Comcast buys NBC Universal

Today the number two Cable Provider Comcast Corporation buys NBC Universal for  $30 billion.

The deal gives Comcast 51% controlling stake of NBC Universal which includes NBC television Network, a percentage of Telemundo Network(Spanish Language Broadcaster),NBC,  Telemundo owned and operated television stations. In addition the deal includes USA  Network, Universal Studios and Theme  Parks and the newly acquired Weather Channel.

GE will sell its interest in NBC Universal to Comcast; in turn Vivendi which owns a 20% stake in NBC Universal will sell its stake GE and GE will transfer NBC Universal to Comcast.

Comcast will use $6.5 billion in cash. And take $7.3 billion in assets by selling Versus sports network; Golf Channel and E! Entertainment Television.

The deal ending 23 year corporate marriage between  GE and NBC which came about  in merger in 1986.

Fox Business Network

Newspaper Online Adverting Revenue Down 5.4%

Newspaper online advertising is down 5.4 percent in the third quarter, compared to the same time last year; A report released Wednesday said.

There is a bright spot  ad revenue was up 1.7%  versus the second quarter 2009. The first back to back increase in ad revenue since final quarter of 2008; according to PriceWaterHouseCoopers LLP report for Interactive Advertising Bureau, a trade industry group.

The revenue for the third quarter is $5.5 billion down from $5.84 billion this time last year.  The number is down compared to the peak of $6.1 billion.

“The advertising sector overall has been hard hit by the economy, but digital media has been a bright spot within the larger economic downturn,” Randall Rothenberg, chief executive of the advertising trade group, said in a statement.

Breitbart.com

ABC News: Jobs Saved or Created in Made Up Congressional Districts

Can someone tell me: What in world is a Job Saved or Created? What does that mean? How Do you define it? Is it Tangible?

ABC News discovered that the jobs list by states on the Recovery.gov website are located in Congressional districts that do not exist. Well imagine that. For example: 30 jobs saved or created in the 15th Congressional District at a cost of  “$761,420 in federal stimulus spending.

There is one teeny,tiny problem the Arizona 15th Congressional District does   not exist.

ABC News found many inaccuracies on the Recovery.gov site. Late Monday, officials who run the website  attribute the cause to human error.

“We report what the recipients submit to us,” said Ed Pound, Communications Director for the Board.

Recovery.gov receives information from state and  federal agencies, public colleges and universities on what programs funded.

“Some recipients clearly don’t know what congressional district they live in, so they seem to be just throwing in any number. We expected all along that recipients would make mistakes on their congressional districts, on jobs numbers, on award amounts, and so on. Human beings make mistakes,” Pound said.

Reaction from Congress was anger and frustration. U.S. Representative David Obey(D-WI) Chairman of the House appropriations Committee, issues  a written statement demanding the Recovery.gov site corrected and updated.

“The inaccuracies on recovery.gov that have come to light are outrageous and the Administration owes itself, the Congress, and every American a commitment to work night and day to correct the ludicrous mistakes.”

Another citation was $34 million to the Navajo Housing Authority in the 86th Congressional district. Again the congressional district does not exists.  In fact, ABC News cites several incidents from the recovery.gov website.

In Oklahoma, recovery.gov lists more than $19 million in spending — and 15 jobs created — in yet more congressional districts that don’t exist.

In Iowa, it shows $10.6 million spent – and 39 jobs created — in nonexistent districts.

In Connecticut’s 42nd district (which also does not exist), the Web site claims 25 jobs created with zero stimulus dollars.

The list of spending and job creation in fictional congressional districts extends to U.S. territories as well.

$68.3 million spent and 72.2 million spent in the 1st congressional district of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

$8.4 million spent and 40.3 jobs created in the 99th congressional district of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

$1.5 million spent and .3 jobs created in the 69th district and $35 million for 142 jobs in the 99th district of the Northern Mariana Islands.

$47.7 million spent and 291 jobs created in Puerto Rico’s 99th congressional district.

The  Recovery.gov  website created to give information on the $787 billion stimulus bill to show to foster greater accountability and transparency”.

Here’s a clue President Obama fire your economic advisers they do not have your best interest at heart. Peter Orzag, Christina Romer most go.  The $787 billion stimulus package does not work. Shovel ready jobs does not exist. This administration along with the Democratic congress supposed to create infrastructure jobs  where are the jobs and why unemployment rate continues grow(albeit at slower rate).

Look I understand that unemployment is a lagging indicator but The White House and Congress promised the Unemployment rate would not reach eight Percent we are now nine month out we are at 10.2  percent and growing.

We fooled by this stimulus package. The remaining funds will be distributed in the third quarter of  2010 to protect Democrats  for the November election. Time to start over  tax cuts and tax credits which gives employers incentives to hire the growing ranks of the Unemployed.

A job summit sounds good but we need action with results. Employers need feel confident to take  that risk. Until then Jobs  will continue to disappear and hope and change has become fear and disillusionment

ABC News

Parents in Balloon Boy Saga Pleads Guilty

The parents of  “Balloon Boy” admits guilt on Friday  in phony call to 9-1-1   reporting their  6-year-old son was in runaway balloon to create publicity for a potential reality television show.

Richard and Mayumi  Heene were in at Larimer County Courthouse in Ft. Collins. Heene pleaded guilty to a felony count of falsely influencing the sheriff on the 50 mile manhunt for their son Falcon in the skies over Northern Colorado.

Mayumi Heene plead  guilty to a  misdemeanor charge of knowingly filing a false report with emergency services . Mrs Heene has cooperated with law enforcement which led to lesser charges.

Richard Heene could serve 90 days in Jail, probation and fines. Mayumi could receive 60 days in jail possibly in a work release program and  probation.

If the Heenes’ did not take the plea bargain Richard would have faced two to six years in prison  and fines of a half  million dollars. Mayumi  would face up to six month in jail and $750 in fines.

AP via Yahoo News

Shooting Spree on Ft. Hood 14 are dead and 40 injured

UPDATE:  9:15 EST The  shooter Major Malik Nadal Hasan is not deceased. He being treated for his wounds hospitalized tonight and in custody.  12 people are dead and 31 people wounded.  LT. Col.  Robert Cone said tonight. Hasan has been taken to Scott and White Hospital in Temple. Hasan is the lone gunman.

14 people were killed and 40 others injured when a gunman open fire at deployment center at Ft. Hood,TX in Killeen,TX area,on Thursday. The shooting happened approximately  1:30p.m. There is no motive for the shooting spree.

Ft. Hood, 60 miles north of Austin and 160 south of Dallas.

The Pentagon has identified  the assailant as  Major Malik Nadal Hasan an Army psychiatrist who was set to be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. Hasan was shot and killed by Military Police.

Soldiers Readiness Processing Center on the west side of the base. A spokesman for the base, Sgt. Major Jamie Posten, said the processing center was where soldiers “cycle through as they prepare to deploy.”

Two other people were detained by MP’s but have been released.
President Obama has been notified.  Later the president spoke at an event in Washington, D.C. Obama called the shootings a “horrific incident.”

“It’s difficult enough when we lose these great Americans in battles overseas,” Obama said at the Interior Department. “It’s horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil.”

The nation’s leading Muslim-American civil rights organization CAIR , Council of American-Islamic Relations spoke out and condemned the shooting. “this cowardly attack in the strongest terms possible and ask that the perpetrators be punished to the full extent of the law.”

”No political or religious ideology could ever justify or excuse such wanton and indiscriminate violence,” the council said in a statement. “The attack was particularly heinous in that it targeted the all-volunteer army that protects our nation. American Muslims stand with our fellow citizens in offering both prayers for the victims and sincere condolences to the families of those killed or injured.”

The victims were  taken to to area hospitals. Ft. Hood was on lock down for several hours.

One of the witness was Retired Army Col. Greg Schannep  an aid to Rep. John Carter(R-TX) was a Ft. Hood to attend a services told the FT. Hood Sentinel that he heard at least“three or four volleys of shots, with eight to 12 shots in each volley.”

“Initially, I thought it was a training exercise,” he said. But then, “a soldier came running past me and said, ‘Sir, there is someone shooting.’

“As he ran past me, I saw blood on his back,” Schannep told the base paper. “I don’t think he even knew he had been shot.”

Staff Sgt. Fanuaee Vea, 32, had just left  the solider readiness center and was and was at home when the shooting took place. Vea was there an hour before the shooting took place. Vea drove back to Ft. Hood.

Some of the victims were taken to Scott & White Hospital in Temple, Tx according to The Waco Herald-Tribune. Four are operating tables the others  six others were in the emergency rooms under evaluation.

Scott and White is the only hospital is the central Texas that is a Level one trauma center between Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex and Austin.

Scott and White Hospital has made accommodations for the victims families.

All doctors at Scott and White were called in. Scott and White Hospital were placed on location.

Scott and White has asked the public to donate blood. The response was overwhelming.  They had been turned away.

One person who has able to donate was John Hamilton a salesman from Austin, heed the call for blood. Hamilton went to Scott and White in Temple. Hamilton listened to radio while driving on Interstate 35.

“I figured that it was the least I could do,” Hamilton said.

The Temple VA center in Temple, Texas offered assistance and set aside 14 beds.

Killeen Independent School District was placed on locked down including schools located on the base.  Temple Independent Schools were also placed on lock down.

“Temple Police Department requested Temple ISD place all campuses and district buildings in a soft lockdown, due to a situation at Fort Hood, TISD spokesperson Regina Corley told News 10 by news release.

“We have been directed to follow our regular dismissal schedule,” Corley said in a follow-up release.

Central Texas College was locked down until 5 P.M.

Texas A&M canceled classes for the remainder of the day.

Lt. Col. Robert Cone the Commanding officer at Ft. Hood.  Lt. Cone   said One person is dead and two others were arrested. All three was US soldiers.

Maj. Hasan 39  was recently transfer to Ft. Hood from Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. Hasan was stationed at Walter Reed for six years.  Officials say Hasan had received poor marks at Walter Reed. The person spoke on anonymity.

Our thoughts and prayers are with  victims and families at Ft. Hood.

Waco Herald-Tribune

MSNBC

KCEN-TV/HD “KCEN NEWS “

KWTX-TV/HD “News 10″

KXXV-TV/HD  “News Channel25″

FCC is Crafting The New Rules on Net Neutrality

Today, the FCC began make the new rules of “Net Neutrality”. Net Neutrality is the governmental rules that opens the internet to all groups with the same access as major providers instead of prohibiting or favoring certain kinds of internet traffic.  These rules will keep phone and broadband firms from abusing their power  against small and medium players.

By a vote of 3 to 2 the FCC board approve the changes. Republicans opposing the move,

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said the new rules are needed that broadband subscriber have access to all legal web sites and services.

“Internet users should always have the final say about their online service, whether it’s the software, applications or services they choose, or the networks and hardware they use to the connect to the Internet,” Genachowski said.

Republican commissioner Robert McDowell doesn’t believed that the broadband company have been engaging in anti-competitive behavior .

“I do not share the majority’s view that the Internet is showing breaks and cracks, nor do I believe that the government is the best tool to fix it,” he said.

The rules should be finished by this winter and vote to adopt the rules by next summer.

Reuters has more.

Death of News Industry: 100 People let go at New York Times

New York the basition of “great journalism” is laying off 100 newsroom staff in a memo by New York Times Editor in Chief Bill Keller, the cut will affect both unionized and non-union workers.  The paper offer buyouts to the employees.

If the paper cannot reach the 8 percent in total job cut the paper will institute layoffs. Keller in a said in a statement, “As before, if we do not reach 100 positions through buyouts, we will be forced to go to layoffs. I hope that won’t happen, but it might.”

I won’t pretend that these staff cuts will not add to the burdens of journalists whose responsibilities have grown faster than their compensation,” he wrote, adding, “Like you, I yearn for the day when we can do our jobs without looking over our shoulders for economic thunderstorms.”

The New York Times has  currently has 1250. The average major American Newspaper has only 750. The paper had hits it peak at 1300. Before today announcement, the last round of cuts was back last spring(2008).

New York Times

White House Declares War on Fox News

Well the truth has come out: The Obama Administration has decide to go public on it’s war on FOX News. Over a month ago the White House gives  an interview to five broadcast networks except Fox News on Health Care. Then about a week ago White House Advisor Dave Axelrod read the riot act over dinner with Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes. It didn’t faze Ailes nor did it change Fox News reportage.

On Sunday, White House Communication Director Anita Dunn whined to CNN’s Howard Kurtz on his program “Reliable Sources” for nearly 10 minutes on Sunday. Dunn accuses the Media company as an arm of the Republican Party.

Dunn says the President may go on Fox News later this year. She lied. A representative of her office say the president won’t be on Fox News for the rest of the year.

Fox News has fired back across its various programs including the Glenn Beck Show, Special Report with Bret Baer,  The Fox Report with Shepard Smith, The O’Reilly Factor, etc.

Apparently a thin skinned Obama Administration has decided to pick a fight with Fox News because it wound bend over for the administration. What’s worse Fox News Channel has the largest audience in cable television. You Obama makes Richard Nixon’s white house seem like a Sunday School class.

Very petty, immature, what a disgrace. George Bush , nor his father or Ronald Reagan would treat the New York Times, Washington Post, ABC, NBC,CBS  and CNN this disgracefully. Pathetic.

Legendary humorist, author and playright Mark Twain once said Never pick a fight with a people who buys ink by the barrel. Apparently Anita Dunn never learned that in school.

Hat Tip Jim Hoft of Gateway Pundit

CNN

Fox News

Sen. Feinstein: Why President Obama Dithering on McChrystal Recommedations

Senator Diane Feinstein (D-Ca) Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee  smashed President Obama on moving General Stanley McChrystal request of 40,000 troop member increase in Afghanistan. This during an interview on ABC News “This Week ” host my George  Stephanopoulos on Sunday.

“I don’t know how you put somebody in, who is as ‘cracker jack’ as General McChrystal who gives the president very solid recommendations and not take those recommendations if you are not going to pull out,” Feinstein told me on ’This Week.’ “If you do not want to take the recommendations then you put your people in such  jeopardy.”

Senator Saxby Chambliss(R-Ga)  who is Republican minority leader on the Committee said, “I don’t think there’s any question on whether he’s going to have to. I think it’s the right thing to do.”

It’s a very fractious government over there…and not much stability,” Chambliss said. “To slow down the Taliban, that means to prevailing militarily and obviously that’s where the additional resources in the form of troops comes in. That’s where McChrystal has recommended and I think the President has got to follow his commanders on the ground.”

Here We go Again: Kids singing for Obama Health Care

Talking about singing for your supper. A group of Kids from Ron Clark Academy on the set in CNN on Wednesday. The song set to Miley Cyrus’s  “Party in the USA.”  A stanza in song says “Obama says everyone needs health care now.”

It’s just creepy. How many elementary school teachers American are using young kids for propaganda with song about or praising President Obama once is enough but twice is two much. ” Here a part of  song “Another Brick in the Wall” by Pink Floyd should be a admonition for teachers  propagandizing kid  “Hey Teacher-Leave those kids alone”

Real Clear Politics