Five for the Weekend #23

Here's hoping your first full work week of 2009 was a smash. It's cold in these parts, downright frigid in others, so snuggle up in front of the fire or heater vent and check out these five items as you stay warm. (Except my handful of readers in Australia who are beating the heat with Victoria Bitters and other assorted remedies, you lucky devils.)

• In his latest Financial Times column, Jim Altucher tells a Bernie Madoff story, gives a few stock tips including eBay, and explains why now is a great time to start a business. 2009 can be a better year than many think, so read the column if you subscribe to FT.com. And then re-read it, especially the last half.

• Money manager John Dorfman names 5 stocks he thinks are bargains in his new Bloomberg column. Good to see his column back on Bloomberg.

• Jim Jubak points out the US Dollar is rising, but is likely to lose value over the longer term. He pens a thoughtful piece on MSN Money on how he -- and the average investor -- can play this trend and help protect themselves.

• Richard Orange writes in The Spectator about the challenges India's Tata group is facing with the global economic downturn. Rebuilding the Taj hotel in Mumbai won't be as difficult as steering Jaguar Land Rover and Corus steel through the recession.

• Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star, formerly ESPN, and Fox Sports is my favorite sports columnist. I don't come near agreeing with all of his opinions, and you probably won't either, but that's part of the fun,right? Whitlock writes good, punchy copy. But he's no blowhard, and he has insight. I know some say he's contrary just for the sake of being contrary -- but I don't believe that. And I've never started one of his pieces and not finished them.

And with that, have a great weekend.