Well.... the chance to gamble on death and mayhem won't be sponsored by DARPA this week.. The tempest stirred caused a retraction... but hey... DARPA will have other lovely surprises for us later... stay tuned...

Consumer confidence down today... gee wonder why.... all the unemployed white collar and manufacturing folk that had a GOOD job last year ($50K+) and now have to fight for the $10/hr job are becoming visible. ....

And the risks for all the past investments are becoming uninsurable: " Merrill Lynch & Co., Charles Schwab Corp. and dozens of U.S. brokers that buy extra insurance to protect client assets from bankruptcy are losing the coverage because insurers say it's too risky. " Insurers drop bankruptcy coverage on brokerage assetsBy Jed Horowitz Bloomberg News.....