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Monday, October 09, 2006

There is really no privacy on the internet, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

I know what my ex's are doing, at least the ones who are posting their lives on the internet. I found an ex on myspace. How bizarre is that? And being the natural investigator that I am, I looked read through the comments on his profile and the comments he made on his friend's myspace profiles and found out what the guy's been doing for the past year.

Of course, my ex's could read about my life if they about my blog but I try to keep that part of my life private. And if they did stumble across my blog accidentally, at least it's impersonal enough I think for someone to not know it's me.
In other more happy news, the Oakland A's have beat their first round curse and have made it to the American League Championship Series. Go A's!

And the 49ers beat the Raiders in today's Battle of the Bay. Go Niners!
So North Korea had a nuclear test tonight, and a news commentator remarked "our world has changed overnight." Do you think it's true? Is this another 9/11?

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

My prediction about the automakers unloading their retirees to Medicare is sadly coming true.

From Kaiser's Daily Health Policy Report:
Ford Motor, as part of an effort to reduce costs, will offer 75,000 hourly workers buyout packages, some of which will include the loss of health and pension benefits, the Washington Post reports. According to United Auto Workers summary, Ford will offer eight early retirement and buyout packages to workers that range from $35,000 to $140,000, based on seniority and age. Workers have from Oct. 16 through Nov. 27 to consider the buyout packages, and those who accept the highest buyout packages will lose health and pension benefits. Ford also will offer as much as $15,000 annually in tuition assistance for workers who decide to attend two- or four-year college programs. Workers who accept the assistance will retain health and other benefits during their time in the college programs. Ford declined to comment on details of buyout packages. According to the Post, Ford and other U.S. automakers, "reeling from global competition and high gasoline prices, have initiated massive programs to slash costs." Last year, Ford entered an agreement with UAW that for the first time will require union retirees to pay monthly premiums and annual deductibles for health benefits (Freeman, Washington Post, 9/15).