When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do? -- John Maynard Keynes

Sunday, November 30, 2014

London to Scotland Train, Caledonian Sleeper, Train Video

London to Scotland by Caledonian Sleeper train -

A video guide to travel by overnight Caledonian Sleeper train from London to Scotland, showing a 2-bed sleeper, a 1-bed sleeper and the lounge car. 2/25/2012



Saturday, November 29, 2014

Paris to Milan by TGV train (video)

Paris to Milan by TGV train - video guide -

A beginner's guide to travel from Paris to Turin or Milan by high-speed TGV train, showing the train interior & exterior, the scenery and the food on board. Three daily French TGVs link Paris Gare de Lyon with Turin and Milan, from €29 one-way booked direct with French Railways. The video shows the 14:41 from Paris arriving Turin 20:13, Milan Porta Garibaldi at 21:45, with an easy connection from London St Pancras by Eurostar. The video was taken in June, and there was still snow on the highest peaks - the weather wasn't great on this occasion, overcast with brooding clouds, the route looks far better in proper summer sun or winter snow! (February 2013)



Friday, November 28, 2014

Cathay Pacific, First Class, San Francisco to Hong Kong video

Cathay Pacific First Class - San Francisco to Hong Kong - "

"My first class experience flying Cathay Pacific from San Francisco to Hong Kong on a Boeing 747-400. Full trip report with tons of pictures (including the meals) can be found on my blog: http://boardingarea.com " pub.on Sep 28, 2011


Thursday, November 27, 2014

Business Class, London City to New York, British Airways (video)

Business Class London City to New York on British Airways -

A trip report covering a flight on the British Airways all-business class service from London City Airport to New York Kennedy, via Shannon. We travel aboard a specially-configured Airbus A318 with 32 flat bed seats. The report covers departing from London City, onboard service, the pit-stop for refuelling and US Immigration in Shannon, and arrival into New York (pub. 4/9/2013)



Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Vienna to London by Train, in a Single Day (video)

Vienna to London by train in a single day -

A video guide to train travel from Vienna to London in a single day. See the trains, stations, the scenery and food on board. The route is Vienna - Frankfurt - Brussels - London. Published on Jun 20, 2014



Tuesday, November 25, 2014

London to Paris, Eurostar Standard Premier (video)

London to Paris on Eurostar Standard Premier 2013 -

London St Pancras International to Paris Nord in February 2013, travelling on Eurostar in Standard Premier class. Footage of St Pancras, the train, the onboard service, northern France and then arrival into Paris. Shot with Panasonic HDC-SD200, edited with iMovie --Published on Feb 11, 2013



Monday, November 24, 2014

Eurostar, New Trains, Makeover for 20th Birthday (video)

Eurostar's New Trains: Makeover for 20th Birthday -

It has been 20 years since Eurostar first started running trains from London to mainland Europe. The company has reported 10 consecutive years of growth in revenues and passenger numbers and today will be unveiling a new fleet at London's St Pancras International. Bloomberg looks at the new trains. (Source: Bloomberg 11/13)



Sunday, November 23, 2014

When Doing Nothing Is The Better Choice

What do the Iraq Invasion and the 2009 crash of Air France Flight 447, which killed 228 people, have in common?

Well, what if George Bush had done nothing, instead of invading Iraq?

What if, he had thought "twice" before taking that action he was so gung-ho about, before committing a nation's fortune and countless human lives because of some erroneous "intel" that someone equally clueless told him was a "slam dunk."

You would think human beings would have learned a little more by now, but even in the rarefied air of commercial piloting, some are wondering if robotic "thinking" rather than human "reptilian" thinking wouldn't be better--

Should Airplanes Be Flying Themselves? | Vanity Fair: "... So here is the picture at that moment: the airplane was in steady-state cruise, pointing straight ahead without pitching up or down, and with the power set perfectly to deliver a tranquil .80 Mach. The turbulence was so light that one could have walked the aisles—though perhaps a bit unsteadily. Aside from a minor blip in altitude indication, the only significant failure was the indication of airspeed—but the airspeed itself was unaffected. No crisis existed. The episode should have been a non-event, and one that would not last long. The airplane was in the control of the pilots, and if they had done nothing, they would have done all they needed to do...."

They would have all arrived safely in Paris. Instead we get a tragic loss of life due to "human error."



Saturday, November 22, 2014

Abby Joseph Cohen: Bull Market Entering Forgotten Economic Phase (video)

Cohen: Bull Market Entering Forgotten Economic Phase: Video - Bloomberg:
(Allow video to load after clicking play or go to link above)

Abby Joseph Cohen, senior investment strategist at Goldman Sachs, explains why the strengthening U.S. economy is beginning another phase of the bull market. She speaks on “Bloomberg Surveillance.” (Nov. 11--Bloomberg)



Friday, November 21, 2014

We Are in a Currency War, says Sarah Hewin (video)

We Are in a Currency War: Hewin: Video - Bloomberg:
(Allow video to load after clicking play or go to link above)

Standard Chartered Bank Head of Research Sarah Hewin discusses the central bankers meeting in Paris, expanded stimulus from the Bank of Japan, the weakening yen and euro with Bloomberg’s Manus Cranny and Anna Edwards on “Countdown.” (Source: Bloomberg Nov7)



Thursday, November 20, 2014

Global Poll: "world economy is in its worst shape in two years"

Global Poll Says World Gloomier, Knocks Draghi and Merkel -

The world economy is in its worst shape in two years according to a Bloomberg Global Poll of international investors. Bloomberg's John Dawson has more. Published on Nov 14, 2014



Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Jerome Levy Forecasting Center, Predicts Global Recession (video)

Jerome Levy Forecasting Center Predicts Global Recession: Video - Bloomberg:
(Allow video to load after clicking play or go to link above)

Bloomberg’s Simon Kennedy reports on the global economy and the risk of a recession. He speaks on “In The Loop.” (Source: Bloomberg 11/11)



Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Fake Growth, Fake Jobs, Fake Economic Data, When Will It All End?

As reported in The New York Times:

"The economic statistics are fake. There is no real economic recovery... “Nobody can predict how long governments can get away with fake growth, fake money, fake jobs, fake financial stability, fake inflation numbers and fake income growth,” Mr. Singer wrote to his investors, according to a report by Bloomberg News... Greece used phony economic numbers to qualify for the eurozone... the deception succeeded... government statistics are often questionable and sometimes turn out to have been highly misleading... We now know the economy was much worse off in early 2009 than the economic statistics indicated at the time... The numbers on jobs and unemployment have become the most-watched statistics of this era, but they can be among the most confusing. That is because the figures come from two different surveys... they can radically disagree, with one survey showing an increase in employment and the other a decline. Both surveys have problems ... In the 10 months from April 2008 through January 2009, the current estimate is that the economy lost 1.9 million more jobs than the initial reports indicated. The figures in the household survey are rarely revised, but they are subject to significant sampling errors... month-to-month fluctuations may be meaningless... more people decline to be interviewed now... That may make the numbers less reliable than they used to be. The survey questions are complicated ... that latter index has not declined nearly as much as the regular unemployment rate. That fact has been noted by Janet L. Yellen, the Federal Reserve chairwoman, as an indication the job market is not as healthy as the unemployment rate might make it appear... what are people to make of the blizzard of economic statistics? First, be suspicious... Look for trends... pay attention to the real world around you... official statistics might be overstated ..." (emphasis added)

Fake! Fake! Fake! When and How will it all end?


Monday, November 17, 2014

Arab Spring, Tunisia, ISIS

No good deed goes unpunished?--

New Freedoms in Tunisia Drive Support for ISIS - NYTimes.com: "Nearly four years after the Arab Spring revolt, Tunisia remains its lone success as chaos engulfs much of the region. But that is not its only distinction: Tunisia has sent more foreign fighters than any other country to Iraq and Syria to join the extremist group that calls itself the Islamic State. And throughout the working-class suburbs of the capital, young men are eager to talk about why. “Don’t you see it as a source of pride?” challenged Sufian Abbas, 31, a student sitting at a street cafe in the densely packed Ettadhamen district with a half-dozen like-minded friends. Tunisians have approved a new Constitution by a broad consensus, and a second free election is to take place this month. The country has the advantage of one of the Arab world’s most educated and cosmopolitan populations, numbering just 11 million, and it has some of the most alluring Mediterranean beaches. But instead of sapping the appeal of militant extremism, the new freedom that came with the Arab Spring revolt has allowed militants to preach and recruit more openly than ever before...." (read more at the link above)



Sunday, November 16, 2014

Ian Bremmer On Biggest Geopolitical Risk to Markets (video)

What’s the Biggest Geopolitical Risk to Markets?: Video - Bloomberg:
(Allow video to load after clicking play or go to link above)

Eurasia Group President and Founder Ian Bremmer discusses global risks to the markets and the fight against the Islamic State on “Bloomberg Surveillance.” (Source: Bloomberg 11/3)




Saturday, November 15, 2014

Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission President (video)

Juncker Begins Five-Year Term Leading EU Commission: Video - Bloomberg:
(Allow video to load after clicking play or go to link above)

Jean-Claude Juncker has officially begun his five-year term as European Commission President. Bloomberg’s James Nueger looks at the issues awaiting him and the new commission on “The Pulse.” (11/3 Bloomberg)




Friday, November 14, 2014

Election 2014, Obama, Economy, All in One Chart

You can't spin this:

Fed Reserve of St Louis Chart: ratio between income and debt


The ratio between income and liability for households. Families are still carrying lots of debt, while income isn't growing. 

The Obama economy, despite how positive large parts of it look on paper, the average family has had no gain in income for six years and they are working harder to pay down the excess leverage (debt) from the 2000s. (source: One Chart Explains Democrats' Loss - Bloomberg View )




Thursday, November 13, 2014

IBM, Earnings Per Share, Dirty Secrets

There comes a time when one should admit the truth and quit "manipulating the news and the numbers" whether on Wall Street or Washington, D.C. Exhibit #1: IBM--

There’s also a dirty secret about why some executives love stock buybacks: In certain instances, they can have an impact on executive compensation by goosing certain metrics that boards use to measure a company’s performance. (source infra)

The Truth Hidden by IBM’s Buybacks - NYTimes.com: "...“IBM’s financials make it self-evident that its stock-rigging strategy is not about value creation through ‘investment,’ ” David A. Stockman, the director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Ronald Reagan and a banker on Wall Street, wrote on his website earlier this year. “IBM is a buyback machine on steroids that has been a huge stock-market winner by virtue of massaging, medicating and manipulating” its earnings per share...."




Wednesday, November 12, 2014

How to Grow the Best Beard for Movember (video)

How to Grow the Best Beard for Movember -

Movember is upon us -- the month when men around the world grow facial hair to raise money for charity. But while the moustache may only be around for 30 days, the beard has been making a comeback. Alex Glover, master barber at Murdock in London's Shoreditch district, tells Bloomberg how best to look after your facial hair. (Source: Bloomberg 10/30)



Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Supercomputer, Dark Pools, Dennis Kelleher video

The Supercomputer Set to Shed Light on Dark Pools: Video - Bloomberg:
(Allow video to load after clicking play or go to link above)
Better Markets CEO Dennis Kelleher discusses the proposed SEC supercomputer that would be used to track orders and peer into dark pools. He speaks with Pimm Fox on "Taking Stock." (Source: Bloomberg 8/11)



Monday, November 10, 2014

Fundamentals, Pressure Pushing Down on Gold, Scott Bauer video

Fundamentals, Pressure Pushing Down on Gold: Bauer: Video - Bloomberg:
(Allow video to load after clicking play or go to link above)

Scott Bauer, senior market strategist at Trading Advantage, and Bloomberg’s Ken Hoffman discuss fluctuations in the price of gold on “Future In Focus” on “In The Loop.” (Aug 11 Bloomberg)



Sunday, November 9, 2014

Nobel-Prize Economist Paul Krugman, Interviewed by Barry Ritholtz

Masters in Business: Nobel-Prize Economist Paul Krugman (Audio) by Bloomberg View on SoundCloud -


Bloomberg View columnist Barry Ritholtz interviews Paul Krugman, the Nobel-Prize winning American Economist, The New York Times columnist and professor of Economics and International Affairs at Princeton University. They discuss progressive economics. This commentary aired on Bloomberg Radio 10/25. Barry Ritholtz is a Bloomberg View columnist. The opinions expressed are his own.

Re: finance, business, economy, investing



Saturday, November 8, 2014

ABBA Museum, Stockholm, Cashless, Bjorn Ulvaeus (Video)

ABBA Muesum in Stockholm: No Cash, Says Bjorn Ulvaeus: Video - Bloomberg:
(Allow video to load after clicking play or go to link above)
At the ABBA Muesum in Stockholm, visitors are refused entry if they try to pay with cash. That's because Bjorn Ulvaeus, former frontman for the band, has made it his personal mission to lead the way to a cashless Sweden, with hope that the rest of the world will follow. Video by: Jennafer Savino, Justin Beach. (Source: Bloomberg Oct 26)



Friday, November 7, 2014

Julian Roberstson Helps You Pick a Stock to Buy (video)

Julian Roberstson Helps You Pick a Stock to Buy -

Tiger Management Advisors CEO Julian Robertson discusses the markets, bonds and his investment ideas on “Bloomberg Surveillance.” (Source: Bloomberg 10/31)



Thursday, November 6, 2014

How Low Can Gold Prices Go? (video)

How Low Can Gold Prices Go? -

In "Bart Chart," Bloomberg's Mark Barton takes a look at gold as it pertains to the dollar, rising equities and tame inflation. He speaks on Bloomberg Television’s "Countdown." (Source: Bloomberg 10/31)



Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Felix Salmon: Why Most Financial Economics Papers May Be Wrong (audio)

Posted on Oct 24, 2014
Re: Business, Economics, Finance--

Felix Salmon, Jordan Weissmann, and Cathy O’Neil discuss non-compete clauses for sandwich-makers, why most financial economics papers may be wrong, and what the Federal Reserve knew in advance about J.P. Morgan's "London Whale." Time length: 30:05



Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Best US Midterm ELECTION 2014 Coverage: LIVE TV Online (free)


Bloomberg Politics: Election All-Nighter above--LIVE Internet TV coverage of US Midterm ELECTION returns on November 4, 2014--one of the best free sources online.
Scheduled for Nov 4, 2014 at 11 pm EST (US)
Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert host live coverage of the 2014 midterm elections.

Bloomberg TV Live:
6 pm EST: Election 2014
In-depth analysis of the impact of Election 2014 on the economy and global business hosted by Bloomberg TV's Pimm Fox.
7 pm EST: Bloomberg Politics: Election All-Nighter (first video above)
Live election day coverage and analysis hosted by Bloomberg Politics' Mark Halperin and John Heilemann --also on Bloomberg Politics: Election All-Nighter - YouTube

RT America LIVE: #Notjust2parties RT America presents special coverage of 2014 midterm elections -- As Americans take to the polls on Tuesday to cast ballots during the 2014 midterm elections, RT will provide its audience with an alternative look at some of the races you’ll be hard-pressed to hear about elsewhere. Live Coverage begins at 4:00 pm EST

Other LIVE Video Coverage via YouTube: US Midterm Elections multiple choices including:

2014 Midterm Election Night - Capital Journal - YouTube: "Nov 4, 2014, 8:30 pm EST Wall Street Journal’s live analysis of the results of the 2014 midterm elections, the balance of power and what it means for the future of American politics. Hosted by Jerry Seib and Sara Murray.

The Young Turks - ELECTION NIGHT Live Show 6pm-8pm EST 11.4.14 - YouTube: "The Young Turks - ELECTION NIGHT Live Show 6pm-8pm EST"

Fox News Strategy Room - YouTube: "Nov 4, 2014, FOX News’ digital properties will present a live stream entitled The Strategy Room from 9-11PM/ET. The online program will feature news and analysis from a variety of FOX News personalities, including Jedediah Bilah, Harris Faulkner, Lisa “Kennedy” Montgomery, Andrea Tantaros, Jesse Watters and others. The show’s casual format will provide a fresh take on the results of the night with spirited discussions that go beyond the typical political fare."

Election 2014 - YouTube: "Scheduled for Nov 4, 2014 Live coverage of election night from The Washington Post. 6pm EST"

Live Election Coverage - YouTube: "FOX News Latino (FNL) will stream live midterm election coverage from 9-11PM/ET. The special coverage will be hosted in both English and Spanish by FNC contributor Rick Sanchez and feature analysis from influential leaders in the Hispanic community."

Elections 2014: Live coverage from USA TODAY - YouTube: "Elections 2014: Live coverage from USA TODAY"

Live Election Coverage with Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff - YouTube: "Nov 4, 2014 6pm EST Majority control of the U.S. Senate hangs in the balance this November and, as voters head to the polls on Election Day, viewers can count on PBS NewsHour for results, context and analysis. Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff will co-anchor the NewsHour’s online and on-air coverage, reporting on the latest updates as polls close across the country. Throughout the evening, the PBS NewsHour politics team and an array of special guests will provide in-depth reports, extensive analysis and live results."

Midterm Mayhem: Election Night - YouTube: "FUSION Nov 4, 2014, 9pm EST Fusion's Nando Vila ("The Soccer Gods") and Special Correspondent Kal Penn (the "Harold and Kumar" movies) will bring you all the essential election night coverage in this two-hour special on November 4. As results come in they will apply the high-minded and thoughtful analysis usually associated with professional wrestling to the heart-stopping, pulse-pounding spectacle of election night in America."

ABC News: Your Voice, Your Vote - YouTube: "Nov 4, 2014, 7pm ABC News Election 2014 Coverage"

Other Resources: Poll Closing Times in Each State

POLITICO Livestream Starts 8 pm EST: updates from John Harris, Susan Glasser, Ken Vogel POLITICO Twitter List for #ElectionNight2014
POLITICO's interactive maps, featuring county-by-county election results and auto-tweet

RealClearPolitics - Election 2014
RealClearPolitics - Election 2014: Senate, House & Governor Races
RealClearPolitics - 2014 Election Maps - Battle for the Senate
RealClearPolitics - 2014 Election Maps - Battle for the House
RealClearPolitics - Latest Election Polls

DRUDGE REPORT 2014®

The Midterm Elections - The New Yorker
Cassidy’s Count: GOP Victory in the Senate: 53 vs 47 for Dems http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/cassidys-count-gop-headed-victory …

Cassidy's Count - The New Yorker - thumbnail
Cassidy's Count-New Yorker Magazine











Monday, November 3, 2014

Why Bitcoins and Apple Pay Can Not Kill Off Cash

Why Bitcoins and Apple Pay Can't Kill Off Cash - Bloomberg: "... cash is still used more often than either option [credit cards and debit cards]. It’s most often used for transactions under $25, even by those who claim to prefer credit or debit cards overall. And 40 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds say cash is their preferred form of payment. Some $1.2 trillion in cash circulates outside of banks -- 15,000 tons worth. That’s up 20 percent since 2011, and is the equivalent of $3,836 squeezed under the mattresses of every U.S. man, woman and child. The location of all these "Benjamins" -- it's mostly in $100 bills -- is a puzzle to economists and currency experts. When asked how much money they kept in their wallet or house, the average U.S. respondent said a little more than $40 in the wallet and $100 in the house, according to a 2013 Tufts University study. Some of the money may be overseas. Less than a quarter of U.S. currency resides abroad, estimates University of Wisconsin economist Edgar Feige. Where’s the rest? Legitimate business owners and those without bank accounts rely heavily on cash...."




Sunday, November 2, 2014

James Bianco, Bianco Research, Barry Ritholtz Interview



Masters in Business: Bianco Research LLC James Bianco (Audio) by Bloomberg View:

Bloomberg View columnist Barry Ritholtz interviews James A. Bianco, President of Bianco Research LLC. They discuss the stock market and the role that government regulation plays in determining inflation. This commentary aired on Bloomberg Radio.



Saturday, November 1, 2014

China's Fall Off A Cliff--The Question is No Longer If, But When

China Falling Off A Cliff? Yes--

Is the Chinese Economy About to Fall Off a Cliff?: "... If China were a fully capitalist economy, the outcome would be eminently predictable: a 2008-style “Minsky moment” in which something bad happens, creditors panic, new lending dries up, and a crash ensues. China would join the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Argentina, Mexico, and a long list of other countries that have experienced credit binges that ended badly. The complicating factor is that China, despite all its reforms, is still a country where the government controls large segments of the economy, including much of the financial sector. If there’s a crisis, optimists say, the government will step in and rescue lenders, writing off many of their bad loans. And the fact that people are aware of this will help prevent a crisis in the first place... "Even if a huge swathe of loans go bad, the consequence is unlikely to be a Lehman-style financial collapse,” the editors of The Economist argue in this week’s issue. “For that, thank the Chinese regime’s vice-like grip on its financial system.” The Conference Board analysts aren’t reassured. They argue that, as the rate of economic growth falls and bad debts pile up, there may well be too many stricken lenders for the state to rescue. And, even if the government does step in, the economic consequences will be severe. “While it is difficult to determine with precision when the breakpoint will be reached … a major deleveraging must occur at some point—it cannot be forestalled forever,” the report says. “Nor can China grow out of the problem. Anticipated nominal GDP growth comes nowhere close to being able to service the debt that has been accumulated since 2009. Something’s got to give....” (read more at the links above)

When? No one knows.



The Big Picture

Financial Crisis - The Telegraph

JohnTheCrowd.com | The Sailing Website

Craig Newmark - craigconnects

Archive