Slightly Off Topic: Carpe Diem.

Newark Advocate: Risk avoidance should not be the overriding concern in politics, life

Quotes:

A week earlier at my son's high school graduation, a different speaker, the colorful entrepreneur and oil man T. Boone Pickens, told of his own boom-and-bust years and said he'd learned as much from failing as succeeding. Now approaching 80, Pickens said he'd trade places with any 18-year-old graduate, giving up all his wealth, all the planes, all the fame and accolades for another shot at life's promise. He sounded eminently and passionately believable.

Party on, Lakshman.

It's always a good time to check in with the Economic Cycle Research Institute to see how their economic indicators are doing. Pretty good, it turns out.

Party on, Boone.

ECRI: "US Cyclical Outlook" Updated

Quotes:

20-June-2007

(ECRI) - ECRI released its U.S. Cyclical Outlook to professional subscribers today.

U.S. economic fundamentals are less risky than many apprehend. In fact, our leading indexes suggest that inflation will remain restrained as growth firms.

Today's release also includes a detailed analysis of U.S. inflation suggesting that the recent adjustment in the bond market is a recognition of an upcoming firming in economic growth, not an upswing in inflation.

The difference.

WSJ: Robust Oil Demand Fuels Prices. [$]

Quote:

Last year's high was reached as Israel battled Hezbollah in Lebanon and amid fears of a showdown between Iran and the West. "The difference this year is that you are reaching $70 a barrel on fundamentals" of oil supply and demand, said Jan Stuart, energy economist at UBS Securities LLC. "Demand is growing faster. Supply is not keeping up. Inventories are trending lower, not higher."