Archives

August 2006 Archives

Caffeinated Commodities - 2006-08-29
Every day it’s a new brew. Coffee can give you a heart attack. Or it can fight cancer. It can make investors rich or turn poor farmers towards the cocaine industry. Today we filter the economics inside a cup o’ joe.

Baghdad Bob Comes to Baltimore - 2006-08-28
My hometown newspaper the Baltimore Sun just can't seem to make up its mind. Just last month the paper went to press with a three part story entitled "The Coming Housing Crunch." It was the epitome of folly.

Fill 'er Up - 2006-08-25
Average retail gasoline prices have fallen significantly since the beginning of the month and are now at multi-month lows. Here in the U.S., the engine fuel has dropped over 5% since August 4th while average prices in Canada have dropped nearly 10%. But this won't last long.

Home Sales Down, Saint Statues Up - 2006-08-23
At Ward's gift shop in Boston there has been a run on St. Joseph statues. In fact, they are selling so many that the owner, Donald Ward Cranely, is having a hard time keeping them on the shelves.

The dollar drops - your money grows! If... - 2006-08-22
The image is comical until you realize what it means. In an ad I saw yesterday for an Israeli foreign currency exchange service, Uncle Sam dangles from a parachute down your computer screen. "Wake up," the Hebrew letters read, "The dollar is falling!"

A World in Chaos...Buy Gold - 2006-08-18
As we look around us, the world is becoming an increasing dangerous place. Whether it is a war, a rumor of a war, terrorism, corrupt government action, insane financial risk, fiat currencies, trade imbalances, or just man's inhumanity to man, the world is becoming increasing unstable, and less likely to sustain life as we have enjoyed it here in the western world for so long.

Paying for War - 2006-08-15
After days turned into weeks, we have now come to the close of a full month of high-intensity conflict between Israel and Lebanese militia Hizbullah. As the armies cautiously tiptoe back to previously held positions, residents and businesses in two countries must start the financial tally of reassembly.

Housing's Ill-gotten Gains - 2006-08-14
Honesty is the best policy. Twain knew this well. But unfortunately in the housing market the truth is often the first casualty of the bidding war.

The Game Has Changed - 2006-08-09
Baltimore, MD- Where once there were fortunes made only the weeds now grow. But it's not the weeds here that are so noticeable as it is the silence.

Where There's Water, There's Fire - 2006-08-08
The last time I headed to the Middle East during the summer, my ever-cautious mother asked me if I packed my raincoat. “No,” I answered, “It doesn’t rain there in summertime.” No one knows this better than the residents of Southern Lebanon, whose precious Litani River is about to resume its longtime role as a territorial boundary and resource rope in a regional tug-o-war.

World Trade on the Ropes - 2006-08-04
In the boxing match of global commerce, the World Trade Organization is in a position to award championship belts. Unfortunately, though, the fighters too often walk away from the ring.