| CES Dispatch--Toshiba's HD DVD Response
If gadgets could look forlorn, Toshiba's three new HD DVD players looked just that sitting on stage ahead of the executives' speeches. Jody Sally, vice president of digital audio/visual equipment, which includes Toshiba HD DVD player lineup, looked on the verge of tears during her truncated three-minute presentation in which reports of HD DVD's sales progress became moot following Warner Brothers decision to exclusively support the rival Blu-ray high definition DVD format later this year. Sally tried to put on a good game face, though, noting that HD DVD unit sales over the holiday shopping period accounted for 49.3% of the market. What she didn't note was that the figure would then translate to Blu-ray capturing the majority of sales of standalone players despite heavy Toshiba discounting.
Man gets 11 years in "stupid" loan scheme
Severson's attorney, Christopher Kelly, recommended his client receive five years in prison, less than the nine years Crabb imposed on Hardyman in July 2006. Kelly said Hardyman was more responsible for the bank's collapse. He loaned $13.4 million to three businessmen, including Severson, and encouraged Severson to run several businesses despite his lack of business training or even a high school diploma. "He's not Donald Trump who could bankrupt a casino chain and then start over and make millions (of dollars) more," Kelly said. Determining if Hardyman or Severson is more guilty is like asking, "Who's more culpable: the thief or the fence?" said Assistant U.S. Attorney Grant Johnson. Each needed the other to carry out the scheme, but the federal guidelines call for a higher sentence for Severson, who was on probation for a 2001 felony conviction while defrauding the Blanchardville bank, Johnson said.
Extra! UIdaho Student Found Shot to Death
Even what little projects are left will REQUIRE tax increases in the future. The Idaho Transporation Department has been gutted. Idaho's entire transportation system has been uprooted and set back years because of this disaster known as GARVEE. What the Legislature should do tomorrow is tell Idaho they made a mistake 2 years ago that has cost too much. They need to gut it completely and ask Governor Otter and ITD to spend the next few months getting things back on track, making transporation the issue of 2008. Meanwhile, the "consultants" who were the beneficiaries of these so-called GARVEE bonds (the people got nothing--NOTHING--from this deal, even though millions have been spent!) can go back to the drawing table. Shame on the Legislature 2 years ago for letting this thing happen when they were put into a corner by our then governor at the last minute, without sufficient information! It was such a scam! Shame on them.
CBS’s Smith ‘Admired’ Kucinich ‘Since He was Mayor of ...
Kucinich presided over the city's plunge into default in 1978. The collapse attracted international ridicule and, except for a brief sojourn on the City Council in the early 80's, left the obstreperous boy wonder in political exile for 15 years...[he] was elected mayor in 1977 and governed the city with a tight circle of friends. But Cleveland's finances, already troubled, spiraled out of control. The climactic moment came in December 1978, when the city was unable to meet $14.5 million in bond obligations. Despite pressure from the business community, Mayor Kucinich refused to sell the municipal electric system to cover the debt. Cleveland went bust, as did his career. .
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