June 20, 2007

One of the painful realities of life as an economist and professional speaker is that the subject matter of economics is typically viewed (with good reason!) by the general public as confusing, intimidating, and boring.  As a result, trying to present weekly economic and financial information with an unusual twist can occasionally be a most welcome change.

Warning!!  This week’s Tea Leaf  is my semi-annual economic, financial, and political update…using today’s current movie titles.  My sincere apology in advance to anyone I might offend.

The Housing Bubble
Thousands of American “investors” have that SICKO feeling in their tummies, tied to their former PREMONITIONs that home prices would move higher and higher for ever and ever.  These former WILD HOGS now seek help from EVAN ALMIGHTY to purge their BLACK BOOKs of sizable losses.  Greed is not one of our more attractive emotions.

The Stock Market
Stock investors stay fixated by a Dow Average that moves down 300 points over a few days, only to move up a similar amount over the next few days.  Even so, the Dow has been KNOCKED UP more than 1408 points above the 12000 level first reached last October. 

Numerous market bears see stock prices that have practically moved into nORBIT.  On the other hand, we continue to see the stock market as attractive and perhaps even undervalued.

The War on Terror
Valiant Iraqi, American, and coalition troops continue to support a mantra of LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD in Iraq.  One hopes that this senseless reality of YOU KILL ME or I will you might someday give way to greater respect for different views of religion and life.  One also hopes that THE INVISIBLE Osama bin Laden soon becomes just another SPIDER-MAN, as was Saddam Hussein when pulled from hiding in a filthy hole earlier in the War.

Too many GHOST RIDERS have resulted from this insanity.   Perhaps the NEXT set of leaders will promote the view of ARE WE DONE YET? with the violence and embrace greater dialogue wherever possible.

A Summer Romance
Many American men, including MR. BROOKS and would-be Romeos of all shapes and sizes, seek to enjoy the spoils of summer, with EVENINGs spent IN THE LAND OF WOMEN.  Meanwhile, many American women, including MISS POTTER, NANCY DREW, GRACIE, and even some LONELY HEARTS seek the CRAZY LOVE that sometimes defines a summer romance. 

Those most fortunate might find A MIGHTY HEART wherein a LICENSE TO WED is desired.  Others will seek the RESCUE DAWN to keep the BLACK SHEEP and FIREHOUSE DOGS clearly AWAY FROM HER.

A Summer Adventure
Younger vacationers may soon note that SURF’S UP and will party hearty, acknowledging that school begins a mere 28 DAYS LATER.  Those inclined to actions of DISTURBIA in public—tied to imbibing way too many SHOOTERS and other alcoholic concoctions—will seek to avoid the HOT FUZZ and other peacekeepers and subsequent inebriated conversations in BROKEN ENGLISH.

Those of greater means will at ONCE be off to PARIS, dealing with THE VALETs and WAITRESSes employed by world-class hotels and eateries.  The most adventurous vacationers will seek the BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA to taste RATATOUILLE, noting that the most memorable of human challenges are found AT WORLD’S END.  

The Election Season
Presidential candidates exceeding an OCEAN’S THIRTEEN in number will vie to be THE LAST MIMZY standing.  These candidates will continually study a DAY WATCH of voter preference polls to see if their campaigns to fill an upcoming White House VACANCY remain DEAD OR ALIVE. 

While all claim to be the TRANSFORMERS they loudly espouse, some fear they might be CONDEMNED to the lesser positions of the FANTASTIC FOUR finalists, those eventually considered for only the Vice Presidential spot on the tickets.  To some of these statuesque egos, such a position is worse than DEATH AT A FUNERAL.

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