Lego my Eggo-beater

The Danish investment company that also owns the toy manufacturer Lego, KIRK Kapital A/S, a is buying 39 ATR 72s from American Eagle, then will lease them back.

{Yeah, I thought the same thing...WTF?... Must be a creative-accounting/write-off thing.}

George Bush Dodges Everything!

"Gitttin all Locke and Burke and s*"t!"

"Locke and Burke"

Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative; on economic issues, here is the question at its ideological core.

In our democracy; do businesses, commerce and the economy exist to serve our government: Or does our government exist to serve the economy, commerce and business?

The reason I prefaced that question with “in our Democracy” is this;

Because we are a government of the people, for the people and by the people; let me ask the question this way… Do businesses, commerce and the economy exist to serve We the People: Or do We the People exist to serve business, commerce and the economy?

I submit that we the people have lost sight of the purpose of government and that purpose is to serve We the people.

(Brought to you by MoP's Office of Redundancy Office;
working to help stamp-out and eliminate redundancy daily everyday.)

Quick Quote

"[W]ealth has never yet sacrificed itself on the altar of patriotism." -Robert La Follette

As expected...

The APFA and AA file for Federal mediation.

But MOM! I want the good cereal! Not Sam's-Flakes!

Currently with the currency;

Over at the Wall street journal they did a piece on the falling value of the dollar compared to currencies around the world; Dollar Continues to Slide
Here is just part of the article;
Currency watchers said while dollar fundamentals remain bleak with the Fed having signaled a new era of ultra-low interest rates and quantitative easing, there has been no major catalyst for Wednesday's sudden and renewed moves lower. Rather, technical breaches of the dollar's post-Fed lows have brought momentum players back onside with the dollar downtrend, while thin trading conditions exaggerate the magnitude of intraday movements for many currency pairs.

WTF?
What do these economist eat for breakfast? Ambiguous biscuits smothered in garrulous gravy hold the brevity?
In layman's terms;
The people that make money trading money do not think the dollar is a good buy. And they are claiming they can't figure out exactly why. They are also saying, because a lot of people are trying to make money on the falling dollar, they hope it looks worse than it really is.

Now, let me explain what is really happening...
The federal reserve cut interest rates to practically zero and the rest of the world feels that the U.S. is simply printing money (which cheapens the value of the dollar). Now when you go to WalMart to buy something, it cost more because China is demanding more dollars for the imports they send here. But you aren't making anymore money to buy those Chinese goods. (see three post down You get nothing) So, you cut back on the dollars you spend, which perpetuates the catch 22 of supply side economics; and the fool's errand of trying to create real value in a service economy.

Good luck with that!
Sorry for the depressing post and the bad link...I'll find some good news tomorrow.
B.G.

Appropriate quote by T.J.

"Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear." -Thomas Jefferson

Kudos to the guest post. From the comments it looks as if he has ignited a spark of interest..
Good! I encourage the open dialogue and conversation and hope he post again soon.

Guest Post;

This post is from a DFW Aircraft Mechanic...

December 15, 2008
When one see’s the bailouts of financial institutions and the abuse some of those institutions instilled by using the TARP monies for political contributions and corporate bonuses etc.. I wonder; when I find out that my union shop stewards are having a Christmas appreciation dinner in an elaborate expensive restaurant. Is it just as inappropriate as the misuse of funds by the financial institutions? Please, don't get me wrong. I appreciate the hard work our shop stewards do everyday and realize their commitment to the union and it's membership. However, we the membership are struggling financially and are demanding a contract that will bring back what we gave up in 2003. Are these expensive Christmas appreciation dinners paid for by the membership appropriate at a time when rank and file members are trying to make ends meet after the 2003 concessions?. I can understand a dinner at a moderate but nice restaurant….ie. Fridays or Chilis, but a high dollar restaurant?
I don’t understand the difference between this dinner and Arpey buying a condo in Cabo on the bonuses he received from his employees. I thought this new administration was going to be different from the past. I was under the impression that some of the leadership was bringing their own lunches to work instead of using expense money, which is an example never done by a prior administration.

I have high regards for our new administration. I believe that this is the first administration that has been elected by the membership for the membership. Now this might not be highly regarded as a major importance, but if you think about it; how is this any different than the Big Three, AIG or any other corporations that take money from the tax payer for their own gain instead of the gain of the entire company and its employees?
All I ask is before this administration has another event like this, that perhaps they think about their membership and hardships it is suffering during this difficult time when this company, who is sitting high on the hog, refuses to do the right thing to the very people that helped put them on that hog.

MoP's P.P. (Political Prediction)

Obama has been naming cabinet post for his administration but has yet to name a replacement for Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao. (good riddance)
Let's just see if I have my finger on the pulse of American Politics. MoP's prediction/choice for Obama's Labor Secretary; Thomas Georghegan.

You Get Nothing!

American/TWU; 12 days of talks end with...

No surprise here...NO DEAL!!! We are now heading for Federal Mediation.

Whats next? I found a flow chart over at the National Mediation Board (NMB) that explains what happens to us under the Railway Labor Act (RLA)

Remember the urgency for us to sign the concessionary contract in 2003? If we didn't act quickly our fate would be in the hands of a bankruptcy judge! Remember the reason Carty resigned? Everyone knows by now slogans like; “Pull together-Win together” and “Shared Sacrifice” espoused by the company are nothing more than hollow sound-bites and lies. The fact that today, American is dragging its feet, should come as no surprise either; I just wonder if this paradigm of simulated corporate integrity and feigned accountability to employees is in the GPM somewhere and I missed it.

But wait; We must also hold ourselves accountable. Click on the Share GAAin Pic...it is a link to the NMB timeline concerning Labor issues and it is telling. It's evident that back in the day, Labor didn't play. They fought hard for things that we so submissively surrendered under the guise of "saving the company." Notice how the last time the TWU took it to the mattresses was Pan-Am in 1985. Twenty three years later, we are the next generation. Are we leaving things better for the ones who will be here when we are gone? That would be a resounding NO. We have much work to do... the first step is the re-realization of the import of solidarity.

Reports about the no-deal by;

Dallas Morning News; American Airlines, union fail to hammer out quick deal.

Bloomberg; American Air, Baggage Handlers End Talks; Mediation May Be Next