Who, aside from Spengler's Ghost, has read the unabridged The Decline of the West?   The Complete Spengler at the Asia Times Online views current issues from what is thought to be his perspective.    Thanks to my colleague Jim for making me aware of this timely source.   

The Wall Street Journal of October 15 reported on "alleged conflicts of interest" that had surfaced in Calpers, America's largest public pension fund.   As a follow-up, I checked to see if the WSJ had recently published any other articles on the perils that pension funds face and--sure enough--the following article, dated August 8, 2008, came to light:  "Companies Tap Pension Funds to Fund Executive Benefits; Little-Known Move Uses Tax Break Meant for Rank and File."   Spine chilling, isn't it?

be identified and regulated? This Wall Street Journal article describes the dilemma. If you have the time and patience, you can also read the just-released "Turner Review," which is the focus of the Wall Street Journal article.

Lloyd Blankfein, the CEO at Goldman Sachs.   Spengler's Ghost, it's going to take courage to read what follows.

that would rein in risk taking at financial institutions (see WSJ for 9/18/2009), der Spiegel reports that "many bankers have already returned to their old casino capitalism ways."

Plan to attend the series of workshops that is being sponsored by Hennepin County Library.   The workshops start September 24 and continue through November 14 at Ridgedale and Central Libraries.   Registration is required, and space is limited.  Register online for this amazing, free opportunity with lots of experts and careful planning and oversight by the Investors Protection Plus.

in this weekend's New York Times.

The stimulus monies are on their way.  And according to Pro Publica's reckoning, our beloved state is faring quite well.

when it was $100,000?   According to an annual study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it's now nearly $300,000, not including maternity or college costs.    Check out the USDA's site  for the details.

This article appeared in The Pioneer Press in July.  In it Paul Krugman outlines the economic ills that refuse to go away and the causes behind them.

Der Spiegel reports on William White--yet another economic analyst who foresaw the impending calamity.

Stephanie Rosenbloom of the New York Times reports that the recession is driving shoppers into the arms of Wal-Mart and other discount retailers, where they eschew even semi-conspicuous consumption and select the cheap choice.

This article by James Robertson in Yes! Magazine will help you to understand.

its government bails out private business?    Read this article in Der Spiegel, and look for similarities between Germany's plight and ours.

buying investment property or moving to a nicer home.  Can I blame Edmund L. Andrews for falling victim to the same delusion?   Read his account of near financial ruin in Sunday's New York Times.   And please note that his new book "Busted:  Life Inside the Great Mortgage Meltdown" is on order.

According to Nassim Taleb, author of The Black Swan : the Impact of the Highly Improbable, "the global crisis is 'vastly worse' than the 1930s."    Let's hope that the global economy doesn't sing a swan song for us.

Kate Kelly's article in the Wall Street Journal gives an indication of the state we're in.   The article appeared on the front page of the May 4, 2009, issue in case you want to read it at your local library.

Alina Tugend of the New York Times describes the benefits of a sabbatical from your job.

A recent article in Der Spiegel asks whether "2009 is the new 1929."  Our own Federal Reserve, on the other hand, detects an easing of the recession in recent weeks.   What do you think?

David Brooks of the NYT shows both sides of the question.    He also cites two recent, seminal articles that espouse each argument:  "The Quiet Coup" by Simon Johnson (greed) and Jerry Z. Muller's "Our Epistemological Depression" (stupidity).    If only we could turn back the hands of time!

This opinion piece in Der Spiegel explores a taboo subject:   the continuing promiscuous printing of unsecured American dollars.   

Wall Street's future?   Read this recent article in the New York Times to find out.

Rolling Stone is profane and irreverent in places.   But it pierces the obfuscation surrounding the toppling of the world's economic structure by naming names and departments and amounts.   A second article that appeared a few days later in ABCNews justifies Matt Taibbi's scurrilous stance.

in the Star Tribune to be reminded.

A recent broadcast on NPR describes the convoluted federal grants application process that cities, counties and states face.   According to one speaker, the grants.gov site is very difficult to use.   For an overview of the how the monies will be allocated, read Vice President Joe Biden's opening remarks at the Recovery and Reinvestment Act Implementation Conference that was held on March 12, 2009.

Read the article at TwinCities.com and judge.

and, with April 15th approaching, not a minute too soon.  Let Der Spiegel report.

Wondering where the money will go? Here's a textual summary of the act's provisions plus the H.R. 1 document from the Congressional Budget Office.

According to Peter Schiff's recent article in the WSJ, the financial burden of President Obama's proposed stimulus package would fall on the USA's much poorer creditor nations.   For more of Mr. Schiff's insights into the world of finance and investment, read THE LITTLE BOOK OF BULL MOVES IN BEAR MARKETS.

Scary, scary news from the UK's Telegraph.

Library lovers and book lovers, read this article from today's Wall Street Journal, and rejoice.

If Mary Quant is correct, at least we'll look good in the days to come.    For your fashion update, read this article from www.telegraph.co.uk.   

Read this recent article from the Ottawa Citizen to find out.

According to psychologist Stephen Greenspan (see previous blog entry), it was gullibility.    Here is the bibliographic record of ANNALS OF GULLIBILITY, Greenspan's new book on the subject.    Looks interesting, doesn't it?   It will be recommended for purchase by the library.   Readers can draw their own conclusions.

Madoff victim Stephen Greenspan explores "Why We Keep Falling for Scams" in today's Wall Street Journal.    The classic Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds and Robert J. Shiller's Irrational Exuberance also describe past investment disasters that were spawned by gullibility and conformity.   

My colleague Jim M. adds that Robert J. Shiller, creator of the Case Shiller Home Price Index, was one of the first and the few economic analysts to issue an early warning regarding the housing bubble.  See "Bubble Trouble." 

the library's databases if you are looking for accurate, up-to-date information about the current economic crisis.   Contact the library for help in accessing the databases or in conducting your search.

MKH

bank bailout packages in Germany, Italy, Spain, and Latvia.

An article in the UK's "The Independent" examines the influence of business news reporting on the recent economic crash.

a blog that gets a half million hits per day.  Thought you might be interested.

to the worldwide financial crisis.  Read about it here.    In a related interview Nobel economist Paul Krugman explains why Germany needs stimulus packages to aid its and Europe's faltering economies.

this New York Times article.  It shares tips on how to take advantage of online shopping bargains and includes links to comprehensive listings of coupons and rebates.

led to the meltdown on Wall Street?  Read "Craving the High That Risky Trading Can Bring."   Or check out Your Money and Your Brain.

Review data that has been collected on systemic banking crises worldwide from 1970 to 2007.   The entire working paper, sponsored by the International Monetary Fund, is available here.

Use honest, rigorous research provided by the Economic Policy Institute to draw your own conclusions about the USA's economic state.   The Future of Success and Fortune Favors the Bold, written by founders of the EPI, may interest you, too.

Check if your bank deposits are fully insured by the FDIC at the FDIC sponsored online tool.

Collegescholarships.org provides practical advice such as eating ramen noodles (12 cents a serving) or buying your computer through Apple Computers or the Hewelett Packard's Academic Purchase Program.  Useful for non-college students too.

Check out how financially secure your bank is through ratings assigned by Bankrate.com.

The Business Plan Builder takes you through the process of writing a business plan step by step.  Offered through the Micro Entrepreneur Resource Center, a joint project of Hennepin County Library and the Neighborhood Development Center.

Find out the true affordability of that house you're thinking of buying by measuring the transportation costs associated with the location.  A map of the Twin Cities can be clicked on to find out the costs broken down for a specific place.

If you're behind in your house payments or facing foreclosure get help from the HUD in Minnesota site (HUD - U.S. Department  of Housing and Urban Development).  Locate counselors and workshops to help prevent foreclosure and provide home buying assistance.

You can now access the Value Line Investment Survey from your home or office.  Click on the link under Top Databases on this screen and use the  barcode number listed on your library card to be connected to Value Line.  Print copies are still available at 17 library locations.  Questions?  Call 952-847-5669.

Talk to a business services specialist at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for assistance with finding and training employees, promoting international trade, expanding or relocating to Minnesota, and financing business expansions.

Want to know how to read back issues of Wall Street Journal online?  Which database has a list of electronic enclosurer manufacturers? The CEO of Carlson Companies?  Ask a Librarian  can help you find the answers to these questions and any other topics that have you stumped .  Contact us by email, IM chat service, phone or in person.   

"PNC calculates the Christmas Price Index each year as a fun, lighthearted way to look at the increasing cost of goods and services bought by the True Love in the holiday classic, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”   It all started 23 years ago as a way to engage clients and has since grown into one of PNC’s most popular and anticipated economic reports: The PNC Christmas Price Index. "  Brought to you by the financial services company, PNC.

Designed for government officials and their contractors, SustainLane Government provides "an open-source, searchable repository for information and network-building on sustainability issues including green building, energy/ energy efficiency, climate change policy, local food systems, transportation, materials management and overall sustainability management".   Requires free registration.