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This is a nice pick-me-up and break from every single news media delivering the bad news we already know about (hint of sarcasm).  ABC News featured this video, which states that over the past 6 months, a total of 27 states have fallen into a recession and 5 more are on the brink.  The criteria for determining a state is in a recession are two quarters of negative growth.

Highlights:

• Housing prices are expected to bottom out around June 2009 (optimistic estimate)
• Best Case scenario we are out of a recession by June 2009
• Worst Case scenario we don’t make ground until June 2010
• Unemployment is currently at 6% and is expected to hit 7% to 8% by June 2009
• Texas and Alaska are your best bet is you’re looking to pack up and get out of dodge (growth states)
• Duration – 2:48 minutes

It appears that Amazon.com now has movies and TV shows available for immediate viewing.  This new service is like a rental, but online.  If you click on the image above or the link, you will be directed to the Video On Demand section of Amazon.  I confess that I’m a huge fan of Amazon and haven’t bought a book anywhere else, probably since the 90’s.  Just this year, I opened a PRIME account with Amazon and haven’t looked back.

Just recently, I watched the movie 21 with Kevin Spacey and really enjoyed it contrary to what every critic wrote about it when the movie hit the theaters.  I would have gone to the theater, but my two-year-old probably wouldn’t have liked it as much as her Elmo movies.

In addition to just about every blackjack book there is, I have read the two books below by Ben Mezrich and have seen every documentary on the MIT group because of my obsession with numbers, statistics and the incredible MIT story.  I know a lot of embellishment went into the books and movie, but just the idea of a team beating the Casinos out of millions blows me away.  The books are an amazing read and will probably be done within a day or two if you’re like me.  I have long since loaned my books away to friends, family and my wife, all who loved the books.

If you like numbers, statistics, gambling or blackjack, these are a must have.

Busting Vegas, Ben Mezrich

Bringing Down the House, Ben Mezrich

Another great movie related to statistics and numbers is Rounders.  Rounders is probably one of the best poker movies of all time and features Ed Norton and Matt Damon.

“Gimme me three stacks of high society!”