Considerably more for your feelings, in the UK:
A Muslim teaching assistant who was suspended for refusing to remove her veil during lessons has been awarded £1,100 for "injury to her feelings"
Aishah Azmi, 24, lost her claims that she was discriminated against because of her religious beliefs and that she had suffered harassment.
But an employment tribunal ruled that she had been victimised through the environment created as a result of her stance.
Making the irony piquant is who her employer is:
Mrs Azmi was suspended when she insisted on retaining her niqab while working at Headfield Church of England School, in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Germany to Berlin; 'Drop Dead'
Great Abe Beame's Ghost:
Berlin (dpa) - Germany's top court Thursday refused to sanction a government-funded multibillion dollar bailout for the nation's bankrupt capital.
The court dismissed a suit filed by Germany's largest city, which is saddled with a 60-billion-euro (75-billion-dollar) debt.
Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit said the city cannot repay the debt by itself and invoked a constitutional solidarity clause in a bid to win a bailout ruling from Germany's highest court.
The capital had argued that it had got into debt because the government had slashed subsidies after German unification in 1990.
But the federal constitutional court ruled that the massive debt was largely of the city's own making, but "in all probability" could be reduced if spending was brought under control.
....There have been allegations that Berlin's government - a coalition of Social Democrats with the former East German communists now called The Left Party - has not done enough to cut spending and privatize massive state holdings.
The court said the city could earn at least 5 billion euros if it sold the 270,000 apartments - 15 per cent of Berlin's total residential living space - that are under public ownership.
Berlin (dpa) - Germany's top court Thursday refused to sanction a government-funded multibillion dollar bailout for the nation's bankrupt capital.
The court dismissed a suit filed by Germany's largest city, which is saddled with a 60-billion-euro (75-billion-dollar) debt.
Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit said the city cannot repay the debt by itself and invoked a constitutional solidarity clause in a bid to win a bailout ruling from Germany's highest court.
The capital had argued that it had got into debt because the government had slashed subsidies after German unification in 1990.
But the federal constitutional court ruled that the massive debt was largely of the city's own making, but "in all probability" could be reduced if spending was brought under control.
....There have been allegations that Berlin's government - a coalition of Social Democrats with the former East German communists now called The Left Party - has not done enough to cut spending and privatize massive state holdings.
The court said the city could earn at least 5 billion euros if it sold the 270,000 apartments - 15 per cent of Berlin's total residential living space - that are under public ownership.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Take Sean Penn...Please!
They ought to be counting their blessings in Holland:
AMSTERDAM — Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has said he is disappointed in the nation's intellectuals, artists and writers, accusing them of a lack of social engagement.
Balkenende said the nation's intellectuals had failed to make their voice heard in the current debate about the problems in Dutch society.
"Where is the social engagement of intellectuals, writers and artists? Why is there an almost frightening silence?" Balkenende wrote in a letter to writer Harry Mulisch.
The Christian Democrat CDA leader said Dutch intellectuals should represent a mirror of Dutch politics.
Of course what happened to Theo Van Gogh might have something to do with it:
AMSTERDAM — Research has indicated that more than 1,400 young Muslims in Amsterdam, or 2 percent of the capital's Islamic population, are potential extremists.
AMSTERDAM — Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has said he is disappointed in the nation's intellectuals, artists and writers, accusing them of a lack of social engagement.
Balkenende said the nation's intellectuals had failed to make their voice heard in the current debate about the problems in Dutch society.
"Where is the social engagement of intellectuals, writers and artists? Why is there an almost frightening silence?" Balkenende wrote in a letter to writer Harry Mulisch.
The Christian Democrat CDA leader said Dutch intellectuals should represent a mirror of Dutch politics.
Of course what happened to Theo Van Gogh might have something to do with it:
AMSTERDAM — Research has indicated that more than 1,400 young Muslims in Amsterdam, or 2 percent of the capital's Islamic population, are potential extremists.
If you're reading this...
...you're sick, say the shrinks:
The US could be rife with "internet addicts" who are as clinically ill as alcoholics, according to psychiatrists involved in a nationwide study.
....Most disturbing, according to the study's lead author Elias Aboujaoude, is the discovery that some people hide their internet surfing, or go online to cure foul moods – behaviour that mirrors the way alcoholics behave.
"In a sense, they're using the internet to self-medicate," Aboujaoude says. "And, obviously, something is wrong when people go out of their way to hide their internet activity."
Nearly 14% of respondents said they found it difficult to stay away from the internet for several days and 12% admitted that they often remain online longer than expected.
More than 8% of those surveyed said they hid internet use from family, friends and employers, and the same percentage confessed to going online to flee from real-world problems.
Approximately 6% also said their personal relationships had suffered as a result of excessive internet usage.
The US could be rife with "internet addicts" who are as clinically ill as alcoholics, according to psychiatrists involved in a nationwide study.
....Most disturbing, according to the study's lead author Elias Aboujaoude, is the discovery that some people hide their internet surfing, or go online to cure foul moods – behaviour that mirrors the way alcoholics behave.
"In a sense, they're using the internet to self-medicate," Aboujaoude says. "And, obviously, something is wrong when people go out of their way to hide their internet activity."
Nearly 14% of respondents said they found it difficult to stay away from the internet for several days and 12% admitted that they often remain online longer than expected.
More than 8% of those surveyed said they hid internet use from family, friends and employers, and the same percentage confessed to going online to flee from real-world problems.
Approximately 6% also said their personal relationships had suffered as a result of excessive internet usage.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Fore!
Play it as it lays, Comrade:
Golf lessons are going to be made compulsory for some students at one Chinese university, reports say.
The president of Xiamen University in south-east China was quoted as saying it would help produce "socially elite people with the best education".
....Zhu Chongshi, president of Xiamen University in Fujian province, said golf lessons would be on offer to all students in the next two months.
But he said those majoring in management, law, economic and software engineering courses would "be required" to take the course, the China Daily newspaper reports.
"Golf is not only good exercise, but will teach students communication skills and benefit their future careers," he was quoted as saying.
Golf lessons are going to be made compulsory for some students at one Chinese university, reports say.
The president of Xiamen University in south-east China was quoted as saying it would help produce "socially elite people with the best education".
....Zhu Chongshi, president of Xiamen University in Fujian province, said golf lessons would be on offer to all students in the next two months.
But he said those majoring in management, law, economic and software engineering courses would "be required" to take the course, the China Daily newspaper reports.
"Golf is not only good exercise, but will teach students communication skills and benefit their future careers," he was quoted as saying.
Better Wining Through Chemistry
Raise a glass to oenology in France:
The French winemaker's mantra has always been "grow good grapes and the wine will make itself," but for all save the most prestigious estates letting nature take its course is no longer good enough.
.... While often loath to admit it, many French producers are now crafting their wares to suit consumer tastes rather than expecting consumers to adapt to the product.
....There is no better measure of this profound change than the growing influence and importance of wine chemists — also called oenologists — in Bordeaux, France's premier wine producing region.
"In 10 years, oenologists have evolved from vine doctor to winemaker," said the president of association representing Bordeaux's wine chemists, Nicolas Guichard.
.... "The tilting point was economic — all production is for naught as soon as it is disconnected from the market," said Jean-Philippe Gervais, head of the vine-and-wine services department of the Gironde region's Chamber of Agriculture. "The oenologist today has a better understanding of marketing, and the imperatives of supply and demand."
The French winemaker's mantra has always been "grow good grapes and the wine will make itself," but for all save the most prestigious estates letting nature take its course is no longer good enough.
.... While often loath to admit it, many French producers are now crafting their wares to suit consumer tastes rather than expecting consumers to adapt to the product.
....There is no better measure of this profound change than the growing influence and importance of wine chemists — also called oenologists — in Bordeaux, France's premier wine producing region.
"In 10 years, oenologists have evolved from vine doctor to winemaker," said the president of association representing Bordeaux's wine chemists, Nicolas Guichard.
.... "The tilting point was economic — all production is for naught as soon as it is disconnected from the market," said Jean-Philippe Gervais, head of the vine-and-wine services department of the Gironde region's Chamber of Agriculture. "The oenologist today has a better understanding of marketing, and the imperatives of supply and demand."
Never on Sunday
In modern Europe don't you dare try renting a video:
A court in Germany has stopped a company from operating automated video and DVD rental machines on Sundays, saying they violate Sunday shopping laws.
.... "The operation of an automated video library on Sundays and public holidays represents an overt and clearly visible work practice and as such violates Sunday peace," the judges said.
....Shopping hours are strictly regulated in Germany, with most stores allowed to open only on a handful of Sundays in the run-up to Christmas.
A court in Germany has stopped a company from operating automated video and DVD rental machines on Sundays, saying they violate Sunday shopping laws.
.... "The operation of an automated video library on Sundays and public holidays represents an overt and clearly visible work practice and as such violates Sunday peace," the judges said.
....Shopping hours are strictly regulated in Germany, with most stores allowed to open only on a handful of Sundays in the run-up to Christmas.
Nice work, if you can get it
And you can get it if you threaten to cry:
The Orlando Magic paid a political consultant and frequent tax critic $200,000 not to oppose plans for a recently announced new arena, the club has disclosed.
The payments were made at two different points to Doug Guetzloe, who also hosts a local radio show billed as "The Voice of the People." The Magic gave him $100,000 to support a similar stadium push in 2001 and another $100,000 this year.
....The Magic's payments were made in support of a $1 billion downtown overhaul - delivering a new arena, renovated Citrus Bowl and new performing arts center.
"We were told that there was an offer by those in the minority that oppose the three community venues to hire him if we did not," Magic chief operating officer Alex Martins said in a written statement.
.... The Magic weren't the only ones paying Guetzloe. A Kissimmee resort gave him $87,000 when it pursued public money to expand a convention center, and the local expressway authority has paid him $107,500 to evaluate opposition to toll increases despite his heavy criticism of the agency.
The Orlando Magic paid a political consultant and frequent tax critic $200,000 not to oppose plans for a recently announced new arena, the club has disclosed.
The payments were made at two different points to Doug Guetzloe, who also hosts a local radio show billed as "The Voice of the People." The Magic gave him $100,000 to support a similar stadium push in 2001 and another $100,000 this year.
....The Magic's payments were made in support of a $1 billion downtown overhaul - delivering a new arena, renovated Citrus Bowl and new performing arts center.
"We were told that there was an offer by those in the minority that oppose the three community venues to hire him if we did not," Magic chief operating officer Alex Martins said in a written statement.
.... The Magic weren't the only ones paying Guetzloe. A Kissimmee resort gave him $87,000 when it pursued public money to expand a convention center, and the local expressway authority has paid him $107,500 to evaluate opposition to toll increases despite his heavy criticism of the agency.
Monday, October 16, 2006
We don't think this means what you think it means
Italian women earn less than men for pretty much the same reason as everywhere else, but you have to read to nearly the end to find out why:
(ANSA) - Rome, October 16 - Italy's working women earn about three quarters of what men earn on average, according to new statistics from ISFOL, the government-funded research institute.
For salaried workers women the difference is about 23%, or 3,800 euros a year, while for the self-employed the difference can be as much as 40%....
Self-employed women pay themselves 40% less, because....
The startling difference between the pay received by self-employed men and women was mainly the result of women working fewer hours, the report said .
Which fact seems not to have penetrated with the author of this article who explains the smaller difference in pay for employees with the usual suspects:
"There is a tendency to avoid giving roles with more responsibility to women basically because employers are afraid that childcare duties will be a distraction," said Emiliano Mandrone.
He said this was particularly common in the private sector, where bosses were concerned that women would either underperform or disappear for a year to have a baby.
As a result, men tend to get the top jobs and the fat salaries that go with them .
(ANSA) - Rome, October 16 - Italy's working women earn about three quarters of what men earn on average, according to new statistics from ISFOL, the government-funded research institute.
For salaried workers women the difference is about 23%, or 3,800 euros a year, while for the self-employed the difference can be as much as 40%....
Self-employed women pay themselves 40% less, because....
The startling difference between the pay received by self-employed men and women was mainly the result of women working fewer hours, the report said .
Which fact seems not to have penetrated with the author of this article who explains the smaller difference in pay for employees with the usual suspects:
"There is a tendency to avoid giving roles with more responsibility to women basically because employers are afraid that childcare duties will be a distraction," said Emiliano Mandrone.
He said this was particularly common in the private sector, where bosses were concerned that women would either underperform or disappear for a year to have a baby.
As a result, men tend to get the top jobs and the fat salaries that go with them .
T'Okay, We'll Surrender...We're French
It will have to be by any other name, but the wine will still be dry:
PARIS, Oct 16, 2006 (AFP) - The French wine-growing area of Alsace on Monday officially surrendered to Hungary the label "Tokay" which has been used for several hundred years to designate a local variety of white.
Hungary -- where the Tokay wine region is a UNESCO-designated world heritage site -- has been pressing for decades for the sole right to use the name....
As long ago as 1926 France agreed to phase out the trade-name in return for a Hungarian commitment to stop making "cognac" -- but the deal met insuperable resistance in Alsace where reportedly since the 16th century "Tokay d'Alsace" has referred to wine made from the "pinot gris" grape.
.... Hungary has also won agreement from Italy to stop use of the name "Tocai Friulano" for a variety of grape grown in the north of the country, and under a deal with neighbouring Slovakia "Tokay" can only be used for wine produced in a small area along the Hungarian border.
Hungarian Tokay was made famous in France at the start of the 18th century when King Louis XIV was sent a supply by the Prince of Transylvania. He reportedly described it as a "wine of kings, and a king of wines" -- a slogan used in marketing campaigns ever since.
PARIS, Oct 16, 2006 (AFP) - The French wine-growing area of Alsace on Monday officially surrendered to Hungary the label "Tokay" which has been used for several hundred years to designate a local variety of white.
Hungary -- where the Tokay wine region is a UNESCO-designated world heritage site -- has been pressing for decades for the sole right to use the name....
As long ago as 1926 France agreed to phase out the trade-name in return for a Hungarian commitment to stop making "cognac" -- but the deal met insuperable resistance in Alsace where reportedly since the 16th century "Tokay d'Alsace" has referred to wine made from the "pinot gris" grape.
.... Hungary has also won agreement from Italy to stop use of the name "Tocai Friulano" for a variety of grape grown in the north of the country, and under a deal with neighbouring Slovakia "Tokay" can only be used for wine produced in a small area along the Hungarian border.
Hungarian Tokay was made famous in France at the start of the 18th century when King Louis XIV was sent a supply by the Prince of Transylvania. He reportedly described it as a "wine of kings, and a king of wines" -- a slogan used in marketing campaigns ever since.
Ain't gonna happen, no how?
China energizes the English police as the Olympics loom:
China has launched a fresh drive to clamp down on bad English in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Previous attempts to wipe out Chinglish - the mistranslated phrases often seen on Chinese street signs and product labels - have met with little success.
Emergency exits at Beijing airport read "No entry on peacetime" and the Ethnic Minorities Park is named "Racist Park".
....A road sign on Beijing's Avenue of Eternal Peace warns of a dangerous pavement with the words: "To Take Notice of Safe; The Slippery are Very Crafty".
Menus frequently list items such as "Corrugated iron beef", "Government abuse chicken" and "Chop the strange fish".
The mistranslations arise because many Chinese words express concepts obliquely and can be interpreted in multiple ways, making translation a minefield for non-English speakers.
China has launched a fresh drive to clamp down on bad English in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Previous attempts to wipe out Chinglish - the mistranslated phrases often seen on Chinese street signs and product labels - have met with little success.
Emergency exits at Beijing airport read "No entry on peacetime" and the Ethnic Minorities Park is named "Racist Park".
....A road sign on Beijing's Avenue of Eternal Peace warns of a dangerous pavement with the words: "To Take Notice of Safe; The Slippery are Very Crafty".
Menus frequently list items such as "Corrugated iron beef", "Government abuse chicken" and "Chop the strange fish".
The mistranslations arise because many Chinese words express concepts obliquely and can be interpreted in multiple ways, making translation a minefield for non-English speakers.
Running Guns to the Khmer Rouge II
The Senator from Massachusetts must have thought it would sound good--the way he told Tim Russert on Meet the Press; 'Was too in Cambodia'--but, who is it who is trying to gain partisan political advantage here:
KERRY: It's a bomb that has been developed because of the unwillingness of this administration to engage in opportunities that every expert says have been there all the time.
President Carter went over there in 1994 and President Carter negotiated an agreement. Now, rather than continue that agreement in 2002, this administration just arbitrarily decided, out of ideological whatever - - anything but Clinton -- they proceed down a different road.
And things have gotten worse. Things have gotten worse in Afghanistan. Things have gotten worse in Iraq. They're not telling the truth to the American people about a civil war in Iraq.
They don't listen to the generals on the ground in Iraq. The generals have said it's a debacle. They've said Rumsfeld doesn't have credibility. They're not standing down while the Iraqis supposedly stand up.
In every aspect of our foreign policy, this administration has misled Americans and misled the world. And they don't have credibility. Chris, this is not political. This is not political.
WALLACE: Well, it's a little political.
KERRY: No, it's not political. No, it's not political. It used to be that foreign policy was something that was done on a bipartisan basis. It used to be that the politics ended at the water's edge.
KERRY: It's a bomb that has been developed because of the unwillingness of this administration to engage in opportunities that every expert says have been there all the time.
President Carter went over there in 1994 and President Carter negotiated an agreement. Now, rather than continue that agreement in 2002, this administration just arbitrarily decided, out of ideological whatever - - anything but Clinton -- they proceed down a different road.
And things have gotten worse. Things have gotten worse in Afghanistan. Things have gotten worse in Iraq. They're not telling the truth to the American people about a civil war in Iraq.
They don't listen to the generals on the ground in Iraq. The generals have said it's a debacle. They've said Rumsfeld doesn't have credibility. They're not standing down while the Iraqis supposedly stand up.
In every aspect of our foreign policy, this administration has misled Americans and misled the world. And they don't have credibility. Chris, this is not political. This is not political.
WALLACE: Well, it's a little political.
KERRY: No, it's not political. No, it's not political. It used to be that foreign policy was something that was done on a bipartisan basis. It used to be that the politics ended at the water's edge.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Not exactly a ringing endorsement
Of one's own policies, when you receive the Nobel Peace Prize for financing poor entrepreneurs, you turn around and use the money to create a non-profit entity with a large French agri-business:
DHAKA: Muhammad Yunus yesterday said he would donate his share of the $1.4-million (BD527,757) prize money to good causes.
Yunus said he would use his share to fund a project to produce low-cost, nutritious food for the poor, an eye hospital, a drinking water project and a health care scheme.
"I will donate all my money to these enterprises. These will be purely social business enterprises, ie not-for-profit organisations," he said.
"I will use the money to finance our joint-venture food company with Danone so that the poor can eat high nutrition food at an affordable price," he said. ....
The French company is the world's biggest producer of fresh dairy products and bottled water with total sales of around $16 billion in 2005.
DHAKA: Muhammad Yunus yesterday said he would donate his share of the $1.4-million (BD527,757) prize money to good causes.
Yunus said he would use his share to fund a project to produce low-cost, nutritious food for the poor, an eye hospital, a drinking water project and a health care scheme.
"I will donate all my money to these enterprises. These will be purely social business enterprises, ie not-for-profit organisations," he said.
"I will use the money to finance our joint-venture food company with Danone so that the poor can eat high nutrition food at an affordable price," he said. ....
The French company is the world's biggest producer of fresh dairy products and bottled water with total sales of around $16 billion in 2005.
He sleeps with the Trout Quintet?
On the Musicfront, in Seattle:
The past six months represent some of the most divisive and troubled moments in the history of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, with some orchestra members expressing bitter opposition to Gerard Schwarz, music director for more than two decades, as well as internecine battles among the musicians.
Stimulated by the renewal of Schwarz's contract in the spring, the conflict became increasingly nasty and violent: instruments were vandalized, cars keyed, anonymous phone calls made, mail stolen from backstage mail slots and doorbells at musicians' homes rung anonymously at night.
....John Cerminaro, principal French horn since 1995, is the main target, with Scott Goff, principal flute for more than 35 years, a secondary one. Both are regarded as prime allies of Schwarz.
In late September, Cerminaro found in his Benaroya mail box a razor in a magazine and, in a separate episode, a cup of hot coffee, both of which could have caused serious damage to his hands.
Friday morning at an orchestra rehearsal, Mary Ann Champion, interim executive director, addressed the musicians on what she termed, in an earlier interview, "a safe work environment and incidents backstage." She said she did not plan to mention any names but would tell musicians that management "will not accept inappropriate behavior" and promised "increased security."
The reaction by orchestra members was mixed, sources said. One key player gave Champion the finger as she left the podium.
Cerminaro's comments were subdued. "I have been the principal French horn with the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony and the American Symphony Orchestra, and I have never seen anything like this. Beyond that I will not comment."
Next; checking to see just what's in those violin cases?
The past six months represent some of the most divisive and troubled moments in the history of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, with some orchestra members expressing bitter opposition to Gerard Schwarz, music director for more than two decades, as well as internecine battles among the musicians.
Stimulated by the renewal of Schwarz's contract in the spring, the conflict became increasingly nasty and violent: instruments were vandalized, cars keyed, anonymous phone calls made, mail stolen from backstage mail slots and doorbells at musicians' homes rung anonymously at night.
....John Cerminaro, principal French horn since 1995, is the main target, with Scott Goff, principal flute for more than 35 years, a secondary one. Both are regarded as prime allies of Schwarz.
In late September, Cerminaro found in his Benaroya mail box a razor in a magazine and, in a separate episode, a cup of hot coffee, both of which could have caused serious damage to his hands.
Friday morning at an orchestra rehearsal, Mary Ann Champion, interim executive director, addressed the musicians on what she termed, in an earlier interview, "a safe work environment and incidents backstage." She said she did not plan to mention any names but would tell musicians that management "will not accept inappropriate behavior" and promised "increased security."
The reaction by orchestra members was mixed, sources said. One key player gave Champion the finger as she left the podium.
Cerminaro's comments were subdued. "I have been the principal French horn with the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony and the American Symphony Orchestra, and I have never seen anything like this. Beyond that I will not comment."
Next; checking to see just what's in those violin cases?
Friday, October 13, 2006
Borrring!
Belgian childcare, say the kids:
Brussels - A large-scale investigation into the quality of Belgian childcare shows that although children feel comfortable in their crèches, they often lack focus in their activities.
....The investigation was unique in that it focused on how the 8,000 participating children themselves perceived the day care.
....We specifically noticed that children sometimes tend to be a bit bored", says professor Ferre Laerens of the Catholic University of Leuven. "Although they are involved in some activity or other, the children lack moments of real intensity and are not always that focused", he adds.
It appears that 40 percent of the childcare initiatives do not come up to 'normal' standards on this criterion.
Brussels - A large-scale investigation into the quality of Belgian childcare shows that although children feel comfortable in their crèches, they often lack focus in their activities.
....The investigation was unique in that it focused on how the 8,000 participating children themselves perceived the day care.
....We specifically noticed that children sometimes tend to be a bit bored", says professor Ferre Laerens of the Catholic University of Leuven. "Although they are involved in some activity or other, the children lack moments of real intensity and are not always that focused", he adds.
It appears that 40 percent of the childcare initiatives do not come up to 'normal' standards on this criterion.
She's Scary Allright
Unemployment in France not high enough for you? Vote for la fille:
(AFP) - France should tax businesses that move jobs outside of the country, and then tax their products when they are imported back into the country, French presidential election frontrunner Ségolène Royal said in an interview published in The Times on Friday.
Speaking from the town of Poitiers, western France, in the Poitou-Charentes regional council where she is the socialist head, Royal told the newspaper: "We have to prevent this wildcat outsourcing."
"The workers have no power. We need to tax businesses who want to move out jobs and tax their products when they re-import them," she said.
"The capitalists have to be frightened ... There is no alternative. They can't just dispose of people as they wish. They have to be held accountable."
(AFP) - France should tax businesses that move jobs outside of the country, and then tax their products when they are imported back into the country, French presidential election frontrunner Ségolène Royal said in an interview published in The Times on Friday.
Speaking from the town of Poitiers, western France, in the Poitou-Charentes regional council where she is the socialist head, Royal told the newspaper: "We have to prevent this wildcat outsourcing."
"The workers have no power. We need to tax businesses who want to move out jobs and tax their products when they re-import them," she said.
"The capitalists have to be frightened ... There is no alternative. They can't just dispose of people as they wish. They have to be held accountable."
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Shall We Dance?
What with all this harmony:
PARIS, Oct 12, 2006 (AFP) - French President Jacques Chirac said Thursday that restructuring at plane maker Airbus should be "distributed harmoniously" between plants at Hamburg in Germany and Toulouse in France, at the end of a Franco-German ministerial meeting.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel then said that "France and Germany must remain on a equal footing" within EADS, the parent aerospace group behind Airbus.
Though not three (or more) part harmony, it seems:
MADRID — The delays over the Airbus 380 Project have claimed its first victims in Spain, with the loss of 180 jobs from a company which supplies parts for the motor.
Turbo Propulsores, based in the Basque Country, announced the job losses on Wednesday.
....Spain, a minority partner in Airbus parent EADS, had said it wants to raise the country's stake to safeguard jobs.
Spanish economy minister Pedro Solbes said he wanted to protect the EADS and Airbus work carried out in Spain....
The country owns 5.4 percent of EADS through state holding company SEPI.
.... France has paid more attention to the Spanish shareholding since Russia unexpectedly grabbed a 5 percent stake in EADS via a state bank and hinted it could buy more.
Nor is there unanimity even within countries:
Paris/Hamburg (dpa) - Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday the German government had not taken any decision yet on whether to buy a stake in EADS, the parent company of the troubled planemaker Airbus.
....Merkel's remarks came after Mayor Ole von Beust of Hamburg - where Airbus has one of its main plants - announced after talks with the new CEO of Airbus, Louis Gallois, that he welcomed a federal German government "decision" to buy a holding in Airbus.
Von Beust, who is one of Germany's 16 state premiers and a Christian Democrat ally of Merkel, later backtracked, but said, "I remain convinced that the federal government must act if industry does not do its patriotic duty."
The later comment was an attack on DaimlerChrysler, the German-US automotive company that holds 22.5 per cent of EADS and said Wednesday it aims to reduce its holding to 15 per cent but no lower.
The French government owns 15 per cent of stockmarket-listed EADS, which was created to unite western Europe's disparate aerospace companies so that they can compete with big US corporations.
But, to do so successfully, Airbus needs to replace a little harmony with efficiency. And when someone choreographed with that in mind, he was asked to resign:
Before being forced to step down earlier this week, former Airbus head Christian Streiff had recommended moving the task of fitting the A380 interior from Hamburg to Toulouse, where Airbus has its headquarters.
PARIS, Oct 12, 2006 (AFP) - French President Jacques Chirac said Thursday that restructuring at plane maker Airbus should be "distributed harmoniously" between plants at Hamburg in Germany and Toulouse in France, at the end of a Franco-German ministerial meeting.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel then said that "France and Germany must remain on a equal footing" within EADS, the parent aerospace group behind Airbus.
Though not three (or more) part harmony, it seems:
MADRID — The delays over the Airbus 380 Project have claimed its first victims in Spain, with the loss of 180 jobs from a company which supplies parts for the motor.
Turbo Propulsores, based in the Basque Country, announced the job losses on Wednesday.
....Spain, a minority partner in Airbus parent EADS, had said it wants to raise the country's stake to safeguard jobs.
Spanish economy minister Pedro Solbes said he wanted to protect the EADS and Airbus work carried out in Spain....
The country owns 5.4 percent of EADS through state holding company SEPI.
.... France has paid more attention to the Spanish shareholding since Russia unexpectedly grabbed a 5 percent stake in EADS via a state bank and hinted it could buy more.
Nor is there unanimity even within countries:
Paris/Hamburg (dpa) - Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday the German government had not taken any decision yet on whether to buy a stake in EADS, the parent company of the troubled planemaker Airbus.
....Merkel's remarks came after Mayor Ole von Beust of Hamburg - where Airbus has one of its main plants - announced after talks with the new CEO of Airbus, Louis Gallois, that he welcomed a federal German government "decision" to buy a holding in Airbus.
Von Beust, who is one of Germany's 16 state premiers and a Christian Democrat ally of Merkel, later backtracked, but said, "I remain convinced that the federal government must act if industry does not do its patriotic duty."
The later comment was an attack on DaimlerChrysler, the German-US automotive company that holds 22.5 per cent of EADS and said Wednesday it aims to reduce its holding to 15 per cent but no lower.
The French government owns 15 per cent of stockmarket-listed EADS, which was created to unite western Europe's disparate aerospace companies so that they can compete with big US corporations.
But, to do so successfully, Airbus needs to replace a little harmony with efficiency. And when someone choreographed with that in mind, he was asked to resign:
Before being forced to step down earlier this week, former Airbus head Christian Streiff had recommended moving the task of fitting the A380 interior from Hamburg to Toulouse, where Airbus has its headquarters.
A Bridge Too Far...
...and possibly too crooked for Italy's government:
Italy has abandoned controversial plans to build a bridge between the country's mainland and the island of Sicily.
The structure would have crossed the Messina Straits, forming the world's longest single-span suspension bridge.
But Italian MPs voted to scrap the proposed construction, saying they had other priorities for Italy's impoverished southern island.
There were also concerns that organised crime networks could hijack the lucrative project.
But that wouldn't stop a profit seeking company.
Italy has abandoned controversial plans to build a bridge between the country's mainland and the island of Sicily.
The structure would have crossed the Messina Straits, forming the world's longest single-span suspension bridge.
But Italian MPs voted to scrap the proposed construction, saying they had other priorities for Italy's impoverished southern island.
There were also concerns that organised crime networks could hijack the lucrative project.
But that wouldn't stop a profit seeking company.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Spare the Rod...Spoil the CEO
Everyone responding to the question admitted to not being pain free growing up:
The debate over whether CEOs are born or made remains unresolved, but there is one thing they overwhelmingly have in common.
As children, they were paddled, belted, switched or swatted.
Child psychologists wince at such a finding. They warn that spanking slows mental development and hinders achievement. They say the last thing parents need in the back of their minds is a suggestion or justification that the rod is the road to vision, ruthless drive and other leadership traits common to CEOs.
But USA TODAY interviewed about 20 CEOs over three months and, while none said they were abused, neither were any spared.
....Eve Tahmincioglu interviewed 55 CEOs about their backgrounds for her book From the Sandbox to the Corner Office: Lessons Learned on the Journey to the Top, which went on sale Friday. The book includes chapters on such things as how CEOs attacked their first jobs and how they overcame bad bosses, but Chapter One is called "Parents: Less Carrot, More Stick."
She found that most CEOs had tough disciplinarians as parents.
....Sara Blakely....says she was "spanked and spanked often," so much that she would wear all of her days-of-the-week underwear at the same time to soften the blow.
Today, she is the founder and owner of a women's undergarment manufacturer that has passed $100 million in retail sales this year.
Blakely says she thought of a name for her company while sitting in Atlanta traffic. It's a name that nobody seems to forget.
Spanx.
The debate over whether CEOs are born or made remains unresolved, but there is one thing they overwhelmingly have in common.
As children, they were paddled, belted, switched or swatted.
Child psychologists wince at such a finding. They warn that spanking slows mental development and hinders achievement. They say the last thing parents need in the back of their minds is a suggestion or justification that the rod is the road to vision, ruthless drive and other leadership traits common to CEOs.
But USA TODAY interviewed about 20 CEOs over three months and, while none said they were abused, neither were any spared.
....Eve Tahmincioglu interviewed 55 CEOs about their backgrounds for her book From the Sandbox to the Corner Office: Lessons Learned on the Journey to the Top, which went on sale Friday. The book includes chapters on such things as how CEOs attacked their first jobs and how they overcame bad bosses, but Chapter One is called "Parents: Less Carrot, More Stick."
She found that most CEOs had tough disciplinarians as parents.
....Sara Blakely....says she was "spanked and spanked often," so much that she would wear all of her days-of-the-week underwear at the same time to soften the blow.
Today, she is the founder and owner of a women's undergarment manufacturer that has passed $100 million in retail sales this year.
Blakely says she thought of a name for her company while sitting in Atlanta traffic. It's a name that nobody seems to forget.
Spanx.
Remember the Maginot Line!
Let the Franco-Prussian War of the 21st Century begin (and the best man will probably be Boeing, winning):
BERLIN — Germany's economy minister pledged Wednesday that his government will do all it can to protect Airbus sites in the country and ensure that the burdens of a restructuring drive are divided fairly.
Airbus parent EADS' announcement of a further delay to the flagship A380 superjumbo and a cost-cutting drive was followed by concerns in Germany that production work could be moved to France, putting jobs at risk.
Economy Minister Michael Glos said the German government "will work with all its strength for the German sites."
Meanwhile, Jacques Chirac laid down covering fire from Paris:
PARIS, Oct 11, 2006 (AFP) - The sole objective for Airbus is to "correct structural faults" that have been responsible for the difficulties plaguing the aircraft manufacturer, a source close to French President Jacques Chirac said Wednesday.
"The sole and unique objective is to correct the structural faults to allow delays (in deliveries) to be overcome," the source said.
While the Russians remained coyly neutral:
Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a visit to the southern German state of Bavaria, meanwhile held out the prospect of increased Russian investment in EADS.
But Bavarian premier Edmund Stoiber played down Russia's designs on the company, whose German arm is based in Bavaria.
"In certain strategic sectors of the economy there are some limits to mutual participation," he said.
BERLIN — Germany's economy minister pledged Wednesday that his government will do all it can to protect Airbus sites in the country and ensure that the burdens of a restructuring drive are divided fairly.
Airbus parent EADS' announcement of a further delay to the flagship A380 superjumbo and a cost-cutting drive was followed by concerns in Germany that production work could be moved to France, putting jobs at risk.
Economy Minister Michael Glos said the German government "will work with all its strength for the German sites."
Meanwhile, Jacques Chirac laid down covering fire from Paris:
PARIS, Oct 11, 2006 (AFP) - The sole objective for Airbus is to "correct structural faults" that have been responsible for the difficulties plaguing the aircraft manufacturer, a source close to French President Jacques Chirac said Wednesday.
"The sole and unique objective is to correct the structural faults to allow delays (in deliveries) to be overcome," the source said.
While the Russians remained coyly neutral:
Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a visit to the southern German state of Bavaria, meanwhile held out the prospect of increased Russian investment in EADS.
But Bavarian premier Edmund Stoiber played down Russia's designs on the company, whose German arm is based in Bavaria.
"In certain strategic sectors of the economy there are some limits to mutual participation," he said.
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