PSoTD

Kind of strange how little attention with the U.S. press the foreign markets have received, considering their rather dramatic activity in the past week...

From Helsinki:

Share prices fell sharply on the Helsinki Stock Exchange on Monday - by around four percent. In the past two weeks, more than ten percent of the value of stocks traded in Helsinki has evaporated. The trend is similar to that of other countries, but the decline in Finland has been sharper than on most bourses.

Monday was considerably worse on the Mumbai Stock Exchange in India, where shares plummeted by more than ten percent, repeating a similar dismal performance on Friday.

This Internet revolution thing is pretty cool, but it's quite interesting how much of a cold shoulder it has received from the home contracting/remodeling industry. Ever try looking for prices for a type of siding, or window, or door, or tile? Good luck in getting much information on that online.

Did you love it? We did, especially on vanilla ice milk. Do you miss it? Here's a poll - share your feelings.

I think it's pretty clear that this kind of approach can and will be very popular for some nation/state/territory at some point. But I don't expect St. Croix to be the first...

This could be the year that Vietnam takes the credit.

I'm not sure why, but this story discomforts me.

After selling his Malibu mansion last year for a cool $10 million, Nicolas Cage has now plunked down $3 million for a relatively pristine island in The Bahamas, the Wall Street Journal reports.

It's the second rock for the 42-year-old Oscar winner, who bought his first Bahamian island in 2000 and has a house on Paradise Island near Nassau.

The 40-acre retreat is situated some 85 miles south of that residence in the Exuma archipelago chain in the southern Bahamas, reportedly near an island owned by married country crooners Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.

According to the paper, Cage plans to turn the undeveloped private atoll into a romantic getaway for himself and his wife, Alice, and their infant son, Kal-El.

I guess my biggest question is where the $3 million goes. Into the local economy? Or out of the area?

A new beneficiary arises with the high cost of gas:

With gas prices just under $3 a gallon, some Harrisonburg drivers have found a new way to finance the commute to work — with diamonds, drills and DVDs.

For the last few weeks, published reports indicate that business at pawnshops is up, and owners say the boost comes because people are hocking their valuables to pay to get to work.

An informal survey of seven pawnshops in Harrisonburg and Rockingham and Augusta counties found that the national trend is consistent in the area.

Bring in the goods and go for a drive, because that old trumpet or toaster should fill up the tank.

"There’s mad people comin’ out here selling jewelry just to buy gas," said Charles Walker of Valley Pawnbroker Inc. in Staunton. "They say they just need a few bucks to fill it up. You know, to make it ’til payday."

So when is Exxon Mobil going to start acquiring pawn shops and cut out the middle man?

Wouldn't our country be better off moving THIS 6% of the population to some other country?

Will rising gas prices influence your future automobile purchases?

Yes — that Hummer doesn't look so attractive anymore.
72%

Maybe — it's something I'll consider.
20%

No way. I prefer bigger cars.
6%