Monica Yant Kinney: How a savior and survivors finished 2010

The Economy Is Definitely In Recession
The common layman’s definition of Recession is two consecutive quarters of negative real GDP growth, meaning 6 months in which The Economy contracts. But, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) uses the collective wisdom of its trusted Economists on the Business Cycle Dating Committee to make a determination based on a number of factors. According to Harvard’s Martin Feldstein, who is on the committee, the Committee looks at monthly data as opposed to quarterly data. So, the...

Research shows generosity repaid on many levels
During the Holiday Season, more people serve food to the hungry, donate warm clothes to the Homeless and give money to Charity. But studies at UC Berkeley show that what motivates people to give comes from more than a desire to spread holiday cheer. Generosity for many is driven by a sincere desire to benefit others, said Robb Willer, a UC Berkeley sociologist who researches the ways individuals overcome selfishness to contribute to the social good. He has found that people have varying levels...

Charitable spirit Altruism motivates generous givers
Generous Americans donate nearly $230 billion annually to Charity besides volunteering countless hours to help the Homeless and needy in their communities, especially during this season of the year. Motives will vary widely. There may be some selfish motivation; research at the University of California, Berkley, suggests that altruism plays an important role in assisting others, especially at this time of the year, through financial donations or through personal involvement. "Volunteering your...

Research shows generosity repaid on many levels
During the Holiday Season, more people serve food to the hungry, donate warm clothes to the Homeless and give money to Charity. But studies at UC Berkeley show that what motivates people to give comes from more than a desire to spread holiday cheer. Generosity for many is driven by a sincere desire to benefit others, said Robb Willer, a UC Berkeley sociologist who researches the ways individuals overcome selfishness to contribute to the social good. He has found that people have varying levels...

Unfiltered: Documentary Videos Made by Young Combat Vets
It has been a hectic day at many airports, as holiday travellers try to make it home in time to Christmas Day festivities around the country. Weather is forcing hundreds of flight cancellations east... President and Founder, Josephson Institute of Ethics, reflects on the state of the nation's character during 2010. The December 24th weather couldn't have been any better for Southern California. But more rain could be on the way. Two arts programs thrive in Los Angeles. It's that time of year aga...

Economists expect Fed to keep rates low for most of next year
The Federal Reserve will keep Interest Rates historically low for at least another year, according to a recent survey of Economists. The CNNMoney.com survey found that of 25 economists surveyed, 16 said they thought the Fed would not raise rates until either the last quarter of 2011 or the first of 2012. Eight more expected an increase in Interest Rates to come later in 2012, with one believing rates would stay near zero into 2013. Persistently high Unemployment will be a likely culprit for th...

Why is the political environment increasing freelance employment?
In a recent Worcester Telegram and Gazette article, Motoko Rich of the New York Times cites the fact that despite a surge this year in short-term hiring, many American businesses are still skittish about making jobs permanent.  Why is this the case?  Have we not dumped a Trillion dollars and more into “stimulating” The Economy? Motoko continues by quoting David Autor, an Economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, “[w]e’re in a period where uncertain...

Storm Leaves Airline Travelers Stranded
Like this Story? Share it: A huge snow system is moving through the nation's mid-section dumping plenty of snow in the north. But as Don Teague reports, the system may move into the southeast making dreams of many for a White Christmas come true. (AP) Atlanta - Airlines are working to rebook stranded passengers and possibly add flights after a winter storm on the East Coast caused thousands of Flight Cancellations and left countless passengers stranded. Air carriers began canceling flights Satu...

Bozell Column: An Angry Anti-Christmas at School
The metaphor “The War on Christmas” can be mocked – as if Santa and his reindeer are dodging anti-aircraft fire. But many of our Public Schools have church-and-state sensitivity police with an alarming degree of Santaphobia. Anyone who's attended a school's “winter concert” in December with no traditional Christmas music – not even “Frosty the Snowman” – knows the drill. The vast Christian majority (that funds the public schools) is t...

Watervliet hotel fire not arson, officials say
Hotel fire not Arson, officials say Arson has been ruled out in the Thanksgiving Day fire that destroyed the former Wigwam Hotel, the last remaining historic resort-era hotel on Paw Paw Lake. The fire was an accident, though investigators will never know the cause because of the fire's severity, Watervliet Fire Board Chairman Dan Jones said. BENTON HARBOR Coast Guard rescues woman who jumped off bridge A woman who police say jumped off the Bicentennia...

Hometown High School (Unsung) Hero
It’s the story of a High School football player, and the total stranger he tucks into bed every night. Sammy Parker is 8 years old and has cerebral palsy. He can’t talk or control his muscles. Until recently, his father Rick had to carry him upstairs to bed every night. Then Rick had an operation for his heart, and the Parkers needed help. Their doctor put them in touch with Malden (Mass.) Catholic School, where volunteering is emphasized to the kids. Rudy Favard is 17, a Linebacker ...

Britons fear hard year ahead amid austerity cuts: poll
Two-thirds of Britons believe The Economy will fare badly in 2011 as harsh Austerity cuts designed to tackle a record Deficit begin to bite, a poll showed on Monday. One in five also said they could see themselves being involved in demonstrations against the Spending Cuts introduced by the government. The findings in the survey for The Times newspaper highlight fears of a bleak year ahead in Britain, where the recently formed Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government is seeking to make ...

A Government that isnt afraid of faith: Alleluia!
King's College choristers proceed towards chapel on Thursday (Photo: PA) Yesterday, along with the rest of the country, most of the Cabinet went to church. They sang carols, took communion and doubtless stood around afterwards at the porch making hearty conversation in the freezing cold. This is nothing new. All governments have paid lip service to religion. The difference is that David Cameron’s really means it. Not all of its members, perhaps - Nick Clegg, for example, is an avowed a...

Job Offers Rise As Economy Warms Up
Wall Street Journal: As The Economy gradually recovers, some big U.S. companies are cranking up their recruiting and advertising thousands of job openings, ranging from retail clerks and nurses to bank tellers and experts in Cloud Computing. Many of the new jobs are in retailing, Accounting, consulting, Health Care, telecommunications and defense-related industries, according to data collected for The Wall Street Journal by Indeed Inc., which runs one the largest employment websites. It said t...

Keynes and Picasso: Stimulative Conspicuous Consumption?
by Bruce Webb Digby points us to the following NYT piece: At $106.5 Million, a Picasso Sets an Auction Record with what is in one sense an understandable bitter comment "Hey, dead artists need work too." And as a comment on the odd priorities of our plutocracy a reasonable moral judgement, but as an economic evaluation? Maybe not. And perhaps some of the real Economists can fill me in here. Per the story the last time this work changed hands it was for $19,800. Which should mean that someone i...

Tom Coburn Preaches Austerity For Thee, But Not For He: Cut spending or face 'apocalyptic pain'
It's the growing meme throughout the traditional media and newly "fiscally responsible" Republican Party: we must prepare for Austerity. In fact, Sen. Tom Coburn is so sure that we must make deep, painful cuts (to the middle and lower classes, naturally) to protect the next generation that he warns of "apocalyptic pain" if we don't. I told you the other evening that if we didn't take some pain now, we're going to experience apocalyptic pain, and it's going to be out of our control. The idea shou...

Breaking The Stereotype
My trip to the Western Sahara this month was the first time I had ever traveled to a Muslim country -- and as a very Caucasian Christian American woman, I had some reservations. Before you get excited, this will not be a commentary on Islam. I have no intention of drawing any conclusions about the religion -- my goal is simply to illustrate what I saw on the ground in the Western Sahara. The Western Sahara, for the majority of you who have no idea where it is, is the land between Algeria and M...

Charting 2010, Part 1: The Key Jobs Chart(s) Of 2010
of full time jobs to part time, perhaps the one chart that captures the full effect of said "recovery" is the comparison of number of employees added by China's sweatshop behemoth Foxconn, which at 300,000 in 2010 was just under one third of all non-farm Payrolls added by the entire United States in the same year! In other words, this year one company added nearly one third the total number of jobs as the entire world's greatest economy. One thing is certain: China is very grateful that highly ...

State officials, business owners to hold summit Jan. 7
PROVIDENCE -- To make sure the state does what it can to respond to the needs of local businesses, top state officials will meet with owners of small businesses Jan. 7 to try to agree on priorities for the new legislative session. The event will mark the fifth year in a row that leaders in the public and Private Sectors are coming together for the Rhode Island Economic Summit, which was seeded by the federal Small Business Administration. Mark S. Hayward, the SBA’s Rhode Island...

Progress: Moving America Forward
The Democratic National Committee has launched a new website designed, "to show the real effects of the steps President Obama and Democrats have taken to rebuild our economy."  The site is accessed by visiting https://progress.barackobama.com/?source=20101223_BO_active&locstate=WA&loccd=03.   Spokane residents may visit and see some of the economic benefit by work performed in the 111th Congress and by President Barak Obama.  Changing the zip code entered all...

Stories of Progress
This time of year, Americans around the country are taking the time to exchange heartfelt messages with friends and loved ones, reflecting on the past year. They write of achievements and setbacks, of births, graduations, promotions, and moves. These messages allow us to overcome the miles that separate us. And they allow us to continue one of the most basic American traditions that has held folks close for centuries -- the simple sharing of stories. And as families gather around holiday tables ...

RI officials, businesses to review legislation
Top state officials have scheduled a Jan. 7 meeting with owners of small businesses to find agreement on priorities for the 2011 legislative session. Mark S. Hayward, Rhode Island district director for the federal Small Business Administration, says more than 200 people have signed up for the fifth annual Rhode Island Economic Summit. Gov.-elect Lincoln D. Chafee and leaders of the House and Senate also are scheduled to participate. Hayward said the summit began in response to a need to get lawm...

S.F. bookshop owner to close over ADA lawsuit
In the latest chapter of a struggle between San Francisco merchants and disabled people suing them for better access, several Richmond District business owners have decided to close or move in the face of Lawsuits demanding alterations and monetary damages. The trend is raising concerns among area shopkeepers, the district's supervisor, Eric Mar, and other City Officials. In the past month, Craig Thomas Yates, who uses a Wheelchair, sued three merchants and the landlord of a building at Clem...

S.F. bookshop owner to close over ADA lawsuit
In the latest chapter of a struggle between San Francisco merchants and disabled people suing them for better access, several Richmond District business owners have decided to close or move in the face of Lawsuits demanding alterations and monetary damages. The trend is raising concerns among area shopkeepers, the district's supervisor, Eric Mar, and other City Officials. In the past month, Craig Thomas Yates, who uses a Wheelchair, sued three merchants and the landlord of a building at Clem...

The Holidays Return
To go to work on December 25, to have school on New Year’s Eve or to be called to “voluntary labor” as the year drew to a close. All this was possible in an ideologically fervent Cuba, with its false Atheism and disdain for festivities, that left us with grey Christmases, celebrated in whispers. The last weeks of 1980, 1983, 1987, so identically boring, lacking in color, run together in my mind. I spent many of those days sitting at a desk, while in other parts of the world peo...