It cost GM about $5 billion last year to service its hefty health care costs. That’s about $1,100 per car sold; no wonder GM lost about $1,500 per transaction in 2005. So, pensions and health care costs really do affect the bottom line, dramatically. If I was a GM shareholder, I’d be screaming for reform. And this leads to a whole new discussion as to what a company is responsible for.
The costs of a GM car
It cost GM about $5 billion last year to service its hefty health care costs. That’s about $1,100 per car sold; no wonder GM lost about $1,500 per transaction in 2005. So, pensions and health care costs really do affect the bottom line, dramatically. If I was a GM shareholder, I’d be screaming for reform. And this leads to a whole new discussion as to what a company is responsible for.
"Terrorist" Guild holds World of Warcraft server hostage
A guild in World of Warcraft has decided to hold an entire server hostage. The guild has created the item that allows them to open up a great deal of content in the game, but they are refusing to use it until somebody pays them 5000 gold to do the deed…
This is just great, awesome. The impact of ethics in the real world affecting the virtual world. What happens in the Matrix happens in the real world, and what attitudes exist in the real world affects everyone in the matrix ….
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The $200 Billion Broadband Scandal, courtesy of the Bells …
The case is simple: Do you have a 45 Mbps, bi-directional service to your home, paying around $40? Do you have 500+ channels and can choose any competitive service? You paid an estimated $2000 for this product even though you did not receive it and it may never be available. Do you want your money back and the companies held accountable?
Background: Starting in the early 1990’s, the Clinton-Gore Administration had aggressive plans to create the “National Infrastructure Initiative” to rewire ALL of America with fiber optic wiring, replacing the 100 year old copper wire. The Bell companies  SBC, Verizon, BellSouth and Qwest, claimed that they would step up to the plate and rewire homes, schools, libraries, government agencies, businesses and hospitals, etc. if they received financial incentives.
Real all of it here …The Unauthorized Biography of
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iTunes from work to home
Running daapd at home? Use iTunes at work? Much thanks to this dude.
ulimit -u unlimited : Weblog
MercuryNews.com | 02/01/2006 | Taming data centers' appetite for energy
Move over, SUV. The data center is the new energy hog.
Data centers, the giant rooms that house hundreds or thousands of computer servers, are growing in number and size. They’re running round the clock. And they need to be cooled.
They’re so energy-hungry that an average data center of 50,000 square feet uses enough power to light up 2,500 homes.
All this electricity to collect all the information in the world about us, to make us more “herdable” consumers …
MercuryNews.com | 02/01/2006 | Taming data centers’ appetite for energy
CartoonJihad.com
Wow, while searching online for the cartoon published in a Danish newspaper that sparked outrage across teh Muslim world, I came across this site. They have the cartoons that were published, and many more. I too support free speech, but man, I could see how one would be offended, although funny.
But I have to wonder about the author of this site. Is he motivated by humor, politics, and a deep rooted hatred for Islam, or just those that are different from him.CartoonJihad.com
Ringtone sales ring up music profits
Is it me? Am I just not getting it? $600M in ringtones? Don’t people have better things to do with their money? Is there that much discretionary spending available in America to waste on ringtones? Ah, the herd, we need the herd to fuel our economy, but it’s distressing that our economy is more and more based on having the herd to purchase $2 ringtones and $150 basketball sneakers. Ah what the heck, I bought an iPod. USATODAY.com – Ringtone sales ring up music profits
Chris Brown’s Run It!, the Black Eyed Peas’ My Humps and Young Jeezy’s Trap Star are alerting cellphone users to incoming calls, but the sound ringing in the ears of the music business is “ka-ching.”
Congressional staff actions prompt Wikipedia investigation – Wikinews
Is nothing sacred anymore? Even congressmen are altering Wikipedia, deleting negative facts about them and adding “positive” facts that are half truths. For example, if a congressman didn’t keep a campain pledge and someone put that on wikipedia, it’s removed, logged from a IP address from the congressinal offices. Oh Mr. (and Mrs./Ms.) senator and congressman, how my faith have wandered in your integrity and oath to be honest and responsible …..
Edits by Massachusetts congressman Marty Meehan’s staff on his Wikipedia article spurred a Lowell Sun story and a subsequent Wikipedia investigation of all Internet addresses assigned to the Congress of the United States.Congressional staff actions prompt Wikipedia investigation – Wikinews
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