Month: April 2012
-
Google’s Brin: Web Faces Greatest Threat Ever
The principles of openness and universal access that underpinned the creation of the internet three decades ago are under greater threat than ever, according to Google co-founder Sergey Brin. In an interview with the Guardian, Brin warned there were “very powerful forces that have lined up against the open internet on all sides and around…
-
European Markets Tank
European markets took a big hit today, obliterating any hope generated by yesterday’s rally. Contagion is back, baby! … Italy and Spain led the downward trend, with the latter index briefly down over 4 percent. Yields on Spanish government bonds continued to push 6 percent, but did not exceed that benchmark level. via Business Insider.…
-
‘Why Didn’t White Folks Keep Them for Themselves?’
The Chicago Teachers Union, and school employee unions in general, are pulling out all the stops to slow down a school choice and education reform movement that is bowling them over in numerous states and cities. Bold reform efforts are being pushed by the likes of Republicans like Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and New Jersey…
-
Is the Fed Promoting Recovery or Desperation?
A lengthy beating to the Fed begins: On Friday, the Department of Labor reported that March non-farm payrolls increased by 120,000, falling well short of consensus expectations in excess of 200,000. … On the payroll front, our present expectation is that April job creation will deteriorate toward zero or negative levels. Immediately after the payroll…
-
Another Deadly Weekend
It started out peaceful enough. So much so that Drudge reported, “Only 1 Dead, 5 Wounded in Chicago.” A woman was killed and four men wounded in five separate shootings between 11:30 p.m. Friday and 4 a.m. Saturday. via Chicago Tribune. It wasn’t even that warm. But only 5 shot overnight, hardly worth mentioning. Then…
-
Worst Housing Market Is In?
New data out of Standard & Poor’s this morning painted a somewhat mixed picture of the U.S. housing market: showing home prices may have hit bottom. via Business Insider. Hit bottom? Unlikely. But what I really wanted to show what this chart: Looking at the worst performing cities: Atlanta, Las Vegas, Chicago. In January 2011,…
-
Another Easter Egg Hunt Cancelled
Another traditional Easter egg hunt has fallen victim to aggressive parents, with event organizers in Macon, Ga., forced to cancel this week amid fears greedy moms and dads would become violent and trample on kids to grab eggs. … He said that a woman was hurt and several kids were trampled on at previous hunts…
-
Derrick Smith Using William Beaver’s Defense
Today’s Story: Victor Henderson, the lawyer for accused Illinois State Representative Derrick Smith tells “The Don and Roma Show” on WLS, that the reason federal authorities charged Smith with bribery, was because they wanted him to give up information about possible wrongdoing by Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, Smith’s long-time political mentor. via WLS…
-
Chicago Teachers Union Wants to Strike
The Chicago Teachers Union says internal polling shows there is support for a strike if contract talks with Chicago Public Schools break down. A new state law requires the union to get approval from 75 percent of its members before a strike, leading many to question if the union could muster support for a walkout.…