Luke_Wilbur

I am sure all sides want what is best for our country. I am sure Obama's team will have all positions filled weeks before the inauguration. I find it interesting that everyone is dissecting every movement President elect Obama is making.

Renewable Energy Corp. ASA Research in Motion Ltd. Rio Tinto PLC Roche Holding AG Part. Cert. Royal Bank of Canada Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC Royal Dutch Shell PLC A Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. SAP AG Schlumberger Ltd. Seven & I Holdings Co. Ltd. Siemens AG Societe Generale S.A. Sony Corp. Southwest Airlines Co. SunPower Corp. Cl A Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. ADS Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. Tata Steel Ltd. Telefonica S.A. Tesco PLC Time Warner Inc. Toshiba Corp. Total S.A. Toyota Motor Corp. UBS AG UniCredit S.p.A. United Parcel Service Inc. Cl B United Technologies Corp. Veolia Environnement S.A. Verizon Communications Inc. Vestas Wind Systems A/S Vinci S.A. VISA Inc. Cl A Vodafone Group PLC Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Walt Disney Co.

Intel Corp. International Business Machines Corp. Johnson & Johnson JPMorgan Chase & Co. Komatsu Ltd. Kraft Foods Inc. Cl A L.M. Ericsson Telephone Co. Series B LG Electronics Inc. LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton McDonald's Corp. Medtronic Inc. Merck & Co. Inc. Microsoft Corp. Mitsubishi Corp. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. Mitsui & Co. Ltd. Mizuho Financial Group Inc. Monsanto Co. National Australia Bank Ltd. National Bank of Greece S.A. National Grid PLC Nestle S.A. News Corp. Cl A Nike Inc. Cl B Nintendo Co. Ltd. Nippon Steel Corp. Nokia Corp. Novartis AG Panasonic Corporation PetroChina Co. Ltd. Petroleo Brasileiro S/A Pref Pfizer Inc. Philip Morris International Inc. Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. Procter & Gamble Co. Q-Cells AG Reliance Industries Ltd. Renewable Energy Corp. ASA

Coca-Cola Co. Colgate-Palmolive Co. Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A. Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais-CEMIG Pr Companhia Vale do Rio Doce Pref A ConocoPhillips Credit Suisse Group Daimler AG Deere & Co. Deutsche Bank AG Deutsche Post AG E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. E.ON AG eBay Inc. EDP-Energias de Portugal S.A. Exxon Mobil Corp. FedEx Corp. First Solar Inc. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. Gamesa Corporacion Tecnologica S.A. GAZPROM OAO GDF Suez S.A. General Electric Co. General Motors Corp. Gilead Sciences Inc. GlaxoSmithKline PLC Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Google Inc. Cl A Hewlett-Packard Co. Home Depot Inc. Honda Motor Co. Ltd. Honeywell International Inc. HSBC Holdings PLC (UK Reg) Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd. Infosys Technologies Ltd. ING Groep N.V. Intel Corp.

3M Co. ABB Ltd. Abbott Laboratories Alcoa Inc. Allianz SE Amazon.com Inc. America Movil S.A.B. de C.V. Series L American Express Co. Anglo American PLC Apple Inc. ArcelorMittal Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. Astrazeneca PLC AT&T Inc. AXA S.A. BAE Systems PLC Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. Banco Santander S.A. Bank of America Corp. Bank of New York Mellon Corp. BASF S.E. Baxter International Inc. Bharti Airtel Ltd. BHP Billiton Ltd. BNP Paribas S.A. Boeing Co. BP PLC Carnival Corp. Carrefour S.A. Caterpillar Inc. Cemex S.A.B. de C.V. Series CPO Chevron Corp. China Construction Bank Corp. China Mobile Ltd. China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. China Unicom Ltd. Cisco Systems Inc. Citigroup Inc.

The Global Dow is a 150-stock index of the most innovative, vibrant and influential corporations from around the world. Only leading blue-chip stocks are included in the index. Its components, like those of The Dow, are selected by editors of Dow Jones. The launch of this new icon was unveiled August 4, 2008 by Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corporation in Mumbai, India. Dow Jones Indexes is a business unit of Dow Jones & Company, a News Corporation company (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV). Mr. Murdoch said: "The world is changing and how we measure that change economically and financially is clearly a challenge and an opportunity. We have seen a reweighting of risk around the world, but the world itself is being economically rerated and so we need an index that allows investors to take advantage of these changes. Indian companies will obviously have a place in The Global Dow as will companies from other emerging countries where we have seen an unprecedented economic emancipation over the past two decades." Robert Thomson, managing editor, The Wall Street Journal said, "While we must reflect the global stock market as it is, we must also recognize the rapid rise of companies in countries such as India. We have already seen great Indian companies acquiring famous brands such as Jaguar and Land Rover, but these developments are just the beginning of a long-term trend that will fundamentally change the international corporate landscape. As with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the component choices for the new index will be based on the editorial judgment of the world's leading business journalists, that is Dow Jones journalists." The Global Dow will track the share prices of existing and future global leaders in every industry. Vigorous companies from emerging economies will be included along with companies from emerging sectors such as alternative energy. http://www.djindexes.com/globaldow/

General Motors (NYSE: GM) announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2008, reflecting rapidly deteriorating market conditions in the U.S., slowdowns in other mature markets around the world, and continued losses at GMAC Financial Services (GMAC). During the third quarter the turmoil in the global credit markets resulted in the worst financial crisis in more than 70 years. The upheaval has had a dramatic impact on the auto business in particular, especially in the U.S. and Western Europe. Tight credit, rising unemployment, declining income, falling stock markets, and continuing deterioration in the housing market in the U.S., resulted in an abrupt halt in consumer spending, with most consumers exiting the vehicle market. Many of those still intending to purchase vehicles were denied financing, or found the cost of financing prohibitive. “The third quarter was especially challenging for the auto industry. Consumer spending, which represents close to 70 percent of the U.S. economy, fell dramatically, and the abrupt closure of credit markets created a downward spiral in vehicle sales,” said Rick Wagoner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “The U.S. government’s actions to help stabilize the credit markets and eventually ease the credit crunch are an essential first step to the economy’s and the auto industry’s recovery, but further strong action is required.” GM reported a net loss of $2.5 billion or $4.45 per share for the third quarter, including special items. That compares with a net loss from continuing operations of $42.5 billion or $75.12 per share in the third quarter of 2007, which included a non-cash charge of $38.3 billion to establish a valuation allowance against some of the company’s net deferred tax assets. On an adjusted basis, GM posted a net loss of $4.2 billion or $7.35 per share, compared with a net loss from continuing operations of $1.6 billion or $2.86 per share in the same period last year. Revenue for the third quarter was $37.9 billion, down from $43.7 billion in the year-ago quarter, reflecting dramatic sales declines across the industry driven by unstable market conditions, instability in the credit markets and dramatic retraction in consumer demand, especially in North America and Europe. GM recorded net favorable charges of $1.7 billion for special items in the third quarter. Included in the charges was a curtailment gain of $4.9 billion resulting from the UAW Settlement Agreement becoming effective. The curtailment represents the accelerated recognition of net prior service credits, largely relating to the 2005 GM UAW healthcare agreement, scheduled for amortization after January 1, 2010. The curtailment was recorded because GM's UAW retiree health plan will not exist after January 1, 2010, and therefore no further basis for deferring unamortized prior service credits exists beyond that date. The $4.9 billion curtailment gain was partially offset by a non-cash $1.7 billion settlement charge related to the elimination of post-65 salaried retiree healthcare coverage, including the cost of increased pension benefits that were announced in July as part of GM’s operating actions to improve liquidity as well as the recognition of accumulated deferred losses related to the healthcare plan. In addition, GM reported charges of $652 million relating to its commitments as part of Delphi’s bankruptcy proceedings, $251 million for impairment of investments in GMAC, and $641 million in restructuring-related and other charges. Details on these and all other special items are in the financial highlights section of this release. GM Automotive Operations GM reports its automotive operations and regional results on an earnings-before-tax basis, with taxes reported on a total corporate basis. GM recorded an adjusted automotive loss of $2.8 billion ($947 million reported loss) in the third quarter 2008. The loss compares with adjusted automotive earnings from continuing operations of $98 million in the third quarter of 2007 (reported net loss of $1.6 billion). The results reflect losses in GM North America (GMNA) driven largely by the U.S. industry volume decline of nearly 20 percent, and shifts in product mix. In addition, Europe saw rapid auto market contraction, leading to sharply lower GM Europe (GME) sales volume in the third quarter. GM Asia Pacific (GMAP) results were down due to commodity hedging charges and moderating demand in key markets including China, Australia and India. These losses were partially offset by very strong results in the GM Latin America, Africa and Middle East (GMLAAM) region. GM’s automotive results in the third quarter include $1.5 billion of expenses related to mark-to-market changes in the value of GM’s commodity and foreign exchange hedging contracts, due almost entirely to falling commodity prices. GM sold 2.1 million vehicles worldwide in the third quarter, down 11 percent year over year. Sales in GMNA were down 19 percent compared to third quarter 2007. GM global market share was 13 percent, down 0.7 percentage points compared with the third quarter of 2007, due largely to weakness in North America and Western Europe. GMNA revenue and earnings in the third quarter reflect dramatic industry deterioration and a sharp fall in consumer spending driven by the weak U.S. economy and a very harsh credit environment. Earnings were impacted by lower volumes, rapid shifts among U.S. consumers away from trucks and SUVs toward smaller cars, and unfavorable mark-to-market adjustments on commodity hedging. GME revenue was down 15 percent in the third quarter amid industry-wide volume declines ranging from 10 to 35 percent in certain major markets including the U.K., Spain and Italy. Overall GME sales volume was down 12.3 percent year over year, while up 10 percent in Eastern Europe. Earnings were largely impacted by the lower volumes, and unfavorable mix and negative pricing. In addition, unfavorable foreign exchange relating to the weakening of the British pound and the mark-to-market of commodity hedges negatively impacted earnings. Results were partially offset by favorable structural cost performance. Results in GMAP were impacted primarily by unfavorable mix and negative pricing. In addition, GMAP results were impacted by unfavorable hedging, which was largely offset by the favorable foreign exchange impact of exports. Industry sales for the region were down by 134,000 units or 2.7 percent in the third quarter. Despite the slowdown, GM reported a 2.6 percent increase in sales volume, and modest gain in market share. Markets in the GMAP region are expected to remain soft through the fourth quarter, with further slow downs anticipated in Australia, China, South Korea and India as the contagion of the faltering U.S. economy and tightening credit conditions expand to other regions around the world. GMLAAM saw double-digit revenue growth, up 15 percent, and earnings, up 37 percent, in the third quarter, fueled by strong demand for Chevrolet and Cadillac products. GMLAAM sales volume was up more than 3 percent compared to the same period last year. Sales were especially strong in key South America markets, including Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and Peru, each setting all-time GM quarterly sales records. The region is on track for another year of record sales, although the effects of the global economic slowdown on credit availability and consumer behavior are likely to result in some moderation of demand in the fourth quarter. GMAC On a standalone basis, GMAC reported a net loss of $2.5 billion for the third quarter 2008, down $900 million from the year-ago quarter. GM reported an adjusted loss of $1.2 billion for the quarter attributable to GMAC, as a result of its 49 percent equity interest. GMAC’s automotive finance operation experienced pressure from lower used vehicle prices and weaker consumer and dealer credit performance. GMAC’s ResCap operations reported further losses as a result of adverse market conditions, which drove high credit-related provisions and weak revenue. GMAC’s Insurance business remained profitable. Cash and Liquidity Cash, marketable securities, and readily-available assets of the Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association (VEBA) trust totaled $16.2 billion on September 30, 2008, down from $21.0 billion on June 30, 2008. The change in liquidity reflects negative adjusted operating cash flow of $6.9 billion in the third quarter 2008, driven by the industry-wide slowdown in vehicle demand and compounding credit crisis, especially in North America and Europe. During the quarter, GM drew the remaining $3.5 billion of its secured revolving credit facility and made $1.2 billion in payments to Delphi as required by agreements between the companies as part of Delphi’s bankruptcy proceedings. GM expects adjusted operating cash flow in the fourth quarter to be much improved versus the third quarter, and more consistent with the first half of the year. Improvements in fourth quarter cash flow are largely driven by anticipated improvements in working capital in North America relating to sales allowances, and lower fourth quarter finished vehicle inventory in Europe. Improving its liquidity position remains a top priority for the company. In response to deteriorating market conditions, GM announced today that in addition to the $15 billion in liquidity initiatives it outlined in July 2008, it has identified $5 billion of incremental liquidity actions. Cumulatively, GM has announced actions aimed at improving liquidity by $20 billion through 2009. To date, $10 billion in internal operating actions have either already been completed or are on track for full execution by the end of 2009. Even if GM implements the planned operating actions that are substantially within its control, GM's estimated liquidity during the remainder of 2008 will approach the minimum amount necessary to operate its business. Looking into the first two quarters of 2009, even with its planned actions, the company's estimated liquidity will fall significantly short of that amount unless economic and automotive industry conditions significantly improve, it receives substantial proceeds from asset sales, takes more aggressive working capital initiatives, gains access to capital markets and other private sources of funding, receives government funding under one or more current or future programs, or some combination of the foregoing. The success of GM's plans necessarily depends on other factors, including global economic conditions and the level of automotive sales, particularly in the United States and Western Europe. Further detail on the additional liquidity actions and GM’s current liquidity position and outlook are disclosed in a Form 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange (SEC).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today becomes the newest partner in Chevrolet’s Project Driveway, the first and largest market test designed to speed hydrogen powered fuel cell electric vehicles to the consumer marketplace. Over the next six months, the USDA will be using a Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell vehicle to transport top leadership and Congressional Relations Staff on official business on Capitol Hill – petroleum free – while providing valuable real-world performance feedback to GM. The vehicle is fueled with hydrogen and zero greenhouse gases are released. The only tailpipe emission is clean water vapor. “With each partner that participates in Project Driveway we gain valuable insight on this important advanced automotive technology that may not have been identified in our internal test mechanisms,” said Keith Cole, director, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs – Environment. “The USDA will build on our year of findings through this innovative market test and further demonstrate the need to develop a hydrogen infrastructure to support fueling these vehicles.” The partnership with the USDA is part of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) hydrogen and fuel cell research, development, and demonstration efforts. “Solutions to our nation’s energy challenge will come from a variety of renewable sources,” said USDA Secretary Ed Schafer. “Agriculture has always generated innovation that is harnessed and put through its paces.” GM will provide the maintenance, fuel and service of the vehicle. Fueling for the USDA is being provided at the Shell Benning Road station in the Northeast community of Washington, D.C. The station is certified for 700 bar fueling and is already being used by other Project Driveway participants. Since Project Driveway’s launch in November of 2007, it has put more than 100 Equinox fuel cell vehicles in the hands of business partners, government agencies, members of the media, celebrities and the general public who have volunteered through the Chevy.com web site. To date, more than 3,200 test drives of varying lengths have been conducted. Currently, the program has launched in Los Angeles, metropolitan New York and Washington, D.C., with further deployments in Europe and Asia later this year. The first market test of its size and reach, Project Driveway is an important facet of Chevrolet’s “Gas Friendly to Gas Free” strategy to offer advanced technologies that enable a variety of fuel solutions.

Circuit City Stores, Inc. announced that the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") has suspended the company's common stock effective immediately. The NYSE reached this decision in light of the company's announcement to file a voluntary petition for reorganization relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court. As previously announced, the company also was not in compliance with the NYSE's price criteria for common stock because the average closing price of the company's common stock was less than $1.00 per share over a consecutive 30-trading-day period as of October 22, 2008. The company noted that not being listed on the NYSE is not a default under the company's debtor-in-possession revolving credit facility. The company's common stock is currently trading over the counter and is being quoted on the Pink Sheets service under the ticker symbol CCTYQ. The company intends to take appropriate steps to maintain an active trading market for its common stock but can provide no assurance that there will be an active trading market. The company does not intend to take any further action to appeal the NYSE's decision, and therefore it is expected that the common stock will be delisted after the completion of the NYSE's application to the Securities and Exchange Commission. About Circuit City Stores, Inc. Circuit City Stores, Inc. is a leading specialty retailer of consumer electronics and related services. At October 31, the domestic segment operated 712 Superstores and 9 outlet stores in 165 U.S. media markets. At September 30, the international segment operated through 770 retail stores and dealer outlets in Canada. Circuit City also operates Web sites at www.circuitcity.com, www.thesource.ca and www.firedog.com.

I think it would be interesting if Governor Palin replaced Alaska Senator Ted Stevens in the Senate. I am sure she would gain alot more experience of the Beltway political culture. In the entire course of the Senate's history, only four members have been convicted of crimes. They were: Joseph R. Burton (1905), John Hipple Mitchell (1905), Truman H. Newberry (1920), and Harrison Williams (1981). Newberry's conviction was later overturned. Mitchell died. Burton, Newberry, and Williams resigned before the Senate could act on their expulsion.

I lost my phone and so I tried to get a new phone at the ATT web site. A chat window popped up on my screen. Read how worthless this conversation was.

Hi Sheng, Is this your business?

In the week ending Oct. 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 479,000, unchanged from the previous week's revised figure of 479,000. The 4-week moving average was 475,500, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised average of 480,500. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.8 percent for the week ending Oct. 18, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.8 percent. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Oct. 18 was 3,715,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,727,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,709,500, an increase of 28,000 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,681,500. UNADJUSTED DATA The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 443,728 in the week ending Oct. 25, an increase of 27,617 from the previous week. There were 303,357 initial claims in the comparable week in 2007. The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.4 percent during the week ending Oct. 18, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,228,606, an increase of 94,217 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 1.7 percent and the volume was 2,241,942. Extended benefits were available in Alaska, North Carolina, and Rhode Island during the week ending Oct 11. Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,363 in the week ending Oct. 18, a decrease of 290 from the prior week. There were 1,512 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 389 from the preceding week. There were 14,006 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Oct. 11, an increase of 471 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 22,890, an increase of 543 from the prior week. States reported 978,142 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending Oct. 11, a decrease of 117,036 from the prior week. The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Oct. 11 were in Puerto Rico (5.2 percent), Michigan (3.5), Nevada (3.4), Oregon (3.4), California (3.1), New Jersey (3.1), South Carolina (3.1), Arkansas (3.0), Pennsylvania (3.0), and North Carolina (2.8). The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Oct. 18 were in Tennessee (+1,956), Oregon (+1,802), Indiana (+1,297), Virginia (+898), and Florida (+543), while the largest decreases were in New York (-6,080), Michigan (-5,894), Illinois (-3,795), Ohio (-2,923), and Kentucky (-2,494).

PA Presidential Appointment without Senate Confirmation PAS Presidential Appointment with Senate Confirmation The letter codes that denote the type of appointment under which the position is categorized. http://www.gpoaccess.gov/plumbook/index.html

And Obama Transition Team news which comes from outside government sources.

This is what I find.

The Redskins had one of the most embarrassing defeats in Jim Zorn's brief career as head coach. What made the night worse was that Fedex stadium was filled with at least 25 percent Steeler fans. When they waved their towels it looked like 50 percent. By the end of the game all one could see was gold and black. Has the Redskin team lost that much of its fan base. This never happened in RFK, especially when the Skins have a winning record.

Thanks Human, http://www.gpoaccess.gov/plumbook/ The latest edition is the November 2004. http://www.gpoaccess.gov/plumbook/2004/index.html Obama's official transition web site is: http://www.change.gov The site is not accessible to the general public.

There are fireworks going on outside in the District of Columbia. Horns are bellowing and people are screaming. This is a monumental day in wonderful country. America is truly a magical place.

We can both agree on that issue My father died of cancer a couple years ago. I still have not forgiven the insurance company for taking him out of the nursing home. He died a few weeks later.

DCpages staff would like to share are condolences to Senator Obama on his grandmother's passing. I am sure Madelyn was very proud of her grandson. Obama announced the news from the campaign trail in Charlotte, N.C. The joint statement with his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng said Dunham died peacefully late Sunday night after a battle with cancer. Until her death, Dunham lived in the same small highrise apartment where she raised her grandson Barack. She was an avid bridge player, but mostly stayed at home in her apartment "listening to books on tape and watching her grandson on CNN every day." Madelyn Dunham suffered from severe osteoporosis. In 2008, she underwent both corneal transplant and hip replacement surgeries. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/03/t...s_n_140582.html

John McCain was brilliant. I think he got some votes out there with his humor. You can't go wrong with McCain Fine Gold!

I was flying home from Detroit when I bumped into a NFL commentator. He noticed my Obama O8 Redskins jersey. We talked a little bit and he stated that both McCain and Obama were going to attend the Redskins vs. Pittsburg Monday Night Football game at Fedex. I hope that will be the case. Since 1936, If the Redskins lost prior to election day, the incumbent party inevitably lost. In 2004, the Redskins lost to the Packers. http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselect...-politics_x.htm But, many people accross this country did not agree with the election's outcome. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/24/...rkers-Trial.php So those of you that are superstitious out there stay glued to the game. Hail to the Redskins!

I like their sound. What is, what was, what will be. Past, present, and future.

I think you will like this topic. Halliburton Moves To Dubai to Avoid US Oversight and Taxes, Company focuses on helping Iran http://www.dcmessageboards.com/index.php?showtopic=11603 How could Cheney allow Haliburton to work for Iran when Bush stated Iran was an axis of evil? http://www.halliburton.com/default/main/ha...nws_040907.html