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Shame on those who cheated SOC out of its title
High schools athletics has never been about winning championships — no matter how much civic pride they produce. That should never change. Don't misunderstand. Winning titles at the high school level, where there's still actually a little bit of innocence, can be wonderful and inspiring because there isn't the win-at-all-cost mentality that exists in college and pro sports.
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HOCKING the HIGHWAYS: No quick fix for state's fiscal woes
Balancing the state budget is supposed to be simple. A big pile of money is coming in. A big pile of money is going out. The state Constitution says both piles are supposed to be the same size.
But it hasn't worked that way for at least 15 years as the budget has grown to its $33.5 billion form and politicians have found ways to borrow instead of raising taxes or making cuts to balance the books.
If Gov. Jon S. Corzine is rebuffed in his still-unannounced roadway monetization plan that likely would call for toll increases, motorists still might see a hike in tolls as well as in the gasoline tax, experts say. Otherwise, government leaders will have to inflict serious budget cuts to reduce state debt, they say.
And the debt is a very big number: $32 billion.
If the money needed now to cover future pensions and retiree health care is counted, up to another $102 billion could be considered. More>>
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CNBC Squawkbox Europe
The index started the year continuing the vertical move down. After 8 days of not even moving above a daily high the index has capitulated into a low on the date I hade previously forecast would be important. The short term sentiment indicators have hit levels that are extreme and could be an important low if the trend were still up. Since I believe the trend is down this rally should only be temporary. As you've heard me say on many occasions this index trades in 90 calendar day blocks in time and extensions and divisions of that time window. The date I had forecasted as far back as two months ago (9th of January) and was 90 calendar days from high and 180 calendar days from high and the low price was very close to 180 points down in price. As with sentiment if the trend were still up this would be an important low but since the trend is down this will be a temporary low. More>>