BREITBART.COM - Chevron's 4Q Profit Soars to Record High
Blogger's Note: So if PROFITS are up this much and the average american is struggling with uel costs, shouldn't PRICE GOUGING in the oil industry be investigated?
By MICHAEL LIEDTKE
AP Business Writer
SAN RAMON, Calif.
Chevron Corp.'s fourth-quarter profit climbed 20 percent to $4.14 billion, a company record that continued the most prosperous stretch in the oil company's 126-year history as it capitalizes on high fuel prices that are squeezing consumers and ruffling politicians.
Its profit of $14.1 billion for the full year was also a company record.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Avoid Chase Credit Cards!
Just heard from a friend about a balance transfer situation involving CHASE, CITICARD, and DISCOVER.
Balances were transferred from these three cards. DISCOVER and CITICARD both had superior customer service. They were very willing to waive the residual interest charges on the accounts.
Not only did CHASE have the worst interest fees, but they also refused to waive the residual charges. When asked why their customer service level was not up to the quality of CITICARD and DISCOVER the supervisor basically said they are in it to make make money. When asked why they were not willing to rise to the customer service of the other cards they said WE ARE NOT CITICARD or DISCOVER.
NO THEY ARE CERTAINLY NOT!!!
Moral of the story: CHASE Credit Card services are in it for the money and not to help the customer AT ALL .
While ALL credit card companies are in it for the money. CHASE has proven a few dollars in residual fees is more important than good customer relations. After hearing this story I will be doing any business I have with CITICARD and DISCOVER. The only call I will be making to CHASE it to CANCEL my card with them.
amauvecoffeecup at gmail. com
Balances were transferred from these three cards. DISCOVER and CITICARD both had superior customer service. They were very willing to waive the residual interest charges on the accounts.
Not only did CHASE have the worst interest fees, but they also refused to waive the residual charges. When asked why their customer service level was not up to the quality of CITICARD and DISCOVER the supervisor basically said they are in it to make make money. When asked why they were not willing to rise to the customer service of the other cards they said WE ARE NOT CITICARD or DISCOVER.
NO THEY ARE CERTAINLY NOT!!!
Moral of the story: CHASE Credit Card services are in it for the money and not to help the customer AT ALL .
While ALL credit card companies are in it for the money. CHASE has proven a few dollars in residual fees is more important than good customer relations. After hearing this story I will be doing any business I have with CITICARD and DISCOVER. The only call I will be making to CHASE it to CANCEL my card with them.
amauvecoffeecup at gmail. com
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
New Orleans Mayor Says God Mad at U.S.
Bloggers Note: Stop trying to second guess God you twit. If anyone was mad at anyone they should be mad at YOU Mayor Nagin. Why? One for being too unprepared to have the buses running to evacuate people. And two for using the phrase "chocolate town" and helping to keep racism alive. You are not a Stupid Black Man. You are just a stupid man who happens to be black.
By BRETT MARTEL
Associated Press Writer
NEW ORLEANS
Mayor Ray Nagin suggested Monday that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and other storms were a sign that "God is mad at America" and at black communities, too, for tearing themselves apart with violence and political infighting.
"Surely God is mad at America. He sent us hurricane after hurricane after hurricane, and it's destroyed and put stress on this country," Nagin, who is black, said as he and other city leaders marked Martin Luther King Day.
"Surely he doesn't approve of us being in Iraq under false pretenses. But surely he is upset at black America also. We're not taking care of ourselves."
Nagin also promised that New Orleans will be a "chocolate" city again. Many of the city's black neighborhoods were heavily damaged by Katrina.
"It's time for us to come together. It's time for us to rebuild New Orleans _ the one that should be a chocolate New Orleans," the mayor said. "This city will be a majority African American city. It's the way God wants it to be. You can't have New Orleans no other way. It wouldn't be New Orleans."
Nagin described an imaginary conversation with King, the late civil rights leader.
"I said, `What is it going to take for us to move on and live your dream and make it a reality?' He said, `I don't think that we need to pay attention any more as much about other folks and racists on the other side.' He said, `The thing we need to focus on as a community _ black folks I'm talking about _ is ourselves.'"
Nagin said he also asked: "Why is black-on-black crime such an issue? Why do our young men hate each other so much that they look their brother in the face and they will take a gun and kill him in cold blood?"
The reply, Nagin said, was: "We as a people need to fix ourselves first."
Nagin also said King would have been dismayed with black leaders who are "most of the time tearing each other down publicly for the delight of many."
A day earlier, gunfire erupted at a parade to commemorate King's birthday. Three people were wounded in the daylight shooting amid a throng of mostly black spectators, but police said there were no immediate suspects or witnesses.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press.
By BRETT MARTEL
Associated Press Writer
NEW ORLEANS
Mayor Ray Nagin suggested Monday that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and other storms were a sign that "God is mad at America" and at black communities, too, for tearing themselves apart with violence and political infighting.
"Surely God is mad at America. He sent us hurricane after hurricane after hurricane, and it's destroyed and put stress on this country," Nagin, who is black, said as he and other city leaders marked Martin Luther King Day.
"Surely he doesn't approve of us being in Iraq under false pretenses. But surely he is upset at black America also. We're not taking care of ourselves."
Nagin also promised that New Orleans will be a "chocolate" city again. Many of the city's black neighborhoods were heavily damaged by Katrina.
"It's time for us to come together. It's time for us to rebuild New Orleans _ the one that should be a chocolate New Orleans," the mayor said. "This city will be a majority African American city. It's the way God wants it to be. You can't have New Orleans no other way. It wouldn't be New Orleans."
Nagin described an imaginary conversation with King, the late civil rights leader.
"I said, `What is it going to take for us to move on and live your dream and make it a reality?' He said, `I don't think that we need to pay attention any more as much about other folks and racists on the other side.' He said, `The thing we need to focus on as a community _ black folks I'm talking about _ is ourselves.'"
Nagin said he also asked: "Why is black-on-black crime such an issue? Why do our young men hate each other so much that they look their brother in the face and they will take a gun and kill him in cold blood?"
The reply, Nagin said, was: "We as a people need to fix ourselves first."
Nagin also said King would have been dismayed with black leaders who are "most of the time tearing each other down publicly for the delight of many."
A day earlier, gunfire erupted at a parade to commemorate King's birthday. Three people were wounded in the daylight shooting amid a throng of mostly black spectators, but police said there were no immediate suspects or witnesses.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Tax credit for hybrid cars
From whatistheword.com
DETROIT - The U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow has announced far reaching tax breaks for people who opt to buy hybrid cars. These gasoline-electric vehicles could end up saving as much as $3,400 for consumers.
'Development and use of hybrid vehicles is a key step toward reducing gasoline consumption, emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions,' Snow said. He was speaking at a Ford Motor research center in Detroit. This tax credit scheme also applies to vehicles that use 'green' or alternative fuel systems.
Under the bill, which was signed into a law in August, if a person or a business has more than one hybrid car, each of these would be eligible for the tax credit. The rule applies to vehicles that were brought into service after January 1. These tax breaks are sure to be welcomed since they are designed to boost sales. Companies like Ford and General Motors, which are struggling against competition by Asian carmakers would be relieved with these tax concessions."
"I commend the manufacturers who are making these energy-efficient and environment-friendly vehicles and hope that the President's energy bill proves to be an important step in their rising prominence on American roads," said Snow. "We're hopeful that with these credits we'll see a burst of interest in the hybrid vehicles."
In the US, hybrid cars are manufactured by Toyota Corp, Ford Motors and Honda Motor Co. Ford is determined to push through its hybrid car segment and has targeted a production of 250,000 cars by 2010. It has two models namely the Escape and the Mercury Mariner on the market at present, but the winner in the hybrid stakes has been Toyota Motor's Prius.
DETROIT - The U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow has announced far reaching tax breaks for people who opt to buy hybrid cars. These gasoline-electric vehicles could end up saving as much as $3,400 for consumers.
'Development and use of hybrid vehicles is a key step toward reducing gasoline consumption, emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions,' Snow said. He was speaking at a Ford Motor research center in Detroit. This tax credit scheme also applies to vehicles that use 'green' or alternative fuel systems.
Under the bill, which was signed into a law in August, if a person or a business has more than one hybrid car, each of these would be eligible for the tax credit. The rule applies to vehicles that were brought into service after January 1. These tax breaks are sure to be welcomed since they are designed to boost sales. Companies like Ford and General Motors, which are struggling against competition by Asian carmakers would be relieved with these tax concessions."
"I commend the manufacturers who are making these energy-efficient and environment-friendly vehicles and hope that the President's energy bill proves to be an important step in their rising prominence on American roads," said Snow. "We're hopeful that with these credits we'll see a burst of interest in the hybrid vehicles."
In the US, hybrid cars are manufactured by Toyota Corp, Ford Motors and Honda Motor Co. Ford is determined to push through its hybrid car segment and has targeted a production of 250,000 cars by 2010. It has two models namely the Escape and the Mercury Mariner on the market at present, but the winner in the hybrid stakes has been Toyota Motor's Prius.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Police shoot teen in school standoff: South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Blogger's Note: See, this is where the system is failing. It's not the fault of the deputy who shot this kid. The blame lies in the people who aren't teaching our youth that video games are not real. Consequenses are much more serious in real life.
Police shoot teen in school standoff
Student pointed pellet gun at deputy
Gary Taylor and Rene Stutzman
Sentinel Staff Writers
January 13, 2006, 11:26 PM EST
LONGWOOD -- A Milwee Middle School eighth-grader, who last year threatened to blow up a school bus, showed up for class Friday with a pistol in his backpack.
However, classmates of Chris Penley, 15, didn't know it was a pellet gun.
Neither did a veteran Seminole County deputy sheriff, who made a split-second decision to open fire when Chris pointed the weapon at him.
The deputy's single shot gravely wounded the boy, who was on life support Friday at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
The midmorning incident plunged the Longwood-area school into chaos, as frightened and weeping students gathered outside, awaiting anxious parents or school buses to take them home.
Police shoot teen in school standoff
Student pointed pellet gun at deputy
Gary Taylor and Rene Stutzman
Sentinel Staff Writers
January 13, 2006, 11:26 PM EST
LONGWOOD -- A Milwee Middle School eighth-grader, who last year threatened to blow up a school bus, showed up for class Friday with a pistol in his backpack.
However, classmates of Chris Penley, 15, didn't know it was a pellet gun.
Neither did a veteran Seminole County deputy sheriff, who made a split-second decision to open fire when Chris pointed the weapon at him.
The deputy's single shot gravely wounded the boy, who was on life support Friday at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
The midmorning incident plunged the Longwood-area school into chaos, as frightened and weeping students gathered outside, awaiting anxious parents or school buses to take them home.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Mining and Solar possibilities
The mine tragedy in WV is extremely sad. If these people had been building solar panels instead of mining for coal this tragedy would not have happened. It's time we let mining become a historical job. Solar energy won't cause black lung, and won't run out.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
A Note To Pat Robertson
So, do you realize you are doing more to hurt the Christian Religion than help it? You say that Sharon's illness is "God's punishment?" Do you have any clue as to how that sounds? That is a "my daddy's going to beat you up" attitude if I have ever heard one. What is it when an innocent person is hurt? God's will? The people that make up the "Christian rules" as they go along are exposing the long kept secrets of the smoke and mirrors portion of the modern day religion known as "Christianity".
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Why Kmart Deserves To Be Bankrupt
Blogger's Note: Apparently Kmart WANTS to fail. Now they are trying to blantantly steal from customers. Kmart Execs LISTEN UP!!! Setting Policies that cheat customers are a really bad idea. Wal-Mart has it's draw backs, but you would never catch them trying this!
A friend had received a pair of sleep pants as a Christmas gift.
They were a size too large. After Christmas I was going to KMart so
he
asked me if I would take the sleep pants back to K-Mart where they
had
been purchased. All I wanted to do was exchange them for an identical
pair but just a size smaller. I left the pair to be exchanged with
the
clerk at the customer service desk while I found a pair a size
smaller. When I returned, she informed me it would cost me $2.69. I
said, "But I'm making an even exchange. It's just a size difference."
She told me she understood that but KMart would only allow me credit
for the lowest price the sleep pants I was returning had ever sold
for.
I told her that made no sense to charge me extra when I was only
exhanging one size for another. She informed me that is KMart's
policy.
I told her I would just keep the larger size and that I would give
them
to someone who could use them rather than give KMart any more money.
This incident has colored my opinion of KMart. I know they can't hold
a
candle to Target or Kohls or most any department type store. But I
always felt a little sorry for them and tried to give them some
business. Not any more. I don't need them and I will no longer
patronize them.
A friend had received a pair of sleep pants as a Christmas gift.
They were a size too large. After Christmas I was going to KMart so
he
asked me if I would take the sleep pants back to K-Mart where they
had
been purchased. All I wanted to do was exchange them for an identical
pair but just a size smaller. I left the pair to be exchanged with
the
clerk at the customer service desk while I found a pair a size
smaller. When I returned, she informed me it would cost me $2.69. I
said, "But I'm making an even exchange. It's just a size difference."
She told me she understood that but KMart would only allow me credit
for the lowest price the sleep pants I was returning had ever sold
for.
I told her that made no sense to charge me extra when I was only
exhanging one size for another. She informed me that is KMart's
policy.
I told her I would just keep the larger size and that I would give
them
to someone who could use them rather than give KMart any more money.
This incident has colored my opinion of KMart. I know they can't hold
a
candle to Target or Kohls or most any department type store. But I
always felt a little sorry for them and tried to give them some
business. Not any more. I don't need them and I will no longer
patronize them.
Monday, January 02, 2006
Protect your ears: limit iPod use
Blogger's Note - I was waiting for this. It doesn't suprise me. Luckily I prefer the bigger earphones.
Thu Dec 29, 2:23 PM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The ever-popular earbuds used with many iPods and other MP3 players may be more stylish than the bigger and bulkier earmuff-type headphones, but they may also be more damaging to one's hearing, according to a Northwestern professor.
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Thu Dec 29, 2:23 PM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The ever-popular earbuds used with many iPods and other MP3 players may be more stylish than the bigger and bulkier earmuff-type headphones, but they may also be more damaging to one's hearing, according to a Northwestern professor.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Russia starts cutting off Ukraine gas on Yahoo! News
Blogger's Note: How long will it take? This is EXACTLY the reason we need to become less dependent on fossil fuels. The countries with oil have other countries over an oil barrel and it gives them bully power.
Russia starts cutting off Ukraine gas
By Christian Lowe1 hour, 38 minutes ago
Russia started cutting off gas supplies to Ukraine on Sunday, a move that could hit deliveries to a winter-bound Europe on the day Moscow makes its debut as chairman of the Group of Eight industrialized nations.
Russian Gazprom said it would turn off the taps to Ukraine at 10 a.m. (0700 GMT) after Kiev refused to pay the increased amount Moscow was demanding for its gas and last-ditch efforts to resolve the price row failed.
Russian news agencies said the state-controlled company had already started reducing pressure in the gas pipeline to its ex-Soviet neighbor before the deadline.
Gazprom supplies 25 percent of western Europe's gas -- much of it via Ukraine. It said deliveries to western Europe would not be affected but Italy's gas importer said Gazprom had warned it disruption was possible.
Ukraine's Western-leaning government has complained Moscow was using its control over massive energy resources as a political weapon.
Russia rejects the allegation but it is a suggestion that is being viewed with concern from Berlin to Washington.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin had offered late on Saturday to postpone the price increases until April if Ukraine agreed to the new terms, but a Gazprom spokesman said that offer was rejected.
"The plan to cut supplies from ... 10 o'clock is still in force," spokesman Sergei Kuprianov told Reuters.
West European states, drawing 80 percent of their Russian deliveries from the same pipeline network crossing Ukraine, have expressed concern over the dispute, as has Washington.
Moscow insists it can cut Ukrainian gas while safeguarding supply to others. The danger, in theory, was that Ukraine could nonetheless tap off gas to which it feels it was entitled, thus effectively reducing the flow onwards to western Europe.
Moscow took over the rotating G8 chairmanship from Britain on Sunday, the first time it has held the role and one of the main themes of its tenure will be security of energy supply.
Moscow is seeking a rise in the price of gas it sells to Ukraine to $230 per 1,000 cubic meters from the current $50 -- a level that reflects Soviet-era subsidized rates.
Ukraine agrees in principle but wants a transitional period.
Ukrainian officials accuse Moscow of using the issue to punish Kiev for its drive to join both the European Union and NATO a year after mass protests helped propel Viktor Yushchenko to a presidential election victory -- beating a Kremlin-backed candidate.
Italian oil and gas firm Eni said it had been warned by Gazprom that supplies could be disrupted. Central European states set up contingency plans. Poland said it had at least a week's reserves of gas to guard against supply interruptions.
The EU has called a January 4 meeting of energy officials from its member states to work out a common approach.
Putin's period in office has been marked by an increasingly assertive foreign policy that appears aimed at regaining some of the influence Moscow has lost in former Soviet republics since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
(Additional reporting by Meg Clothier in Moscow, Olena Horodetska in Kiev)
Copyright © 2006 Reuters Limited.
Russia starts cutting off Ukraine gas
By Christian Lowe1 hour, 38 minutes ago
Russia started cutting off gas supplies to Ukraine on Sunday, a move that could hit deliveries to a winter-bound Europe on the day Moscow makes its debut as chairman of the Group of Eight industrialized nations.
Russian Gazprom said it would turn off the taps to Ukraine at 10 a.m. (0700 GMT) after Kiev refused to pay the increased amount Moscow was demanding for its gas and last-ditch efforts to resolve the price row failed.
Russian news agencies said the state-controlled company had already started reducing pressure in the gas pipeline to its ex-Soviet neighbor before the deadline.
Gazprom supplies 25 percent of western Europe's gas -- much of it via Ukraine. It said deliveries to western Europe would not be affected but Italy's gas importer said Gazprom had warned it disruption was possible.
Ukraine's Western-leaning government has complained Moscow was using its control over massive energy resources as a political weapon.
Russia rejects the allegation but it is a suggestion that is being viewed with concern from Berlin to Washington.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin had offered late on Saturday to postpone the price increases until April if Ukraine agreed to the new terms, but a Gazprom spokesman said that offer was rejected.
"The plan to cut supplies from ... 10 o'clock is still in force," spokesman Sergei Kuprianov told Reuters.
West European states, drawing 80 percent of their Russian deliveries from the same pipeline network crossing Ukraine, have expressed concern over the dispute, as has Washington.
Moscow insists it can cut Ukrainian gas while safeguarding supply to others. The danger, in theory, was that Ukraine could nonetheless tap off gas to which it feels it was entitled, thus effectively reducing the flow onwards to western Europe.
Moscow took over the rotating G8 chairmanship from Britain on Sunday, the first time it has held the role and one of the main themes of its tenure will be security of energy supply.
Moscow is seeking a rise in the price of gas it sells to Ukraine to $230 per 1,000 cubic meters from the current $50 -- a level that reflects Soviet-era subsidized rates.
Ukraine agrees in principle but wants a transitional period.
Ukrainian officials accuse Moscow of using the issue to punish Kiev for its drive to join both the European Union and NATO a year after mass protests helped propel Viktor Yushchenko to a presidential election victory -- beating a Kremlin-backed candidate.
Italian oil and gas firm Eni said it had been warned by Gazprom that supplies could be disrupted. Central European states set up contingency plans. Poland said it had at least a week's reserves of gas to guard against supply interruptions.
The EU has called a January 4 meeting of energy officials from its member states to work out a common approach.
Putin's period in office has been marked by an increasingly assertive foreign policy that appears aimed at regaining some of the influence Moscow has lost in former Soviet republics since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
(Additional reporting by Meg Clothier in Moscow, Olena Horodetska in Kiev)
Copyright © 2006 Reuters Limited.
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