Coming Soon: Jim Cramer, Master TV Critic

Latest Post: Mad Money Meltdown - Jim Cramer, CNBC, TheStreet.com In Intensive Care

No doubt Jim Cramer will bounce back from his slap-down by Jon Stewart --- bigger, badder, and louder than ever --- on his Mad Money finanicial advice programme on CNBC next week. But on the off chance that he gives up his stock-market game, he's got a fall-back position.

Here Jim gives his best friend, James Altucher of TheStreet.com, a lesson in how to read The Sopranos, using personal experience (you know, making millions of dollars in a single day) to illuminate the series:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQe8k_FZHeQ[/youtube]

Mad Money Meltdown: Jim Cramer, CNBC, TheStreet.com In Intensive Care

Related Post: Coming Soon - Jim Cramer, Master TV Critic

One can only hope that The Daily Show and Jon Stewart show some mercy towards Jim Cramer, if not the world of financial "experts", after last week's pummeling of the Mad Money host/former hedge fund manager/general shyster.

Cramer skipped a Saturday morning appearance on CNBC's news partner, MSNBC. CNBC refused any comment on the Friday night Stewart-Cramer interview, and producers at MSNBC muzzled their reporters, telling them not to mention the event.

The Chief Executive Officer at TheStreet. com, the stock market advice site founded by Cramer, has resigned. On Friday, Stewart left Cramer gasping for air with a video in which Jim told TheStreet.com of techniques to manipulate the stock market and undermine the stock price of individual firms.

And here's a wonderful twist in the tale. On TheStreet.com James Altucher, the employee getting schooled by Cramer, has posted a video "Defending Jim" (presumably Cramer, but also possibly himself).

Only problem: no sound.

Breaking: New 'Bin Laden' Tape Broadcast

Al-Jazeera has broadcast a new tape purportedly recorded by Osama bin Laden. In it the speaker calls Israel's recent incursion into Gaza a "holocaust" and attacks as "hypocrites" Arab leaders who were allegedly complicity in Israel's offensive:

"It has become clear that some Arab leaders were complicit with the crusade of the Zionist alliance against our people. These are the leaders that America calls moderate"

According to al-Jazeera 'Bin Laden' also "called for support for the mujahidin in Iraq and said that his network of fighters would "go to Jordan from the sea to the river to liberate Palestine".

Pakistan: Day Three of the Long March

4:30 p.m. GMT: It appears that the Zardari Government is trying to reach a settlement with the Pakistan Muslim League (N) party of Nawaz Sharif by announcing that it would file a review petition in the Supreme Court against the disqualification of Sharif and his brother Shahbaz from public office. The PML (N) is not conceding ground, however, on its demand for the restoration of deposed judges.

1:20 p.m. GMT: Despite roadblocks and detentions under Section 144, smaller groups of protestors are making their way to Lahore. Interior Minister Rehman Malik has announced restrictions on protests in the Pakistani capital, notably no processions or sit-ins on Constitution Avenue in the capital city, while claiming to have discussed alternate venues with Long March organisers. He is also warning of the possibility of a suicide or targeted attack at the venue of the Long March sit-in.

An emergency meeting of the ruling Pakistan People's Party has been called for this evening. Earlier rumours of a possible deal between Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif over a Charter of Democracy seem to have been nipped in the bud by the President: "I am not going to negotiate under pressure. Mr Sharif has to abandon the Long March.”

8:15 a.m. GMT: Pakistani authorities have again prevented Ahmed Ali Kurd, the President of the Bar Association, from reaching Lahore. Two days after his convoy was halted, Kurd and his travelling party were not allowed to board a plane.

7:30 a.m. GMT: The Long March is expected to reach Lahore today. Despite the political manoeuvring yesterday pointing to a possible compromise between President Asif Ali Zardari and his opponents, Government forces moved against demonstrators overnight. The Vice President of the Bar Association, Saeed Akhtar Khan, has been put under house arrest.

Zardari has come under further pressure from within his Government, as Information Minister Sherry Rahman, formerly a close ally of the President, resigned. She is reportedly angry over a Government clamp-down on the media, including the closure of private channel Geo News.

Al Jazeera are also reporting angry exchanges between Zardari and the head of the military, Ashfaq Parvez Kiani.

Alabama Mass Murder: Liberals Did It

We've had a bit of fun with Glenn Beck of Fox and his obnoxious, bobble-headed but entertaining rantings that America is on the Road to Socialism/Communism/Hell. However, Beck crossed the line this week, rationalising mass murder by claiming that "liberals" (who have been in the White House a total of 53 days) drove the Alabama shooter over the edge.

It's a sad state of affairs (for us, not for Beck, who will continue to be paid by Rupert Murdoch for his inanities, be they benign or malignant) when Bill O'Reilly is the voice of reason.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvwv6iTSCOg[/youtube]