07 Jun 2007
Dow plunges after labor cost data

Hmmm, increased labor costs, huh. Think about it with me.

If I, as a worker, produce more economic goods and services, while not earning more money for doing so, it's called "productivity growth", and that's a "good" thing. If a business produces (or sells) more goods and services while not earning more money for doing so, it's called "declining profits", and that's a "bad" thing.

What's the difference?

In a free market, producers are rewarded for their efforts. In a system of state capitalism (or state socialism, for that matter), they're punished. In our society, corporations operate in a relatively free market environment. Workers don't.

AP - Stocks slid for a second straight session Wednesday after an increase in labor costs stirred concerns about inflation and interest rates and as the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury flirted with 5 percent. The Dow Jones industrials fell more than 140 points.


(link) [Yahoo! News: Top Stories]

06:40 /Politics | 1 comment | permanent link

Debaptism 2.0: Fleeing the Flock Via the Net

To cease being a heathen you have to, er, well, cease being a heathen! We don't need no stinkin' letter! But then again, we don't generally swell our numbers by counting babies, either. At least not on any official membership rolls. Which, come to think of it, we don't have any of either.

Last weekend at Trothmoot I heard a couple of folks discussing how they could motivate heathens to take action on some issue or another - how do you move "organized" heathenry? My suggestion: learn to herd cats. That'd be a good start. And stop talking about "organized heathenry" - it's an oxymoron.

After reading this article, I'm convinced that's a good thing.

Disgruntled Italian Catholics are increasingly turning to the internet to leave the Church by getting "debaptized" -- but the Pope isn't making the process web friendly.

(link) [Wired Top Stories]

06:29 /Asatru | 1 comment | permanent link

Soviet-Era Arcade Games Crawl Out of Their Cold War Graves

Wow! Tetris I knew about, but this? I had no idea!

Ready for a trip down memory lane, comrade? Insert your "commie quarter" and have a blast.

(link) [Wired Top Stories]

06:19 /Technology | 0 comments | permanent link

Bid to ban fast cars from Europe

You know, maybe I was wrong about food being the next target of the Nanny State ... the way these guys are going, it could be almost anything.

And the more this goes on, the less of a difference I see between modern Nanny Stater's and old line Puritans: both seem motivated by the dreadful idea that someone, somewhere, is having a good time.

A European Parliament report urges a ban on the making of cars that can go more than 101mph (162km/h).

(link) [BBC News | News Front Page | World Edition]

06:15 /Politics | 0 comments | permanent link