Professor says global warming could trigger monsoons here

“Here” being Eugene, Oregon. But hey, if you can make a buck off it, then who cares! ‘Let’s profit from global warming with better grassland use’ Global warming has arrived – but one of Wales’ leading livestock producers says farmers…

The next pope

Irish bookmakers take bets on next pope The early favorites are Dionigi Tettamanzi of Italy and Francis Arinze of Nigeria, both listed on 11-4 odds. Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras is third with 9-2 odds, while Joseph Ratzinger of…

Would it be our government said the same

Is there such a thing as too much profit? In some of continental Europe’s biggest economies, it seems a nervous political establishment has decided that there is. Corporate France has turned out record profits in the latest reporting season. But…

San Francisco wants bloggers to register, pay fees

SF tries to restrict bloggers. It’s not just the FEC bloggers need to worry about. Local governments will likely try to get into the act, as this ridiculous San Francisco effort proves. Just when you thought the Federal Election Commission…

More signs of a real estate bubble in California

In 2001, 1.4% of California homes were bought using interest-only adjustable rate mortgages. In 2004, that number was a staggering 47.8%. Such mortgages are highly risky because after a predetermined number of years, usually between 3-7, you must start to…

IRS whacks fat cats

The Internal Revenue Service announced today that taxpayers participating in the Son of Boss tax shelter settlement have so far paid in more than $3.2 billion, a figure that should top $3.5 billion when the project concludes in coming months.…

La Scala opera lefties whack right wing boss

One of the most famous figures in music resigned dramatically yesterday after an acrimonious power struggle at the world-renowned opera house La Scala, Milan, which prompted a virtual mutiny. Riccardo Muti quit as musical director at the Italian institution after…