So it's purpose is to deliver mail to rural places? If that's the reason why do we need a federal agency that delivers mail everywhere? Why not a mail delivery agency that solely serves people in areas to which private companies won't deliver?

The CBO estimates we'll (the US) run deficits totaling 10 trillion between now and 2021. (http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=12103) We shouldn't be creating makework for government employees. Just shut down the USPS - it's useless.

I am becoming convinced that there is no way the national debt can actually be repaid; monetization is the only possible outcome.

Will this prove to be a significant step in finally tracking them down and taking their gold? Let's hope so, they've fooled us too long.

The Toshiba 4S is a reactor with a 10 MW capacity. The peak summer load in New England is 28,130 MW (see link below). So you would need 2,813 of these reactors. Get 50% of New England's power from nukes and thats still 1406.5. Whats the cost to protect them by the way?

Sure, its the next best thing for Galena Alaska. For national energy policy, this is completely irrelevant.

http://www.ferc.gov/market-oversight/mkt-electric/new-england.asp#gen

The President had nothing to do with the carrier moving. If the Reagan's captain feels it is unsafe he/she dictates where the ship goes. The President may set the goal - 'go to Japan and assist' - for example. The execution is left to commanders.

If the President is standing on the bridge of the Regan, he cannot direct the operation of the ship whatsoever.

The 33% return you note is only capital gains (which is certainly a nice return). But I think the real sweetness is that prior to the spill BP paid an $0.84 quarterly dividend (BP was forced to stop paying it). If they reinstate the dividend at the same $0.84, BP's yield will be ($0.84*4)/$46.03 = 7.3%.

I think BP will reinstate its $0.84 dividend sometime in 2011. So if you buy now you can earn 7.3% per year (excluding capital gains) for the rest of your life. Not too bad in a world where the 30-year bond yields 4.5%.

Also keep in mind dividends are now taxed lower than interest. So on an after-tax basis (say at the 28% bracket) the difference is:

BP dividend: 7.3%*(1-0.15) = 6.21%
Treasury yield: 4.5%*(1-.28) = 3.24%

a little less than double the return.

Of course, if BP repeats itself......

...is that microsoft actually has 9%. Am I the only one who thought that Kin commercial (where the dude takes pictures of his ex-girlfriend) was super creepy?