U.S. President Barack Obama urged action on a $900 billion (615 billion pound) stimulus bill before Congress to stave off "catastrophe", as a surge in the number of new jobless benefit claims painted a picture of an economy in deep recession.

Warning: Do not read if this topic seems Toxic. Can be irritating and aggravating. Chalk one up in the annals of economic and political history. The Republicans voted in lockstep disciplinary order yesterday against the so-called "economic stimulus package." There is, of course, much to grouse about concerning this stimulus bill. No one knows exactly how such a shotgun scatter approach and dribbling bits here and pieces there will all come together to produce jobs, help needy business an