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10 Jun 2009 11:14

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U.S.: Who’s behind the N.Y. state senate upheaval? Some rich bastard.

  • He gave money. Tom Golisano, a billionaire business exec, paid lots of money to help the Democrats take over the state senate last November. It was the first time they led the state senate in 40 years. source
  • He gave money. Tom Golisano, a billionaire business exec, paid lots of money to help the Democrats take over the state senate last November. It was the first time they led the state senate in 40 years.
  • He felt slighted. However, when Golisano heard the Democrats wanted to tax the wealthy, and feeling slighted by a meeting with majority leader Malcolm A. Smith, he helped lead the unprecedented takeover. source
  • He gave money. Tom Golisano, a billionaire business exec, paid lots of money to help the Democrats take over the state senate last November. It was the first time they led the state senate in 40 years.
  • He felt slighted. However, when Golisano heard the Democrats wanted to tax the wealthy, and feeling slighted by a meeting with majority leader Malcolm A. Smith, he helped lead the unprecedented takeover.
  • Our take How can one guy have this much power? He doesn’t control the state senate – the people who voted for the candidates do. This strikes of corruption. The whole thing feels ethically unsound. source

26 May 2009 10:55

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Biz, U.S.: Consumer confidence way up. No, actually WAAAYYYYYY up.

  • 54.9% in May; it was just 40% in April. Whoa. source

23 May 2009 11:51

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Biz, U.S.: Obama thinks GM will come back strong after reorganization

  • Ultimately, I think that GM is going to be a strong company and we are going to be pulling out as soon as the economy recovers and they’ve completed their restructuring.
  • President Barack Obama • Who did not refer to the likely bankruptcy the company faced to complete that restructuring in his comments on the automaker. *Sigh* he wouldn’t care so much if the company hadn’t been so essential to the last 100 years of our country’s growth. • source

22 May 2009 19:10

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Biz: General Motors is between a rock and a bankrupt place

  • $27 billion Amount of debt the company, heading towards bankruptcy, owes its bondholders source

04 May 2009 02:34

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Biz, U.S.: The Boston Globe’s currently facing some trying hours

  • Unions and management are butting heads. At stake? The paper itself. The management of The Boston Globe, owned by The New York Times Company, is prepared to file a shutdown notice if it cannot convince its unions to cut costs significantly. The iconic newspaper and the union have for the moment stopped talking, but could start up again tonight. The two sides were fighting against a deadline which conveniently passed at midnight. See that? That’s sweat going down furrowed brows. source

23 Apr 2009 09:56

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Biz: Funny thing for UPS: When the economy slumps, people ship less

  • -56% dip for Brown, who hasn’t done much for us lately source

18 Apr 2009 18:47

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Biz, Music: Go in a record store today and buy a cool physical disc

  • Independent record stores may be in declining in influence and popularity, but they’re still institutions worth supporting. Which is why Record Store Day which started in 2007, came about. source
  • Numerous bands – big and small – are chipping in to support the institutions, both via live performances and special record-store-only releases. So what are you waiting for? source
 

16 Apr 2009 23:05

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Tech: Well, that’s spiffy: Google is still freakin’ profitable

  • 8.9% increase in 1st-quarter profits for the super-geniuses source

16 Apr 2009 10:29

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Biz: That guy who bought Tribune, Sam Zell, regrets his decision

  • By definition, if you bought something and it’s now worth a great deal less, you made a mistake and I’m more than willing to say I made a mistake. I was too optimistic in terms of the newspaper’s ability to preserve its position.
  • Sam Zell • Who bought Tribune in 2007, then, burdened by debt, was forced to massively reorganize the company, laying off thousands and bankrupting the company in the process. Good show, chap. • source

15 Apr 2009 09:36

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Biz: Fiat still isn’t afraid of backing out on the Chrysler deal

  • If unions don’t accept cuts, they may cut out. Fiat is Chrysler’s main hope for survival right now, and they know this, but they still aren’t afraid of playing hardball. If unions don’t want to take cuts, said CEO Sergio Marchionne, “Absolutely we are prepared to walk.” The unions may not have much of a choice, if option B is the dissolution of Chrysler. source