If what Wall Street says is true, then the SPIVA Scorecard would have clearly showed that active managers missed the bad periods over the past decade.

FORBES: SPIVA Spikes Mutual Fund Managers Again

In some ways, the seven years of his presidency have been among the least bad periods in Russia's history, which helps to explain his popularity but so does his neutering of the media, strangulation of political opposition and suborning of parliament and elections.

ECONOMIST: The West and Russia

Because growth forecasts become relatively so much more important to stock investors during bubbles, companies have their greatest incentive to spin news positively and challenge bad news during periods of stock market euphoria.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Air-traffic controllers are warning that the furloughs could force them to reduce the rate of flights arriving at big airports like Chicago's O'Hare International and Miami International by a third to a half during peak periods or bad weather.

WSJ: Airlines Dispute Planned Air-Controller Cuts

At peak periods or in bad weather, "our projection is that rate will probably be cut in half, " Mr. Marinitti said.

WSJ: Airlines Dispute Planned Air-Controller Cuts

Policy support for clean tech commercialization, demonstration, and deployment was in equally bad shape, plagued by boom-and-bust periods of expiring incentives and on-again, off-again subsidy extensions.

FORBES: The Past, Present, and New Year of U.S. Clean Energy Policy

Over short periods, an allocation to cash is not a bad thing, especially if it accounts for a small portion of your portfolio.

FORBES: Don't Dash Into Cash

While Hedberg faced just 14 shots in the first two periods, he was back in form after a bad outing in a 5-2 loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday a game in which he was taken out after giving up three goals on 11 shots in 33 minutes.

WSJ: Devils rally for 3-2 win, end 6-game slide

Also, if your advisor gives you consistently bad advice, such as causing you to lose money over long periods unrelated to a market rout, or putting you into dubious investments, a change may be warranted.

FORBES: When to Fire a Financial Advisor