Mayor Michael Bloomberg is the new Soda Dictator

Billionaire New York City Mayor Michael (the mouth) Bloomberg is at it again

Dictator: (via Merriam-Webster)

a : a person granted absolute emergency power; especially : one appointed by the senate of ancient Rome 

b : one holding complete autocratic control

Yep, there he goes again.

Who? Well it is non other than New York City Mayor/Dictator Mike Bloomberg coming out with his latest sensation ("Crazy Notion of the Month?")

Mad Man Mike (Bloomberg) has proposed eliminating large sugary soft drinks in order to curb obesity. The New York City ban plan would make it illegal for food service establishments such as restaurants, street vendors, sports venues and movie theaters to serve sugary drinks that are over 16 ounces.

According to Mike Himself:

 "Obesity deaths have grown to 5,000 and will soon exceed the number of smoking deaths [in New York City]. You can still be obese, we are just telling you this is detrimental to your health and helping you understand that with portion size."

Sorry (not really) Mike, Think Billions disagrees.

Long, live Diet Coke!

More Facebook Lawsuits

As predicted by Think Billions, more lawsuits against Facebook

Facebook Inc(NASDAQ:FB): Milberg LLP Announces Class Action Lawsuits Filed Against Facebook, Inc. | Mesh Press

The complaints charge Facebook, certain of its officers and directors, and underwriters of the IPO with violations of the Securities Act of 1933.

Zuckers!

Boaz Weinstein, the guy with Jamie Dimon's money

Who is Boaz Weinstein?

The financial world remains abuzz with talk about all things JP Morgan, Jamie Dimon and billions in trading losses.

Also getting more attention is one of the guys on the other side of the transaction. The profitable side. The very profitable side. The extremely profitable side.

That guy is Boaz Weinstein who runs the billion dollar hedge fund called Saba Capital Management in New York.

Again, so who is Boaz Weinstein? Well, he is certainly a guy with a sense of humor at least. This is indicated by the above chart he included in a presentation at a financial conference recently.

Boaz Weinstein is a skilled chess, poker and blackjack player. He was graduated from the University of Michigan.  He became Deutsche Bank’s youngest ever Managing Director. He started Saba Capital in 2009.

That is who Boaz Weinstein is.

Have a nice day Jamie Dimon.

Mark Cuban, Facebook Speculator

Mark Cuban, last week, purchased nearly $5 million of Facebook stock as a short-term speculative trade.

Cuban sees it this way: “It’s a trade, not an investment. Kind of like buying a Mickey Mantle, a Hank Aaron and a Barry Bonds rookie card knowing there is a card show in town next week.”

Billionaire Facebook Couple in Chinese Documentary

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan unknowingly appeared in a recent China Central Television (CCTV) documentary filmed earlier this year while the couple was visiting Shanghai . The image has now gone viral across the internet.

Tony Romo disagrees with Boss Jones

Jerral "Jerry" Wayne Jones (net worth $2 billion), 69, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, on the NFL Network recently:

"Well, my window is getting shorter. Time goes by. I do feel real pressure because we do have players not only in (quarterback) Tony Romo, but (tight end) Jason Witten (and linebacker) DeMarcus Ware, to leave out several that are (also) in the prime of their career. And we need to strike and strike soon with those guys."

 "(Coach) Jason Garrett feels exactly the same way about it and understands how urgent it is. Candidly, you're looking through rose-colored glasses if we all don't realize that now is the time to compete on the field." 

And, later, quarterback Tony Romo, quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, and his take on Jerry Jones' take:

"It's not closing. I think there's a sense of urgency every year that you play, whether it's your first year in the league or your 22nd. You never know when all that stuff is going to happen, so you just play every year as if it's an urgent day."

Just another urgent day in Dallas, Texas.

The Dallas Cowboys

"Dallas Cowboys Tickets "

Mrs. Facebook, a simple creature, a simple billionaire

Who is Priscilla Chan?


Well, according to Priscilla herself, she is but a "simple creature."

Now, that simple creature instantly has a most complex life ahead of her.

The newlyweds, Mr. and Dr. Chan-Zuckerberg, both went to college at Harvard and have been together for nine years.

And they tied the knot in a very private and modest event in California this month with fewer than 100 in attendance.  Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong entertained the guests.

Of course Mark announced this event on his Facebook page when he changed his relationship status to "married."

Congratulations to Mr. and Dr. Chan-Zuckerberg! Think Billions wishes you both well!

Fortune Jumps on the Sears Bandwagon

Just like the Wall Street Journal this month, it is now Fortune-CNNMoney-TermSheet's turn to jump on the Sears bandwagon and honor the "turnaround" that is still in its infancy after oh these so many years.

Fortune says: "The turnaround at one of the nation's largest retailers is good news for Eddie Lampert and hedge funds in general."

Read more, Eddie Lampert groupies. Read more.


Fortune Article: "Fast" Eddie may end up saving Sears


Fortune, bullish on SHLD for a reason:

Facebook shares crash - E-Trade baby loses everything

Facebook shares crash in Day 2 of NASDAQ trading. E-Trade baby loses everything. Panic selling hits once hot IPO. Mark Zuckerberg on honeymoon. Chief underwriter, Morgan Stanley, repeats opinion that it "nailed the IPO price." Groupon already running a special on Facebook shares. Investor lawsuits may be a liquidity event for lawyers.

“We’re witnessing a lot of American wealth getting created. It opens a new chapter, an exciting chapter, for business in this country,” --- Carl Campanile, CNBC regular propagandist

Zuckers!

Yahoo Gets $7 Billion in Sale of Alibaba

Yahoo Agrees to Sell Back Partial Stake to Alibaba

Partially related to the former Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson resigning in disgrace recently; but mostly related to hedge fund activist investor Daniel Loeb getting seats on the Yahoo! board of directors, Yahoo has liquidated some of its stake in Aliba.

Yahoo will sell off about half of its stake in Alibaba Group back to the Chinese e-commerce giant in a US$7.1 billion deal.

This is known as a liquidity event or Daniel Loeb getting something for his 5% stake in the company and related on going headaches.

Yahoo! shares opened slightly gap-up on the news (NASDAQ:YHOO), but has since faded in normal trade.

Fading Facebook: IPO opens at $42 and then massive sell volume

Facebook Friday is here as shares initially jump on the open NASDAQ in first day of trade. 

Over 60% of the FB float changes hands. Bill Gross calls it a bubble. Looks like a classic pump and dump.

Eddie Lampert and Sears: Is This Move More Than a Dead Cat Bouncing?

Eddie Lampert, formerly known as The Next Warren Buffett, is Chairman of Sears Holding Corp.

Eddie, throughout 2012, has been desperately trying to prove to Wall Street that Sears is not a "dead cat bouncing." But, rather, a sustained growth move to the upside.

Amazingly, so far in 2012, Chairman Eddie is seeing some success contrary to critics (including Think Billions). Sears stock is up an amazing 60% YTD this year.

The Wall Street Journal, always up for jumping on a stock bandwagon, is sending Chairman Eddie and Sears much financial love these days.

In a recent 'Behind the Tape' article ("Lampert Skeptics Could Get Seared" May 16, 2012), the WSJ brazenly lays out the undervalued case for Sears that even a Motley Fool subscriber could read and understand.

Calling Chairman Lampert "a master of financial engineering" our WSJ reporter applies some quick-and-dirty advanced math and accounting skills he picked up somewhere to arrive at a $8 billion value for Sears. Undervalued and under-appreciated. Bank it.

Again, our brazen WSJ reporter: the "good news at Sears can be particularly potent. Look out above."

It is just The Wall Street Journal doing a public service to short-sellers of SHLD recommending they immediately close out positions.

Two Shareholders Sue J.P. Morgan Over Trading Losses

NEW YORK—Two shareholder lawsuits were filed late Tuesday against J.P. Morgan Chase JPM +1.74% & Co. and its top executives over the revelation last week that the bank had suffered more than $2 billion in trading losses. The lawsuits alleged that the bank's top executives, including Chief Executive Jamie Dimon, misled investors about the company's investment exposure and the potential risk of loss on those bets.

 "These derivative bets went horribly wrong, resulting in billions of dollars in lost capital for the company and billions more in lost market capitalization for J.P. Morgan shareholders," one of the lawsuits said.

- The Wall Street Journal

Jamie Dimon: Way too big to fail

Who is Jamie Dimon?

The answer is a simple one. Jamie Dimon is simply Way Too Big to Fail.

Jamie Dimon is currently chairman and CEO of JP Morgan.

Interestingly, Jamie is also on the board of the New York Federal Reserve Bank. A banking regulator and important part of U.S. monetary policy.

Jamie Dimon was a classmate of (now GE chairman and fellow crony capitalist) Jeffrey Immelt while studying for their MBA's at the Harvard Business School. Jeffrey Keith "Jeff" Skilling, former President of Enron and also a Harvard MBA, was not a classmate of Jamie Dimon while at Harvard. Jeff Skilling is currently serving a 24-year, four-month prison sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Englewood, CO.

This month, JP Morgan received worldwide global attention for its $2 billion financial market trading loss disclosure. If you have a problem with this trading loss as a shareholder, JP Morgan customer, or a U.S. taxpayer, please remember: Jamie Dimon is Way Too Big to Fail.

On December 31, 2005  Jamie Dimon was named CEO of JP Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM). One year later, he was named chairman.

When Jamie Dimon began as CEO JP Morgan stock was selling for $39.69 per share. JPM closed trading on May 15, 2012 at $36.24. The 7-year total-Jamie-Dimon-JPM-return is down over $3 per share. When Jamie Dimon began as CEO, JP Morgan was providing shareholders with a 34 cent per share quarterly dividend. That dividend was cut to 5 cents per share in 2009 and is now up to 30 cents per share quarterly.

If you have a problem with this stock performance as a JPM shareholder, again, please do remember: Jamie Dimon is Way Too Big to Fail.

I told you homeboy ( can't touch this)
Yeah, that's how we living and you know (can't touch this)
Look at my eyes, man (You can't touch this)
Yo, let me bust the funky lyrics (can't touch this)

   MC Hammer - Can't Touch This

Jamie Dimon

Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson is finally fired

Daniel Loeb, activist hedge fund manager at Third Point and owner of 5% of Yahoo! common stock, has gotten his way. Finally. At long last.

Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson resigned Sunday, amid relentless questions about his academic credentials and generally poor corporate management skills. And, of course, the generally poor condition of Yahoo! stock! for years!

Sorry Scott, we don't have any job leads! However ...

Khol’s is hiring at a location near you!

Maybe Yahoo! could be interested in Jerry Yang! Part III !

Eduardo Saverin of Facebook kisses the U. S. Goodbye

Eduardo Saverin on Forbes - #634 Forbes Billionaires, #212 Forbes 400

Eduardo Saverin,  Brazilian-born American internet entrepreneur and co-founder of Facebook, has just renounced his US citizenship.

An obvious preview and bet on US tax policy in 2013.

Warren Buffett, please answer your Macroeconomic Tax Policy phone line.

JPMorgan Chase: Billions in Trading Losses

JPMorgan Chase not hedging well at all

One of the world's largest banks, JP Morgan, has reported hedging strategy losses of well over $2 billion U.S.



JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon, and Obama Administration insider, said: "This puts egg on our face." 

How did this happen? Why did this happen? One analyst noted that JP Morgan tried to hedge its over-hedge positions. Leverage does as leverage does.

More Executive Problems at Yahoo!

Wake up Yahoo! and hear the music, smell the coffee, and finally hire the right managers!


Daniel Loeb, the activist investor at the hedge fund Third Point, now owns 5% of Yahoo! common stock. And Dan is tired. Very tired. Tired of Yahoo! mistakes, issues and continual problems. And many, many shareholders agree with him.

Dan is tired of “inadvertent mistake”after mistake on Yahoo! executive resumes such as CEO Scott Thompson and Director Patti Hart.

Dan is tired of botched takeover offers from Microsoft. Tired of CEO musical chairs. Tired of poor financial performance.

Make Dan Loeb less tired. Energize Dan by putting him on the Yahoo! board of directors. Get Yahoo! moving again. Finally.

Travel to France. Travel to Paris.

Paris Vacations

The Old Money List in France

Challenges Les 500 Fortunes

The top ten richest French people according to Challenges are listed below.

#	Name	Net worth	Sources of wealth
1	Bernard Arnault	€21.24 billion	LVMH
2	Gérard Mulliez & family	€21.00 billion	Auchan
3	Liliane Bettencourt & family	€17.50 billion	L'Oréal
4	Bertrand Puech & family	€12.20 billion	Hermès
5	François Pinault & family	€8.10 billion	PPR
6	Serge Dassault & family	€7.50 billion	Dassault
7	Louis-Dreyfus family	€6.60 billion	Louis-Dreyfus Group
8	Alain Wertheimer & family	€4.50 billion	Chanel
8	Pierre Castel & family	€4.50 billion	Groupe Castel
10	Vincent Bolloré	€3.80 billion	Bolloré

Rich in France? Good luck!

Socialist president-elect François Hollande:

“I do not like the rich” and he plans to slap them down with a 75 per cent income tax rate.

Warren Buffett Mouths Off About Augusta National

Warren Buffett, a member of Augusta National Golf Club, and also a member of the elite Ask My Opinion Please group, says women belong at the golf club.

Following the Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK/A) annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska this weekend, Professor Buffett said: “I’m not telling the group at Augusta what to do, but if I were running the club I’d have plenty of women.”

Protesters Hit Berkshire Hathaway

Two boisterous protest groups have invaded Omaha Nebraska and specifically Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting this weekend.

One group of protesters is from Southern California (of course) and desires above all hope to persuade (Berkshire's unit) Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad to relocate a container-handling facility it plans to build near their neighborhood.

The other protesters are allegedly associated with the local Occupy Omaha (OO is a splinter division of the OWS) group. OO spokesperson D'Shawn Cunningham says the group plans to address concerns about wealth inequality and corporate governance policy practices in the U.S. Basically, OO had a free weekend free on their busy calendar.

Warren Buffett, chairman of  Berkshire Hathaway, could not be reached for comment. Mr. Buffett was working on a new tax policy for the federal government to soak the rich even more. "I'm not messing around this time. They deserve to get hit and hit hard," said the bridge playing very close friend of fellow billionaire, Bill Gates.