Europe’s Fade Becomes Drag on Sales for U.S. Companies

As the European crisis intensifies, a growing number of companies in the United States are warning investors that sales in the region are slowing and could get much worse.

In the technology industry, one of the most exposed to Europe and an engine of the American recovery, Cisco, Dell and NetApp [NTAP  30.45    -0.86  (-2.75%)   ] have all recently pointed to unexpected weakness in European sales. Other areas with major exposure to the Continent, including automakers and industrial companies, are beginning to voice similar cautions. 

Just a few months ago, market watchers were optimistic that the American economy had decoupled from Europe’s problems, able to grow even as the Continent faltered. 

READ MORE:  http://www.cnbc.com/id/47690983

Gold and Dow Flash the Same Warning Signal

By Greg hunter’s USAWatchdog.com 
 
On Friday, both gold and the Dow flashed the same warning signal—the economy is in deep trouble.  The Dow plunged nearly 275 points on the news of a weak jobs report, and gold rocketed higher by $66 on speculation global bankers are going to print money to resuscitate a dying financial system.  You do not get this kind of tandem move in opposite directions by coincident.  Last week, both the stock and gold markets appeared to stop pretending and acknowledged the vortex of debt and insolvency that could suck us all into a black hole.
Renowned gold expert Jim Sinclair of JSMineset.com said Friday, “Those popular gold writers calling for much lower gold prices are simply out of their mind and disconnected from reality.”

... READ MORE:  http://usawatchdog.com/gold-and-dow-flash-the-same-warning-signal/

The Only Thing That Will Save Us Now Is Fear Itself

On March 4, 1933, millions of Americans sat beside their radios listening to Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivering his first inaugural address, in which he famously declared that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."  (Joe Biden thinks he watched the speech on television, but that's the subject for an essay in Current Psychiatry, and this is American Thinker.)  FDR gave Americans the confidence and courage to cope with the Great Depression, which is among the reasons he's one of our very greatest presidents.

I hate to say this, but right now the only thing that can save our country is -- fear itself.  Our government is bankrupt, its deficit is insurmountable, and at both the federal and state levels, we've run up more debt than can possibly be repaid.  This isn't a political thing; it's a numbers thing.  Either everything I've ever learned about math and economics is wrong, or we're on the verge of going down.  The only possible way to come through safely -- and even so, the odds are against us -- will be to frighten ourselves so badly that we'll be willing to do things that in normal times we simply could not imagine doing.

READ MORE: http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/12/the_only_thing_that_will_save.html 

The week that Europe stopped pretending

The euro has essentially broken down as a viable economic and political undertaking. The latest rush of events reeks of impending denouement.

Switzerland is threatening capital controls to repel bank flight from Euroland. The Swiss two-year note has fallen to -0.32pc, not that it seems to make any difference.

Denmark’s central bank said it was battening down the hatches for a "splintering" of EMU. It has cut interest rates twice in a matter or days and pledged to do whatever it takes to stop euros flooding into the country. Contingency plans are on the lips of officials in every capital in Europe, and beyond.

CONTINUE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/9309669/The-week-that-Europe-stopped-pretending.html

An Economics Lecture No Student Will Ever Hear

Good morning. Take your seats, turn off your cell phones, and keep them off for the duration of this lecture.  

Today's subject is jobs. As even the dimmest among you are aware, we're in a jobless recovery, which means that economic activity is picking up, but businesses just aren't hiring enough workers to bring down the unemployment rate to an acceptable level.

 

Between now and the November elections, Republicans will blame Democrats for this mess, and Democrats will say that it's all the Republicans' fault. The decibel level will be excruciating. If you're among those who would rather argue than understand, don't waste your time or my energy; get up now and leave through the side door. But if you really want to understand why we're not creating new jobs fast enough, put aside your politics and let me teach you the one thing about economics you should have learned in high school.

READ MORE : http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/04/an_economics_lecture_no_studen.html

‘Human barcode’ could make society more organized, but invades privacy, civil liberties

Would you barcode your baby?

Microchip implants have become standard practice for our pets, but have been a tougher sell when it comes to the idea of putting them in people.

Science fiction author Elizabeth Moon last week rekindled the debate on whether it's a good idea to "barcode" infants at birth in an interview on a BBC radio program.

“I would insist on every individual having a unique ID permanently attached — a barcode if you will — an implanted chip to provide an easy, fast inexpensive way to identify individuals,” she said on The Forum, a weekly show that features "a global thinking" discussing a "radical, inspiring or controversial idea" for 60 seconds .

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/human-barcode-society-organized-invades-privacy-civil-liberties-article-1.1088129#ixzz1wmtxXyBm

Vlasic closing hits workers, farmers

The closing of the Vlasic pickle plant in Millsboro in August will mean lay-offs for nearly 400 workers and will curtail pickling cucumber production for local farmers.

Pinnacle Foods, parent company for Vlasic, announced just before Memorial Day weekend the Millsboro plant will lay off about 200 full-time workers and nearly 200 part-time workers.

Millsboro Town Manager Faye Lingo said it is difficult to see Vlasic leave.

CONTINUE:  http://capegazette.villagesoup.com/business/story/vlasic-closing-hits-workers-farmers/831670