July 2009

My newly adopted home state needs money.    Bad.    So, like many other states, it is raising taxes on a variety of behaviors that it views as bad and seeks to discourage.    Those include drinking, smoking and, apparently, working. Here' the story from a few days ago: TRENTON -- The state Assembly passed legislation today that raise taxes on cigarettes, hard alcohol and wine, ... read more

Many of you ask for quick feeds on top stories / guests / etc so good use for Twitter. Follow me on the message service: www.twitter.com/briansull Click on the above .. send me a request and Ill approve you can get my updates.   Good way to spend 30 secs and get news you need. Will try to post short, relevant notes about news of the day along with any oddball stuff I come across ... ... read more

What I'm reading today ... much related to lists and numbers. Morgan Stanley's Berner on America's "fiscal train wreck" Whopping 324 company SEC filings heading into the weekend 7 more banks failed going into the weekend 6 lessons we learned in the downturn The Atlantic's take on the sad decline of California Social unrest flares up in China How to make money off your old ... read more

Reminder to follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/briansull Reading material for Tuesday: Report: Department of Justice starting to investigate Verizon& AT&T for possible antitrust violations 2Q earnings season starts tomorrow ... here's where surprises may lay Brookings: Give stimulus plan time to work Food stamp increase is working as stimulus Software theft story read more

Reminder to follow me on Twitter for top story and market updates: www.twitter.com/briansull Stories I'm reading this Wednesday: Google goes after Microsoft Windows China's Hu leaves G8 because of ethnic tensions in his country Mortgage applications rise More bad news for California' big deficit And Cali's IOUs are still owed Moody's cuts more mortgage-backed ... read more

Google wants to take on Microsoft Windows by releasing its own operation system. Much of the commentary in the story has revolved around the two companies themselves.   The real tale though may lie around companies such as Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Western Digital and others who build PCs and memory for them that largely rely on the current mode of computing. The reason is the cloud. read more

Follow me on www.twitter.com/briansull Stories I'm reading this Thursday Warren Buffett compares stimulus to Viagra and candy Here comes the next fiscal crisis Too much stimulus money going to roads in rural areas Financials doing well today Why a second stimulus would be a mistake GM may change logo color to green Its just more of the greenwashing of corporate ... read more

Reminder to follow me on twitter.com/briansull Stories I'm reading this Friday: Chevron earnings bring down stocks Health care and cap & trade bills appear to be stalling as Dems raise fiscal concern Another cyberattack on U.S. government Why a CEO says he wants to leave Los Angeles The illegal immigrant discussion again heating up in ... read more

Forget all the deep analysis ... this graphic says it all about why we are where we are. Banks and credit card companies gave it out .. and we took it. ... read more

Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/briansull Source: Education Week Stories I'm reading this Monday: Hello 50% tax rates! Will that mean that this chart will show college costs start to fall? Not sure how I missed this but it is a must read Goldman Sachs ready to make some cash Administration learning to spend money more quickly CIT may face ... read more