Let’s get a timeline: In 1995, Clinton cuts off all trade and investment with Iran. U.S. companies were no longer able to do business with Iran. After that announcement, Halliburton decided that business with Iran, then conducted through at least five companies, would all be done through a subsidiary incorporated in the Cayman Islands. This way, Halliburton could skirt around … Read More
A Double Does Of Wingnuttery
First up: Marsha West, a "freelance writer specializing in Christian worldview". Let’s see what her Christian worldview is: Radical feminism: The kiss of death Oh, this isn’t going to be pretty. The "great strides" made by the feminist movement have been lost on young celebrities. Britney Spears has been spotted frequenting nightspots with actress Lindsay Lohan and heiress Paris Hilton. … Read More
Strange Acquisitions
Nestle to buy Jenny Craig for $600 million
I’m Playing The World’s Smallest Violin
Actual article headline: Bill Gates Wishes He Wasn’t So Rich And indeed, the article is about Bill Gates moaning over his 50 billion dollar wealth. Yeah, it must really suck.
Times Explains “Net Neutrality”
Good editorial: "Net neutrality" is a concept that is still unfamiliar to most Americans, but it keeps the Internet democratic. Cable and telephone companies that provide Internet service are talking about creating a two-tiered Internet, in which Web sites that pay them large fees would get priority over everything else. Opponents of these plans are supporting Net-neutrality legislation, which would … Read More
Pump Prayers
I don’t know what to make of this: WASHINGTON, April 26 (UPI) — A U.S. Christian group has grown tired of escalating gasoline prices and is set to stage a national prayer rally to lower the numbers at the pumps. Various Christian clergy from around the country will convene around a Washington, D.C., gas station Thursday at noon to pray. … Read More
Gas Profit Guzzlers
One day after Exxon Mobil announced huge profits, Chevron announced that its first-quarter profits were a record $4 billion. That’s an increase of 49% over last year. Fat bastards. UPDATE: The folks at The American Street think they know why gas prices are going up: Kellie Pickler, who’d performed the ballad “Unchained Melody” during Tuesday night’s episode became the latest … Read More
Net Neutrality Loses In House
It happened: Internet carriers would have a free hand to charge the likes of Google Inc., Yahoo Inc. and eBay Inc. extra for faster delivery of services to consumers under a bill approved by a House committee Wednesday. The vote, 42-12, brings a two-tier Internet one step closer to reality despite the wishes of a broad coalition of Web site … Read More
Exxon Records Huge Profits …Again
Read about it here. I watched The Daily Show last night, as host Jon Stewart talked with Kimberly Strassel, a Wall Street Journal senior editorial page writer. She was on to discuss the gas prices, and the reason for it. What Stewart wanted to know was, quite simply, why gas prices were so high. Strassel, clearly defending the oil and … Read More
Slap On The Wrist
In a story related to the one below (in which the U.S. government pays Halliburton’s overcharges), we learn how our government is abdicating responsibility for making mines safe. USA Today reports how the fines assessed on Sago Mine (the West Virginia mine which collapsed last month, killing 12) were minimal. Not the number of violations — there were plenty of … Read More
Halliburton Overcharges; U.S. Pays Anyway
It kind of makes you wonder what these people are thinking. Halliburton had a contract with the U.S. Army to deliver fuel and repair oil in Iraq. (It actually was one of many no-bid contracts that Hallilburton has with the government with respect to Iraq). The contact was for $2.4 billion, but Halliburton overcharged Uncles Same by $236 million. Obviously, … Read More
Oil Exec Follow-up
As I wrote yesterday, it looks like oil exceutives lied to Congess (not under oath, however). Well, today I can report that the story may have legs: Democrats asked the U.S. attorney general Wednesday to investigate whether top executives from big oil companies lied to Congress when they said their companies did not take part in Vice President Dick Cheney’s … Read More
An Explanation
Some people scratched their heads when oil executives testified before Congress last week. The custom is that people who testify — from tobacco executive to Raphael Palmiero — take an oath. For some reason, Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), the chair of the Senate Energy Committee, steadfastly refused to have the oil executives take an oath. Matt Yglesius discovers a possible … Read More
If This Doesn’t Piss You Off, You Must Be Dead
Or Cheney. From CNN Money: Exxon’s $10B net a U.S. corporate recordThe oil company gains from soaring oil and gas prices, but falls short of estimates.October 27, 2005: 1:25 PM EDT NEW YORK (Reuters) – Exxon Mobil Corp. posted a quarterly profit of $9.9 billion Thursday, the largest in U.S. corporate history, as it raked in a bonanza from soaring … Read More
Think About This Next Time You Fill Up
From Daily Browse: