| Warning on inflation, higher rates
Last week's official rate rise of 25 basis points takes official rates to 6.75 per cent and variable home loan interest rates to 8.57 per cent, an 11-year high, up from 8.32 per cent. Australians have been confronted by 10 interest rate rises in the last five years - and six times since the last election in 2004 A strong economy will keep upward pressure on interest rates. "The most recent data indicate that the economy had more momentum than expected through the middle of 2007," the RBA said. "Given the recent pattern of quarterly outcomes, both CPI (consumer price index) inflation and underlying measures are likely to rise above 3 per cent on a year-ended basis over the next two quarters. The RBA said that both underlying and CPI inflation would remain close to 3 per cent throughout 2008 and 2009. The central bank sets interest rates to keep inflation between 2 and 3 per cent.
Canada failing its obligations to children: UNICEF
Listening to that child suffer in terror was more than I could bear. My roommate and I reported the situation to police, and to child protection services, only to be told that there was nothing they could do. On one occasion, the police did arrive and spoke to the lady. This seemed to quiet things down for a while, except that now this lady began calling our super and the police every time we had company. She needed some revenge, but quickly became the "boy who cried wolf". One sunny day, while I sat by my open window studying, I heard her having a conversation with a friend or relative of hers. Apparently, social services was forcing her to attend some form of course or class. She was livid! How dare they make her take a class!!! Those *@^#$ ers better be paying for @&$*ing babysitting for the brat!!! God *@^#ed sons of, so on , and so on.
The Most Wanted List
On February 13, Imad Moughniyeh, a senior commander of Hizbollah, was assassinated in Damascus. "The world is a better place without this man in it," State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack said: "one way or the other he was brought to justice." Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell added that Moughniyeh has been "responsible for more deaths of Americans and Israelis than any other terrorist with the exception of Osama bin Laden." Joy was unconstrained in Israel too, as "one of the U.S. and Israel's most wanted men" was brought to justice, the London Financial Times reported. Under the heading, "A militant wanted the world over," an accompanying story reported that he was "superseded on the most-wanted list by Osama bin Laden" after 9/11 and so ranked only second among "the most wanted militants in the world." The terminology is accurate enough, according to the rules of Anglo-American discourse, which defines "the world" as the political class in Washington and London (and whoever happens to agree with them on specific matters).
Worm castings and pest control
Come on, Alice, help us find our way out of this surreal situation caused by the Coastal Commission.June KristapovichOceansideAn American traitorBrent Wilkes is an American traitor. They should put him in jail and dispose of the key ("Prosecutors seek life sentence for Brent Wilkes," Feb. 16). This is some of my tax money he took.Fred ScottEscondidoRon Paul cares about important issuesWhen the presidential candidates and/or media pundits say they want to discuss the important issues, they really don't. Important issues! Are they kidding me? They can't handle important issues!The only candidate willing to face important issues is Ron Paul -- so the media shun him. He embarrasses both liberals and conservatives into silence. While they tap dance around the surge vs. pull-out question, Dr. Paul wants to discuss a failed foreign policy we can no longer afford.
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