Footnote to Chinese Democracy

Beijing – (BP) There have been reports recently of a growing number of executions in China, and advocacy groups worry about the fairness of the Chinese judicial system.
Earlier this month, concerns were raised over the trial of Wo Weihan, a medical researcher who was arrested in 2005 and admitted to spying for Taiwan only [...]

Spam Resplendent

St. Louis – (BP) Most of the economic news during a recession is bad news, but things are looking up for Hormel Foods, LLC (Hormel) of Austin, Minnesota.
Hormel produces Spam®, a tinned meat product introduced to the world in 1937. Spam® is made from ham, pork, sugar, salt, water, a little potato starch and a [...]

India-Pakistan Peace Process at Risk

London – (BP) Government officials in India insist the terrorists responsible for last week’s attacks in Mumbai had links to Pakistan, and have demanded the Pakistani government hand over some 20 fugitives believed to be hiding in Pakistan. Islamabad has not responded to the request but has offered India a joint investigation into the attacks.
India’s [...]

Bush Kicks CIA in Teeth

Washington – (BP) Outgoing President George W. Bush mused on his achievements and regrets as president during a wide-ranging  interview on ABC television.
When asked what he thought his greatest accomplishment was, Bush told ABC it was “recognizing we’re in a war against ideological thugs and keeping America safe.”
Commenting on his greatest regret as president, Bush, [...]

The Gray Lady’s Style Timeless

New York – (BP) The venerable New York Times has been the standard bearer for “All the News That’s Fit to Print” since it was founded in 1851.
The Times has maintained its staid appearance and style into the modern era. Although its website (www.nytimes.com) is one of the most popular Internet news sites, the [...]

The Black (Friday) Death

New York – (BBP) The consumer spending resurgence the federal government has been hoping for got off to a rocky start on “Black Friday” when a New York Wal-Mart employee died after bargain hunters broke down the doors to the store, pushing him to the ground.
The 34-year-old male employee was pronounced dead an hour after [...]

Auto Industry Cries Foul

Executives at GM, Ford and Chrysler are howling in outrage today as news spreads that the US Treasury will inject $20 billion into beleaguered Citigroup in exchange for preferred shares.
Treasury Secretary Paulson announced the plan today under the TARP program. The FDIC has also said it will guarantee up to $306 billion of risky [...]

Bureau of Engraving and Printing Facing Paper Crisis

It has come to this: Uncle Sam is about to run out of the paper to print money on.
The United States Treasury Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) prints billions of Federal Reserve Notes for delivery to the Federal Reserve System each year. Fidelity Printers, the company that tirelessly churns out bank notes for BEP, [...]

Bush on Midnight Regulatory Ramble

The Bush Administration has mere hours left to publish a host of new regulations if they are to take effect before the January 20, 2009 swearing-in of President-Elect Barack Obama.
In particular, the Bush Administration is taking aim at the environment. The new rules eliminate the input of federal wildlife scientists in some endangered species cases, [...]

Not Another Dirty Dick?

Dick Cheney is in hot water again. Well, warm water. A Texas grand jury has charged Vice-President Dick Cheney for “organized criminal activity” related to alleged abuse of private prison inmates.
The indictment was overseen by county District Attorney Juan Guerra, an outgoing prosecutor at the end of his term of office. He cites the case [...]