Monday, July 26, 2010

Cut Back for All-including rich individuals!

Wealthy individuals have been doing the spending with the economy needing to be stimulated. Now, as outlined by the New York Times, even the wealthy have quit spending like they used to. The Federal Reserve has acknowledged that America’s economic recovery has slowed. If conditions worsen, experts believe that an additional stimulus may be necessary.
New jobs created when spending occurs from all those with money
Demand for goods and services create the need for additional jobs, and spending – particularly that of the top 5 percent of U.S. income earners – indicates demand. “One-third of consumer outlays, including spending on goods and services, interest payments on consumer debt and cash gifts,” is what, as outlined by Moody’s, that 5% account for, particularly those who earn more than $ 210,000 a year. As 60 percent of America’s economic fortunes depend upon consumer spending, that one-third is of super-sized significance. Gallup found that those earning $ 90,000 or more – their “upper income” classification – spent $ 145 per day in May 2010.
In May 2009, it was 33 percent less than that. The numbers dropped in June 2010 the Times discovered. Only $ 119 per day was spent by Rich individuals. Were bank loans being used for this frequent spending and then stopped?
Businesses just for Luxury doing very badly
Early in 2010, luxury business showed strong numbers. Hotels like Four Seasons and also the Ritz Carlton lost many sales as summer came around. Sales at luxury retailers like Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue slowed at about the same time. Wealthy people are also getting less real estate in Manhattan and the Hamptons along with this sudden stop in spending. We know those low on money have to use an occasional fast loan to try and get by, but we know there’s a problem when the wealthy spending starts to die.
Going where you have to for the Dow
Considering their greater level of personal financial investment, rich people check out different indicators than the average person when it comes to evaluating the financial weather. The Dow Jones is a benchmark that means more to those who are extensively invested. Since the numbers were within the 7,000s for such a long time, we can see the affect taking place when they hit 10,000 again. Even in car sales, spending went up everywhere. Luxury vehicle dealers did well, but of late, some luxury auto dealers have enacted layoffs of 15 percent of more of sales staff. While individuals are trying to just keep themselves fed and with a roof over their head, it looks quite bad for the wealthy to keep spending, according to a study done at the Institute for Policy in Washington.
Are there signs of a future economic apocalypse?
It could be that “apocalypse” casts too dark a pall, but consider this. $ 15.95 tube wringer sells the best according to Linda Stasiak, a top saleswoman for skin care products. It will squeeze every single drop out of the tube because everybody feels the recession coming down on them. Does any person need a fast loan for their tube squeezers?
More info about this topic at these websites
New York Times
nytimes.com/2010/07/17/business/economy/17consumers.html?_r=1
Has the recession changed our perception of wealth?
youtube.com/watch?v=aCsIoHMxazs

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Islamic Death Threats to Cartoonist

Molly Norris is a Seattle cartoonist, but became well known and almost famous by instigating the, Everyone Draw Mohammad Day, on Facebook. Now an Islamic terrorist group has put a hit out Norris. Norris conceived “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day” as a Facebook-fueled protest for free speech in response to Comedy Central censorship of a South Park episode that threatened to depict the prophet Muhammad. This event got to large and out of control that numerous Muslim’s took it as personal hatred towards their people. Norris tried to offer a sincere apology stating that here intentions are not to offend the whole group, but it made no difference to the terrorist group that still wants her life. Post resource – Cartoonist Molly Norris marked for death by Islamic website by Personal Money Store.
The threat was put out by Anwar al-Awlaki
Islamic law forbids graphical depictions of Muhammad. Islamic law also says its okay for Muslim assassins to kill you if you draw anything or anybody and label it as Muhammad, even if you are not a Muslim. When Molly Norris launched Everybody Draw Muhammad Day, she drew the ire of radical Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki–who is marked for death himself by the U.S. government. The New York Daily News reports that Anwar al-Awlaki has also been cited as inspiring the Fort Hood, Tex., massacre, also as the plot by two New Jersey men to kill U.S. soldiers. Anwar al-Awlaki singled out Norris in a rant published in an Al Qaeda magazine called Inspire, as a “prime target,” saying her “proper abode is hellfire.” FBI officials have notified Norris and warned her they consider Muslim assassins a “very significant threat.”
Idle threats aren’t often made by al-Awlaki
Molly Norris not only called off the event already, she also issued a public apology to the Islamic people in general. She stated that her intentions are not to offend individuals the way, Everyone Draw Muhammad, ended up doing. AOL News reports that despite the apology, al-Awlaki’s call for her murder on an Islamic terrorist site created to recruit American Muslims for jihad is not likely to be an idle threat. Kurt Westergaard, a Danish cartoonist, is also on the list of individuals marked for death by depicting the Prophet Mohammad. This past February, a man who was motivated by Jihad broke into Westergaard’s home and tried to kill him with an axe, forcing him and his granddaughter to hide within the homes panic room.
The mark for death has caused Molly Norris to take up hiding
Molly Norris posted a YouTube video explaining the real reason behind this day also as showing a picture she herself drew. She apologized to Muslims who were offended and urged viewers to call off the event. But the Washington Post reports that Norris couldn’t resist a parting shot. She posted a new cartoon titled “Diet of Fear” that reads: “All you’ve to do is tick off a couple of million Muslims and you’ll be too afraid to eat!”
This threat from al-Awlaki has caused Norris to take down all her personal content and close her Facebook account. Her explanation of this event through a YouTube video has also been removed by her.
Discover more about this topic here
New York Daily News
nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/07/11/2010-07-11_cleric_anwar_alawlaki_puts_everybody_draw_mohammed_cartoonist_molly_norris_on_ex.html
AOL News
aolnews.com/article/muhammad-cartoon-activist-lands-on-al-qaida-hit-list/19550262
Washington Post
voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/07/draw_muhammad_artist_placed_on.html

Monday, July 19, 2010

Mel Gibson Has Real Problems

Mel Gibson has received many publicity from the scandal between him and Oksana Grigorieva, his ex-girlfriend. None of it is good. Lawyers are costly, but he may have to pay it considering he is looking at a domestic violence charge with lawsuits. There were rumors of a domestic dispute. Adding domestic violence on top of the release of the “Mel Gibson tapes,” which are disturbing to put it mildly, add a darker layer This could seriously hurt his career.
Mel Gibson tapes show a verbal assault
It is a shame he didn’t sell the “Mel Gibson tapes”. He could make quite a bit of money if he simply trademarked the phrase. Radaronline.com shows these videos that, if they are real, he is probably not able to come back from in his career. His agency, William Morris Endeavor, already fired him. The thing about Hollywood is that if you don’t have an agent, you do not have a SAG card, which means you do not work as an actor or director, or at least it is very hard to do so. Gibson could be seeing the end of his career.
Tolerance fades easily
After this “Mel Gibson tapes” saga, there likely won’t be a “Lethal Weapon 5.”. Even though it may be wrong, individuals are allowed to believe whichever they want. No matter what they say, the government won’t be able to really do anything. There are going to be other consequences.
Who wants to keep a crazy person around?
Does John Rocker sound familiar? The Atlanta Braves kicked out the baseball player who made racist comments. Look at Rush Limbaugh. After the Donovan McNabb debacle, he was right away shown the door by ESPN. Another example is the NFL player, Larry Johnson. He was released after his homophobic comments he made publicly. He also wasn’t playing very well. Just because somebody is racist or prejudice doesn’t mean they can stay around working individuals.
Citations
RadarOnline.com
radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/07/exclusive-audio-out-control-mel-gibson-says-hell-burn-down-house-after-demanding

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Merger Between Aon and Hewitt to Close in November

Aon Corporation is purchasing HR outsourcing business Hewitt Associates for just under $ 5 billion. The combined Aon Hewitt Division will provide many of the services Hewitt did before the merger. The companies estimate that this merger will eventually save the companies $ 355 million each year.
Article resource – Aon Corporation purchases Hewitt Associates, creates Aon Hewitt by Personal Money Store
The Aon Hewitt purchase
Announced this morning and expected to close in November, the Aon purchase of Hewitt Associates will cost $ 4.9 billion. Hewitt is going to be getting over 40 percent more per share than they are currently trading with. Current Hewitt stockholders will get $ 25.61 in cash and .63 pieces of stock in Aon Corporation. Aon Hewitt will keep the same CEO and business model as Hewitt Associates while combining back-office operations with Aon. Hewitt Associates stock rose while Aon stock fell on this news. This new company will be based in Illinois. There are no official estimates on how many jobs will be cut in this merger.
The business Aon works in
Aon Corporation is a global “risk management and human capital consulting services” business. Aon offers clients advice on managing risk, along with insurance brokerage services. The company trades stock on the NYSE, and is classified as a financial business. Aon Corporation actually split three separate insurance businesses off of their operations just in August of last year.
How Hewitt Associates operates
Hewitt Associates is a business that focuses on human resource outsourcing. Hewitt offers HR management, benefits, and other administrative services. A small portion of Hewitt’s business also includes consulting. Hewitt provides “commercial service and supply” grounding to Aon’s business. Hewitt Associates has been through some major restructuring lately. Latin American operations have been spun off, and a company called HRAdvance Inc. was combined with Hewitt in May of 2010.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Shock Treatment Given to Autistic Children

The Boston-area special needs school Judge Rotenberg Center enrolls students ages 3 to adult, all of whom are either autistic kids or are struggling with severe emotional, behavioral or psychiatric disorders. Those students who display undesirable behavior are subjected to a treatment which the United Nations is calling “torture.” Judge Rotenberg students are all subject to shock treatment.

Article source: Autistic kids subjected to shock treatment at Mass. School by Personal Money Store

’Aversive therapy’ for autistic children not torture, as outlined by JRC

Calling the JRC’s treatment of autistic kids in extreme situations torture is just like calling a physician using a scalpel on a patient assault with a deadly weapon, claim JRC representatives. They claim that shock treatment in short bursts is humane when in contrast to the alternatives of either allowing emotionally disturbed or even autistic kids to cause themselves or others physical harm or otherwise medicating them into a lobotomized state. Head JRC doctor Matthew Israel told ABC that the real torture for autistic kids and others is the latter. He stated that JRC’s shock treatment “has no detrimental effects whatsoever.”

Just a two second skin shock

The Judge Rotenberg Center uses a small device that administers a shock when necessary as a form of behavioral therapy, as outlined by Israel. Students are only subjected to the device after a court and (within the case of autistic kids) parents or caregivers have to approve. Allegedly, the short shock hurts just enough to dissuade JRC students from destructive behavior. After periods of good behavior, students are rewarded with points. In total, the Judge Rotenberg Center houses such students for $200,000 per year, taxpayer financed.

UN and advocates for disabled condemn this special treatment

Eric Rosenthal, an advocate for the disabled, created a report that prompted the United Nations to become involved within the JRC’s activities. Massachusetts Sen. Brian Joyce has tried to shut down the Judge Rotenberg Center but was unsuccessful. The United Nations reference America’s international treaty stance on torture when talking about the JRC’s shock treatment of autistic children and other students. The argument is apparently that if the United States shouldn’t be administering shock treatment to prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, how can any home soil organization be allowed do it to children?

Citations|Discover more info|Discover more information here|More info accessible at these sites|Discover more about this topic here|More info about this topic at these websites}:

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Nightline/shock-therapy-massachussetts-school/story?id=11047334

Surgeon Sherwin Nuland discusses the development of electroshock therapy (Editor’s Note: A small amount of NSFW language is used):