Rest of the World

 

• IMF: Canada could make case for more interest rate cuts http://t.co/Zd3zmMUH IMF peddles snake oil2Canada, lower rates would b a disaster $$ Feb 15, 2013
• Why Venezuela’s Devaluation Is Biting http://t.co/LL54JRZ8 Corporations operating in Venezuela get hit b/c there is no good way 2 hedge $$ Feb 15, 2013
• Soros Aide Wins Kudos for Japan Bets http://t.co/DoaYtYMJ Scott Bessent has his own investing ideas, freeing his boss 2 peddle bad ideas $$ Feb 15, 2013
• Euro-Zone Economy Plunges http://t.co/JEQVfGep Eventually Germany is going to have to accept that debts they r owed must be written down $$ Feb 14, 2013
• Tensions Mount as China Snatches Farms for Homes http://t.co/a8aIqqxR Only backward countries like China prohibit ownership of land $$ Feb 14, 2013
• China’s Internet ‘Wall’ Hits Business http://t.co/Kh7zDD0E The Great Firewall of China hinders commerce. Also, harder to get VPNs now $$ Feb 14, 2013
• No Shirakawa Eulogies as JGBs Look Beyond Weak BOJ http://t.co/9orwutaY The BOJ is still sterilizing, but they r buying long-dated JGBs $$ Feb 13, 2013
• Japan Needs Weaker Yen; US Has No Right to Complain http://t.co/OG5tcNFS At least *someone* has2test resolve of US “Strong Dollar Policy” $$ Feb 13, 2013
• Panasonic CEO Attacks Sprawl in Bid for Profit: Tech http://t.co/bfsbdZLO $PC is a tough turnaround, but maybe this guy could do it. $$ Feb 13, 2013
• Irish Town Lives Up to Motto Amid Horse-Meat Scandal http://t.co/cMIQRtUd ?Be at the center,? is the motto of the Irish town of Ballybay. $$ Feb 13, 2013
• G7 Nations Attempt to Avoid Currency War http://t.co/CJjCgjzr G-7 Roils Currency Markets With Split on Concern Over Yen http://t.co/xH2ro4tk Feb 13, 2013
• The problems with Petrobras http://t.co/pgibXCf5 Rapid growth & large investment plans rarely work well; good growth is incremental $$ Feb 12, 2013
• USD-JPY: False Start? http://t.co/kVWnFDH6 The Japanese r changing the currency game; the sterilization is gone. What central bank next? $$ Feb 12, 2013
• Chinese Workers?in Greenland? – Businessweek http://t.co/nmzjpHaP China moves 2 monopolize rare earth metals, maybe, now mining Greenland $$ Feb 11, 2013
• Canadian Mega Housing Bubble Part 2 – Impact on Canadian Economy http://t.co/WbS22E3Z On the bright side, Canadian Gov’t not overindebted $$ Feb 11, 2013
• Canada is not immune of a global slowdown http://t.co/NDCdMHOY slower global economy -> slower increase in demand 4 crude oil $$ Feb 11, 2013
• Chavez Risks Backlash as Venezuelan Deficit Prompts Devaluation http://t.co/V5RLwpMW Squanders well-being of nation for personal goals $$ Feb 09, 2013
• An Insider’s Guide to Counterfeiting Wine – Businessweek http://t.co/SoVp0OrF 3 ways to counterfeit expensive wines & how to avoid them $$ Feb 09, 2013
• Most Australian Wine Exports Ship in Giant Plastic Bladders http://t.co/jL1S9KLF ?We don?t ship glass around the world, we ship wine.? $$ Feb 09, 2013

US Politics

 

• State Exchange Buildout Shifts Into High Gear http://t.co/mwSFxe9e When history deals w/what destroyed healthcare, will b a pic of Obama $$ Feb 15, 2013
• James Bovard: Perform Criminal Background Checks at Your Peril http://t.co/y8kZYsq4 Another reason why most jobs aren’t advertised $$ Feb 15, 2013
• A Chinese Hacker’s Identity Unmasked http://t.co/5BE5XgKe Details the means by which a significant Chinese hacker was exposed. $$ Feb 15, 2013
• Republicans See Obama Second-Term Agenda as Dead in Water http://t.co/uR4sUMjI Worked in 2011-2012, will work in 2013-2014 $$ #justsayno Feb 14, 2013
• Public Expenditures Austerity and SP500 addicted to QE http://t.co/TzTzL9VL We need to have a debate over whether QE helps real economy $$ Feb 14, 2013
• How Not to Run a Pension http://t.co/MwNhzEdd John Mauldin on pensions mess we r in federal, state, & municipal. Blue states worst off $$ Feb 14, 2013
• Central Banks Gone Wild: What Can Investors Do? http://t.co/wzL2xadd Gold, stocks, & the currency of the one that loosened last w/ a lag $$ Feb 13, 2013
• Obama S&P Case Started When Toxic Debt Masqueraded as AAA http://t.co/V9umvcfN S&P shuld show how little $$ was lost on AAA securitized debt Feb 12, 2013
• US Economy – Growth Still coming from Borrowing? http://t.co/MTRiKYNi Yes, a lot of current consumption stems from more consumer debt $$ Feb 12, 2013
• Corn growers get two-thirds of record US crop insurance payout http://t.co/2D1wWc0E Farm lobby swilling @ trough, subsidies not needed $$ Feb 12, 2013
• Central banking and bubbles: Scott Sumner is wrong | The Economist http://t.co/wDTZzEQ6 It’s not hard to measure total debt / GDP ratio $$ Feb 11, 2013
• Biofuel Scandal Pushes Trading Firm Into Bankruptcy http://t.co/uETQyx0D firm accidentally sold $9 million worth of fake biofuel credits $$ Feb 11, 2013
• Should the Fed pop bubbles by raising interest rates? http://t.co/IhKnbA80 Fed should avoid creating bubbles in the first place $$ Feb 11, 2013
• Bipartisan Letter Seeks Answers on Open-Government Failures http://t.co/shFKY7PB Many people voted for change & got Bush-plus in return $$ Feb 09, 2013

 

Berkshire Hathaway & Heinz

 

• Shopping Spree for Wall Street http://t.co/QNfGJ14E Premature I think. Yesterday was big4 M&A, but it could just b a fluke $$ $HNZ $AMR $LCC Feb 15, 2013
• First Bud, Now Heinz, Brazilian Deal Maker Lemann Grabs Brands http://t.co/CxWLqjPH A glimpse at the guys *really* behind the $HNZ deal $$ Feb 15, 2013
• Buffett?s Buffet: An All-American Meal at Warren?s Table http://t.co/WyjedMKb Can get a complete high-calorie meal at Warren’s restaurant $$ Feb 15, 2013
• Three Billionaires Join Buffett for Heinz Deal http://t.co/avb4QtVb Meet real guys behind the $HNZ deal; Buffett is riding on their bus $$ Feb 14, 2013

 

Other

?

• Pope?s Culture Club Masks Conclave Packed With Benedict?s Clones http://t.co/0cv1g1T0 1st article I’ve seen that gets it. No major change $$ Feb 15, 2013
• Home Schooling & working from home has odd fun moments like my 16yo asking, “Why is the NE legislature unicameral?” http://t.co/CefD1i4p $$ Feb 13, 2013
• Uncork the Nose’s Secret Powers http://t.co/jKTvg3Ki There is an element of “use it or lose it” 4 ability to smell as we age $$ Feb 13, 2013
• LightSquared?s Ghost Raised in Fight Over Talking Cars http://t.co/CGuxCIvh Maybe the Defense Dept could free up some spectrum it hoards $$ Feb 12, 2013
• The World’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Finance http://t.co/pzqzRJUr Mostly credit/transaction facilitators, some risk mgmt $$ Feb 12, 2013
• Skin in Which Game? http://t.co/UV18ORq0 If I was going into an intellectual fight, I would bring @EpicureanDeal w/me rather than @nntaleb Feb 11, 2013
• Blizzard Dumps Snow in Northeast, Knocks Out Power http://t.co/nji84Ub0 My sympathies. Remember 3 years ago getting 2 of those in a row $$ Feb 09, 2013
• Are Polar Bears Really Disappearing? http://t.co/5Epxg666 Probably not, population is bigger than in 1965, but small than in 1990 $$ Feb 09, 2013
• A ‘Bucket List’ for Better Diversification http://t.co/XqjjhklO from @jasonzweigwsj | Good strategy, similar to the Permanent Portfolio Feb 09, 2013

?

Companies

?

• Cisco Won’t Spend Money In The US Until The Tax Code Is Changed http://t.co/mbB7Dwk3 Logical outcome of poorly designed corp tax policy $$ Feb 15, 2013
• Buffett does all he can to make his 13F hard to drag into Excel $$ $BRK.B Feb 15, 2013
• As I go through 13F filings, it’s interesting to see industry concentrations. Some like retail, others financials, tech, energy etc $$ Feb 15, 2013
• Dodge & Cox http://t.co/zJzIEISU Maybe it shouldn’t make me feel better when I see a manager I like owning shares that I do, but it does $$ Feb 14, 2013
• P&G Finds a ?Goldmine? in Analytics http://t.co/y0mnK8kH All large consumer businesses will realize detailed consumer knowledge is key $$ Feb 13, 2013
• $AAPL at Cheapest Since 2000 Signals Buy to Gamco, Thornburg http://t.co/rllHxys5 Not simple; Big companies need bigger markets 2 grow $$ Feb 13, 2013
• $FLEX raises $1B as a junk grade company for 7 & 10 years @ 4 5/8% & 5% & raises financial flexibility http://t.co/hOuCNEP7 FD: + $FLEX Feb 13, 2013
• Assurant Gains as Fannie Mae Force-Placed Plan Stalls http://t.co/ELDqXD5O $AIZ soldiers on, w/rate decreases, but with a strong business $$ Feb 13, 2013

 

Market Impact

 

• We still have renters to thank for healthier housing market http://t.co/apBD0gHD Which means 2many properties r in the hands of investors $$ Feb 15, 2013
• Do Junk Bonds Still Live in the Best of Both Worlds? http://t.co/j2w2docJ Demand 4 income is unabated, but there r limits 2 how low yields go Feb 14, 2013
• SP500 Futures – Warning Signs Flashing RED? http://t.co/4gDyn3Ap Compendium of a lot of bearish reasoning, FWIW $$ Feb 13, 2013
• Bridgewater Bets on Stocks as Cash Moves Into Market http://t.co/GZTePjCz Dalio bets on reflation amid central banks fanning the flames $$ Feb 12, 2013
• How banks could get blown away by bond bubble http://t.co/xVpBFWmH A bond market in rebellion could deliver a lot of MTM losses 2 banks $$ Feb 12, 2013
• The Fed?s tricky QE3 escape http://t.co/mcQadLoh There is no escape; when bond market turns on the Fed, vacuous policies will b exposed $$ Feb 12, 2013
• US High Yield Bonds: $HYG Disconnect with $SPY http://t.co/r0t4DASq S&P 500 strong while junk is weakening. Could b toxic for stocks $$ Feb 12, 2013
• To Drown in OIL http://t.co/xVJlIwZj Cushing inventories are at records, even w/the Seaway Pipeline pumping crude to Houston $$ Feb 12, 2013
• SP500 Futures- More Warning Signs? http://t.co/Uc9LNqQB Too much bullishness, credit feeling soggy $$ $SPY Feb 12, 2013
• Buyout-Boom Shakeout Seen Leaving One in Four to Starve http://t.co/wPcBuebk Always best to invest when capital is scarce, not in glut $$ Feb 12, 2013
• How Should an Investor Decide Whether to Dump a Mutual Fund That Has Been Doing Poorly? http://t.co/9c7lY4yI 12 opinions, mostly indexing $$ Feb 12, 2013
• Nasdaq Talked With Carlyle About Going Private: Sources http://t.co/LoFBgXH3 Cheap $$ looking 4a home; question boils down 2 price $NSDQ $CG Feb 12, 2013
• Why These 4 Refinery Stocks Boast Bolting RS Lines http://t.co/jlb6luXS Will have to sell a refiner soon; momo crowd creating overshoot $$ Feb 12, 2013
• Dell Defends Deal: ?Offers an Attractive and Immediate Premium’ http://t.co/xrSaBCRs Objectors wud b convincing if they bot aggressively $$ Feb 11, 2013
• The Dell Deal Is a Steal That May Die http://t.co/sVQj7aoe What amuses me is that largest complainer has been selling even as low as $10 $$ Feb 09, 2013

?

Wrong

• Wrong: Buffett Cash Targets General Mills to Grainger http://t.co/TybErutX Many do articles like this; none of them ever prove correct $$ Feb 15, 2013
• Wrong: Congress Starts Examining Changes to Charitable Tax Break http://t.co/cLSOeDUU There r much better ways to raise taxes or simplify $$ Feb 14, 2013
• Wrong: Plans to Expand Preschool Unveiled http://t.co/VWDcxkAE It is better educationally to have young children @ home most of the time $$ Feb 14, 2013
• Wrong: Wall Street Fading as Emerging-Market Banks Gain Share http://t.co/NLoYMLNy Too soon, the EM banks r immature w/risk control $$ Feb 12, 2013
• Wrong: Next Pope to Face Calls for Renewal After Benedict Resisted http://t.co/LNQ30x5Q American media does not understand the Vatican $$ Feb 12, 2013
• Wrong: An Aging Population May Be What the World Needs http://t.co/RBjuVRce Economies do not work well when # of workers shrinks $$ Feb 11, 2013

?

Replies and Retweets

• .@joshuademasi Come on in it’s around the back, just a half a mile from the railroad track. U can get anything u want @ Warren’s restaurant Feb 15, 2013
• @michellemalkin For the most part, I don’t tweet to engage; I use it to inform. Used 2do news blog posts, now I tweet good stuff 2 read $$ Feb 15, 2013
• @richriker EDGAR is free. There are some pay services that make it simpler to get 13F data, or other data filed w/the SEC Feb 15, 2013
• ‘ @richriker Depends what you mean. They are all available at EDGAR http://t.co/PjUFyetg I have the pgs for 77 mgrs bookmarked $$ Feb 15, 2013
• @Nonrelatedsense They did, as did Legg Mason, Third Avenue & others that thought value investing was “buy it cheap,” not safety Feb 14, 2013
• @PlanMaestro Thanks, btw, I like your new logo — cool Feb 14, 2013
• @researchpuzzler Thanks for showing that to me; I expect most actuaries will yawn at it; academics doing theory when current methods work $$ Feb 14, 2013
• Shocking revelation RT @EddyElfenbein: “I?m aggressive and annoying” – Paul Krugman http://t.co/9r8z51ke Feb 13, 2013
• Bank shills $$ RT @davidmwessel: All 12 Fed bank presidents write FSOC asking for tougher rules on money market funds. http://t.co/0XhI4WXs Feb 12, 2013
• U know it RT @historysquared: “TREASURY SECRETARY NOMINEE LEW:Says He Will Maintain a Strong Dollar Policy if Confirmed.” – do they all lie? Feb 13, 2013
• ‘ @GaelicTorus I’m only human. Herod forgot that. http://t.co/iixVdgAN I haven’t. Thanks for the praise, though. Feb 13, 2013
• I just left a comment in “Warren Buffett turns his eye to annuities – MarketWatch” http://t.co/kz7S0yVP Feb 13, 2013
• On the tweet two previous: long $AIZ . one of the best insurance companies I have known Feb 13, 2013
• @JamesMarsh79 My view is inbetween. There r regularities, but w/a lot of noise around them Feb 12, 2013
• Dalio is like Gross, he plans intermediate term but adjusts frequently $$ RT @jckhewitt: Whatever happened to that beautiful deleveraging? Feb 12, 2013
• @MarshallFraser I don’t disagree w/crop ins., just the subsidy most of which makes it into the pockets of Big Ag & insurers, not familyfarms Feb 12, 2013
• $JNK & $RUT diverge significantly, uh oh $$ RT @DougKass: One of the scariest charts extant http://t.co/WeLlmyhu (Hat tip Divine Ms M!) Feb 12, 2013
• “I was skeptical of Apple, but I only mentioned it in tweets, so I can’t take much credit?” ? David_Merkel http://t.co/L6p8D5Ic $AAPL $$ Feb 12, 2013
• @joshuademasi Also, that every tightening cycle over the last 30 years ending with something blowing up; Fed rides to the rescue 2 soon $$ Feb 11, 2013
• @joshuademasi I know that, but the ultimate proof over the last 30 years was the massive accumulation of debts from their ez $$ policy Feb 11, 2013
• @ScottGalupo Totally disagree. BBA has been needed 4 40 years, and would have limited damage done in the present crisis. Debt is the problem Feb 10, 2013
• @zringer21 Responded — hope you like it. Feb 10, 2013
• @jasonzweigwsj I really admire your views, as you may surmise from my comments. Here is my piece on the topic: http://t.co/yPpCBfOM $$ Feb 10, 2013
• @jasonzweigwsj I have written about this: http://t.co/yPpCBfOM Few want to follow sound ideas. Problem: If everyone did this gold wud soar Feb 10, 2013
• @cate_long I am conservative in most ways, but Peter Wallison makes me nervous; I don’t usually trust his reasoning. Not enough real thought Feb 09, 2013
• RT @EmanuelDerman: The EMH was economic jiu-jitsu to turn weakness into strength. “I can’t figure out how things work, so I’ll make that … Feb 09, 2013

 

FWIW

• My week on twitter: 48 retweets received, 2 new listings, 74 new followers, 58 mentions. Via: http://t.co/SPrAWil0 Feb 14, 2013