Archive for February, 2009
Pentagon Sets Sights on Public Opinion
February 6th, 2009bullshit.mil? Via: AP: As it fights two wars, the Pentagon is steadily and dramatically increasing the money it spends to win what it calls “the human terrain” of world public opinion. In the process, it is raising concerns of spreading propaganda at home in violation of federal law. An Associated Press investigation found that over […]
Employers Slash 598K Jobs in January, Most Since 1974
February 6th, 2009Yes, yes, we all know it’s easily twice as bad as the government number. Via: AP: Recession-battered employers eliminated 598,000 jobs in January, the most since the end of 1974, and catapulted the unemployment rate to 7.6 percent. The grim figures were further proof that the nation’s job climate is deteriorating at an alarming clip […]
Peter Schiff: Increased Government Intervention Will Lead to “Unmitigated Disaster”
February 6th, 2009Would someone please give Peter the memo on Hope? Via: Yahoo Finance: The fiscal stimulus bill being debate in Congress not only won’t help the economy, it will make the recession much worse, says Peter Schiff, president of Euro Pacific Capital. Schiff scoffs at the notion the economic decline is starting to level off and […]
CALIFORNIA COUNTIES THREATEN TO KEEP TAXES FROM STATE
February 6th, 2009Via: AP: California counties are considering forms of tax revolt after the state imposed a 30-day payment delay that could potentially become much longer under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposal to preserve cash. The Riverside County Board of Supervisors has authorized staff to file a lawsuit, while elected officials in Colusa County decided to impose a […]
TOYOTA TRIPLES YEAR LOSS FORECAST
February 6th, 2009Via: BBC: The world’s biggest carmaker, Toyota, has widened its predicted loss for 2008 after demand for its cars slumped. In December, Toyota predicted it would make a full year operating loss of 150bn yen ($1.65bn; £1.13bn). The Japanese car giant has now tripled that figure and expects to make a 450bn yen operating loss, […]
CHINA DECLARES DROUGHT EMERGENCY
February 6th, 2009Via: BBC: China has declared an emergency in eight northern and central drought-hit regions, where nearly four million people are suffering water shortages. Nearly half of China’s winter crop – some 10m hectares (24m acres) of wheat and rape seed – are also under threat. President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao ordered all-out efforts […]
Air Force Units Failed Two More Nuclear Weapon Inspections
February 5th, 2009Minuteman IIIs… Now where have we heard about those lately? Oh yeah: Captain Jonathan Bayless. Different unit. Same weapon system. Fascinating Coincidence. Via: Stars and Stripes: Air Force nuclear units have failed two more inspections in the past three months, The Washington Times reported Wednesday. The failures took place at F.E. Warren Air Force Base […]
Bill Gates Releases a Jar Full of Mosquitoes at Technology Conference
February 5th, 2009In other news: Bill Gates Funds Research Into ‘Flying Syringe’ Mosquitos to Deliver Vaccines. Have a nice day. Via: Cnet: The Microsoft co-founder released the insects, which are notorious for spreading the deadly disease, during the Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) Conference in Long Beach, Calif. “Not only poor people should experience this,” Gates told the […]
Wall Street Pay Caps: The Old CEOs on the Dollar Menu Trick
February 5th, 2009Update: Goldman, JPMorgan Won’t Feel Effects of Executive-Salary Caps Duh. Via: Bloomberg: Executives at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and hundreds of financial institutions receiving federal aid aren’t likely to be affected by pay restrictions announced yesterday by President Barack Obama. The rules, created in response to growing public anger about the […]
Analyst Who Tried to Get the SEC to Investigate Madoff Is Worried About His Safety
February 5th, 2009Via: Atlanta Journal Constitution: The man who waged a decade-long campaign to alert regulators to problems in the operations of fallen money manager Bernard Madoff told Congress Wednesday that he had feared for his physical safety. Harry Markopolos also assailed the Securities and Exchange Commission in his first appearance before lawmakers. The SEC failed to […]
