Listeria Found in Lettuce Too - in Public Health & Policy, FDA General from MedPage Today

By Cole Petrochko, Associate Staff Writer, MedPage Today
Published: September 30, 2011

Produce seller True Leaf Farms has recalled 2,498 cartons of chopped and bagged romaine lettuce because of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Inflation Hyperinflation Brought to you by Ben Bernanke!

The U.S. Federal Reserve will act if the economy weakens further and has the tools to do so, a top Fed official said on Friday.

St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said he expects the economy to grow modestly over the next year—though the sluggish pace leaves it vulnerable to shocks.

Over 1,000 workers face final Hanford work day - Mid-Columbia News | Tri-City Herald : Mid-Columbia news

Today or Friday will be the final day of Hanford nuclear reservation employment for more than 1,000 workers.

Friday is the last working day of fiscal 2011, but many Hanford workers are on an extended work day schedule that includes a day off every other Friday, which falls this week.

Israel scrambles IAF warplanes toward Turkish ship - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

Israel Defense Forces jet fighters were scrambled toward a Turkish seismic research ship in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkish media reported on Friday, in what seemed to be a further escalation in the already fraying ties between the once longtime allies.

Massive Union Just Voted To Side With The Wall Street Protesters

According to Daily Kos, The New York Transit Workers Union (TWU) voted to support the Wall Street Protestors at their meeting last night.

Nokia cuts another 3,500 jobs | ZDNet

Nokia said Thursday that it will cut another 3,500 jobs across the company as it tries to align its costs with falling market share.

In a statement, Nokia said that it will cut jobs in manufacturing, its location and commerce unit and the workers that support those efforts. CEO Stephen Elop said:

“We must take painful, yet necessary, steps to align our workforce and operations with our path forward.”

Interbike 2011 Cycling Brakes Evolving - BikeRadar

Call me oldie, but I prefer the old fashion brake cycling pads. I do not like the disc brakes, I hate them with all my heart; they are horrible. But, I am not trying to discredit Ashima brakes, there are many cyclists who prefer this kind of brakes and that is why they are making them. I just think that, when it comes to evolving in bicycle mechanics, I better stick to what I know how to fix myself. You know, it´s like owning a Volkswagen VS a 2011 all digital Audi car; I´d prefer the VW bug!

Detroit Prison Closes 2000 Layoffs to fill state budget gap | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

LANSING -- The Mound Road prison in Detroit will close, about 2,000 prison employees face layoffs and tens of thousands more state employees will get four unpaid days off in 2012, under budget-balancing plans announced Wednesday by the administration of Gov. Rick Snyder.

Placebo Controlled Trial of Cytisine for Smoking Cessation - NEJM

This is a very interesting article about the findings of Cytisine and how it helps smokers to quit the habit of inhaling tobacco. However, I am sure that if the smoker doesn´t have the true will to quit smoking, there is no pill nor treatment in the world that would stop him/her from doing so. But for studding purposes, this article is worth to read, analyze and discuss. 

Robert West, Ph.D., Witold Zatonski, M.D., Magdalena Cedzynska, M.A., Dorota Lewandowska, Ph.D., M.D., Joanna Pazik, Ph.D., M.D., Paul Aveyard, Ph.D., M.D., and John Stapleton, M.Sc.

N Engl J Med 2011; 365:1193-1200

Cytisine, a partial agonist that binds with high affinity to the α₄β₂nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, is a low-cost treatment that may be effective in aiding smoking cessation. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of cytisine as compared with placebo.


METHODS
We conducted a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Participants were randomly assigned to receive cytisine or matching placebo for 25 days;

Germany Greece Eurozone Banks Bailouts | ZeroHedge

Yes, Germany approved the changes to EFSF first announced back in July. That was fully expected and a No vote would have been a shocking disaster at this stage. The level of cynicism has hit a new high. I have heard a lot of chatter that now that Germany has jammed this through, they can stop pretending that they are against levering up the funds.

New Greek Property Tax Bill | Athens News

This threatens land and property home owners in Greece. Bad.

Greek lawmakers have passed a controversial new property tax bill that aims to boost revenue as the country struggles to meet its fiscal targets and gain approval for a critical installment of bailout loans that will prevent it from default.

Typhoon Hong Kong Closes Stock Market - Businessweek

Sept. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong shut financial markets, schools, courts and government offices, raising its highest storm signal in two years as Typhoon Nesat brought gale-force winds and rain into the city.

The typhoon, which killed at least 20 people in the Philippines, was centered about 350 kilometers (217 miles) south-southwest of Hong Kong, and is heading toward China’s Hainan Island, the city’s observatory said. The No. 8 gale signal will remain for most of the day, it said.

E. coli scare prompts Tyson to recall ground beef - USATODAY.com

"We encourage our customers to check their freezers and refrigerators," Dailey said.

CINCINNATI (AP) – Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. is recalling about 131,300 pounds of ground beef because a family in Ohio fell ill after eating meat produced by the company that was contaminated with E. coli, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Wednesday.

Obama Healthcare Law Appealed to Supreme Court - Yahoo! News

Obama´s Hellcare law is already finding great opposition, as it should be!





WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Twenty-six states and a small business group appealed on Wednesday to the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to strike down all of President Barack Obama's signature 2010 healthcare law.
The states and the National Federation of Independent Business said in separate appeals the entire law should be invalidated because Congress exceeded its powers requiring that Americans buy health insurance or face a penalty.

Somatic SF3B1 Mutation in Myelodysplasia with Ring Sideroblasts - NEJM

Doctors, you better read it and let me know you own conclusions, publicly on my blog or send me an email.

The myelodysplastic syndromes are a heterogeneous group of hematologic cancers characterized by low blood counts, most commonly anemia, and a risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia.1 These disorders have increased in prevalence and are expected to continue to do so.

Twelve Researchers Take Home Top Medals - ScienceInsider

Two mathematicians, a bevy of molecular biologists and a rocket scientist are among the winners of the highest honor that the United States bestows on researchers.

And the winners are:

NYC Public Employees 3500 Layoffs - NYTimes.com

ALBANY — The second-largest union of New York State employees has rejected a package of wage and benefits concessions negotiated by the Cuomo administration, blowing a hole in the state budget that could now prompt the largest wave of layoffs in two decades.

From: http://ping.fm/Be6dA

Crime Alerts Violent Crimes Up in Los Angeles USA - latimes.com

LIST OF MOST CITIES WITH HIGH VIOLENT CRIME ON THE RISE:

• Sherman Oaks
• Century City
• Silver Lake
• Sunland
• Eagle Rock
• South Park
• Beverly Grove
• Mid City
• Chesterfield Square
• Granada Hills
• Atwater Village

Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 11 L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times’ Crime L.A. database.

Patient Died During California Nurse Labor Dispute

Authorities were investigating the death of a patient who was given a "non-prescribed dosage" of a medical drug by a replacement hired when thousands of nurses went on strike across California, an Oakland police spokeswoman said Sunday.

Lung Function Loss in COPD -NEJM

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a large and increasing global health problem.1 Although cigarette smoking is the most common preventable cause of COPD, not all cases of COPD are associated with smoking.2,3 Most of the clinical limitations stem from the accelerated loss of lung function that characterizes COPD, but few data speak to the factors that cause, aggravate, and determine this loss.

Ingentaconnect Publication Cell Transplantation Medicine

Cell Transplantation publishes original, peer-reviewed research and review articles on the subject of cell transplantation and its application to human diseases. To ensure high-quality contributions from all areas of transplantation, separate section editors and editorial boards have been established.

Federal Reserve Will Monitor Facebook Bloggers and More

The Federal Reserve wants to know what you are saying about it. In fact, the Federal Reserve has announced plans to identify "key bloggers" and to monitor "billions of conversations" about the Fed on Facebook, Twitter, forums and blogs.

Red Bull Racing Notifies Layoffs | NASCAR News Now - SceneDaily.com

Now, this is not a good news to me. I love Red Bull Racing championships, and do not care if they are on a bicycle or on a car, I just love them. I hope they can manage this financial downturn, re-structure somewhat and safe the Red Bull Racing business.

LOUDON, N.H. – Red Bull Racing, which the Austrian-based energy-drink company has put up for sale, has filed a notice of possible layoffs of 152 employees under the North Carolina Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.

California Turns Away Unvaccinated Students - CBS News

(CBS News) In California, where memories of last year's whooping cough outbreak are still fresh, students have just days to comply with a mandatory vaccination law. But not everyone is falling willingly into line, as CBS News correspondent John Blackstone reports.

Occupy Wall Street NYC Media Blackout

Thank goodness someone capture this video where you can clearly see that the DHS, or the equivalent to the German Gestapo has arrived to the US!


Here there are some smart comments for the ones that don´t feel like going to YouTube:

Lebrun Lance Armstrong at XTERRA Championship - Cycling - Yahoo! Sports

SNOWBASIN RESORT, Utah (AP)—Nico Lebrun was losing focus on the cycling portion of Saturday’s XTERRA USA Championship until he looked ahead and realized he was closing on seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.

“Amazing,” Lebrun thought to himself.

That adrenaline boost proved more than enough for the 38-year-old Frenchman to run away with the title, his second in three years.

Elite Nationals News & Notes | News | USA Triathlon

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — With many of the top Olympic-distance triathletes in the United States — and on the international scene — set to descend on Buffalo’s Nickel City Triathlon for the 2011 USA Triathlon Elite National Championship, USA Triathlon takes a look at some of the key news and notes entering Saturday’s action.

• In addition to serving as the 2011 USA Triathlon Elite National Championship, Saturday’s elite races also function the Buffalo ITU Pan American Cup and the fourth of five stops of the 2011 USA Triathlon Elite Race Series, a draft-legal domestic circuit.

We Are in a Frigging War!

Crisis is the economic equivalent of war - Vince Cable

Modern Day Depression Thoughts and Opinions

At this point in time, anyone who truly believes that they are completely immune or that they can escape this global financial depression (not recession, depression), is living a fool's dream. Anyone who thinks that they are hard laborers and the ones without a job are "lazy" or did something wrong and deserve to live the poverty they are living in, they are either really stupid or totally ignorant, uneducated and idiots.

Right now, the only ones making tons of money are the billionaires, the elite. The cream is staying at the top, nothing is coming down to the general citizens of the world.

THOUGHTS

The cream should never just stay at the top but be stirred into the mixture to make a better product.

It´s not only the American Empire collapsing, but the rest of the globe with it, little by little, painfully so, for some it´s worse than for others. But main stream media is the same, greed, corruption and lies do not discriminate race nor countries; those are diseases of the humanity that are infecting the people of all continents of this beautiful, magnificent earth. But I truly think, that at the end of the road, the world will still be there, with people standing proud, honest people, people with dignity and pride, real pride, the one that does not beg handouts from the governments, the one that asks, investigates, listens, reasons and acts accordingly.

Personally, I am all for freedom of speech, but I am not for violence and destruction. But people are mad, all over the world, they are mad because they have been lied to by the powers that be, by the governments of the world, main stream media, and they do not see any brilliant future for themselves or their children.

But I wonder, shouldn´t we all have asked questions long time ago about the real truth of the global economic system, questions about how the ones that really govern the world manage the finances and social political issues of humanity? I did, I asked, investigated, did a lot of research and still do. My skepticism about what I had been told and taught grew within the years, but I always kept and still keep an open mind about everything. I do not follow any group of any kind, instead, I make my own decisions after reading different opinions, no matter how contradictory they are.

Beef Exports Halted After FMD Detection

PARAGUAY - Paraguay ordered an immediate ban on beef exports after detecting foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)in the rural farming district of San Pedro.
The discovery was made while testing 13 cows at a farm in San Pedro, according to a team of inspectors from Paraguay's National Animal Health Inspectorate (Senacsa), raising concern in the South American country's livestock industry as to the scale of impact.

Markets: Markets Still Have Further to Fall, Say Analysts - CNBC

After a week in which stock markets around the world suffered, analysts and strategists are predicting further gloom in the weeks ahead.

23,000 California Nurses to Strike on September 22

September 21, 2011 — Roughly 23,000 members of the California Nurses Association (CNA) plan to be no-shows on September 22 at several dozen hospitals in what organizers call the largest nurses' strike in the nation's history.

U.S. stocks dive at the start on Fed's gloomy take - MarketWatch

INDEXES PLUNGE! NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks thudded lower at Thursday's start, with investors picking up on the Federal Reserve's gloomy take on the economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA -3.17% fell 313.78 points to 10,811.06. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index SPX -3.18% declined 30.96 points to 1,135.80. The Nasdaq Composite Index COMP -3.17% shed 65.98 points to 2,472.21

From: Ping.fm

IMF: World economy enters 'dangerous new phase' ? USATODAY.com

WASHINGTON – The world economy has entered a "dangerous new phase," according to the chief economist of the International Monetary Fund. As a result, the international lending organization has sharply downgraded its economic outlook for the United States and Europe through the end of next year.

NYC Education Layoffs 800 School Aides - WPIX

By KERRY DREW
PIX11.com
10:53 a.m. EDT, September 20, 2011

PROSPECT HEIGHTS (WPIX)— Union members gathered outside M.S. 571 in Prospect Heights on Tuesday to rally against potential school layoffs.

Members of Local 372 said they believe Department of Education officials are preparing pink slips and layoff notices for nearly 800 school aides and parent coordinators.

Kmart Winsconsin Closes Its Doors - The Business Journal

Kmart plans to close its store at 120 E. Sunset Drive in Waukesha, affecting 57 employees, according to a mass layoff notice sent Wednesday to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
The store will close Jan. 8, 2012, the notice said.
This is the second local closing Kmart has announced in the last two months. It plans to close its Burlington store Nov. 13.
The company, owned by Sears Holding Corp. of Hoffman Estates, Ill., has faced declining sales and has been closing stores in recent years.


From: http://ping.fm/FrO9n

Fascism Dictatorship People Wake Up!

I read some interesting comments few minutes ago on YouTube and I thought to share them with you. I agree with this comments and I wish that more people thought the same way. I would just like to add that governments do not change things, they never do (they don´t change things for the benefit of the people) and they should not; people should.
Unfortunately, the majority of people right now are lazy and dumb down, don´t want to educate themselves about social-geopolítical-financial issues all over the world, they just want free healthcare, free this, free that, want "daddy" government to provide entitlements and that my friends, read my lips and you can take it to the bank, creates dictatorships and lack of freedoms and liberties.

• You know what really pisses me off the most. As and indigenous person. The fact that all of you are so focused on money when money is the issue! Money is a primitive from of running a nation. With our current level of technology money is not a solution. we have all the mean to provide for everyone but greed and lust for power stand in the way of progress. Money is not need this country could be changed in a year if people would just stand up and stop looking to the government to change things.
• Too much negativity lately all over. This is just what the oppressors want. If you're awake and want to see things change you can do SOMETHING to make that happen. Imagine if the 46 million people living in poverty were to do something today to fight against this system- things would change in an instant. Find out what YOU can do as an individual and follow through on that to the best of your ability- don't give up no matter how bleak things may seem!

Suck It Up Warren - Moody's Downgrades Bank Of America From A2 To Baa1 | ZeroHedge

New York, September 21, 2011 -- Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the ratings of Bank of America Corporation's (BAC) holding company to Baa1 from A2 for long-term senior debt and to Prime-2 from Prime-1 for short-term debt. The long-term deposit ratings of Bank of America N.A.
(BANA) were downgraded to A2 from Aa3, while BANA's short-term rating was affirmed at Prime-1. The actions conclude a review for downgrade announced on June 2, 2011. The outlook on the long-term senior ratings remains negative.

Spanish Song With True Passion

I hope you understand Spanish because this song is just wonderful. Raphael is a fantastic singer who acts when singing his songs with great artistic quality - ah, and the lyrics... get to the deepest fiber of my heart!

Depression By The Numbers - A Poverty Bulletin | ZeroHedge

As was already discussed last week, the number of Americans living in poverty is now at an all time high, even as the real income of the average American male worker adjusted for inflation is back to 1968 levels.

US to Take Trade Action Against China - The Daily Beast

SANCTIONS AGAINST CHINA

The U.S. plans on announcing a trade-enforcement act against China on Tuesday, Reuters reports. The news of the major action was reportedly in a U.S. trade representative’s office advisory, leaked from a business group. This document was given to media—but not to be published—and reportedly says that the news will be announced at a press conference. The move comes as Democrats increased scrutiny on Chinese solar-panel subsidies that threaten domestic businesses, as well as China’s currency practices.

>Read original source REUTERS or CNBC Money Control

From: http://ping.fm/zd5Nq

Merck raises flag on U.S. layoff plans - FiercePharma

Merck ($MRK) warns U.S. workers: Prepare for layoffs. As Pharmalot reports, Merck's top U.S. human health official signed a memo notifying employees in several departments that jobs will be cut, because simply eliminating vacant positions won't deliver the kind of numbers top management is seeking.

Cartoons Jobs Layoffs Poverty Oil

Social Security office in Glen Rock closing - NorthJersey.com

The Social Security Administration (SSA) field office at 201 Rock Road in Glen Rock will be closed permanently as of Friday, Sept. 23.

Buffet Tax The Millionaire Tax | ZeroHedge

As usual, UBS' Art Cashin, who may suffer the occasional pint but never outright idiocy, cuts right to the chase. His bottom line: "According to the Tax Foundation, after the 1929 crash, Congress proceeded to raise the top marginal tax rate from 25% to 63% by the end of Hoover’s term.... As you may recall, hiking those rates may have made folks feel that rates were more equitable but it sure didn’t help the economy."

Home Building Sentiment Worsens in September - MarketWatch

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes dipped slightly in September to remain in very low territory, according to an index released Monday. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index fell by a point to 14, on a seasonally adjusted index where readings above 50 are considered good. The index, which correlates closely with single-family housing starts, has held between 13 and 16 for the last six months. Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected a 15 reading.

From: http://ping.fm/GG3Ak

Occupy Wall Street Global Revolution Livestream

Watch livestream the protesting of US citizens right in the heart of New York City - outside of Wall Street. The protesting started yesterday with more or less 50,000 people.
I wonder if they are going to continue tomorrow or if they are going to chicken out.

Watch live streaming video from globalrevolution at livestream.com

U.S. Housing Rut to Continue, Economists Say - Bloomberg

Purchases of previously owned U.S. homes in August probably held close to the weakest level this year and construction dropped to a three-month low as the industry showed few signs of a emerging from its slump, economists said before reports this week.

Tour Of Britain: Stage 7 | Cyclingnews.com

The weather for stage seven of the Tour of Britain was more undecided than a room full of politicians, but the general classification remained the same with Lars Boom (Rabobank) holding his lead of 28 seconds. The story of the day, however, was the six-man break that went up the road 3.5 miles after leaving the start in Bury St Edmunds and stayed clear on the longest and flattest stage of this year’s race to the finish in the grounds of Sandringham, well clear of the bunch.

New York City Protest Wall Street

There are 50,000 people protesting outside Wall Street, attempting to occupy it. But on the weekend? It would probably be more successful if it would have been carried out during labor days, Monday through Friday. That been said, I wish them all the best.

Road Cycling World Championships | Dean to spearhead... | Stuff.co.nz

Finally, a new cycling team I am looking forward to; small but strong, and if someone knows how to make it succeed, that is Julian Dean!

Seven-time Tour de France cyclist Julian Dean will spearhead a small but potent team in this month's road cycling world championships in Denmark.

Lockheed's Fort Worth layoffs pending - Dallas Business Journal

The Aeronautics group notified about 5,000 employees across the country in mid-August that they were eligible to request voluntary layoffs. The company is currently reviewing those requests, which were due at the end of August, a spokesman said.

Banking Scam People Sheeple Wake Up!

Presented without commentary

Arsenic Found in Many Foods and Juices

From now on, no more juices from the store, only the ones I make from my own fruits I harvest from my Victory Garden!

“We have been monitoring levels of arsenic in many foods, including apple juice for several years, and the data we have shows there really is no cause for concern,” she told msnbc.com Wednesday. “There are very low levels in apple juice. All brands are safe to drink and there is no concern about drinking fruit juices, including apple juice.”

Jobless Claims, Inflation Rise, Manufacturing Gets Weaker - CNBC

Applications for unemployment benefits continued to rise in the past week, while inflation pushed higher and a key manufacturing index weakened.

The weekly jobless claims number, which is closely watched as an indicator for employment trends, unexpectedly rose 11,000 to 428,000, well ahead of estimates of 411,000.

Idiot US Consumer For Dummies | ZeroHedge

Take the previous post (average American = dumb as bag of hammers) add one USA-style credit card with an "accordion feature" ceiling, and you get this...

From: http://ping.fm/kUNlj

Poverty rate rises as incomes decline - Census - Sep. 13, 2011

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Amid a still struggling economy, more people in America fell below the poverty line last year, according to new census data released Tuesday.
The nation's poverty rate rose to 15.1% in 2010, its highest level since 1993. In 2009, 14.3% of people in America were living in poverty.

STOP BEING A SLAVE PEOPLE!

I DON´T WANT TO BE "SAVED" BY CHINA! CHINA: Leave me alone! I rather to be poor than a slave.

Well, that was a brief hiccup for the ponzi scheme. Luckily, the market has forgotten that it priced in China bailing out Europe two days ago so it is time the vacuum tubes are reminded. From Bloomberg: "China's NDRC says China using foreign reserves to support investment abroad;

Recession - US Economy Goes From Bad to Worse: Economist - CNBC

The US economy is going from bad to worse and will not fully recover until structural problems caused by the collapse of the housing market and the financial crisis are resolved, according to Capital Economics.

Predicting growth rates of 1.5 percent in 2012 and 2.0 percent in 2013, Roger Bootle, the managing director of Capital Economics believes there is a risk of the US economy falling back into recession over the next few years.

Dr Castro Cycling Thoughts #1

The philosophy of the true cyclist is to compete against yourself, to continue to pedal the road and never quit, to try again and again and again, as many times as necessary to finish. If you encounter adversity and you doubt about cycling being the most wonderful sport on earth, then cycling is not for you. Cycling is meant to be only for those who wish to win and conquer life itself.

Huge Surge in Bank of America Foreclosures - CNBC

In other words, the foreclosure pipeline is filling again.

Bank of America is ramping up its foreclosure processing, sending out far more notices of default to borrowers in August than in previous months, well over 200 percent more month-to-month.

Luminant Texan Closing Plants Layoffs

The largest power plant operator in Texas says it is closing two large coal-fired units in order to meet pending environmental rules and has filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency in an effort to block the rules.

CNBC's Fast Money?Dennis Gartman: Greek Default Is Looming - CNBC

It has become a matter of when, not if, Greece will default, renowned currency and commodities trader Dennis Gartman said Monday.

“It is going to happen sometime,” Gartman predicted. “Give it time. Who knows when that time is, but it’s going to happen.”

BLAST AT FRENCH NUCLEAR PLANT

Sky News is citing an AFP wires report that there has been a blast at a nuclear site in France and there is risk of a leak.
UPDATE: The BBC's Patrick Jackson reports that the incident is at Marcoule site, located in South France at the Gard region.

Stinkbugs Invade US Crops and Homes - MarketWatch

And when the bugs aren’t eating the apples and peaches, they’re sneaking by the scores — and sometimes by the hundreds and thousands — into people’s homes and showing up on curtains and pillowcases, in drawers, in closets, on their tubes of toothpaste and even on the rim of their morning coffee cup.

Greek Default Cannot Be Rule Out

Greece may not file for bankruptcy this weekend... But its time is coming - it is a 100% certainty. And throwing just that little more fuel into the fire is Germany's Economy Minister Philipp Roesler who in an op-ed posted in Die Welt, is once again planting the seeds for the inevitable day when that perpetual transgressor Greece (which just announced yet more tax hikes, and as a result can now shut down its economy as the tsunami of 24 hour strike will be unprecedented) is finally kicked out of the union. The question then, as now, will be: what next?

From: Ping.fm

Cobo Wins La Vuelta a España 2011 | Cyclingnews.com

Peter Sagan's Vuelta a España debut got even better as the Liquigas-Cannondale rider made it three stage wins in this year's edition by beating Italian sprinters Alessandro Petacchi and Daniele Bennati in the final stage through Madrid this afternoon.

The 21-year-old Slovakian sprung from nowhere in the finale and cheekily swept under the drag race between Petacchi and Bennati to take another stage win in his first grand tour and indicate that he'll be a man to watch at the UCI Road World Championships later this month in Copenhagen, Denmark.

"It's been a great day. I was riding at the front and I took the wheel of Bennati but I got boxed in a bit, so I had to stop my effort and had to re-start from behind. It was hard, but I was still fresh because my team protected me from the wind during the whole stage.

Moodys Downgrade Of French Banks Imminent, Risk Waterfall To Follow? | ZeroHedge

As regular readers may recall, back on June 14, before it became an even bigger pariah in the thoroughly discredited rating agency space due to its refusal to downgrade the US, Moody's placed French megabanks SocGen, BNP and Credit Agricole on downgrade review, which means that at some point in the future the rating agency would have to cut the banks' rating from its existing Aa1-2, to Aa3 or even a single A.

Emerging Economic Countries in the World

The economic fundamentals of the world are changing dramatically, and with them, the geopolitical issues that emerge shake the basics of the financials that we are accustomed to.
I found this interesting information about the Emerging Economic Countries, known as the E-7. I did not know that there was another group of 7 countries apart from the G-7


In 2000, the G-7's GDP was twice as large as the E-7 and in 2010 the gap has shrunk to 35 percent. The combined GDP of E-7 (China, India, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Indonesia, and Turkey) is projected to match the G-7 around 2019.^{[2][dead link]}As of January 2011, PriceWaterhouse says the G-7 will be overtaken by emerging economies in 2032

Reference

Vuelta A España Stage 20 Benati | Cyclingnews.com

Leopard Trek’s Daniele Bennati has been a frustrated sprinter at this year’s Vuelta a España but victory beckoned in Vitoria on stage 20 on Saturday afternoon and he ensured he wouldn’t leave the race empty handed with an impressive win in the Basque city.

The Italian prevailed in a long sprint over Enrico Gasparotto (Astana) and Damiano Caruso (Liquigas-Cannondale), who finished second and third respectively, with Garmin-Cervélo rider Sep Vanmarcke fourth and Skil-Shimano’s Koen De Kort fifth.

Bastard Bankers Quote of The Day

"This system is pure, utter insanity. I hate it intensely. It devalues labor. It pillages value. It destroys wealth. Bastard bankers and their central bank protectors ARE destroying the world, and they don't give a flying fuck about me, you, or anyone." commenter at zerohedge.com

GO MUSE!



Muse - Uprising (Clip) por WorMee

Igor Anton Wins Vuelta Stage 19 | Cyclingnews.com

Igor Anton (Euskaltel-Euskadi) took a popular stage victory in Bilbao as the Vuelta a España returned to the Basque Country for the first time in 33 years. Cheered raucously by the huge home crowds on the sharp climb of the Alto El Vivero, the Basque dropped his final breakaway companion Marzio Bruseghin (Movistar) and held his advantage on the descent to win 41 seconds ahead of the Italian.

Massive Blackout in Mexico Southern California Arizona - CNBC

I was picking my beautiful red beefsteak tomatoes when suddenly the music coming out of my radio went off. Decided to go inside the house and I am told the electricity just went away.
Found out that the problem was massive, affecting Southern California, Arizona and Baja California with an incredible number of VICTIMS of this "malfunction" coming from an electrical plant in ARIZONA ....hahahaha...
I hope that from now on Baja California Mexico starts cutting the umbilical cord from mommy California.


UPDATE: lights are coming back in Tijuana, Ensenada, Mexicali, Tecate and Rosarito. The electrical workforce in Baja is rewiring all the power off the American grid and transferring to the Mexican power.

Quinn Layoffs 1,900 State Workers, close facilities to help save $313 million - Naperville Sun

Gov. Pat Quinn announced Thursday he intends to lay off more than 1,900 state workers and close seven state facilities, including the Tinley Park Mental Health Center, in a budget-cutting move meant to help close a $313 million shortfall.

“I have to act today on behalf of the people of Illinois to maintain the core functions of each of our departments in state government,” Quinn told reporters.

Bank of America Shutters 600 Branches - Business - TheState.com

Bank of America will close up to 600 branches as part of its reorganization and cost-cutting moves, according to multiple reports this morning.
Published and broadcast reports say Bank of America will split into separate consumer and commercial units, and that will lead to the branch closings.
Charlotte's NewsChannel 36 says analysts believe the decision to split into two units and close the branches is a signal that Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan plans broader and deeper layoffs than those announced earlier this week.

From: http://ping.fm/UZdIQ

United States of Europe - CNBC

The man who ran Germany when the euro began trading has an idea to save the euro zone: the creation of a "United States of Europe." Gerhard Schroeder, the social democrat who took Germany into the euro, told Der Spiegel on Sunday that the euro alone could not drive an economic bloc the size of the American economy.

"The current crisis makes it relentlessly clear that we cannot have a common currency zone without a common fiscal, economic and social policy. We will have to give up national sovereignty,” Schroeder said in the interview.

600 layoffs in Madison County - .Breaking news - bnd.com

Madison County could lose more than 600 jobs in the coming months.
The state's monthly economic report listed layoffs from two companies and a third potential layoff planned for this month, all in Madison County.

LA Times Layoffs Labor Day Weekend With Worker Layoffs - FishbowlLA

Disney Interactive Studios laid off a number of employees last week from its Salt Lake City, Utah-based Avalanche studio, developer of Cars 2: The Video Game, Gamasutra can confirm.

Approximately 15-20 people were let go from the studio on September 1, according to a laid-off worker who requested anonymity. The developer also created the movie tie-in title Toy Story 3.

Layoffs At Disney Avalanche Utah - Gamasutra News

Disney Interactive Studios laid off a number of employees last week from its Salt Lake City, Utah-based Avalanche studio, developer of Cars 2: The Video Game, Gamasutra can confirm.

Approximately 15-20 people were let go from the studio on September 1, according to a laid-off worker who requested anonymity. The developer also created the movie tie-in title Toy Story 3.

A Disney rep confirmed the layoffs in a statement: "Avalanche Software has completed a restructuring that resulted in the reduction of a small number of positions."

The layoffs are just the latest at Disney Interactive Studios, as its parent company changes focus from console-based retail games to online and social titles. Reports earlier this year stated that a significant amount of employees within Disney Interactive were let go.

Gamasutra's source estimated the number of remaining Avalanche employees to be around 170, and stated that "budget issues" were to blame. "Disney has been on the losing end for a while, supposedly," the source said.

From: http://ping.fm/okdwb

Cobo Wins Stage 17 Vuelta

The finish was incredible today. Juan Jose Cobo started to sprint, got up on the pedals and began to fight for the win of the stage and to keep his leadership in La Vuelta 2011, and he got it.
Christopher Froome fought back, amicably, with class, the both of them gave us such a wonderful finish that, I personally, will never forget. IT WAS DARN IMPRESSIVE, people, it was a hard finish and they gave it all.
CONGRATS, Cobo, Froome and the rest of the peloton!!!!

NOTE: I twisted my left ankle and I am resting at home, off the bike...and I am mad, and crying, I WANT TO GO OUT ON MY BIKE...!

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION after stage 17

1) Juan Jose Cobo
2) Christopher Froome
3) Bradley Wiggins
4) Bauke Mollena
5) Dennis Menchov
6) Maxime Momfort
7) Vicenzio Nibali

Boonen Fractures Left Hand Bone

Tom Boonen said he is in “incredible pain” after breaking a bone in his left hand at the Vuelta. His doctors have ruled out surgery, however, and he will resume training in three to four days. The Belgian appears not to have ruled out starting the world championships road race Cophenhagen on September 25.

“My hand is still very swollen,” Boonen said in a team statement Tuesday. “I am in incredible pain whenever I try to make any sort of movement, I can’t hold the bike’s handlebar and I can’t make any type of movement normally either. After a few days of rest I will try to pedal on my hometrainer in order to try and keep up with the training program I’ve followed so far.
“I will do everything in my power to try and recover from the injury in the speediest possible way, even though it won’t be easy considering the world championship will be taking place so soon. Next week’s medical tests will be fundamental to understand whether or not I can keep on racing for the rest of the season.”
From: http://ping.fm/89uja

Haedo Wins Stage 16 of La Vuelta | Cyclingnews.com

Juan José Haedo (Saxo Bank-Sungard) took victory on stage 16 of the Vuelta a España in bizarre circumstances ahead of Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) and Daniele Bennati (Leopard Trek). while Juan José Cobo (Geox-TMC) retained the red jersey.

L.A. Decline: From middle class to homeless

At a homeless shelter on Skid Row in Los Angeles, there's a man who once made a six-figure salary as a successful producer of Hollywood films and sitcoms. He produced a movie that grossed tens of millions at the box office, was represented by one of the largest television agencies and used to be friends with well-known actors. But then he had trouble getting work, and after a while was unable to pay rent. His family moved in with a friend, but then that house went into foreclosure. So four months ago, with nowhere else to turn, he arrived at the shelter with his wife and two boys. "I did everything I could not to end up in the stereotype of a shelter," says the producer, who asks not to be identified because he fears jeopardizing his chance of landing work. "I want out of here so bad I don't even want to engage in the culture. I don't want to be comfortable because I'm not."

Labor Day 2011: What Are We Celebrating? The Lack Of Jobs In America?

Image by SS&SS via FlickrIf you still have a good job, you certainly have something to celebrate on Labor Day 2011. So far you have survived the decline of the U.S. economy. But your day may be coming soon.

This weekend, there will be millions of Americans that will not be doing any celebrating. They are not enjoying a break from their jobs because they don't have any jobs. In fact, it seems kind of heartless for the rest of us to be celebrating while so many of our countrymen are destitute.

1 Million Italians Protest Layoffs Amid Concern Berlusconi May Backslide - Businessweek

Sept. 6 (Bloomberg) -- A general strike protesting Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s budget cuts disrupted transport and production lines across Italy, stoking concern among investors and European leaders the government may backslide on the plan.

Postal Service Struggles to Avoid a Default - NYTimes.com

Image via WikipediaThe United States Postal Service has long lived on the financial edge, but it has never been as close to the precipice as it is today: the agency is so low on cash that it will not be able to make a $5.5 billion payment due this month and may have to shut down entirely this winter unless Congress takes emergency action to stabilize its finances.
“Our situation is extremely serious,” the postmaster general, Patrick R. Donahoe, said in an interview. “If Congress doesn’t act, we will default.”

Bank Of America to Layoff 30,000 People

Bank of America might lay off up to 30,000 people in the coming years, according to a report in the Charlotte Observer.
That means it could cut over 10% of its 288,000 employees worldwide, making BofA the bank with the most brutal layoff plans we've heard yet, second only to HSBC's plans to layoff 30,000 of its 300,000 strong workforce.
Sources familiar with the firm announced the mass layoffs soon after the FHFA filed a huge lawsuit against Bank of America over $30.85 billion in losses on mortgage securities.*
The unfinalized plans are to cut over 10,000 and up to 30,000 employees in the next few years.

From: Ping.fm