2009-02-21

Stupid laws (PA Edition)

I have to say, I'm one to stand up for children's rights, but when someone is charged for taking pictures of themselves, that seems a bit off.  True, someone who is 15 cannot consent to anything, but in this case they are charged with not being able to consent to themselves.  Confused?  You should be. Just another display of our overly puritanical society.

2009-02-19

The President's first visit abroad

In Canada, President Obama speaks in support of free trade, and against protectionism. This is a good sign.

EPA to regulate carbon

Finally, the Environmental Protection Agency will use its power to manage the main greenhouse gas affecting the climate.

2009-02-17

The Turnaround Plans

Today GM and Chrysler both submitted turnaround plans as part of their agreement with the government last year to provide them with the first of likely several loans.

GM plans to kill or sell Hummer, Saab, and Saturn by 2011. Pontiac will be a "focused" brand, meaning there may be one car called a Pontiac. Or something like that. They also want another $16B.

Chrysler has no plans to close its divisions, because all it has are Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler. They want another $2B.


GM's plan is here.
Chrysler's is here.
Ford has not yet taken a loan, so they do not have to show that they are "viable" as it is assume that they are for the time being.

Lions sign their best player to 4 year deal

The kicker.

Stimulus signed, Recovery site up

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2008, "the stimulus" has been signed into law by President Obama. This act was not nearly big enough. We needed at least $1.5 trillion, we got about $800 billion. It is still better than nothing.

A new website, offering the purporting to offer the public and unprecedented amount of transparency to track where the money flows, has been launched. www.recovery.gov

*67 is Dead

Think you can block caller ID?  Think again.

Not something I use much nor really like, so I'm glad that there will be an option available to defeat it.

2009-02-16

HFCS will kill you

Yet another reason to not eat the shit.

If this proves true, I'd recommend shorting ADM*

*if you trade on my advice, you get what's coming to you.

Phelps gets off

Michael Phelps won't be charged.

Now what needs to be done is to fire that idiotic South Carolina Sheriff, Leon Lott, for wasting taxpayer money going after a true hero.

The new homebuyer credit

As the stimulus bill will be signed tomorrow, the details are here.

Peanuts on airlines

Good for Northwest, in bringing the peanuts back... even if it is because they are now owned by Delta, which is based in Georgia.

Definitely not my favorite nut (that would be a cashew) but its a step in bringing back a bit of dignity to air travel.  Now if only they could put some attractive stewardesses in there...

Bush among the worst

Out of 41 ranked presidents, George W. Bush ranked 36th.  The recent CSPAN ranking shows a good consensus view of the effectiveness of president's.  Bush ranked near the bottom in most categories, especially foreign relations.

The top two?  Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.  The man who presided over the country during its greatest crises and the other perhaps our most important founding father.

2009-02-15

No Car Czar

Barack Obama scales back one of Bush's big government proposals.