Eeyore's News and views

Russia, China cooperate on new currency proposals:
Russia and China are coordinating proposals on a new global currency that could replace the US dollar as a reserve currency to prevent a repeat of the global economic crisis, the Kremlin said on Monday.
"We have received proposals from our colleagues in China, detailed proposals," President Dmitry Medvedev's top economic adviser Arkady Dvorkovich said. "Our positions are very similar.
"We have similar positions on the development of the international financial architecture," he told reporters.
Ahead of the Group of 20 summit in London later this week, the Kremlin has published a raft of proposals to overhaul the global economic order, including plans for a supra-national currency that could replace the US dollar.
China has come forward with similar ideas.
US President Barack Obama has said he does not see why the dollar should be replaced and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the summit would have more immediate issues to discuss.
"So far, not everybody is ready for that," acknowledged Dvorkovich. "We will insist on that at all levels."
Medvedev has said the international community should have a say when the world's richest countries make decisions with global implications, as in the US financial crisis, sparked by the collapse of the market for subprime or higher risk mortgages.
Moscow also understood however, that many countries were not ready to undertake additional "political obligations," said Dvorkovich, expressing hope that major economies would at least be open to consultations on the subject.
Dvorkovich said he hoped Russia and other major developing economies would also get an equal say and the attention they deserve during the G20 meeting.
"We are hoping that our voice will be heard but I would like to stress that we do not have a desire to pit our voice against that of our partners," he said, referring to developing economies Brazil, India and China who join Russia in what is known collectively as 'BRIC.'
"There will be no separate joint (BRIC) communique, nor should there be," Dvorkovich said. "This is the summit of the leaders of the G20 countries."
Critics have suggested China and the United States, whose economies are closely intertwined, would likely steal the show by promoting their own agenda and turning the G20 forum into a 'G2' summit.
Dvorkovich said the US and China would have ample time to discuss bilateral issues on the summit's sidelines
Separately, Dvorkovich said Medvedev would meet Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on April 1, just before the summit. Medvedev was also scheduled to meet US President Barack Obama, China's Hu Jintao and Britain's Brown that day.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.7e6cab4fec704a0fdd135ecdac00673b.9c1&show_article=1

A another related article
A world currency moves nearer after Tim Geithner's slip
US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner confessed on Wednesday that he had not read the plans by China's central bank governor for a "super-sovereign reserve currency" run by the International Monetary Fund, but nevertheless let slip that Washington was "open" to the idea. Whoops.
By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
This is how matters quickly escalate in geo-finance. China's suggestion – backed by Russia, Brazil, and India, and clearly aimed at breaking US dollar hegemony – is making its way onto the agenda of the G20 Summit next week. 'Dollar-dämmerung' no longer looks so far-fetched.
China's paper, by Governor Zhou Xiaochuan, is couched in understated language – more a 'thought experiment' than a declaration of monetary war. His ideas could be mistaken for the musings of an academic theorist. Nobody should be fooled by decorum. ....
The rest of the article can be found at
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/5051075/A-world-currency-moves-nearer-after-Tim-Geithners-slip.html

Tips on buying a freezer, and how to best use it at home
By Amy Hoak, MarketWatch
CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- If you're thinking of investing in a freezer to take advantage of grocery sales and warehouse club deals, you're not alone. In a generally poor year for big-ticket purchases, shipments of home freezers were up 5% in 2008, as consumers looked for ways to cut household expenses, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.
There are things to consider, however, before shopping for a freezer.
Video: The latest home gadgets and gizmos
At the International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago, MarketWatch's Jennifer Waters finds a slew of environmentally-friendly products, including a system for growing herbs indoors. Then, there's the coffee maker you can talk to.According to Consumer Reports, the first thing to do is estimate the amount of capacity needed. Freezers generally range from 5 cubic feet to 18 cubic feet and more.
Then, decide if you want an upright or chest model. Chests tend to be more energy efficient; uprights are more convenient because you can more easily see your inventory, said Mark Connelly, senior director of appliances and home improvement for Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports. With chest models, "things migrate to the bottom or people take things from the top," he said.
"The chest freezers, you could lose a whole city in there and not even know you have it," said Mary Webber, author of "The Frugal Family Kitchen Book." If brownouts or power outages are a problem where you live, it might be better to go with a chest model; they'll stay cold for longer without electricity.
Finally, decide if you need a self-defrost freezer or if a manual-defrost model is acceptable. The manual varieties are usually more efficient and quieter, but require some work to defrost -- a process that could last 24 hours, according to Consumer Reports. Read more about other ways people are saving at home these days.
Connelly recommends people keep their freezers at 0 degrees Fahrenheit, and to "make an investment in a freezer thermometer." Having an independent read of the freezer will make sure that the unit is kept at the proper temperature, he said.
Don't assume that investing in a freezer will automatically save you bundles, however. Once you bring it home, remember why you got it -- to ultimately save money -- and follow these tips from Webber for sticking to your plan:
Know what you're buying. If you're doing bulk shopping at warehouse clubs, keep focus and buy what you need, Webber said. "They are far more experienced to selling to you than you are to resisting. Everything is calculated to keep you in that store," she said. Don't forget about other local grocery stores, either; sometimes their sales can beat warehouse prices, she said.
Separate into usable sizes. If you're buying in bulk, repackage the individual items into portions you're likely to use before storing in the freezer. Hamburger meat, for example, should be wrapped and frozen according to what you'll use for a meal so there's no waste, Webber said.
Keep inventory. To make sure she doesn't lose track of food stored in the freezer, Webber keeps an inventory sheet. It helps her decide what green vegetable will be on the table that night, and make sure she uses what she has. "The biggest savings come from buying in season," she said. "If I want to make applesauce and freeze it, I buy the apples in the fall." But if you forget the applesauce is there, savings can disappear.
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Tips-buying-a-freezer-how/story.aspx?guid=%7B6D82CF6B-DC7E-4274-B1E8-23F67C5D333A%7D

Beyond AIG: A Bill to let Big Government Set Your Salary
It was nearly two weeks ago that the House of Representatives, acting in a near-frenzy after the disclosure of bonuses paid to executives of AIG, passed a bill that would impose a 90 percent retroactive tax on those bonuses. Despite the overwhelming 328-93 vote, support for the measure began to collapse almost immediately. Within days, the Obama White House backed away from it, as did the Senate Democratic leadership. The bill stalled, and the populist storm that spawned it seemed to pass.But now, in a little-noticed move, the House Financial Services Committee, led by chairman Barney Frank, has approved a measure that would, in some key ways, go beyond the most draconian features of the original AIG bill. The new legislation, the "Pay for Performance Act of 2009," would impose government controls on the pay of all employees -- not just top executives -- of companies that have received a capital investment from the U.S. government. It would, like the tax measure, be retroactive, changing the terms of compensation agreements already in place. And it would give Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner extraordinary power to determine the pay of thousands of employees of American companies.The purpose of the legislation is to "prohibit unreasonable and excessive compensation and compensation not based on performance standards," according to the bill's language. That includes regular pay, bonuses -- everything -- paid to employees of companies in whom the government has a capital stake, including those that have received funds through the Troubled Assets Relief Program, or TARP, as well as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.The measure is not limited just to those firms that received the largest sums of money, or just to the top 25 or 50 executives of those companies. It applies to all employees of all companies involved, for as long as the government is invested. And it would not only apply going forward, but also retroactively to existing contracts and pay arrangements of institutions that have already received funds.In addition, the bill gives Geithner the authority to decide what pay is "unreasonable" or "excessive." And it directs the Treasury Department to come up with a method to evaluate "the performance of the individual executive or employee to whom the payment relates."The bill passed the Financial Services Committee last week, 38 to 22, on a nearly party-line vote. (All Democrats voted for it, and all Republicans, with the exception of Reps. Ed Royce of California and Walter Jones of North Carolina, voted against it.)The legislation is expected to come before the full House for a vote this week, and, just like the AIG bill, its scope and retroactivity trouble a number of Republicans. "It's just a bad reaction to what has been going on with AIG," Rep. Scott Garrett of New Jersey, a committee member, told me. Garrett is particularly concerned with the new powers that would be given to the Treasury Secretary, who just last week proposed giving the government extensive new regulatory authority. "This is a growing concern, that the powers of the Treasury in this area, along with what Geithner was looking for last week, are mind boggling," Garrett said.Rep. Alan Grayson, the Florida Democrat who wrote the bill, told me its basic message is "you should not get rich off public money, and you should not get rich off of abject failure." Grayson expects the bill to pass the House, and as we talked, he framed the issue in a way to suggest that virtuous lawmakers will vote for it, while corrupt lawmakers will vote against it."This bill will show which Republicans are so much on the take from the financial services industry that they're willing to actually bless compensation that has no bearing on performance and is excessive and unreasonable," Grayson said. "We'll find out who are the people who understand that the public's money needs to be protected, and who are the people who simply want to suck up to their patrons on Wall Street."After the AIG bonus tax bill was passed, some members of the House privately expressed regret for having supported it and were quietly relieved when the White House and Senate leadership sent it to an unceremonious death. But populist rage did not die with it, and now the House is preparing to do it all again.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Beyond-AIG-A-Bill-to-let-Big-Government-Set-Your-Salary-42158597.html

Are you someone who enjoys playing April Fool’s pranks and practical jokes? We’ve gathered a list of harmless pranks and April Fool’s jokes guaranteed to entertain and delight! The plotting and planning are half the fun. You can't beat that “Aha!” moment when you think of a devious April Fool's prank to play on a family member, friend or co-worker. Watching the reaction is the icing on the cake. Then you better be ready--you know you’ll have it coming next time!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Classic Pranks

Rig the SprayerPut a rubber band around the push button of the spray nozzle (the kind with a hose) so the button stays down. Point it forward. When the victim uses the sink they will get a wet surprise!

DrippyUse a pin to make a few small holes in a plastic disposable cup. Offer a drink to the victim and watch while the liquid dribbles out onto their shirt.

Do the Splits
Find a scrap of cloth. Place a dollar on the floor and stay nearby. When the victim comes by and bends down to pick up the dollar, rip the cloth loudly. Most people will reach back to see if they ripped their pants.

One of the original classic April Fool's pranks of all time!
Clipped
Make some copies of a paperclip. Then put them into the paper tray of the copier. People will go nuts trying to find the paperclip stuck in the printer.
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Stale Joke
Buy a box of donuts several days before April 1st. Keep them in the refrigerator with the top open until they are very dried out. On April Fool’s Day put them by the office coffee maker so everyone will help themselves!
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Drawer Confusion
Remove the desk drawers in the victim’s desk and switch them around. (If you can’t remove the drawers, just take out the stuff and swap it around.)
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Weakling
Steal all the victim’s pens and replace them with pens that have the caps glued on.
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unique and fun April fool's pranks
Forgetful
Tape magnets to the bottom of an empty coffee cup, and attach it to the top of your car. Laugh at all the people who frantically try to get your attention as you drive by.

Big WinnerSome of the best April Fool's pranks take a bit of pre-planning.
Buy a lottery ticket and give it to the victim on March 31. The next day go out early and buy another ticket with the exact same numbers as the WINNING numbers from the day before. Put this ticket in the place of the ticket from the day before. Wait for them to check the numbers in the paper. They probably won’t notice the different date, and will think they just became a millionaire!

Early BirdSet the victim’s alarm clock for the middle of the night and hide it somewhere in the room where they will have to get up and scramble around to turn it off. (This works even better if you sneak in after they go to sleep and unscrew the light bulb in their lamp. Then they’ll have to search for the clock in the dark!)

Short SheetThis is a one of the oldest April Fool's Day pranks in the world! Take the top sheet off the victim’s bed, and tuck the bottom end under the top end of the mattress. Pull it down and then fold it back up so that the top end is where it would be if the bed was made normally. Replace the pillow, blanket, etc., and make up the bed like it was before. When the victim gets into bed, they’ll be surprised when they can’t slide their feet all the way down to the bottom of the bed!
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Leave ‘Em Hanging >> new <<
Quick and easy classic prank. Just wait until your victim is in the shower, then sneak in and grab their clothes and all the towels. (You might want to get the bath mat too!)
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Confetti Shower
If it’s raining on April’s Fools Day: put some confetti into their umbrella, close it and wait for the victim to open it.
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Salty Surprise
Simple: put salt on the victim’s toothbrush. Then stand by to watch the surprised look on their face.Submitted by Dani
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Avalanche
For this prank, the victim’s bedroom door must open to the inside, and they need to be a sound sleeper. While the victim is inside the room, quietly tape newspaper across the door jam, covering it almost to the top. Then fill the gap between the newspaper and the door with Styrofoam peanuts, popped popcorn, crumpled newspaper, or even water balloons. When the victim opens the door, they’ll be greeted by an avalanche.
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OFFICE PRANKS
Stop the Calls
If the victim has a phone with a hook that presses down when the handset is in the cradle, tape it down. When he or she answers a call it will keep ringing.Tidal WaveTake about 20 (or more) paper or plastic cups, place them on the victim’s desk and fill them with water. Then take a stapler and staple them all together. You can also put the cups on the floor blocking their door, or just about anywhere.While You Were OutLeave a phone message for the victim that says that a “Mr. Lyon” called (or Mr. Behr also works), and wants to be called back. Then list the phone number of the local zoo.
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computer pranks

Mouse Trap
Take a Post-It note and place it over the eye of the victim’s optical mouse. When the victim tries to use his or her computer, the cursor won’t move. Be sure to write “April Fools!” on the note! (Note if they have a standard mouse, you can perform the same trick by taping a piece of paper over the ball underneath the mouse.)Typo TroubleCarefully pop off a few of the keys from the victim’s keyboard. Switch them around and replace them. If the victim is a “hunt and peck” typist, this will cause great confusion!IncorrectIf the victim uses Microsoft Word, go into the victim’s computer and change the auto-correct feature so it misspells common words. Just open Word, choose “AutoCorrect Options” from the Tools menu, and have it replace common words like “the” and “and” with wacky words like “eggplant” or “Uranus.” Be creative.
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Dark Side
On most computer monitors, if you turn the brightness control all the way up and the contrast all the way down, the screen will appear to be blank. Do this to your victim and they will drive themselves crazy trying to “fix” their “broken” monitor.
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Lost Buttons
Go to Start->Settings->Control Panel and find the option for your Mouse. On the Buttons tab, change the buttons configuration to switch the primary and secondary buttons of the mouse. Now when the victim clicks with the mouse, nothing will work as expected.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cursed Cursors >> new <<
This idea is great for playing a prank on your co-worker in an adjoining cubicle. Plug an extra mouse into one of your victim's spare USB ports and snake the wire back into your cubicle. When the victim is working away, give the spare mouse an occasional small nudge. (This is especially funny if your victim is actually trying to use the mouse at the time.) Submitted by Dodger
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Away From Home
Change the victim’s homepage to something unexpected. Open their browser and choose Tools->Options and enter the URL for a new page.