Belgium is about to let Prince Albert out of the can...

Belgium's King Albert II announces he will abdicate throne

Belgium's King Albert II announced Wednesday that he will abdicate the throne and will be succeeded by his son, Crown Prince Philippe, on July 21.

Albert, 79, gave a televised address to the nation on Wednesday after a frenzy of speculation that he would be stepping down in favor of his son, Philippe, 53. His abdication coincides with the nation's independence day celebration on July 21 for the kingdom of 10.5 million people. He is the first of the six monarchs in Belgium history to abdicate the throne.


http://www.today.com/news/belgiums-king-albert-ii-announces-he-will-abdicate-throne-6C10526374#belgiums-king-albert-ii-announces-he-will-abdicate-throne-6C10526374

The original Red Green...

This qualifies as the best weather warning ever!

The Divided States of America, in 25 Charts

I was struck by an uninsured motorist this week

I had to stop for oncoming traffic that couldn't wait for a safe, clear place to pass and was in my lane. As I was stopped, a car struck me from behind. Were they o a cell phone? I have nothing to indicate that they were.

My car was totaled as was the other car and the driver was injured. I fortunately walked away with nothing more than a stiff shoulder from where the seatbelt did its job, everything I had in the vehicle was thrown forward.

I exited my vehicle and took one look back and knew it was bad and called 911.

I just received word from the police that the driver did not show proof of insurance.

I had to have wheels, fortunately, I have good insurance who are taking care of me with the process, renting a car for me. That alone is a story I will tell about Enterprise some time. They are also working on the process of recovering the value of my car.

How do people take that kind of risk, not having insurance? This person will now be held accountable by the insurance company as well as the law and the car they were driving looked like it was a newer Toyota.

I was feeling sorry for the young person until I found out that they are the reason my insurance is so damn expensive.

Always carry uninsured motorist and always wear your seat-belts.

June 19, 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was approved after surviving an 83-day filibuster

On June 19, 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was approved after surviving an 83-day filibuster in the United States Senate.


http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/on-this-day/June-19/?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130619

Another week, another awkward remark about pregnancy from a Republican lawmaker.

First, what is Burgess referring to directly? As The Atlantic Wire's Alex Abad-Santos thinks Burgess was talking about a 1996 letter to the The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. It's not available online, but Abad-Santos posted this excerpt:

Another Jesus spotting - the Airport Floor

Get your tiny violin: Rich running out of mansions to buy

While housing inventory is falling throughout the country, it's falling especially fast in some of the country's richest ZIP codes. A study from Altos Research, the Mountain View, Calif., real estate research firm, found that inventory in the nation's 90 wealthiest ZIP codes fell 15 percent over the past year, slightly faster than the broader market.


In those areas, inventory is down more than 50 percent. In a swanky part of Carmel, Calif., inventory fell 76 percent in the last year. There were only four homes left on the market priced at $1 million or more as of the end of May, according to Altos.

In Palm Beach, Fla., the number of $1 million-plus homes has plunged by 70 percent, falling from 89 to 26. And in the Old Greenwich, Conn. ZIP code, there are only 10 homes left priced at $1 million or more, down 58 percent, according to Altos.
http://www.today.com/money/rich-are-running-out-mansions-buy-6C10312259

We need CEOs to get to work

The Fed and Washington have poured money into the economy. Americans are eager for jobs and ready to spend. But too many CEOs are coasting rather than taking risks, starting new ventures and hiring people.


CEOs have been AWOL in this recovery. And it's about time we called them on it.

The Fed has poured money in. So has Washington. Money is as cheap as it's ever been. Consumer confidence is soaring. Housing has stabilized. The budget battles in Washington have quieted.

But through all the economic ups and downs and sometimes-debatable efforts, one big thing has been missing. That is CEOs willing to take chances, start new ventures and hire people. And that's why the recovery, on real-world measures such as jobs and wages, has been so disappointing.

Spoiled by record profitability, stagnant wages and investor interest in dividends and share buybacks, corporate executives have been coasting. They're underinvesting, resulting in the slowest rate of capital formation – new machines, factories and equipment – in at least the past 60 years.

If we don't want the recovery to die out, it's time for CEOs to man up. I use the slightly sexist term intentionally. You see, three of the CEOs who have stepped up are among the most prominent women in business today.

http://money.msn.com/investing/we-need-ceos-to-get-to-work?page=0

The money's there. Workers are ready