March 2009 News Factoids (catching up)

LAW & JUSTICE
Bush and Cheney and Rove et al did not get impeached, but there is NO statute of limitations on their major crimes, which include treason, murder, and willful violations of the Geneva Conventions.


U.S. ECONOMY
Retail sales fell 3% in October 2008, the biggest drop on record.

The U.S. lost 240,000 jobs in October, raising the unemployment rate to 6.5%, the highest in 14 years; the rate will probably peak in late 2009. ~~ AP Radio News, 7 November 2008

Employers cut 533,000 jobs in November, the most in 34 years; the unemployment rate rose to 6.7 percent.

New unemployment claims rose in December 2008 to 26-year high as layoffs continue.

U.S. auto sales tumbled 18% in 2008.

Retail sales plunged far more than expected {2.7%} in December, a record sixth straight monthly decline as consumers were battered by a recession, a severe credit crisis and soaring job losses, none of which are likely to ease anytime soon.
~~ AP News headline, 14 January 2009

[The U.S.] economy shrinks at faster-than-expected 6.2 percent pace in fourth quarter, worst in 25 years.
~~ internet headline, 27 February 2009


WORLD ECONOMY
"Japan's economy shrank 3.3% in 2008, their worst performance in 35 years."
~~ Air America "The Wire" ezine

February 4th, 2009 headline: "Panasonic in Japan cutting 15,000 jobs and closing plants"


THE STOCK MARKET CASINO
Stocks tumble, losing 10 percent in 2-day rout.
~~ AP Radio News item, Thursday 6 November 2008

Both the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500 indexes have lost about half their value since hitting record highs in October 2007.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 26.72 (-3.47%) to 743.33 on February 23, the lowest close since 11 April 1997.

On 2 March 2009, the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index tumbled below 7,000 for the first time since October 1997.


OTHER NEWS
The W.H.O. Report On Healthcare for 2008 states:
• • The U.S. is ranked 37th in quality.
• • The worldwide average cost per capita for people with healthcare is $2929; the U.S.A. is twice that at $6096.
• • U.S. life expectancy is lower than 13 major first world countries at 78.06 years.

The LionsGate movie studio deal with the City of Rio Rancho, New Mexico that was documented here in 2006 has officially expired.

Per various news sites, now when a celebu-tart does something dangerously wild and crazy, they are 'doing a Britney'.