The Force is Strong in this One

I haven't listened to it with the volume up yet (Maddie's typing beside me, and I don't want to distract her), but clearly this little Penguin's got something going on.

It's raining

No, not financial doom & gloom, just rain.

We get very little in the way of weather out here (lots of climate, but little actual weather). It isn't snow, but I'm thrilled nonetheless. (c:

Thirty More Years

Since most folks are mostly invested in equities, I thought I'd provide an example of what's happening in the bond world. This's a very subjective data-point (my 401k), but it shows the perspective that the big financiers have on things pretty well.

This's also a good testament to the fact that one should adjust risk tolerance over time -- this is a diversified bond portfolio, but it's still much higher risk than someone near retirement should have had. Looking at a 401k like this just prior to retirement can really swing your perspective towards socialism, fast.

Luckily, many of us have 30 more years for things to work out. :)

ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES INC 7.75000% 11/01/2012 ↓-32.87%
AMKOR TECHNOLOGY INC SR NT 9.25000% 06/01/2016 ↓-34.36%
AVENTINE RENEWABLE ENERGY HLDG 10.00000% 04/01/2017 ↓-73.97%
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORP 5.45000% 06/15/2014 ↓-11.98%
BOWATER INC DEB 9.50000% 10/15/2012 ↓-71.62%
CENVEO CORP SR SB NT 7.87500% 12/01/2013 ↓-27.05%
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORP 6.87500% 11/15/2020 ↑4.25%
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTL INC 7.50000% 11/01/2014 ↓-21.38%
CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS DEB 7.250% 10/15/2027 ↓-75.49%
CLEAR CHANNEL COMM NOTES 5.500% 09/15/2014 ↓-67.57%
COLUMBIA HCA HEALTHCARE MTN BE 8.70000% 02/10/2010 ↓-8.92%
COLUMBIA HCA HEALTHCARE MTN BE 7.75000% 07/15/2036 ↓-41.17%
DEAN FOODS CO SR NT 6.90000% 10/15/2017 ↓-15.75%
DENNYS HLDGS INC SR NT 10.00000% 10/01/2012 ↓-22.00%
DILLARD DEPT STORES INC 6.62500% 01/15/2018 NT ↓-48.89%
DOLE FOOD INC SR NT 8.87500% 03/15/2011 ↓-31.11%
FORD MTR CO DEL DEB 8.87500% 01/15/2022 ↓-67.18%
FREEPORT-MCMORAN COPPER & GOLD 8.37500% 04/01/2017 ↓-3.49%
HERTZ CORP SR SB NT 10.50000% 01/01/2016 ↓-43.47%
ITT CORP NEW DEB 7.37500% 11/15/2015 ↓-25.14%
LIBERTY MEDIA CORP DEBENTURES 8.500% 07/15/2029 ↑11.49%
LOWE'S COMPANIES INC BONDS 5.500% 10/15/2035 ↓-30.60%
MAGNACHIP SEMICONDUCTOR S A 6.87500% 12/15/2011 ↓-91.22%
MEDIACOM BROADBAND LLC & MEDIA 8.50000% 10/15/2015 ↓-7.06%
MICHAELS STORES INC SR SB 11.37500% 11/01/2016 ↓-72.00%
NEIMAN MARCUS GROUP INC 9.00000% 10/15/2015 ↓-46.03%
PEP BOYS MANNY MOE & JACK 7.50000% 12/15/2014 ↓-47.90%
QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTL INC 7.50000% 02/15/2014 ↓-24.99%
R H DONNELLEY CORP SR NT-1A 6.87500% 01/15/2013 ↓-73.41%
REMINGTON ARMS INC NEW 10.50000% 02/01/2011 ↓-23.12%
RITE AID CORP SR NT 8.62500% 03/01/2015 ↓-64.77%
SMITHFIELD FOODS INC SR NT 7.00000% 08/01/2011 ↓-21.50%
SOLO CUP CO SR SB NT 8.50000% 02/15/2014 ↓-24.44%
SOUTHWEST AIRLS CO DEB 7.37500% 03/01/2027 ↓-23.30%
STONE CONTAINER CORP SR NT 8.37500% 07/01/2012 ↓-47.30%
TIME WARNER COMPANIES INC 6.87500% 06/15/2018 ↓-18.94%
TIMES MIRROR CO NEW DEB 7.25000% 03/01/2013 ↓-80.89%
TRIBUNE CO NEW NT 4.875% 08/15/2010 ↓-65.62%
U S CONCRETE INC SR SB 8.37500% 04/01/2014 ↓-25.40%
UNISYS CORP SR NT 8.00000% 10/15/2012 ↓-41.58%
UNISYS CORP SR NT 8.50000% 10/15/2015 ↓-42.17%
UNITED RENTALS NORTH AMER INC 7.00000% 02/15/2014 ↓-23.58%
WEYERHAEUSER CO DEB 6.95000% 10/01/2027 ↓-30.83%

Relax

In these days of financial doom and gloom, with taxpayer bailouts being used to fund christmas bonuses on wall street, I thought it might be nice to bespeak the good news:

...

OK, that was short. In the absence of any really particularly good news, I instead offer two opportunities for relaxation and cheerfulness. Remember, it's the relaxed person who survives the car crash....