NBA: Full of Thugs?
Forbes National Editor, Michael Ozanian, goes in on the Gilbert Arenas situation and says the NBA is "full of thugs." Discuss... [Bossip]

Bankruptcies Surge 32 Percent In 2009
U.S. consumers and businesses are filing for bankruptcy at a pace that made 2009 the seventh-worst year on record, with more than 1.4 million petitions submitted, an Associated Press tally showed Monday. The AP gathered data from the nation's 90 bankruptcy districts and found 1.43 million filings, an increase of 32 percent from 2008. [The Huffington Post]

Fed Economist: Housing Is a Lousy Investment
Before the housing bust, Americans tended to think their homes were their best and most important investments –- a view promoted by Washington policy makers who made home ownership a top priority. Karen Pence, who runs the Federal Reserve's household and real estate finance research group, argues at the American Economic Association's meetings this week that homes are actually a terrible investment. [The Wall Street Journal Blogs]

Google's new phone could have major impact on U.S. wireless market
Google is reportedly planning to unveil its Nexus One phone today, potentially starting a major shift in the U.S. smartphone market. The handset will be the first real competitor to Apple's iPhone, which quickly dominated the market after being introduced three years ago. But one major drawback of the iPhone--it's exclusive partnership with AT&T--will be absent with Google's Nexus One. According to other media reports, Google is expected to sell the phone directly to consumers in an "unlocked" format, meaning consumers can choose any carrier's network they want for their phone. [The Hill]

Six mistakes to avoid when converting to a Roth IRA
As years go, 2010 is on course to be a blockbuster for retirement-account owners. Starting in January, all Americans who own a traditional IRA - not just those who have modified adjusted gross income under $100,000 - will be able to convert their accounts to a Roth IRA. But don't rush for the doors just yet. There's plenty of slip between cup and lip waiting for those unaware of the conversion mistakes to avoid. [The Network Journal]

Research Firm Gartner Acquires Burton Group For $56M
Information-technology research company Gartner Inc. (IT) has bought Burton Group Inc. for about $56 million, the latest acquisition for the company. Gartner made the purchase, expected to expand its product and service offerings and increase IT research-market opportunities, Dec. 30. Burton, an IT research and advisory firm that has 41 research analysts and 40 sales and client-service employees, comes with projected 2009 revenue of $30 million.[The Wall Street Journal]

Foreclosures Can Offer Deals, but Buyer Beware
Despite the seemingly high inventory, anyone considering buying a distressed property should heed the classic warning: Caveat emptor, or let the buyer beware. Closing a deal in a desirable neighborhood can be hard to do.[The New York Times]

Americans' job satisfaction falls to record low
We can't get no job satisfaction. Even Americans who are lucky enough to have work in this economy are becoming more unhappy with their jobs, according to a new survey that found only 45 percent of Americans are satisfied with their work. [Yahoo Finance]