November 28 - December 4, 2010
Friday, Dec. 3
She's starting to plug her Oprah Winfrey Network, which will debut on Jan. 1 and be based in L.A. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
The $13.75 billion merger agreement, which was supposed to expire today, has been extended to March 3. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
So much for the lousy jobs report - after being down slightly for much of the session, stocks rallied late in the day. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
An overall disappointment in November, but perhaps not as bad as the headline numbers would indicate. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Turns out that the engine failure of an A380 last month created problems on the aircraft far worse than first indicated. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
L.A. paying out more in pensions, higher health coverage in California, most HOWS markets are closing, and airport commission president resigns. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Lots of luck. The national unemployment rate rose in November to 9.8 percent from 9.6 percent, but what really surprised everybody was a paltry gain of 39,000 jobs.
$MTEntryExcerpt$>
Thursday, Dec. 2
A few sports honchos around town are disappointed, but like other sports extravaganzas it doesn't offer much of an economic boost. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Today was another day of encouraging signals about the economy, with stronger-than-expected retail and home sales. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Unless some bright idea comes out of Congress (I know, I know), these folks are likely to become a permanent underclass, $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Almost 1,800 apartment units will be added to the downtown portfolio in 2010, or more than half of all units opened in L.A. County. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
This is not a state that's in any threat of collapsing. Anyone who tells you otherwise is clueless. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
A federal judge has signed off on the reorganization plan less than a month after the movie company filed for Chapter 11. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
The thing is only $260 million over budget and two years behind schedule - and that's just for the first... $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Food writer Alan Richman isn't wowed by L.A.'s burger scene, with the notable exception. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Shoppers returning to the stores, higher gas prices are coming, Diller steps down as CEO, and voters question initiative process. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Wednesday, Dec. 1
Chapman University's consumer confidence index is at its highest point since August 2007, before the recession began. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
This was the basis of a NYT profile of an online retailer whose verbal abuse of customers created such commotion that he actually moved up the Google rankings $MTEntryExcerpt$>
This was a great day for anyone who believes that the recovery is really taking shape. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Turns out that during the worst of the crisis the Federal Reserve had to help out not just the big banks, but GE, McDonald's, Verizon, Caterpillar and other corporations. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
It's a noticeable improvement over 2008 and 2009 - and one more sign that the economy is picking up. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Life just ain't fair - here's the superstar appearing in a 45-second ad for the Italian coffee Lavazza. And she doesn't even have any lines. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Companies added jobs last month, Socal economy slowly improving, Magic wants NFL in L.A., and local ski resorts clean up. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Tuesday, Nov. 30
Not only does the guy admit to his bad (and perhaps illegal) behavior, he sees it as a way of moving up the Google rankings. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Here's a quick primer from Real Time Economics on what happens to the millions of out-of-work Americans who will stop receiving a check. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Only 7 percent of car shoppers surveyed by Kelley Blue Book say they're likely to consider an electric vehicle. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
This morning's chat looks at the tug-of-war among Congressional Republicans about reducing the deficit versus maintaining defense spending at current levels. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
In a 2009 interview with Computer World, Assange mentions that "we are sitting on five gigabytes from Bank of America, $MTEntryExcerpt$>
That's less than 48 hours after the company shut down its operations because of a tax dispute. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
L.A. home prices fall (but not as much as in other cities), consumer confidence is up, WikiLeaks pursues U.S. bank, and Tribune bankruptcy is a "four-ring circus." $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Monday, Nov. 29
It's part of a crackdown on Web operations that were used to distribute counterfeit merchandise and illegal copies of music and software. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Medicare has been doing such a good job that the differential in payment rates between Medicare and private insurance is becoming unsustainable. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
The Bev Hills-based social networking site isn't officially on the block, but News Corp. COO Chase Carey says he's open to offers or partnerships. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
The Dow finishes down 39 points for the day, but that's a considerable improvement from the first hour of so... $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Well, what would you expect to happen when the federal benefits expire tomorrow and millions of Americans are without unemployment help? $MTEntryExcerpt$>
New Yorker piece covers very familiar ground, but there are a few tasty morsels scattered throughout the piece. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
The show doesn't debut until next fall, but having the major markets in hand should make it easier to cut deals elsewhere. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
L.A. billionaire Stewart Resnick has pulled the plug on Fiji Water's only production plant after the tiny Pacific Ocean island nation raised the company's tax rate, $MTEntryExcerpt$>
Get ready for Cyber Monday, small biz lending picks up in L.A., Salon on the block, and container heist near the Port of L.A. $MTEntryExcerpt$>
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