Archive for January, 2011
Why Bank of America Must Be Thrilled to Pay a $3 Billion Penalty
January 5th, 2011Via: The Atlantic: Some people who aren’t familiar with the mortgage market might have gasped as they read the news that Bank of America would pay $3 billion to government-sponsored mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. After all, $3 billion sounds like a lot of money. “Maybe BOA is finally getting what it deserves,” […]
Hundreds of Dead Snapper Washed Up on New Zealand Beach
January 5th, 2011There are several animal die off stories circulating in the media right now. I’m posting this one just to let you know that you don’t need to submit them to me directly. I’m already aware of it. Thank you. Feel free to use the subreddit, if you like. Via: Sydney Morning Herald: Hundreds of dead […]
Molycorp to Become the First U.S. Source of Rare Earth Elements in Over a Decade
January 4th, 2011Via: MIT Technology Review: Molycorp has secured the permits and funding needed to restart production at a mine in Mountain Pass, California, that would become the first U.S. source of rare earth elements in more than a decade. The mine is one of the world’s richest deposits of these elements, which are critical for making […]
Lockheed Martin’s ‘Got Their Fingers Everywhere’; Firm Costs Each U.S. Taxpaying Household $260 Per Year
January 4th, 2011Fingers… or tentacles? Via: Yahoo / Tech Ticker: That’s been the key question asked of Wall Street’s biggest banks since the September 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers, which sent shock waves through the global financial system and led to the worst recession this country has seen since the Great Depression. But, there is another firm […]
Italian Banks Upset with Level of Cash Use; Underground Economy 22% of GDP
January 4th, 2011Via: Reuters: The Italian Banking Association has declared “war on cash” in a country where credit-card usage is less than half the European Union average, according to the Bank of Italy. The association, known by its Italian acronym ABI, says it costs banks and companies as much as 10 billion euros ($13.3 billion) a year […]
Recovery: Consumer Bankruptcies Highest in Five Years
January 4th, 2011Via: Reuters: The number of U.S. consumers who filed for bankruptcy protection in 2010 was the highest in five years, and the figure could rise as Americans struggle with excess debt in an uncertain economy, a report issued Monday said. Roughly 1.53 million consumer bankruptcy petitions were filed in 2010, up 9 percent from 1.41 […]
The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure: One of the Most Evil Books in Print
January 4th, 2011See: Three Felonies a Day: How the Feds Target the Innocent by Harvey A. Silverglate: The average professional in this country wakes up in the morning, goes to work, comes home, eats dinner, and then goes to sleep, unaware that he or she has likely committed several federal crimes that day. Why? The answer lies […]
Sweetos: Neotame Artificial Sweetener in Feed Approved for Organic Livestock; No Labeling Disclosure Required
January 4th, 2011Via: Farm Wars: Just when we thought that buying “Organic” was safe, we run headlong into the deliberate poisoning of our organic food supply by the FDA in collusion with none other than the folks who brought us Aspartame. NutraSweet, a former Monsanto asset, has developed a new and improved version of this neurotoxin called […]
Americans Watched More Television Than Ever in 2010
January 4th, 2011Via: New York Times: Historians may someday note with wonder that by the end of 2010, at least six cable television shows were about auctioneers and pawnbrokers. And all were considered successes by their respective channels. Countless shows were about cops and robbers, too, and countless hours were devoted to competitive singing, dancing and even […]
European Nations Begin Seizing Private Pensions
January 4th, 2011Via: Christian Science Monitor: Hungary, Poland, and three other nations take over citizens’ pension money to make up government budget shortfalls. People’s retirement savings are a convenient source of revenue for governments that don’t want to reduce spending or make privatizations. As most pension schemes in Europe are organised by the state, European ministers of […]
