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via NYT: The Italian Miracle

Paul Krugman on why the yields on Italian sovereign debt are falling despite the political chaos and the grim economical outlook.

USA – Payday for Apple’s shareholders

Apple announced the other day that it will pay a dividend to its shareholders. It could have been a company communication like millions of others, but it wasn’t. There is only one Apple, a hugely successful company that hasn’t paid out a single nickel for 16 years. It is understood that the cash pile has risen to about 100 billion dollar (the GDP of Ireland stood at 180 billion in 2011). 45 billion dollar will be made available for payment over 3 years. I have 2 questions regarding this announcement, the first is economical, the second rather ethical.

Japan – Comment: Earthquake, Tsunami, Nuclear Disaster

English: The after the (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I keep watching the broadcasts from Japan (Fukushima). I see the pictures. I read the reports. But I am still struggling to comprehend the extent of the nuclear disaster. Many lives have been lost. For all advances in research and technology human beings remain vulnerable creatures when nature flexes its muscles. Earthquakes and tsunamis are natural phenomenons that we can predict with some certainty but not prevent from happening.

A nuclear disaster by contrast is a self-inflicted catastrophe in my opinion. The risks involved are known but were ether ignored or misjudged. Nature has got nothing to do with it. Men decided to built those power plants. Men must rethink and reverse this decision. I believe the technology is available to produce energy environmental friendly. We also need to save energy where ever possible to make nuclear power obsolete.

No time to waste. Lets start right now.