Michael Hiltzik: The truth about Lehman Bros. . turns out to be even worse than anyone could have expected. As the bankruptcy examiner's report cited by my Wednesday column alleges, Lehman drifted into wholesale fraud as its financial condition deteriorated in the year before it filed for bankruptcy in September 2008. 
Share:  Michael Hiltzik: The truth about <span class="company">Lehman</span> Bros. . turns out to be even worse than anyone could have expected. As the bankruptcy examiner's report cited by my Wednesday column alleges, <span class="company">Lehman</span> drifted into wholesale fraud as its financial condition deteriorated in the year before it filed for bankruptcy in September 2008. Tweet this 

Did Goldman Sachs and other banks unduly profit from bailout programs that were designed partly to help the banks survive? It is an ongoing debate, but this week the issue has been focused on the involvement of Goldman and other banks in the sale of so called Build America Bonds. tax exempt municipal bonds that were created and subsidized by the federal government to provide stimulus to the economy. 
Share:  Did <span class="company">Goldman Sachs</span> and other banks unduly profit from bailout programs that were designed partly to help the banks survive? It is an ongoing debate, but this week the issue has been focused on the involvement of Goldman and other banks in the sale of so called Build America Bonds. tax exempt municipal bonds that were created and subsidized by the federal government to provide stimulus to the economy. Tweet this 

Consumer Confidential: Continental legroom, Starbucks guns, Nissan recall . Here's your woebegone Wednesday roundup of consumer news from around the Web: Continental Airlines is the latest carrier to dip into your pocket for a little civility. The airline says it will charge passengers about $59 for a little extra legroom . 
Share:  Consumer Confidential: Continental legroom, <span class="company">Starbucks</span> guns, Nissan recall . Here's your woebegone Wednesday roundup of consumer news from around the Web: Continental Airlines is the latest carrier to dip into your pocket for a little civility. The airline says it will charge passengers about $59 for a little extra legroom . Tweet this 

CNBC reporter Charlie Gasparino reportedly is planning to leave for Fox Business Network. Gasparino, who has broken some of the biggest financial news stories both before and during this current crisis, hasn't appeared on CNBC for several weeks He's also had some publicized on air dust ups with his CNBC colleagues, including Dennis Kneale and former CNBC anchor Dylan Ratigan 
Share:  <span class="sent"><span class="company">CNBC</span> reporter Charlie Gasparino reportedly is planning to leave for Fox Business Network. Gasparino, who has broken some of the biggest financial news stories both before and during this current crisis, hasn't appeared on <span class="company">CNBC</span> for several weeks</span> He's also had some publicized on air dust ups with his <span class="company">CNBC</span> colleagues, including Dennis Kneale and former <span class="company">CNBC</span> anchor Dylan Ratigan Tweet this 

CNBC reporter Charlie Gasparino reportedly is planning to leave for Fox Business Network. Gasparino, who has broken some of the biggest financial news stories both before and during this current crisis, hasn't appeared on CNBC for several weeks He's also had some publicized on air dust ups with his CNBC colleagues, including Dennis Kneale and former CNBC anchor Dylan Ratigan 
Share:  <span class="sent"><span class="company">CNBC</span> reporter Charlie Gasparino reportedly is planning to leave for Fox Business Network. Gasparino, who has broken some of the biggest financial news stories both before and during this current crisis, hasn't appeared on <span class="company">CNBC</span> for several weeks</span> He's also had some publicized on air dust ups with his <span class="company">CNBC</span> colleagues, including Dennis Kneale and former <span class="company">CNBC</span> anchor Dylan Ratigan Tweet this 

Did Goldman help Greece hide its debt troubles? Germany's Spiegel magazine contends that Goldman Sachs designed a big "cross currency swap" debt deal for Greece in 2002 that didn't show up in the country's official borrowing statistics Businesses face soaring state unemployment insurance taxes: The extra money is needed to replenish depleted state insurance trust funds 
Share:  <span class="sent"> Did <span class="company">Goldman</span> help Greece hide its debt troubles? Germany's Spiegel magazine contends that <span class="company">Goldman</span> Sachs designed a big "cross currency swap" debt deal for Greece in 2002 that didn't show up in the country's official borrowing statistics</span> Businesses face soaring state unemployment insurance taxes: The extra money is needed to replenish depleted state insurance trust funds Tweet this 

Could Burbank housing deals be in the cards now that the ink is dry on NBC's nearly $33 million severance agreement with ousted "The Tonight Show" host Conan O'Brien? . There's been no word if an exodus to the Big Apple is in the works for Conan and the 190 staffers who will divvy up $12 million in severance; nearly 70 of the show's staff members followed Conan from New York to Universal City for the late night talker's , 2009, debut Candy Peak, broker owner of PEAK Premier Properties in Burbank, who has been selling real estate in the Burbank Glendale areas for 21 years, said her two most recent sales illustrate the strength of the  market only a short commute away from NBC Studios 
Share:  <span class="sent">Could Burbank housing deals be in the cards now that the ink is dry on <span class="company">NBC</span>'s nearly $33 million severance agreement with ousted "The Tonight Show" host Conan O'Brien? . </span> There's been no word if an exodus to the Big Apple is in the works for Conan and the 190 staffers who will divvy up $12 million in severance; nearly 70 of the show's staff members followed Conan from New York to Universal City for the late night talker's , 2009, debut Candy Peak, broker owner of PEAK Premier Properties in Burbank, who has been selling real estate in the Burbank Glendale areas for 21 years, said her two most recent sales illustrate the strength of the  market only a short commute away from <span class="company">NBC</span> Studios Tweet this 

Could Burbank housing deals be in the cards now that the ink is dry on NBC's nearly $33 million severance agreement with ousted "The Tonight Show" host Conan O'Brien? . There's been no word if an exodus to the Big Apple is in the works for Conan and the 190 staffers who will divvy up $12 million in severance; nearly 70 of the show's staff members followed Conan from New York to Universal City for the late night talker's , 2009, debut Candy Peak, broker owner of PEAK Premier Properties in Burbank, who has been selling real estate in the Burbank Glendale areas for 21 years, said her two most recent sales illustrate the strength of the  market only a short commute away from NBC Studios 
Share:  <span class="sent">Could Burbank housing deals be in the cards now that the ink is dry on <span class="company">NBC</span>'s nearly $33 million severance agreement with ousted "The Tonight Show" host Conan O'Brien? . </span> There's been no word if an exodus to the Big Apple is in the works for Conan and the 190 staffers who will divvy up $12 million in severance; nearly 70 of the show's staff members followed Conan from New York to Universal City for the late night talker's , 2009, debut Candy Peak, broker owner of PEAK Premier Properties in Burbank, who has been selling real estate in the Burbank Glendale areas for 21 years, said her two most recent sales illustrate the strength of the  market only a short commute away from <span class="company">NBC</span> Studios Tweet this 

Here's your wonderfully Wednesday roundup of consumer news from around the Web: Facebook wants users to know they're safe online. The social networking site has cut a deal with security software heavyweight McAfee for the company to scan the computer of anyone whose Facebook account has been compromised Facebook users will also get a free six month subscription to McAfee's security software 
Share:  <span class="sent">Here's your wonderfully Wednesday roundup of consumer news from around the Web: <span class="company">Facebook</span> wants users to know they're safe online. </span> The social networking site has cut a deal with security software heavyweight McAfee for the company to scan the computer of anyone whose <span class="company">Facebook</span> account has been compromised <span class="company">Facebook</span> users will also get a free six month subscription to McAfee's security software Tweet this 

In my Tuesday advertising column, I ran a critical comb through the hair of ING Direct USA ShareBuilder's new ad. ShareBuilder targets young buy and hold investors, primarily by letting clients buy fractional shares and by allowing them to transfer funds in and out of their ING Direct savings accounts As I said, the ad bull's eyes the target demo, and the service is cheap and usefulBut 
Share:  <span class="sent">In my Tuesday advertising column, I ran a critical comb through the hair of ING Direct USA <span class="company">ShareBuilder</span>'s new ad. <span class="company">ShareBuilder</span> targets young buy and hold investors, primarily by letting clients buy fractional shares and by allowing them to transfer funds in and out of their ING Direct savings accounts</span> As I said, the ad bull's eyes the target demo, and the service is cheap and usefulBut Tweet this