US Unemployment Rises while Indian GDP Increasess

The US economy is crumbling, no matter what the politicians tell you, the fragile economy of the USA still collapsing, right in front of our eyes, the difference is that some people -very few, unfortunately- actually have the brains to recognize it, to accept it and to act accordingly; the majority, live in "lala" land and are too lazy to do some research about it.

Live Blog on the Deficit Fight - Washington Wire - WSJ

No formal deal to avert a U.S. default is done, though Democratic and Republican leaders appear to be headed toward a resolution during Washington’s Sunday evening. Meanwhile, some currency dealers and strategists in Sydney said if a final deal on the ceiling is reached, any dollar rally will be short lived given the risk of a credit downgrade and a dire underlying economy.

"It's still very possible that the U.S. could still lose its AAA sovereign rating," said Richard Grace, chief currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

From: http://ping.fm/7Qizd

Reid Approves U.S. Debt Agreement Pending OK From Caucus - Bloomberg

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeSenate Majority Leader Harry Reid has approved a tentative agreement with Republican leaders and the Obama administration to raise the U.S. debt ceiling pending approval by fellow Senate Democrats, according to a spokesman.
“Senator Reid has signed off on the debt-ceiling agreement pending caucus approval,” Reid communications director Adam Jentleson said in a statement.
Congressional leaders and the Obama administration negotiated to finish the details of the agreement to raise the debt ceiling, paving the way for possible votes in the Senate tonight and the House tomorrow on a plan to avert a U.S. default and calm market concerns.

The American Nightmare: People Beging to lash out

Excellent video about the REAL AMERICAN life that California is living as we speak. I congratulate George4Title for exposing the truth! His videos are becoming more mature, more informative, and, he is looking thinner and healthier. Good for you, G4T, keep the videos coming, please.

Childhood virus kills 70 in Vietnam - Yahoo! News

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — A health official says a surging outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease in Vietnam has killed 70 people so far this year and infected more than 23,000, mostly children under 5.
Nguyen Van Binh, head of the Ministry of Health's Department of Preventive Medicine, was quoted by Thanh Nien newspaper as saying most of the cases have been reported in the country's south.

Pilgrim's Pride closing chicken plant in Dallas | CanadianBusiness.com

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) — Pilgrim's Pride says it's closing a chicken processing plant in Dallas, eliminating 1,000 jobs, as it looks for ways to cut costs.
The Greeley, Colo.-based company said Friday that the plant would be closed within 60 days. It said production from the plant would be shifted to several of its other facilities in the area, including the processing and prepared-foods plants in Mount Pleasant, Texas.

Boston Scientific to Reduce Staff by up to 1400 - ABC News

Medical device maker Boston Scientific Corp. reported better-than-expected earnings for the second quarter Thursday and announced it would reduce its staff by between 5 and 6 percent to streamline operations.

The company announced a global restructuring program to eliminate unnecessary administrative positions and automate some production work. The company expects to shed between 1,200 and 1,400 employees by the end of 2013 through layoffs and attrition. Boston Scientific expects the cuts to save between $225 million and $275 million annually, some of which will be invested in other areas of the company. The company didn't specify which divisions would be cut.

Merck to lay off thousands more by 2015 | newsobserver.com blogs

Merck plans to slash up to 13,000 more jobs by 2015, the latest large pharmaceutical corporation seeking to offset slowing sales by cutting costs.
Merck expects to continue hiring in growth areas of its business, including emerging markets. The company also will stick with expansion plans at its massive Durham operations, which packages and eventually will grow vaccines to protect against chicken pox and other diseases.
Officials expect to hire more than 150 people at that campus this year, adding to the 450 jobs created during the past few years.

Tour de France champ Evans keen to ride at Olympics - Yahoo! News

Image by Ride On! via Flickr

Tour de France champion Cadel Evans would love to ride for Australia at the London Olympics, but only if the course is tough enough.
The 34-year-old fulfilled his lifelong quest by securing the Tour de France title on Sunday in a victory celebrated as one of Australia's finest sporting achievements.
Already a triple Olympian, the 34-year-old would be a major drawcard at London 2012 if he makes the team.
A key issue is whether the road race and time trial courses will be challenging enough to suit his strengths.
"To be honest, I don't know if the course is going to be suitable," Evans told Australian Associated Press from his base in Switzerland.

Freedom Files Radio Bob Chapman Interview

Mr. Bob Chapman talks about the US debt ceiling, Norway, America collapsing and more issues of financial interest for all.

HSBC may cut more than 10,000 jobs: report - Yahoo! Finance

HONG KONG/LONDON - Banking group HSBC Holdings Plc may cut more than 10,000 jobs as part of its plan to slash costs by up to $3.5 billion a year, Sky News reported Thursday.

New HSBC Chief Executive Stuart Gulliver in May announced a far-reaching plan to cut costs and revive flagging profits by exiting dozens of countries and refocusing on its areas of strength.

Gulliver did not say how many jobs would go as part of the cuts, but analysts expect the bank to axe thousands from its 300,000 global workforce.

Expext More Job Cuts at Credit Suisse, After Investment Banking Takes a Knock - The Source - WSJ

Market reality is catching up with Credit Suisse, which today said it plans to save CHF1 billion next year, largely through job cuts, after profits collapsed at its investment bank in the second quarter.

Credit Suisse’s investment banking unit did better than most of its peers during the financial markets crisis, and recovered from it faster than rivals.
Ear

Mexican Chocolate Better than Chinese Chocolate

There is no money in the world you would give me to make me eat Chinese chocolate! This article on Science Daily is non-sense and deserves thumbs down. I would expect more from SD, not this kind of poor "scientific journalism."
The authors of the "study" are wasting their time conducting low level /low budget "research" studies.

The authors found that the answer seems to depend on whether the information is favorable or not. In the chocolate study, undergraduates were given unbranded squares of Trader Joe's chocolates to taste. Half of the participants were told the chocolate was made in Switzerland; the remaining students were told the chocolate was made in China. But some were told this information before eating the chocolate and some were told afterwards. 

GO MEXICAN CHOCOLATE!

Related articles

• Chinese Chocolate? Tastier Than Swiss? (abcnews.go.com)
• Taste Test: Swiss Chocolate vs. Made in China (livescience.com)
• Does Chinese chocolate taste better than Swiss? Depends on when you find out (eurekalert.org)

Postal Service mulls closing 3,700 post offices - Business - US business - msnbc.com

Image by MoneyBlogNewz via Flickr

The 3,653 post offices under review for closure include urban centers such as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, as well as small towns from Plymouth, Mass., to Wallula, Wash. The Postal Service is calling them “low activity,” defined by low foot traffic, average sales of less than $50 per day and less than two hours of work per day. Most are located within five miles of another post office location. About 3,000 of them bring in less than $27,500 in annual revenue.
In place of a dedicated post office, the Postal Service is proposing that pharmacies and other retailers sell stamps, flat-rate packaging and other products, a concept it’s calling the “Village Post Office.”

Indignant Spanish Unemployment Revolution Strike

Spaniards are mad at their government due to the massive unemployment and poverty their country is facing. They are out on the streets protesting and threatening with starting a revolution. What I don´t like is what one of the girls being interviewed said: "We are becoming like those countries from Latin America, like Paraguay and Mexico..."
I have a message for you, little girl: Take a chill pill, live within your means, learn how to farm, learn how to fight your own fight without bringing other countries into your problems, and finally, don´t worry, you will be assimilated anyways, with or without revolution. So there. Want some Mexican tequila?

Greece Will Default Moody Downgrades

Ouch! Things are getting there, on the edge. Have you been listening?

"The announced EU programme along with the Institute of International Finance's statement implies that the probability of a distressed exchange, and hence a default, on Greek government bonds is virtually 100 percent," the agency said in a statement.
"(Greece's) stock of debt will still be well in excess of 100 percent of GDP for many years and it will still face very significant implementation risks to fiscal and economic reform," it added.
"The support package sets a precedent for future restructurings should the finances of another euro area sovereign become as problematic as those of Greece," Moody's said.

Read article on BBC UK

Related articles

• How Greece's Ongoing Drama Could Undo the Euro (time.com)
• Greek bailout deal: What the experts say (guardian.co.uk)

Layoffs, Layoffs Everywhere You Look There Are Layoffs

The competition for jobs in the United States is absolutely brutal right now, and it is about to get worse. A new wave of layoffs is sweeping across America. During tough economic times, Wall Street favors companies that are able to cut costs, and the fastest way to "cut costs" is to eliminate employees. After a period of relative stability, the employment picture in the U.S. is starting to get bleaker again. New applications for unemployment benefits have now been above 400,000 for 15 straight weeks. Finding a good job is kind of like winning the lottery in this economy. Our federal government and the state governments have made it incredibly complicated and extremely expensive to have employees on the payroll. It is getting harder and harder to get a large enough return to justify the time and expense that hiring employees requires. So many firms now find themselves trying to do more with the employees that they already have. Other companies are turning to temp agencies as a way to reduce costs and increase workplace flexibility. A lot of the big corporations are sending as much work as they can overseas where the wages are far lower and where the regulatory environment is much simpler. All of this is really bad news for American workers that just want good jobs that will enable them to provide for their families.

Cadel Evans Tour de France Winner

Cadel Evans is the new king of the Tour de France, at the age of 34 he conquered what he has been wanting for long time: to win the Tour de France.
My most sincere respect goes to this excellent pro-cyclist for what he did this year.

Aussies...CELEBRATE!!!!

Alberto Contador Hits a Fan on the Face in the Tour de France 2011

I am not an Alberto Contador fan at all, but I have to admit that sometimes some crazy Tour de France fanatics go there to try to disrupt the race in some way, and in sometimes it can be a dangerous one, where the  professional cyclist´s safety is in jeopardy, even his life.
I dislike people who criticizes cycling and doping all the frigging time. If you don´t like cycling one hundred percent, DON´T GO TO THE RACES!

It is not that I agree with what Contador did though. I know that what the "fan" did was wrong, but Contador didn´t have to hit him like that. He is professional cyclist and he is supposed to be able to handle this kind of problem without creating violence. BUT, what can we expect from Contador? It seems that all he knows what to do with his hands is some sort of violence, like the hand-gun shooting celebration thingie.

Related articles

• Alberto Contador Punched A Heckler In The Face While Racing In The Tour De France Today (businessinsider.com)
• Alberto Contador Punches Fan (sports.gunaxin.com)

Somalia Faces Famine Children Deaths from Hunger and Thirst

The worst humanitarian disaster in the world: Somalia´s famine, while the elite of the world is terribly preoccupied (sarcasm intended) about how to steal more land and precious metals from several countries of the world, constantly interested in creating wars and human and civil dislocations through out different strategic regions, millions of people around the globe face famine.

WARNING: The video contains graphic images that could not be suitable for very sensitive people. If you are going through any kind of anxiety or sadness period in your life, I advice you NOT TO WATCH this video.

Related articles

• Explainer: Famine in Somalia - The Guardian (news.google.com)
• Somalia:UN stands by Somalia 'famine' declaration, cites evidence (laaska.wordpress.com)
• Somalia Famine (oliverwillis.com)

Amy Winehouse Dies Drug Overdose Probable Cause

I am deeply saddened for her death. This is a very sad news for all her fans around the world. Amy Winehouse dies at the age of 27, leaving a musical treasure behind that will make us remember her for many many years to come.
Rest in peace, Amy Winehouse.

My musical heart takes a moment of silence to honor her.

Paramedics discovered her at her north London home yesterday at around 4pm yesterday, but were unable to help.

Her death follows years of widely-publicised addiction to drugs and alcohol, which saw Winehouse fade from the height of her musical success and become more talked-about for her physical decline.

Cadel Evans Wins Tour de France 2011

It was an exciting Individual Time Trial today. I wouldn´t have thought possible that Cadel Evans was going to pass Andy Schleck in the general classification, but oh man, oh man, he did, and in what way!
Cadel Evans showed what a professional cyclist should be all about, with courage, not only physical but mental strength, power, energy, perfect position on the bike, perfect way managing the bicycle on the road. Cadel Evans was INCREDIBLE!

I feel bad for Andy Schleck. I really wanted him to win the tour, but it´s obvious that he needs to prepare better and maybe putting some muscles on those skinny legs for next Tour de France 2012 would be a good idea.
I´m just happy, very happy that Alberto Contador didn´t win this tour and will not occupy a place on the podium, so I don´t have to see his hand-gun shooting thingie.

My hat if off to Cadel Evans, new King of the Tour de France!

I Want to Live Forever Song

One of my favorite songs and videos this year. Love the way Magnus Carlson sings and dances this song. It's abso-frigging-lutely fantastic. And, it makes feel positive about life and energetic...ready to climb the steepest mountain, to pedal my bike at 100 rpm the longest flat...hahahahaha....why not?!

...and it makes want to live FOREVER!



I will live forever
If you always keep me in your mind
And it doesn't matter

Fatal Oslo bombing rocks government HQ - World - CBC News

Norwegian police are sending anti-terrorism officers to a political youth camp outside Oslo amid reports of a shooting, hours after a huge explosion at government headquarters killed at least two people and injured 15.

The news site VG reported that a man dressed in a police uniform opened fire at the camp, which is a youth convention for the Norway Labor Party, the ruling party.

VG said several people were injured, and a Norway Labor Party spokesman confirmed the injuries to The Associated Press.

Contador Cracks Andy Schleck Wins

THOUGHTS ON ALBERTO CONTADOR AND ANDY SCHLECK

Alberto Contador has been a great climber until now, today he cracked. I still don't think that he is near as consistant as Lance was at climbing and Contador doesn´t look as good as Armstrong dancing on the pedals.

Contador lacks of the intimidation factor. He has all this raw talent but I don't think any of his rivals are scared of him. Just about everyone feared Lance and when Lance attacked it was game over even his biggest rival Jan Ullrich who had some of the biggest guts never could solve the Lance factor and Ullrich was maybe the best of his time if Lance just happen to not ride a bike.

Contador it's almost like he just does enough to get by like at last years tour, barely edging Schleck out by what 39 seconds.

Layoffs Deepen Gloom - WSJ.com

Companies are laying off employees at a level not seen in nearly a year, hobbling the job market and intensifying fears about the pace of the economic recovery.

Cisco Systems Inc., Lockheed Martin Corp. and troubled bookstore chain Borders Group Inc. are among those that have recently announced hefty cuts, while recent government numbers underscore how companies have shifted toward cutting jobs.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Closing Great Falls office, consolidating with Helena

HELENA, Mont. — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana says it is closing a Great Falls facility and consolidating it with its headquarters in Helena.

Blue Cross says some of the 50 affected employees will have the option of transferring to the new location. The company expects to finish the transition by year's end.

200 Gap Stores Will Close over next 2 years - Fosters

In its earnings reports and conference call, Gap Inc. said it would shutter as many as 200 stores over the next two years, but it is unclear what, if any, impact there will be on New Hampshire.

In its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the quarter ended April 30, officials said they were expecting to close 125 stores across the country during fiscal 2011. They also said they're looking to open 125 new company-operated stores.

Bad Romance For Lady Gaga

I am crazy about Lady Gaga´s music, dancing, fashion, rhythm. Her music is perfect for my cycling training. All her songs are unique, happy, energetic. I cannot understand why some people might not like her. She is perfect. She is just perfect.

Lockheed Announces 6500 Layoffs - Defense News

Image via WikipediaLockheed Martin Corporation announced July 19 that it would be offering a voluntary layoff program to 6,500 employees.

The employees, representing the entire workforce at corporate headquarters and other business services staff, will have until August 12 to volunteer. The company will decide in mid-August if involuntary layoffs are necessary.

"It is not targeted, it is very broad," Jennifer Whitlow, a spokesperson for Lockheed, said.

Chemical Depot Closure 1000 Layoffs in east Ore. - Northwest McClatchy - bellinghamherald.com

Exert from article

About 1,000 people will lose their jobs when the Army finishes work at the Umatilla Chemical Depot, and Eastern Oregon is poised to feel the economic fallout.

The East Oregonian reports an Army demilitarization contractor is expected to finish destroying chemical munitions at the depot in November.
After that, security guards, military lead

Newark Cop: "I can do whatever the hell I want"

While the consequences of his actions were not as horrific as those of the San Francisco police department over the weekend, this Newark, New Jersey police officer provides us a glimpse into the culture that seems to be pervading police departments across the United States. While there are no doubt great officers out there – those who understand what the Constitution stands for and the importance of ensuring that the Rule of Law is protected – it is the bad apples, who act not as servants of the people, but rather, agents of tyranny, that have lead the majority of Americans to distrust law enforcement in general.

Author: Mac Slavo
Date: July 19th, 2011
Website: www.SHTFplan.com

From: http://ping.fm/hBAF2

Don't Mess With Windy Murdoch

A protester rushed at Rupert Murdoch as he gave testimony to British lawmakers Tuesday, setting off a scuffle and spattering Murdoch with what appeared to be white foam in a foil pie dish in a shocking interruption of a hearing into the phone hacking scandal that's rocked the media baron's global empire.

After more than two hours of testimony, a man in a plaid shirt appeared to run toward Murdoch before being struck by his wife Wendi Deng.

Europe steps back from the abyss, for a day - Telegraph

Image by UggBoy♥UggGirl [ PHOTO // WORLD // TRAVEL ] via FlickrEurope avoids the inevitable for a day, folks, A DAY, how ridiculous can this be. And the "smartest" govern-ants of the world tell us "we are in a recovery since 2009"?! -Dr. Martha Castro, MD

The European Union has reached "crunch time" in the words of George Papandreou, Greece's despondent premier. Its leaders can longer allow themselves the luxury of "indecisiveness, errors and tactical politics" as the debt crisis engulfs 40pc of the eurozone's economy and almost half its population.

"Let us be clear: if there is no relief we are going straight into the abyss," said Romano Prodi, Italy's ex-premier and former head of the European Commission.

Borders Closing 399 Stores for Good - MarketWatch

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- After a failed attempt to find a buyer, bankrupt bookstore operator Borders Group Inc. BGPIQ -32.96% said late Monday it will sell its store assets to liquidation firms Hilco and Gordon Brothers and submit a liquidation plan for bankruptcy-court approval. The bookstore operator, the U.S.'s second largest after Barnes & Noble Inc. BKS -0.35% , operates 399 stores and employs about 10,700.

Cisco to cut 6,500 jobs, including MEXICO - MarketWatch

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Cisco Systems Inc. announced Monday that it plans to cut 6,500 employees, as part of efforts to lower costs.

The tech bellwether also said it was moving another 5,000 jobs to Foxconn Technology Group, as part of a sale of its manufacturing facility for set-top boxes in Mexico.

Ecobici in Mexico DF City Bicycles

Mexico, DF has developed a bicycling program for their residents so they don't have to depend on automobiles as the only form of transportation through out the city. It is a modern and innovative cycling system that many European countries have been using for quite awhile already, and it is a fantastic news that Mexico City has started to do it as well.
This is going to change people, promote the sport and a healthier way of transportation. Hopefully, this will succeed and expand to other cities and states across the nation.

ECOBICI

Urban living: Downtown Los Angeles horrors - latimes.com

By Mike Armstrong
July 17, 2011
"Look, Daddy, that man's going to the bathroom!"

No, not the words any daddy wants to hear from his 10-year-old daughter, especially during a stroll through their brand-new neighborhood.

Moving my wife and kids into a downtown Los Angeles loft may not win me "Dumbest Dad of the Year" honors, but it should at least get me into the quarterfinals. The loft itself was great. More like a movie set than an apartment. High ceilings, new appliances, breathtaking views and a deck with a Jacuzzi that was used at least once every six months during our year there. It wasn't what was inside the building that broke the deal; it was what was out there on the mean and strange streets of downtown Los Angeles.

Why we moved there is academic. More space for less money, a new environment, cool restaurants and various other meaningless enticements. I got sucked in; I was wrong, and I admit it. I've apologized to everybody involved, and I will continue to do so until I am either dead or forgiven. In the meantime, let me tell you about my downtown L.A.

US Corn Crop Outlook: Higher On Worries About Midwest Heat Wave

Growing concerns about U.S. corn belt weather and the potential for crop damage is expected to push corn futures higher Friday.

Traders predict Chicago Board of Trade futures will open 3 to 5 cents higher. In overnight trade, corn for September delivery was up 5 1/4 cents, or 0.76%, to $6.96 per bushel and December corn was up 5 1/4 cents to $6.83 3/4.

Prices overcame early weakness in the overnight session thanks to worries about the crop and hot temperatures.

"From a fundamental standpoint, the market cares about only one thing right now: the weather, which remains hot and in many areas dry as the crop pollinates," said Bryce Knorr, senior editor of Farm Futures.

Tour de France Stage 14 Vanendert Jelle Won

Vanendert Jelle won today´s stage, climbing the famous Plateau de Beille way ahead of the peloton. I just could't believe that nobody of the main cyclists, like Andy, Frank nor Cadel gave their best to accelerate and live Contador behind. That was disappointing.

I am starting to miss those times with Lance Armstrong, Jan Ulrich and way back with Marco Pantani (RIP). THOSE were good times!

General Classification after Stage 14

1  VOECKLER, Thomas (EUROPCAR)                     61h 04' 10"
2  SCHLECK, Frank (LEOPARD-TREK)                     + 01' 49"
3  EVANS, Cadel (BMC RACING)                         + 02' 06"
4  SCHLECK, Andy (LEOPARD-TREK)                      + 02' 15"
5  BASSO, Ivan (LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE)                 + 03' 16"
6  SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Samuel (EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI)      + 03' 44"
7  CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto (SAXO BANK SUNGARD)     + 04' 00"
8  CUNEGO, Damiano (LAMPRE - ISD)                    + 04' 01"
9  DANIELSON, Thomas (GARMIN-CERVELO)                + 05' 46"
10 DE WEERT, Kevin (QUICKSTEP)                       + 06' 18

Free Food and Free Medical Advice in Bayou La Batre | BAYOU LA BATRE, Alabama

BAYOU LA BATRE, Alabama - An up-and-coming non-profit group wants to make healthy living fun and affordable for the Gulf Coast. They call themselves "A Servant's Love" (ASL), and set up shop in Bayou La Batre Saturday in hopes of reaching the people who need it most.

"This community has been hit so hard by the hurricanes and the BP oil spill," said Lisa Davis, a board member of ASL. "So you have a lot of people that are economically challenged."

You could even say it was a healthy way to 'Trick or Treat'. Participants filled eco-friendly bags with fresh produce, bread, and even toilet paper. And it was all free.

The Art Of Cycling Video

This is definitely one of my favorite cycling videos, because it expresses exactly what cycling is all about.
Cycling is my life, my passion, my medicine, my inspiration...cycling is all this and more, much more that cannot be said in simple words.
One needs to absolutely and totally be in love with cycling to understand how it feels the exaltation in the body, the veins, the muscles, the mind and the soul when pedaling the bicycle along the roads of the world.

US Dallas Texas Robbery at Gunpoint

Crime is rampant all across the US. Cities like Dallas are no exception. People who have been preparing since 2006 when the financial downturn started, installed cameras on the outside walls of their property as a form of vigilance and crime prevention.
The unemployment in the United States of America is increasing and so it is the violence and criminality. This video is another proof of that.

Andy Frank Schelck Tour-de France

Don´t you dare to miss tomorrow´s stage of this exciting Tour de France edition 2011. It is going to be EXCITING. Oh, I cannot wait to go to bed and wake up to enjoy the Tour, and see them suffer, sweating, climbing that Hors Catégorie (HC) mountain that has created several cycling heroes, like Lance Armstrong in 2002 and 2004, Pantani (The Pirate) in 1998.

The Plateau de Beille is a very steep climb and to conquer it the cyclist needs to be in perfect physical and mental condition. The cyclist needs to have his spirit embedded in it, guts to fight the fighters, muscles and cadence to dance on the bike, guts to keep on going without giving up and healthy lungs  to inhale all the oxygen that exists in that beautiful place.

Good luck to all, but specially to Andy and Frank Schleck, my favorite brothers (I love the Schlecks so much that I named 2 cats that I rescued, Andy and Franky). So, THEY BETTER WIN!

Thousands of Layoffs in Connecticut Judicial Services among many slashed by Malloy's budget plan - GreenwichTime

Malloy's plan calls for 6,560 job cuts. That figure, however, includes layoffs, retirements and the elimination of vacant full-time positions. It does not include part-time and durational employees who received pink slips.
While the bulk of the job cuts will come from layoffs, ultimately it appears there will be far fewer than the 7,500 layoffs Malloy had once warned of. Final figures are not yet available because some people could retire instead of being laid off, but the budget-cutting plans indicate the final number of layoffs could be around 4,300.
The Judicial Branch's plan eliminates 452 employees and is anticipated to reduce expenditures by $38.4 million.

Americans Do Anything For Money

More Americans than ever are desperate for money and many of them will do just about anything to get it.  The crumbling U.S. economy has pushed millions of ordinary Americans to the brink of utter desperation.  When it comes time to choose between being able to survive or breaking the law, many people are choosing to break the law.  These days it seems like Americans will do just about anything for money.  All over the country, there are areas where just about anything that is not bolted down is being stolen.  A lot of people have resorted to making money however they can - selling drugs, selling their bodies, shoplifting, invading homes, taking bribes, running credit card scams and even stealing from their own family members.  You will have a hard time believing some of the things that you are about to read below.  When people have their backs pushed up against the wall, often they find that they are willing to do things that they never imagined that they would do.  Things are getting crazy out there on the streets of America, and as the economy continues to decline things are going to get a lot crazier.

The following are 15 examples that show many Americans have become so desperate that they will do just about anything for money....

#1 In Utah, one unemployed 28 year old man is offering to be "human prey" for hunters for the bargain price of $10,000.  For an additional $2,000, he will let people hunt him down while he is running around naked.

#2 The Huffington Post is reporting that there has been an epidemic of air conditioning thefts all over the United States....

Across the country, in states like Illinois, Texas, Arizona, Georgia and Florida, there have been reports of thieves stealing unsecured air conditioning units weighing as much as 125 pounds.

#3 In Corpus Christi, Texas thieves have actually been breaking into funeral homes in order to steal the embalming fluid.

CEO of WSJ Parent Resigns Amid News Corp SCANDAL - CNBC

Rupert Murdoch accepted the resignation of the Wall Street Journal's publisher and the chief of his British operations on Friday as the once-defiant media mogul struggled to control an escalating phone hacking scandal with a public statement of contrition and a personal apology to the family of a murdered schoolgirl.

The scandal has knocked billions off the value of Murdoch's News Corp. [NWSA 15.64 0.205 (+1.33%) ], scuttled his ambitions to take control of lucrative British Sky Broadcasting, withered his political power in Britain — and is threatening to destabilize his globe-spanning business.

S&P Threatens Broad Downgrade of Finance Companies - CNBC

Standard & Poor's Friday put a broad range of financial firms on negative credit watch, warning they could all be downgraded if the United States has its credit rating cut.

The S&P [.SPX 1316.14 7.27 (+0.56%) ] action takes in Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac , all "AAA"-rated insurers, clearinghouses, fixed-income and exchange-traded funds and hedge funds, some Federal Home Loan Banks and Farm Credit System Banks, among others.

IMF Warns on Europe's Banks tests - WSJ.com

The International Monetary Fund warned Thursday that Europe's banks remain insufficiently funded, a day before officials release details about how well the banks can withstand financial shocks.

t is "critically important to put in place and immediately publicize credible plans" to deal with failing banks, the IMF said. The comments are made in a paper prepared for a meeting of deputy ministers from the Group of 20 industrialized and developing nations last week. The paper was published by the IMF Thursday.

The fund also called the risks of not resolving the Greek crisis "severe" and said "a greater sense of urgency is needed to address the crisis and reduce the risks of contagion." European officials are still negotiating exactly how to finance an estimated €104 billion ($147 billion) funding gap for Athens.

Bally Total Fitness Club closing in Fort Lauderdale - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

The Bally Total Fitness Club at 750 W. Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale will close Friday.

The fitness company's lease has ended, and Bally officials said there are no plans to open at a new location.

Gym members can use their memberships at the seven other locations in South Florida or others nationwide, a company official said. The Bally Total Fitness at 959 E. Commercial Blvd. in Oakland Park and 2701 S. University Drive in Davie are the nearest locations.

Most employees from the closing gym will transfer to other locations in South Florida.

No other gyms within the company will close or be affected by the closing.

From: http://ping.fm/XFoQq

Borders on Brink of Liquidation - WSJ.com

Borders, which employs nearly 11,000 people, designated a group of liquidators as the opening bidders in a looming bankruptcy-court auction amid difficulties getting publishers to relax terms under which they ship merchandise to the U.S.'s second-largest bookstore chain, said people familiar with the matter.

The development raises the prospect that Borders will soon close all its remaining 399 stores and go out of business. No other suitors have so far emerged for Borders ahead of a Sunday bidding deadline.

Borders's deal with the investor, Jahm Najafi, unraveled Wednesday after publishers and landlords owed money from the company complained that his bid would allow him to liquidate the bookstore chain after buying the business.

From: http://ping.fm/PeNmj

The Fall of the American Empire

The American Empire is crumbling and I am not laughing. This could be disastrous for the world if the Chinese Empire emerges instead.

It is my hope, that the United States of America comes to its senses, admits its mistakes and lets the power go down little by little, willingly, without fighting it, with dignity. Then, the world might have a chance to recover some happiness and stability without the dangers of a global dictatorship.

You better read this interesting article. It explains the probabilities of a US default just beautifully.

A U.S. default isn't a matter of "if" but "when," David Murrin, chief investment officer at Emergent Asset Management, told CNBC.
"It's inevitable that the U.S. will default—it's essentially an empire which is overextended and in decline—and that its financial system will go with it," he said.

400-500 layoff notices to go out | WTNH.com Connecticut

The Malloy adminstration says between four and five hundred layoff notices will be out by the end of the day tomorrow, with an official count by agency to be released by Thursday.

400-500 layoff notices to go out: wtnh.com

No numbers yet on cutbacks in the State Police, but the amount of money the Governor wants cut from the public safety department translates into over 300 jobs.

The head of the state police union says that the state is already under the statute mandated 1,248 troopers.

Drug Shortages Often Delay Care at Hospitals

Prescription drug shortages always or frequently delay patient care at 20% of the nation's hospitals, and at 11%, patients often receive a less-effective medication, according to a new survey by the American Hospital Association.

Virtually every hospital (99.5%) reported experiencing a shortage of at least 1 drug in the last 6 months. For 44% of hospitals, 21 drugs or more were in short supply.

Homeless in America Minneapolis Part One

Reality bites, but we gotta face it, we like it or not!

Lady Gaga Judas Video Lyrics

Lady Gaga, the Lady of energy and modern dancing. Gotta love her or else. This song goes with my daily road bicycle training. Lady brings my heart rate up to 180 when I´m on my bike.


Woah woah woah woah woah

I'm in love with Juda-as, Juda-as
Woah woah woah woah woah
I'm in love with Juda-as, Juda-as
Judas Juda-ah-as
Judas Juda-ah-as
Judas Juda-ah-as
Judas Gaga

US Navy to Cut Jobs Amid Recession-Driven Sailor Surplus - FoxNews.com

With more sailors staying in the military amid a slumping economic recovery, the U.S. Navy is taking the unprecedented step of firing midlevel service members to help rein in spending.
The Navy plans to let go of 3,000 sailors with between seven and 14 years of experience after economic uncertainty put the service in the unusual position of having a manpower surplus.
The move comes as a new government report shows that the unemployment rate ticked up to 9.2 percent -- marking 29 straight months that number has been over 8 percent and a record streak since the Great Depression.

NYT: Drought in 14 states means disaster for many - US news - The New York Times - msnbc.com

The heat and the drought are so bad in this southwest corner of Georgia that hogs can barely eat. Corn, a lucrative crop with a notorious thirst, is burning up in fields. Cotton plants are too weak to punch through soil so dry it might as well be pavement.
Farmers with the money and equipment to irrigate are running wells dry in the unseasonably early and particularly brutal national drought that some say could rival the Dust Bowl days.
“It’s horrible so far,” said Mike Newberry, a Georgia farmer who is trying grow cotton, corn and peanuts on a thousand acres. “There is no description for what we’ve been through since we started planting corn in March.”
The pain has spread across 14 states, from Florida, where severe water restrictions are in place, to Arizona, where ranchers could be forced to sell off entire herds of cattle because they simply can’t feed them.
In Texas, where the drought is the worst, virtually no part of the state has been untouched. City dwellers and ranchers have been tormented by excessive heat and high winds. As they have been in the southwest, wildfires are chewing through millions of acres.
Last month, the United States Department of Agriculture designated 213 of the 254 counties in Texas as natural-disaster areas. More than 30 percent of the state’s wheat fields might be lost, adding pressure to a crop in short supply globally.

BBC cost-reduction plan may cut 3,000 employees - MarketWatch

The British Broadcasting Corp. could cut 3,000 staff over the next five years to cut costs amid a freeze in the U.K. licence fee, the Sunday Times reports without citing any sources.

The report said the BBC will submit a 20% budget reduction plan to the BBC Trust in the autumn that will see a sharp cut in its 17,000-strong permanent workforce.

Evans looking good at Tour de Carnage - Cycling - Yahoo! Sports

THIEZAC, France (AP)—With his self-confidence at an all-time high and luck finally on his side, Australia’s Cadel Evans could achieve something special on this year’s Tour de France.

Evans, a two-time Tour de France runner-up, has survived a crash-marred first week of racing which saw several contenders bow out of the race. He stands third in the overall standings, the best placing among the favorites.

The BMC team leader finished behind Alberto Contador in 2007 while Carlos Sastre beat him in 2008. Last year, he wore the yellow jersey but broke his left elbow and had to be content with a 26th-place finish on the Champs Elysees.

China´s U.S.-listed stocks are junk Craig Stephen's This Week in China - MarketWatch

By Craig Stephen
HONG KONG (MarketWatch) — By now, everyone has heard of the Muddy Waters research alleging fraud at Sino-Forest that tripped up investor John Paulson.

Yet when this report arrived in my inbox last week, it was still an eye-opener, reading more like an Interpol indictment than a mosaic of analysis. It begins by asserting Sino-Forest is like Bernie Madoff, a rare fraud committed by an established institution, before estimating this Ponzi scheme overstates assets by $900 million.

Flecha Crash Tour De France

Juan Antonio Flecha was hit by a French Tour de France car.


Flecha Crash - Tour de France stage 9 por cyclingvids

Live Report Tour de France - Stage 9 | Cyclingnews.com

The remaining three go through the intermediate sprint without competing for it.
Hoogerland gets some more gauze applied. He is dripping blood. Looks like he totally ripped up his legs on the barbed wire fence.

From: http://ping.fm/zAB0s

Rampant Unemployment = The Death Of The Middle Class ? 40 Facts That Prove The Working Class Is Being Systematically Wiped Out

Without an abundance of good jobs, the middle class in the United States is going to shrivel up and die. Right now, rampant unemployment is absolutely killing communities all over America. Hopelessness and poverty are exploding and many are now wondering if we are actually witnessing the slow death of the middle class. There simply are not nearly enough "good jobs" to go around anymore, and even many in the mainstream media are referring to this as a "long-term structural problem" with the economy.

Famine in Africa Spreads Deadly Diseases

The Continent of Africa is experimenting an incredible and rapid increase in starvation and famine, accompanied with a terrible spread of deadly diseases and lack of medicine and medical personal to attend the suffering. 

The amount of people dying from hunger and thirst on a daily basis throughout Africa is staggering.

US government admits arming Mexican drug gangs with 30,000 firearms - but why?

(NaturalNews) It is now a widely-reported fact that under the Obama administration, U.S. federal agents actively placed over 30,000 fully-functional weapons into the hands of Mexican drug gangs, then halted all surveillance and tracking activities of where those weapons were going.

This is not a conspiracy theory, nor a piece of fiction. It is now an openly-admitted fact that this was pulled off by the BATFE (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, more commonly called "ATF") under orders from Washington. The program was called "Fast and Furious."

Cycling Crashes Tour de France Edition-1

These are the latest cycling crashes in Le Tour de France 2011 edition. Tom Boonen had severe scratches and torn muscles. Ivan Velasco got a broken collar bone and Brajkovic minor cuts.

Ivan Velasco

Janez Brajkovic

Tom Boonen

Gerald Celente - RTTV 07 July 2011

Interview worth watching, although I do not agree that we have entered the First World War of the Thrid Century, Gerald Celente has muy respect for sticking to his analysis on social trends.

U.S. Warns Airlines on Human Bomb Implants - WSJ.com

By KEITH JOHNSON And SIOBHAN GORMAN

Militants from al Qaeda's Yemeni branch are considering surgically implanting explosive devices in would-be suicide bombers, possibly with the aim of blowing up airliners, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

The new intelligence on plotting by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, considered the group's most dangerous affiliate, led the Obama administration to warn foreign governments and American and international airline executives over the past several days that terrorists might attempt to board planes with explosives concealed in their bodies.

Serial Killer Cyclist In Love Blood Trails

If you like horror movies (like I do) and you are a cyclist (like I am) you gotta  watch this movie. It´s a treat.

This has to be my favorite movie of the week, seriously. This is a serial killer who is a cyclist and kills with his beautiful MTB. He is obsessed, in lust, with a female cyclist whom he had sex with, the problem is that, the girl has a boyfriend (who happens to be a cyclist too) and of course, the killer gets jealous when she rejects him and goes after them, to kill the boyfriend and to "conquer" the girl of his dreams.

Mark Cavendish Tour de France Stage 5 Winner

Congratulations to the winner of the 5th stage of Le Tour de France 2011 edition: MARK CAVENDISH! He really put a strong fight.

El Cerrito Fire Station Closes - Lake Elsinore-Wildomar, CA Patch

After months of speculation, El Cerrito Fire Station 15 is closing, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department officials have announced.

The county and the City of Corona have entered into an agreement to pass rescue, emergency medical services and public service assists in the unincorporated community of El Cerrito to Corona. CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department will still jointly respond for fire protection.

Alberto Contador Loses to Cadel Evans

Alberto Contador did look like a total punk, a ridiculous pathetic sore loser, putting his arm up in victory. Really, he made a total fool out of himself. Anyways, I am happy to see Contador losing, especially to Cadel Evans. Priceless!

Half of TVs to Have Internet Connectivity by 2015 - CNBC

About 47 percent of total flat-panel televisions shipped in four years will have Internet connectivity, as manufacturers bet on the expansion of Netflix and direct-to-consumer offerings from content producers like Time Warner’s [TWX 36.88 -0.04 (-0.11%)] HBO.

This figure, about 138 million units, is up from 25 percent of flat panels with WiFi capability shipped this year, according to a quarterly report by DisplaySearch, a unit of research firm NPD group. By the end of 2015, more than 500 million connected TVs will be shipped, according to DisplaySearch.

Cadel Evans Wins Tour de France Stage 4

Bravo Cadel... YOU ARE DA MAN!

Job cuts at major banks intensify: IFR - CNBC

Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, Lloyds and RBS have been the first to move, slashing hundreds of banker positions in recent days. But the consensus seems to be growing within the industry that more banks will soon follow as falling revenues make cost-cutting more urgent.

"Nobody is really prepared for what might come," said one senior capital markets banker at a US firm in New York. "You can't even fill gaps in the business any more because investors expect you to be more disciplined; they are expecting a real focus on the short-term costs."

From: http://ping.fm/0g1fZ

US Number One? 20 Not So Good Categories That The United States Leads The World In

Is the United States "number one"? Many Americans take deep pride in their nation and the truth is that the U.S. has a lot going for it. The United States has the largest economy in the world. The United States also has the most powerful military on the entire planet. The United States has produced most of the greatest movies that the world has ever seen. But the United States is also number one in a lot of categories that are not go great. If we ever want to turn this country around, we need to be very honest with ourselves. We need to take a long, hard look in the mirror and realize that it is not a good thing that we are number one in divorce, drug addiction, debt, obesity, car thefts, murders and total crimes. We have become a slothful, greedy, decadent nation that is exhibiting signs of advanced decay. Until we understand just how bad our problems really are, we won't be able to come up with the solutions that we need.

Tour de France, Stage 2- How Do They Do That? | Team RadioShack Cycling News

55,645 Kilometers Per Hour! That’s 34.6 miles an hour. That’s the AVERAGE speed of Garmin-Cervélo in the short 23-kilometer (14.3 mile) Team Time Trial contested on the streets of Les Essarts, France on Sunday. Team RadioShack, just 10 seconds back, were close to that speed as well. Given the perfect convergence of a bunch of factors; the unusually short distance, relatively flat terrain, not very technical course (translation-not many tight turns), pretty fresh legs, and the leader’s yellow jersey in play, blistering speeds were predicted. But lets put that in perspective.

Contador could be in for the fight of his life

Perhaps it was a bad omen for Alberto Contador that the opening stage of the 2011 Tour de France started on the Passage du Gois. This is the ancient causeway across a tidal estuary that’s flooded twice a day and had big consequences when the Tour crossed it midway through stage 2 of the 1999 Tour, costing several pre-race favorites a six-minute time loss.

Tour de France Gilbert Philippe First Place

This is what I like about a bicycle race. I particularly loved it that this year Le Tour de France started with a stage that included a climbing mountain CAT 4, and excluded the infamous Time Trial. And the final results show it: Alberto Contador finished 1:20 minutes behind Philippe Gilbert and in 82nd place.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 1

1 GILBERT, Philippe (OMEGA PHARMA-LOTTO) 4h 41' 31"
2 EVANS, Cadel (BMC RACING) + 00' 03"
3 HUSHOVD, Thor (GARMIN-CERVELO) + 00' 06"
4 ROJAS GIL, Jose Joaquin (MOVISTAR)
5 VAN DEN BROECK, Jurgen (OMEGA PHARMA-LOTTO)
6 THOMAS, Geraint (SKY)
7 KLÖDEN, Andreas (RADIOSHACK)
8 TAARAMAE, Rein (COFIDIS, LE CREDIT EN LIGNE)
9 HORNER, Christopher (RADIOSHACK)

Related articles

• Gilbert takes Tour's opening stage (mirror.co.uk)
• Tour de France 2011 Live Coverage: Phillipe Gilbert Wins Stage 1; Alberto Contador Crashes, Loses Time (sbnation.com)

Tour de France 2011 is HERE

The most exciting cycling international race is here, and it's going on as I am typing. Only 54 kilometers to go, and so far everything is calm in this 192 km first stage.
My guy to win this one: Andy Schelck, and hope that Alberto Contador stays behind and finishes second. GO ANDY!

Gia Marie Carangi Woman of the Week

One beautiful quote I never forget. This was a burning point in Gia's life, unfortunately, it killed her. She'll always be missed.

"Life and death, energy and peace. If I stop today it was still worth it. Even the terrible mistakes that I made and would have unmade if I could. The pains that have burned me and scarred my soul, it was worth it, for having been allowed to walk where I've walked, which was to hell on earth, heaven on earth, back again, into, under, far in between, through it, in it, and above"

Minnesota Government Shuts Down - WSJ.com

By AMY MERRICK

Minnesota encountered its second government shutdown in six years on Friday as Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican lawmakers failed to reach a compromise on closing the state's $5 billion budget gap.

Meanwhile, lawmakers in Iowa averted a shutdown Thursday, and several other states waited for governors to finalize their budgets.

Without a two-year budget agreement in place, state parks and the Minnesota Zoo will be shut for the July 4 holiday weekend, nonemergency road construction will halt and thousands of state workers will be furloughed.

Burger King, other fast-food chains selling alcohol - USATODAY.com

In a bid to boost business, two Sonic restaurants in South Florida soon will sell beer and wine. The move follows Burger King "Whopper Bars" recently opened in Miami, Las Vegas and Kansas City that sell beer. Starbucks recently began to serve local beer and wine in a handful of Seattle stores.
In a tough economy, the move towards alcohol is a way to compete with casual dining — and can help boost typically slow evening business, says Ron Paul, president at Technomic, a restaurant consulting firm. "For consumers, it's basically about having it your way — even if it's having a beer with your burger."
But the trend has critics.