Again, from Southern California - specifically the Inland Empire, dubbed "Foreclosure Alley." Watch and think about the human cost of this crisis. It's nothing like the desperation of the 1930s, but it makes the Down and Out in the Great Depression letters come back to life. … [Read more...] about More “Real Faces” In This Financial Crisis
Nalaka Gunawardene: A Blogger’s Milestone
In the blogosphere the second birth anniversary of a blog may not look exactly a big deal. However, Sri Lanka-based Nalaka Gunawardene's "Moving Images" deserves mention as it vividly captured not only his country's traumatic/critical journey through ethnic turmoil/terrorism, but also his pertinent observations on global issues. I first met Gunawardene at Vestras (in Sweden) … [Read more...] about Nalaka Gunawardene: A Blogger’s Milestone
Remember Crocs?
Back in August, 2006, I wrote about Crocs shoes: The jury is still out as to whether Crocs turn out to be like the PT Cruiser*, a product which looked dorky, became wildly popular, and has remained a consumer fixture, or more on the order of the Pog phenomenon, which took off like a meteor and is now largely forgotten. One indicator of the shoes' long-term prospects may be … [Read more...] about Remember Crocs?
‘A Time for Burning’
A Time for Burning is a cinema verite documentary that shows us what happened in a white Lutheran church in Omaha when its pastor, William Youngdahl, tried to gain congregational approval to foster racial understanding in 1965. His proposal was that ten families from his church meet with ten families from a black Lutheran congregation whose building was several blocks … [Read more...] about ‘A Time for Burning’
NHS Cuts Off Care To Child
This is a very sad case and I am still not sure how to feel about this issue in terms of whether or not care should have been cut off. By all accounts the child had no real prospect for recovery and I am sure for any parent it would be an agonizing choice. But in this case it was the government who decided to cut off … [Read more...] about NHS Cuts Off Care To Child
What Do These Two Guys Have In Common?
One is a Democrat, a former DNC Chairman and a former Presidential candidate: One is a Republican, a former Speaker of the House and a would-be Presidential candidate: What do they have in common? Could it be this? … [Read more...] about What Do These Two Guys Have In Common?
Reaction To Obama’s YouTube Peace Feelers To Iran
Some noses are out of joint... … [Read more...] about Reaction To Obama’s YouTube Peace Feelers To Iran
What Do The Real Victims Of The Economic Crisis Look Like?
President Obama: Veto The Bonus Bill
Democrats in Congress and perhaps even President Obama are making a colossal misjudgment by taxing the bejabbers out of compensation rewards to employees of bailed out financial firms. The tax is a pre-emptive strike at a select few and can be viewed as prohibited by Article 1, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution, "No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be … [Read more...] about President Obama: Veto The Bonus Bill
“Roadmap” For an Israeli Attack on Iranian Nuclear Facilities
We have all read and heard about the Iranian nuclear program and its possible capability to produce nuclear weapons; about the diplomatic, economic, and other ongoing efforts to get Iran to come clean on its nuclear weapons intentions; and about the threat such a capability would pose to Israel and to world peace. We have also seen reports about the possibility of an Israeli … [Read more...] about “Roadmap” For an Israeli Attack on Iranian Nuclear Facilities
AIG Bonuses May Be More Than Reported
It now turns out the big, fat, controversy-sparking bonuses given to bailed out company AIG may have been substantially more than the dollar amount that sparked a massive bipartisan controversy, the AP reports: The attorney general of Connecticut said Saturday that he is asking American International Group Inc. why documents appear to show the company paid $53 million … [Read more...] about AIG Bonuses May Be More Than Reported
Fluff and Circumstance
I really tried to not add my two cents to the Obama / Leno after-action report but I have to inject one thought into the maelstrom of pundit activity... did anyone else notice that Obama never really answered a question? He sounded good and said most of the right things but when push came to shove President Obama punted the ball away. The biggest example: Leno asked … [Read more...] about Fluff and Circumstance
Why The Toxic Asset Program Is Such A Waste Of Money, And A Way Forward
Yves Smith at Naked Capitalism has details on the newest version of the "give banks taxpayer money with no strings attached" program. I'll simply excerpt her conclusion: "Dear God, the Administration really thinks the public is full of idiots. But there are so many components to the program, and a lot of moving parts in each, they no doubt expect everyone's eyes to glaze … [Read more...] about Why The Toxic Asset Program Is Such A Waste Of Money, And A Way Forward
Gallup Poll: Optimism About Economy At 20 Month High
Controversies about AIG bonuses, the projected mind-bogging deficit, and President Barack Obama's budget may be all the rage but a new Gallup Poll finds that optimism about the economy is now at a 20th month high. The big question: when will American consumers start showing this feeling in spending? Public optimism about the U.S. economy -- although still scarce, with only … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Optimism About Economy At 20 Month High
A Start For Stimulus Show-and-Tell
State by state, the Recovery Scoreboard is lighting up with projects to be funded by some of the $787 billion Congress passed last month to get the economy moving again. Just keeping track of the money, let alone spending it wisely, is going to be a monumental job as governors appoint overseeing groups and, in some cases, "czars" to make sure the money is not fraudulently or … [Read more...] about A Start For Stimulus Show-and-Tell
Sabato’s Crystal Ball – STATEHOUSE ROCK: 36 Governorships on the Chopping Block in 2010
Part Two of Three of Larry J. Sabato on STATEHOUSE ROCK: 36 Governorships on the Chopping Block in 2010 Last week the Crystal Ball conducted a historical overview of gubernatorial midterm elections in the past sixty years. Now we'll continue our initial analysis of the statehouse battles to come by assessing the situation in each of the 36 states hosting a contest for … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball – STATEHOUSE ROCK: 36 Governorships on the Chopping Block in 2010
Populism, AIG and the Crossing of a New Threshold
Much of the populist rancor up to now over everything from AIG bonuses to shady securitization schemes to bailout bonanzas has taken the form of media ranting. Whether it's Rick Santelli on the right or Jon Stewart on the left, the public outrage over various shades of corporate and governmental malfeasance in this economic crisis has been limited to the realm of late night … [Read more...] about Populism, AIG and the Crossing of a New Threshold
Postal Service To Offer Early Retirements And Slash 3,000 Jobs
If you're looking for good news about the economy, this news is enough to make you "go Postal:" The U.S. Postal Service will be cutting more than 3,000 jobs and offering nearly a quarter of its work force early retirement as part of its efforts to streamline operations amid the worsening economy, the agency said Friday. Among the job cuts are 1,400 district administrative … [Read more...] about Postal Service To Offer Early Retirements And Slash 3,000 Jobs
Why I Want Obama to Be Successful
I just finished taking a course, Classics 401, at the Lancaster branch campus of Ohio University. The topic, daily life in ancient Rome, is one that I knew little about, quite honestly, and because I believe that Christ's life, death, and resurrection happened while his Judean homeland was a province of the Roman Empire, will help me in my preaching and teaching. The final … [Read more...] about Why I Want Obama to Be Successful
Apple, AT&T Sued for False 3G Claims
I pay the extortionate $10 per month charge even though 3G service isn't offered anywhere within 30 miles of me. I don't complain both because I assume it's an early-adopter fee and because when I am in 3G areas the speed is so slow and the battery drain so fast that I don't even want it. But the guy's got a point: [Filed in the United States District Court, District of New … [Read more...] about Apple, AT&T Sued for False 3G Claims