Bits & Pieces (Hump Day Muppets Post)

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Kevin S. Willis

Tresspassers William did a great cover of “Rainbow Connection”:

“Mah Na Mah Na”, made famous by the Muppets (and Benny Hill) was originally a song featured in the 1968 softcore film, Sweden Heaven and Hell.


In 1981, I experienced nirvana, as the pop star I was in love with at age 12 (Deborah Harry of Blondie) showed up on The Muppet Show and did a duet version of “Rainbow Connection” with Kermit. Still gives me goosebumps. 
As Christmas approaches, it reminds me of a classic Christmas special I loved as a child: Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas. 
Emmet Otter was voiced by Jerry Nelson, who also provided the voices for Gobo on Fraggle Rock, Kermit’s nephew Robin, Count von Count on Sesame Street, among many others. Although he no longer performs his characters, he still provides the voices for them on Sesame Street.
With the passing of Jim Henson, Richard Hunt (one of the original performers of Elmo, before Kevin clash, who provided the original voice for Scooter and Janice and Beaker), and the retirement of Frank Oz from Muppet work, Jerry became one of the few original Muppeteers still working. The others include David Goelz, Carroll Spinney—Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch—and Steve Whitmire, who began working with Henson productions in 1978, doing mostly minor characters. However, with the passing of Jim Henson, Steve took over Kermit and some of Henson’s other characters, then took over Beaker with the passing of Richard Hunt. 
Still haven’t seen the new Muppet movie. Word of mouth and reviews are great, although box office has been modest (especially given the promotion). Word of mouth and steady business may pump it up, thought. 
Adjusted for inflation, the first Muppet movie made $207 million. By comparison, their last outing—Muppets from Space—only made $26 million in adjusted gross ($16m unadjusted). By that yardstick, the opening weekend for The Muppets was pretty darned good. 

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More on Jury Nullification

Posted on November 30, 2011 by novahockey

Story out of NYC where federal prosecutors have charged a man with jury tampering for handing out literature outside on jurors rights outside of a courthouse. The story explains that the defendant has requested a jury trial, but prosecutors have opposed it, arguing that we would likely ask the jury to nullify. Question for the lawyers … Can the prosecution do that? The defendant is claiming his actions are protected speech, which it obviously is in my opinion.

Story available at the New York Times

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Morning Report

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Brent Nyitray

Vital Statistics:

Last Change Percent
S&P Futures 1223.2 26.7 2.23%
Eurostoxx Index 2262.4 28.210 1.26%
Oil (WTI) 100.9 1.110 1.11%
US Dollar Index (DXY) 78.445 -0.624 -0.79%
10 Year Govt Bond Yield 2.03% 0.03%

Markets are gapping higher on coordinated Central Bank intervention in the money markets. The Federal Reserve, Bank of Canada, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, and the ECB have lowered US dollar swap rates by 50 basis points. “The purpose of these actions is to ease strains in the financial markets and thereby mitigate the effects of such strains on the supply of credit to households and businesses and so help foster economic activity.” the statement said. Separately, the Bank of China lowered reserve requirements for its banks. In some ways, this reminds me of 2008, where the Fed of the government would step in to help ease conditions in the financial markets, short covering would cause the futures to gap up, and then futures would sell off as people contemplate how bad things must be to warrant the action in the first place.

In economic data, ADP Employment came in at 206k for November, well higher than estimates. Productivity was light, and unit labor costs fell more than expected. Yesterday, consumer confidence came in much higher than estimates, which shouldn’t have been a surprise if you have been watching the actual spending data. S&P / Case-Schiller came in -3.6% for September. Overall, the data indicate things are on the mend, albeit slowly.

In keeping with the energy story I have been flogging, the WSJ has an article this morning discussing how the US is about to become a net exporter of refined product. This doesn’t mean we are energy independent – we still import more oil than we export – but we are closer and closer to becoming a net energy exporter. And that will have enormous implications for the US, from our trade deficit to our Middle East policy. Perhaps the peace dividend we have been waiting for since the end of the cold war will finally materialize.

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