Could you imagine ESPN never going without mentioning the New York Yankees once per hour? That’s kind of what it’s gotten to be like over there at Motley Fool.  Foolishness with a small ‘f.’

Back in August, I wrote, "If something is too big and complex to fail, perhaps we should make it smaller and less complex." Now’s probably not the time to throw another wrench in the financial system, but someone, someday is going to have to realize that if something’s too big to fail, it’s also probably too big to bail.

     Here’s an academic take on the financial crisis.  This is 58:19 long, so grab a break and a cup of coffee if you mean to watch this! [Update - Sorry, for some reason embedding it did not work this time.]

     I also just ran across a new favorite quote by Brian Rogers, T. Rowe Price Chairman and Chief Investment Officer:  "Statistically speaking, the world does not end that often."   

     In case you were wondering, seventy-nine is 2008 minus 1929.   

Update 2 - Attempt 2 to embed is below:

     Anyone who likes these new digital photo frames as much as I do, take heed!

     Are any of the companies that make these digital frames publicly traded? I haven’t been able to find out. 

     Now, where is all the money going? I used to suspect that when the big money started selling, the money had to go somewhere else.  That may be true to an extent, but I was reading one prospectus that said the fund could invest defensively (to put it in a nutshell), but I wonder really how many funds invest in commodities, precious metals, etc.  Or do they mostly just go into cash or bonds once they’ve sold their holdings?

     I clearly need to get better at reading prospectuses (or is it prospecti?). 

     Other issues I’ve been scoping out have been Crocs and Force Protection.  They’ve done well this week, but they went up on extremely light volume yesterday while the rest of the market chugged higher.  That leaves me a tad concerned.  Crocs is the maker of the shoes everyone seems to be buying.  The danger there of course is that everyone who wants them has them, and earnings will dry up.  Force Protection makes the Mine-Resistant Anti-Ambush vehicles that are in-demand in Downrangeland.  They’re going to be facing some competition from Oshkosh trucks at a minimum, and depending on which team wins the most contracts, Force Protection may go nowhere.  I’d consider it a fairly good risk, but I’m prepared to have to sell later on with no profit. 

     I’ll offer the standard disclaimer:  I’m an amateur investor.  You must do your own research.  I tend to buy things late and have to sell early, making only a little profit.  By the time you read this, there’s a good chance the stock will be on the way down. 

     I’m happy now.  I wonder if the parking attendant is, too?

    First, I rented a car while I was home.  Now, the auto rental place was kind enough to upgrade me to mid-sized from the compact/economy rate, as there were no smaller cars available.  This was great! The problem was not with the rental company at all.  The problem was that the car I got to drive (a 2006 Pontiac Gran Prix) had been damaged in an accident at some point earlier.  Whomever damaged it got some body work done and had it substantially repainted.  The only way we figured this out was because the right rear brake and signal did not work.  Lucky for me, I run an aggressive cross-check before changing lanes (a habit learned from substantial time on the Autobahns in Germany), so I never ran into any danger.  But who busts up a car and doesn’t take responsibility for it? If you’re going to get body work done to it, at least have the courtesy to get the critical electrical components working again, too!

    Second, I had to park near the exit of a different car rental agency (Avis) while I waited for my German in-laws to drive out so I could lead them to their hotel through an unfamiliar city.  I did a superb job parking, was in nobody’s way, and remained with the vehicle in case I needed to move it.  As it happened, the Avis security guard ended up directing me to move anyway.  I calmly explained my situation.  She didn’t care.  She told me several times I was blocking the exit.  I looked at her with as much incredulity as possible.  It was clear from any vantage point I was not in anyone’s way whatsoever.  No matter! She was in charge, and she would not be gainsaid.  Luckily for her, my in-laws appeared, and I was able to drive away before I had to get management involved. 

    I wish I could say that was all that bothered me, but that’s all I’ll write about for now.  This particular article has been in ‘Draft’ for two weeks now!