Revolution Investing Links: Alternative energy is doomed, Google meets Facebook and more

Here’s what I was reading and thinking about this morning when I wasn’t listening to my 30-month old niece talk about what she’s going to do today. She stays busy, I’ll tell you that much.

First Solar’s Chart is Very Oversold but… – Brian Gilmartin with a blunt assessment of First Solar’s chart and earnings report. Long-time readers of this blog know that I’ve been saying that First Solar and most of the other alternative energy companies like A123 AONE and JA Solar JASO whose business models depend on government welfare in a time of austerity are doomed. I still say that.

Jordan Kahn’s “Get Mental!” Investor Psyche Diary – Jordan’s sentiment and “investor psyche” columns have been a must-read of mine for more than a decade. His latest includes nuggets like this: “The spread between bulls and bears moved up to +11%. Bullish sentiment is on the rise, but its still far from extreme. The +11% figure is the highest spread since Aug. 19th, but still well, well below…” And what a great name — “Get Mental!” Ha.

This concept of Why biggest-earning companies pay so little in taxes is part of what the people I spoke to at length at this Some truth the from the ground at Occupy Wall Street were upset about.

And as David Callaway notes, Protests should scare G-20 which is why I’ve been saying #OWS is The next market rattling event.

Similar note, no? SEC expects to file further CDO charges I think I’ll just quote the great Yves Smith as she put it: “Pathetic. The SEC plans to file a few cases to pretend it has Done Something.”

Your Facebook Comments, Coming Soon to a Google Search Near You – Remember when everybody told you tech was in a bubble because Microsoft MSFT invested in Facebook at a $15 billion valuation to get the right to its search traffic. That sure turned out to be a great investment. But guess Softee didn’t lock down all the rights they could/should have? Interesting development this Google GOOG search of FB comments.