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HomeChristmas 1919 – Christmas 2013
Posted by Larry Doyle on December 24th, 2013 5:04 PM |
This story has become my traditional post to embrace the true spirit of faith, hope, and love. This tale of real heroism and sacrifice ran in The Wall Street Journal in 2008. I think if you read it you will understand why I like it so much.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, or however you celebrate, Happy Holidays!!
LD
A Christmas Tale — 1919, The Wall Street Journal, December 2008
By HANS VON SPAKOVSKY
It’s easy to complain in the midst of a stressful holiday season. But my family has a unique remedy: We remember one special Christmas in 1919 that gave us the freedom and liberty we enjoy today. This will be the 89th anniversary of the year my father celebrated Christmas Eve deep in the snow-laden woods of Russia as he fled the Communist takeover of his homeland. (more…)
Rep. Duckworth (D-IL): Shame on You, Mr. Castillo
Posted by Larry Doyle on December 23rd, 2013 10:33 AM |
I truly love it when those who would game our systems are exposed for their lack of integrity.
On this note, I thank the regular reader who shared a video clip of just such an undressing from earlier this year when Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) put a beating on an individual who had gamed the Military Veteran’s disability program.
Duckworth’s beating, which really kicks in around the 4:30 mark of the clip, would have made any heavyweight champion proud. The clip runs a mere 8-minutes. I assure you that you will not be disappointed.
I would only wish that those within our financial regulatory system, the pols themselves, and others who have abused their positions while charged with protecting the public’s interests would be similarly undressed and exposed.
Larry Doyle
Please pre-order a copy of my book, In Bed with Wall Street: The Conspiracy Crippling Our Global Economy, that will be published by Palgrave Macmillan on January 7, 2014.
For those reading this via a syndicated outlet or receiving it via e-mail or another delivery, please visit the blog to view this video clip and to comment on this piece of ‘sense on cents.’
Please subscribe to all my work via e-mail.
I have no business interest with any entity referenced in this commentary. The opinions expressed are my own. I am a proponent of real transparency within our markets so that investor confidence and investor protection can be achieved.
The Wolf of Wall Street: Victims’ Stories
Posted by Larry Doyle on December 21st, 2013 8:09 AM |
I just picked up my weekend newspapers and see Leonardo DiCaprio gracing the cover of Barron’s.
This star will soon grace many movie screens in our nation as “the wolf of Wall Street’ or as we would call guys like this in the business, “just another scumbag.” But while the movie may entertain and appeal to our lower spirits, what about those whom this wolf and his fellow pack of scumbags preyed upon?
Thanks to the incredible work of one of our best financial journalists, Susan Antilla, we learn just how destructive vermin such as the real life individual, Jordan Belfort, whom Dicaprio depicts can be. (more…)
Greg Caron’s Story and Building Homes for Heroes
Posted by Larry Doyle on December 20th, 2013 1:14 PM |
Sticking with our theme of stories providing hope and inspiration, I thank the regular reader who brought this incredible piece to my attention.
I welcome sharing it in the hope that we can pause and appreciate people like Greg Caron, all those who serve in the military to protect our freedom, and an organization like Building Homes for Heroes. (more…)
George Huynh: We Want To Be a Source of Hope
Posted by Larry Doyle on December 20th, 2013 5:07 AM |
The story of Johnny and George Huynh that broke the other day and which I highlighted this past Wednesday here at my blog continues to attract more attention.
As we go through this holiday season and then enter the new year looking for hope and inspiration, who would have though that two young men from the hardscrabble streets of Dorchester, Massachusetts might provide a healthy dose of exactly what our nation needs? Johnny and George define toughness. I think you will want to watch and share this clip that ran on NBC News last evening.
As George says in truly inspirational fashion,“If we can do it, why can’t they?”
I think it prudent to induct John, George, and their mentors Bill Baker and Emmett Folgert into a new wing of the Sense on Cents Hall of Fame.
Navigate accordingly.
Larry Doyle
Please pre-order a copy of my book, In Bed with Wall Street: The Conspiracy Crippling Our Global Economy, that will be published by Palgrave Macmillan on January 7, 2014.
For those reading this via a syndicated outlet or receiving it via e-mail or another delivery, please visit the blog to view the video clip and to comment on this piece of ‘sense on cents.’
Please subscribe to all my work via e-mail.
I have no business interest with any entity referenced in this commentary. The opinions expressed are my own. I am a proponent of real transparency within our markets so that investor confidence and investor protection can be achieved.
The Wall Street Oligopoly at Work in the Oil Markets
Posted by Larry Doyle on December 19th, 2013 9:24 AM |
Information is everything. Unparalleled access to information and the hoarding of the data collected are cornerstone principles of an economic system that is defined as an oligopoly.
How does this work? Rather than my writing, let’s take a quick 2-minute view of what is going on within the oil markets. (more…)
Story of John and George Huynh and American Dream
Posted by Larry Doyle on December 18th, 2013 6:45 AM |
I beg your indulgence today as I swerve from our standard navigation of the economic landscape to highlight a human interest story that is beyond special.
I exhort you to take the mere few minutes to look away from the stream of info that pours across the market tape and newswires and focus on this story of two young men and a reporter who became mentor and friend. I assure you that you will not be disappointed and will come away inspired.
Reed (D-RI), Grassley (R-IA): FINRA Transparency and Expungement Relief
Posted by Larry Doyle on December 17th, 2013 8:19 AM |
Two weeks ago, the folks at the Project on Government Oversight filed a friend of the court brief in an attempt to bring some meaningful transparency to Wall street’s largest self-regulation organization, FINRA.
Why is it so important that FINRA be compelled to open its doors? Too many reasons, but one of them is embraced by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) who yesterday provided further fuel to the fire for those looking for real transparency from FINRA.
Let’s navigate and review a press release that highlights just how opaque this organization is.
WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to protect investors and the integrity of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s (FINRA) BrokerCheck program, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today sent a bipartisan letter asking FINRA to clarify and strengthen standards for expungement of investor complaints against brokers. (more…)
Arthur Brooks’ The Secret to Happiness
Posted by Larry Doyle on December 16th, 2013 12:00 PM |
Is there any question more widely pondered than, “What is the secret to happiness?”
I think not.
From philosophers centuries ago to advice columnists today, there are far more opinions on this question than there are real answers. More often than not, I pass over commentaries or clips addressing this topic. This morning, though, I came across a 20-minute clip on happiness, and I did not pass over it. I am very glad I made that choice.
Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute — a favorite site of mine while navigating the economic landscape — offers some great insights on happiness. At the 5-minute mark of the clip, I was intrigued. At the 10-minute mark, I was thinking, ‘Give me more.’ At the 15-minute mark, I knew I had to share this clip with readers. At the culmination of Brook’s remarks, I immediately inducted him into the Sense on Cents Hall of Fame. (more…)
Sense on Cents Endorses H.R. 3482: Restoring Main Street Investor Protection and Confidence Act
Posted by Larry Doyle on December 16th, 2013 10:10 AM |
A year ago, I strongly endorsed H.R. 757 to restore credibility to the Securities Investor Protection Act that had been decimated by the manner in which the Madoff trustee went about its business.
That act went into committee at year-end 2012 and died there, strangled by those legislators feeding at the financial industry’s trough. Fortunately, the forces behind 757 are not easily swayed and they are back with H.R. 3482, legislation entitled as “Restoring Main Street Investor Protection and Confidence Act.”
I welcome endorsing it. Why? (more…)
