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Norton
Social climber
the Wastelands
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Nov 17, 2010 - 01:54pm PT
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Norton
Social climber
the Wastelands
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Nov 17, 2010 - 02:13pm PT
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You are an idiot:
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Norton
Social climber
the Wastelands
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Nov 17, 2010 - 02:14pm PT
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You are an idiot:
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Norton
Social climber
the Wastelands
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Nov 17, 2010 - 02:15pm PT
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You are an idiot:
GM's Stock Offering Grows Amid Heavy Demand
by NPR STAFF AND WIRES
text size A A A November 17, 2010
General Motors says it's expanding its initial public offering of common stock by 31 percent, responding to higher-than-expected demand. At 478 million shares — up from the previously announced 365 million — it could be one of the largest IPOs in history.
On Thursday, stock in the restructured GM goes on sale on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges. Investor demand from big institutional investors and foreign wealth funds has caused the company to increase the size of the offering and the share price.
The Obama administration now will sell 412 million of its 912 million shares, raising around $13.6 billion that will help the government get back some of the $50 billion it loaned GM to save the company from ruin last year.
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Nov 17, 2010 - 02:36pm PT
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Norton,
What was the methodology in calculating the relative contributions to debt on your pie chart? Everything I've read is exceedingly dependent on a priori beliefs.
Thanks.
John
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Jingy
climber
Somewhere out there
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Nov 17, 2010 - 02:54pm PT
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The truth is No One Cares.
the utter futility of life seeking to be expressed, and for what?
acceptance, acknowledgement, force, sympathy, brutality, control....
And what's it all for?
Why do you feel the way you do, so strongly about this or that, why is it that you couldn't care less about this or that, and have you ever given it a thought?
What can be gained by all the back and forth, the bickering, the name calling?
"Ha, ha, I'm better."... You say...
for now, maybe, but in time you will die and it will all not be remembered at all by anyone because the truth is... no one cares.
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shut up and pull
climber
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Nov 17, 2010 - 03:01pm PT
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FROM FORBES MAGAZINE TWO DAYS AGO:
California Suggests Suicide; Texas Asks: Can I Lend You a Knife?
Nov. 15 2010 - 10:36 am By JOEL KOTKIN
In the future, historians may likely mark the 2010 midterm elections as the end of the California era and the beginning of the Texas one. In one stunning stroke, amid a national conservative tide, California voters essentially ratified a political and regulatory regime that has left much of the state unemployed and many others looking for the exits.
California has drifted far away from the place that John Gunther described in 1946 as “the most spectacular and most diversified American state … so ripe, golden.” Instead of a role model, California has become a cautionary tale of mismanagement of what by all rights should be the country’s most prosperous big state. Its poverty rate is at least two points above the national average; its unemployment rate nearly three points above the national average. On Friday Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was forced yet again to call an emergency session in order to deal with the state’s enormous budget problems.
This state of crisis is likely to become the norm for the Golden State. In contrast to other hard-hit states like Pennsylvania, Ohio and Nevada, which all opted for pro-business, fiscally responsible candidates, California voters decisively handed virtually total power to a motley coalition of Democratic-machine politicians, public employee unions, green activists and rent-seeking special interests.
In the new year, the once and again Gov. Jerry Brown, who has some conservative fiscal instincts, will be hard-pressed to convince Democratic legislators who get much of their funding from public-sector unions to trim spending. Perhaps more troubling, Brown’s own extremism on climate change policy–backed by rent-seeking Silicon Valley investors with big bets on renewable fuels–virtually assures a further tightening of a regulatory regime that will slow an economic recovery in every industry from manufacturing and agriculture to home-building.
Texas’ trajectory, however, looks quite the opposite. California was recently ranked by Chief Executive magazine as having the worst business climate in the nation, while Texas’ was considered the best. Both Democrats and Republicans in the Lone State State generally embrace the gospel of economic growth and limited public sector expenditure. The defeated Democratic candidate for governor, the brainy former Houston Mayor Bill White, enjoyed robust business support and was widely considered more competent than the easily re-elected incumbent Rick Perry, who sometimes sounds more like a neo-Confederate crank than a serious leader.
To be sure, Texas has its problems: a growing budget deficit, the need to expand infrastructure to service its rapid population growth and the presence of a large contingent of undereducated and uninsured poor people. But even conceding these problems, the growing chasm between the two megastates is evident in the economic and demographic numbers. Over the past decade nearly 1.5 million more people left California than stayed; only New York State lost more. In contrast, Texas gained over 800,000 new migrants. In California, foreign immigration–the one bright spot in its demography–has slowed, while that to Texas has increased markedly over the decade.
A vast difference in economic performance is driving the demographic shifts. Since 1998, California’s economy has not produced a single new net job, notes economist John Husing. Public employment has swelled, but private jobs have declined. Critically, as Texas grew its middle-income jobs by 16%, one of the highest rates in the nation, California, at 2.1% growth, ranked near the bottom. In the year ending September, Texas accounted for roughly half of all the new jobs created in the country.
Even more revealing is California’s diminishing preeminence in high-tech and science-based (or STEM–Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) jobs. Over the past decade California’s supposed bulwark grew a mere 2%–less than half the national rate. In contrast, Texas’ tech-related employment surged 14%. Since 2002 the Lone Star state added 80,000 STEM jobs; California, a mere 17,000.
Of course, California still possesses the nation’s largest concentrations of tech (Silicon Valley), entertainment (Hollywood) and trade (Port of Los Angeles-Long Beach). But these are all now declining. Silicon Valley’s Google era has produced lots of opportunities for investors and software mavens concentrated in affluent areas around Palo Alto, but virtually no new net jobs overall. Empty buildings and abandoned factories dot the Valley’s onetime industrial heartland around San Jose. Many of the Valley’s tech companies are expanding outside the state, largely to more business-friendly and affordable places like Salt Lake City, the Research Triangle region of North Carolina and Austin.
Hollywood too is shifting frames, with more and more film production going to Michigan, New Mexico, New York and other states. In 2002, 82% of all film production took place in California–now it’s down to roughly 30%. And plans by Los Angeles County, the epicenter of the film industry, to double permit fees for film, television and commercial productions certainly won’t help.
International trade, the third linchpin of the California economy, is also under assault. Tough environmental regulations and the anticipated widening in 2014 of the Panama Canal are emboldening competitors, particularly across the entire southern tier of the country, most notably in Houston. Mobile, Ala., Charleston, S.C., and Savannah, Ga., also have big plans to lure high-paid blue collar jobs away from California’s ports.
Most worrisome of all, these telltale signs palpable economic decline seem to escape most of the state’s top leaders. The newly minted Lieutenant Governor, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, insists “there’s nothing wrong with California” and claims other states “would love to have the problems of California.”
But it’s not only the flaky Newsom who is out of sync with reality. Jerry Brown, a far savvier politician, maintains “green jobs,” up to 500,000 of them, will turn the state around. Theoretically, these jobs might make up for losses created by ever stronger controls on traditional productive businesses like agriculture, warehousing and manufacturing. But its highly unlikely.
Construction will be particularly hard hit, since Brown also aims to force Californians, four-fifths of whom prefer single-family houses, into dense urban apartment districts. Over time, this approach will send home prices soaring and drive even more middle-class Californians to the exits.
Ultimately the “green jobs” strategy, effective as a campaign plank, represents a cruel delusion. Given the likely direction of the new GOP-dominated House of Representatives in Washington, massive federal subsidies for the solar and wind industries, as well as such boondoggles as high-speed rail, are likely to be scaled back significantly. Without subsidies, federal loans or draconian national regulations, many green-related ventures will cut as oppose to add jobs, as is already beginning to occur. The survivors, increasingly forced to compete on a market basis, will likely move to China, Arizona or even Texas, already the nation’s leader in wind energy production.
Tom Hayden, a ’60s radical turned environmental zealot, admits that given the current national climate the only way California can maintain Brown’s “green vision” will be to impose “some combination of rate heights and tax revenues.” Such an approach may help bail out green investors, but seems likely to drive even more businesses out of the state.
California’s decline is particularly tragic, as it is unnecessary and largely unforced. The state still possesses the basic assets–energy, fertile land, remarkable entrepreneurial talent–to restore its luster. But given its current political trajectory, you can count on Texans, and others, to keep picking up both the state’s jobs and skilled workers. If California wishes to commit economic suicide, Texas and other competitors will gladly lend them a knife.
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Jingy
climber
Somewhere out there
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Nov 17, 2010 - 03:20pm PT
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What would it be called if there was any truth in our country:
The modern IPO (initial public offering), in reference to its use above, may look something like SIPODTMGOFS (Second Initial Public Offering Due To Mismanagement, Greed, and Old Fashioned Stupidity)
But we here in America don't like reality all that much, do we?
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Norton
Social climber
the Wastelands
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Nov 17, 2010 - 03:26pm PT
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Idiot wind, blowing every time you move your mouth,
Blowing down the backroads headin' south.
Idiot wind, blowing every time you move your teeth,
You're an idiot, babe.
It's a wonder that you still know how to breathe.
B. Dylan
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corniss chopper
Mountain climber
san jose, ca
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Nov 17, 2010 - 03:42pm PT
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Liberals are such idiots. Luckily their genetic makeup doesn't let
them realize how stupid they are.
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corniss chopper
Mountain climber
san jose, ca
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Nov 17, 2010 - 03:57pm PT
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AC loses once again proving the Liberal inferiority.
But lets look at Congress as they have can affect on our lives.
http://www.zimbio.com/Congresswoman+Sheila+Jackson+Lee/articles/31/Breaking+News+Exhaustive+Search+NASA+Archives
Read the original story
The Congressional bonehead award goes to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) who,
on a visit to JPL, asked if Mars Pathfinder had taken an image of the flag
planted there in 1969 by Neil Armstrong! Quipped Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI)
to the Washington Times: “We just don’t teach enough science.” Worse,
Jackson Lee, who represents Houston, is a member of the House Science
Committee’s space subcommittee. Perhaps some committee reassignments are in
order…”
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Jingy
climber
Somewhere out there
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Nov 17, 2010 - 04:55pm PT
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Fat - Nothing personal. I hope you don't think I was talking about you?
per ce
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Nov 17, 2010 - 06:00pm PT
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The Difference Between Liberals And Conservatives
Conservatives believe in God.
Liberals think they are God.
Conservatives want to engrave the Ten Commandments on every doorpost in the country.
Liberals want to tape the Bill of Rights over the Ten Commandments in every Bible on the planet.
Conservatives think that gay marriage will turn the world into one huge gay orgy.
Liberals think that this is a free country, that people should have the right to marry whomever they want, and that if we ban gay marriage, we might as well change our name to Iran.
Conservatives own dogs and watch "Cops."
Liberals own cats and watch "Cats."
Conservatives shoot first and ask questions later.
Liberals ask questions first and then blame conservatives for everything.
Conservatives think that people solve problems, and governments create them.
Liberals think that governments solve problems, and conservatives create them.
Conservatives yell, “Mine, mine, mine!”
Liberals like to whine, whine, whine.
A conservative looks at someone and thinks, “How can I profit off of him?”
A liberal looks at someone and thinks, “How can I convince him he’s wrong?”
Conservatives think people tend to be more productive when being productive makes them more money.
Liberals think conservatives will rape each other when presented with the opportunity to make more money.
Conservatives think that having the government handle money is like having a blind man handle your hernia surgery.
Liberals think that having a free economy handle money is like having Willie Nelson guard your marijuana stash.
Conservatives will tell you that every man has his price.
Liberals would rather tell you that every man has his rice.
Conservatives want to say farewell to welfare.
Liberals want to say farewell to capitalism.
Conservatives think that schools should compete for business.
Liberals think that schools should teach people not to become conservatives.
Liberals think that the government should provide free health care.
Conservatives think that free health care will be worth exactly what people pay for it.
Liberals think conservatives are a bunch of deluded, money loving dickheads who would gladly trade the sun for a jar of mayonnaise.
Conservative think liberals are a bunch of deluded, tree hugging sissies who don’t realize that we need to cut down a few trees in order to build a house.
Liberals think that global warming is caused by conservatives.
Conservatives think that global warming doesn’t exist, or that if it does exist, it’s caused by the burps of degenerate liberal drunks like the Kennedys.
Liberals buy tofu and drive hybrids.
Conservatives buy Hummers and drive up the price of oil.
Liberals think that guns kill people.
Conservatives think that guns not only don’t kill people, they actually save people — as long as we each have at least fifteen of them.
Liberals think the UN spreads peace.
Conservatives think UN stands for Unbelievably Naïve.
Liberals want the US to withdraw from Iraq.
Conservatives want the US to attack France.
Liberals smoke marijuana and LSD.
Conservatives snort cocaine and more cocaine.
Liberals root for Fonzie and Chachi.
Conservatives root for Mr. Burns and Flanders.
Liberals think that humans evolved from bacteria.
Conservatives think that Darwin was a homo.
Liberals sing “We Are the World” and “We Shall Overcome.”
Conservatives sing “Achy Breaky Heart” and “I Wish I Was in Dixie.”
Liberals reenact the Civil War in order to learn about the nation’s history.
Conservatives reenact the Civil War in order to get ready for the rematch.
http://www.jokesgalore.com/The-Difference-Between-Liberals-And-Conservatives.html
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Jingy
climber
Somewhere out there
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Nov 17, 2010 - 06:31pm PT
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Fat - So what part of any of my statements did you personally identify with?
If so.. please, don't think that I have anything against you.
Maybe you can explain what that waters statement is all about?
Like I'm a five year old?
(I always get the impression that I offend those who find my writings to make sense.
To me, I am just trying to make sense of the world around me.
I see a whole lot of people who think that have control of something when they don't.
All kind of people on the right talking about accountability when they themselves don't actually stand up for it. If this were the case anyone asking what roll buche / channnyey had in the plundering of the US would have an answer by their jail terms. BTW - Has anyone heard of what kind of reward chinneye is getting for making the Haliburton Corp super rich and super intrenched over those 8 years? No repuke wants to ask, no repuke wants to answer, because the repukes can do no wrong. And when the Bush hits the fan, deny, deny, deny accountability.
No repuke has all the answer.
No dem has the all answer, though, I can see that the dems have human beings in their minds, and not just the wealthy, and the corporations that they want to enrich.)
I Know I your eyes may not find this portion of my writing (fat), but is there another way of seeing those 8 years as anything other than a decline of American Civilization?
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dirtbag
climber
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Nov 17, 2010 - 06:43pm PT
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corniss chopper
Mountain climber
san jose, ca
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Nov 17, 2010 - 06:49pm PT
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fattrad - not surprising this level of vitriol from our fellow ST Liberals now that they have been wounded so heinously in the elections.
Organisms under stress reveal inner character flaws more often.
cc
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shut up and pull
climber
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Nov 17, 2010 - 06:53pm PT
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Gotta ask -- where do these guys get these pictures of these hotties?
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shut up and pull
climber
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Nov 17, 2010 - 06:54pm PT
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OBAMA VS. BUSH ON DEBT -- bottom line -- both suck. But if both suck, and the Dems are even suckier, why do liberals defend the Dems for their spending?
•President Bush expanded the federal budget by a historic $700 billion through 2008. President Obama would add another $1 trillion.
•President Bush began a string of expensive financial bailouts. President Obama is accelerating that course.
•President Bush created a Medicare drug entitlement that will cost an estimated $800 billion in its first decade. President Obama has proposed a $634 billion down payment on a new government health care fund.
•President Bush increased federal education spending 58 percent faster than inflation. President Obama would double it.
•President Bush became the first President to spend 3 percent of GDP on federal antipoverty programs. President Obama has already increased this spending by 20 percent.
•President Bush tilted the income tax burden more toward upper-income taxpayers. President Obama would continue that trend.
•President Bush presided over a $2.5 trillion increase in the public debt through 2008. Setting aside 2009 (for which Presidents Bush and Obama share responsibility for an additional $2.6 trillion in public debt), President Obama’s budget would add $4.9 trillion in public debt from the beginning of 2010 through 2016.
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Nibs
Trad climber
Humboldt, CA
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Nov 17, 2010 - 06:57pm PT
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once again cc you wouldn't know a liberal if he bit you on the ass. most supposed "liberals" posting here are centrists - that is how far out on the fringe republicans have taken the 'discussion.'
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