In terms of transparency on THIS, that is.. … [Read more...] about North Korea As Role Model?
Interesting Thoughts On Stereotypes
Earlier today I was having a discussion with a friend about stereotypes and one of my favorites came up, so I thought I would share it with you to consider. There are four scenarios to examine and comment on. Asssume for each that you are out in public and see a couple walking along. It is clear they are friends or co workers. Not especially close but good friends. In … [Read more...] about Interesting Thoughts On Stereotypes
8 Influential Designers Pick Useful Objects That Need Fixing
Michael Cannell at Fast Company: Political figures and designers tend to take opposing paths to the improved world we imagine for ourselves. Instead of large undertakings, like tax reform or nation making, designers are inclined to work on a small scale, the scale of serifs and moldings. As Mies van der Rohe said, "God is in the details." With that in mind, I asked some … [Read more...] about 8 Influential Designers Pick Useful Objects That Need Fixing
“First, Take the Log Out of Your Own Eye”
– or Why I Prefer Limbaugh to the Pope
People (financial executives) have been allowed to act for a long time without a sense of accountability. Other people (CEOs etc.) have paid them for so doing. Yet others (politicians) have created the cultural, economic and legal context for such behavior.
But the world’s rather sorry state has arisen because you and I never cared enough to educate ourselves and demand … [Read more...] about “First, Take the Log Out of Your Own Eye”
– or Why I Prefer Limbaugh to the Pope
Palin Rejects Half Of Stimulus Money For Alaska
If there was ever any doubt that Alaska Governor and 2008 Republican Vice Presidential candidate has her eye on a White House run in 2012 this erases it: Gov. Sarah Palin just told reporters that she’s accepting only 55 percent of the federal economic stimulus money being offered to Alaska. The governor said that she will accept only about $514 million of the $930 million … [Read more...] about Palin Rejects Half Of Stimulus Money For Alaska
AIG Bottom Feeder
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about AIG Bottom Feeder
Marshall Plan For AIG
With each passing day, the insurance giant is looking more like Western Europe after World War II--devastated, bankrupt and occupied by the American government. As Congress conducts its equivalent of war crimes trials for AIG executives to recover a fraction of one percent of bailout money, the larger question for American taxpayers is how to rebuild, salvage and/or sell off … [Read more...] about Marshall Plan For AIG
Feeling Good Kicking AIG In The Shorts
America awakened today feeling much better about themselves after a three-day binge. Nothing like a good ass-kicking of our latest favorite bogeyman, American International Group. Let's review. The insurance giant awarded $469 million in "retention payments" to 418 employees, some of them driving the once proud firm $1.6 trillion in debt. On the premise of AIG being too … [Read more...] about Feeling Good Kicking AIG In The Shorts
France Must Relearn Lessons of Roosevelt’s New Deal Tax Policies: Le Monde of France
Has France swung too far to the right - farther in fact, than the United States under President Obama? According to Pierre-Alain Muet, a Socialist Party member of the French National Assembly, the United States and the rest of the world is leaving Sarkozy's France behind by embracing FDR's program of restoring equality to income distribution and keeping savings banks out of the … [Read more...] about France Must Relearn Lessons of Roosevelt’s New Deal Tax Policies: Le Monde of France
Republicans Missed Opportunity with Obama
Like many bloggers, on November 4, 2008 I was feverishly watching election results come in and manically trying to live-blog something of importance from what information I had available to me. It was a good night, regardless of what side of the ideological street on which you happened to be set up. It was good because watching election results roll in on a contest as heralded … [Read more...] about Republicans Missed Opportunity with Obama
GOP’s Cantor Balking On House AIG Bonus Tax Recoup Plan?
Ever see someone do the political limbo (versus Limbaugh)? Watch this: The bill's legality does sound questionable, but the issue is big enough and voters that angry that politicos will want to make a statement and let the courts decide if it's legal or not. But Cantor here does an adept politico limbo... This could be a tough vote for those who decide to take the Rush … [Read more...] about GOP’s Cantor Balking On House AIG Bonus Tax Recoup Plan?
Battlestar Galactica – Series Finale
"The Best Show on TV" has their final episode tomorrow night. I have watched this groundbreaking show from the very beginning and have been hooked in front of my television screen every week. The writing is superb, the plot lines are intriguing and when they kick up the juice for a little "fraking" action, the special effects are off the charts. Some of my favorite … [Read more...] about Battlestar Galactica – Series Finale
Defense Potpourri #1
With a new administration and fresh national defense policies, continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and tight defense budgets, there continue to be important daily developments in this area. Under the heading "Defense Potpourri," I plan to periodically summarize some of the most important and interesting news items, as long as there is interest. AIR REFUELING TANKER … [Read more...] about Defense Potpourri #1
Quote of the Day: Is Geithner On Borrowed Time Or Should He Get More Time?
Should Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner be on borrowed time -- or should he be given more time? In our political quote of the day Andrew Sullivan weighs in and, after looking at four key points, writes: Frankly, I see some screw-ups here, but I can also see a strategy that strikes a pretty good balance between competing demands of getting enough Wall Street cooperation to … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Is Geithner On Borrowed Time Or Should He Get More Time?
House AIG Payback: House Considering Tax To Get Back 90% Of Bonuses
Is AIG about to get payback versus payout from the House and from the Justice Department? It seems that way amid reports that the House will likely vote on a proposal to tax the controversial bonuses given to the bailed out corporate giant as Attorney General Eric Holder looks into ways to recoup hefty rewards given to the failing company's executives: The House will vote … [Read more...] about House AIG Payback: House Considering Tax To Get Back 90% Of Bonuses
Office Depot Lying to Customers?
PC World: [F]ormer Office Depot employees claim the company has widely told its workers to do things such as adding optional service plans onto clearance items without telling customers. One source says associates would accomplish this by altering pricetags in Photoshop to make the base price look a hundred dollars higher, thereby giving the store the credit for selling the … [Read more...] about Office Depot Lying to Customers?
Great News! Military to Get Star Trek Style Phaser Cannons!
Ok... they're not actually phasers, but we are going to be seeing some seriously big honking lasers. Northrop Grumman has apparently broken one of the technological barriers to development and built a laser with more than 100 kW output which should pretty much fry anything in its sights. Huge news for real-life ray guns: Electric lasers have hit battlefield strength for the … [Read more...] about Great News! Military to Get Star Trek Style Phaser Cannons!
The Food Safety Working Group & HR 875
Obama Foodorama reacts to the announced formation of the Food Safety Working Group in the president's weekly address to the nation last Saturday: [I]t seems clear that rather than trying to re-invent the wheel at a moment in time when the American food system is in crisis mode, the White House is looking to coordinate all the resources currently available to monitor food … [Read more...] about The Food Safety Working Group & HR 875
The Fed End Game: Numbers
Earlier today I noted my skepticism of the Fed's plan to start printing money and buying treasuries. Yves Smith at Naked Capitalism has a detailed post that puts numbers behind my statement "Don’t get me wrong, the steps that they have announced thus far are not large enough to really change things one way or the other. This is merely a $300 billion (well $1 trillion with … [Read more...] about The Fed End Game: Numbers
IT’S TIME TO THROW GEITHNER UNDER THE BUS
No wonder Republicans have essentially opted out of participating in any government stimulus plans and turned on themselves as a distraction. They realize that their chances in November 2010 might be improved by just doing nothing. They know that by letting Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner run things, the banking and financial mess will drag out way beyond 2010 and the … [Read more...] about IT’S TIME TO THROW GEITHNER UNDER THE BUS