A New Year and a New Post

Happy New Year, and I hope it is going to be a healthy, happy and wealthy one for us all! Well, I’m still researching many topics to ascertain what’s new in the world, and there’s quite a lot going on in 2010, which is exciting.

Let us start the year with a spot of reputational risk: In the US, there’s a web site called Rip-Off Report which is aimed at the consumer. http://www.ripoffreport.com/#secB and has  a sister/brother site called Rip-Off Revenge http://www.ripoffrevenge.com/. The Rip-Off Report site provides a large alphabetical list of companies, where people have filed Rip-Off Reports against particular companies. There are sections where reports can be filed against people, and also a list of the latest rip-off scams to avoid. It provides instructions for those on the reported end of the report to help them rectify the problems reported and clear themselves or their companies, so the site allows for both sides to make a contribution. While this is aimed at consumers, I am sure the likes of Bank of America won’t like what their customers think of them, and it is commentary straight from the ground………….reputation anyone? The Rip-Off Revenge site speaks for itself 🙂

Google’s Nexus One. I am that person who is a complete fan of  Bladerunner. It is one of my all time favourite films, and my kids were old enough to see it for the first time!  They liked it a lot, but didn’t get some of the psychology behind the story (I filled them in). Unfortunately the edition shown wasn’t the Director’s Cut – which in my opinion is the best edition. As my boys grew up in Hong Kong, the Asian influence wasn’t lost on them. The phone? Since the film has not been broadcast for at least 15 years, I assume Google approached the TV companies to have it shown in advance of launching their new product. Well –  I assume that is the allure to start with, if you are a Sci-Fi fan. I do want one of the phones but the price is a bit steep right now……… The comparisons of “Andriod” phones is out there, but GoogleTutor can provide an overview of Nexus One at http://www.googletutor.com/2010/01/07/the-google-phone-nexus-one-is-here/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gtutor+%28Google+Tutor%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Middle East: Well, Well, Well. Who would have thought that Dubai would have over-exposed itself to the point where it had to admit to the world it couldn’t meet its repayment obligations.   Oh – and Yes – the UK is heavily implicated in lending to Dubai World…….and I’m not even going to mention the opening of a certain hotel as they have had their noses well and truly rubbed into………the next wave of financial fissures for further meltdown is now within our global sovereign debt according to the Masters of the Universe. The economic volcano is not to die down so quickly or easily, and stabilise as we thought or hoped. The Asian markets, vulture funds and private equity fund managers will be quick to pick up the the debris of this fallout at a very low price, to sell on at huge profit later.

Did I totaly miss the mono-line Insurance disaster that was predicted? No, but I can’t articulate economics like Roubini and his team.  Not many can. http://www.roubini.com/briefings/72365.php. If you find this section too US-centric, then move to another region on the web site.

As always, feedback is welcomed. Happy New Year Reader.