Category Archives: news analysis

Energy Research to be Coordinated by Three Federal Agencies

In a public relations move that clearly has political value during an election year with skyrocketing energy prices, the U.S. Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of the Interior are supposed to work together “to ensure that continued expansion of natural gas and oil production happens safely and responsibly.” Continue reading

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EPA Releases 2010 U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released today the 17th annual U.S. greenhouse gas inventory. The final report shows overall emissions in 2010 increased by 3.2% from the previous year because the economy expanded slightly. In addition, a factor was an … Continue reading

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Anti Nuke Weapons Group Says Porsche Ends Iran Business

United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) joined New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio in announcing that Porsche AG has ended its business in Iran. In a statement, the pressure group headed by former U.S. Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, said Porsche officials have confirmed that the company is no longer “engaged in any business or providing any goods or services in Iran,” and “has no intention to conduct business in Iran in the near future.” Continue reading

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Younger Passengers Least Likely to Protest Distracted Driving

Young drivers are nearly three times as likely to report having been reading or sending a text or e-mail when such an incident occurred as compared to drivers age 25 and higher. In addition, drivers younger than 25 are two to three times more likely to drive while sending or reading a text message or email. Reports of texting while driving drop sharply as age increases. Continue reading

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Taxpayers to Turn Profit from Controversial TARP Bailouts

TARP, arguably the most contentious of the Federal government’s attempts to stop the U.S. and global economies from sliding into another Great Depression or worse, prevented the collapse of the financial system by bailing out profligate and reckless Wall Street firms. To date not one person has been successfully prosecuted for the rampant financial fraud that caused the housing and stock markets to collapse. Continue reading

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NSC Says Much Work Needs to be done on Distracted Driving. Again Urges Total ban on all Cell Phone Use

Determining the scope of the cell phone distracted driving problem remains a challenge. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and NSC claim the actual number of crashes involving cell phone distracted driving is higher, likely much higher, than reported figures. Continue reading

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One in Five Americans Blissfully Untroubled by the Internet

One out of five American adults does not use the internet, according to the latest study by the Pew Internet Project, which has been closely tracking the internet since 2000. Senior citizens, Spanish speakers, adults with less than a high school education, and those living in households earning less than $30,000 per year are the least likely adults to have internet access. Continue reading

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Local News is Newspaper Strength in Shifting Media Fare. Duh

What this means to struggling local newspapers is unclear. Nevertheless as a group, local news consumers are more likely than others to prefer newspapers for almost all of 16 topics asked about in the survey—including crime, local politics, community events, arts and culture, local schools, taxes, government activity, restaurants, other local business, housing issues, job openings, and local zoning issues. Continue reading

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Hapless SEC Sues AutoChina for Alleged Stock Manipulation

AutoChina (OTC: AUTCF), China’s largest commercial vehicle sales, servicing, leasing, and company said the SEC’s complaint is without merit, thereby setting up an intricate and lengthy court battle with the watchdog that does not bark. SEC claimed that AutoChina senior executive and director Hui Kai Yan, a former AutoChina manager, and others fraudulently traded AutoChina’s stock to boost its daily trading volume. Continue reading

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State Tax Collections Increase $62 Billion in 2011

Politicians will have more money to spend – or squander – depending on your viewpoint, according to a new U.S. Census Bureau report released today. State government tax collections increased $62.1 billion to $763.7 billion in fiscal year 2011. Continue reading

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Automobile$ Provide $91.5 Billion in $tate Tax Revenue$

The amount of revenue involved begs questions about the lack of U.S. industrial policy – alone among industrialized countries – as well as what critics say is anti industry attitudes among politicians and regulators. These critics also point to the actively hostile policies of the U.S. State and Defense Departments, which support and protect offshore automakers, while increasing taxes for U.S. based automakers. Continue reading

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Toyota Starts Sub-Compact Yaris Hybrid Production in France

Toyota Motor Manufacturing France began production today of an all-new Yaris Hybrid. This means that TMMF is the first French and first European auto plant to produce full hybrid vehicles for the high-volume sub-compact B-segment. Continue reading

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DOT Launches ‘Choose the Right Seat’ for Children in Cars

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages one through 12 years old. From 2006 to 2010, 4,028 children aged 12 and younger were killed in crashes involving passenger vehicles. Another estimated 660,000 children were injured in crashes – a figure greater than the entire population of Boston, Massachusetts. Continue reading

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Justice Department Seizes Counterfeit Chinese Sports Jerseys

The Department of Justice has seized more than $896,000 in proceeds from the distribution of Chinese made counterfeit sports apparel and jerseys as the result of an investigation into the sale of bogus goods on commercial websites. The individuals involved, based in China, sold counterfeit professional and collegiate sports apparel, primarily counterfeit sports jerseys. Continue reading

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Jobless Recovery as U.S. Employment Barely Grows in March

Some independent estimates have the real U.S. unemployment levels at 14% or more, as politicians in a dysfunctional Washington try to cast the blame on the other party. One thing is certain; unemployed do not increase revenues via payroll or social security taxes, at a time of soaring deficits. Continue reading

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