Central Perk

luni, 11 martie 2013

Photo of the Day: Swearing In the New CIA Director

Your Daily Snapshot for
Monday, March 11, 2013

Photo of the Day: Swearing In the New CIA Director

President Barack Obama applauds as Vice President Joe Biden shakes hands with CIA Director John Brennan following a swearing-in ceremony in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, March 8, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Seth's Blog : Never enough

Never enough

There's never enough time to be as patient as we need to be. Not enough slack to focus on the long-term, too much urgency in the now to take the time and to plan ahead. That urgent sign post just ahead demands all of our intention (and attention), and we decide to invest in, "down the road," down the road.

It's not only more urgent, but it's easier to run to the urgent meeting than it is to sit down with a colleague and figure out the truth of what matters and the why of what's before us.

And there's never enough money to easily make the investments that matter. Not enough surplus in the budget to take care of those that need our help, too much on our plate to be generous right now. The short term bills make it easy to ignore the long-term opportunities.

Of course, the organizations that get around the universal and insurmountable problems of not enough time and not enough money are able to create innovations, find resources to be generous and prepare for a tomorrow that's better than today. It's not easy, not at all, but probably (okay, certainly) worth it.

We're going to spend our entire future living in tomorrow—investing now, when it's difficult, is the single best moment.

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Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis

France Postpones Austerity and Deficit Targets for Rest of 2013

Posted: 10 Mar 2013 02:47 PM PDT

The following Eurostat chart shows that government spending in France accounting for close to 56% of GDP.

click on chart for sharper image

The above chart shows it's silly to propose France has been involved in any sort of genuine austerity program, yet that is precisely what the French Minister of the Budget suggests.

El Economista reports France defers further budget measures because of their recessionary impact.

The French Minister of Budget, Jérôme Cahuzac, acknowledged that new taxes or spending cuts have a recessionary effect in the short term and "Given the weakness of the current situation, further efforts are ruled ask the French in 2013," said Cahuzac in an interview published by Le Journal du Dimanche.

The 3% target was initially set for 2013, but the French government officially decided to postpone further action on account of the poor economic outlook.

Hollande stressed his project to achieve "zero deficit" by the end of his term in 2017, is still in place and that France's actions are "not to please the European Commission or the rating agencies, but to regain our sovereignty, alienated by markets in recent years."

Deficit Targets Impossible

France's budget deficit is currently 3.7% of GDP. Recall that budget deficits exceeding 3% is over treaty limits.

With Hollande at the Helm, any rational-thinking person understands the odds Hollande reduces the French budget deficit to zero by 2017 is roughly 0%.

Mired in a deep as well as deepening recession, France will not even reach its 3% target by the now revised 2014 date.

Hollande's statement that actions are needed "to regain our sovereignty, alienated by markets in recent years" qualifies as the joke of the day. The markets did not alienate France, but Hollande's ridiculous programs surely did.

The gig will be up as soon as the bond market targets France in a serious way.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com

Investigating Obama's Claim That Sequester Cuts Will Reduce Vaccinations For Kids

Posted: 10 Mar 2013 12:41 PM PDT

Check out this interesting video that dispels Obama hype that sequester cuts will reduce the number of vaccinations for kids.

The Blaze has a transcript in its report GOP Congressman Makes CDC Director Squirm After Confronting Him on Children's Vaccine Cuts.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com

duminică, 10 martie 2013

Damn Cool Pics

15 Years With The Big Lebowski [Infographic]
Top Business Majors [Infographic]
Ice Cream Cone Currency Calculator [Infographic]

15 Years With The Big Lebowski [Infographic]

Posted: 09 Mar 2013 08:18 PM PST

My puerile viewing eyes were privy to the story of "The Dude". A perpetual hippie with a penchant for Creedence Clearwater, bowling and for "White Russian" cocktails. I had little understanding of what a "Nihilist" was… but in the universe of "The Big Lebowski" they were funny as hell.

This week in March marks the 15th anniversary of the release of "The Big Lebowski". So we decided to contribute to "the Dude's" birthday the best way we know how, with the gift of an Infographic. But then we thought , why stop there?

Click on Image to Enlarge.

Via: Wpromote

Top Business Majors [Infographic]

Posted: 09 Mar 2013 08:14 PM PST

What are the top business majors for 2013? Below you will find the 7 most popular areas of business study with details on classes, estimated salary range and the types of positions you might find with that degree. These are just a few of the areas you can focus on with your business degree to make yourself more valuable in the job market.

Click on Image to Enlarge.

Via: Potomac College

Ice Cream Cone Currency Calculator [Infographic]

Posted: 09 Mar 2013 08:10 PM PST

It is widely known to store owners and economists the world over that ice cream makes an effective "loss leader" in terms of what to sell to get people in the door. In a high traffic tourist destination, quite often you will see ice cream vendors selling their wares at less than market value so that buyers will browse around, casually eat their ice cream, and (hopefully) buy something else. Accordingly, many world travelers have caught on to this little trick of the trade and some will often use the cost of an ice cream cone to gauge the overall expense of traveling to a certain country. We decided to see how some of the more popular destinations around the globe stacked up side by side with our version of the "8 colors ice cream currency calculator" Enjoy!

Click on Image to Enlarge.