Archive for the 'Economy' Category
Putin Likes The Shiny
February 11th, 2013If you’re a fan of the Putin, Action Man photos, you’ll find a keeper if you click through. Via: Bloomberg: When Vladimir Putin says the U.S. is endangering the global economy by abusing its dollar monopoly, he’s not just talking. He’s betting on it. Not only has Putin made Russia the world’s largest oil producer, […]
Americans Are Tapping Into Home Equity Again
February 8th, 2013Via: CNBC: Nearly 11 million borrowers are underwater on their mortgages, owing more than their homes are worth, according to CoreLogic, and yet home equity lines of credit are suddenly on the rise again. During the housing boom of the last decade Americans withdrew over $1 trillion in home equity. They did it through cash-out […]
Postal Service to Cut Saturday Mail to Trim Costs
February 6th, 2013Via: AP: The U.S. Postal Service will stop delivering mail on Saturdays but continue to deliver packages six days a week under a plan aimed at saving about $2 billion annually, the financially struggling agency says. In an announcement scheduled for later Wednesday, the service is expected to say the Saturday mail cutback would begin […]
‘Between 60 and 80 percent of people’s time on the Internet at work has nothing to do with work.’
February 6th, 2013Not for long: Year after year, the software that runs computers and an array of other machines and devices becomes more sophisticated and powerful and capable of doing more efficiently tasks that humans have always done. Via: Kansas State University: Businesses must deal with weary-eyed office workers who are sitting behind computer screens and watching […]
Dell to Go Private in $24.4 Billion Deal
February 6th, 2013Disclosure: I’m long Dell (DELL) from $12.66. I don’t understand what all the bitching and moaning is about; unless these fund managers still believed in buy-and-hold and bought Dell in the high teens. These guys sound like a bunch of old farts in a Las Vegas bingo lounge, complaining about not being served enough cocktails. […]
McGraw-Hill, S&P Sued by U.S. Over Mortgage-Bond Ratings
February 5th, 2013*yawn* Via: Bloomberg: McGraw-Hill Cos. (MHP) and its Standard & Poor’s unit were sued by the U.S. over claims S&P knowingly understated the credit risks of instruments that were central to the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. The U.S. Justice Department filed a complaint yesterday in federal court in Los Angeles, accusing McGraw-Hill […]
States Considering Laws That Would Make it an Act of Terrorism to Report on Abuses at Factory Farms
February 4th, 2013Via: Global Possibilities: How do you keep consumers in the dark about the horrors of factory farms? By making it an “act of terrorism” for anyone to investigate animal cruelty, food safety or environmental violations on the corporate-controlled farms that produce the bulk of our meat, eggs and dairy products. And who better to write […]
School District Wants to Claim Ownership of Any Work Created by Students and Teachers
February 4th, 2013Oh sure. Via: Washington Post: A proposal by the Prince George’s County Board of Education to copyright work created by staff and students for school could mean that a picture drawn by a first-grader, a lesson plan developed by a teacher or an app created by a teen would belong to the school system, not […]
Don’t Let Them Pull Out Your Teeth
February 2nd, 2013Via: DailyKos: A few years ago I was diagnosed with an advanced case of gum disease. I was showing pocket depths of 9s and 10s. Many of my teeth were actually loose. And it had become painful to eat certain foods. My periodontist told me that in order to stop it from getting worse, I […]
Gasoline at Highest Price Ever for This Time of Year
February 2nd, 2013Via: CNBC: U.S. drivers are now paying more to fill up their gas tanks than they ever have at this time of year. The national average price of retail gasoline posted its biggest one-day increase in 23 months on Friday, rising four cents to $3.46 a gallon, according to AAA. The average price has risen […]
