Left of the Dial

In Memoriam

The Defense Department last week identified the following American military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan:

David R. Baker, 22, of Painesville, Ohio; lance corporal, Marine Corps. Baker was killed Tuesday when a roadside bomb exploded near him while he was on foot patrol in southwest Afghanistan's Helmand province, on the Pakistani border. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton.

Kyle A. Coumas, 22, of Lockeford, Calif., southeast of Sacramento; specialist, Army. Coumas was killed Wednesday when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle in southwest Afghanistan's Kandahar province, on the Pakistani border. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division at Ft. Lewis, Wash.

Michael A. Dahl Jr., 23, of Moreno Valley; specialist, Army. Dahl was killed Oct. 17 when a car bomb was detonated near his vehicle in Arghandab in southwest Afghanistan's Kandahar province, on the Pakistani border. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division at Ft. Lewis, Wash.

Bradley Espinoza, 26, of Mission, Texas; staff sergeant, Army. Espinoza was killed Monday while attempting to disarm a makeshift bomb when it exploded in Q-West, Iraq, north of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Ft. Hood, Texas.

Jesus O. Flores Jr., 28, of La Mirada, Calif.; specialist, Army. Flores was among four soldiers killed Oct. 15 when their vehicle was attacked with a makeshift bomb in southwest Afghanistan's Kandahar province, on the Pakistani border. He was assigned to the 569th Mobility Augmentation Company, 4th Engineer Battalion at Ft. Carson, Colo.

Anthony G. Green, 28, of Matthews, N.C.; specialist, Army National Guard. Green was one of two guardsmen killed Oct. 16 when their vehicle was attacked with a makeshift bomb in central Afghanistan's Wardak province, west of Kabul. He was assigned to the 143rd Infantry Detachment in Austin, Texas.

Daniel C. Lawson, 33, of Deerfield Beach, Fla.; specialist, Army. Lawson was among four soldiers killed Oct. 15 when their vehicle was attacked with a makeshift bomb in southwest Afghanistan's Kandahar province, on the Pakistani border. He was assigned to the 569th Mobility Augmentation Company, 4th Engineer Battalion at Ft. Carson, Colo.

Daniel J. Rivera, 22, of Rochester, N.Y.; private first class, Army. Rivera was killed Oct. 18 in a motor vehicle accident in Mosul, Iraq, north of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Ft. Hood, Texas.

Chris N. Staats, 32, of Fredericksburg, Texas; staff sergeant, Army. Staats was one of two guardsmen killed Oct. 16 when their vehicle was attacked with a makeshift bomb in central Afghanistan's Wardak province, west of Kabul. He was assigned to the 143rd Infantry Detachment in Austin, Texas.

Glen H. Stivison Jr., 34, of Blairsville, Pa.; staff sergeant, Army. Stivison was among four soldiers killed Oct. 15 when their vehicle was attacked with a makeshift bomb in southwest Afghanistan's Kandahar province, on the Pakistani border. He was assigned to the 569th Mobility Augmentation Company, 4th Engineer Battalion at Ft. Carson, Colo.

Brandon M. Styer, 19, of Lancaster, Pa.; private first class, Army. Styer was among four soldiers killed Oct. 15 when their vehicle was attacked with a makeshift bomb in southwest Afghanistan's Kandahar province, on the Pakistani border. He was assigned to the 569th Mobility Augmentation Company, 4th Engineer Battalion at Ft. Carson, Colo.

Yes, Sir, May I Have Another?

It's not even a con. They come right out and tell us what they're doing to us and smile and wonder what we're going to do about it. Oh, that's right: nothing. 

Major U.S. banks and securities firms are on pace to pay their employees about $140 billion this year—a record high that shows compensation is rebounding despite regulatory scrutiny of Wall Street’s pay culture.

Workers at 23 top investment banks, hedge funds, asset managers and stock and commodities exchanges can expect to earn even more than they did the peak year of 2007, according to an analysis of securities filings for the first half of 2009 and revenue estimates through year-end by The Wall Street Journal.

Total compensation and benefits at the publicly traded firms analyzed by the Journal are on track to increase 20% from last year’s $117 billion—and to top 2007’s $130 billion payout. This year, employees at the companies will earn an estimated $143,400 on average, up almost $2,000 from 2007 levels.