Seasonal Gifts from Doctor Bob

My oracle, Bobby P (U Del, Prof of Accting), has been sending me fun reads over the past month, and also fatherly advice.
Here is a fun & clickable viewing/reading list courtesy of Bob:

• The British comedy take on the meltdown -- from Bird and Fortune on YouTube. --really worth it.
• Michael Lewis (author of Liar's Poker) on how the whole CDO & CDS markets worked on the inside, in Politico.com
• Proof that the experts were not experts about the meltdown in USA Today. Bob quotes another Bob, the Marley,... "No experts...no cry."

Bob and other readers have sent additional very funny stuff, but some was dirty or I couldn't verify their sources on the web, & didn't want to inadvertently violate intellectual property rights. (Yes, lawyer Jeff, I DO listen to you!) Well, just one: What's the difference between an investment banker and a pigeon? The pigeon can still make a deposit on a Ferrari. Finally, in this season of peace and good will, I leave you with a few nuggets of fatherly advice delivered unto me by the good sage, Prof Paretta.

• "... avoid individual stock ownership and diversify through a low cost Indexed mutual fund like those offered by Vanguard - (S&P 500 fund, etc.)."
• "...the percentage of equities to fixed income investments should be 100 minus your age."
• "...remember Paretta's rule - In investing and war (and probably love too) the optimists suffer the largest casualties."
• "...be wary of expert opinions on what the market will do next unless they have a crystal ball that is still under a manufacturer's warranty."

So, until the end of the year, when I comment on comments, or until something new sticks in my craw, that's all folks.