Author: Serkadis

Facebook is expanding once again, but, this time, it’s not by adding more users or features, it’s by adding more offices, outside of the US, that is. The company is now announcing it will open offices in Hyderabad, India, which will focus on providing tech support for the site’s 400 million users and counting. The company is also opening up new offices in Austin,… (read more)

Earlier this year, we noted that France was considering a plan to tax Google to pay record labels. It looks like the UK has come up with a similarly bad plan for the newspaper industry, with a commission suggesting a tax on Google and other news aggregators, to help prop up newspapers. There doesn’t seem to be much greater rationale, other than that old news publications are struggling and Google seems to be doing great, so why not tax them? The argument, of course, makes little sense. It’s basically saying let’s put a tax on the successful and give that money to the companies squandering it. Talk about a way to give the exact wrong message to companies, while making the economy that much more inefficient.

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eeling challenged, stressed or depressed? Check out my book – THE BOUNCE BACK BOOK – which has been praised by Tony Robbins! Just click this line, right here right now!

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Netflix is a very popular DVD-rental service in the US, having become famous and profitable with its rent-by-mail service. Outside of the US, though, it’s more likely that you’ll know it from the $1-million contest it has run for the past few years, originally dubbed the Netflix Prize, encouraging researchers to best Neflix’s own movie-recommendatio… (read more)

Over the last year, General Motors and Ford Motor Company have both greatly improved their lineups. The Ford and Chevrolet brands have both offered some well built, quality vehicles to the masses while Lincoln and Cadillac have greatly improved their offerings to compete with foreign luxury automakers.

Of course, we can’t say the same for Chrysler, which is still undergoing restructuring under Fiat SpA.

So, if you’re in the market for a new car (or you can just play pretend) we were wondering if you’d purchase a GM or Ford vehicle. This is not a Yes or No question – it’s a GM or Ford question.

Some vehicles you may want to consider when coming up with your answer: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, 2010 Ford Mustang, 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, 2011 Ford Edge, 2010 Cadillac SRX, 2010 Lincoln MKT, 2010 Buick LaCrosse, 2010 Lincoln MKS, 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, 2012 Ford Focus, 2010 Ford Fiesta, 2010 Ford Fusion/Fusion Hybrid, 2010 GMC Terrain, 2010 Cadillac CTS/CTS-V/CTS Sport Wagon, 2011 Buick Regal… and many more.

– By: Omar Rana

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Recalls, Hatchback, Toyota

A joint investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Toyota into the highly publicized incident last week of a runaway 2008 Toyota Prius near San Diego, CA may begin to answer questions raised after the owner’s credibility was challenged. In particular, the brakes reportedly exhibit a pattern of wear that’s inconsistent with the story told by the vehicle’s owner, James Sikes. According to a draft memo written for the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the condition of the brakes suggests that they “weren’t applied at full force over a sustained period at high speeds” reports the Wall Street Journal, but rather “the driver may have intermittently applied moderate pressure on the brakes.”

Representatives from NHTSA and Toyota also couldn’t duplicate the sudden unintended acceleration in testing that was allegedly experienced in the same car last week, though Sikes’ lawyer claims these findings are not surprising: “I don’t think that is surprising insofar as NHTSA has never been able to recreate these events and Toyota has denied that they even occur.”

Finally, Sikes said after the incident that his accelerator pedal was stuck to the floor and he was braking hard at the same time. His particular Prius, however, is fitted with a brake override system that cuts engine power if the accelerator pedal and brake are applied at the same time. Investigators from both NHTSA and Toyota reportedly tried to recreate the same scenario with the vehicle in question and failed due to the brake override system performing as it was intended.

Toyota has announced a press conference for later today to share more of the investigation’s results, which will likely further erode confidence in Sikes and his story. Some experts have questioned why Sikes didn’t follow the advice of a 911 operator and shift his Prius into Neutral, as well as his explanation later of being afraid that the car would flip if he took it out of Drive. Also, Jalopnik.com reported last week that Sikes is some $700,000 in debt as well as behind on lease payments for the Prius in question. Puzzling behavior and circumstantial evidence aside, this investigation appears to offer the first hard evidence that what happened on Interstate 8 last week may not have been Toyota’s fault.

[Source: Wall Street Journal, CNN, Jalopnik | Image: Toyota]]

Official investigation of runaway Prius begins to answer questions originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spain is becoming the last bastion of common sense when it comes to peer-to-peer and file sharing, at least until the big media companies get their own way and change the law in the country altogether. Torrentfreak, the ever-vigilant blog focusing on BitTorrent and file-sharing issues, points to a recent lawsuit in Spain that ended quite favorably for … (read more)

For those living with Hepatitis C, discover why most routes toward getting a tan are not worth the effort.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

Despite the dangers of sunburn or skin cancer, many fair-skinned folk strive for a golden tan. Whether that color is obtained via sun worship, tanning beds, lotions, sprays or pills, our society seems to treasure a sun-kissed glow. However, several ways people achieve beautiful, bronzed skin have particularly unpleasant consequences for those living with Hepatitis C.

Ultraviolet Rays
A recent report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, concluded that tanning is more dangerous than previously thought. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, whether from the sun or indoor tanning beds, can cause:

· Skin cancer
· Skin burns
· Premature skin aging
· Eye damage (both short- and long-term)

Dr. Len Lichtenfeld of the American Cancer Society warns that claims that some tanning beds are “safe” because they use more UVA than UVB radiation in the bulbs have been proven false, and that there is no safe tanning bed. Studies show that the risk of developing skin cancer increases 75 percent in young adults who use tanning beds. Although many types of skin cancer are not deadly, the risk of deadly melanoma increased 20 percent with the use of a tanning bed.

UV radiation does not directly worsen Hepatitis C. However, it does pose problems for those undergoing antiviral treatment, and by adding the risk of skin cancer to an already challenging illness.

Photosensitivity
In many people, certain medications increase skin sensitivity to UV radiation. The current standard of therapy for Hepatitis C, interferon and ribavirin, are included in the ranks of photosensitive drugs. Thus, anyone being treated for Hepatitis C must protect him or herself from the sun and avoid tanning beds.

In a discussion of Hepatitis C therapy, liver expert Melissa Palmer, MD, says “itching may occur anywhere on the body but is most common in sun-exposed areas and at the injection sites. Pruritus (skin itching) frequently occurs at the site of injection of interferon. This type of skin reaction typically occurs within a day or two and may not resolve for up to a month after the injection.” In addition, Palmer cautions, “Avoid tanning salons, as this too may worsen pruritus that occurs while on treatment. If pain, swelling and redness accompany pruritus at the injection site, it should immediately be reported to the doctor or nurse, as it may be a sign of infection.”

A consequence of drug-induced photosensitivity, severe sunburns can occur from sunbathing during Hepatitis C therapy. Before going outside during the day, individuals receiving treatment are encouraged to cover themselves with protective clothing and a hat, as well as use an SPF of at least 30 on the face and any exposed areas.

The Immune System
If you have chronic Hepatitis C, your body’s immune system plays an integral role in the daily battle against this virus. As one of the more important components of a healthy immune system, T cells are critical immune cells that help to destroy infected cells and coordinate the overall immune response. Our defense against bacteria and viruses, the strength of our immune system is essential in preventing Hepatitis C from replicating.

According to Daniel Sauder, chief of dermatology at Johns Hopkins, tanning beds not only damage the skin, but they also do considerable damage to the immune system. According to Sauder, spending a few hours in the sun will alter T cell function. However, spending a short time in a tanning bed decreases T cell capability much more, earning tanning beds a place among immunosuppressive agents. Unfortunate for someone with Hepatitis C, the last thing he or she wants to accomplish is immune system suppression.

Tanning Pills
Although tanning pills are illegal in the U.S., they may still be obtainable on the Internet. While swallowing a pill to get some color sounds like an ideal solution to the dangers of tanning, there is a reason these pills are on the black market. Sunless tanning pills typically contain the color additive canthaxanthin, which is known to cause liver damage. Obviously, someone with Hepatitis C risks worsening the condition of his or her liver by taking tanning pills.

Sunless Tanning
Sunless tanning products can give the skin a tanned look without exposing it to harmful radiation. Applied topically to the skin, sunless tanning products may be in the form of creams, gels, lotions, mists and sprays. The active ingredient in most sunless tanning products is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). When applied to the skin, DHA reacts with dead cells in the outermost layer of skin to temporarily darken the skin’s appearance. While it doesn’t wash off, the color will fade in a few days as dead skin cells slough off.

Topical sunless tanning products are generally considered safe alternatives to sunbathing, as long as they’re used as directed. Due to the potentially unknown hazards of inhaling or ingesting DHA, tans that are sprayed or misted on could pose a risk to those with Hepatitis C if the person’s airways are not properly protected.

Even though they may not be your first choice, sunless tanning lotions appear to be the safest ways to darken your skin – whether or not you are battling Hepatitis C. Because ultraviolet radiation can weaken the immune system and be dangerous for those on antiviral therapy, inhaled DHA safety is unknown and tanning pills are extremely hazardous for those with Hepatitis C, managing this virus presents the perfect opportunity to embrace pale skin.

References:

http://thyroid.about.com/od/endocrineautoimmune1/l/blwork.htm, How Does the Immune System Work?, Mary J. Shomon, Retrieved March 11, 2010, About.com, 2010.

http://www.fda.gov/radiation-emittingproducts/radiationemittingproductsandprocedures/tanning/default.htm, Tanning, Retrieved March 11, 2010, US Food and Drug Administration, 2010.

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/health/2009/july/Tanning-Beds-Cause-Cancer–But-Will-People-Stop-Tanning-.html#1, Tanning Beds Cause Cancer, But Will People Stop Tanning?, Haley A. Lovett, Retrieved March 10, 2010, Dulcinea Media, Inc., 2010.

http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2007/03/post_2.html, How Your Immune System Can Help Defeat Hepatitis C, Nicole Cutler, L.Ac., Retrieved March 11, 2010, Natural Wellness, 2010.

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/hnf/hnf_3077.htm, Dangers of Tanning Beds: Part Two, Elizabeth Tracey, Retrieved March 10, 2010, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 2010.

http://www.liverhealthtoday.org/viewarticle.cfm?aid=164, Pruritus in its most severe form can be debilitating, Geoff Drushel, Retrieved March 10, 2010, Liver Health Today, 2010.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sunless-tanning/SN00037, Sunless tanning: A safe alternative to sunbathing, Retrieved March 10, 2010, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2010.

By Claire Ngozo LILONGWE, Mar 15 (IPS) At the age of 66, village headman Kamwala of Dedza district in central Malawi is starting to feel the effects of ageing. He gets tired easily and needs frequent naps but says he cannot afford this luxury. He and his wife are caregivers to a one-year-old orphan.

Despite having ten children of his own, who are between eight and 34 years old, the village chief has taken in three orphans below the age of eight over the past five years.

"I don’t have a choice but to take these children under my wing. They lost both their parents, and I can’t leave them to roam around the village, without parental care," Kamwala told IPS.

There are no orphanages in this area, and thus families have resorted to integrating orphans into households. This has become a common practice across Malawi’s rural areas, due to a strong sense of community values.

Extended families choose to live close to each other, and neighbours, even if not related, help each other out. There is also a general belief that children do not belong to their parents alone, but are the responsibility of the entire village.

Malawi has almost a million orphans, who have lost either one or both parents, according to 2009 United Nations statistics. The 2008 Malawi Population and Housing Census puts the number of orphans at a little less, 837,300, with almost all of them, 714,741, living in rural areas.

More than half a million children have been orphaned by AIDS in Malawi, according to international non-profit organisation ActionAid.

Kamwala confirmed that there are many deaths in his village due to AIDS-related illnesses, which leave large numbers of children without family members, not even relatives.

"It has now become a norm for families around the village to take in orphans. It does not matter whether they are related to them or not. I adopted three children to set an example," he explained.

Villagers take turns looking after the children. Throughout the village, small groups of children gather under trees or sit in grass-thatched shelters where they meet to play games, share meals or listen to folklore stories told by elders of the village.

Unemployed Georgina Kagwa, 28, volunteers in this community initiative. "I teach the children how to read and write as they gather in play groups. We also ensure that every child starts primary school when it turns six," she said.

Kagwa and fellow volunteers also identify families that can provide homes for orphans and check up on their well-being. "We hold village meetings to ensure that all orphans are treated well," explained Kagwa.

The village’s orphan initiative is a welcome development in a country where up to 65 percent of Malawi’s 13.1 million people live below the poverty line of less than a dollar per day, according to government statistics.

The people of Kamwala’s village see their efforts as a complement to the country’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) policy. It was developed in 2003 by the Department of Gender, Child Welfare and Community Services to encourage local communities assist government with the provision of childcare and community-based projects.

Up to 400 community-based childcare centres (CBCCs) have been set up around the country in the last two years, catering for 400,000 orphans, the department’s 2010 statistics claim. In addition, the department developed a set of training modules on childcare practices for municipal and provincial government officials, volunteer caregivers and foster parents.

CBCCs are aimed at integrating orphaned and non-orphaned children to reduce discrimination and stigmatisation of orphans.

The country’s vice president, Joyce Banda, is lobbying for more resources from within and outside Malawi to improve the lives of orphans and other vulnerable children. The Department of Gender, Child Welfare and Community Services does not disclose how much of its budget goes towards its childcare budget, but social experts believe that more than two thirds are provided by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Village headman Mphunda, 49, also of Dedza district, has also set up centres in his village where children – both orphans and non-orphans – learn, play and receive health care.

"Every child is treated equally. Before we started this initiative, most orphans were hungry and poor. We have now been trained by government, and we know how best to implement the projects," Mphunda told IPS. "We also know how to make the project sustainable by working as one instead of each family operating in isolation."

He said the villagers donate food, like soya beans, maize flour, vegetables and meat, so that centre staff can prepare meals for the children: "We also ensure that very poor households that are keeping orphans are provided with clothes for the children."

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Government/Legal, Videos, Nissan

Why is it that people engaged in illegal activities feel compelled to record their indiscretions? It’s just a really, really bad idea. And a bad idea becomes an act of outright stupidity when said video is published on YouTube, where any random investigator can easily find evidence that can be used against the guilty party. This just makes sense, right? Obviously not for everyone.

According to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Jay Chen, the 21 year-old owner of a wrecked Nissan GT-R, apparently now knows this lesson all too late, as the accused street racer allegedly crashed his Ivory Godzilla on a Glendora mountain road in California. The SGVT reports that Chen and his sister Tracey gave insurance investigators conflicting testimony after the March, 2009 accident, sending up red flags. Chen later called the insurance company and informed them that he would pay for the damages himself, only to claim another accident three months later on 60 Freeway in Riverside, CA.

Unfortunately for Chen, during the paperwork processing following that ‘second’ accident, the body shop informed Chen’s insurance company that it had been holding on to the mangled GT-R since March. Investigators then searched YouTube for any evidence of the incident, and apparently they believe that they’ve found it – the insurer alleges that the footage shown after the jump incident shows damage consistent with that of Chen’s GT-R after a mountain run with a Mitsubishi Evolution IX MR goes awry. The actual crash doesn’t look all that bad, but the apparent $76,000 repair bill shows that near-supercars can cost a boatload of money to fix.

Regardless of the severity of the accident, as a result of the investigation, Chen has officially been charged with six felony counts of insurance fraud, and his sister has been charged with one count. If you are in your late teens or early 20s and you’re wondering why you’re paying over $300 per month to insure your battered Honda Civic, hit the jump to see why.

[Sources: San Gabriel Valley Tribune, YouTube]

Continue reading PSA: If you’re going to attempt insurance fraud, you might want to avoid posting on YouTube [w/video]

PSA: If you’re going to attempt insurance fraud, you might want to avoid posting on YouTube [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By Susan Anyangu-Amu NAIROBI, Mar 15 (IPS) Margaret Atieno, a 38-year-old mother of six, says she wanted to avoid her last pregnancy. But consistent stock-outs of contraceptive devices at her health care centre in rural Siaya, western Kenya, gave her no choice but to fall pregnant once again, albeit the fact that she did not want another child.

"My husband, who is polygamous and has two other wives, does not want any of his spouses using contraceptives. So a community health worker told me that if I had the intra-uterine contraceptive device (IUCD) inserted, my husband would never suspect anything. But when I visited the health centre on three occasions, I was told IUCDs were out of stock," said Atieno.

On her fourth visit, IUCDs were finally in stock, there were no gloves – as a result, health workers could not insert the device. Atieno conceived before her next visit to the health centre.

Atieno says she did not want more children because her husband, who is a cobbler, already struggles to provide for the 13 children he has with his three wives. Living in a traditional, rural community, she is not privy to how much money her husband earns, and although they hardly manage to make ends meet, Atieno and the other wives are not allowed to work to contribute to the household income.

"My two eldest children, who are aged 17 and 15 years, would have been in secondary school, but they had to drop out due to lack of funds. It is a daily struggle finding money to feed and clothe my children, let alone send them to school," she complained.

Social experts have recognized that lack of family planning is one of the key reasons for an increase in poverty throughout Kenya. A November 2009 report by United States Agency International Development (USAID) warns that Kenya will not be able to foster national development at the current rate of population growth.

If the country wants to achieve universal primary education, food security, primary healthcare for all and reduction in maternal and infant deaths, couples have to have smaller families, USAID researchers noted.

The country’s government has also taken notice of the tight link between poverty and population growth. Dr Boniface K’Oyugi, chief executive officer of the National Coordinating Agency for Population and Development (NCAPD), cautioned that Kenya’s rapid population growth of three percent per year, needed to be reduced by at least a third.

"In developed countries, people are having one or two children, but here, one woman is having five children and more. If we want to be as developed as other countries, we urgently need to reduce our population growth," K’Oyugi said at a meeting at Nairobi’s Hilton hotel in February.

He called for improved health care provision that includes family planning services, to help couples to better manage their reproductive health and pregnancies.

"The decision of the number of children is a personal one. But smaller families will lead to benefits at the individual, household and national levels," he explained.

K’Oyugi believes the Kenyan government can learn from Asian countries, such as Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore, which managed to strengthen their economies by actively reducing population growth rates.

It is, however, important to note that population growth is only one of numerous factors hampering Kenya’s development. Through the national poverty reduction strategy 2003-2007, government made clear that good governance, primary education, gender equality and HIV prevention, as well as high levels of corruption are other major stumbling blocks to economic growth.

Still, the size of a country’s population dictates how much budget is available for services per capita.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, Kenya had 38 million people in 2008 – an increase of a third since 1999. USAID projections warn that if this growth rate persists, the number of Kenyans will increase to 82 million by 2040.

"More people means more pressure on the environment, as demands for food, land, clean water and energy resources escalate. With reduced resources, there is a real danger of civil strife arising as people squabble for the scarce resources," K’Oyugi warned.

An increase in the number of people will also boost rural-urban migration, according to USAID. This will increase the pressure on urban facilities, in turn creating slums and poverty. Already, Kenya’s informal settlements are characterized by over-crowding, inadequate shelter, lack of clean drinking water and adequate sanitation, insecurity, exploitation and abuse.

The NCAPD is now pushing for family planning to take a central role in the government’s policy agenda to reduce poverty and transform the country into a middle-level income country with a high quality of life and secure environment, as the country’s Vision 2030 policy envisions.

"The aim is to rejuvenate the family planning campaign to the level where it was in the 1980s, during which time the fertility rate dropped from 6.7 children per woman in 1989 to 5.4 in 1993 and 4.7 in 1998," said NCAPD media liaison officer David Kinyua.

He promised that, in the next financial year starting in June, increased budgets will be allocated for family planning, but was unable to explain how much additional money will be spent and where.

One more commendable thing about Final Fantasy XIII is the quality voice acting put together by the team it really draws you in and gives life to the dialogue. And when it comes to character voice

Filed under: Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Toyota

The hits keep on coming for Toyota, with reports of unintended acceleration multiplying like rabbits with aphrodisiacs and grandstanding of all sorts going on at every level. Orange County, California District Attorney Tony Rackauckas has added another layer to the cake with a lawsuit alleging Toyota sold cars it knew had problems.

DA Rackauckas (great name) alleges that while evidence Toyota had safety problems was “massive for many years,” the parent company and its American subsidiary kept sweeping issues under the rug and settling any lawsuits that might crop up to avoid disclosing the truth. Double-secret internal “Books of Knowledge” that document problems and obfuscatory actions have come to light, though Toyota has not yet turned any documents over. The lawsuit seeks to get to the bottom of what Toyota knew and when, as well as potentially punish the company to the tune of $2,500 per vehicle if it can be proved Toyota willingly sold cars it knew could cause injuries that are impossible to reverse.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Report: California prosecutor sues Toyota, alleges automaker ignored defects originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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According to reports coming out of Europe, Mercedes-Benz will give its uber-luxury Maybach vehicles one last facelift before the brand is allowed to slip away. Company bosses have privately admitted that the brand will be wound down as a part of Mercedes-Benz’s decision to take the next-generation S-Class more upmarket.

Click here to get prices on the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The next-generation S-Class is scheduled to arrive in 2014 and the Stuttgart designers and engineers are promising it to be one of the most high-tech models ever built. The lineup will consist of a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid variant. It will also have a bunch of interior technologies shown in the new F800 Style Concept at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

Recently appointed design chief Gorden Wagener is working on the next-generation S-Class along with the replacement of the R-Class crossover (cough minivan).

– By: Kap Shah

Source: AutoExpress

In a lot of ways, Final Fantasy XIII is quite different from all the other FFs, but whether you like it or not, that’s the way Square Enix wants their core franchise to go.

Following the darkest days of the financial crisis, 2009 was a can’t miss year.

But of course, you can always miss.

67 billionaires lost money in 2009, according to Forbes’ yearly list of billionaires.

They lost vast quantities of wealth through exposure to Dubai, real estate markets, poor management, and bad business ideas.

The Top 25 Billionaire Losers Of 2009 >

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See Also:

• The 10 Most Expensive Homes For Sale In America
• Forget The Mere Billionaires. Meet The MULTI-Billionaires Of Tech
• The Biggest Losers Of The Decade

Despite warnings about the fate of American and English AAA credit ratings from companies like Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s has actually come out to give the green light in a latest report.

Actually, the U.S. and U.K. credit ratings are ‘well positioned’:

BBC:

A key finding is that the AAA ratings of the UK and the US are secure because of the capability of their respective governments to reverse recent deficits.

These two governments face the biggest interest repayments relative to the size of their incomes, compared with other economic giants.

The report says that these governments will be able to repair their balance sheets in the wake of the credit crisis.

“In light of the muted recovery, discretionary fiscal adjustment is now the principal means of repairing the damage that the global crisis has inflicted on government balance sheets,” says Pierre Cailleteau, managing director, Moody’s Sovereign Risk Group.

Of course, it is not just a matter of being capable of reducing deficits, it’s also a matter of then actually having the will to do so. The second bit is the real challenge, as Greece highlights so well these days.

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See Also:

• SENTIMENT BACKFLIP: S&P Now Saying The Euro Could Threaten The Dollar As Reserve Currency
• Unicredit: ‘Great Britain Is The Next Country That Is Going To Be Pummelled By Investors’
• Resolute In Athens: ‘We Won’t Pay For The Crisis’

This morning’s capacity utilization data from The Fed shows that the slowly the slack is being wrung out of the system.

The system is still a long way from being “tight” but eventually this will force the Fed’s hand, and a raising of interest rates could end up coming sooner than many expect. (The consensus seems to be that there won’t be any rate hike this year, and maybe not until late 2011).

The ultimate goal, of course, is to get the economy humming again, and obviously increased capacity utilization is great news.

But the nightmare is if that happens, and employment doesn’t follow suit. Then the Fed has a dilemma, and a legitimate challenge balancing price inflation with full employment.

Thus if we get a few more months on trend, the stagflation story could come back with a vengeance.

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