Dig this crazy appearance by major Santorum super PAC donor Foster Freiss on MSNBC: First he says our culture needs a “therapy session” because we all think about sex too much, and then he resurrects the old joke about Bayer aspirin being the best, cheapest form of contraception. Because everything would just be all right […]
$$$
Posted inPolitics
Required Reading: The Self-Delusions of “Self-Sufficient” Americans
The New York Times: LINDSTROM, Minn. — Ki Gulbranson owns a logo apparel shop, deals in jewelry on the side and referees youth soccer games. He makes about $39,000 a year and wants you to know that he does not need any help from the federal government. He says that too many Americans lean on […]
Posted inBusey!
Gary Busey Files for “Butt-horn!”—I Mean, “Bankruptcy”
Guys! Gary Busey is filing for bankruptcy! From the AP: The actor and reality show star does not state a reason for the filing. His manager Ron Sampson wrote in a statement the filing provides Busey “a new and clear path” to personal and career success. The filing states the 67-year-old has less than $50,000 […]
Posted inMusic
CD Baby Had a Surprisingly Good 2011
CD Baby reported a very good 2011 this morning on their DIY Musician blog. The report is decidedly heartening, bucking the trend of virtually every bit of other music-biz news, which typically indicates a dire state of affairs. That’s not the case with the Portland-based music distributor (now owned by out-of-town company Discmakers), which reports […]
Posted in$$$
Freddie Mac Bets Against America
It is easy to argue, post real estate bubble, and all the stupidity and excesses revealed in its aftermath, that lending standards should be tighter. But… well… [P]ublic documents show that in 2010 and 2011, Freddie Mac set out to make gains for its own investment portfolio by using complex mortgage securities that brought in […]
Posted inPolitics
Obama to Name Consumer Protection Chief While Congress Is Out of Town
About time: President Obama will challenge Senate Republican foes of the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau by naming Richard Cordray as its director while Congress is out of town, according to a senior administration official. That would allow the agency to establish new regulations over financial institutions, putting into effect elements of the financial […]
Posted in$$$
Walmart’s New “Eco-Roof”: How Does This Make You Feel?
We just received an email from Walmart to inform us that their new Hayden Meadows store will include a vegetated “40,600-square-foot ecoroof” designed to decrease runoff, and save energy. Says the press release: “Walmart’s green roof not only meets the city of Portland’s internationally recognized sustainable stormwater treatment requirements, it is also one of the […]
Posted in$$$
AT&T Leaves T-Mobile at the Altar
The New York Times reports: AT&T said late on Monday afternoon that it had withdrawn its $39 billion takeover bid for T-Mobile USA, acknowledging that it could not overcome opposition from the Obama administration to creating the nation’s biggest cellphone service provider. The company said in a statement that it would continue to invest in […]
Posted inBooks
Cogen Won’t Push for Library District Next Year
Though it may mean cutbacks for Multnomah County’s highly decorated library system, County Chairman Jeff Cogen on Friday told library employees on Friday he won’t push to create a tax-revenue-raising library district next year. Instead, blaming a dour mood among voters who might face a sizable tax hit, he’ll wait two more years to push […]
Posted inTV
Lowe’s Commenters Make Oregonian Commenters Look Like Commie Pinkos
As you may have heard, Lowe’s (the big box hardware store) has pulled their advertising from a TLC show titled All-American Muslim—a reality program about a family of Muslims in Dearborn, Michigan who (surprise!) are just like you and me. And while Lowe’s has taken a significant amount of justified crap because of their myopic […]
Posted in$$$
Pioneer Place Money Saving Tip: Use Mercury as Toilet Paper!
A big thanx and a tip o’ the hat to loyal Mercury reader “Peace Huntress” (Sounds like a spinoff of Xena: Warrior Princess—and YES, I would watch it!) who made and sent in the following video. PH says she took the vid on Friday night as she was visiting the ladies room at Pioneer Place, […]