| Will 'Amnesty' Sink McCain?
The perennial controversy over what to call McCain's amnesty is silly. Every program in the world that has allowed illegal immigrants to stay has been called an "amnesty." McCain himself called it "amnesty" as recently as May 2003, when he told the Tucson Citizen "I think we can set up a program where amnesty is extended to a certain number of people who are eligible … Amnesty has to be an important part ..." But once the focus-group results were in, "amnesty" became a four-letter word. ...[snip] Real Straight Talk would be to say "Sure, it's an amnesty, but we don't really have any choice" ... P.S.: The McCain, post-focus-group argument is that it can't be "amnesty" if it has some requirements--e.g., to pay a fine, learn English, etc. But it turns out that Ronald Reagan's 1986 "comprehensive" reform, which he and everyone else called an "amnesty," had requirements too, including payment of fees.
OurSound in the Newspaper
Our Sound music columnist Bill Henry turns his eyes and ears on the area's vibrant, multi-genre music scene every week in The Sun Times. From blues to bluegrass, folk to funk, pop to punk and classical to celtic, Henry writes about the area's performers and music trends. The veteran Sun Times news reporter, photographer and local musician's Our Sound column mixes profiles, feature stories, advance concert coverage, occasional reviews and scene-setting observations to chronicle the rich and diverse Grey-Bruce music community. Read Bill Henry's Our Sound column every Thursday on The Sun Times entertainment section front... .
Viewing all entries for: February 2008
He came home for a day to buy a Christmas tree. He took me out for our anniversary." The Age (Australia): Under a headline noting that Mr Obama’s latest win "carves into Clinton power base," the Australian paper says the "most worrying sign" for Mrs Clinton in Tuesday’s primary results is the big margin of victory for her Democratic opponent in Virginia, where he won a large chunk of the white vote and a majority among women, both of them traditional strengths of Mrs Clinton. The paper notes that Mr McCain’s latest wins were "not without some nail-biting moments." Der Spiegel (Germany): This week’s cover carries a photo of Mr Obama under the headline "The Messiah Factor: Barack Obama and the craving for a new America." Inside, the magazine has 13 pages of coverage on the primaries, including an in-depth interview with Mr McCain.
CME’s Nymex bid set to trigger battles
The CME Group's $11.3bn bid for energy exchange Nymex is facing opposition from within the derivatives industry over concerns that it will create a dominant exchange with excessive pricing power. The CME could also be on a collision course with some members of Nymex who hold trading rights and feel that the CME's proposal to buy them out for $500m understates the long-term value of the benefits associated with those rights. At least one hedge fund is thought to be looking at the option of threatening to sue the Nymex over the terms of the proposed deal. .
Timber Industry 1991-2000
In May, Roslesprom began a fight with Herlitz for the Balakhna Pulp and Paper Combine. Miron Tatsyun sent a letter to GKI and the Security Council stating that in 1991, when the company's charter capital was being formed, equipment worth $145 million had not been included in the property assessment. Roslesprom requested that the government increase Volga's capital stock and transfer the second issue to state control, i.e., to Roslesprom. GKI rejected this proposal.
In May, there was a boom on the Russian stock market. The price of shares of major timber processing enterprises, including the Syktyvkar and Bratsk timber processing combines and the Archangelsk Pulp and Paper Combine, increased by 300-700% and were actively bought up.
At the end of May, the Russian Fund for Federal Property (RFFI) put up for sale the first large block of share of a major wood chemistry plant at Ust-Ilim.
FUTURES FILE: Volatility in equity markets leads to commodity savings
As overseas equity markets were plunging on Monday due to fears about slowing worldwide economic growth, traders in the U.S. were forced to sit and watch as the nation observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day.By Tuesday morning, the anxiety about worldwide economic stability and growth had reached a boiling point. Seemingly out of nowhere, the Federal Reserve announced it was slashing the Fed Funds rate by 75 basis points to help ease concerns and to prevent a more substantial slowdown in economic growth.Initially, the decision had the opposite effect. Traders interpreted the sudden and extreme cut as a sign that things might be as bad or worse than they seemed. Only a few minutes after the open of U.S. equity trading on Tuesday, equity issues had fallen almost 4 percent.As the day continued, most of the losses were erased and markets closed down just 1 percent.
New climate gives LSE's rivals chance to challenge its dominance
The London Stock Exchange has dominated the buying and selling of shares in the capital since its foundation in 1801, but all this is coming under threat. Three main rivals have emerged. One has existed for several decades, but recently has been refurbished. One opened for business last year, but has focused mainly on continental stocks so far. A third is well behind schedule, but expects to be running by the end of the year and has the backing of, and a promise of business from, seven big City banks. The LSE, which has spent a bruising three years seeing off takeover bids, declares itself largely unconcerned by these assaults on its dominance, but it is determined to avoid complacency. "We believe we have a unique and valuable franchise positioned in London," a spokesman said.
Live - Premier League
1728: Another flashpoint as a couple of tasty Chelsea challenges leave Emmanuel Eboue and Cesc Fabregas on the floor. Kolo Toure sprints about 60 yards to get involved but Emmanuel Adebayor drags his team-mate back. Joe Cole sees yellow for the initial tackle on Eboue. 1727: Chelsea boss Avram Grant makes his first tactical change - and it's a positive one as defensive midfielder Claude Makelele is replaced by striker Claudio Pizarro. Meanwhile, William Gallas is left dazed after an accidental clash of heads. 1722: Jon Obi Mikel forces Arsenal keeper Manuel Alumnia into a sharp save to his right with an excellent left-footed drive. 1722: Shaun Wright-Phillips whips a dangerous ball across the face of goal but Andriy Shevchenko is the only man in the box and he can't get to it.
Face/Off : Two-Disc Special Edition (DVD)
Nicolas Cage is one the most interesting actors working in cinema today. Hes got the cojones to appear in something as controversial as World Trade Center. Hes as comfortable playing misfits in arthouse films (Leaving Las Vegas) as he is playing Arnie-lite action heroes in Bruckheimer shoot-em-ups (Con Air). Hes perfect in a sweet comedy (It Could Happen to You) and a gritty thriller (Kiss of Death). Hes done the good (Adaptation) the bad (Next) and everything in between. Face/Off is one from the testosterone-sozzled side of Cages CV, but even that description doesnt do the film justice. The charm, smarts, visual style and personality are all given some very sharp and shiny edges by the faultless cinematic eye of John Woo. The pairing of Cage and Travolta is a dream, both of them oozing so much charisma they not only must have had a great time making the film, its almost a romantic comedy for all the electricity they generate.
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