PSoTD

If this case goes forward, it could be a VERY big deal across the nation. It's plainly obvious that if government can provide incentives to specific companies, that practice does discriminate against all other companies, and is complete governmental B.S. as far as I'm concerned. I'd like to see the practice abolished, so best of luck to this lawsuit.

The growing number of Google links to the term "foreclosure boom". Today's number is 434.

You're still required to pay for full-service gas?

Wanted: Girls interested in computers

Norm Messa is facing a third year without a single female enrolled in his high school programming courses at the Seacoast School of Technology in Exeter.

It’s a national as well as local trend, and one Messa and other computer science instructors are beginning to address.

Despite headlines about the dot.com bust, the industry is clamoring for people, he said.

"Of the 10 fastest growing jobs, five are in health care and five are in IT (information technology)," Messa said. "You have to be good at it, but the payoff is immense."

This year, he has 45 male students in his programming courses for juniors and seniors at the career and technical school, which serves six area high schools.

No girls have enrolled for next year.

I work in IT, and have been around it for 20 years. I won't disagree that the variance in appearance and personal grooming preferences is greater in this field than, say, banking or the medical field. However, it seems to me that the entertainment media has taken the IT professional image and geekified and nerdified the portrayal of the career choice to the point that perhaps it actually hinders the development of the educated employee base in the field in this country.

Well written piece... you can't tell which corporate master of the Detroit News paid for this editorial.

We have two Christian holidays of Jesus birth, actually. Christmas, obviously, but also Easter. In some ways, you would think that Easter would be the more jubilant holiday, the bigger holiday - after all, it is arguably a greater miracle than the initial birth of Jesus, the message of salvation is perhaps more personal to the devout - so why doesn't Easter dominate the U.S. cultural landscape like Christmas does?

My personal opinion is that Christmas has clearly been hijacked by economic interests and the pursuit of profit promotes the holiday into a true season. Although there's been some of that with Easter, it's so much smaller that it's really not that comparable. Why is this? Why has Christmas been infused and homogenized with commercial interests, but Easter still seems split between the faith and the marketing of candy? Is Easter just behind the curve still? Is it because organized religion fights for a more faith-oriented treatment of Easter, and business was more sensitive to the somberness of the holiday? Why is it that Christmas is a season for almost anyone that lives in America, but Easter is limited to a day or three?

There are so many to choose from... add your choice here.

If true, this ought to be a bonus for the "online bill payment" industry...

Rumors are circulating that the next postal rate increase will be higher than what postal officials have previously suggested. Rather than an increase in the mid-single digits, some sources are saying the increase could be in the double digits.

The Postal Service could base its rate request on projected costs for the 2008 fiscal year, beginning October 2007. “It is not surprising that the Postal Service would want to get its rates as high as it can, in case postal reform, with its CPI-based price cap, actually passes,” says David Straus, Washington counsel for American Business Media. "Clearly, the Postal Service will want the base as high as possible if it is to be limited to strict percentage increases thereafter."

The rate filing is expected this month, followed by the postal Rate Commission beginning a 10-month review process, with new rates most likely taking effect in spring 2007.

Wow. Hawaii is NOT banana crop self sufficient. I would not have guessed that.

My copy's here. I'll be making something from it this week and giving a review. Good recipes, only $15, and the money goes to Doctors Without Borders - it's a triple win, so why not order one?