Theodore Shorty Mantle

<SACRAMENTO> Pink slips are flying and educators are crying, but with the California economy in free-fall, the best deal the state was willing to offer will cut “only” 20,000 teachers this year with another 30,000 to be shown the door in 2010.
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I think I have figured out what the next bubble will be, when it will start, and approximately how long it will last.
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Covered call option writers have been handed a great opportunity to lock in potentially very profitable entry points in bank stocks.
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Voters dissatisfied with the two major party candidates yearn for something better. None of the third-party candidates have yet emerged as a viable alternative, but their ideas could significantly impact the November election.
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By unanimous vote, an emergency economic aid package to stimulate the economy has finally been approved by the U.S. Senate, releasing $300 Billion of funds to aid struggling apartment renters.
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Americans who own their own gasoline get richer every year, while those who wait on the sidelines risk getting priced out of the market.
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Historically, public employees accepted lower salaries in exchange for attractive retirement pensions and cushy jobs handed to them by relatives and/or political friends.  Now their salaries have become competitive with private sector employees, most of whom have been stripped of their pensions.
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Disgruntled purchasers whose luxury SUV’s have declined in value are walking away by the thousands, refusing to make their loan payments.
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Despite objections from consumer advocates, in the last two weeks California judge Jed Clampbet has sent 142 delinquent homeowners to state prison for up to three years each, for failing to honor their home mortgage obligations. 
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Thousands of failed housing gamblers have walked away from their homes in California, leaving banks as bagholders.  Now banks are walking away too, burdening taxpayers with carrying costs.
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The collapsing housing market briefly caused a decline in cement prices.  Now, prices are soaring again from an unexpected source of strong new demand.
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Loan modifications that benefit delinquent homoaners and other failed housing gamblers by forgiving a portion of their debt principal have been pushed by CONgress.  Today the Mrotgouge Lending ASSociation pushed back.
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After a shocking YouTube video exposed the practice, the company has moved on to other collection methods.  Yet some fear these are even harsher.
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With crude oil trading at $120 a barrel and gasoline prices nearing $5 a gallon, President George W. Bush can now retire back to the Texas oil patch a local hero.
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Legislators have created a way to boost home prices and create thousands of high-paying jobs at the same time.
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The initial offering of one trillion U.S. Treasury common shares priced at $100 opened trading at $150 and never looked back, closing the day at $747.
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Poor stock selection?  Improper strategy?  Bad timing?  No.  The biggest reason is simply using too much leverage.
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Exiting the Reamtor van, we suddenly found ourselves pinned down by heavy sniper fire.  There was supposed to be some sort of Open House, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get to the model home office.
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As more layoff notices go out and home price declines begin to accelerate in Southern California, most residents remain confident of their ability to ride out the storm. 
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On Monday, March 17th, the price of Bear Stearns stock (NYSE-BSC) fell from $30 per share to $4.81, creating nearly $10 Billion in new wealth.
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After nearly a decade of steady increases, median household income in Southern California fell sharply in 2007, according to the latest figures from eSBRI, which indicate a shocking one-year drop from $118,000 in 2006 to only $69,000 last year.
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Last weekend, on his way home after being turned down at The Money Store and laughed out of the Washington, D.C. Payday Loan Center, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson happened to notice a billboard displaying an ad for Ditech.  With nothing to lose, he made the call, and was quickly approved for a stated income 125% cash-out...
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11-Mar-08 FAIRBANK RICHARD D Officer 1,027 Direct Automatic Sale at $46.22 - $46.6 per share. $48,000
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Showing a lack of restraint reminiscent of a Doritos Commercial, desperate Central Banksters today unleashed a multi-hundred Billion dollar $caSSh blaSSt, with promises of more to come.  Stressed-out debtors lined up quickly to grab their share of the loot.
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Often criticized for ignorance regarding serious issues of the day, the American public is following this year’s presidential election campaign more closely than perhaps any time in history.  Talk radio and the internet, in addition to television, are keeping Americans well-informed on all the key issues.
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Panic buying of dollars on Middle East currency exchanges bolstered the U.S. currency in overnight trading as members of the United States’ largest exporting block convened their annual meeting in Van Nuys, CA amid persistent speculation they would begin accepting payment only in U.S. dollars.
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Inspired by the recent legal coup being celebrated by public school teacher unions in Californica, fast-food franchise union workers have scored their own victory in the courts.  Effective immediately, only parents who hold a certified post-graduate cooking degree from an approved Culinary Institution and pay mandatory home-cooking fines will be allowed to prepare meals at...
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“Playing what???!!!  Who were you playing ‘google’ with?”  ”Just some guys down at the office.” “Oh sweetie, you’re not telling me that you’re…..I mean, not that there’s anything…..”
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The price of gold is soaring, creating wealth and providing opportunity for lucky dental patients with good insurance and bad teeth.
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“These houses have been empty since we built ‘em,” said property manager Bill Maytag, watching as another new $650,000 (asking price) home was leveled by bulldozers. “Haven’t even had a lookee-loo in months. No point waitin’ forever, they ain’t gonna sell. Beans….that’s where the big money is these days. Beans.”
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