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28 Feb 2011 14:58

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Politics: Report from Moody’s Analytics brings troublesome news for both sides

  • 700,000 the amount of jobs to be lost under the Republican spending cut plan, as projected by Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi
  • $400B the amount that must be cut every year over the next decade to bring revenue in line with spending, a little bad news for both sides source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Feb 2011 14:45

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Politics: WI Gov. Scott Walker tries to exert political pressure on state Democrats

  • 24 hour ultimatum from Gov. Scott Walker to MIA WI Democrats source
  • » He will not be swayed: Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s attempt to strip the public employee union’s collective bargaining rights got much rougher after he was hung out to dry by Ian Murphy, a blogger who prank called him pretending to be billionaire conservative contributor David Koch. In that call, Walker explained his scheme to get the vote through; to lure Democrats back with a promise of negotiation, only to use procedural rules to then force a vote regardless of whether they participated. Having thus illustrated he has no interest in good faith negotiation, Walker has moved to plan B, political pressure. Walker announced that if the Democrats don’t return to the State Capitol, Wisconsin will miss its chance to refinance it’s debt, which would cost taxpayers $160 million. As it always bears mentioning, the public employee unions have broadly agreed to compromise on Walker’s proposed changes, if he only won’t strip their very right to collective bargaining. Walker says no dice.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Feb 2011 14:21

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U.S.: Frank Buckles, last living American to serve in WWI, has died

  • Here’s to you, sir: America’s last living man to have served in World War I has died. Frank Buckles, born February 1st, 1901, not only served in the first World War (where he fervently wanted to be on the front lines, but never made it), but also survived three years of imprisonment in a Japanese camp, captured while working for a U.S. shipping company just weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor. What benefits did he receive for his service to his country? According to him, he received free membership at the YMCA. That’s all. Frank Buckles was 110 years old. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Feb 2011 13:47

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World: Profiles in denial: Muammar Gaddafi edition

  • All my people love me. They would die to protect me.
  • Muammar Gaddafi • Speaking to veteran journalist Christiane Amanpour, who sent this quote out on her Twitter account. Big credit to Amanpour, who’s previously obtained surprising access to Gaddafi, and has helped the international community to learn what the besieged in Libya already know so well — the man is insane. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Feb 2011 13:20

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U.S.: President Obama hedges on health insurance mandate

  • old The Affordable Care Act became law, hinged on the concept of an individual mandate. Basically, everybody must buy health insurance, thus lowering the liability costs that the insured must cover for the uninsured. This prompted a slew of legal challenges from the states — mostly ones with Republican governors.
  • new President Obama has announced that he supports legislation allowing states to opt out of the individual mandate by 2014, if they can reasonably illustrate that they can keep the same coverage rates. Is a modest dose of health care reform — in truth, more health insurance reform than anything else — being watered down? source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Feb 2011 11:04

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World: Hosni Mubarak won’t be able to high-tail it out of Egypt, guys

  • yes Ousted leader Hosni Mubarak is reportedly still in Egypt even after leaving office, and is hiding out in his residence in Sharm el-Sheikh.
  • no Were he to want to leave, he would be unable to, because the country’s attorney general just blocked him from leaving. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Feb 2011 10:53

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World: Come visit sunny Egypt, now with one less dictator for life!

  • In terms of reviving tourism, the problem is currently Libya, not us. The whole region is very hot right now.
  • Sylvia Tours Egypt managing director Karim Mohsen • Making a pitch that people should consider having their next trip in Egypt, which has calmed down a tad since Hosni Mubarak left office a couple of weeks ago. To drive the point home, many young Egyptians are pushing an “Egypt is Safe” campaign, cleaning monuments and taking people to Tahrir Sqare as a tourist attraction. “Please tell your friends not to fear the revolution. This is the new Egypt and it welcomes you,” said one young student about the country. And really, the revolution is just another reason to check out a piece of Egyptian history! Right? Right?!? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

28 Feb 2011 10:42

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World: Oman’s leader trying to appease protesters very generously

  • 50,000 the number of government jobs Sultan Qaboos has promised will be installed in the country
  • $390 the amount Oman’s unemployment program would pay job-seekers each month until they find work source
  • » But it’s not working: While Sultan Qaboos doesn’t appear to be in danger of losing his leadership role, protesters are still unhappy and are pushing for political reforms in the country. “We want new faces in the government and we have a long list of social reforms,” said civil servant Habiba al-Hanay. “We just hope he will hear us and make changes.”
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Feb 2011 10:28

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Tech: Our wifi champion? Chuck Schumer’s anti-Firesheep crusade

New York’s top Senator wants sites like Amazon and Twitter to switch everything over to HTTPS because of that whole Firesheep thing. Glad he’s focusing on this. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Feb 2011 10:11

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Biz, U.S.: Bailouts: Remember TARP? It’s almost entirely recouped, kids.

  • $700B the amount the U.S. spent on the Troubled Asset Relief Program back in 2008
  • $341B the amount it looked like taxpayers were going to lose on the bailout deal back in mid-2009
  • $25B the amount it looks like we’ll lose on TARP; this is because we gave the money to banks source
  • » Not all is rosy in Bailoutville: One of the biggest issues we still face are the dual sinkholes of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which have reportedly cost taxpayers $150 billion and we like to think of as dual sinkholes. And some legislators feel that the effect has set us up for having to bail out unsuccessful companies in the future.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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