Blog

Today's downward revision is far worse than it first appears. While third quarter GDP was revised down by a 0.6% (2.2% vs. 2.8% previously), the contribution from motor vehicle output (which was massively stimulated by Cash for Clunkers in a one-off fashion) remains enormous.

BEA GDP Release: Motor vehicle output added 1.45 percentage points to the third-quarter change in real GDP after adding 0.19 percentage point to the second-quarter change.

What this means is that Cash for Clunkers was an even larger factor than previously understood. As it stands, by a basic calculation without motor vehicle output, third quarter GDP would have been only 0.75%. That's barely growing.

Now obviously there might have been some degree of GDP contribution from motor vehicle output even if Cash for Clunkers hadn't happened. Yet it would have been far less than 1.45%, look at Q2's contribution noted above, it was only 0.2%.

Also, the contribution could have actually been negative (subtracting from GDP growth) if motor vehicle output had contracted without stimulus. (Which isn't a wild scenario given the state of things for U.S. autos). And actually, in Q3 of 2008, the same year-ago period, motor vehicle output subtracted 0.15% from GDP growth according to the BEA. This means we could even be underestimating the boost from Cash for Clunkers here.

Thus no matter how you slice it precisely, a huge part of Q3 GDP came from inflated motor vehicle output, and a simple estimate is that GDP growth would have been only 0.75% sans Clunkers.

Thus third quarter GDP growth was mostly Cash for Clunkers.

Which means that from a political stand point, the administration must be pretty happy with the program. Economic data would be looking a lot worse without it.

Problem is, Cash for Clunkers was a one-off effect, and arguably economically-damaging in the long-term. Going forward, there's risk that U.S. GDP could be weaker than economists expect if their forecasts are running off of Q3's inflated 2.2% GDP statistic (Or worse, the previous 2.8% Q3 estimate).

Want to check our numbers? It's all from the BEA data here.

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• Q3 GDP Revised All The Way Down To 2.2%, Much Lower Than Expectations
• Goldman: Prepare For The De-Stimulus, When Fiscal Restraint Turns Into A GDP Drag
• Best Buy Is So Huge, Their Data Predicts The GDP

Spices are at their best when they are fresh. I find that this is especially true of nutmeg, a spice that is often called for in baking in only small amounts. Its delicate, peppery flavor begins to dissipate shortly after it has been grated and you won’t get the same result with previously ground nutmeg. Whole nutmegs are easy to find in most grocery and kitchen stores and can keep for years in a cool, dark place, so all you need to have is a grater on hand and you can have fresh nutmeg for a batch of eggnog anytime!You can use a microplane to grate nutmeg, but I really like nutmeg mills for this spice. Nutmeg mills are built to both store whole nutmegs and grind them. They’re usually round and have a handle on top, which turns whole nutmegs against a blade to grind out just as much as you need at a time. A few turns of the handle and you have plenty of fresh, spicy nutmeg for most recipes. I like the fact that mills store the whole nutmegs, so it’s very convenient to just pull my mill out of my cabinet when I need it and I don’t need to look for either a bottle of nutmegs or a microplane – plus, there is nothing to clean after using.

The Resident Evil 5: Alternative Edition DLC packs are still a couple of months away, but if you’ve been wondering what trophies you’re going to have to work for, here’s a list.
 
Thanks to liight for the tip!

Fellow Toshiba NB205 netbook owner Hector Gomez pinged me last night with some interesting info on a refreshed Toshiba making its way through the FCC. There’s no indication of the processor in the FCC testing documents, but at this point, it’s all but certain that the new Intel Atom N450 will power it. I can confirm that the device will have integrated 3G, or at least an option for wireless broadband. Speaking of options, owners of the new netbook will be able to use either EVDO or HSPA for the broadband service. Hector told me it appears that Toshiba is using a Qualcomm Gobi chip for communication, which supports both types of network technologies. It took me some time to find it, but a Nov. 18 filing confirms it (PDF):

“Please be advised that Qualcomm Incorporated authorizes Toshiba Corp. and Compliance Certification Services to utilize compliance data from Part 22/24 RF conducted test report of the Qualcomm model No: Gobi 2000, FCC ID: J9CGOBI2000 to demonstrate compliance for the Toshiba Netbook Computer Model No: NB300/ NB305, FCC ID: CJ6UPLL3APC.”

Although I’m not sold on the business model, this news is a good indicator that we’ll see carriers in the U.S. that will subsidize the Toshiba NB300/305 netbook. Although it’s difficult to tell from the above diagram, Hector thinks that the battery housing on the new netbook appears a bit larger than on our current devices. That could mean a battery that protrudes a little less, but we’ll have to wait and see. I’m also wondering how long such a refreshed netbook will run on a single charge since the new Atom chipset uses 20 percent less power. Note that the displays use more energy than chipsets, so you can’t expect a 20 percent jump in overall battery life. But with early reviews showing solid gains in run-time, I’m hoping that a new Toshiba netbook will run for nearly 10 hours — my current one lasts for around eight with the older Atom. Thanks Hector — when are you placing your order?

Opera just released the first pre-alpha version of Opera 10.5. While most users generally only think about Firefox, Internet Explorer and Chrome as the major players in the current browser wars, there can be no doubt that Opera is working hard to push browser development forward as well. This latest alpha version shows that Opera has worked hard to speed up the browser. Carakan, the new JavaScript engine in Opera 10.5, is up to seven times faster than Opera’s current engine. The new version of Opera also adds a number of new features like an enhanced private browsing mode and a new graphics engine that can be hardware accelerated.

Sponsor

The new alpha is currently only available for Windows and OSX users; a Linux version will follow soon. Download links can be found at the bottom of this page.

New Features

Along with the focus on speed – an area where Opera used to lead before WebKit-based browsers like Safari and Chrome became popular – the company also included a number of other enhancement in this early version of 10.5. Windows 7 and Vista users, for example, will notice that the browser is now closely integrated with the desktop environment and makes use of features like Aero Glass in Vista and Aero Peek and Jump Lists in Windows 7. On the Mac, Opera can now make use of multi-touch gestures like the three-finger swipe and Growl notifications.

Other new features include a new “private tab” and “private window” mode that actually works far better than similar features in other browsers. You just have to right-click on the tab bar and select “private tab” to start the private browsing mode in this new tab, for example.

Opera also updated the look and feel of the browser’s in-line page search and password manager.

It’s All About Speed

The focus for Opera, however, is clearly not so much on bringing new features to the browser (the current Alpha doesn’t even support Opera Unite, for example), but on testing the new JavaScript engine. When we spoke to CEO Jon von Tetzchner about the state of the browser during LeWeb earlier this month, he stressed that the company was very focused on improving the speed of the browser. He did say, however, that the JavaScript engine was only a small part of this effort and that the company was also looking at other bottlenecks that are slowing the browser down. The fact that that the new image rendering engine is already pre-wired for hardware acceleration is a good example for this (though the feature isn’t turned on yet). We will bring you more of our interview with von Tetzchner after the holidays.

In our own tests, Opera performed remarkably well and this new version clearly shows that it would be unwise to underestimate Opera in the browser wars. We should note, however, that this is still a very early alpha version and that the browser is likely to crash occasionally.

Discuss

Very attractive power-weight ratio, Very compact and light, easily transportable.
Penetration tests (DPSH and SPT) with integrated blow counting.

Undisturbed samplings thanks to a sampler tube
with an inner clear plastic liner. Possibility of sampling with auger or pressuremeter test at shallow depths (rotation head in option).

General information
Mechanically welded steel skid mounted
Emergency stops on the control panel
Electrical remote control

NEWARK, UK. (October 06, 2009) – Terex AWP introduces the new Genie® QuickStock™ (QS) lift which is designed to make inventory picking faster, easier and safer than rolling stairs or manually propelled lifts. An expansion of the versatile and popular Genie® Runabout™ product line, the QuickStock™ lift is both compact and easy to manoeuvre. It is available in all three Runabout™ model heights (3.48 m, 4.47 m, and 6.07 m) and comes in two different versions: Retail (R) or Warehouse (W).

“With its driveable picking platform, the QuickStock™ lift is ideal for locations where the use of high-density racking systems is common,” said Kim Williams, Senior Market Analyst, Terex Aerial Work Platforms (AWP). “The QuickStock™ offers a quick, effective and safe way of picking and placing stock versus other types of equipment.”

QuickStock™ Lift Retail Version
With a footprint of just 1.35 m (53 in) by .75 m (29.5 in) and a zero inside turning radius, the QuickStock™ lift is made to easily manoeuvre through tight aisle ways as well as navigate high-density shelving common in warehouse locations. A capacity up to 227 kg (500 lbs) , or 159 kg (350 lbs) for the QS™ 20, facilitates picking and placing large boxes, bicycles and other irregular objects from high stocking locations. The units include optional dual bicycle hooks and a standard large front workstation tray. The unit’s joystick is positioned up front providing the operator with excellent visibility.

Enclosed wiring, maintenance free batteries and an industrially-proven design provide low machine maintenance. Light machine weight, non-marking tyres, and quick battery charging allows for quick use of the QuickStock™ lift on most surfaces and applications. A 1.8 m (6 ft) charger cord allows the battery to be charged without the need for a separate extension cord.
Dual platform swing-gates provide the operator with easy access no matter which direction the unit is facing while parked next to shelving. A step-in height of just .39 m (15.5 in) and easy to use proportional controls make machine operation quick, easy and efficient.

The Genie® QuickStock™ lift Retail version offers standard features customised for front of the house applications. Dual flashing beacons notify surrounding people that the unit is in operation. Additionally, an obstruction sensing pad located on top of the chassis senses when an object is on the unit, causing the platform to automatically stop descending.

The live video streaming space is pretty crowded at the moment, but it’s still seeing some very healthy growth. Despite revenue numbers being smaller than they’d like, live streaming services are competing at an increasing pace constantly trying to out do each other. The chat component for these sites has always been important and the move now is to unify the different chat services the site supports, making for a more seamless experience. Justin.tv is the last to do so, enabling its users to chat using their Facebook, Twitter or MySpace accounts, as well as their Justin.tv ones.

“Our new Unified Chat makes it simple for any Twitter, Facebook or Myspace user to start chatting without the need to create a Justin.tv account. Now, when you start to chat you will be presented with a new sleek way to sign in to your Justin.tv account or connect to other services with 1-click,” Justin.tv’s Caleb Elston writes. “We are also unifying chat for all users into the same view. Our old chat system kept Justin.tv, Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace chatters in separate and distinct rooms,” he added.

Before entering a chat, users will now be asked to log in with one of the supported services as an alternative to using their Justin.tv accounts. Only Facebook, Twitter and MySpace are supported for now, but it’s likely that this covers a sig… (read more)

Filed under: Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety

Vehicles manufactured by Volvo are the subject of two different recalls newly announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA). The recalls, both involving problems with fuel systems, cover more than 140,000 vehicles manufactured within the past decade.

The first recall is directed at 136,100 2001-2005 model year S60, S80, V70, XC70, and XC90 vehicles sold and operated in warmer climates. According to NHTSA, the fuel pump can develop cracks in its flange when exposed to hot temperatures (and thermal cycling) combined with varying fuel quality. A compromised flange may leak fuel and/or result in a fire. Owners are instructed to bring their vehicles into the dealer for inspection. If the part is defective, Volvo will replaced it with modified flange at no charge. The recall campaign is scheduled to begin in January 2010.

The second recall is directed at 5,253 2010 model year XC60 vehicles. According to NHTSA, a fuel line rail cover designed to protect the fuel lines on the XC60 may be improperly attached, thus exposing the lines to damage. The damaged pieces may leak, possibly resulting in a fire. Owners of the affected models are asked to bring their vehicles to the dealer for inspection and/or a repair at no charge. The recall campaign is scheduled to begin in January 2010.

Owners are asked to contact NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236 or visit www.safercar.gov for more information. The full text from both recall notices is after the jump.

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading Volvo recalls over 140K 2001-2005 and 2010 MY vehicles over fuel system issues

Volvo recalls over 140K 2001-2005 and 2010 MY vehicles over fuel system issues originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

If you’re still reading a fantasy sports blog this late in the NFL season, then at least one of the following things is true:

A) Your team is still alive in Championship Week;

B) Your team is no longer alive, but you’re in denial about the fact that Ahmad [expletive] Bradshaw flattened you in the semis;

C) You’ve been searching for any comments section where you can ask start/sit questions, hoping to get a thoughtful response from a community of angry strangers; or…

D) You have a fetishist dating site to promote and no marketing budget with which to do it.

If A is true, congratulations. But there’s still work to be done. It’s time to get a ring. If B is true, then you have our sympathy. At least Bradshaw is legit. He continues to climb in the weekly ranks, despite playing on a half-broken foot and no healthy ankles. If C is true, then you’ve finally found the appropriate blog post. By all means, please discuss your start/sit dilemma in comments.

And if D is true…well, c’mon. Have you not taken enough from this community already? You know we can’t resist the sweet, sweet temptation of wealthy cougars.

Below you’ll find a rough draft of my position ranks for Week 16. Adjustments will be made prior to the release of the official, unalterable Yahoo! staff ranks on Thursday.  Like Brad and Brett, let’s talk this thing out…

QUARTERBACKS

• There are two significant factors to consider when ranking Colts for Week 16. The first issue, of course, is the Jets defense. They’re awfully good. New York has limited opponents to 159.8 passing yards per game, the lowest total in the NFL. Darrelle Revis(notes) has been a plague, eliminating elite receivers all season.

The second problem is that Indianapolis has clinched home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, so there’s no obvious need for the team to play its starters for the full 60 minutes. History suggests that Peyton Manning(notes) will eventually get some rest, but it won’t necessarily happen this week. Head coach Jim Caldwell has said, "We’re still going to base [playing time] on the health of each and every one of our players, as to what their situation is." Caldwell hasn’t yet spelled out the plan for healthy players. He’s really no help. In the end, the difficulty of the matchup is enough reason to downgrade Colts. Fear of lost snaps is justified, too.

• Brad Childress reportedly "unleashed an expletive-laden outburst" toward Brett Favre(notes) on Sunday, which sounds fantastic. I’ve had that dream. Clearly there’s some discord in Minnesota. Favre is ranked here as if the Vikings will actually have something at stake in the Monday night game at Chicago, but Sunday’s results in New Orleans and Philadelphia could alter Minnesota’s approach. If the Saints win (which seems overwhelmingly likely) and the Eagles lose (which is certainly possible), then the Vikings will have clinched a bye, yet they’ll have no shot at home field advantage. 

• Alex Smith is coming off a messy game (177 yards, TD, 3 INTs) against a serious Philly defense. But he’s at home and facing Detroit in Week 16. The Lions have allowed a league-worst 31.2 points and 268.6 passing yards per game, and they rank 29th in sacks and 28th in interceptions. The week sets up nicely for Niners.

• Brady Quinn(notes) has been placed on injured reserve due to a right foot injury. Also, Brian Brohm(notes) is expected to start for Buffalo. Those things seem worth reporting, even though they shouldn’t have fantasy impact outside of 14-team, two-quarterback leagues. Here’s the money quote from the Brohm link: "[Perry] Fewell said recently that Brohm didn’t know the offense well enough to run if effectively." 

• For now, New Orleans head coach Sean Payton sounds like a man who intends to play his starters through the end of the regular season. Here’s a quote from his Monday press conference, via the Times-Picayune:

"We’re not resting them. We’re playing right now. There are only two weeks left in the regular season, and we’re full speed ahead with this game that we’re playing. I’m not really dealing with the hypotheticals,
I’m just staying focused on this game right now."

The Saints will secure home dome advantage when they annihilate the Bucs on Sunday. No matter what Payton says now, he’s still free to reconsider his position on Drew Brees(notes)‘ playing time in Week 17. 

RUNNING BACKS

• DeAngelo Williams(notes) injured (or re-injured) his left ankle in the Week 15 win over Minnesota, and he wasn’t able to return to the game. Jonathan Stewart(notes) was sensational in relief, rushing for 109 yards on 25 carries and finding the end zone twice. Tyrell Sutton(notes) made an impressive cameo appearance, too, gaining 21 yards on three touches. (Arian Foster(notes)-esque numbers!) Stewart is obviously ranked here as if he’ll get a full workload against the Giants. The Panthers haven’t yet said anything meaningful about the severity of Williams’ injury.

• Beanie Wells(notes) reportedly "appeared to be a bit woozy" following a shot to the helmet in Arizona’s Week 15 win over Detroit, but coach Ken Whisenhunt declared, "it wasn’t anything." Wells has carried 32 times for 189 yards and two scores over his last two games. He’s an obvious start in the matchup against St. Louis, the NFL’s 27th ranked run defense.

• Michael Turner(notes) re-re-aggravated his ankle sprain on his first carry against the Jets, and his postgame comments weren’t exactly loaded with hope: "I’ve got to start out all over again. How many weeks has this been now? I just have to keep trying." In Week 16, Jason Snelling(notes) and Jerious Norwood(notes) will face Buffalo, the league’s worst run defense; it can be easily argued that I’m too low on that pair.

• Perhaps a 286-yard rushing performance is a signature significance event. Only two players in NFL history have ever topped Jerome Harrison(notes)‘s Week 15 effort. But that game told us at least as much about Kansas City’s defense as it told us about Harrison; my primary takeaway was that Cedric Benson(notes) is a fantastic start against the Chiefs in Championship Week. There are still trust issues with the Browns, despite the friendly matchup (OAK). 

• You can’t reasonably expect a significant workload from Brian Westbrook(notes), assuming he returns against Denver. Here’s coach Andy Reid: "Obviously he’s not going to play the whole game. [We will] make sure we keep track of how many plays he plays, if it comes down to that." 

WIDE RECEIVERS

• Despite clinching their division, Arizona has no plans to rest anyone, not after the sluggish performance against Detroit. Larry Fitzgerald(notes) overcame the knee issues and delivered a useful fantasy line in Week 15. But if any Cardinal is going to rest at any point, it should be him.

• Reggie Wayne(notes) presumably has to deal with Revis this week (see above), which explains his drop to No. 21. Pierre Garcon(notes) checked out early against Jacksonville with a hand injury, so he’s a risk for inactivity in Week 16. 

• Percy Harvin(notes) is an old man. He’s dealing with migraines and bulging disks, and he reportedly went to the Mayo Clinic for maintenance on Tuesday. He wishes his grandkids would visit him at the senior center more often, but he understands they’re busy. Don’t ask Percy about his troubles, because he’s got nothing to say:

Harvin declined to talk about his neck after the game and would not even confirm that the report was accurate.

"I’m not allowed to talk about it," he said. "I’m fine. I came out of the game good."

• Hakeem Nicks(notes) suffered a hamstring injury on Monday night, but it doesn’t sound too severe. That was really the only thing that went wrong for the Giants. New York has no margin for error, so it would be a mild surprise if Nicks can’t go in Week 16.

• Deion Branch(notes) was targeted 10 times in Week 15, starting in place of the injured Nate Burleson(notes) (ankle). Those targets only led to four receptions for 28 yards, however. There’s really no upside this week against the Packers; Matt Hasselbeck(notes) has only thrown four TD passes on the road this year. 

Green Bay is going to maul Seattle, by the way. Just throwin’ that out there. It’s a great week to own a share of the Pack’s passing game. 

—

Photo via Getty Images

There are some major bargains on repo homes right now and a lot of people searching for their first home are very attracted by prices that seem too good to be true. Some of these homes really are a good deal. Some are overwhelming wrecks that will empty your bank account and make you sick before you end up getting them properly repaired. So, before you decide you want to buy a repo home, you need to know what you are getting into.

The biggest issue with repo homes is that most banks turn off the utilities. Then, most of those same banks don’t winterize the homes. So, you have a house with a damp basement, no sump pump running and…oops. Guess they didn’t drain the pipes. The water in them expanded and they burst. Someone’s going to be in for a nasty surprise when they turn the utilities back on. Maybe they’ll notice the broken pipes when they rip the walls down to the studs to get rid of the black mold spreading through the home because of the water in the basement and it won’t be too much of a problem.

You think I’m exaggerating, right? I didn’t take a picture of the house I was just in. I wish I would have. At first glance, it looked like there was black flocked wallpaper all over the house. Literally all over. Under the stairs. Up the walls. Across the ceilings. Fuzzy, fuzzy, black stuff. And the smell of the mold was enough to knock you out. It was such a cute little house in a great neighborhood, but anyone buying it would have to call in a team of specialists to tear it down to the four outer walls and then hope the mold didn’t come back when they redid it all. Damp basement, no winterization and the sump pump was off.

I have no idea why they don’t properly winterize and why they don’t do something to keep a sump pump running. There have to be some sort of battery powered pumps or something out there. But they don’t. So, a $300,000 house is suddenly only worth the lot it is sitting on and the bank will accept an offer less than the value of the lot because they know no one except an experienced flipper with his or her own crew wants to deal with tearing down the mold filled house.

(Some banks do care about the properties and do keep the sump pump running or at least winterize the pipes. HUD always winterizes homes so, as long as the basement is dry, they are usually in good shape.)

Next, you’ll want to take a good look at the overall condition of the home. If it is an older house, it often needs resided, replacement windows, a new roof, updated electricity, etc. This makes sense. After all, if the previous owners were struggling to make house payments for several years, they probably also didn’t have the cash to keep the house up.

A final thing you have to consider is that, since the houses are usually in poor shape, you won’t be able to get conventional financing. You’ll probably have to qualify for a rehab loan, so you need to be sure the purchase price of the home plus the quotes for rehab you get from a contractor or two don’t go over the amount you are qualified to borrow.

So, why would anyone look at repo homes? Because after you look at the twentieth or thirtieth house, you realize you’re looking at your dream home. And, miracle of miracles, the house is winterized and there is no mold. The price, even with the work you’ll need to do, is affordable, especially if you put in a lot of sweat equity.

Have you ever purchased a repo home?

Photo: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Is a Repo Home Right for You?

Last night the Senate got 60 votes on the second of three crucial healthcare votes.

It’s looking very much as though healthcare in America is about to be radically overhauled.

But how are we going to pay for this radical expansion of coverage?

1) We hope and pray that with some cajoling and haggling we’ll “bend the curve down” of future healthcare costs, to use a favored expression.

And..

2) Taxes!

For example, the government will collect a new fee on any elective cosmetic surgery, like nose jobs and breast enhancements. But that’s just one way.

Fortunately, the Senate has put out detailed material on the bill, including all the new taxes coming our way.

Check out all the new taxes in the healthcare bill –>

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• The Healthcare Bill Does Nothing To Solve The Looming Medicare-Induced Fiscal Crisis
• Healthcare Stocks EXPLODE Higher After Big Vote On Reform
• Sorry, Haters, The Healthcare Bill Actually WILL Reduce Costs

Here’s the thing about OPEC’s decision to maintain current levels of crude-oil production today: It really amounts to a production cut, but the market doesn’t care.

The oil cartel for the fourth time this year maintained current production levels, pretty much as everyone expected. With one big caveat: OPEC honchos called for oil-producing states to comply with their output quotas after an alarming lack of discipline since the spring.

That is, OPEC announced total production cuts of 4.2 million barrels of oil a day late last year. For once, cartel members didn’t cheat too much earlier in the year, and took about 80% of that oil off the market. That helped send crude from the $30s last Christmas back toward the $70 range.

And those higher prices, in turn, tempted oil producers to keep pumping. Compliance with the cut has fallen to somewhere between 58% (says the IEA) and 61% (says Bloomberg). That is par for the course, historically, for OPEC. Which means there’s a lot of oil sloshing around that shouldn’t be.

OPEC Secretary General Abdalla Salem el-Badri called for oil producers to get back to a 75% level of compliance, the WSJ reports. Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali Al Naimi went further, introducing the novel idea of 100% compliance with agreed-upon production cuts.

They aren’t really trifling figures. Getting back to 75% compliance would mean taking about 1 million barrels per day off the world market, right as China and Japan are getting back on the oil wagon. Reaching 100% compliance would mean removing 1.7 million barrels per day from global markets.

If OPEC announced a production cut of 1 to 2 million barrels per day, oil markets would have a heart-clutching “Oh, Elizabeth” moment.

Yet they didn’t. Crude futures in New York were up less than 0.5% in early-morning trading.

Which suggests that, for all the calls from OPEC heavyweights to improve the cartel’s compliance, nobody gives much credence anymore.

If demand in industrialized countries is as soft as OPEC suspects, the cartel might someday soon have to really announce a production cut it will partially comply with in order to protect the “perfectly priced” oil in the $70s.

The most divisive issue in American politics, abortion, may yet ruin the chance of healthcare reform.

—-

AP WASHINGTON — Twice now, abortion was almost a dealbreaker. This time, it was a dealmaker. But of hundreds of deals cut so health care legislation can stay alive, the hardest to keep may be the Senate’s abortion compromise — achieved after 13 hours of negotiation. The volatile issue remains the biggest threat to getting a history-making bill to President Barack Obama.

Deals are the lifeblood of legislation. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana got $100 million more for her state, Connecticut’s Joe Lieberman stripped the bill of a government insurance plan and Ben Nelson won a slew of favors for Nebraska — all in exchange for their votes.

Nelson was also pivotal in the abortion compromise. The abortion-rights foe cast the 60th vote Monday to prevent Republicans from burying the bill.

Abortion is an issue that doesn’t usually lead to common ground, since interested groups have radically opposed views. That makes the Senate compromise — which seeks to prohibit the use of tax dollars for abortions — rare, even surprising. It’s also why, as Senate Democrats move to negotiations with the House, other deals in their bill may stick more easily.

House liberals are starting to accept that they probably won’t get a government insurance plan. But abortion opponents in the House nearly stopped health care once before, and they are poised to try again to preserve their more restrictive approach. It could be a dealbreaker.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., represented abortion rights supporters in the negotiations only to face criticism from women’s rights groups, not just abortion opponents. Now, Boxer is urging lawmakers to take a second look. “You have both sides criticizing it, which means that we did what we had to do, we compromised in a fair way,” Boxer said.

Hours before the Senate’s abortion compromise came together last Friday, it looked like things would fall apart. Three Democratic officials familiar with the talks detailed how events unfolded. They spoke on condition of anonymity, because the talks were private.

Obama’s health care remake extends coverage to 94 percent of Americans, not including illegal immigrants, and tries to slow increases in medical costs. But in the Senate, Nebraska’s Nelson stood in the way. Among his chief objections was his belief that the Senate’s restrictions on government funding for abortion were too lax.

The negotiations began at 9:30 a.m. Friday in a suite of offices in the Capitol occupied by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. Steps from the Senate floor, Reid’s spacious lair is shielded from inquisitive media. There would be suspense, shuttle diplomacy, hugs, and a call from Obama aboard Air Force One before the day was done.

Among those taking part were Reid, Nelson, Boxer, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and White House deputy chief of staff Jim Messina. Nelson and Boxer did not negotiate face-to-face but set up camp in different offices. Schumer, the No. 3 Senate Democrat, shuttled back and forth.

By the middle of the day, Nelson’s home-state concerns had been addressed, and the focus turned to abortion. Federal law bans taxpayer funding of abortion, except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. For months, the debate has been how to apply those principles to a new stream of federal subsidies under the health care bill. Senators had previously voted to reject Nelson’s attempt to incorporate the more restrictive House language in the Senate bill.

Two alternatives were under discussion in Reid’s office. Abortion opponents wanted no coverage in health plans receiving federal subsidies under the bill. Mirroring the House, women would have to buy a separate policy for abortion coverage. Abortion rights supporters wanted to allow plans to offer coverage, but individuals could opt out and get a partial rebate of their premiums. The two sides were deadlocked.

“I don’t know how we’ll ever solve this,” Schumer said, according to one official who was present.

Then Nelson and one of his senior aides decided to try something different. States would be allowed to decide whether or not abortion could be covered by health plans operating in a new insurance marketplace under the bill. Plans covering abortion would have to collect a separate premium for the procedure, directly paid for by the person buying coverage. Premiums for abortion would be kept in a separate account.

Nelson believed it would solve the problem of segregating taxpayer funds from money for abortions. He told people he felt the discussion had degenerated to minutiae, so “we were arguing about a staple,” said an official involved. Nelson meant it was acceptable to abortion opponents if supplemental abortion coverage was stapled to an insurance policy, but not if it was spelled out in the body of the policy itself.

By evening, the two sides took a break to consult with their respective constituencies. Nelson left Reid’s suite, planning to return at 8:30 p.m. He called a leading anti-abortion activist in Nebraska, but was not able to get a commitment for the deal.

At 9:00 p.m. Nelson had yet to return. At 9:15, still no Nelson. Reid and Schumer started getting nervous. Finally, at 9:30, Nelson turned up. He and Boxer signed off on the deal within a half hour. Nelson came into Reid’s office to say he’d hold off on a formal endorsement until the text of deal was released in the morning.

Reid and Nelson started to say goodnight, and wound up hugging each other. Nelson hugged Schumer next and then left.

Obama, aboard Air Force One on his way back from the climate summit in Copenhagen, called with congratulations. Reid put the president on speaker phone so Boxer and Schumer could hear.

After the deal became public Saturday, Nelson was slammed by former allies opposed to abortion. He tells people he feels like he’s been bitten by the family dog.

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• The Democratic Party Is Imploding Over The Abortion Issue
• The Healthcare Bill Does Nothing To Solve The Looming Medicare-Induced Fiscal Crisis
• Healthcare Stocks EXPLODE Higher After Big Vote On Reform

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Sedan, Hatchback, Toyota

Toyota has released pricing for their extensively upgraded 2011 Sienna and although the starting prices were down a bit compared to the current models, we can’t say the same for the Prius and Camry. Tacked to the bottom of the Sienna presser was a chart showing that prices will be going up for the 2010 hatch and its 2011 sedan sibling. The new-in-2009 third-gen Toyota Prius will be $400 dearer, with base MSRPs ranging from $21,400 for the level I model all the way up to $28,070 for the level V. Those prices don’t include delivery, processing and handling charges of $750.

The 2011 Toyota Camry prices will go up $200 across the board, while Camry Hybrid prices rise $250 to a starting price of $26,400. The base Camry with a stick now starts at $19,595, while a top-of-the-line V6 XLE is still under thirty grand, at $29,245. Those figures are up by about one percent for the Camry and 1.7 percent for the Prius. The 2011 Toyota Camry will go into production on January 6 in Japan with U.S. production starting February 1. The 2011 models should start showing up in dealerships by the end of January. The Prius price increase becomes effective January 24, 2010. Make the jump for the full details.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading 2010 Toyota Prius and 2011 Camry pricing rises a bit

2010 Toyota Prius and 2011 Camry pricing rises a bit originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

I reported on the Opus One a few weeks back, but thanks to BGR, a specifications list has leaked.  Said to launch with Android 1.5 and sporting features like Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth, and a 3.0-megapixel camera, the iDEN-equipped Android handset is a nice mid-tier device.  Other features include:

    •    3.1″ hVGA 320×480 capacitative touchscreen display
    •    3 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash
    •    Accelerometer
    •    Proximity sensor
    •    Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
    •    Bluetooth
    •    microSD card slot
    •    2.5mm headset jack
    •    iDEN PTT & PTX
    •    Android LBS which is integrated into the iDEN GPS engine
    •    “Enterprise email”
    •    Plastic-molded housing with some rubberized texture finishes
    •    58mm in width, 118mm in length
    •    100g weight
    •    512MB Flash / 256MB of RAM
    •    64k and 128k iDEN SIM card support
    •    A-GPS
 
For additional specs, head on over to BGR.  Considering the data-centric nature of Android devices, will iDEN networks be able to successfully handle the added strain? 

Our pal Yoni Freedhoff noted a great product for sale on eBay that, we, too, just couldn’t resist mentioning. It is, supposedly, an anti-obesity vaccine being sold by an eBay user appropriately named Bumglo, who shockingly has 100 percent positive feedback.

Weight loss vaccine for cosmetic use only

The eBay listing calls the product a “Germany Vaccine,” and one month’s treatment is going for $145. It includes 20 milliliters of the Sculptural Metabolize treatment and syringes to use to give yourself a 2.5 milliliter injection in the rump twice a week for four weeks.

The listing says it’s been used successfully hundreds of thousands of times worldwide and that there are scientific studies to back that up, but of course there are no links or details about where such studies might have been published or what sorts of results you might be able to expect.

It’s heralded as a non-surgical alternative to liposuction and says that it’s an effective way to achieve spot fat reduction and “precise control exactly which fatty areas are dissolved.” Of course it doesn’t explain how it’s possible to shoot yourself in the arse and have the product know which fat you want dissolved, but that’s neither here nor there.

We dug a little deeper and found a website in Spanish that is selling what looks like the same product. The admittedly probably really bad translation says this product is “not a medicine” but is an “excellent product to reduce fat levels in our body.”

What’s in the miracle cure?

The website says that the product contains three different ingredients that help boost metabolism and burn fat: hydroxycitric acid, benzamide and acetylcholine.

Hydroxycitric acid is a derivative of citric acid found in some tropical plants; studies in animals and in the lab have shown some promise for the acid in changing fat metabolism, but there’s no evidence it can really help people lose weight or fat.

Benzamide is a derivative of benzoic acid that is used in a wide variety of medicines, from pain relievers to antipsychotic drugs. And acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that activates muscles, among other things.

The website’s translation says scientific sounding things like this, in reference to benzamide:

It is a drug whose components are strings of amino acids that work by increasing the catabolism of triglycerides deposited the body as adipose tissue, helping to break the intercellular junctions of adipocytes in a generalized manner, and to carry this fat “deposit” to lymphoid tissue venous and then remove it through the urine.

In other words, it’s claiming it makes you pee fat. I think.

This could be a great Christmas gift for the person on your list who likes getting regular shots in the posterior for no good reason. If you happen to know someone like that.

(By Sarah E. White for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)

From the RSS feed of CalorieLab News (REF3076322B7)

Anti-obesity vaccine promises to help you “loss weight”

Article Tags: Met Office, UK Winter Forecast 2009/10

AA reports busiest night in 25 years – 700 breakdowns coming in every hour today; 2,000 motorists were trapped by the snow on the Basingstoke ring road; More than 100 people spend the night in Buckinghamshire department store; Eurostar resumes limited service – four days after its trains were crippled by cold; Delays and cancellations at major airports including Heathrow and Manchester; Overnight temperatures drop to -14C in the Scottish Highlands and -9C in Cheshire

Furious motorists have accused local authorities of putting lives at risk by failing to keep major roads clear of snow and ice after some of the heaviest pre-Christmas snowfalls in a decade.

Thousands of drivers were trapped in their cars overnight and many more vehicles were abandoned after heavy evening snow showers created chaos across Britain’s transport network.
With anger growing at the inability to learn the lessons of the big February freeze, the AA – which experienced its busiest night for 25 years – said councils should have acted ‘sooner’ and ‘more thoroughly’ to make roads safe.

Click source to read FULL report

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Read in full with comments »   

Some good news on the consumer-spending front:

American consumers have begun to work off the mountain of debt they have accumulated over the past two decades (small progress, but a start).  Also, rock-bottom interest rates have reduced the burden of carrying this debt. 

Taken together, these two factors free up money for saving and spending, both of which will eventually help put the economy back on solid footing again.

First, from Ned Davis Research, a picture of overall consumer credit as a percent of GDP, which is finally dropping.  A heck of a long way to go, of course.

Next, a look at two household debt burden ratios, as analyzed by Asha Bangalore of Northern Trust.  These are showing modest improvements:

Consumers are strapped in a tight financial spot — this observation has appeared in many macroeconomic commentaries for several months.  There is good news from the Fed regarding this matter.  The Fed’s estimate of financial obligations of households for the third quarter shows a decline in the financial burden, stemming from lower interest rates and a reduction of consumer debt.  During the first quarter of 2008, the household financial obligation ratio stood at 18.86% of disposable income, which fell to 17.76% in the third quarter of 2009.

Next, the debt-service ratio for consumer debt among homeowners, again from Asha Bangalore.

The financial obligation ratio of homeowners with respect to consumer debt and auto leases has fallen sharply to 5.7% of disposable income from 6.28% in the first quarter of 2008 (see chart 3).  The reduction in financial obligations of households is a positive development because it encourages saving.  Eventually, the saving shortfall of the U.S. economy has to be eliminated to ensure long-term prosperity of the nation.

Of course, it’s worth noting what will happen to these debt-service ratios if interest rates ever spike again (they’ll go up).

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• CHART OF THE DAY: The Great Debt Mountain
• The Real Problem: Our Debt Mountain
• Buffett: Debt Mountain Could Turn America Into A Banana Republic