WEEKLY BLOG COMMENTS – No. 45
DATES: 2012/12/31– 2013/01/06
By Domingo Trassens
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THEME: United States
Subject: After delays and
discussions, Congress passed a bill of $9 billion to assist the victims of the Sandy New York , New Jersey
My Comment: Who never was victim of a natural
disaster, probably didn’t understand the strong campaign of New Jersey
Governor’s Chris Christie to move the Sandy Aid Bill through Congress, But in
the cases of emergencies, we don’t have to ask for the political color of one
or the other. And in these circumstances, Chris Christie gave us a good lesson
of solidarity for the communities the super-storm hit months ago. Now, we have
to wait the assistance goes for the right way. (2013/01/04)
Subject: Analysis of the pros and
cons of the bill that stopped the fiscal cliff.
My Comment: The analysis of all the events
related to the fiscal cliff deal shows that President Barack Obama achieved his
goal. However, I don’t believe the negotiation gives him the possibility to go
further than the conditions written in the bill. A lot of Republicans accepted
to vote “yes” because they didn’t want to be responsible for the tax increases
for everybody. But, the White House cannot shout “Victory!” In one or other
way, President Obama will have to pay the Republican’s kindness and he will
have to learn to govern with the revenue that is available, no more.
(2013/01/03) 1 Recommendation
Story: Congress Passes Cliff Deal
Subject: On New Year, Congress passed the
famous fiscal bill that increases taxes for the rich people with a vote of some
Republican members of the House.
My Comment: Congress stopped the crisis at a
high cost, but the agreement looks poor and with holes. (2013/01/02) 1
Recommendation
Subject: Private colleges debate the
financial assistance to students amid of the increase of tuition cost.
My Comment: I think the financial assistance to
students of colleges and universities has to be directly linked with the merit
of the students. Everybody who wants to go over the obligatory education has to
show efforts and qualifications to justify their aid. For the others, the
companies and government institutions can offer training for their job
positions. With this criterion, the integration of the young men and women into
the work segment will be more realistic and effective. It doesn’t make sense to
offer educational credits to those who only want to use college as an easy
living modus. From the other side, the educational institutions can reduce
their own costs balancing their resources and proposals according to the social
and economic conditions where they are located. (2013/01/01)
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THEME: Europe
Subject: In France
My Comment: Who said the socialist model of the
French President Hollande will work great? Two days ago, the actor Gérard
Depardieu received Russian nationality from the hands of President Vladimir
Putin. Now Brigitte Bardot is planning something similar. The French emigration
of celebrities and rich people – Bertrand Meunier, Christophe Florin, Pierre
Chappaz, Marc Simoncini… - began since the hunting of high tax payers started.
If all continue like now, the lovers of the Bastille will end totally isolated
while the others will enjoy the pleasures of “dolce vita” in the most exotic
places of the world. (2013/01/05)
Subject: Amid the pressure of the
EU’s regulators, new cases of corruption are uncovered in Greece
My Comment: This story begins with a big title:
“Scandal Hits Greek Tourism Agency”. Now we have to ask: “What will be the next
scandal?” The reality is that Greece
Subject: In Paris , France
My Comment: The story says that in Paris , France
Subject: The new French government began a
strong campaign to take more taxes from the rich people to maintain the
apparatus of the state.
My Comment: Socialist model: take more taxes
from the rich to maintain the bureaucratic apparatus of the state. (2012/12/31)
Subject: After the implementation of a series
of initiatives, the authorities of the EU said the euro zone is stabilizing.
Meanwhile the social unrest continues in different countries of the community.
My Comment: The story says that some observers
think Europe is moving in the right direction.
Probably the authorities of the European Union and the European Central Bank
are making the best efforts to stabilize the euro zone fixing its financial
structure, but according to the news that we see every day, there are a lot of
social problems than can turn down local governments and unbalance the region.
(2012/12/31) 1 Recommendation
Subject: Ms. Lagarde - executive director of
IMF – is making strong pressure on the Greek government for the tax evasion of
rich tax payers.
My Comment: From my point of view, all the
Greeks with power and influence have their money hidden abroad in protected
accounts or investments, or their changed their citizenships before in the
beginning of the financial collapse of Athens
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THEME:
The World, Asia
Subject: Before the end of 2012,
important companies of South Asia showed optimism about
their business forecast for the New Year.
My Comment: It is good the Asian companies are
optimist about the New Year… Personally, I think they have to act cautiously.
(2013/01/02)
Subject: Across the world, a lot
of people cheered the New Year with happiness, noise and drinking. Meanwhile “Hotels, clubs and other sites in New Delhi
My Comment: A lot of people with a cup of
champagne dream that the glitter days are coming, but the pictures from New
Delhi shows us that till now we are living in the barbarian era where a
defenseless human being can be the object of a macabre feast of a group of
monsters with the chorus of authorities who have not human blood in their
veins. (2013/01/01) 1 Recommendation
Story: Rape Victim's Body Returns for Delhi Cremation –
Part 1
Subject: After the death of the young woman
who was raped in a bus, the Indian government reacted due to the pressure of
the population.
My Comment: I hope this tragic case moves the
Indian authorities to avoid other similar crimes and helps to push the same
rights for women and men independently of races or religions everywhere in the
world. (2012/12/30) 1 Recommendations
Story: Rape Victim's Body Returns for Delhi Cremation –
Part 2
Subject: Different people debate about the
punishment the criminals of the rape victim deserve.
My Comment: I agree that these criminals don’t
deserve a place in the society because they are “monsters”. (2012/12/30) 2
Recommendations
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THEME: Latin America
Subject: According to the information that
come from the South American country, all the Venezuelans are waiting for news
from Cuba
My Comment: During the last few months, all the
cables from Venezuela
Subject: In the last days of December,
Bolivian President Evo Morales announced the nationalization of two Spanish
companies. He used troops to take the control of the installations of the companies.
My Comment: Bolivian President Evo Morales is
an advanced student of the doctrine and practices of Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez and Argentine President Cristina Kirchner. (2012/12/30)
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THEME:
Economy: Wall Street, Investors, Jobs
Story: Stocks Close Broadly Higher
My Comment: After a short analysis of the first
week of 2013 on Wall Street, we have to agree that really it was a very good
week independent of any consideration. Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nasdaq and
S&P 500, the three indexes closed the Friday session in positive territory.
And something more: if we compare the closure of Dow Jones Industrial Average on the same day, during the last four consecutive years, we can see the following observation:
- January 4, 2013: 13,435.21
- January 4, 2012: 12,417.70
- January 4, 2011: 11,691.18
- January 4, 2010: 10,583.96
In summary, during the last four years, despite all that we saw in the political arena, the tepid economic recovery and the faded figures of the labor sector, Wall Street always went up. (Sources of DJIA numbers: Thomson Reuters, WSJ Market Data Group). (2013/01/05) 1 Recommendation
And something more: if we compare the closure of Dow Jones Industrial Average on the same day, during the last four consecutive years, we can see the following observation:
- January 4, 2013: 13,435.21
- January 4, 2012: 12,417.70
- January 4, 2011: 11,691.18
- January 4, 2010: 10,583.96
In summary, during the last four years, despite all that we saw in the political arena, the tepid economic recovery and the faded figures of the labor sector, Wall Street always went up. (Sources of DJIA numbers: Thomson Reuters, WSJ Market Data Group). (2013/01/05) 1 Recommendation
Story: Economy Adds 155,000 Jobs
My Comment: Since the 2008’s financial crisis,
every month I try to follow the news about the US Labor Department reports. Now
in December 2012, the information says the market added 155,000 jobs and the
unemployment rate was 7.8%. After four years reading these official numbers,
today I feel dizzy and bored. From my humble opinion: “the kitchen” has not
enough fuel to cook better figures. (2013/01/04) 6 Recommendations
My Comment: The Wall Street market continues
very sensitive to each movement up or down of the frustrated fiscal cliff
negotiations. The final session of 2012 closed in the positive territory due to
the good expectations produced by the deal between the White House and the
Republican Senators hours before New Year, but this doesn’t imply trends
because a day before, Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered a big fall for the
negative news after Christmas. (2013/01/01)
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THEME:
Economy: Businessmen, Companies
Subject: Differences in the way to make
business created a serious discussion between the billionaire Warren Buffett
and one of his former managers. The SEC is investigating the last transactions
Mr. Sokol made when he was CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.
My Comment: The incident between David Sokol –
former Berkshire Hathaway CEO - and the billionaire Warren Buffett - first
investor of Berkshire Hathaway - puts in a very bad position Mr. Sokol. By the
way, his mentor, Mr. Buffeft always was considered a businessman with a code of
ethics, a notable philanthropist and very frugal in his personal life.
(2013/01/05) 2 Recommendations
Subject: During January, Google
Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt is traveling to North Korea
My Comment: This story comments with surprise
the plans of Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt to visit North Korea
Subject: Hours before Congress
passed the new fiscal bill, Goldman Sachs distributed good awards among its top
executives.
My Comment: Goldman Sachs does not need the
okay of Congress for its own decisions. The owners of the money always have the
right play at the right moment. (2013/01/03) 1 Recommendation
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THEME:
Business and Technology
Subject: The Taiwanese maker of smart-phones
promised to recover ground with new innovative digital devices. Before the
arrival of Samsung, HTC was the brilliant star from the beginning of the
Android phones.
My Comment: The idea of the head of HTC to try
to differentiate his company from others through innovation is great but it
doesn’t guarantee success in a market where the leaders are huge companies like
Apple and Samsung. (2013/01/04)
Subject: New attraction in the Consumer
Electronics Show of Las Vegas: “self-driving vehicles”.
My Comment: This year that neither Bill Gates nor
Steve Ballmer will kick off the ball at the Consumer Electronics Show of Las
Vegas, I believe the exhibition of “self-driving vehicles” of Toyota and Audi
will fill the emptiness of the spectacular keynote session from Microsoft with
more action and excitement. We have to expect the lines of fans who want to
navigate a Japanese or German car will go across all the corners of the main
Casinos. In the drones’ era, who don’t look for the opportunity to be part of
the show? (2013/01/04)
Story: Google Dodges Antitrust Hit
Subject: After near two years of
investigation, The Federal Trade Commission found that Google had not violated
antitrust or anti-competition statutes in the way it structures its Web search
application.
My Comment: The conclusions of the Federal
Trade Commission about the research of Google’s business practices for nearly
two years reflect that the “detectives” of the U.S.
Subject: After a short period of growth, the
sales of e-readers declined during 2012.
My Comment: When we read a story titled: “The
E-Reader Revolution…”, we expect that the writer will explain us how the
e-reader market is going up and what are the forecasts of the main makers for
the next five years with excellent curves of growth. But Greg Bensinger says:
“The e-reader era just arrived, but now it may be ending.” Personally, I think
it is very difficult to determine the future of these devices after IDC showed
the sales of e-readers decline approximately 28% in 2012 from the shipments of
2011. Definitively, I agree that the future of the e-readers doesn’t look great
in quantity of shipments of devices from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and
others in the next years. However, I am optimist about the “e-reader
revolution” because all the technology originally developed for these devices
will continue alive independently the classic Kindle or Nook die. My impression
is that in short or long, the digital tablets will embed the “e-reader” like
another function of the tablet with better functionality and less cost than the
e-readers have today. (2013/01/04)
Subject: On January 8, the
Consumer Electronics Shows opens in Las Vegas , Nevada
My Comment: The introduction of the “ultra
high-definition” televisions or UHDTVs at the Consumer Electronics Shows in Las
Vegas next week really doesn’t excite me despite the new devices will deploy
images using more than eight million pixels. From my perspective, it doesn’t
make sense to pay $25,000 or $20,000 for a 84-inch sets from Sony or LG
Electronics. Also I will never pay $8,700 for the 55-inch set of Toshiba. The
prices are stratospheric for consumer products that probably in less than one
year are old. It looks to me, like buying exquisite food that will go into the
trash before I can digest it. (2013/01/03)
Subject: The industry of Silicon Valley looks quiet at least at the
beginning of the New Year.
My Comment: 2012 began with a lot of
expectations in the technology arena but after the fiasco of the Facebook’s
IPO, a lot of Wall Street’s investors realized that it is not possible to
continue inflating balloons without strong content. From the other side, the PC
makers were whipped seriously by the smart-phones makers and they lost
important revenues. And in October, the introduction of Windows 8 didn’t
generate the euphoria of previous Microsoft’s operating systems. In summary,
the New Year starts dull and faded due the general disappointment of the
companies and investors who didn’t receive fair payment for their initiatives
and investments during the last 12 months. (2013/01/02)
Story: China's ZTE Targets iPhone
Subject: The Chinese ZTE
announced plans to compete hard against Apple iPhone across the world.
My Comment: The Chinese have a lot of qualities,
but no “magic” to reinvent the “flavor” of an Apple. (2013/01/01)
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