campaign mode - leaving the dirty work for an even more inept Congress. -John Adams

Obama is spending almost as much time out of Washington as he is in Washington.He is overwhelmed........ and Exhausted....... they said it.... they said all this.The Obama staff said this.That was their excuse for the rudeness to the Prime Minister of England........He has no time in his schedule for a Proper visit... but he has time to fly off toa Leno show. HE DIDN'T EVEN GIVE THE PRIME MINISTER LUNCH. -Mattynr

I will pray for you. I could care less what color anyone is. But as someone was said, "I wait for the day when all Gods's children are judged by their character and not their color". It seems to me that the Dems are the ones that always bring up race and judge people based on ethinic and racial criteria. That is the very basis of a racist!!! The Dems can't defend their positions based on the intellectual points, so they simply resort to calling anyone that dares to opose Obama a racist. That is so obivious and so sad that you guys resort to that type of childish name calling, simply to attempt to shame your oposition from perhaps doing things that may improve the country. But that is what some do when they can't make their case on the merits. B-T-W, I attend church with many races and people from various backgrounds. I would be carefull before I started doing God's work, assigning who will be in hell if I were you. But the fact that you make such sweeping judgements does say a lot about you. Read your bible and see what God's ways really are. I think you will find he doesn't sit in heaven rubbing his hands together hoping the Government will fix everything. No God empowers every individual to take hold of their own situation and make a change. He will meet you where you are and bring you through. Just believe in his son Jesus. -Mike

I still don't buy anything this snake oil salesman is selling, and no I don't think he should be laughing it up with Jay Leno on the tonight show, on Sports Center doing his basketball picks, or bowling while Russia and France are calling for an end to the dollar! I think he should be at his desk with his head buried in paperwork concerning this country's problems. -cantomagica

Our Insightful and graceful President

Our intelligent, insightful and graceful President gave the British PM a pack of DVDs (bought in WalMart, probably, $5 a piece).

And imagine what? Those DVDs refused to play in the British DVD player: "Region code is wrong".

"Have you seen a bigger MORON? "

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/mar/06/obama-dvd-brown The British press are appalled by Barack Obama's present of 25 DVDs for Gordon Brown - "About as exciting as a pair of socks".

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1159627/To-special-friend-Gordon-25-DVDs-Obama-gives-Brown-set-classic-movies-Lets-hope-likes-Wizard-Oz.html?loc=interstitialskip

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ond...

Now it turns out Brown can't play the discs because of region-specific limitations, The Daily Telegraph reports. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mandrake/5011941/Gordon-Brown-is-frustrated-by-Psycho-in-No-10.html

Anonymous poster.

Spas to politicians: “Stay out of our pants”

"The state of New Jersey has scrapped plans to ban bikini waxes after an outcry from beauty salon owners. The Cosmetology and Hairstyling Board proposed the move after two women were hospitalised for infections following the procedure; one filed a lawsuit.
But officials reversed course after salon owners complained about losing business ahead of the swimsuit season…
David Szuchman, New Jersey’s consumer affairs director, said in a letter to the board on Friday that he would not support the ban…
Spa owner Linda Orsuto told the Associated Press news agency: “It was an unnecessary issue.
“In New Jersey especially, where the government has been picking our pockets for so long, it was like: ‘Just stay out of our pants, will you?’”

Yeah. Stay out of her pants!

Pic(s) of the Day Dept. — Square Watermelons

A round watermelon can take up a lot of room in a refrigerator and the usually round melon often sits awkwardly on refrigerator shelves. Smart Japanese Farmers have forced their watermelons to grow into a square shape since 2001 by inserting the melons into square, tempered glass cases (see top photo) while the fruits are still growing on the vine.
(From an anonymous email, verified through www.hoax-slayer.com.)

House Passes Bill Taxing AIG Bonuses, Who’s Next?

The government giveth, the government taketh away.

"Denouncing a “squandering of the people’s money,” lawmakers voted decisively Thursday to impose a 90 percent tax on millions of dollars in employee bonuses paid by troubled insurance giant AIG and other bailed-out companies.
The House vote was 328-93. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate and President Barack Obama quickly signaled general support for the concept.
Republicans took Democrats to task for rushing to tax AIG bonuses worth an estimated $165 million after the majority party stripped from last month’s economic stimulus bill a provision that could have banned such payouts.
AIG has received $182.5 billion in federal bailout money and is now 80 percent government-owned.
Obama administration special envoy Richard Holbooke was on AIG’s board of directors in early 2008, when the insurance company committed to the bonuses, and during the previous years of aggressive investment strategies that brought the firm to brink of collapse. White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said Thursday: “Mr. Holbrooke had nothing to do with and knew nothing about the bonuses.”
Will this make things better, or is it just a “look good now” tactic for Congress and the White House?

How Did We Get Into This Mess?

"How to Destroy the Government in Three Easy Steps

In eight short years, conservatives have effectively bankrupted many state governments and left the fed in shambles. And now citizens have to “make tough decisions” and share the suffering equally across the land (unless of course, you’re part of that lucky 1 percent who co-opted the functions of government to serve their own ends … they’ll be cozy with their offshore bank accounts, golden parachutes and permanent tax holidays). Ever wonder how conservatives did all this?

Well, here’s your very own how-to manual for getting Big Government out of the way so you and your buddies can horde all the wealth to yourselves and build your empire.

Step 1: Blame the Individuals
Step 2: Cut Taxes
Step 3: Exploit Disaster

Read the article for the details. It’s short and very to the point."


Haha, I just love the bias out there. Competition is what makes this country great. Reality is, there are winners and losers.

Auditors project deeper deficits for Obama budget

"WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama's budget would produce $9.3 trillion in deficits over the next decade, more than four times the deficits of Republican George W. Bush's presidency, congressional auditors said Friday."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090321/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_budget

President Obama's 'Special Olympics' Joke Lands Him In Hot Water

"[Obama] thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world," Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton told reporters, adding that Obama only meant the comment to be a be a funny quip about his poor bowling skills, according to The Associated Press.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1607391/20090320/story.jhtml

Rhode Island strip club to host job fair

Rhode Island strip club to host job fair - Yahoo Finance

I’d like to see who shows up for this.
Here’s a job opportunity you won’t need to buy a new wardrobe for.

Hoping to take advantage of Rhode Island’s floundering economy, owners of the Foxy Lady strip club in Providence plan to hold a job fair on Saturday. They say they’re looking to fill around 30 positions, from strippers and waitresses to disc jockeys and bartenders, at that club and two others in Massachusetts.

“I need more managers, I need more competent staff, and I need more attractive waitresses to go along with the ones I have right now,” said co-owner Tom Tsoumas.
The naked truth is that Rhode Island’s economy is among the worst in the nation, with an unemployment rate of 10.3 percent in January.

Marketwatch Racist?

oldblackman :

"Your new policy is allowing outright racist remarks to stay on the board. I find this unacceptable. I know it will make many on the board happy though."

Marketwatch the Totalitarianist Site

Sheeple : RIP

"The Leftist Bigot, Hate-mongering, Racist, Tin-Foil Hat Wearing Communist Party Group"

Founded: Sheeple on 03/12/09 Category: US Politics

Group Desrcription:

We are leeches and lazy, valueless humans who want other people's money. We criticize Free Market Capitalism, Christianity, Traditional Family Values, Productive & Healthy Individuals and the American way of life constantly but are happy to accept government handouts. We are therefore hypocrits to the core and wear Tin Foil Hats in the shower and to bed. We are filled with self-hatred, low self-esteem, mental depression, guilt and loathing because our highest goals in life are only to be exactly the same as everyone else. We are eager to sacrifice U.S. sovereignty to the UN, a communist organization that is comprised of slaveocracy, totalitarian, communist and freedom-hating countries. The way we silence dissenters is to call them racists, fascists and bigots when they disagree with us.

Welcome to our happy little community!

Marketwatch a Total Farce?

LBX : JEB's response to terminate the use of "user moderators" is a good start.

However, it leaves many questions unanswered:

Will the "in house" editors be US based lawful, full time employees of Marketwatch?

Or will this function be subcontracted to some other country?

Will they be subject to conflict of interest rules usual and customary for Financial journalists and editors?

Or will there be a Thom Calendar hiding in the censored comments pile?

The Community eagerly await JEB's response to these issues....

Marketwatch Community on Life support?

LBX : No Word on the Fate of the Marketwatch Community.

USA ---- Reporting live from America, LBX

The Marketwatch Community has been up in arms for months over abusive behavior of its Community and Marketwatch Management.

"JEB", the General Manager of Marketwatch, finally got involved last week. Promises of changes were made on Tuesday by MW Admin:

"JEB, our GM, is planning on addressing some of these fixes personally to the Censorship group, possibly tomorrow. Please keep an eye out for his comments-"

Wednesday came and went, with no word from JEB. "Possibly" is beginning to sound more and more like "real soon now".

Meanwhile, news coverage on Marketwatch.com continue to deteriorate, with nary a mention of Chris Dodd's role in guaranteeing AIG's bonuses that competitor CNBC covered extensively.

Deteriorating news coverage, collapsing community relations, and stalled reforms.

Marketwatch is increasingly appearing to be managed like Citicorp.

- 30 -

Who are You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_FZVD5lsAw

Marketwatch Audience Plunge Continues Unabated

LBX : Marketwatch Audience Plunge Continues Unabated.

America, March 18, 2009 --Reporting live from the Internet by LBX.

Marketwatch.com, the online news and information site of Dow Jones and Company, a division of News Corp., the megalith publishing empire controlled by Rupert Murdoch, continued its sharp decline in "Daily Reach", a closely watched metric of audience and internet traffic.

The latest data showed that Marketwatch.com did not experience a "bump" from the matchup between Jim Kramer and Jon Stewart on the Daily Show. Other publications who covered the story, like Forbes, benefited.

Controversy over Marketwatch's Community continue, with the General Manager "JEB" pledging to unveil reforms and changes to the community later today to deal with widespread abuse of the community.

Whether these anticipated changes will be able to reverse the sharp decline in audience is an open question. If not reversed quickly, these trends will be followed by shortfalls in advertising revenues in the tight fisted management style of News Corp.

Both Marketwatch's news coverage and management of its Community is encountering increasing headwinds as its ranks of journalists are depleted and not replaced.

Marketwatch, however, disagrees. Commenting on Alexa.com's data last week, MW-Admin posted: "but it doesn't exactly jive with our internal numbers. In any event, while Community is a healthy addition to our overall traffic, it's our news that guides us."

Marketwatch.com is currently ranked 661 out of 1,500 top sites based on a 3 month average. A drop of 221in ranking in 3 months

- 30 -

Captaincensor2 on Marketwatch

Captaincensor2 : "HAVE NO FEAR !!! Captain Censor is here !!! Only another 137,000 points and I will save you all.

I am NOT a forgotten clone of BoZotheClown. NOT!!! I am here to replace a recently disgraced dufus. TU me immediately for points or I will zap you with my AWESOME censor death ray. Captain Censor needs no sidekick. Captain Censor lives for danger. Captain Censor will cleanse this cesspool of evil. CELEBRATE ME !!!! or feel the wrath of my AWESOME censor death ray. God Bless me. Do not play with me obese one. I dislike your species and my AWESOME censor death ray will make liquid of you !!!

Captain Censor decrees we all now LOVE clones. Captain Censor is a clone and you will LOVE me. HA HA HA the obese one is weak. I shall set my AWESOME censor death ray to "salt" and liquify his oderiferous contenance. BOW before me in supplication obese one.

Captain Censor is accepting applications for official sidekick. Qualifications include good sucking up ability, zero self respect and the abilty to constantly pump Captain Censer's ego as he cleanses this evil cesspool of depravity. Sadly Captain Censor dislikes hairballs in his tights and the species of Hutts. JTD you please Captain Censor. Send Captain Censor your CV outlining your previous experience and qualifications. The work is dangerous, Captain Censor scoffs at danger.

Do NOT test me further bag sack. Your insolence will anger Captain Censor.

You displease ME, SoC I have set my AWESOME censor death ray to "stupid dorkus". Bag sack you anger Captain Censor. BEWARE the AWESOME censor death ray.

Captain Censors' bird is none of slewy's concern. Captain Censor is pleased by Slewy. You may live when we cleanse this cesspool of evil.

Captain Censor needs no puny firearm. Captain Censor has his AWESOME censor death ray. People with guns FEAR Captain Censor.

Slewy make Captain Censor laugh out loud. Slewy immune to Captain Censor's AWESOME censor death ray.

Have NO FEAR. Captain Censor is here. Let Captain Censor check his schedule. Captain Censor will save the children !!!, next Tuesday between 2:30 and 3:00. "

Marketwatch on Life Support?

LBX : Reports live from the defunct Marketwatch community.

Is Marketwatch in fact on Life Support?

Insider trading charges against former Marketwatch founder and Dow Jones board members, one has to ask what is next?

While this controversy brews on... so many have left.. so many (like me) have stopped posting...

How is this affecting Marketwatch website metrics?

We know Marketwatch pageviews are in trouble.

Time spent per page.. etc. .must also be affected...Something suggest that in the background, they know they are in trouble.

Furthermore, there is a weekly report that should be showing some real interesting numbers this week.

Timeline shows Bush, McCain warning Dems of financial and housing crisis; meltdown, CENSORED

This video has essentially been censored in the USA via threats of lawsuits. I guess the 1st amendment only applies to American flag burners and talking about Christmas in public schools. I love the excuse that yobama inherited these economic problems that his party created with his support.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMnSp4qEXNM&NR=1

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/easescredit.asp

Lawyer vs Farmer Joke

A big city London lawyer went duck hunting in rural Scotland. He shot and dropped a bird, but it fell into a farmer's field on the other side of a fence.

As the lawyer climbed over the fence, an elderly farmer drove up on his tractor and asked the lawyer what he was doing.

The lawyer responded, "I shot a duck and it fell into this field, and now I'm going to retrieve it."

The old farmer replied. "This is my property, and your not coming over here."

The indignant lawyer replied. "I'm one of the best trial lawyers in the UK, and if you don't let me get that duck, I'll sue you and take everything that you own.

The old farmer smiled and said, "Apparently, you don't know how we do things in Scotland. We settle small disagreements like this, with the Scottish Three Kick Rule."

The lawyer asked, "What is the Scottish Three Kick Rule?"

The farmer replied, "Well, first I kick you three times and then you kick me three times, and so on, back and forth until someone gives up."

The attorney quickly thought about the proposed contest and decided that he could easily take the old codger. He agreed to abide by the local custom.

The old farmer slowly gets down from the tractor and walked up to the city fella. His first kick planted the toe of his heavy work boot into the lawyer's groin, which dropped him to his knees.

His second kick nearly ripped the nose off his face.

The lawyer was flat on his belly, when the farmer's third kick to a kidney nearly causing him to give up, but didn't.

The lawyer summoned every bit of his will and managed to get to his feet and said, "Okay, you old tosser, now it's my turn."

The old farmer smiled and said,

"Naw, I give up, You can keep the duck!"

BREAKING NEWS LBX CENSORED OVER QUESTIONING MARKETWATCH "Is Marketwatch engaged in Securities Fraud?"

MarketWatch-Admin Mar 15, 2009 9:19 PM

Hello LBX,

The following contribution to the MarketWatch Community was removed due to inappropriate content. Please be respectful and use the Community features in accordance with our Guidelines posted here:http://community.marketwatch.com/faq#guidelines

Regards,

MarketWatch-Admin

"group [Censorship] TopicIs Marketwatch engaged in Securities Fraud?"

=================================================

The truth too difficult to handle?

Marketwatch Founder: Thom Calendar - Charged by SEC

DOW Jones Board Member: Charged by SEC ....

Who is next?

Insider Trading Case Against Former Board Member of Dow Jones Parent Company of Marketwatch

LBX : U.S. and Hong Kong (2008)

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Litigation Release No. 20447 / February 5, 2008Securities and Exchange Commission v. Kan King Wong, Charlotte Ka On Wong Leung, Michael Leung Kai Hung and David Li Kwok Po, 07 Civ. 3628 (SAS) (S.D.N.Y. filed May 8, 2007)SEC Settles $24 million Insider Trading Case Against Four Hong Kong Residents Including David Li Kwok Po, a Former Board Member of Dow Jones.

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced settled insider trading charges against four Hong Kong residents for illegal tipping and trading in the securities of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. ("Dow Jones") in the weeks before the public disclosure on May 1, 2007 of an unsolicited $60 per share acquisition offer for Dow Jones (the "Offer") by News Corporation. The alleged tip originated with David Li Kwok Po ("David Li"), who served on the Dow Jones board of directors. David Li is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of East Asia and a member of Hong Kong's Legislative Counsel and Executive Committee.

On May 8, 2007, the Commission filed an emergency action in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against Kan King Wong ("K.K. Wong") and Charlotte Ka On Wong Leung ("Charlotte Wong"), alleging that the husband-wife couple traded Dow Jones securities based on inside information. Specifically, the Wongs purchased approximately $15 million worth of Dow Jones securities in their account at Merrill Lynch and, after the Offer became public, made approximately $8.1 million in trading profits. The court entered a Temporary Restraining Order freezing those assets and imposing other relief. See LR-20106 (May 8, 2007). Today the Commission filed an amended complaint alleging that Dow Jones board member David Li tipped his close friend, Michael Leung Kai Hung ("Michael Leung"), before the Offer's public disclosure, and Michael Leung, with the Wongs' assistance, traded Dow Jones stock in their Merrill Lynch account. The Commission further alleged that K.K. Wong bought 2,000 Dow Jones shares in his TD-Ameritrade account and made approximately $40,000 in profits. Charlotte Wong is Michael Leung's daughter, and K.K. Wong is his son-in-law.

Without admitting or denying the Commission's allegations, David Li, Michael Leung, K.K. Wong and Charlotte Wong consented to the entry of court orders enjoining them from violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and ordering David Li to pay an $8.1 million civil penalty, Michael Leung to pay $8.1 million in disgorgement plus prejudgment interest and an $8.1 million penalty, and K.K. Wong to pay $40 thousand in disgorgement plus prejudgment interest and a $40 thousand civil penalty.

The Commission acknowledges the assistance of Merrill Lynch & Co. and the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission.

http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/ushk_others_2008020502.html

SEC CASE: DOW JONES MARKETWATCH PARENT COMPANY INSIDER TRADING

LBX : SEC CASE: DOW JONES INSIDER TRADING

http://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/2007/lr20106.htm

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONLitigation Release No. 20106 / May 8, 2007SEC v. Kan King Wong and Charlotte Ka On Wong Leung, 07 Civ. 3628 (SAS) (S.D.N.Y. filed May 8, 2007)Securities and Exchange Commission Obtains Asset Freeze in Connection With Trades in Dow Jones Securities Prior to Acquisition AnnouncementOrders Placed From Foreign Accounts Just Prior to Acquisition Announcement; as much as $23 Million Frozen

On May 8, 2007, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a Temporary Restraining Order freezing assets of two Hong Kong residents, Kan King Wong and Charlotte Ka On Wong Leung, held at a branch office of Merrill Lynch & Co. in Hong Kong. The Commission's complaint alleges that the defendants engaged in illegal insider trading, in violation of the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws. Among other relief, the court also imposed an expedited discovery schedule and prohibited the destruction of relevant documents.

According to the Commission's complaint, the defendants purchased 415,000 shares of Dow Jones common stock in their Merrill Lynch accounts between April 13 and April 30, 2007, for approximately $15 million. On May 1, 2007, Dow Jones stock price shot up 58% when it was disclosed publicly that News Corporation had made an offer to acquire Dow Jones for $60 per share — a substantial premium over the market price. On May 4, 2007, the defendants sold all 415,000 shares of Dow Jones common stock for a total of approximately $23 million and a profit of approximately $8 million. The Commission alleges that the defendants engaged in insider trading, in violation of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The Commission is seeking permanent injunctive relief, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest thereon, and civil monetary penalties.

The Commission's investigation is continuing.

Complaint in this matter; Temporary Restraining Order

Dow Jones, Parent Company of Marketwatch, Securities Fraud - Insider Trading

LBX : Reports live from the Marketwatch community.

Dow Jones, Parent Company of Marketwatch, Securities Fraud - Insider Trading

SEC has much at stake in Dow Jones insider-trading caseBy David Scheer Bloomberg NewsPublished: September 24, 2007.

WASHINGTON: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission complaint against a Hong Kong couple for insider trading of Dow Jones stock looked like an open-and-shut case when it was filed in May.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/23/bloomberg/bxinside.php

SEC BRINGS FRAUD CHARGES AGAINST FORMER MARKETWATCH COLUMNIST THOM CALANDRA FOR ILLEGAL TRADING SCHEME

LBX : See Previous SEC action against Marketwatch:

http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2005-3.htm

SEC BRINGS FRAUD CHARGES AGAINST FORMER CBS MARKETWATCH COLUMNIST THOM CALANDRA FOR ILLEGAL TRADING SCHEME

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE2005-3

Washington, D.C., Jan. 10, 2005 - The Securities and Exchange Commission today brought and settled civil fraud charges against Thom Calandra, a former columnist for the Internet website CBS MarketWatch.com. The Commission alleges that Calandra profited by secretly selling stocks shortly after his investment newsletter's positive recommendations of the stocks caused their prices to rise. In settling the matter, Calandra, who lives in Sausalito, California, will pay over $540,000 in disgorgement and penalties.

Helane L. Morrison, District Administrator of the SEC's San Francisco Office, stated, "Calandra betrayed his readers' trust by surreptitiously using his newsletter, The Calandra Report, to bolster his personal trading profits. Calandra's readers were entitled to know about his trading activity, so that they could evaluate the credibility and impartiality of Calandra's investment advice for themselves."

According to the Commission's complaint, filed in the Northern District of California, Calandra made over $400,000 in illegal profits through a practice known as "scalping"-buying shares of thinly-traded, small-cap companies, writing highly favorable newsletter profiles recommending the companies to his newsletter subscribers, and then selling the majority of his shares when the increased demand generated by his favorable columns drove up the stock price. From March to December 2003, Calandra followed this "Buy-Write-Sell" pattern for 23 different stocks that he covered in The Calandra Report, without disclosing his actions to his readers.

In addition, the Commission alleged that Calandra failed to tell his readers that he had received compensation from a stock promoter affiliated with two mining companies that Calandra profiled in The Calandra Report. The compensation took the form of heavily-discounted shares in the two companies-shares which Calandra later sold at a substantial profit after the stock prices rose following his favorable newsletter write-ups.

"Calandra's violations were serious, but the penalty amount reflects Calandra's cooperation with the staff's investigation," said Marc J. Fagel, Assistant District Administrator of the SEC's San Francisco Office.

Calandra, without admitting or denying the allegations in the Commission's complaint, has agreed to a permanent injunction from further violations of the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws. Calandra also will disgorge $416,109.58 in illegal trading profits and prejudgment interest and will pay a civil penalty of $125,000.

Marketwatch Engaged in Securities Fraud?

LBX: Marketwatch has a long history of being engaged in Securities Fraud, with the founder of the website Thom Calandra finally charged by the SEC caught red handed in 2004.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thom_Calandra

It is very interesting that Marketwatch has willfully, deliberately, intentionally allowed a User Forum to use "user Moderators" who are people who have no evidence of having:

a) gone through a background check

b) registered as securities dealers with the SEC

c) or indeed, have any identification information available on the MW Forum site about them.

This is a system that is wide open to flagrant abuse and violation of securities laws.

The law clearly states:Section 9 -- Manipulation of Security Prices

1. Transactions relating to purchase or sale of security.

It shall be unlawful for any person, directly or indirectly, by the use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce, or of any facility of any national securities exchange, or for any member of a national securities exchange--

1. For the purpose of creating a false or misleading appearance of active trading in any security registered on a national securities exchange, or a false or misleading appearance with respect to the market for any such security, (A) to effect any transaction in such security which involves no change in the beneficial ownership thereof, or (B) to enter an order or orders for the purchase of such security with the knowledge that an order or orders of substantially the same size, at substantially the same time, and at substantially the same price, for the sale of any such security, has been or will be entered by or for the same or different parties, or (C) to enter any order or orders for the sale of any such security with the knowledge that an order or orders of substantially the same size, at substantially the same time, and at substantially the same price, for the purchase of such security, has been or will be entered by or for the same or different parties.

2. To effect, alone or with one or more other persons, a series of transactions in any security registered on a national securities exchange or in connection with any security-based swap agreement (as defined in section 206B of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act) with respect to such security creating actual or apparent active trading in such security, or raising or depressing the price of such security, for the purpose of inducing the purchase or sale of such security by others.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Market_manipulation

Marketwatch Admin:

Kindly tell us what efforts have been made to ensure that MW Admin staff, including not just paid staff, but unpaid Forum moderators, have complied with the law?

Do you verify the identity of your "user Moderators"?

Do you require them to disclose all stock trades to you so you can monitor them for compliance?

Do you report suspicious activity to the SEC as you are required to do?

Do you aid and abet illegal manipulation?

Marketwatch User Moderators Engaged in Illegal Activities?

What about conflicts of interest? How in the world do you maintain neutrality when these "user moderators" do not have any obligation to reveal their true identity, their record of stock trades, their employment / compensation affiliations, etc? Basic securities law enforcement is needed here. What Marketwatch Admin created with the system might as well be called Marketfraud. How many of the "use / moderators" are doing pump and dump? We would like to know....

The user/moderator issue has one simple answer: none is the right number.Using them leaves MW wide open to charges of conflicts of interest, manipulation of securities prices and other illegal activities.

3,000 Mile Oil Change Myth Busted

"Would you feed 25 bucks of your hard-earned money into a shredder? Would you drain a perfectly good tank of gasoline and replace it with new gas? Of course not. Yet, if you own a GM vehicle and change your oil every three months or 3,000 miles just because that little sticker on your windshield says so, you may be wasting your money."

"Thanks to GM’s Oil Life System – a simple yet amazing technology that I’ve had the privilege to work on – the three-month/3,000-oil change is a myth that belongs in the automotive scrap heap with leaded gasoline and carburetors. There are more than 31 million vehicles on the road today equipped with the GM Oil Life System, and more than 97 percent of GM vehicles sold today in the U.S. are equipped with this technology. If everyone who has OLS used it as intended, we’d save 100 million gallons of motor oil every year."

http://fyi.gmblogs.com/2008/11/goodwrench_sends_the_3000_mile_oil_change_myth_to_the_scrap_heap.html

Marketwatch Censorship Continues

irishscot2 :

Just reading through today as I have a slow day - was a busy week. I know that I have been targeted for whatever reason, was getting a little frustrated and then remembered that the "points" don't matter, what does it trying to clarify and help others - at least from my viewpoint.
I have learned long ago that you never argue with the irrational, it will just frustrate you. State your case as clearly and concisely as possible and then listen to the response. If the response is a talking point, forget it, you are arguing with a wall and will get you nowhere. If the response is rationale, albeit maybe uninformed, try then to inform and correct.

If the response is an anonymous thumbsdown - of which I now seem to accumulate in blocks of three as per a post above, so be it - I post rationale, documented, researched information, which has served me in good stead for almost thirty years. If others think an informed decision is not the way to invest, let them go their way - MY 401K is in great shape because of my ability to read petroleum distillates. My own portfolios and those of my family also in great shape - one brother pulled out of the broadbased market the day after the all-time high in Oct of '07. I told him to let me know the next time he had one of those feelings - he beat me by two months and 8%!

LBX :

This comment did not conform to the MarketWatch Community Guidelines and was removed.

irishscot2 :

Bailey's is a staple in the fridge, never put the Scotch there. Should say that I am of Scottish descent, family settled in the USA in the early 1600's in Maine, soldiers never went all the way back after the Civil War, stayed in the NJ/NY area. My wife is the Irish, grandparents off the boat. In the days of limited internet we combined our backgrounds for our email address, I just carry it on today as an identifier.

Hello LBX,

The following contribution to the MarketWatch Community was removed due to inappropriate content. Please be respectful and use the Community features in accordance with our Guidelines posted here: http://community.marketwatch.com/faq#guidelines
Regards, MarketWatch-Admin

"Petroleum distillates? I though with your name.. you might be into other "distillates"!"

Per LBX- "This shows that the "censorshp" system is still run amock....No change"

Jim Bernard, general manager of MarketWatch.com

Jim Bernard, general manager of MarketWatch.com, had been the vice president of strategy and market intelligence in Dow Jones's Enterprise Media Group since January 2007. Previously at Dow Jones, he was vice president of strategy and planning for the content licensing group. Earlier, at CBS MarketWatch, he was vice president of sales and service and director of the media division. He was a sales manager at the University of Minnesota Press and marketing manager at JDL Technologies.

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/news.html?d=125483

Weekend Song "Wheel In The Sky"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFC8sDTXlng&feature=related

Swimsuit 2008

karena :

"you can go to CNN, and click sports. You get to cnn sports illustrated. they have models in body paint. Nothing whatsoever. Nipples and bush showing. It works fine for CNN. Also, NBC News did an article on BuTTTTT implant gone wrong. well, if you check out the article, you may find something familiar here in MW. "

"Well definitely do not go to CNN's Sports Illustrated site for you sports news during market hours because body painting swimsuits on models can be very distracting. Also, Don't go to NBC news for your news, because you will find NBC uses pictures exactly like this to cover their news."

Select Model tab, then Bodypainting

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/2008_swimsuit/summer/

MARKETWATCH ON NEWS CORP LIFE SUPPORT?

LBX reporting live from America.....

MARKETWATCH ON NEWS CORP LIFE SUPPORT?


Advertising spending is shrinking fast. Google expects earnings to grow by 4%.

The more pertinent question is what is going to happen to advertising spending in Finance oriented publications when the general public is losing interest in the Stock Market and Investing fast?

Investing and trading stocks have gone from the late 20th century mania to be as “out” as owning a Hummer SUV.

As more and more people open their 401(k) and mutual fund statements in April, and finally confront the tax loss sales in time for April 15, the reality will become impossible for a majority of the investor public to avoid.

In this environment, clearly, one of the most overbuilt and overmanned industry is Financial news sites and information services, TV, and media. Indeed, not even Bloomberg will be immune from this downturn.

The economy will likely see Financial services shrink to less than half its peak size as a percentage of GDP.

Where does this leave Dow Jones and Marketwatch?

The family of financial publications range from out and out stodgy icons (Wall Street Journal) to the plain out-of-fashion (community newspapers).

Marketwatch had potential to be a survivor, but its scandal plagued management never really recovered from the “resignation” of its founder and Editor Thom Calandra after being charged with Securities Fraud in 2004.

After Marketwatch was sold to Dow Jones, the better writers at Marketwatch gradually defected or were transferred to the Wall Street Journal and other flagship Dow publications, weakening the website further and further.

By 2008, Marketwatch was hardly anything more than a news wire reprint service with a few writers, but at least, it had a thriving “Community” of commentators.

This community virtually imploded around November, 2008, with the hostility of the Presidential election, the collapse of equity markets, and the financial crisis creating a toxic brew of investors who lost their shirts, finger pointing at politicians and blame games, and “community” members that ran wild.

By March, the “community” became a shadow of itself, with a large number of long time members drummed out, quit, or just disappeared.

Marketwatch’s page views, the all important metric for an online publication’s survival, plunged by over 30% in the most recent 3 months.

While News Corp does not break out revenues by individual entities, industry observers estimated that revenues at Marketwatch have declined roughly in proportion to the decline in pageviews.

Time for Dow Jones to buy a small Bank, and ask for TARP funding.

Marketwatch should be renamed "Deathwatch"

The Marketwatch staff is under intense pressure to either bring revenues (pageviews) up... or else.

Pretty soon, the site is going to be more trouble than it is worth --- there is a very good DJ/ News Corp case for consolidating the sites that all do the same thing.

KKR Losses Show Failure to Close Gap Raising Defaults

"Investment funds that purchased a majority of the lowest-rated loans during the credit boom have stopped buying, threatening to undermine President Obama’s plan to pull the economy out of the worst recession since 1982. "

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=acROzmta6c.c&refer=home

Marketwatch is one of the poorest performing websites in the last 3 months in the Finance Category.

Marketwatch: 3 month reach down 31.9% [ this is huge]

Compares:Forbes: 3 month reach down 8.3%http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/forbes.com

Business Week: UP 11%
http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/businessweek.com

Yahoo Finance: down 0.88%http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/finance.yahoo.com

CNN Money: down 13.3%
http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/cnnmoney.com

Summary: Marketwatch is one of the poorest performing websites in the last 3 months in the Finance Category.

I am beginning to think we are wasting time with Marketwatch

LBX :

I am beginning to think we are wasting time with MW.At that rate of traffic fall, severe budget cuts are no more than weeks, if not months away.There is not much likelihood of MW delivering anything they promise.The many posters they lost that are long time posters are not likely to come back easily --- without being enticed and incentives.So the decision to dump MW is appearing easier and easier ---- as a pure business decision.Why should we post here if the eyeballs are not here?That is, before we are censored....

autodidact :

I agree. I would like real time news/comment format. Where to go?

Obama’s Popularity Doesn’t Sway Republican Critics of Policies

“They’ve reached out to us and they’ve wanted to talk to us and I think they’re sincere in that,” Gerlach said. “But I think they did make a mistake on the stimulus of delegating this to Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid and that’s where the breakdown was.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aqjPZzWumnAY&refer=home

China Needs Another $2 Trillion of Treasuries: William Pesek

"It’s simple mathematics. The U.S. economy is more than four times the size of China’s. Growth in China is wildly lopsided toward exports, many of those goods packed on ships bound for America. So, if China wants to stay afloat, it should spend less money building roads, bridges and dams and more on U.S. debt. That would give the U.S. and its consumers the access to easy credit to reignite spending, much of it on Chinese-made goods. "

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=a7uXhY1n4vGY&refer=home

Banks Rush Bond Sales as FDIC Says It May Raise Guarantee Fees

"By paying the FDIC a fee to back their bonds, banks are able to issue debt with a top AAA credit rating. New York-based Goldman Sachs sold $5 billion of bonds yesterday, including three-year notes with a coupon of 2.15 percent."

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a3kprxkRPSyc&refer=home

G-20 Shifts Regulation Focus as Economy Struggles

"The G-20 remains divided as European governments rebut U.S. overtures to bolster spending, while President Barack Obama’s administration takes heat for lacking the staff to work on an international remedy."

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aGov3sEZIeT0&refer=home

U.S. Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index Rose to 56.6 in March

"The highest rate of unemployment in 25 years and the biggest drop in wealth on record as home and stock values plunge have shaken Americans, raising the risk spending will again tumble after stabilizing the last couple of months. The figures indicate the Obama administration’s plans to cut taxes, boost spending and stem foreclosures have yet to soothe household anxiety."


http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aQKaRDQmzuxI&refer=home

Censorship

Censorship is regarded among a majority of academics in the Western world as a typical feature of dictatorships and other authoritarian political systems


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship

AIG Asked Buffett for Help Twice Before Its September Collapse

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aefp0ijrfsQU&refer=home

Mc911: Woman calls 911 over McNuggets

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyWaCsdYSlI



Haha, typical marketwatch user moderator mentality.

Jon Stewart DESTROYS Jim Cramer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7og_2XjrhI&feature=related



Haha, perhaps the bias "Marketwatch" censorship site should be John Stewart's next target.

Efficient-market hypothesis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efficient_market_hypothesis

higlider straight shooter

higlider :

"MW is violating the fundamental justice of the US, the right to be informed of that which you are accused, the right to confront your accuser, no annomous accusers, freedom of political speech. I remember in the past there were many nasty anti-Bush posts, NONE got censored. Now some posts are pointing out the weaknesses of Obama's policies and BOOM, they are censored.

In the past there was true hatred of Bush in the posts. Today, I haven't seen one hatred post aimed at Obama.

MW has its chance to define itself here: Is it a liberal pawn of the administration? or is it a responsible financial news reporting organization independent of political pressures? MW has precipitated this question, what is the answer?"

gf gone

gf :

Here is the heart of the MW problems. Rescue Rangers requested a link to verify the Rahm Emanuel quote. I posted a link to a video of Rahm Emanuel making that quote. And, I get a thumbs down.

Obviously, this forum is broken. See ya.

PAretiree bows out

PAretiree :

I’ve given a good deal of thought and have decided for the time being to cease my active involvement with the MarketWatch board.

Along with many others, I’ve been displeased with heavy handed and oppressive administrative practices that include indiscriminate censorship and the abusive use of the thumbs down feature to apply administrative pressure on members.

Sadly, I’ve seen the best and the brightest members banned, resign or move to “topic specific” sub discussion groups. Over the past several months, the main MW discussion board has suffered greatly and MW’s administration, while admitting they were aware of abuses and problems, has done nothing.

This is SAD, since I had previously regarded MW as the best financial discussion board on the Internet.

Best of luck with your investments,

PAretiree

QuestionEverything is blackballed

QuestionEverything

"I was deleted without notice and I am not allowed to reregister (even under another email address). Must have been the threat to contact their advertisers that has me blackballed."


Haha, to all readers,

As indicated in other posts the MW admin is a pathological liar carrying out a personal hate campaign. To the MW admin "QuestionEverything" is just another deleted user that did not matter. Soon the arrogant MW admin will realize the constitution > them.

stopthehandouts and G-G on censorship

stopthehandouts :

G-G, a fellow poster and friend, wanted me to share this:

The following contribution to the MarketWatch Community was removed due to inappropriate content. Please be respectful and use the Community features in accordance with our Guidelines posted here:http://community.marketwatch.com/faq#guidelinesRegards,MarketWatch-Admin

"First!!OBOTS, welcome!
(Thumbs DOWN reveals the OBOT, in sentiment and in belief).

"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME... CENSORSHIP LIKE THIS on Market Watch Forums?

Here is MW answer: Please share this! They prove their bias here...

"G-G, Our current guidelines states that, "Community members are asked to work closely with MarketWatch to ensure that a high standard of respectful communication is observed." Calling Community members who support Obama names is hardly respectful. And seriously, do you expect me to give my name to someone who sports a Charlie Chaplain mustache?
Cheers-


"Email between G-G and myself:

This forum, this whole site has been compromised. There are employees working for MW now that are in the Obama camp and are making sure that nothing bad is said about Obama and his cronies (just as they are now scrubbing Wikipedia of anything less than complimentary about Obama and the Democrats). Because politics is so closely linked to the economy, this kind of censorship nullifies MW as anything credible. This reminds me, historically, of the Stalin purges. MW has become an "organ of the state" - therefore MW is irrelevant to any free discourse or conversation. My statements were not offensive - they were political - and that has been banned. I expect I will be booted off shortly. And so it begins....

I couldn't agree more with G-G