Write-Offs: 02.09.11

$$$ Bernanke Says Unemployment Will `Remain Elevated' [Bloomberg]

$$$ RBS said Wednesday Chief Executive Officer Stephen Hester is to receive a £2.04 million bonus for 2010 performance. RBS said the payout will be entirely in shares that don't fully vest until 2014 and that Mr. Hester's £1.2 million salary will remain unchanged this year. He could have received as much as £2.4 million as a 2010 bonus under the terms of his contract. [WSJ]

$$$ Canadian Mayor Has Won More Facebook Scrabble Games Than Anyone Else
[Daily Intel]

$$$ The Real Cost of Firing a CEO: $1.3 billion [FINS]

$$$Obama Plans To Rescue States With Debt Burdens [NYT via Heidi Moore]

$$$U.S.-Bound Supertanker Hijacked by Pirates Off Oman [Bloomberg]

$$$From Harvard success story to accused insider trader [Fortune]