| April 2007
Born in May, this bird had emerged slimy, black, reptilian, no more capable of flight than a rock. Its transformation over the next month, from a miniature dinosaur stuck full of pinfeathers to an approximation of an adult bird, occurred at a pace that seemed like time-elapsed footage. That this awkward-looking creature had, after many clumsy attempts, learned to fly seemed surprising; that it had learned to dive for fish with any competence even more so. But that it was now, after barely earning its wings, ready to embark on a trip to South America and back, without the guidance of parents, was nothing short of astounding. My original goal had been to follow the general course of osprey migration, not specific birds. But by happy coincidence, a North Carolina biologist named Rob Bierregaard had put satellite tracking devices on five birds on Martha’s Vineyard, so by simply checking the Internet, I could follow those individuals, too.
Countrywide Earnings Eyed Before Deal
Investor concerns that Bank of America Corp. might try to pull out or pay less for Countrywide Financial Corp. could intensify next week when the troubled mortgage lender reports 2007 year-end financial results. After posting a $1.2 billion loss in the third quarter ended Sept. 30 _ its first quarterly loss in 25 years _ Countrywide declared it would post a profit for 2007's final three months and through this year. Wall Street has its doubts _ most analysts expect Countrywide to post a fourth-quarter loss _ and will be watching closely Tuesday when the Calabasas-based company reports its results. Investors will be looking for signs that suggest worsening fortunes at the nation's largest mortgage lender _ and a possible about-face by Bank of America.
Recap of Saturday, January 12
The election will have a big impact on how the White House treats certain sectors, as well at how it treats taxes (including corporate taxes). Tobin Smith: Its not helping…but the killer is the REAL unemployment rate which is REALLY about 5.5 percent and going to 6.5 percent because we are in a recession. Yes ChangeWave Research is now forecasting that we are in a stalled economy that goes to negative 1 percent growth in Q2 and Q3. We are moving from correction to bear market unless the FED goes ½ point cut pre-meeting and ½ point at meeting. But we are in a consumer led recession and it's going to be a real recession. So get ready for 3 percent Fed Funds rates by summer…. .
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