All Things in Moderation

Bits & Pieces (Tuesday Night Open Mic)

Speaking of Calvin and Hobbes:

Other than that, I got nothing. Floor’s yours.  — KW

---

Share this:

• Facebook
• Pinterest
• Tumblr
• Print
• Email

Like Loading...

Related

Filed under: Uncategorized |

15 Responses

1. 

   Mark in Austin, on October 18, 2011 at 10:35 pm said:

   Back from the funeral of my 97 yo aunt in PA and headed to Flagstaff-Grand Canyon tomorrow for much needed if not uch deserved vacation.I thought the EU vote to ban naked credit default swaps today was a step in the right direction.

   LikeLike

   Reply
2. 

   ScottC, on October 18, 2011 at 11:27 pm said:

   qb/Mich:I looked into creating a separate page for a Link Dump archive. It can be done, but will require a lot of effort to set up, and then maintain going forward. The problem is that there is no way to mass copy the links and descriptions from the sidebar into the page. Each description has to be put in separately and then the link added manually. So a bit of a pain. I wouldn't mind doing it if it was a one off, but I think we still want to keep the sidebar link dump active for recent links, which means every once in a while it will have to be done again to add the recent links to the archive. So I will ponder it a bit and see if I can think of a better solution.

   LikeLike

   Reply
3. 

   Fairlington Blade, on October 18, 2011 at 11:52 pm said:

   Given the last 15 minutes I spent dealing with a screaming boy about Calvin's age, I'd take him. At least he has Hobbes.BB

   LikeLike

   Reply
4. 

   lmsinca, on October 19, 2011 at 12:24 am said:

   Hey MarkHave a great little vacation. I love the Grand Canyon, it's good for the soul. I'm sure you've earned the trip and a break from the grindstone.

   LikeLike

   Reply
5. 

   lmsinca, on October 19, 2011 at 12:31 am said:

   I just realized there's another GOP debate tonight. Pass, but I'll read the commentary later and catch the highlights. Sue and Okie are trying to get something going over at the Plumline if anyone's interested. Maybe Kevin and ashot can do their day after email live (delayed) stream, lol.

   LikeLike

   Reply
6. 

   quarterback, on October 19, 2011 at 12:50 am said:

   Scott,Don't sweat it. This wasn't supposed to be another job for anyone, right? I suppose we can all keep important links on our own computers.Watching the debate. Lots of candidates trying to make a big splash of some kind, mostly attacking Romney. Perry just effectively called him a liar and repeatedly tried to interrupt him. Romney is absolutely cleaning his clock imo both in substance and in style.

   LikeLike

   Reply
7. 

   Michigoose, on October 19, 2011 at 2:20 am said:

   Bummer, Scott, but thanks for looking into it. Maybe we should move it down to the bottom of the page and replace the "News in Moderation" part of the front page. . . unless those are getting a lot of use.Anybody have any ideas?Mark, I'm very sorry about your aunt. Have a wonderful trip and here's hoping you get some of that much needed rest and relaxation.

   LikeLike

   Reply
8. 

   lmsinca, on October 19, 2011 at 2:38 am said:

   scott, jnc or brent, if you see this tonight or in the morning………is this the bailout of BofA?BofA hit by a credit downgrade last month, has moved derivatives from its Merrill Lynch unit to a subsidiary flush with insured deposits, according to people with direct knowledge of the situation. The Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. disagree over the transfers, which are being requested by counterparties, said the people, who asked to remain anonymous because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. The Fed has signaled that it favors moving the derivatives to give relief to the bank holding company, while the FDIC, which would have to pay off depositors in the event of a bank failure, is objecting, said the people. The bank doesn’t believe regulatory approval is needed, said people with knowledge of its position.Three years after taxpayers rescued some of the biggest U.S. lenders, regulators are grappling with how to protect FDIC- insured bank accounts from risks generated by investment-banking operations. Bank of America, which got a $45 billion bailout during the financial crisis, had $1.04 trillion in deposits as of midyear, ranking it second among U.S. firms.“The concern is that there is always an enormous temptation to dump the losers on the insured institution,” said William Black, professor of economics and law at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a former bank regulator. “We should have fairly tight restrictions on that.”

   LikeLike

   Reply
9. 

   ScottC, on October 19, 2011 at 3:28 am said:

   lms:I don't know exactly what is going on at BoA, or what their derivatives book looks like, but I don't think this could sensibly be called a "bailout". All that seems to be happening is that some of BoA's derivative counterparties are asking for their contracts to be transferred to a more highly rated entity within the bank group, to give them more credit security. This will also benefit BoA itself in that its collateral postings are dependent upon its rating. The lower the rating, the more collateral it must post and the higher cost of posting it. Transferring the deals will actually save money, and hence make it less likely than otherwise that BoA will have credit difficulties.In any event, there is no suggestion that taxpayer funds are or will be going to BoA, so it doesn't seem to me that this could properly be called a "bailout".

   LikeLike

   Reply
10. 

    Michigoose, on October 19, 2011 at 4:26 am said:

    Too funny, given the conversation a couple of nights ago: Glee did a whole episode based on "Rumors". One of the better episodes of the second season, too!Took me back. . .

    LikeLike

    Reply
11. 

    lmsinca, on October 19, 2011 at 12:06 pm said:

    Thanks for the response Scott. I can see why the FDIC might object though. I don't think every bailout involves taxpayer money, sometimes is just means protected status.

    LikeLike

    Reply
12. 

    ScottC, on October 19, 2011 at 12:25 pm said:

    lms:I can see why the FDIC might object though.If it wsa the risk of the derivatives book that was driving down the rating in the first place, then yes, moving them to the more highly rated (and FDIC insured) entity is objectionable. But it is possible (likely, I think) that the lower rating was due to other factors, and also possible that the derivatives book is relatively balanced and therefore not particularly risky. If that is the case, then moving them shouldn't be all that objectionable.Tough to say without knowing what is in the book.

    LikeLike

    Reply
13. 

    lmsinca, on October 19, 2011 at 12:51 pm said:

    scottI'd like to know what is in the book. Would that be common knowledge or would it take a little investigative journalism from an insider? Hmmmmmmm, I see a project in the works for a banker or derivatives trader.

    LikeLike

    Reply
14. 

    jnc4p, on October 19, 2011 at 1:41 pm said:

    With regards to BoA, I wish Sheila Blair was still head of the FDIC. She called BS on Geithner a few times back in 2009.

    LikeLike

    Reply
15. 

    lmsinca, on October 19, 2011 at 2:33 pm said:

    jnc, I like Sheila Bair as well. Warren also gave Geithner nightmares. So far though both the Federal Reserve and the FDIC are being mum on the deal, officially at least.

    LikeLike

    Reply