More at Huff Post: “WASHINGTON — The recession is killing jobs at an alarming pace, with tens of thousands of new layoffs announced Monday by some of the biggest names in American business _ Pfizer, Caterpillar and Home Depot.
More pink slips, pay freezes and other hits are expected to slam workers in the months ahead as companies desperately look for ways to survive.
"We're just seeing the tip of the iceberg _ the big firms," said Rebecca Braeu, economist at John Hancock Financial Services. "There's certainly other firms beneath them that will lay off workers as quickly or even quicker."
Looking ahead, economists predicted a net loss of at least 2 million jobs _ possibly more _ this year even if President Barack Obama's $825 billion package of increased government spending and tax cuts is enacted. Last year, the economy lost a net 2.6 million jobs, the most since 1945, though the labor force has grown significantly since then.
The unemployment rate, now at a 16-year high of 7.2 percent, could hit 10 percent or higher later this year or early next year, under some analysts' projections.”
-- And how many people do we need to have jobless before we call this a Depression?
Monday, January 26, 2009
"Crude" Movie Lies - The Movie "Crude" Forgets About Ecuador
There's a new movie out called "Crude" which is a kind of documentary about the Ecuadorian oil spill problem. The trouble is, it forgets about how Petroecuador shirked its responsibility in maintaining the oil production facilities left behind after the transfer from Chevron / Texaco in 1998. I explained that in this video:
And now, there's a new website outlining the lies of "Crude" and called "Crude Movie Lies".
And now, there's a new website outlining the lies of "Crude" and called "Crude Movie Lies".
Raw Video: Blagojevich Prepares for PR Blitz - Associated Press
AssociatedPress - Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is in New York City this morning for a public relations blitz. He will appear on several morning talk shows. His impeachment trial also starts today in the Illinois capital. (Jan. 26)
The Underground Chinese Hip-hop Movement
TheNewYorkTimes - Underground Chinese Hip-hop, which is growing in popularity amongst students and working class Chinese, is a profitless, and often subversive, activity for its practitioners.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Obama Inauguration - L'Enfant Plaza Hotel Is A Warm Place
It was so cold on Inauguration Day that I sought refuge and found it at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, where Lynn Lashbrook, the Director of Sales and the staff was all too kind and helped thousands of freezing lobby visitors.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
President Obama reverses Bush abortion-funds policy
More at Yahoo! News: “WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Friday struck down the Bush administration's ban on giving federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide abortion information — an inflammatory policy that has bounced in and out of law for the past quarter-century. Obama's executive order, the latest in an aggressive first week reversing contentious Bush policies, was warmly welcomed by liberal groups and denounced by abortion rights foes.”
Obama Inauguration - Greg Shares His Views
I met Greg as I was walking up to get a glimpse of The U.S. Capital on Inauguration Eve. We talked about what the then-upcoming event meant to us; here's my video interview of Greg.
Tony West Appointed Assistant Attorney General By President Obama
Tony West, who you've frequently seen if you're a visitor to the Oakland Focus Blog , and my YouTube channel Zennie62 , was appointed Assistant Attorney General by President Barack Obama.
Congratulations, Tony!
I just interviewed Tony, who became a friend during the campaign, on November 12th here and in a talk where one can learn more about the man and his vast background (for example, he's worked in some way for six presidents and now seven) who was just appointed on Friday of this week:
But that was not the first time I talked with Tony. Here's the other videos:
This one last year at the California State Democratic Convention:
And this one when then-Senator Obama visited San Francisco for a large fundraising event:
Congratulations, Tony!
I just interviewed Tony, who became a friend during the campaign, on November 12th here and in a talk where one can learn more about the man and his vast background (for example, he's worked in some way for six presidents and now seven) who was just appointed on Friday of this week:
But that was not the first time I talked with Tony. Here's the other videos:
This one last year at the California State Democratic Convention:
And this one when then-Senator Obama visited San Francisco for a large fundraising event:
01/24/09: President Obama's Weekly Address
From YouTube channel whitehouse: In his first weekly address since being sworn in as the 44th president of the United States, President Barack Obama discussed how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan will jump-start the economy.
(This video is public domain per White House copyright policy.)
-- This is just the begining, because I believe what's needed is a more direct stimulus of $3,500 for Americans at or under $100,000 in income.
Pakistan urges U.S. President Obama to halt missile attacks
More at Yahoo! News: “ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pakistan urged President Barack Obama to halt U.S. missile strikes on al-Qaida strongholds near the Afghan border, saying Saturday that civilians were killed the previous day in the first attacks since Obama's inauguration.
Pakistani security officials said eight suspected foreign militants, including an Egyptian al-Qaida operative, were among 22 people killed in Friday's twin strikes in the Waziristan region.
But the Foreign Ministry said that the attacks by unmanned aircraft also killed an unspecified number of civilians and that it had informed U.S. officials of its "great concern."
"With the advent of the new U.S. administration, it is Pakistan's sincere hope that the United States will review its policy and adopt a more holistic and integrated approach toward dealing with the issue of terrorism and extremism," a ministry statement said.”
Pakistani security officials said eight suspected foreign militants, including an Egyptian al-Qaida operative, were among 22 people killed in Friday's twin strikes in the Waziristan region.
But the Foreign Ministry said that the attacks by unmanned aircraft also killed an unspecified number of civilians and that it had informed U.S. officials of its "great concern."
"With the advent of the new U.S. administration, it is Pakistan's sincere hope that the United States will review its policy and adopt a more holistic and integrated approach toward dealing with the issue of terrorism and extremism," a ministry statement said.”
Ecuador: President Correa Faces Pressure From Indigenous Groups
More at Global Voices Online: “Despite protests and road blockades in southen Ecuador, a new mining law [es] (pdf format) was passed in Congress. Now the new bill will head to the executive branch for final approval from President Rafael Correa. Opposition to the bill is coming from indigenous groups, who have called for a national march to be held on January 20 to protest the government's support for the new law.
The mobilization is being led by the country's largest indigenous organization, the National Confederation of Indigenous Nations (CONAIE), which is stating that there was very little discussion regarding the new law and that it will be harmful to the environment and is going against the sovereignty of indigenous communities. ”
-- And this from the President who claims to be protecting indigeneous groups, as in the Chevron case, while letting Ecuadorian companies take advantage of them. The key need is for that country to improve its economic development practices.
The mobilization is being led by the country's largest indigenous organization, the National Confederation of Indigenous Nations (CONAIE), which is stating that there was very little discussion regarding the new law and that it will be harmful to the environment and is going against the sovereignty of indigenous communities. ”
-- And this from the President who claims to be protecting indigeneous groups, as in the Chevron case, while letting Ecuadorian companies take advantage of them. The key need is for that country to improve its economic development practices.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)