December 14 - December 20, 2008
Saturday, Dec. 20
Is it possible that all these fund managers and investors were in the dark about what the alleged swindler was doing? Not likely. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Sitting in front of the tube watching golf can actually tell you a thing or two about changing fates of the business world. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Friday, Dec. 19
Everybody's favorite doomsdayer, Nouriel Roubini, says the more likely scenario is a severe recession that will bottom out in about a year. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Says biographer Michael Wolff: "He doesn't believe in Web news, doesn't understand Web news, couldn't care less about Web news." $MTEntryExcerpt$>
On the Friday before Christmas, airlines report a bunch of delays coming into LAX. Departures seem to be doing better. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
The state and local numbers are not great, of course, but they’re not a surprise. Look for 10 percent-plus in 2009. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
George Bailey might have been better off if his bucolic (and quite boring) town of Bedford Falls really turned into the very cool Pottersville.
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The lawyer's rapid expansion into L.A. just a couple of years ago has gotten little attention. Too bad – it’s a pretty good yarn. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Gas prices trickle upward (for now), fewer travelers for the holidays, retailers desperate this weekend, and port expansion approved. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Thursday, Dec. 18
How smart was it of Silicon Valley's Macrovision to buy Gemstar-TV Guide International for $2.8 billion? Not very.
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Donald Trump calls Madoff a "sleazebag," "total crook," and "a Svengali for rich people." He also doesn't think the guy acted alone.
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The combination of slumping global demand and swelling U.S. inventories are offsetting the impact of OPEC agreeing to cut output. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
A local non-profit losing $700,000 might get lost in the shuffle of a pressing news day, but to that group it will mean major retrenchment. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Daniel Laikin is one of several National Lampoon executives to be accused of stock manipulation. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Plans to raze Century Plaza, more folks leaving California, Live Nation scrambles for U2 cash, and DreamWorks deal could be in trouble. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Anne Stausboll gets the unenviable job of turning around the nation's largest public pension fund. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
The SEC apparently is finding evidence that she might have helped track payments (also, her name is on a bunch of transactions). $MTEntryExcerpt$>
A state board this morning shut off $3.8 billion in financing to dozens of infrastructure projects because the available money is drying up. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
A CEO taking a $300,000 pay cut sounds like a nice gesture, but the guy made more than $12 million last year. Who is he kidding? $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Alexandra Penney is an artist, best-selling author, former editor of Self magazine - and now one of the many investors who got snookered. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Wall Street can't sustain a rally, more local angles on Madoff, hotel workers sue, and Fox adds spice to SAG drama. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Tuesday, Dec. 16
Practicing journalism is a little like playing the ponies: Everyone thinks they're an expert. Except that they're not. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
You're looking at $11 billion worth of trouble, which isn't as bad as NY ($12 billion), but worse than Vegas ($6 billion).
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How else do you describe the Federal Reserve setting its target for the overnight federal funds rate to a range of 0 to 0.25 percent? $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Only a 12.7 percent increase in November from a year earlier, which is substantially slower than the big sales jumps of recent months. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
SAG rancor builds, more Madoff victims revealed, Best Buy making big cuts, and feds go after National Lampoon CEO. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Monday, Dec. 15
The average price of regular in the L.A. area is $1.72, down about a dime from last week (and almost $3 from earlier in the year). $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Flaunting wealth is definitely out these days - but that doesn't mean the rich have stopped spending. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Pellicano is sentenced to 15 years, Mattel agrees to pay $12 million to settle lead claims, and former KB executive pleads guilty.
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Generally yes, but it really depends on the restaurant – and getting into the top spots around town can still be a challenge. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
This one involves a guy named John Rogers, who persuaded some of California's richest investors to give him big money for a startup.
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Commercial real estate in slump, L.A. is tough place to do business, Singleton explains himself (sort of), and SAG meets in NY tonight. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Sunday, Dec. 14
Mort Zuckerman, the foundation of Elie Wiesel, and a charity of Steven Spielberg all stand to lose some serious money.
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