Posts Tagged “Financial meltdown”
- President-elect Barack Obama will make his first-ever visit to the White House today when he meets privately with President Bush for the traditional first visit between America’s leader and his predecessor. Security will be particularly tight for the visit, as unconfirmed reports suggest Bush may try to escape and leave Obama in charge…
  One of the things the pair will certainly discuss is the nation’s economic woes, which today includes news of electronics giant Circuit City’s bankruptcy filing and the report of a record aid package to AIG–who already had received $80 million in federal loans. Obama may use the opportunity to press for an additional stimulus package, which Bush may agree to–just as long as it doesn’t mess with Cheney’s golden parachute package…- The newly-revised US-Iraq security pact no longer contains language that authorizes a request for US troops to stay beyond 2011, as well as additionally instituting a ban on cross-border attacks from their soil. My only question–how long will it take for another revision, begging us to stay until 2011…
- Markets in Asia soared in response to the news that China has implemented its own ambitious stiumulus package, boosting government spending on roads and other infrastructure, tax incentives for exporters, more aid for farmers and the poor, as well as greater investments in health and education, environmental protection and high technology. Premier Wen JiabaoW said that their actions, "are not only the needs of the development of ourselves, but also our biggest contribution to the world"–in other words, "maybe you won’t notice us taking Taiwan back"…
- A new study suggests that some headphones, like the earbuds so popular with iPod and other music player users, can interfere with heart pacemakers or implanted defibrulators if placed very close to them–like in a shirt pocket. Researchers caution that the danger is only from the powerful magnetic substance inside the headphones–a Nano in your pocket doesn’t mean you’re really glad to see the Maker…
 The latest update on the census of life under the sea, being compiled by over 2,000 scientists from 82 nations, has included a number of exciting discoveries–both of new varieties of sea life, as well as previously-unknown enviromments for some species. The photo is of a variety of male sea spider that is very possibly a newly discovered creature–and one that has absolutely no chance of landing on your face in the middle of the night…
Tags: AIG, Barack Obama, China, Circuit City, Financial meltdown, health care, Iraq, President Bush, White House
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- Better news is coming from world markets that started the new week considerably brighter, with Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore, South Korea and China all finishing with healthy increases and Eurpopean indicies showing good gains as well. The early news on Wall Street is encouraging as well–fewer brokers are on the ledges of downtown skyscrapers…
- After one of the worst weeks in Wall Street history, the White House is scrambling to get its unprecedented $700 billion economic recovery program up and running–which primarily means buying the bad assets that are at the heart of the current meltdown. Of course that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook for your crappy subprime mortgage–it’s just that if you do default, it’ll be Uncle Sam left holding the bag instead of that sleazy mortgage company…
 The American Academy Of Pediatrics is now recommending that children from infants to teens get double the usually recommended amount of vitamin D–which would mean a daily intake of 4 cups of milk, far less than most kids get. There of course is a solution for this problem–serve ice cream at every meal…- John McCain said Sunday that he plans to "whip" Democratic opponent Barack Obama’s "you-know-what" in Wednesday’s final debate and promised more of his signature "straight talk" about the race. Then he asked when the Early Bird dinner started and if "that one" was gonna try and sneak in…
 The world of competitive eating has a new superstar–24-year-old Joey Chestnut, who claimed the hot-dog eating crown the last 2 years running, grabbed the pizza-eating crown Sunday in Times Square by gobbling 45 slices in just 10 minutes. Then if was off to a friend’s home for a delicious dinner–Joey downed 3 roasts, 15 pounds of potatoes, 4 apple pies and his hosts’ pet dog Ralphie in a half-hour…- Now that the Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex couples have the right to wed, opponents are counting on a ballot measure to force a constitutional convention–such a vote can only happen once every 20 years–as a means of rewriting the state’s charter to ban the unions. Of course, it runs the risk of further altering the constitution–such as forcing Fairfield County to pay a 90% income tax…
Tags: American Academy of Pediatrics, Barack Obama, Children, competitive eating, Connecticut, financial bailout, Financial meltdown, gay marriage, health care, John McCain, Wall Street, White House
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- The stock market continued one of its worst months ever as the Dow fell 679 points Thursday, the sixth straight day of triple-digit losses–adding up to 2252 points, or a 20.8% drop. Friday’s trading appears to be continuing that trend–making my 401K about as valuable as my 10,000 shares of Enron…
- And once again, Wall Street’s troubles spread throughout the globe: European markets took substantial hits early Friday; trading was suspended in Austria and Russia; and Japan’s Nikkei Index fell nearly 10% to its lowest level in 5 years. It is ironic–for all the world’s disdain for us, they sure can’t seem to survive without us…
 The Alaska legislature has sworn itself to secrecy in reviewing an investigation of their governor, vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin, into charges that she fired a state commissioner in order to settle a family dispute. The report, which will be made public Friday, could prove to be embarassing to Palin–which, frankly, would just be another day on the campaign trail for her…- Election officials in six states–Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Nevada and North Carolina–have all defended their registration procedures after a New York Times report suggested tens of thousands of eligible voters in those states were either removed from voting rolls or blocked from registering as voters. The Times report does say that it appears to have been done by mistake, and not part of intentional violations by officials or coordinated efforts by any party–much to Howard Dean’s chagrin…
 US officials are saying that the Bush administration is close to removing North Korea from a terrorism blacklist in order to restart nuclear disarmament talks with them. It seems like a smart move–the longer you look at leader Kim Jong-il, the less seriously you take everything he says…- Former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari will receive the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to achieve lasting peace in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Ahitisaari will receive his honor in Oslo, Norway December 10, where he will likely be considered as a fellow Scandinavian–which is kinda like calling somebody from Ireland a Brit…
Tags: Alaska, Election Day, Financial meltdown, Kim Jong Il, Nobel Prize, North Korea, Sarah Palin, Wall Street
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With potentially deadly Santa Ana windsW dying down, firefighters in Southern California are reporting that they are making gains on three wildfires today. They are still battling several areas of hot air–mostly coming from the neighborhoods of talent agents…
Now that space shuttle EndeavourW has arrived at the International Space StationW on its mission to improve and expand the space station’s living area, the crew is busily unpacking the 15,000 pounds of equipment necessary for the upgrade. Hopefully it doesn’t include a bunch of drapes and that guy from Extreme Makeover: Home Editon…
John McCain returns to New Hampshire Wednesday, 
India has launched its first moon flight Wednesday, 
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