Archives

December 2006 Archives

Regulators Order Fannie and Freddie to Comply with New Guidelines - 2006-12-28
Watching the government do practically anything is often akin to watching molasses run down the hill in January. But like that slow running ooze it eventually manages to accomplish its feat. Nowhere has this been more apparent than in its attempts to rein in the mortgage industry.

U.S. Fighting Strength to be 1/3 Robotic by 2015 - 2006-12-27
For generations of science fiction writers the idea of robotic hordes ruling the battlefield has been fertile ground for their active imaginations. From “Star Wars” to “The Terminator”, the rise of these machines has been the fodder for some great entertainment. But while these extraordinary machines have captured our imagination in both film and print, the reality of battlefield robots is being played out on battlefields all over the globe.

Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Peak? - 2006-12-22
The fact that global demand will rise year after year as our craving for oil continues isn’t questioned. One might assume the natural course of action would be to ramp up exploration in order to meet it, right?

Study Projects 2.2 Million Sub-Prime Borrowers to Lose Homes - 2006-12-21
In a 58-page study released yesterday, the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) predicts that some 2.2 million sub-prime borrowers will lose their homes to foreclosure in the coming years, forfeiting over $164 billion in household wealth in the process.

The Quantum Investor "Person of the Year" - 2006-12-20
Time magazine may have punted their choice of person of the year by lamely choosing "You," but here at Quantum Investor our choice was a whole lot easier. That's because in the course of our work we stumble upon this visionary at practically every turn in the road. His name is Stanford Ovshinsky, and in our minds he is the closest thing to Thomas Edison that we have ever seen.

Music of His Own - 2006-12-19
NEW YORK, NY: In the City That Never Sleeps, it's easy to think the whole world has come to you. But being here, you realize that though the senses are treated to a 24-hour international array, there is no substitute for seeing the world for yourself.

The Geopolitical Wildcard - 2006-12-18
There is nothing more bullish for gold, not even the rapidly accelerating woes of the U.S. dollar, than the destabilizing scenarios that would come with serious global geo-political chaos.

One Way Off the Hook - 2006-12-14
The latest foreclosure figures were released yesterday, and in a word they were ugly. According to RealtyTrac, the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, another 120,334 properties nationwide entered some form of foreclosure during the month of November.

Are Humans Smarter than Yeast? - 2006-12-13
As we all know, the warning signals we have received about energy, food, species extinction and global warming are just the most prominent issues.

The Smart Pill's Fantastic Voyage - 2006-12-13
Before there was the “Smart Pill,” there was “The Fantastic Voyage.” That was the 1966 science fiction thriller that featured an amazing trip by a miniaturized submarine and its crew into the body of a comatose spy in order to save his life.

Political Science Fiction - 2006-12-12
Whimsical literary musings sometimes come true. The journey described in Jules Verne's From the Earth to the Moon, for example, materialized over a century later. His Journey to the Center of the Earth did not. Academic theories may also be realized, but some are confined to the realm of fantasy.

Be Selective When Investing - 2006-12-11
As someone who is constantly evaluating junior mining stocks, I am finding that it is becoming increasingly important to be even more selective when buying shares.

Animal House Lending - 2006-12-07
For Scott Greenlaw, CEO of Merit Financial in Washington State, 2004 was one great year. His mortgage company was closing deal after deal and he had been selected by the Puget Sound Business Journal as one of its distinguished “40 Under 40,” a group of young entrepreneurs and rising stars in the business community.

Watching TV on Your Mobile Phone is Closer than You Think - 2006-12-06
Every time my new mobile phone rings, I can’t help but be amazed by it. It’s a Motorola Razr phone, and it is so small that half the time I can barely find it even though it’s usually in my pants pocket.

US Lands-World Soars - 2006-12-05
Two reports issued in the recent weeks highlight the role that international markets play in moderating declining American economic growth.