Sande

GE Turns

2012-02-13T09:34:00.000-05:00

Considering all that we have been reading over the past few years is how many thousands of workers a particular company is laying off, this is welcome news.

Reuters: GE to hire 5,000 U.S. veterans, investing in plants

Have A Good Morning

2012-02-13T08:36:00.000-05:00

work by Agnes Denes

The Onion - New Rumsfeld Scholarship Awarded To Student Who Demonstrates Potential To Ignore Geopolitical Consequences Of Armed Invasion

2012-02-13T08:32:00.002-05:00

The Onion: New Rumsfeld Scholarship Awarded To Student Who Demonstrates Potential To Ignore Geopolitical Consequences Of Armed Invasion

Chocolate Facts

2012-02-13T08:30:00.000-05:00

Live Science: 7 Sweet Facts About Chocolate

In-Secure

2012-02-13T08:28:00.002-05:00

AlterNet: How Team Obama, the GOP, and Tea Partiers Are All Intruding on Your Rights

Al Jazeera - Greek Parliament Approves Austerity Cutbacks

2012-02-13T08:24:00.002-05:00

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

2012-02-13T08:23:00.001-05:00

The Market On Monday

2012-02-13T08:21:00.000-05:00

Good morning. It is 25 degrees and cloudy here in Upstate NY. We have a very fine dusting of snow on the ground and possibly more will come down today. I hope you had a good weekend. We had a pleasant weekend with guests over and lots of good food. Nothing beats the combination.

At 8:10 a.m. futures are moderately higher, the dollar is mostly down against major world currencies, and the price of oil is up per barrel within a few cents of the $100 mark once again. Oil has been pricing between roughly $96 to $103 per barrel recently. At this time the market is poised to open higher.

The biggest boost to futures this morning is that the Greek parliament has approved drastic austerity measures in order to secure loans to prevent a major bond default in March. The Greek people are not pleased to say the least, they are violently protesting with fires being set on landmark and historic architecture. Its truly a shame in all directions, not only because the damage is pointless but the austerity itself is crippling.

Notice that Wall Street is pleased with the severe Greek austerity measures. This simply means that large banks will not be subjected to a little monetary adversity. Now just for the sake of speculation, if the American people were subjected to severe austerity measures in order to make up for government deficits, do you think Wall Street would approve or disapprove?

Ah yes, the burden is always placed on the poor and middle class not on the wealthy.

CNN: Stocks head for gains after Greece OKs austerity

The Greek Parliament voted early Monday to approve a package of austerity reforms...

Japan's gross domestic product, a measure of economic growth, slipped 2.3% on an annualized basis in the fourth quarter of 2011...

President Obama will release his budget plan Monday at 11 a.m. ET.

'Solar'

2012-02-13T00:01:00.000-05:00

Pat Metheny

Sande Music

2012-02-13T00:00:00.000-05:00

Humanoids

2012-02-12T20:14:00.000-05:00

You have got to check out this clip. This is an amazing looking robot.

Reuters: Humanoid robot makes storefront debut in Valentine's experiment

Good Night

2012-02-12T19:54:00.002-05:00

SNL - Eastwood Parody

2012-02-12T12:59:00.000-05:00

Maine Man

2012-02-12T12:36:00.000-05:00

CNN: Romney wins Maine caucuses

Palindrome Day

2012-02-12T08:15:00.000-05:00

Happy Palindrome Day -

2-12-12

Have A Good Morning

2012-02-12T08:13:00.002-05:00

From a deep operative -

The Onion - New Biography Reveals Einstein Devised Theory Of Relativity On Paper Because He Wasn't Smart Enough To Invent Microsoft Word

2012-02-12T08:12:00.002-05:00

The Onion: New Biography Reveals Einstein Devised Theory Of Relativity On Paper Because He Wasn't Smart Enough To Invent Microsoft Word

Our Best Friend

2012-02-12T08:11:00.002-05:00

Live Science: Dogs Understand Us Better Than Chimps Do

The New Reality

2012-02-12T08:10:00.002-05:00

AlterNet: Why Going 'Back To Normal' Is No Longer An Option for the American Economy -- And Where We're Headed Now

Al Jazeera - Portugal Debt Cycle Demands New Bailout

2012-02-12T08:09:00.002-05:00

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

2012-02-12T08:08:00.001-05:00

Morning

2012-02-12T08:07:00.000-05:00

It is 9 degrees and cloudy here in Upstate NY. There's also a tiny chance we get some snow. Winter is briefly back as the forecast has the temperatures up near the 50s in a few days. For the time being the multi-layered clothing necessity is back too.

'Sueño En La Floresta'

2012-02-12T00:01:00.002-05:00

John William splays the music of Agustin Barrios Mangoré.

Progress

2012-02-11T22:23:00.000-05:00

click the image to see it larger

The Universe

2012-02-11T21:28:00.002-05:00

New NASA images

The Weather Channel: Our Universe: Here and There

Whitney Houston Dies

2012-02-11T21:10:00.002-05:00

Yahoo: Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies

Good Night

2012-02-11T18:56:00.000-05:00

'Collapse'

2012-02-11T18:53:00.000-05:00

trailer -

Bill Maher - Bailouts, GOP, Dividing The Nation

2012-02-11T17:06:00.001-05:00

Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2012 Backstage Film

2012-02-11T11:59:00.002-05:00

'Making Angels'

2012-02-11T10:48:00.000-05:00

The latest free Fringe

'Bufalino'

2012-02-11T10:45:00.001-05:00

Take a Piaggio APE 50 three wheeled light transport vehicle, make a few changes and adjustments and voila, 'Bufalino.' Now you're ready to live anywhere.

Check it out - cornelius comanns: bufalino

Have A Good Morning

2012-02-11T09:15:00.000-05:00

Good morning. It is 30 degrees and ever so lightly snowing here in Upstate NY. We have a micro-thin covering of snow on the ground. At least it looks like winter today and its good, its pretty.

More work by my newest fave artist Nils-Udo

The Onion - Iran Worried U.S. Might Be Building 8,500th Nuclear Weapon

2012-02-11T09:09:00.000-05:00

The Onion: Iran Worried U.S. Might Be Building 8,500th Nuclear Weapon

Good Skin

2012-02-11T09:08:00.000-05:00

Live Science: Man's Healthy Skin Sexually Attractive to Women

Conservative Social Agenda On Full Display

2012-02-11T09:06:00.002-05:00

AlterNet: 5 Right-Wing Governors Gutting Schools to Fund Prisons, Tax Breaks for the Rich...And a Bible Theme Park

Al Jazeera - Protesters Clash With Greek Riot Police Over Austerity

2012-02-11T09:05:00.000-05:00

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

2012-02-11T09:04:00.002-05:00

Jeremy Lin Dismantles The Lakers

2012-02-11T08:47:00.000-05:00

This is the biggest story in sports in the last decade and its only one week old.

Jeremy Lin did the improbable, he dismantled the Lakers with Kobe Bryant and he did it with finesse.

Utterly amazing!

'Tango En Skai'

2012-02-11T00:01:00.003-05:00

Christopher Parkening

Good Night

2012-02-10T19:17:00.000-05:00

'Nervous Structure'

2012-02-10T18:33:00.000-05:00

Nervous Structure (field) (2012) from Cristobal Mendoza on Vimeo.

DOW Closes Lower

2012-02-10T16:42:00.000-05:00

The DOW closed at 12,801.23 dropping 89.23 points.

Reuters: Wall St ends down; snaps 5-week winning streak

Michael Albert: Economic Crisis And Alternatives To Austerity

2012-02-10T11:57:00.001-05:00

This clip was filmed in the Fall of 2011.

TRNN - Occupy Talks: What Gravy Train?

2012-02-10T11:45:00.002-05:00

More at The Real News

DOW Lower At Noon

2012-02-10T11:42:00.000-05:00

In the noon hour the DOW is at 12,773.64 down 116.82 points.

Reuters: Wall St drops 1 percent as Greek talks stall

Carville Taunts GOP

2012-02-10T09:36:00.000-05:00

Carville is a professional GOP taunter and here he maintains the dagger.

CNN: Carville: GOP, your real problem is Mitt

Floating Christie

2012-02-10T09:30:00.001-05:00

Long story short - who can pick up the candidacy in a convention brokered deal because Romney is presently and maybe ultimately floundering?

NJ Governor Chris Christie.

HuffPo: Mitt Romney's Struggles Take Republican Angst To New Heights

Have A Good Morning

2012-02-10T08:48:00.001-05:00

The Onion - Intelligent, Condescending Life Discovered In Distant Galaxy

2012-02-10T08:47:00.000-05:00

The Onion: Intelligent, Condescending Life Discovered In Distant Galaxy

'The Little Girl'

2012-02-10T08:46:00.000-05:00

Live Science: Long La Niña Finally Winding Down

Flee

2012-02-10T08:43:00.000-05:00

AlterNet: Why Young People Are Fleeing Conservative Evangelicalism

Al Jazeera - US Activists Press Apple On Worker Conditions

2012-02-10T08:40:00.000-05:00

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

2012-02-10T08:36:00.001-05:00

The Market On Friday

2012-02-10T07:19:00.000-05:00

Good morning and welcome to the weekend. It is 20 degrees and clear here in Upstate NY. The forecast has snow for us this weekend. The winter has been so mild that there is no snow on ground, hasn't been there for a while. This winter up to this point has been an entirely new type of season. Its not really winter, its like an in between season. Its the neo-winter.

At 7:10 a.m. futures are moderately down, the dollar is mostly up against major world currencies, and the price of oil is down per barrel. The market is poised to open lower, but as we know a lot can happen in 2 and 1/2 hours to change that.

Investors are fixated on the Greek debt crisis as that government attempts to work out its major austerity program in order to secure a maximum loan. A major default hurdle is approaching in March. Everything I read indicates that the default will happen, maybe not in March, but at some point.

One of our favorite metrics, consumer sentiment, comes around again today,

So consumer, friend, reader, what is your consuming sentiment?

CNN: Stocks set to slide on fresh Greek worries

The fresh bout of worries come after eurozone finance ministers said that the new Greek austerity deal does not go far enough.

...the reform package needs to be approved by the Greek parliament this weekend, and Greece's leaders need to pledge they'll continue to implement the measures after elections in April.

Reports are due Friday morning on consumer sentiment and the U.S. trade balance.

'Don't Blame Me'

2012-02-10T00:01:00.000-05:00

Thelonious Monk

Good Night

2012-02-09T19:01:00.002-05:00

Jeremy Lin

2012-02-09T17:20:00.000-05:00

One of the finer sports stories of the year is the recent rise of New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin. Just one week ago he was sitting on the end of the bench probably expecting to get cut. Three games ago he gets his chance due to injuries of other team members and he delivered magnificently. The Knicks have won three in a row with Lin as their starting point guard. Up to that point the team was floundering. He is a sports sensation, but he is really quite good. He can play with the best. Let's hope his health holds and he keeps it going.

The Knicks play the Lakers on Friday night and its hard to imagine the Knicks beating the superb Lakers squad. Also the Knicks are without their two premier players, Anthony and Amare.

'Saint-Petersburg Timelapse'

2012-02-09T16:22:00.000-05:00

Saint-Petersburg Timelapse from an_ef on Vimeo.

Austerity But No Final Deal

2012-02-09T16:20:00.000-05:00

One thing to take away from this article is that a possibility of a default by Greece is not be a matter of "if" but a matter of "when."

Guardian UK: Greece bows to new austerity measures – but still a bailout deal is not finalised

DOW Closes Slightly Higher

2012-02-09T16:15:00.000-05:00

The DOW closed at 12,890.46 gaining 6.51 points.

Reuters: Wall St ends up for third day after Greek deal

Not So Super

2012-02-09T11:52:00.002-05:00

Robert Reich: The Sad Spectacle of Obama’s Super PAC

Maddow - GOP 'Culture Wars'

2012-02-09T11:37:00.000-05:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

TRNN - Will Government Bank Mortgage Deal Help Or Hinder Prosecutions?

2012-02-09T11:31:00.002-05:00

More at The Real News

DOW Flat At Noon

2012-02-09T11:29:00.002-05:00

In the noon hour the DOW is at 12,882.67 down 1.28 points.

CNN: Mortgage deal could bring billions in relief

Recounting Napoleon

2012-02-09T10:51:00.000-05:00

Fascinating insight into Napoleon's failed invasion of Russia.

BBC: Napoleon's failure: For the want of a winter horseshoe

Have A Good Morning

2012-02-09T08:56:00.002-05:00

The Onion - New Photos Reveal Stress Of Obama's First Term In Office Has Rapidly Aged Americans

2012-02-09T08:53:00.002-05:00

The Onion: New Photos Reveal Stress Of Obama's First Term In Office Has Rapidly Aged Americans

The World Ice Melt

2012-02-09T08:51:00.000-05:00

The numbers that accompany the article are unbelievable, a huge massive volume of ice is melting.

Live Science: NASA Satellites Show How Our Icy World Is Melting

No Plan

2012-02-09T08:49:00.000-05:00

Its not just abortion that is under attack from the Tea Party/GOP, birth control is also under attack.

Exactly what year is it again?

AlterNet: Knocked Up: Republican Presidential Candidates' Plan for American Women

Al Jazeera - US Foreclosures Go Sky High

2012-02-09T08:47:00.000-05:00

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

2012-02-09T08:45:00.002-05:00

358,000

2012-02-09T08:44:00.000-05:00

This will be more viewed as very good news for Obama in his re-election bid.

Reuters: Jobless claims fall, four-week average near four-year low

The Market On Thursday

2012-02-09T08:40:00.001-05:00

Good morning. It is 29 degrees and sunny here in Upstate NY. In our neighborhood when one walks their dog, we pick after the dog. Usually the dog doo gets into a plastic bag and then into a trash barrel. Now I've got an unusual situation here. There's a stream behind our house. A fellow dog walker is picking up after their dog and then throwing the filled plastic bag into the stream. So they are picking up, but then littering the stream with a plastic bag. Help me out with the logic here...

At 8:30 a.m. futures are flat, the dollar is mostly down against world currencies, and oil is up in price. Its looking like the market will be rather flat at the opening bell, but that could change.

Its a repeat story from the last few days. Investors are waiting to see what will occur in Greece in order to satisfy that country's debt crisis. The story had been idle for a long time but now its front and center and it is affecting the market's direction.

CNN: Stocks set for lower start amid Greece uncertainty

Investors will likely spend Thursday with their eyes still trained on Athens, in the hope that Greek officials can finalize proposed spending cuts that are a precondition for additional bailout funds.

Addendum: From Reuters: Stock futures turn up on report of Greek deal

Reuters: Greek political leaders agree on bailout reforms: sources

'Cheerleader'

2012-02-09T00:01:00.000-05:00

St. Vincent

St. Vincent "Cheerleader" from Hiro Murai on Vimeo.

Good Night

2012-02-08T17:26:00.000-05:00

'Faceture'

2012-02-08T17:21:00.001-05:00

FACETURE from Phil Cuttance on Vimeo.

More Magnesium

2012-02-08T17:05:00.000-05:00

A friend has brought to my attention the multitude of problems that a magnesium deficiency brings about. Read the article you will be amazed.

Jigsaw Health: 14 Drugs That Deplete Your Body Of Magnesium

Birth Control Coverage

2012-02-08T16:43:00.001-05:00

In the GOP world, birth control coverage under a health insurance premium is an attack on religion. Admittedly it takes some work to get from point A to point B.

AFP: US Republicans: Obama attacking religion

DOW Closes Flat

2012-02-08T16:30:00.000-05:00

The DOW closed at 12,883.95 gaining 5.75 points.

Reuters: Wall Street treads water as Greek debt talks drag on

TRNN - Occupy Baltimore Activists Protest Building Of Youth Jail

2012-02-08T12:27:00.000-05:00

More at The Real News

DOW Lower At Noon

2012-02-08T12:25:00.000-05:00

In the noon hour the DOW is at 12,849.02 down 29.18 points.

Reuters: Wall Street lower as Greece talks drag on

NPR - Greek Bailout

2012-02-08T09:47:00.000-05:00

Audio clip at the link -

NPR: To Get Bailout, Greece Must Reduce Minimum Wage

Completely Commercial

2012-02-08T08:57:00.000-05:00

Monty Python - Spanish Inquisition Torture Scene

2012-02-08T08:52:00.000-05:00

Have A Good Morning

2012-02-08T08:48:00.000-05:00

work by Nils-Udo

The Onion - In The Know Panel Analyzes Obama's Furious, Profanity-Filled Rant At Nation

2012-02-08T08:45:00.000-05:00

In The Know Panel Analyzes Obama's Furious, Profanity-Filled Rant At Nation

What Great Leader Says, I Believe

2012-02-08T08:42:00.000-05:00

Live Science: Popular Opinion on Climate Change Traced to Political Elites

Food Stamp Story

2012-02-08T08:39:00.000-05:00

This is our shared reality.

AlterNet: I'm on Food Stamps: My Shame and Pride in Signing up for the Most Stigmatized Benefit

Al Jazeera - Santorum Gains Momentum In US Republican Race

2012-02-08T08:34:00.000-05:00

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

2012-02-08T08:33:00.001-05:00

The Market On Wednesday

2012-02-08T08:29:00.000-05:00

Good morning. It is 17 degrees and sunny here in Upstate NY. The morning walk was a cold one. I was freezing, the hands were cold, the feet were cold, and I had on many layers. You would almost think it was Winter or something.

At 8:20 a.m. stock futures are slightly up, the dollar is mostly down against world currencies, and the price of oil is up. The market is poised to open a little higher.

Investors are pleased to hear that Greece is hammering out details of a new austerity package. Investors like it. The austerity measures will include deep cuts to public spending, now what conservative would object to that. The ordinary Greek citizen is destined to become a poorer bloke sooner and later. Greece is to become a conservative's privatization dream country. The wealthy will come in, scoop up all previously held assets and contracts, and the middle and poor class people will happily go about becoming wanna-be-serfs as the master lives in the mansion throwing scraps out the window.

CNN: Stocks to open higher on hopes for Greece

Investors will continue to look for news out of Greece, where leaders are hammering out the details of an austerity package.

(Greek) public spending cuts, which gave investors reason to be hopeful.

U.S. gas prices were at a record high in January, which analysts attribute in part to the improving economy.

The Santorum Dream Stays Alive

2012-02-08T08:13:00.001-05:00

I have no comment here. Its all blank, I don't even have a wow. I am perplexed beyond verbalization.

Reuters: Three-state sweep revives Santorum's White House hopes

In Minnesota's caucuses, Santorum won with 45 percent of the vote. But in another setback to former Massachusetts governor Romney, U.S. congressman Ron Paul was in second place with 27 percent and Romney was a distant third with 17 percent.