US employers cut 17,000 jobs from their payrolls in January, US Labor Department figures showed. Economists had been expecting a rise of 80,000. If this figure proves to be in line with actual events (after adjustments), it shows severe declines in economic activity in the US. There has been modest wage inflation over the past …
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Author:astraea
Microsoft wants to buy Yahoo: desperation and disaster
Microsoft is bidding for Yahoo. It has offered to buy Yahoo for $44.6 billion in cash and shares. The offer, contained in a letter to Yahoo’s board, is 62% above Yahoo’s closing share price yesterday. Yahoo cut its revenue forecasts earlier this week and said it would have to spend an additional $300m this year …
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BT Notes: getting the year started …
2008 has started gently here at Ballin Temple. Getting back into the daily routine once the children were back in school was not a high priority. In fact there may have been a bit of a sense of wanting a holiday once they were back in school! Despite that, everything seems to be moving along …
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US rates down again
The US central bank lowered rates to 3% from 3.5% after a two-day meeting. Last week, the Fed slashed the cost of borrowing by the largest amount in 25 years in a shock move to calm tumbling global stock markets. If you consider the double reduction over 9 days as one event, that’s a 1.25% …
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Market sentiment
Remember this from Kal of The Economist …
Home education Q and A
Tracy Culleton has published a well written and useful Q&A on home education. Those interested in home education or expanding their engagment with their children may get some useful perspectives from it. Here below are reproduced a few paragraphs. Her site also has useful links to home education resources. Q: Why are you home-educating? A: …
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Depression risk ‘highest in 40s’
A study confirms that depression risk is the ‘highest in 40s’. That shouldn’t be news. It’s called a mid-life crisis. But if you’re ready for it, the sagging needn’t be so painful. I’ve still to pass the milestone 44, but it certainly seems that ageing accelerates as time passes. And looking back at life spans …
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Time to panic?
It certainly feels like its time to panic as global share indicies crash. However, panicing, whether in stock markets or natural disasters, is never wise – you get crushed by the stampede. And those stocks you hold may be cheap now – so do some proper analysis before you liquidate, especially if you’re a long …
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Plan B 3.0 Mobilizing to Save Civilization – Lester Brown
The excellent Plan B 3.0 Mobilizing to Save Civilization by Lester Brown is now available for free download on Population Connection.
BT Notes: winter solstice, PestalozziWorld, skating …
The school holidays started this weekend so that festive feeling is building. Children really bring the fantasy alive, with a bit of help from Hollywood. This is usually one of the craziest times in the year – everybody is trying to finish off work so that they can go on holiday, while at the same …
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