Lamia

Monday, December 14, 2009

Art Market Confidence Is Up, Sales Come Next

at 4:29 PM Posted by GodSpeedDemon

The hint of a recovery we got in the first half of 2009 has fallen off a bit,according to Art Price's Art Market Confidence Index. The latest report suggests that art prices have dropped 37 percent since January 1, 2008, when the art market first showed signs of weakness. But, there are some indications that it's headed in the right direction over all. Art Price does state that the third quarter is almost always weak. Only 12 percent of auction lots sold during all third quarters over the past decade, and low sales volumes tend to mean low prices.

The art market appears to have hit its worst point in the first quarter of this year, when art prices were down 38 percent over the previous 15 months. Values plunged to 2004 levels, and spectators figured that conditions would only get worse. Prices edged up 1.2 percent after the first quarter, but a slow summer didn't yield any real progress.

Art Price sees the November results as promising, with seasonally adjusted growth for the Post-War period up 2.1 percent since March and the Old Masters picking up 4.5 percent. And, for the past two quarters, only 38 percent of lots failed to sell, and it looks like October and November will stay consistent with that result.

More than anything else, the numbers suggest that confidence is increasing -- which is the first step in a recovery.

Filed under: Art

Art Market Confidence Is Up, Sales Come Next originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Investors would be wise to ignore the 'Goldilocks' recovery scenario

at 3:54 PM Posted by GodSpeedDemon

Filed under: Economy, Investing, JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America

Despite last year's mauling, some high-profile Wall Street analysts see a "Goldilocks" scenario for the economy. That would be one where inflation remains subdued and growth picks up briskly. But investors should think twice before betting on such a fairy tale.

Following a wave of recent bullish data, including a better-than-expected employment report and strong retail sales, some powerhouse investment banks are now raising their growth forecasts for the year ahead. JPMorgan, Credit Suisse and Barclays Capital all now predict that GDP will expand at 4.5% in 2010. That's more than the upper range of 3.5% that even the Federal Reserve recently predicted -- and double the 2% growth scenario that bond giant Pimco has pushed as part of a broader lackluster outlook for the U.S. economy.

Continue reading Investors would be wise to ignore the 'Goldilocks' recovery scenario

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Black <b>Conservative</b> Voices Courageously Step Away from the Crowd <b>...</b>

at 3:53 PM Posted by GodSpeedDemon

However, pulling the lever to support a conservative candidate or idea in the privacy of a polling booth is easier and safer than speaking out publicly. Ironic, isn't it, that all of us are rightfully expected to embrace diverse shades ...
Read More... [Source: Conservative - Google Blog Search]

Google Gives Free Phone Numbers and Voicemail to Homeless

at 3:36 PM Posted by GodSpeedDemon

Filed under: Cell Phones, Google, Breaking News

Google Gives Free Phone Number and Voicemail to San Francisco Homeless

Google's one phone number for everything service, GrandCentral, is getting a new trial of sorts. Google is taking its 'Do no evil' mantra to the streets of San Francisco -- literally. A partnership between Google, the San Francisco city government, and Project CARE (Communications and Respect for Everybody) is offering a free phone number and voicemail box to every homeless person in the city for life.

The philanthropic program is aimed at helping the homeless not just communicate with friends and family, but also land jobs. One of the big stumbling blocks for the downtrodden is their inaccessibility. When emerging from job training programs, folks need a method of contact, preferably a phone number. By calling from any phone, including pay phones, the homeless will also be able to get a phone number and set up the voicemail box.

Project CARE also sees the voicemail box as a doorway to proper medical testing and care. If the project is successful, Google will expand it through the rest of the state, and hopefully the country.

From MSNBC

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Google Gives Free Phone Numbers and Voicemail to Homeless originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Read More... [Source: Switched]

Jordan king swears in new conservative government - Reuters

at 2:24 PM Posted by GodSpeedDemon

Reuters

Jordan king swears in new conservative government
Reuters
The cabinet line-up was dominated by conservative politicians, tribal loyalists and technocrats who held sway before the outgoing government of ...
New conservative Jordan gov't told to speed reformInteractive Investor
Jordan king swears in new governmentAFP

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Mass Effect 2 cinematic trailer teases 'full-length' version for Dec. 22 XBL debut

at 12:16 PM Posted by GodSpeedDemon

Snagged from IGN's "Ultimate Holiday Videogame Guide" comes this Mass Effect 2 cinematic trailer ... well, teaser trailer may be more accurate. While the above video shares nearly a minute and a half of delicious cinematic video (read: this isn't in-game, folks) the end promises the "full-length trailer" will premier on Xbox Live on December 22, just a few days before ecksmas.

So you can take "Mass Effect 2 cinematic trailer" off your wishlist and bump up "Mass Effect 3 cinematic trailer."

[Via Kotaku; thanks, tmacairjordan87]

Mass Effect 2 cinematic trailer teases 'full-length' version for Dec. 22 XBL debut originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.