Condom Industry Immune to Economic Distress

Where do you invest in this uncertain market? Big companies are laying off, car inventories are piling up, commodities are in the toilet; and everybody is being stingy(!) - saving instead of spending, waiting for bargains, waiting for prices to go down. If you own a restaurant or a small business, gregarious empathy is on your side, but forget charitable donations of spend-happy consumers.

Well, if there's one industry that's safe to be in - one seemingly impervious to financial kryptonite, and does a commendable service to society, to boot - it's the condom industry! Savvy investors will be delighted by their investments in Trojan or Durex(lol...:)) - U.S. sales were up 5% in the 4th quarter of 2008, up 6% last month compared to last year.

The article can be read here. And if you're without luck tonight, read this article and imagine what's possible down the road: watch a little You Porn, charge up your iPod (or your vibrator - lol!)

Okay, time to get some work done.

- Brewskie

Too Many Beers Explains Our Economic Foul-Up

In a recent post, investment advisor Tony Sagami recalled a conversation he had with one of the top mutual fund managers in the country. In the conversation, he asked:

"How much of your own money do you have invested in your fund?"

With a few too many beers, he replied, "Hardly any! You think I'm stupid?"

That second quote serves as one of the most exemplary reasons why we're in the screw-up, and serves as a microcosm as to what counter-measures need to be applied to prevent future abuse.

- Brewskie

Military Recruits Up Under Shoddy Economy

With the economy in the crapper, with Larry Flint and German sex shop owners crying for bailouts, one U.S. industry is having banner times - the U.S. military. With fewer jobs to go around - especially for males, claims blogger Mark Perry of Carpe Diem, who states we're in a "man-cession" - the military, according to the New York Times, is seeing an influx of recruits, "with all reserve- and active-duty branches meeting or exceeding recruiting goals for the first time since 2004." The Times goes on:

And the trend seems to be accelerating. The Army
exceeded its targets each month for October, November and December — the first
quarter of the new fiscal year — bringing in 21,443 new soldiers on active duty
and in the reserves. December figures were released last week.

And

Another lure is the new G. I. Bill, which will significantly expand
education benefits. Beginning this August, service members who spend at least
three years on active duty can attend any public college at government expense
or apply the payment toward tuition at a private university. No data exist yet,
but there has traditionally been a strong link between increased education
benefits and new enlistments.

The Army and Marine Corps have also added more recruiters to offices around
the country in the past few years, increased bonuses and capitalized on an
expensive marketing campaign.

Plus

As a rule, when unemployment rates climb so do military enlistments. In
November, the Army recruited 5,605 active-duty soldiers, 6 percent more than its
target, and the Army Reserve signed up 3,270 soldiers, 16 percent more than its
goal. December, when the jobless rate reached 7.2 percent, saw similar increases
in requirements.

- Brewskie