Tag Archives: wall street

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? Officials walk out of European Union 2013 budget talks!

09 November 2012, representatives from European countries walked out of the EU’s 2013 budget talks!

There’s a major dispute over an extra nine billion euros still needed for 2012! Representatives from various European countries refused to discuss the 2013 budget with the European Union parliament, until unaddressed funding issues for 2012 were dealt with.

This means many areas of the EU, that’re still waiting for millions in 2012 funding, will probably never get it. The next EU meeting is 22-23 November.

 

 

U.S.

Character does matter! So called Christian David Patreaus cheats on wife, then resigns from the CIA! Or is this an easy out for someone disenchanted with President Obama?

“After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair. Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours. This afternoon, the President graciously accepted my resignation.”-David Patreaus

“Today, I accepted his resignation as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. I am completely confident that the CIA will continue to thrive and carry out its essential mission, and I have the utmost confidence in Acting Director Michael Morell and the men and women of the CIA who work every day to keep our nation safe.”-President Barack Obama

“…of all the exceptional men and women I have worked with over the years, I can honestly say that Dave Petraeus stands out as one of our nation’s great patriots.”-James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence

“Mr. Petraeus leaves the CIA at a time when it is embroiled in controversy surrounding the events of Sept. 11, 2012, when four Americans were killed in the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. After weeks of conflicting accounts of what happened that night, the CIA acknowledged that it had played a central role in gathering intelligence and providing security for the U.S. presence there…………..Petraeus and Obama did not have the close chemistry that the president has with other top officials in his cabinet.“-Wall Street Journal

Business/Economics, U.S.

Sears & Kmart news: Free shipping, analysts warn against buying stocks, former stores turned into apartments for the rich, Sears Canada trying to remake image no more old fogies, how to get your home hired for advertising, no star upon thars for Walmart

Lake Charles, Louisiana, is moving forward with plans for the former site of Sears.  They’ve awarded a contract to a property developer who will build a $20 million USD luxury apartment complex.

In Cleveland, Ohio, hopes are high that someone will bring Sears back to the Bradley Square Mall.  Mall owners say all they need is an independent Sears Hometown & Outlet operator to come in and pay for the lease!    The inventory will still come from Sears, but the store will be independently owned.  So how much will it cost to get started? “The store costs $100,000. The cost breakdown includes $60,000 for furniture and fixtures; $25,000 for store buildout and $15,000 in miscellaneous startup costs.”–Cleveland Daily Banner

Sears Canada (partly owned by Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates) admits it has an image problem. Despite being recently voted the favorite department store of Canadians, the CEO says it needs to stop catering to the old fogies:   “Our brand personality is older. It’s traditional. It’s less popular and some would say uninspiring. Sears needs to recreate an image and redefine what we stand for….”-Calvin McDonald

Sears Canada is starting the image make over with a new slogan: “Make every day a great day”  (I wonder if that’s what they tell the people they layoff?)

To increase internet sales, Sears and Kmart will offer free shipping as part of their Shop Your Way Max membership program, or if you buy more than $49 worth-o-crap off their website.

And while Sears and Kmarts are being closed, supposedly because there’s no money, Sears Holdings is spending big money on Apache Hadoop, a high scale, open source data processing platform, in order to track everyone who’s part of the Shop Your Way program.

The Motley Fool is warning investors to stay away from Sears and Kmart stocks: “Foolish investors should follow Buffett by staying away from Sears and loading up on shares of its rival, Walmart.”-Jonathan Yates

By the way, why does the main stream media always add a dash between Wal and mart? There’s no dash between Wal and mart, and mart is not capitalized. It’s Walmart.  I hates Walmart, but at least I spells it correctly.  Actually here’s the history: From 1962-64 there was no dash.  From 1964-92 there was a dash.  From 1992-2008 there was a star.  Since 2008 Walmart has gone back to no dash or star upon thars (but there’s like an astric following Walmart*).

The inventor of the Bionic wrench is suing Hoffman Estates. He says he patented his bionic wrench in 2005, it’s made in the United States. He claims that the Sears Craftsman brand is selling their own version called Max Axess, and it’s made in China.

So you’re thinking of ways to make more money, probably to make up for your decrease in wages or benefits. If you’re lucky enough to still be in the home you’re buying (or even luckier, the home you own) then why not rent it out to advertisers?

A home in Naperville, Illinois, was used in June for upcoming Xmas advertising for Kmart.  Here’s what the advertisers are looking for: Newer homes that don’t have a lot of trees or bushes, because it’s easier to “dress up” the home for a particular add.  Quite neighborhoods, and for some reason they like porches.  Also, the local governments must be willing to work with the advertising companies doing the production shoots, meaning they better not charge outrageous city fees for such work.  Advertisers claim they try to respect neighbors and keep production noises down, and try not to block the street for too long.

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Double whammy for ancient building; first Sears leaves, now the U.S. military is withdrawing! Anybody got $3.8 million to spare?

In the city of Albuquerque, in the U.S. state of New Mexico, an ancient building was vacated once again.  This time the U.S. Department of Defense has given up the ghost at the ‘Sears Building Downtown’.

The building was built for Sears in 1936.  Sears left the building and it was bought by a property developer in the late 1980s.  It was then remodeled into an office building, and was being used by the U.S. military as an inprocessing center.

This year (2012) the military withdrew from the building, to a new location. The owner is now asking $3.8 million for the large building (basement, 1st floor and two spaces on the 2nd floor are available for quick sale).

Business/Economics, Idaho, Opinion, Technology, U.S.

What Democracy? Idaho voters fools, lap top proposition a done deal to help save HP!

The Idaho media reported that the majority of Idaho voters turned down propositions that were an attempt to make public education better (Idaho consistently ranks low in quality of education in the United States, I guess most people in Idaho are happy with that).

What the dumb voters (encouraged by the dumb Idaho media) don’t know is that those propositions are not going away.  State legislatures will simply revisit those proposals, and can even pass them as laws without voter input (they’ve done it before).

But here’s one good reason that Proposition 3 (provision of computing devices and online courses for high school graduation, aka lap tops for students proposal) isn’t dead: Hewlett Packard was already awarded an eight year $180 million USD contract to provide those lap tops, back on 23 October!

Now you voters in Idaho don’t want to be responsible for anymore layoffs there at the Boise HP Center, do you?

Here’s some of the latest data to show you how bad education is in the Gem State:

Montana State University:  Idaho ranks 33rd for teacher quality.  Idaho ranks 35th for education input.  Idaho ranks 33rd for education social impact.  Idaho submitted no data for the education output & education efficiency rankings.

Quality Counts Education Survey, 2012: Idaho ranks 47th (tied with Nevada). 

CNBC Business ranking 2012:  Idaho ranks 48th in the survey’s Education category, a drop from 45 in 2011.

U.S. Census Bureau: Idaho ranks 50th in school spending.  I’m normally against increased spending, especially since most of the money goes to administrative costs and not actual education, or is not even accounted for, (and it seems year after year I have to pay more fees, besides property taxes, for my high school aged kids).  But maybe there is a correlation here?  However, according to National Kids Count Program (2009 data), when you adjust spending on regional cost of living then Idaho actually spends more than California, per student! Ah ha!

Here’s the problem I have with increasing funding: For example, School District 25 gets millions and millions of dollars from local property taxes (technically they’re called fees, which is why school officials get away with telling voters that school bonds/levies will not raise “taxes”.  A few years ago a local newspaper article revealed that just one major employer in Pocatello pays $1 million yearly in school fees on their property tax bill!).  Then they get money from the State and Federal governments (again from our taxes we pay).  Then, supposedly, they get millions from Powerball Lottery (at least that’s what the lottery advertisements say).  Oh, and I almost forgot the grant money, and computers they get donated from corporations, like the Albertson’s Foundation (I remember when my kids were attending Chubbuck Elementary [little more than ten years ago], seeing the school get new computers almost every year, and one year one of my kid’s teachers admitted that she didn’t even use them ’cause it was too stressful for her to learn how!)!  Yet school district officials are always whining that they don’t have enough money!  I want to see an investigation and a detailed breakdown of where all that money goes!

And if the votes of Idaho voters really count, then what’s going to happen to the $180 million HP is getting for Proposition 3, the Proposition voters just rejected?

(Here’s an update for 09 November 2012: my youngest daughter came home from school [she’s a Junior at one of the local high schools] saying that teachers were trying to explain that the “lap tops for students” was still happening, despite the election results.  You see, your votes really don’t count!)

Opinion, U.S.

Voter Incompetence & What Economic Recovery? Your elected officials spent $6 billion to get you to vote to maintain the status quo! Election monitor says election process defective! Black Sabbath is right!

“…there are real concerns over issues such as voting rights, the accuracy of voter lists, the transparency of campaign finance, recount procedures and access for international election observers.”-Daan Everts, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission

So the big concern is over the looming automatic austerity measures/fiscal cliff? If that’s so, then why did the political leaders of the United States spend at least $5.8 billion USD tricking the voters into maintaining the status quo?

According to the U.S. main stream media, U.S. voters picked the same president, same Congressional House and same Congressional Senate (political party wise)!  So much for Hope & Change/Real Change!

Just think what that $5.8 billion could have been used for!  “You’re all fools! the Mob rules!”-Black Sabbath, 1981

https://youtu.be/cATPLk559XY

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3 & What Economic Recovery? Greece in Civil War, elected officials join rebels, parliament falling apart!

“It marks the beginning of the end of the coalition government and offers a textbook example of the terminal decay of a system of power.”-Costas Douzinas, The Guardian

08 November 2012, the situation in Greece looks like it’s deteriorated to the point of a full blown Civil War, with members of parliament being kicked out and joining the protestors.  Protests have become violent, with people directly attacking police.

Unemployment in Greece hit record levels in August; 25.4%!

Protests turned into riots a couple of days ago, as the parliament worked to pass yet another round for spending cuts and tax increases (austerity measures/fiscal cliff).  The Greek Prime Minister tried to calm things down by telling the people these would be the last austerity measures, but like Aesop’s boy who cried wolf, no one believes him!

During the parliamentary wrangling over the austerity bill, parliament employees/staff went on strike when an amendment was introduced to cut benefits for parliamentary staff members!  The strike ended when the amendment was dropped.

The new austerity includes more cuts to government employee pay, as much as 35%!  And this time even central bank employees and judges will not be spared.  25,000 more public sector jobs will be eliminated.

Here’s proof that the Greek “democratically elected” government is not democratic nor free:  Elected officials who voted against the cuts were expelled! At least seven Members of Parliament were kicked out of their own political parties!

 

 

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 06 – 08 November 2012. Pakistan restores fuel deliveries to U.S./NATO. Aussie Diggers blown up! Proof the ICG is a government puppet! More U.S. airstrikes! U.S. backed policies encourage corruption. Obama will now focus U.S. attacks on Pakistan!

08 November 2012

Afghan government officials say now that Barack Obama is re-elected, you will see a shift from U.S. combat in Afghanistan to Pakistan: “Our demand from the U.S. President Barack Obama is to pay more attention on militants sanctuaries in Pakistan in a bid to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan and reduce the tension of the international community in Afghanistan.”-Ahmad Zia Seyamak Herawi, spokesman for President Hamid Karzai

Also: “The Democrat Party had four years of experience in Afghanistan and they are aware of the main issues of Afghanistan and specifically Pakistan which has a direct role in the situation of Afghanistan. The election Barack Obama as U.S. president will definitely help for a long term cooperation of Washington with Afghanistan.”-Abdullah Abdullah, National Coalition of Afghanistan

U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, James Cunningham, said: “President Obama remains committed for a long term strategic cooperation with the Afghan people.”

Interestingly, Pakistan announced it has re-started fuel supply for U.S./NATO forces, through the Kyber Pass.

Mujahideen leaders responded to Obama’s re-election: “Obama should use the opportunity provided by the American people in a better way. Washington should prevent from playing an international police role and should rather concentrate on its domestic issues.”-Zabiullah Mujahid

In Uruzgan Province, at least three Australian Diggers were wounded after the Bushmaster armored vehicle they were in ran over a landmine: “They got first aid at the scene before being evacuated by helicopter….Two have been discharged while the third has been transferred to Kandahar Air Field for further treatment.”-Captain Michael Spruce

In Laghman Province, five Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed after the vehicle they were in ran over a landmine.

In Paktia Province, local government officials are reporting that a U.S. airstrike killed 15 people.

In Helmand Province, five men, four women and one child were killed, and seven others wounded, when the bus they were in ran over a landmine.

In Nangarhar Province, just three nights after supposedly handing over night time raid operations to the ANA, U.S. forces conducted another illegal night time home invasion. According to locals a 12 years old boy was killed, and three people kidnapped.

In Kandahar Province, a suicide bomber using a motorcycle bomb, blew himself up at a police checkpoint killing three cops, wounding four.

In Herat Province, Afghan Water and Energy Minister, Mohammad Ismail Khan (who is also head of the new Mujahideen Council), has begun re-distributing confiscated weapons to the people of Herat Province.  This comes six days after Khan announced that the newly formed Mujahideen Council (in Herat) will take over military operations after U.S./NATO leaves in 2014.

07 November 2012

In Ghazni Province, an eight years old boy stabbed a cop to death then stole his assault rifle!  Also, Mujahideen remotely exploded a landmine, in an attempt to assassinate an ANA commander (they’re not sure if they were successful).

According to reports by Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) and the Ministry of Public Health, and the United Nations, increased vehicle traffic has caused an increase in lead poisoning cases in the city of Kabul.  In one study 80% of blood samples had lead.  Is it that gasoline fuel in Afghanistan must not be unleaded?

President Karzai left for Indonesia: “Five pacts will be signed during president Hamid Karzai’s visit to Indonesia which will include friendship pact, agreement on removal of visa requirements for political and service passports, agreement on mutual consultancy and agreement on cultural views exchange between Afghanistan and Indonesia.”

In Paktia Province, an ANA soldier joined the Mujahideen.

In Kandahar Province, a man talking on a phone was targeted and killed by U.S./NATO helicopters.  Also, two local cops joined the Mujahideen.

In Nuristan Province, local officials say U.S./NATO forces abandoned a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) base.

In Badghis Province, 15 local cops joined the Mujahideen. They also brought government supplied weapons with them, including 13 assault rifles, one machine gun and one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launcher.

In Zabul Province, Mujahideen say they ambushed a U.S. infantry patrol.  They admit they had to retreat when helicopters were called in.

06 November 2012

In Uruzgan Province, a U.S./NATO drone crashed near Kash mountain.  Mujahideen have launched a 12 day offensive operation in Chora district.

In Farah Province, one cop surrendered to Mujahideen.

In Herat Province, locals say Mujahideen have issued a warning, that no one should attend the funerals of police or Afghan government soldiers, as they will be targeted for militant attacks.  Another Mujahideen statement, in response to a recent statement by President Karzai, said they consider U.S. puppet Afghan government cops or soldiers to be traitors to Islam and therefore will target them even in a Mosque.

Also in Herat Province, a 25 years old woman was killed by her brother.  The family said they had her killed because the unmarried woman repeatedly left home without permission, apparently to meet with an uncle.  In a twist, local police are connected to the case, because they forcefully returned her to her family’s home the day before her family killed her.

In the United States, military prosecutors are asking for the death penalty against U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales.  Bales, married with two children, is accused of the “methodical” murder of several Afghan families.   Bales wife says he has no memory of the incident.  An Afghan investigation concluded that there was no way Bales could have done the murders by himself, as the locations were spread out over a large area and several bodies had been set on fire using fuel carried in heavy 5 gallon jerry cans.  The time line of the murders does not seem to allow Bales to kill all those people and then return to base to hand carry the fuel to set the bodies on fire.  U.S. Department of Defense, and several Republicans, believe Bales is a rogue soldier who somehow did all on his own.

The murders took place in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar.  The result is extreme hatred of U.S. forces in that area.  On 06 November 2012, Mujahideen reported that they routed a major offensive by U.S. forces.  They say the U.S. used armored and heliborne forces to assault Mujahideen positions in Panjwayi. U.S. forces retreated after two days of heavy fighting.

The Afghan government is threatening to throw out the International Crisis Group (ICG), after it issued a report saying the Afghan government couldn’t handle things after the U.S./NATO pullout in 2014.  Afghan officials also say the ICG report is clearly politically motivated.   ICG is suppossedly “…an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation…”, yet, in response to the threats by Afghan officials, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen made a counter threat, warning the Afghan government not to interfere with the ICG!   So much for the ICG being “independent”!

On top of that, Rasmussen stated that U.S. led NATO could stay past the 2014 withdrawal date, regardless of what the United Nations says: “We can have activities in Afghanistan after 2014 if it was required by the Afghan government and this is completely in accordance with the international law. Besides, it would be very good if we have a designated mission by United Nation, but still, we can operate in Afghanistan upon the request of the Afghan government.”

In Logar Province, local officials say a U.S. drone strike targeted an apartment building, killing at least four people.

For awhile now, U.S./NATO/ISAF have stated that “Taliban” forces have decreased in number and strength.  Yet it’s obvious that is not true going by the number of attacks by Mujahideen against the occupiers.  Japanese NHK (Nippon Housou Kyoukai/Japan Broadcasting Corporation) recently aired a report which showed that U.S./NATO/ISAF officials are basing their claims on a program that pays Mujahideen, with cash and jobs, to stop fighting. However, NHK interviewed a Afghan religious leader who said: “Many farmers and unemployed people pretend to be Taliban to the government so they can get cash and work. The government is giving the wrong impression by saying the group [Taliban/Mujahideen] is weakening.”-Mullah Maruf, Islamic scholar

U.S.

Government Incompetence: “FEMA center closed due to weather”

“FEMA packed up and left. We don’t know where they are, so there’s nothing here but us.”-Louis Giraldi, an unpaid FEMA volunteer in an interview with DNAinfo.com

08 November 2012, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) gave up the ghost and closed down offices in New York City, blaming the weather!

DNAinfo.com has posted pics of signs that say “FEMA center closed due to weather”.  The center closings were in response to Winter Storm Athena.

Gee, the troubled U.S. Postal Service can handle a winter storm, why not FEMA?

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: Turkey bombs Iraq, Iraq expells Turkish oil company!

08 November 2012, Iraq has expelled the Turkish oil company, TPAO (aka Turkish Petroleum Corporation).

Iraqi government officials refuse to explain why at the moment, but could it have something to do with continued Turkish bombing of Iraq?

On 06 November, Turkish F-16 Vipers bombed northern Iraq, killing two people and wounding three.    Back on 02 October Iraq demanded U.S.-led NATO member Turkey stop its attacks.

Turkey claims it is targeting Kurdish insurgents.