Brazil Future Economic Super Power?

Nov 19, 2009 - After decades of political instability, poverty and uncertanty has Brazil finally hit her stride?  We all know that Brazilians know how to party and play (football) but can they roll with the G8 and give them a run for their money?  In 2001 Goldmen Sachs placed Brazil with Russia, India and China as the economies that would come to dominate the world.   Some may find it queer to place a country with a growth rate as skimpy as its swim suits, an economic fragility that consistantly suffered with any financial crisis, chronic political instability and a history of squandering economic potential could have so effectively put those wose behind them to pave the way for such a prosperous future.  China is said to lead the world out of our currant economic down turn with Brazil hot on their heals.  Brazil did not avoid the down turn but was among the last in and the first out.  Their economy is growing at a rate of 5% annualy and will pick up in the short term as new deep sea oil fields come online.  Brazil also enjoys a food and mineral trade with many Asian countries. Sometime after 2014 Brazil is scheduled to become the worlds 5th largest economy saying to Great Britan and France uhm excuse me I beleive that's my seat.  In many ways Brazil is said to outclass the other up and comers (Chine, India and Russia).  Unlike China and Russia it is a democracy.  Unlike India it has no insurgent, ethnic, religious hostility or unfriendly neighbors.  Unlike Russia it exports more than oil and arms and treats it's investors with respect.  Is that code for arss kissing? - 4 Comments

Corporations Afraid of Losing Prison & Child Labor?

Nov 12, 2009 - Rachel Maddow transcript: The new rules for Wall Street and the banks will also create a consumer financial protection agency. So in the same way that regulation keeps off the market things that, when used as directed, have a good chance of killing you, things like long darts, or cars with the fuel tank right next to the bumper. A consumer financial protection agency would keep off the markets, say, really bad mortgages that, when used as directed, are likely to blow up in your face as well. - 2 Comments

12 reasons unemployment is going to (at least) 12 percent

Nov 11, 2009 - 12 reasons unemployment is going to (at least) 12 percent Posted by: James Pethokoukis (Reuters) Gluskin Sheff economist David Rosenberg, formerly of Merrill Lynch, thinks the unemployment rate is going to at least 12 percent, maybe even 13 percent. Optimists, Rosenberg explains, underestimate the incredible damage done to the labor market during this downturn. And even before this downturn, the economy was not generating jobs in huge numbers. - 3 Comments

Sex during pregnancy - What U R too embarrassed to ask

Nov 07, 2009 - Everything you needed to know about sex during pregnancy, but were too embarrassed to ask… Naturally sex is going to be different now you’re expecting. Should I be doing it at all? Will it hurt? - 4 Comments

A challenge to an article defending Acorn in the L.A. Times

Oct 24, 2009 - My Letter to the Editorial Page Editor of the L.A. Times Regarding That Fact-Challenged Pro-ACORN Op-Ed Written by the ACORN Consultant A recent op-ed in your paper defending ACORN makes at least two factual misstatements: 1) that ACORN staff offered to help shield an underage prostitution ring at only two offices, and 2) that no voter fraudulently registered to vote by ACORN had ever actually cast a ballot. Furthermore, your paper failed to disclose that the author of the op-ed, Peter Dreier, has been a (presumably paid) consultant for ACORN in the past . - 0 Comments