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30 Mar 2011 16:06

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U.S.: President Obama argues for less imported oil

  • 25% the percentage of global oil production that’s consumed by the U.S.
  • 2% the percentage of global oil reserves under the control of the U.S.
  • 1/3rd the reduction in fuel imports Obama wants for the next decade source
  • » So, how do we get there? The nitty-gritty policy proposals President Obama spoke on seemed hauntingly familiar, with emissions standards, electric car production, (safety reviewed) nuclear power and natural gas all figuring into his pitch. These are all worthwhile possible answers or supplements to reduce foreign fuel imports, but will Congress has the desire, or failing that the collective will, to act on issues they’ve to this point been pretty willing to pass on? Especially with a Republican-led House, whose leadership is demonstrably opposed to emissions standards, it’s a worrisome possibility that this effort, like so many over the last thirty years, will fall by the wayside.

19 Nov 2010 21:45

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Biz: Federal Reserve taking it from all sides with stimulus plan

  • On its current economic trajectory, the United States runs the risk of seeing millions of workers unemployed or underemployed for many years. As a society, we should find that outcome unacceptable.
  • Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke • Explaining why the much-maligned stimulus plan (which involves shoving $600 billion into the economy whether it likes it or not) is necessary to save the economy. Republicans and Tea Partiers claim that the plan could raise prices of essentials such as food. Internationally, there’s worries about the stimulus driving down the value of the dollar (thereby making exports to the U.S. more desirable). Republicans in Congress are talking about stripping the Fed of its mandate to promote full employment as a result of this action. We’d like to see Republicans, rather than reacting to things they don’t like, offering up ideas. Is it really that hard, guys? You’ve had two-plus years. Where are your economy-fixing ideas? source

13 Jul 2010 11:10

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Biz: “Made in China” means it costs more in China than the U.S.

  • $460 added cost of an Apple laptop in China versus the U.S. – partly due to tariffs
  • $240 added cost of a flat-screen TV in China versus the same TV in the U.S.
  • 25¢ added cost of a can of Budweiser in China (even though it’s brewed locally) source

12 May 2010 09:47

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Biz: The U.S. trade deficit widens in March. What does that mean?

  • $188B the value of goods the U.S. imported from other countries in March
  • $147B the value of goods the U.S. exported to other countries in March
  • $40.4B the gap between
    the two
    – a.k.a. our trade deficit source

16 Jan 2010 17:09

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Tech: Nokia and Apple still having a massive contest of egos

  • nokia Has lost massive market share after the iPhone’s release. Sued Apple for patent infringement. Apple rebuffed. Sued Apple again, claiming that nearly all products Apple makes infringe their patents.
  • apple Has completely changed the market that Nokia owned for about a decade. Claims Nokia essentially copied their phones. Is now asking the ITC to block all imports of Nokia phones into the U.S. source

10 Jan 2010 10:32

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Biz: China topples Germany, becomes world’s biggest exporter

  • 17.7% increase in Chinese exports in December – giving China a leg-up on the Germans
  • 13.9% decrease in overall imports and exports in 2009; so it’s not all massive growth for China source