SuperSteve

So I followed on a forum. Sheamus is one of my two favorites (Santino is the other) so that's neat! I can't wait to see highlights of Kofi, Ricardo, and the cobra versus socko too!

Can I comment on specifics? Wouldn't want tobe a spoiler.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 29, 2012 -> 09:50 PM) Didn't we guarantee them some big loans last fall? Are you referring to the central bank coordination between the US, Canada, ECB, UK, Swiss, and I want to say Japanese but I can't remember the sixth?

Jamie Diamond has an interview on CNBC that he says a Greek default will have almost no affect on US banks.

That's awful. Bills like this are why I'm completely left when it comes to social issues. WTF is the NH GOP thinking?!

Basically my biggest fear is contagion and I just cannot see how Greece can fix itself without leaving the EZ. Sorry if I came off as dickish too Balta,I wasn't trying to.

QUOTE (Brian @ Jan 29, 2012 -> 06:25 PM) They just did that a few years ago in a Casket Match. Good call. I forgot about that.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 29, 2012 -> 06:36 PM) How on Earth do you expect any country to pull off that level of wage deflation while the ECB holds eurozone wide inflation rates at or below the magic 2%? Wages simply do not do that. If there's a clear message from the European situation, that's it. You can take others, but that's the clearest one you can see...the ECB has tried to impose that solution on half a dozen countries and it has failed in every case. And when the investments that the european banks and hedge funds hold would be literally worth nothing in the event of Greece just giving them the middle finger, anything they'd get in return for those investments is a taxpayer-arranged gift. I don't expect that type of wage deflation. That's your argument. If the Greeks stay in the EZ, then that wage deflation will have to happen in order to make them remotely competitive. Even if the private haircut deal happens, the Greeks will still be at 120% debt to GDP. My argument is Greece needs to leave the EZ, given them the ability to inflate to level wages. Even if they choose to go the non-deliverable route in order to control the currency. If the Greeks default, the insurance kicks in. Those pesky credit default swaps will protect the hedge funds while the EZ can use the 130b EUR that's going to be given to Greece as their next bailout to protect the banks in the remaining EZ. You never answered my question too. You don't want to cut wages or have Greece leave the EZ, so would you just prefer a bail out every quarter? The IMF has basically said hold on there. The Greeks do not have a schedule to pay any of their bailouts back.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 29, 2012 -> 01:06 PM) If the Germans or French tried to dump Greece, this would be a very bad thing for a select group of German and French banks and investors. Thus, even if that were to be the right decision for everyone else, it won't happen, because the banks and investors are the important ones. The size of the Greek bonds are not material in the grand scheme. The market is already pricing in a default event and the ECB may need to take a haircut on the 40b EUR in Greek bonds that they hold. That in effect would have an effect on using the Greek bonds as collateral. I disagree with the comment investors are important. Taking a huge haircut only to receive 3.25% 20-30 year bonds in return is sticking it to investors especially if Greece retroactively changes any laws. Think of what happen to the auto industry in the US. Creditors got screwed and the unions made out like bandits. The solution to giving Greece another 130b EUR in March is insane. Use that money to pay off the CDS and make the banks whole. Greece is a black hole right now. They're insolvent. The big question last month was how much of the LTRO would be used to buy sovereign debts. Outside of the fact the banks are parking 500b EUR at the ECB, it seems to have worked on Spanish and Italian bonds. Portugal has gotten even scarier now. We have another round of LTRO in February (effectively QE), which should aid the economies more, however Greece is essentially a brain dead patient. Sell 50% wage deflation to get them back to competitiveness or they return to their own currency. Long thoughts, short question. You'd like to keep bailing out Greece, shall the EU just continue to give them hundreds of billions of euros each year? On the current course, Greece probably cannot be saved. The most interesting piece of all this too is the views of the banks. I trade currencies for a corporate for a living and we know to take all the commentary with a grain of salt and stick to commentary by Isda, consultants, or researches like Bianco.

I overpay so show me the money!

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 29, 2012 -> 12:51 PM) Speaking of taker, any idea who he's going to face at mania? Kane for the 95th time? And I think Jericho is going to win tonight. Agreed with punk-jericho selling itself but I don't think they're going to make the titles that much of an after thought at mania... In the grand scheme, I agree. I am just afraid at how stale Smackdown could get. Mark Henry as a monster against Taker at WM wouldn't kill me.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 28, 2012 -> 10:42 PM) The Germans want to annex territory, shocking. And impose internal wage deflation of what, 40-50%? I think Greece needs to be jettison because Portugal is in bad shape now too. Cut you fingernail in order to save your body. Let the Greeks be shut out of the international bond market and simply tell them we tried to help you but you wouldn't help yourself.

I like Bernadette but just google swimsuit pics of Penny and bazinga!

This has the potential for an awkward fantasy moment for the guy who wants oth Carmona and Heredia haha!

QUOTE (Brian @ Jan 29, 2012 -> 10:16 AM) Do I dare predict a Jericho/Punk title match at Mania? Going to my buddy's to watch the Rumble tonight. Kind of excited. ALways love the Rumble and unpredictable this year. Dolph vs. Punk should be good and I'm liking the D Bryan character so interested to see how he escapes with the title and hopefully out of this feud with Show and Henry. I wonder how the WWE will handle Mark Henry in the match. I noticed during their bit on Smackdown he was wearing a sleeve on his hammy/quad. That leg was the one that gave out Friday. It was clear he was really hurting too by the way Show backed off. Then the match ended under commercial. He's not exactly the most mobile guy to start with so how's this affect the match? Y2J is someone I can see winning. I don't think he will though. I think a Punk/Jericho match would sell itself so the WWE will use the RR title clause to aid the Smackdown title story. After the Bryan/Show/Henry angle, Smackdown has basically been "who will win the RR " for the past month while the only real RR bit on Raw was really Mick Foley, who will not win it. With Orton, Barrett, Sheamus, Rhodes, and Mahal getting RR pushes, I think it'll be Barrett. The Sheamus/Barrett storyline has morphed into Sheamus/Mahal and I can see that storyline lasting at least one or two months, taking away from a WM push. Orton/Bryan would be a nightmare from a bit perspective. That's just not their strengths. Rhodes will already be pushed for WM and I think we'll be looking at King of the Ring for him and not RR. If Bryan is going to be the titleholder at WM, I pick Barrett. If its Show, I pick Orton. I cannot figure out who they'd pair with Henry. From a favorite perspective, I'd love Sheamus to win but I like him having the freedom to do whatever he wants right now. I'd also like Santino to be Santino in the RR haha! My pick though is Barrett. Barrett/Bryan at WM with Barrett carrying the mic.

QUOTE (SuperSteve @ Jan 24, 2012 -> 08:33 PM) I'm also curious to see anyones thoughts on the FOMC meetings this week. Citi's short-term interest rate guys put out some commentary concerning the rotation of voters (of the 12 Fed presidents) and the expected interest rate forecast. They looked at 2014 for any raise (.50% in Q2 of 2014). Fed was dovish. Market seemed to like it though.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 25, 2012 -> 02:06 PM) Thought this was interesting. Illinois AG Lisa Madigan is suing S&P over practices that led to overblown ratings and hiding risk in investments. The USG and the Europeans are investigating the rating agencies too. It's a no-win situation for them.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jan 24, 2012 -> 10:48 PM) Yeah, well, they didn't sign him for one year. And Fielder's upside is that of a 6/6.5. '94 Frank Thomas disagrees. As good as he was from '91'-93, he was making a mockery of the sport in '94 once they put Julio Franco behind him instead of a washed up George Bell or a broken down Bo Jackson. But keep deluding yourself into thinking that the Tigers didn't get a whole lot better. Plus VMart will be worth zero wins next year.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 24, 2012 -> 10:47 PM) Haha indeed. I just mentioned that cause I've seen her on a few late night shows and she seems cool as f***. Only thing I remember her from is Forgetting Sarah Marshall. I think House of Lies will last because her and Cheadle are both really talented.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 24, 2012 -> 10:42 PM) Not that it matters but she has a cool ass personality too. Fun girl. I'd date her, just saying hahaha.

Two things through all the pages of this thread. 1. I think I'm in love with Kristen Bell. When she swore this week I felt butterflies! I do enjoy House of Lies too. 2. I'm a big fan of the Big Bang Theory but it went from not being syndicated to over-syndicated really quickly. I still watch a few episodes a week though.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Jan 1, 2012 -> 09:48 PM) My wife and I are really loving Once Upon a Time. I'm surprised I like it. It's my guilty pleasure TV show.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 24, 2012 -> 10:20 PM) There were some awkward lines and some bad ideas, but it works really well aa campaign launching point. I lean right so from my perspective I came in skeptical I guess. We both know we can take this with a relative grain of salt since its election time.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 24, 2012 -> 10:16 PM) I keep listening for the radical leftist creating socialism in america and i keep hearing "if you work hard you can succeed, businesses are creating jobs!" He did really well tonight I think. I'm sure he's going to get shredded by some but it sets the tone for this fall.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 24, 2012 -> 10:10 PM) It's pretty funny that this guy gets called a Marxist. He's supporting defacing our flag! That means he hates capitalism! /green