Archive for the 'Economy' Category
National ID: Biometrics Pinned to Social Security Cards
May 15th, 2007Via: Wired: The Social Security card faces its first major upgrade in 70 years under two immigration-reform proposals slated for debate this week that would add biometric information to the card and finally complete its slow metamorphosis into a national ID. The leading immigration proposal with traction in Congress would force employers to accept only […]
U.S. Government Forces E-gold Redemptions — Seizes Gold
May 15th, 2007I don’t have any reason to believe that this isn’t the case, I just can’t confirm it. If you have additional information, please share it with all of us here. Via: Moneynetnews: In an unprecedented move on or just before Wednesday May 9th, 2007, the United States of America has forced Omnipay et al E-gold […]
Billions in Oil Missing in Iraq
May 13th, 2007If the “newspaper of record” in the U.S. can parrot the GAO theory that the insurgents might have stolen it *chuckle: that’s a good one, har har*, can I make absurd and ridiculous statements too? Piles of corpses, billions of dollars worth of dodgy deals, mercenaries by the thousands and 100,000 to 300,000 barrels of […]
UK: Factory Milk Production Doomed, but Wait, There’s More
May 13th, 2007I love the description of the robotic milking production line, complete with RFID trackers and pedometers. This isn’t that different from the nine-to-five reality of most people. As you read this, think about the drive time commutes and that office. With both the cows and the people, The Machine is taking everything it can, and […]
Wal-Mart Posts Worst Sales Ever as U.S. Retail Figures Slump
May 11th, 2007What’s the matter? America’s Re-Fi ATM is closed, that’s what’s the matter. Have a nice day! Via: Guardian: Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, yesterday posted its worst monthly sales figures since its records began in 1980. The company said same store sales fell 3.5% in April on the same month a year ago. Same store […]
Realtor to Residents Who Remain in Neighborhoods with Forclosed Properties: Protect Vacant Homes from Looters and Vandals
May 10th, 2007Via: Real Estate Journal: For those homeowners fearing that the “low-ballers” and banks trying to unload foreclosed homes will sap the value of their own properties, Kent suggested that residents could band together to watch out for a property. “They could try forming a little neighborhood watch where people watch over that house to make […]
Council on Foreign Relations on U.S. Dollar: “An Absurdity… Supported Only by Faith”
May 9th, 2007The End of National Currency is the most astonishing thing that I have read since Zbigniew Brzezinski’s appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee earlier this year. Foreign Affairs is the most important and influential journal of International Relations in the world. It is the mechanism by which the Council on Foreign Relations disseminates the […]
Oil Company CEO to Alaska Republican: “I Own Your Ass”
May 8th, 2007Via: Reuters: The chief executive and part owner of Alaska’s largest oil-field services company and one of his vice presidents pleaded guilty on Monday to charges that they tried to bribe Alaska legislators to secure favorable state oil policies. VECO Corp. Chief Executive Bill Allen and Richard Smith, vice president for community affairs and government […]
The Ghost in Wall Street’s Shell
May 6th, 2007I’ve written several stories about how I’ve dabbled with this stuff. Here are a few colorful examples: Insider Crimes, Funny Money and Options Rackets The Magic Mystery Dot U.S. Dollar Index Breaches Significant Weekly Supports Now, here’s an interesting article that looks at the efforts of the people who play these games with billions of […]
In 2006 Dollars, U.S. Minimum Wage Peaked in 1968
May 5th, 2007Via: Oregon State: A federal minimum wage was first set in 1938. The graph shows nominal (blue diamonds) and real (red squares) minimum wage values. Nominal values range from $0.25/hr in 1938 to the current $5.15/hr. The graph adjusts these wages to 2006 dollars (red squares) to show the real value of the minimum wage. […]
