Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Freddie - what is going on here?

Something must be horribly wrong at Freddie.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Yay for efforts on Cuba!

This is really positive news. I've been dreaming about Cuba and the US opening up again. Not because I am so passionate about human rights and such (although I do feel strongly about the injuries created by socialism and failure to respect the concept of private property), but because the re-opening should completely change the vacation equation for people on the Eastern half of the US. Cuba is incredibly close. Cuba has farms (i.e., no more island economy type food pricing). Cuba has miles and miles of beaches (which I understand are better than almost anywhere else in the Caribbean). A high quality medical system. Cuba is a chance to do development right (of course, also a chance to do it horribly wrong - as government control won't fall away overnight, development will be very guided by government). This could cut the price of vacations in half. Or become a haven for retirees. Sorry everyone else in the Caribbean.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Swiss Central Bank is how big?

I should know this but don't: Why is the Swiss central bank so big? Is it because Swiss banks have massive deposits? And the banks have some obligation to place a portion of those deposits with their central bank?