Free Republic

When all the General Motors common stock in its initial public offering changes hands, the U.S. government will wind up $26.4 billion short of getting back the $50 billion it gave GM to get it through bankruptcy last year. But it also will have about 500 million shares left to sell. That means there's a possibility of recouping most, if not all, of the money. Here's how the numbers work: Original bailout: $50 billion. GM repaid loan portion, $6.7 billion. GM to buy back government preferred shares: $2.1 billion. GM repayment of government interest and dividends: $700 million. Total repayment...

A glance at several official fatwas, or religious rulings, by the Council of Senior Religious Scholars, the body of government-appointed clerics that is the voice of Saudi Arabia's ultraconservative Wahhabi interpretation of Islam. The fatwas, viewable in Arabic and English at http://www.alifta.net/, are in most cases in response to questions sent in by Saudis seeking advice. TAKING FLOWERS TO THE SICK: - "This practice is impermissible as it entails wasting money on non-useful purposes and imitating Allah's adversaries in this custom." [Snip] RELATIONS WITH NON-MUSLIMS: "A Muslim should not begin greeting the non-Muslims.

You're in a large group of people when someone makes an edgy remark about African Americans. You glance over at the African-American man sitting across from you to see how he responds. Everyone else does, too. It's natural. "Think of the Oscar ceremony," says psychologist Benoit Monin. "Someone says something that has to do with race, and you pan to Samuel L. Jackson." A new report published in the journal Psychological Science finds that when reacting to an ambiguous but potentially racist situation, non-blacks were much more likely to focus on the reaction of an African American than that of...

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday signed the nation's first statewide cap on greenhouse gas emissions. It was one of several bills related to global warming that was approved by the Democrat-controlled Legislature this year. A universal cap will have the greatest effect on industries such as power plants, refineries and cement makers. Here's what the law, authored by Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, would do: - Mandate that California cut its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, about a 25 percent reduction. - Require the California Air Resources Board to devise a plan by 2009 outlining the...

A new government report measuring the well-being of children in 25 categories found: _The number of children living in poverty increased slightly. In 2003, 18 percent of all children lived in poverty. The percentage of white children living in poverty was 10 percent, compared with 34 percent for black children and 30 percent for Hispanic children. _The percentage of children who are overweight climbed to 16 percent. The rate for white children ages 12-18 was 12.9 percent; for black children, 21.8 percent; for Hispanic children, 24.6 percent. _The percentage of children who smoke cigarettes daily dropped slightly in 2003 to...

Some of the legislation voted on Friday by the California Legislature: COMPUTER CONTRACTS: - State agencies would be encouraged to use performance-based procurement practices when entering information technology contracts. The Assembly approved Senate amendments on AB2120, by the Assembly Budget Committee, on a 70-0 vote. It goes to the governor. AUTISM SERVICES: - The Department of Social Services would create a clearinghouse of information for autism services available through various government agencies. AB857, by Assemblyman Dario Frommer, D-Los Angeles, was approved by the Assembly on a 55-10 vote. It goes to the governor. FIRE EQUIPMENT: - The state Office of...

Some of the legislation voted on Tuesday by the California Legislature, and bills signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger: CAMPAIGN MONEY: - Political parties that donate to candidates in the last 16 days before an election would have to disclose the contribution within 24 hours. AB890, by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Sherman Oaks, was approved by the Senate 30-1 and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments. TIME SHARES: - Consumer protections would be strengthened for the sale and marketing of vacation time-shares. AB2252, by Assemblywoman Cindy Montanez, D-San Fernando, was approved by the Senate 30-1, sending it to the Assembly...