March 12th, 2010 // comments (0)
It’s a subject I’ve left mostly alone, not because I’ve been told not to address it but because I’m hesitant to give airtime or blog space to a man who still calls Web traffic ‘hits‘ and has an unhealthy obsession with WGN Radio. Tonight, on the podcast, I’ll dive into the mud on this one. Stay tuned.
-- Shawn Wasson
March 9th, 2010 // comments (0)
Some great analysis of the current cable media landscape from CJR today. I disagree with a few points (especially the bit about MSNBC offering a rainbow of opinons) but this quote is interesting:
From personal experience covering news around the world, you almost always run into a CNN crew or stringer. You almost never run into a Fox reporter, and never one from MSNBC.
Read the whole thing at CJR’s website.
-- Shawn Wasson
March 8th, 2010 // comments (0)
California State Senator Roy Ashburn admits to being a homosexual in an interview today on KERN. You can listen to the interview in this post and read the details here. Ashburn vows to carry on.
-- Shawn Wasson
March 8th, 2010 // comments (0)
After a massive online movement to draft her into the hosting duties at Saturday Night Live, Betty White confirms she will appear on the show.
But will she host?
-- Shawn Wasson
March 8th, 2010 // comments (0)
PETA sees a wounded opponent in SeaWorld after last month’s killer whale attack. Their latest mantra: “Let whales and dolphins ‘out of prison.’
-- Shawn Wasson
March 7th, 2010 // comments (0)
HUGE news out of Pakistan: American-born al-Qaeda leader Adam Gadahn has been arrested.
Update: It’s not him?
-- Shawn Wasson
March 6th, 2010 // comments (0)
‘Breaking With Scientology’ won’t hit print until tomorrow but you can read the New York Times assault on Scientology online right now.
-- Shawn Wasson
February 23rd, 2010 // comments (0)
Executives from Toyota Motor Corp made the journey to Washington D.C. this morning to face down angry customers seething over their company’s recall follies. Take a look at these pictures from today’s event.
-- Shawn Wasson
February 22nd, 2010 // comments (0)
I can’t decide if the Bloom Box is the greatest invention ever or if I’m a bit like an old lady being conned by a slimy auto mechanic. Regardless, you have to watch this video. [Video]
-- Shawn Wasson
February 21st, 2010 // comments (0)
Snowboarder Scotty Lago leaves the Olympic village in Vancouver after sexually suggestive photos of the bronze medalist and his trophy surfaced online. Lago says he’s in a ‘blackout’ and can’t talk about the event until next month. [View The Photos]
-- Shawn Wasson
February 17th, 2010 // comments (1)
What happens when you admit to a murder on British public television? Well, you get arrested, of course. BBC presenter Ray Gosling arrested on suspicion of murder. [Details]
-- Shawn Wasson
February 17th, 2010 // comments (0)
Tiger Woods will finally reemerge from the shadows this Friday. The golf pro and reported sex addict is planning on holding a press conference at the PGA headquarters at 11AM Eastern. [Details]
-- Shawn Wasson
November 25th, 2009 // comments (0)
Mixed Bag: Consumer spending up/Jobless claims drop/ Home sales rise. But none of the newly released numbers are very remarkable…
Market Watch:
November 24th, 2009 // comments (0)
Loads of economic data coming out tomorrow AM:
Weekly jobless claims are expected at 8:30 a.m., along with October durable goods, personal income, and consumer spending. Consumer sentiment is released at 9:55 a.m. and new home sales are released at 10 a.m. Jobless claims could be below 500,000 for the first time in months.
Ready the mattresses…
March 5th, 2009 // comments (0)
Here’s middle-of-the-road economic forecaster Mark Zandi…:
Q: Will things get worse?
A: Yes, measurably worse.
Q: The administration sees strong growth from 2011 to 2015, and a solid 3.2 percent next year. Agree?
A: I think those are roughly reasonable, but they are much too optimistic for 2009 and 2010.
Q: How bad will the job market get?
A: I think the peak unemployment rate will be 9.5 percent in Q2
…
March 5th, 2009 // comments (0)
Hey, who wants to watch their 401k disappear live? No takers?
NEW YORK (AP) — Investors are having another change of heart and are selling stocks once again as a brief burst of optimism disappeared.
A ‘brief burst’ indeed. Negative news including another bailout in China, that GM bankruptcy possibility we hit on the Twitter feed, and a decline in factory orders seem to be driving things downward. When will the trend break?
March 4th, 2009 // comments (0)
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are higher in midday trading as investors sift for bargains after five straight days of heavy selling.
Investors hungry for any signs that the economy could turn around soon got some encouragement from a government plan to help struggling homeowners and hope for a Chinese economic stimulus package. Industrial and commodity-related stocks, boosted by a sharp increase in oil prices, are leading the market.
March 2nd, 2009 // comments (0)
NEW YORK (AP) — The Dow Jones industrial average has fallen below 7,000 for the first time in more than 11 years.
The market, battered by the recession and worries about financial companies, tumbled again Monday after insurer American International Group Inc. posted a staggering $61.7 billion in quarterly losses and accepted another bailout from the government.
Take a look at the board… down to 6,763 at the closing bell.

Experts…
March 2nd, 2009 // comments (0)
A.I.G lost $61.7 billion in the fourth quarter. That announcement, partnered with an announcement by the government of $30 billion more in federal aid flowing to the investment group, may have the Dow below 7,000 at the opening bell.
Anyone getting that sinking feeling?
February 26th, 2009 // comments (0)
Dow futures are up… and it looks like the market may follow them:
This chart will update in real-time as the day progresses…
February 25th, 2009 // comments (0)
So far, we’re looking at a mixed open in reaction to the President’s speech:
If you watch the speech last night, you may have heard a few jabs at the investment community. Still, the overall tone of the speech was quite positive — so can the Dow continue to build on yesterday’s strong uptick in the wake of Bernanke’s comments?
Later today, Bernanke will resume testimony on Capitol Hill.
Also, we’re expecting a semi-positive housing number today.
February 23rd, 2009 // comments (0)
Down more than 250 points today — The Dow falls to 1997 levels:
The Dow Jones industrial average is down 250 at 7,114. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index is down 26 at 743, while the Nasdaq composite index is down 53 at the 1,387.
January 14th, 2009 // comments (0)
Year to year retail sales were only down 1/10th of a percent but December numbers were bad enough to shock Wall Street into another large sell off this morning.
At 11:33AM EST — Down 238 points.
NEW YORK (AP) — A dismal reading on retail sales and worries about the banking industry pounded stocks early Wednesday. Major stock indexes lost more than 2.5 percent, including the Dow Jones industrial average, which fell 235 points.
December 16th, 2008 // comments (0)
Wall Street is applauding an unusual move from the Federal Reserve to cut its target for a key interest rate to the lowest level on record. Stocks are extending their gains Tuesday following the central bank’s decision to lower its fed funds target rate to a range of zero to 0.25 percent to align with where rates have been in the eyes of the market.
A close above 9k would be a very positive development for the market.
November 26th, 2008 // comments (0)
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks climbed on Wednesday as bargain hunting in the tech sector and renewed hopes of a General Motors bailout helped investors shrug off data depicting a worsening global economic downturn.
Wall St. has a fever… and the only cure is more bailouts. Is GM next?
November 19th, 2008 // comments (0)
NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street hit levels not seen since 2003, with the Dow Jones industrial average falling below the 8,000 mark, as the fate of Detroit’s Big Three automakers and the economy disheartened investors.
Stocks finished at their lows of the session after the automakers pleaded for relief during a second day of hearings in Washington. The heads of General Motors Ford and Chrysler are asking for a massive
…
November 5th, 2008 // comments (0)
In late morning trading, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 146.87, or 1.53 percent…