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Sony's television business is expected to show a profit in 2014 after years of losses. Sony is concentrating on the high end 4K part of the television business. It has 8% global market share in televisions compared to Samsung at 27% and LG at 15%.

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Many prior pieces focussed on extravagant gasoline consumption in Iran because of subsidized prices. A recent piece showed how Iranians protested against the rationing of gasoline. Iran needs more refineries as its refinery capacity is limited- no mention on how Iran is tackling refinery constraints. The subsidy is huge as it 34 cents vs $2 on world markets, it also costs Iran $5 billion which it can use to build more refineries. This piece shows Venezuela's willingness to supply Iran in the event Iran cannot depend on supply from India, Netherlands, France, UAE and other suppliers.

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The Economist's index on the value of the USA currency shows the euro is overvalued by 22% relative to the $US, and most currency analysts think that the euro is overvalued by 20-30% relative to the dollar. As the economy in the EU and in Britain in particular is doing poorly and may contract in the second quarter and at some point the European central bank may lower interest rates especially if crude oil prices continue to drop and inflation is under control. The Fed increasing rates and the ECB decreasing rates would help the dollar rebound.

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Cost of driving depends on where you live in the US- California (taxes and climate change fee), and mountain states (no inland supplies in West), Illinois taxes are much higher compared to the South and South East (close to refineries no taxes). Specific formulations add extra on the Eastern seaboard states  from New Hampshire to Virginia, and in the West California have requirements to reduce smog and pollution. At one time in the 1980's in Pasadena the smog would be so bad you could not see the green color on the leaves clearly. For most of the US gas prices on April 22, 2026 are around $3.62 or lower compared to $3.92 on average in March for the whole US and $5.83 in California, $5.00 in Oregon, $5.38 in Washington. Texas, Alabama, North and South Carolina at around $3.62 and Florida at $4.00. In Virginia to Maine in the North East it is around $4.00. A look at the map shows that talk of $5.00 gasoline hurting the Republicans in the midterms for Congress is incorrect because the Democrats are likely to hold on to California, Washington Oregon, their base with gas at close to $6.00 the very opposite of what they are saying. Much of it because of state policies against oil refining and climate change taxes, formulations of gasoline that cost more to address smog. The head of the distribution channel for gasoline in the US, Scott Berhang, head of fuel wholesalers marketing group Sigma says- “At some point, [the war] could translate into supply shortages. That could happen. But we’re not really there yet. I talk to my members all over the U.S. They’re not seeing any supply issues. There’s no problem getting fuel. Everything is normal.” State taxes can be as low as 9 cents in Alaska and 71 cents in California, 66 cents in Illinois. The price of gas in swing states Arizona $4.59, Pennsylvania $4.11, Michigan $3.78, Wisconsin $3.69, North Carolina $3.75, Georgia $3.57. If we use $3.61 price of Texas and most of South and close to this in all but mountain states and western states then we are slightly above the same price gasoline was sold at the pump in 2011-2014 of $3.51 per gallon. This is a significant fact considering the media talks about gasoline prices in the US as a significant cost of living issue. Which means saying Iran War is "crippling" US consumers at the pump is farfetched and totally incorrect.  ...

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the clout the UAW would have as a pension fund with an estimated $65 billion in assets. A national health care plan would definitely be a plus for GM as it will help in the longer term funding of retirees health costs and in funding the UAW's VEBA.

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Hillary Clinton returns on September 15, 2016, to the campaign trail after 3 days of rest to recover from pneumonia. She chose to speak at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, with N. Carolina  now considered a state that is winnable, and with a new focus on young people on campuses where she wants to regain her once large lead in the summer. She said that the break had given her time to reflect on what it is she represents. "The campaign trail doesn't really encourage reflection and its important to sit with your thoughts every now and then. It helped me reconnect with what this campaign is all about." Adding that it was about quality health care, financial security, clean water and other critical needs of people.

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England goal keeper Mary Earps was third choice of coaches at the 2019 World Cup. After the Sweden game win 4-0 when Earps made some amazing saves including one from Sweden's Stina Blackstenius from an unstoppable angle she now looks back. Earps looks back at these years in the wilderness struggling to make it to the national team and working part time at business jobs. She was with Manchester United, and with Wolfsburg teams mostly in reserve roles.

She says she remembers many times thinking "this is the end of the international road game for me," when coaches passed her over for other players. She was top choice for Euro 22 only after another goal keeper had an injury. She says she is proud to be part of this England team. Her teammates have said some amazing things about her and she feels "I want to be the best I can be for them."

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US president DJT is allowing sales into the markets in the US that process heavy Venezuelan oil so that the money can be deposited into an account that will be used for the rebuilding of Venezuela's economy and for the people of Venezuela. "This Oil will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States."

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Victoria Azarenka won the Australian Open tennis championships twice in Melbourne then lost in the first round of the Australian Open in 2018. She struggled for two seasons with a foot injury, personal challenges off the court and a child Leo in 2016. Her slump took her to 208 in the world rankings. She had to fight her way back- "I have never really learned to struggle before, so it's a lesson." She says it required hard work, and changing her mindset, conquering her anxiety to return to the semifinals of the Australian Open. Another approach that helped her was to be open minded and to try new things and see what happens.

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This piece in DW.com is critical of Merkel and Macron, leaders of Germany and France, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. It says the West - European and American leaders bear partial responsibility for the developments in Ukraine.  Another view that also is critical of the western leaders says that NATO's role needed to be redefined, Russia's role in security cooperation in Europe needed to be defined not in the old terms of European history but in a new way so that NATO did not become a new form of shifting Eastern Europe into the opposite of what it had become under the Soviet Union. The western leaders of the last 20 years never addressed these issues and allowed them to be decided by default by different countries in Eastern Europe, just as they engaged in small lengthy wars in remote corners of the world - in Afghanistan to Iraq. From Reagan to Bush Sr and Bush Jr, from Clinton to Obama, from Kohl to Merkel and Schroeder these leaders never addressed the basic underlying issues creating the situation that is faced today. ...

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NYT looks at Judge Tanya Chutkan, the judge in the January 6 trial in the US, the first federal trial of Mr. Trump beginning March 4, 2024. She is a former public defender and civil litigator. Her strong presence in the courtroom reflects her extensive trial experience and her upbringing in a prominent Jamaican family, says NYT. Her great grand parents came to Jamaica from India to work on the sugar plantations during the British colonial rule and her father was selected to go to college on a scholarship. She no longer rides the 5 miles to the federal courthouse in Washington DC on her bicycle, she jogs different routes with US marshals and they drive her to work. On some days she can be seen toting a bottle in Lycra shorts and tennis shoes after a jog entering the courthouse with US marshals at her side.

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Chancellor Scholz made increasing the minimum wage a key plank in his election platform. The German parliament passed a bill increasing the minimum wage to 12 euros ($12.90) per hour as of October 1- an increase of 2.18 euros per hour. The increase will mean 400 euros extra per month for people with a monthly income of 1700 euros.  Chancellor Scholz wrote on Twitter "Many citizens in our country work a lot but earn little- that must change." "For me, one of the most important laws and a question of respect." The bill passed by a wide margin with 400 in favor, 41 against, and 200 abstentions from the CDU/CSU. CDU says Scholz bypassed a commission that sets the wage increase. Unions and other parties rejected that saying the bill will reduce poverty in Germany. The Merkel years will be remembered for the lack of attention to essential infrastructure, to digitalization, and to workers and families. Mr. Scholz and the Greens under Habeck and Baerbock are working to reverse years of wanton neglect of essential needs. In fact much of the increase will go to pay for additional cost of food and energy that is a result of Russia's invasion. Merkel and her predecessor Schroeder pursued policy that led to Germany's extreme dependence on Russia for energy resulting in the jump in energy prices today. France and Britain are also taking action to provide additional income to workers to offset the higher cost of energy and food. ...

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Dan Balz describes the resilience of Donald Trump's candidacy, and the contest between Cruz and Trump, both tapping into anger at the grassroots. He points to the little headway made by the other candidates, Rubio, Kasich, Bush and Carson. Trump's high moment was when he described the way New Yorkers handled the 9/11 collapse of the World Trade Center and other buildings. Cruz passionately handled questions on the birth issue- being born of an American mother in Canada- and the loan from Goldman Sachs, coming out stronger than before.