The struggling economy around the world is being noticed here in the U.S. as measured manufacturing output is falling again — LINK. (see graphic below) I’ve been hoping for a recovery from the recession, but this news this is not at all promising for jobs or a rebounding economy.
Can the U.S. avoid a double-dip recession?
The global slowdown is hitting U.S. manufacturers hard, threatening a key pillar of the recovery and fueling fears the economy is heading for a stall for the third year in a row.
New figures Monday provided the latest proof that Europe’s debt and banking woes and disappointing growth in China and around the globe are crimping activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector, which has been a big driver of the economic recovery that began in mid-2009.
Other reports have suggested U.S. exports were much weaker than originally thought earlier this year and that corporate profits from abroad are now shrinking instead of growing.
I’ve posted a few times back in 2009 regarding the flying car from the MIT developers called the Terrafugia Transition and after phase one flight testing in New York it is one step closer to being ready for production. As we all know, here in the United States things are not as simple as they once were when innovating and experimenting … especially in venturing off the ground. I’m sure by the time the first delivery is made that the price will include a rather healthy amount for regulation and legal concerns.
There are a few "experiments" happening at the state level in our nation which if talked about might open a few eyes to the benefits of less government as well as more freedom for individuals as the model for our country. Florida Governor Rick Scott (and Governor Perry from Texas by phone) did a pretty good job explaining what is working in their states as well as their philosophy (as well the opposite as in Illinois) in order to create a better better environment for business, jobs and prosperity.
Problems with the video embed on this clip … go here.
>Earlier Governor Scott have a good give and take as did the Squawkbox crew — the hair on the back of my neck stood up hearing the term “collective.” Maybe its just my age or upbringing, but it paints the ideological challenge America faces from those who prefer European socialism for the United States.
Every year my neighbor goes all out on the fourth of July and buys hundreds, no thousands of dollars of fireworks. This year he warned me that it will be both on the weekend and the fourth! Let the show begin (also retesting my HTML5/FLV fallback Hana video plugin for WordPress).
🙂
I’ve decided I must be old since I can remember the days before the gas powered weedwacker and using a scythe to keep the weeds at bay … although I think my dad was the only one permitted to wield the scythe.
Don’t you love going to the beach in the summer … watch out for floaters!Hmm, maybe I’ll just stay home. (Do you think they all use the restroom before arriving?)
Markets were up strong today inching closer to Dow 13,000 on news from Europe … and after sleeping on the Supreme Court Obamacare decision yesterday; I do think that Chief Justice Robert’s position left many on Wall Street stymied (my opinion).
For most part, traders and investor were back buying today which help closed the quarter with a positive feeling … even if the long term prospects are clouded. Most of the professional money managers I’ve listened to are not expecting the climb to last through the year and advise caution. They don’t believe that congress and the president will agree to policies that will be positive for our economy. For now, relish a day of gains if you are long … but consider being conservative during the second half of the year.
Read this review and thought: “I sometimes pay this much for a software update?” Hmm … now give me a phone this nice without a contract and I’m interested.
Google’s Nexus 7 tablet is not exactly a surprise. Nor is the fact that I’m able to work on a review of the product just hours after the device was announced. For years now, Google has had the uncanny habit of not only making big announcements at its I/O events, but then immediately sharing what it has shown off with developers and members of the press.
This year was over the top. Not only did Google hand out its new, 7-inch, $199 Nexus 7 tablet, but it also introduced a new version of Android (4.1) called Jelly Bean, upgraded its flagship phone, and… rolled out the Nexus Q. Perhaps the most odd of all, the Q is a spherical media player / amp which functions as a wired audio and video output for all of your Google content.
But the main course is obviously the tablet — a stock Google experience with a price point clearly meant to put a hurt on Amazon’s Kindle Fire, and sway potential buyers of Apple’s lower-end iPad 2. Android as a tablet platform has stumbled thus far — can Google finally begin to make an impact in an increasingly crowded market? Read on for my full review to find out.
It was a big news day on Thursday and by now all who were interested in hearing the Supreme Court’s conclusion are no doubt tuning-out the overwhelming amount of news and opinion … that is unless you are celebrating this as a victory. I personally was surprised by the court’s ruling and am now wondering where the power of BIG government ends? What’s next …
Chief Justice Roberts, who ultimately ruled in favor of Obamacare for the most part, determined that congress has the power to “tax” and it didn’t matter if the reason was to force citizens to purchase health insurance or raise revenue; they can choose “taxing” for the purpose of raising revenue (income tax) or controlling behavior (as in sin taxes like tobacco). Unfortunately this interpretation give government even more power that may of us thought … which I suppose could be taken away at the ballot box. November will definitely have clarity for those wanting to limit the reach of our federal government and those wanting to expand it role in social programs.
Steve Moore of the WSJ editorial board had an interesting commentary:
It was great to see a couple Volkswagen friends last night for a couple hours, even if we didn’t actually solve any of their problems. We used the computer and Vagcom software to pull codes on a Passat 2.0 turbo and Passat TDI to hopefully diagnose the reason for the check engine light, but both were intermittent and the codes readings didn’t point to any particular problem. I did a reset and we’ll see what happens.
The ‘gasser’ Passat also had a nasty squeal that for the life of us couldn’t be pinpointed. I’m hoping to get some feedback if only to eventually find out what was making the noise – we ruled out everything that runs off the belted systems (unless there is something that continues to spin?) and the two radiator cooling fans. I don’t think it is the turbo but am curious as if there is some other electrically powered motor that spins a small flywheel or something???
On a totally different note … I loved this Wyatt Gooden Racing magazine photo.
The global slowdown is hitting U.S. manufacturers hard, threatening a key pillar of the recovery and fueling fears the economy is heading for a stall for the third year in a row.
