Economic Recovery Slows with Weak Job Creation in June

The economic forecasts are becoming less optimistic as the $787 billion federal stimulus measure is losing the artificial momentum it created in 2009. Economists are predicting darker days lies ahead. The artificial boost to the unemployment rate (currently at 9.5% - boosted as nearly 400,000 Census workers were counted as "employed") dropped when more than 200,000 temporary federal Census workers completed their contracts. Here's a good report from the New York Times.

Although the stimulus kick-started the US economy back into action at a crucial time, the White House is again calling for more spending. I'm no economist, but surely continuing to spend money you don't have will come back to bite you in the behind. After Greece went bankrupt recently European leaders have announced a conservative fiscal policy, getting their own budgets in order and cutting back on spending. It makes sense - if I incur debt I won't be dining out for a while. I'll be reckless if I keep using the credit card. Simple.

Here's sincerely hoping the the forecasts are wrong and the economy picks up in the Fall.

Sixteen Grand Slam Titles

In a lopsided encounter on Sunday, Spanish world number one Rafael Nadal, defeated Czech Thomas Berdych to win his 2nd Wimbledon tennis crown to add to his 1 Australian Open-and 5 French Open titles.

Tennis commentators and enthusiasts are already debating how long it will take Nadal, who is only 24, to overtake Roger Federer's record 16 Grand Slam titles. Although the Swiss master is not near retirement, not many is expecting him to have much more Grand Slam success - not with the likes of Nadal, and other young upcoming stars like Brittain's Andy Murray, Serbian Novak Djokovic, Sweed Robin Soderling, and Berdych around.

I'm one of those who has found great pleasure in watching the sublime skills of King Roger - hoping that he has one more Slam left in those legs. Oh, and his mother is a South African tannie! Some consolation after years of unfulfilled promise watching Wayne Ferreira play. ;-) 2010 might be his last year.