Friday, December 31, 2010

Don Treadwell Named Head Football Coach at Miami - MICHIGAN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Don Treadwell Named Head Football Coach at Miami - MICHIGAN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Union bailout coming!

Lee Bellinger's Executive Bulletin
"Enter Congressman John Mica (R-FL) to the rescue of overpaid, under-worked government employees!
The incoming chairman of the House Transportation Committee, Mica is a powerful backer of continuing the Obama Administration's backdoor bailout of bankrupt state governments.

This state debt nationalization scam is officially known as Build America Bonds (BABs).
Its insidious effect is to enable financially reckless states to borrow even more from bond markets rather than be forced to address their bloated budgets."

Top Ten Charts of 2010

Top Ten Charts of 2010 The Foundry: Conservative Policy News.
"The Top Ten Heritage Charts are below"

New York City streets unplowed, but at least sanitation workers retire well

New York City streets unplowed, but at least sanitation workers retire well Washington Examiner
"nearly 180 retired employees make over $66,000 year -- in other words, over and above the maximum salary of currently working employees.
In fact, 20 retirees make upwards of $90,000 in retirement, up to $132,360.
Couple this with how notoriously difficult it is to fire a public employee, and you'll see why a public employee crashing a snow plow into a car doesn't rattle city officials."

Illegal aliens are illegal and alien

EDITORIAL: Illegal aliens are illegal and alien - Washington Times
"Are 'illegal aliens' simply misunderstood 'undocumented immigrants?'
The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Diversity Committee believes so, and it's engaged in a campaign to 'inform and sensitize journalists as to the best language to use when writing and reporting' on the issue.
That may sound nice, but there is nothing insensitive about calling a crime a crime."

Dyson uninvents the vacuum cleaner

Dyson uninvents the vacuum cleaner - Telegraph
"Dyson’s latest vacuum cleaner does away with the bag, the cable and most of the appliance as well"

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Oops! Mich. repeals penalties for some drug crimes

Oops! Mich. repeals penalties for some drug crimes - FoxNews.com
"in December, lawmakers engrossed in a busy and lengthy lame-duck session failed to include those penalties in a drug sentencing bill.
When Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed that bill last week, the penalties for synthetic marijuana and BZP were repealed."

Coming Soon: Higher Business Payroll Taxes [Michigan Capitol Confidential]

Coming Soon: Higher Business Payroll Taxes [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
"The state of Michigan owes the federal government $3.8 billion in unemployment insurance loans and will have to start making $150 million a year on interest payments if Congress doesn’t extend a waiver by Friday"

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

The Midwest Wind Surtax - WSJ.com

Review & Outlook: The Midwest Wind Surtax - WSJ.com
"You'd think poor Michigan has enough economic troubles without the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission placing a $300 million to $500 million annual surtax on the state's electric utility bills.
But on December 16 FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff announced new rules that would essentially socialize the cost of transmission lines across 13 states in the Midwest.

That region-wide pricing scheme, according to a study commissioned by utility companies, will force Michigan to pay about 20% of as much as $20 billion in new high-voltage transmission lines—though Michigan businesses and homeowners will get little benefit.
Thanks to FERC's new tariff, nearly everything ..."

--Editorial - NYPOST.com

--Editorial - NYPOST.com
"As long as Mayor Mike is in the dock, let us also note that when it comes to building a mosque near Ground Zero, he has from the start stood behind the First Amendment -- sort of.

That is, he likes the part that gives Muslims the right to build a house of worship just about anywhere they want.
But the part guaranteeing a separation between religion and government?
Not so much.
That much became obvious last week with the release of e-mails demonstrating that City Hall did much more than offer the mosque's organizers routine help.
In fact, it turns out that Team Bloomberg was heavily involved in operating the political machinery needed to ensure that various regulatory agencies approved the controversial project -- which has rightly drawn the ire of many 9/11 survivors and victims' families.

Even to the point of pressing Community Board 1 to cast an approving vote -- so that the chairman of the Landmarks Preservation Commission could be given the 'political cover' he so urgently sought before his agency denied landmark status to the existing building."

Japan and the Limits of Keynesianism

Japan and the Limits of Keynesianism - Megan McArdle - Business - The Atlantic
"Japan and the Limits of Keynesianism

Japan's budget is in a truly terrifying state.
Reading about the government's behavior reminds me of the worst accounts of compulsive spenders on the verge of personal bankruptcy--a sort of 'What the hell, we're screwed anyway, so let's not think about it and maybe go to Cabo for the weekend.'
The budget's structural position is what is known technically to economists as 'completely hosed'; borrowing now exceeds tax revenue, and debt service costs now eat up almost half of the tax revenue the government collects.

'Unsustainable' is too weak to describe the situation; I don't know how they're doing it now."

Japan is simply America, Michigan, Muskegon, Norton Shores ...a few years down the road.

Will we ever wise up?

Texas pastor found with valuables says she's not a thief, she was protecting parishoners' belongings

Texas pastor found with valuables says she's not a thief, she was protecting parishoners' belongings Mail Online
"A Texas pastor caught with more than $10,000 worth of fur coats, designer purses and electronics insists she was protecting a parishioner's valuables from thieves, not stealing them.
Sandy McGriff, co-founder of the Church of the Living God, was caught by police loading Serita Agnew's goods into her car.
The 52-year-old claims she was picking up a peach cobbler from a friend when she detoured past church member Agnew's home."

The Four Questions Every Liberal Must Be Asked

American Thinker: The Four Questions Every Liberal Must Be Asked
"Ever notice how liberals like to spend money...particularly other people's money?"

The Unions Liable

The Unions Liable - Investors.com
"New York City's lethal non-response to this week's blizzard will deflate Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plans for a vanity presidential candidacy, as it should.
But in casting blame, look for the union label."

U.S. House members will keep a few perks, including cars

U.S. House members will keep a few perks, including cars lansingstatejournal.com Lansing State Journal
"Republicans taking control of the U.S. House in January say they'll trim members' office budgets by 5%, but Congress members will keep a few perks, including taxpayer-paid leases for vehicles -- ranging from compacts to SUVs to offices on wheels -- for their personal use."

Well DUH!
They are our betters!
Get over it... or get them OUT!

Ordained minister Sarah Samuelson arraigned on charges of hosting underage drinking party in North Muskegon

Ordained minister Sarah Samuelson arraigned on charges of hosting underage drinking party in North Muskegon MLive.com
"When police were called to the home about 11 p.m., the guests ran, many jumping out of windows, most of them without shoes or coats, Korabik said.
The approximately 15 people caught by police allegedly admitted drinking and received minor in possession of alcohol citations."

Heh...
All of them were likely to go to heaven anyway......right?
Or heck....

Sanitation Union Fires Back At Accusations Of Slow-Down

Sanitation Union Fires Back At Accusations Of Slow-Down
"The chairman of the Municipal Labor Committee, Local 831, which represents men and women of the New York City Sanitation Department says there is no truth behind a rumor that his members worked slower during the blizzard of 2010"

OK.
So, if this is their BEST......meebee we ought to explore an alternative to the monopoly?

Ford brings stop/start system to U.S.

Ford brings stop/start system to U.S. - AutoWeek Magazine
"Ford will equip many of its U.S. cars and SUVs with stop/start technology, beginning in 2012, which automatically shuts down the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop, cutting down on fuel use and emissions."

Vroom Vroom: Silent electric cars need noises

Vroom Vroom: Silent electric cars need noises - Yahoo! News
"Figures compiled by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show pedestrians and cyclists are twice as likely to be hit by a hybrid electric vehicle running silently at low speed than by a car with a normal engine."

The bike lobby rules!

We will NEVER see ads like these again


Some really old ads. Remember any?"

These are hilarious!

Good News: 9-year-old Spring Lake Township girl empties her piggy bank for worthy cause

Good News: 9-year-old Spring Lake Township girl empties her piggy bank for worthy cause MLive.com
"Instead, she donated the money to an agency that helps prisoners."

Another feel goody tale that celebrates "giving" by the private sector to those who suck the marrow out of our society.
$43 is worth an entire column?
Maybe we'll see another feel goody that announces local public unions are reducing their pay and benefits to that of us local workers.
Yeah, right.

Lil Mama Booed During New York Performance

Lil Mama Booed During New York Performance - The Boombox
"Lil Mama acted as the special guest during Chris Brown's 'All Black Christmas Extravaganza,' at Webster Hall on Thursday (Dec. 23)."

Imagine if an "artist" promoted "an all white Christmas".
Yes, there are two Americas.
And it's getting worse.

Is the Republican Party Finished?

American Thinker: Is the Republican Party Finished?
"The lame-duck session of the 111th Congress proved one thing beyond a doubt: the Republican Party does not represent the interests of conservatives."

That's why we Tea Partiers are polishing our pitch forks!

Notre Dame's Fr. Jenkins Pins Delays in Lizzy Seeberg Case on 'Discrepancies'

Notre Dame's Fr. Jenkins Pins Delays in Lizzy Seeberg Case on 'Discrepancies'
"He did not explain how, if he still does not know the details of the case, he could be so sure that the investigation had been handled well. Or if he does now know the facts of the case despite his best efforts to steer clear, why has he still not picked up the phone and called the Seebergs"

Do NOT trust university bosses to protect your children!
They care only about protecting their never ending money machine for their own benefit.

The Real "Party of No"

CARPE DIEM: Economists: The Real "Party of No"

'Economists are the real 'Party of No.'
They keep saying that there is no such thing as a free lunch — and politicians keep on getting elected by promising free lunches.
Nothing is easier for politicians than to play Santa Claus by promising benefits without mentioning the costs — or lying about the costs and leaving it to future governments to figure out what to do when the money runs out.'

~Thomas Sowell"

111th Congress Added More Debt Than First 100 Congresses Combined: $10,429 Per Person in U.S.

111th Congress Added More Debt Than First 100 Congresses Combined: $10,429 Per Person in U.S. CNSnews.com
"The federal government has accumulated more new debt--$3.22 trillion ($3,220,103,625,307.29)—during the tenure of the 111th Congress than it did during the first 100 Congresses combined, according to official debt figures published by the U.S. Treasury."

Belgian activist priest admits sexual abuse

Belgian activist priest admits sexual abuse Top AP Stories Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
"A Belgian priest has confessed to a child sex-abuse accusation that came to light during a campaign to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work fighting globalization's impact on developing countries."

A little diddle shouldn't bother the GorebalWarmists.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

SSI's Shred of the Month: Santa's Holiday Review

The NEXT 10 City Pensions That Will Run Out Of Money

The NEXT 10 City Pensions That Will Run Out Of Money
"The first total municipal pension default happened last week: Prichard, Ala. ran out of money stopped mailing pension checks.
Hundreds of cities could be right behind."

Privatization at Ford Airport is painful but should create savings for fliers

Editorial: Privatization at Ford Airport is painful but should create savings for fliers MLive.com
"Ford airport is among the last in the state to privatize this service. Union-scale parking attendant jobs pay considerably more than the current market rate,"

Carpenters union hires pickets to protest downtown Grand Rapids construction sites

Carpenters union hires pickets to protest downtown Grand Rapids construction sites MLive.com
“We're just being paid to hold up the sign,” said one of the pickets"

Bridgewater Place in downtown Grand Rapids faces foreclosure sale

Bridgewater Place in downtown Grand Rapids faces foreclosure sale MLive.com
"Bridgewater Place, downtown's largest office building, is scheduled for a foreclosure sale in January after its owners apparently defaulted on $36 million in debt."

New first-class stamps are 'forever'

My Way News - APNewsBreak: New first-class stamps are 'forever'
"The Postal Service lost $8.5 billion in the year ending Sept. 30, even after trimming more than 100,000 jobs in recent years, and estimates it will lose $6 billion to $7 billion in the next year."

Do other lines always move faster?

TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- Do other lines always move faster?
"Do other lines always move faster?
There's an old saying, 'The other line always moves faster.'
When you're tired and stuck in a busy store, it feels true.
Your line seems to take forever to move.
But is that actually what's happening?
This engineer discusses how checkout lines work."

Monday, December 27, 2010

In Michigan, Hamtramck Pleads for a Bankruptcy Option

In Michigan, Hamtramck Pleads for a Bankruptcy Option - NYTimes.com
“We can make it until March 1 — maybe,”"

St. Maarten Jet Blast

Illegal Steroid Use Among Police Officers 'a Big Problem'

Illegal Steroid Use Among Police Officers 'a Big Problem'
"'I think overall, it's kind of like alcohol,' Conte said.
'If you're a jerk when you're sober, you're going to be more of a jerk when you're using.'"

KWHS grad died in snowboarding accident

KWHS grad died in snowboarding accident
"Craig Shirley, 23, died after a colliding with a mother and her 5-year-old daughter who were stopped in the middle of the difficult, black diamond-rated Dreadnaught run, which was covered in glare ice, David Shirley said."

Friday, December 24, 2010

Saved by Christmas

American Thinker: Saved by Christmas
"When the boy awoke, he was in a military hospital, being treated for a gunshot wound and malnutrition.
For the first time he could remember, he slept in a bed and was fed three meals a day.
After recuperating, he was placed on a train and taken on a long journey to an orphanage near Bremen, Germany."

READ THIS!

US hopes cheer markets

FT.com / Equities - US hopes cheer markets
"I’ve been doing this job long enough to recognise when the markets are entering a new phase of madness that leaves me scratching my head with bemusement,” said Albert Edwards, global strategist at Société Générale, in a recent note.
The notion that we are in a sustainable economic recovery is as ludicrous as it was in 2005-07"

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Navy Uses Railgun To Launch Fighter Jet

Navy Uses Railgun To Launch Fighter Jet - Slashdot
"'The Navy developed its Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System as a replacement for the steam catapults currently used on aircraft carriers."

Airline pilot: “The [TSA] message was, ‘You’ve angered us by telling the truth.’”

VIDEO- Airline pilot: “The [TSA] message was, ‘You’ve angered us by telling the truth.’” The Political Carnival

Which Republicans Sold Out?

GOPUSA » Commentary » Morris: Which Republicans Sold Out?
"So who sold out?

Thad Cochran, Mississippi
Bob Corker, Tennessee
Mike Crapo, Idaho
Tom Coburn, Oklahoma
Lamar Alexander, Tennessee
Johnny Isakson, Georgia

Let's remember."

In St. Paul schools, the not-so-sweet life

In St. Paul schools, the not-so-sweet life StarTribune.com
"Reminders have been sent to teachers, students and parents that 'sweet, sticky, fat-laden [and] salty treats' aren't allowed during the school day"

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

In St. Paul schools, the not-so-sweet life

In St. Paul schools, the not-so-sweet life StarTribune.com
"Jill Gebeke made it a habit to reward herself with a small piece of chocolate after lunch every day.
It's hard work being a school principal, after all.
But the chocolate rewards ended last month when some first- and second-graders caught her.
'I thought you said this was a sweet-free zone,' they reminded her."

Climate Scam - The game is up

John Galt Tells Oregon Politicians to Screw Off

John Galt Tells Oregon Politicians to Screw Off « International Liberty
"The most noteworthy result is that about one-fourth of rich taxpayers have disappeared"

Gulf oil spill voted the top news story of 2010

Gulf oil spill voted the top news story of 2010 - The Hill's E2-Wire
"The Gulf oil spill was the top news story of 2010, according to a poll of news editors conducted by The Associated Press"

um, according to a poll of liberal news editors.
Right?

Labor department fails to release union corruption tracking report

Labor department fails to release union corruption tracking report The Daily Caller
"The Office of Labor Management Statistics (OLMS) was supposed to release an annual report tracking labor unions and evidence of corruption in union leadership in January 2010 but still hasn’t released the document.
OLMS, which falls under the Department of Labor, has released no such tracking report since George W. Bush’s administration"

Suspect package holds up airport

Suspect package holds up airport theadvertiser.com The Advertiser
"The airport was briefly shut down as authorities investigated a suspicious package that turned out to contain a frozen chicken and a head lamp"

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Detroit Is Halting Garbage Pickup, Police Patrols In 20% Of City: Expect Bankruptcy In 2011

Detroit Is Halting Garbage Pickup, Police Patrols In 20% Of City: Expect Bankruptcy In 2011
"Of course the Mayor's office did not say they would abandon sections of the city to gangs.
But how the hell can repurposing as described above possibly mean anything else?"

There's a mini ice age coming

There's a mini ice age coming, says man who beats weather experts
"Piers Corbyn not only predicted the current weather, but he believes things are going to get much worse"

U.S. to have Highest Corporate Tax Rate in the World

U.S. to have Highest Corporate Tax Rate in the World The Foundry: Conservative Policy News.
Japan’s reduction will leave the U.S. in the uncomfortable position of having the highest corporate income tax rate in the industrialized world

U.S. Teen Birth Rate Hit Record Low in 2009: CDC

U.S. Teen Birth Rate Hit Record Low in 2009: CDC
"The decline in teen pregnancy is largely because of a drop in vaginal intercourse, said Dr. Lawrence B. Friedman, a professor of pediatrics and director of the division of adolescent medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

'That doesn't mean decreases in sexual activity, but just alternate intimacies that teenagers are discovering or rediscovering,'"

I'm thinking we can credit President "squirter" Clinton for this?

Feds save millions after undocumented immigrants lose benefits

Feds save millions after undocumented immigrants lose benefits The Salt Lake Tribune
“It’s saving our children from additional debt,”"

YES!!!

Back up your blogger.com blog

confessions of a freeware junkie: Back up your blogger.com blog: Blogger Backup Utility 1.0.9.23
"If you run a Blogger.com blog (like CFJ – come on, it’s a freeware site!), then you might be interested in this app."

Do you think teens know the difference between Madison and Marx?

Do you think teens know the difference between Madison and Marx? A More Perfect Blog
"a new national poll reveals that 42 percent of Americans wrongly attribute Marx’s famous communist slogan, “from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs,” to one of the country’s Founding documents."

Monday, December 20, 2010

CBS ‘60 Minutes’ shines spotlight on the states’ budget and pension crises

CFFR » CBS ‘60 Minutes’ shines spotlight on the states’ budget and pension crises
"Steve Kroft reports on the precarious financial conditions many states are facing — including California — and what they’re doing about it"

Paid to Leave: Generous Teacher Buyouts at East Lansing Public Schools

Paid to Leave: Generous Teacher Buyouts at East Lansing Public Schools [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
“If the goal is to save money by incentivizing teachers to retire, the incentive for teachers is to hang around until you are the top three,” Van Beek said.
“Can you hang around for $35,000, $40,000?
Buy a boat when you retire?
Yeah.”"

YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT AT WORK.

Instapundit » Blog Archive » YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT AT WORK. “Intent on killing his ex-girlfriend, Sharp picked up a knife,
"When seconds count, the police are only minutes away. That’s not their fault — it’s just physics."

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Marching Band Creates Giant Football Kicker

Merry Christmas from TIGER Valley on Vimeo

Merry Christmas from TIGER Valley on Vimeo
"TIGER Valley is a premier firearms and operational skills training facility located in central Texas.
The facility includes a 1000 yard KD range,"

A beautiful holiday message of faith, hope and self reliance!
WATCH IT!

Navy X-47B Unmanned Fighter Set for First Flight

DailyTech - Navy X-47B Unmanned Fighter Set for First Flight
"Now, the U.S. Navy’s X-47B unmanned strike fighter that is set to take its first flight soon.
The aircraft was built by Northrop Grumman and will be a carrier-based unmanned attack aircraft."

The climate bugaboo is the strangest intellectual aberration of our age

The climate bugaboo is the strangest intellectual aberration of our age - Telegraph
"'But don’t you realise,' said the bearded, staring enviro-zomb with the regrettable T-shirt, “that global cooling is what we must expect because of global warming?”
'Don’t you realise,' I replied, 'how silly that sounds?
The lowest temperatures ever recorded here in Cancun six days in a row; four extreme winters on the trot in the Northern hemisphere; more people dying in one three-day cold snap in little England in 2002 than Oxfam pretends died of ‘global warming’ worldwide throughout 2010; where’s your perspective, man?'"

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Scent of Danger: Is New-Car Smell Responsible for Car Accident?

Scent of Danger: Is New-Car Smell Responsible for Car Accident?
"An accident expert investigating a hit-and-run in Edwards, Colo., says a collision between a driver and a bicyclist may have been caused, in part, by the fresh scent inside a month-old 2010 Mercedes-Benz sedan"

The Forgotten Man - Jon McNaughton

Marching Band Forms Giant Kicker, Presumably Makes 50-Yard Field Goal

Marching Band Forms Giant Kicker, Presumably Makes 50-Yard Field Goal (Video) -- Back Porch FanHouse
"It's not too often that you see a marching band get together and pay tribute to the most thankless job in sports.
But, that's exactly what happened this weekend when a video appeared online of a marching band joining forces to form a giant kicker.
Run!!"

Watch this video!

Friday, December 17, 2010

Residents to counter protest at funeral

Residents to counter protest at funeral jacksonsun.com The Jackson Sun
"Hours after members of the Westboro Baptist Church posted a news release to announce they plan to picket Dustin Finch's funeral in Humboldt on Saturday"

Where do these fools get their money for all these trips?

Washington subway police to begin random bag checks

Washington subway police to begin random bag checks Reuters
"Officers will start random bag inspections on the sprawling Washington subway system"

This is public transportation, folks....

Qantas: Engine Problems Mean Its A380s Can’t Fly to the U.S. Big Problem

Qantas: Engine Problems Mean Its A380s Can’t Fly to the U.S. Big Problem BNET
"At nearly 7,500 miles, Qantas needs every bit of thrust to get off the ground at LAX with a full passenger load and a lot of fuel.
And that full thrust requirement is apparently why Qantas is having bigger engine problems with this airplane than anyone else.
Any time you use full thrust, you put more stress on the engine.
Engines are supposed to handle that just fine, but not in this case."

Muskegon County to ponder implementing 'Violence Free' zones in response to shootings

Muskegon County to ponder implementing 'Violence Free' zones in response to shootings MLive.com
"a staff recommendation to spend up to $20,000 in grant money to bring in Woodson"

Center sues Kent County school districts for union agreements

Center sues Kent County school districts for union agreements wzzm13.com Grand Rapids, MI
"The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation announced a lawsuit today charging that nine Kent County school districts, the Kent Intermediate School District, and the Kent County Education Association, could save millions of dollars if they didn't have anti-privatization language in their collective bargaining agreements."

Michigan senate, term limits part of early ballot efforts

Michigan senate, term limits part of early ballot efforts lansingstatejournal.com Lansing State Journal
"A retired state of Michigan employee is starting a longshot bid to eliminate the state Senate, end term limits for legislators and ban collective bargaining for state workers."

Virtual Aircraft Museum

Virtual Aircraft Museum

Niagara Falls ran dry: Photos show moment iconic waterfall came to standstilll

Niagara Falls ran dry: Photos show moment iconic waterfall came to standstilll Mail Online
"The stark images reveal North America's iconic - and most powerful - waterfall to be almost as dry as a desert."

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Indymac Boys Get Sweetheart Deal



This will make your blood BOIL!

Working Database of All Earmarks Included in the Omnibus Spending Bill

Working Database of All Earmarks Included in the Omnibus Spending Bill - Right Now - Tom Coburn, M.D., United States Senator from Oklahoma
"The end-of-the-year Omnibus Appropriations bill includes approximately $8.3 billion and 6,714 earmarks.

Click here for a working database of all the earmarks included in the Omnibus Appropriations bill.

It's important to note that the database only refers to disclosed earmarks, not the billions in undisclosed earmarks."

Redistribution on steroids

seMissourian.com: Column: Mike Jensen: Redistribution on steroids

"In the midst of a colossal global concern for the economic stability of our great nation, Emanuel Cleaver, Missouri's 5th Congressional District representative, has one small earmark on his wish list that deserves some attention.

Cleaver has listed a new earmark -- one of several -- and he promises to 'fight for every one.'
But this is a whopping $48 billion package that must go down as the grandaddy of all earmarks.
Proposed by a gentleman named Lamar Mickens, president of the not-for-profit Quality Day Campus, the $48 billion earmark would funnel money into the inner cities to give money to the poor and thereby produce a much larger consumer class to buy the goods and services produced in this country.

Just call this redistribution on steroids.

Cleaver's office says this of the proposal:
'The Epicenter is a proposed estimated $48 billion (Phase One) mass scale urban reclamation project for combating, reducing, reversing and/or eliminating poverty within under served communities by utilizing mass scale economic redevelopment to bring about stability and self reliance."

This writer neglected to cite the congressman's political affiliation.
Anyone want to hazard a guess?

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Secret government votes?!!!!!!!

WM10/12 - 217 It was moved by Mahoney, supported by Engle, to authorize Charles Buzzell, County Commissioner, to purchase up to five (5) years of MERS generic service credit at a cost provided by the MERS Plan Document and in keeping with the County policy regarding purchase of generic service credit with 100 percent of the total actuarial cost being paid by the employee.

Motion carried.

Two BIG issues here but the biggest is our county clerk is hiding the votes from the official minutes of the meetings.

"Motion carried" tells us little people NOTHING about how our representitaves voted on the issue!

Secret government or gangster government?

Or BOTH!

Santelli: Clarity from Fed? No. Inflation? Yes.

Santelli: Clarity from Fed? No. Inflation? Yes. - CNBC
"How can a program that was designed to drive rates lower be deemed a success if rates are now sharply higher?
Why is there so little clarity from an entity that is now among the largest holders of Treasury securities?

My conclusion is that the goal of Chairman Bernanke and the Federal Open Market Committee was to monetize the growing U.S. debt and generate future inflation.
On the last score….generating inflation….I think time will prove the Fed highly successful."

Education payouts lack payoff

BILLINGSLEY: Education payouts lack payoff - Washington Times
"Canada has no federal education ministry or department and no federal Cabinet official for K-12 education.
At the federal level, Canada spends virtually nothing on K-12 education and on a per-student basis, spends about 20 percent less than the United States. Yet Canada is outperforming the United States."

Five myths about Sarah Palin

Five myths about Sarah Palin

The Worst of 2010

by Tracy K. Lorenz (sort of)

The end of the year is closing in which means we’ll soon be inundated with “Best Of” lists so, as usual, I’m putting out my annual “Worst Of” list.
But this time I thought I’d share the fun so I resurrected the old “Helper Group” to let them vent a little.

"MarySSI:
Wikileaks Security Issue – IF OUR GOVERNMENT REALLY WANTS TO KEEP OUR NATION’S TOP SECRETS CLASSIFIED, THEY SHOULD BE KEPT IN THE SAME PLACE THAT OBAMA’S COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS AND BIRTH CERTIFICATE ARE KEPT."

Congress' Job Approval Rating Worst in Gallup History

Congress' Job Approval Rating Worst in Gallup History
"Americans' assessment of Congress has hit a new low, with 13% saying they approve of the way Congress is handling its job.
The 83% disapproval rating is also the worst Gallup has measured in more than 30 years of tracking congressional job performance."

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Santelli: Clarity from Fed? No. Inflation? Yes.

Santelli: Clarity from Fed? No. Inflation? Yes. - CNBC
"Yet, since the last meeting 10-year rates are up close to 100 basis points!
I am not sure what amazes me more — the fact that the Fed didn’t even MENTION the rate rise in today’s statement, or that many believe the various purchase plans have been “successful.”
How can a program that was designed to drive rates lower be deemed a success if rates are now sharply higher?"

Canadians With More Debt Than U.S. Spark Policy Makers' Warning

Canadians With More Debt Than U.S. Spark Policy Makers' Warning - Bloomberg
"Canada’s top economic officials yesterday urged households to be wary of taking on too much debt after data showed the indebtedness of Canadians surpassed U.S. levels for the first time in 12 years."

CNN to Host GOP Primary Debate Next June

CNN to Host GOP Primary Debate Next June - TVNewser
"CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information."

Oh, these folks are funny.....

Monday, December 13, 2010

Man killed by Long Beach police was holding water nozzle, not gun

Man killed by Long Beach police was holding water nozzle, not gun L.A. NOW Los Angeles Times
"He was shot in the torso with a shotgun and handgun, then handcuffed, Zapalski said.

He died at the scene."

How the press missed SB 400 in 1999

On the Media: How the press missed SB 400 in 1999 - latimes.com
"The bill won approval on the final day of the state legislative session in the fall of 1999.
But searching this week for contemporaneous coverage of the law, I found little to nothing.

Reporters straining to keep up with 11th-hour deal-making that Friday in September gave plenty of attention to an agreement that would allow an expansion of Indian gambling operations around California.
A lot of attention also went to a couple of bills that cracked down on illegal sweatshops.
Another piece of legislation, providing gay students a legal shield against abuse, also made front-page news.

But SB 400 got only a handful of mentions — and terse ones at that — across dozens of papers and other outlets, including the Los Angeles Times. When Gov. Gray Davis signed the bill, it hugely expanded pension benefits for state workers.
It set a benchmark that would be followed by dozens of counties and cities."

Sasha Obama looks miserable on Christmas night out

Sasha Obama looks miserable on Christmas night out Mail Online
"When they arrived in Washington from Chicago almost two years ago, Barack and Michelle Obama publicly proclaimed that the girls were off-limits to the news media, saying they wanted to keep their daughters' lives as normal as possible"

German man castrates teenage daughter's 57-year-old boyfriend

German man castrates teenage daughter's 57-year-old boyfriend - Telegraph
"He told police: 'I received a phone call anonymously that my daughter was involved with a guy 40 years older than her.
You said you couldn't stop him – so I did.
'I saw it as my duty as a father.'"

Top RNC official hasn't voted in GOP primary for years

Top RNC official hasn't voted in GOP primary for years - Washington Times
"But longtime Washington lobbyist Angela Sailor, 42, and her political consultant husband, Elroy, 41, did vote in the 2008 Virginia Democratic presidential primary, according to Prince William County election records.

The move generated more questions when it was learned that Mr. Steele had the RNC set her salary at $180,000 a year, making her the highest-paid staff person.
Her annual salary, not including benefits, is $40,000 more than the elected co-chairman of the RNC receives."

NY Schools’ ‘Human Rights’ Curriculum Features Van Jones

» NY Schools’ ‘Human Rights’ Curriculum Features Van Jones - Big Government
"The web event originated from a classroom at Chestnut Ridge Middle School, a school with a student population that recently scored below-average on statewide tests, according to the New York Times.

It is extremely difficult to see how lessons focusing on corporate “greed,” landmine awareness, Chinese labor camps and abolishing the death penalty will do anything to raise student test scores in math, reading and science.

According to a NYSUT blog, the curriculum “introduces general human rights issues” and “urges students to become personally involved in the protection of human rights.”"

US sues school over denial of Muslim pilgrimage

US sues school over denial of Muslim pilgrimage - Yahoo! News
"The federal government sued a suburban Chicago school district Monday for denying a Muslim middle school teacher unpaid leave to make a pilgrimage to Mecca that is a central part of her religion.

In a civil rights case, the department said the school district in Berkeley, Ill., denied the request of Safoorah Khan on grounds that her requested leave was unrelated to her professional duties and was not set forth in the contract between the school district and the teachers union.

In doing so the school district violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by failing to reasonably accommodate her religious practices, the government said."

FLASHBACK: When Asked Where the Constitution Authorizes Congress to Order Americans To Buy Health Insurance, Pelosi Says: 'Are You Serious?'

FLASHBACK: When Asked Where the Constitution Authorizes Congress to Order Americans To Buy Health Insurance, Pelosi Says: 'Are You Serious?' CNSnews.com
"When CNSNews.com asked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Thursday where the Constitution authorized Congress to order Americans to buy health insurance--a mandate included in both the House and Senate versions of the health care bill--Pelosi dismissed the question by saying: “Are you serious? Are you serious?”"

Thoughts on division names, logo, trophies

Thoughts on division names, logo, trophies - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN
"After months of taking suggestions and brainstorming possibilities, the Big Ten ended up with Legends and Leaders.
Here's the breakdown:

Legends Division: Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, Minnesota, Northwestern and Nebraska

Leaders Division: Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Purdue and Indiana"

Gus Malzahn staying at Auburn

Gus Malzahn staying at Auburn - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN
"which means we'll probably see another assistant coach in the SEC approach the $1 million mark in salary and possibly even go over $1 million."

Wow!

Talk radio format coming to 106.9 FM

Talk radio format coming to 106.9 FM MLive.com
"Muskegon will get a new talk radio station as the result of a frequency shake-up that moved a popular country station.

WOOD-AM, a Grand Rapids news and talk radio station now at 1300 AM, also will be broadcast at 106.9 FM beginning early next year. The station that formerly occupied that frequency — WMUS “The Moose,” a Muskegon country station — will move up the dial to 107.9.
Star 108, currently at 107.9, will be canceled, though listeners can hear similar adult contemporary programming at 105.7 FM."

Government Unions vs. Taxpayers

Tim Pawlenty: Government Unions vs. Taxpayers - WSJ.com
"Since January 2008 the private sector has lost nearly eight million jobs while local, state and federal governments added 590,000"

The Daily Outrage: More on why our economy is going extinct

The Daily Outrage: More on why our economy is going extinct Washington Examiner

WHO: The National Science Foundation
WHAT: Gave a $141,002 federal stimulus grant to Montana State University to fund a six-week, student trip to Hangzhou, China, to study dinosaur eggs and other fossils.

WHY IT'S AN OUTRAGE: The students found ample time to experience Chinese culture and explore on taxpayers' money, but the dinosaur eggs did not hatch any new jobs.

WHERE TO VENT: Call the NSF inspector general at 800-428-2189."

Sunday, December 12, 2010

The Presidential Succession Begins.

DON SURBER: The Presidential Succession Begins.

DON SURBER: The Presidential Succession Begins. “The truth is Clinton took over the presidency on Friday when Obama just walked away. Leadership is about symbols. Mommy — Michelle Obama — called and Obama had to go home. He let Clinton take over and clean up the mess. . . . Being president sucks right now. It will get worse. His programs are a failure. His party does not like him. So he sent Biden to talk to the party and Clinton to talk to the press. At this point, it is merely symbolic of a resignation. A bad weekend. But it certainly is not something I have seen before in presidential politics.”

They’re taking bets on Obama’s departure. But he’s got an ace in the hole — he only has to run against the Republicans. . . .

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Irony alert: The unusually chilly global-warming summit

Irony alert: The unusually chilly global-warming summit - The Week
"As negotiators from nearly 200 countries met in Cancun to strategize ways to keep the planet from getting hotter, the temperature in the seaside Mexican city plunged to a 100-year record low of 54° F."

North Korea 'ready for war'

North Korea 'ready for war': News24: World: News
"Seoul - North Korea warned on Saturday that it is ready for an all-out war even as it dispatched its top diplomat to Russia amid a flurry of regional diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions over the North's deadly artillery attack on South Korea."

Hopey changey don't seem to work for president Barry O'Carter.
Bummer....

What's going on at Hartford Terrace?

Letters: What's going on at Hartford Terrace? MLive.com
"We have two elevators and one of them breaks down, usually on a weekend, about three times a month.
No one comes to fix it until regular offices hours on Monday.
They are the same elevators installed in 1973 when the building was built.
We are told the reason they break down is because they are “used more than any other elevators in town.”
There are 11 floors in the building with 16 apartments on each floor."

What's going on?
GOVERNMENT!

Imagine how efficient our entire health care system will be when these morons take control!

Democrats hurl f-bombs at Obama. Are they racist now?

theblogprof: Video: Democrats hurl f-bombs at Obama. Are they racist now?
Remember when the tea party was labeled as racist for opposing the Obama agenda?
What about Democrats not only opposing Obama's so-called compromise on keeping tax rates at present levels but hurling f-bombs at him?

Racist?

Resisting his compromise because of the color of his skin?

FDNY Set To Implement Emergency Services 'Crash Tax' CBS New York

FDNY Set To Implement Emergency Services 'Crash Tax' CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY
"But under the plan, you’ll get charged even if the accident isn’t your fault."

UN climate meeting OKs Green Fund in new accord

My Way News - UN climate meeting OKs Green Fund in new accord
"The Cancun Agreements created institutions for delivering technology and funding to poorer countries, though they did not say where the funding would come from."

Thursday, December 09, 2010

Wasting tax dollars on ethanol

Wasting tax dollars on ethanol
"IF YOU'RE wondering which of America's leaders are serious about cutting wasteful government spending, you might start by examining who's behind the effort to extend tax breaks to America's corn ethanol industry, which expire at the end of the year."

Obama uses labor board to revive Card Check | Washington Examiner

Examiner Editorial: Obama uses labor board to revive Card Check Washington Examiner
"Big Labor's No. 1 public policy goal is to abolish secret ballots in workplace representation elections."

Stella Paul's Top Ten Government Follies of 2010

American Thinker- Stella Paul's Top Ten Government Follies of 2010
"Folly One: The Federal government sued Arizona for the ultimate crime: enforcing federal law!"

Grab a drink and read 'em all!

West Virginia May Soon Set Nation-wide Pattern to Get Around the EPA

West Virginia May Soon Set Nation-wide Pattern to Get Around the EPA NetRight Daily
"Coal mining has long been under attack from environmentalists and especially the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The result of these attacks have caused coal mines to be closed until they receive certification and permits that meet the approval of bureaucrats that are decidedly anti-coal mining.
Hundreds if not thousands of coal mining jobs have been lost due to this bureaucratic nightmare.

In West Virginia though, a newly elected State Delegate has drafted legislation that would undo these unnecessary mine closures and put the miners back to work.
Gary Howell, elected to his first term in the State House of West Virginia in November, is wasting no time getting his “put West Virginia to work” legislation signed in to law.

Delegate-elect Howell told NetRightDaily.com, “[t]hese mines have met all the requirements for their EPA permits to be issued, but the Obama administration is simply not issuing the permits.
The Obama administration’s actions are illegal and are being challenged in the courts, however the court cases will take time.
The Intrastate Coal and Use Act will take effect immediately allowing the mines to open, which will not only increase employment but increase the tax bases without the need for increased taxes on the individuals and provide energy security for the nation.”"

Small-Biz Killers: Who Pays for Jobless Benefits?

Michelle Malkin » Small-Biz Killers: Who Pays for Jobless Benefits?
"....small businesses are getting whacked by skyrocketing unemployment insurance tax hikes across the country.

Friends of mine here in Colorado Springs first alerted me to their massive bills, which have arrived over the past two weeks.
Business owners from several other states have written me with similar horror stories — and I’ve included some of their experiences below. It’s yet another example of how the hidden Obama jobs death toll is wreaking havoc on America’s wealth producers."

The Top 10 Economic Myths of 2010

The Top 10 Economic Myths of 2010

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Immigrants' lawyers using culture as crime defense

Immigrants' lawyers using culture as crime defense - Yahoo! News
"The case highlighted a legal strategy that experts say immigrants' defense lawyers are using increasingly in the U.S.: the argument that a defendant's actions reflect his cultural upbringing, rather than criminal intent."

Watch out folks!
Their vile "culture" is being used as a defense against our country!

SHOCKER: GAO Report Slamming For-Profit Education Turns Out To Be “Flawed.”

Instapundit » Blog Archive » SHOCKER: GAO Report Slamming For-Profit Education Turns Out To Be “Flawed.”
“The revisions have come as the Obama administration and senior Democratic lawmakers are pushing for tougher regulation of the industry. A Republican senator said the revisions called into question some of the conclusions in the report.”

I’d like to see closer attention paid to what traditional colleges are promising, versus what they actually deliver.

Related: War On For-Profit Colleges Reeks Even Worse.
“I wouldn’t be terribly surprised to learn that people at the GAO have actually been in on the crusade to demonize proprietary colleges.
I also, unfortunately, won’t be surprised if no one pays attention to any of this, and the shameless, responsibility-dodging war on for-profits continues unabated.”

UPDATE: Bogus GAO report led to layoffs? Sure looks that way.
You’d think the federal government would want to encourage job-creation instead of job-destruction, but everything they do seems to have the opposite effect . . . ."

Our government's war on profit.
How sad.

US Treasuries hit by biggest sell-off in two years

FT.com / Capital Markets - US Treasuries hit by biggest sell-off in two years
"“Yields at this level are clearly unsustainable,” said Paul Marson, chief investment officer at Lombard Odier, the Swiss private bank."

Unions Look for Payback In the 'Lame Duck' Congress

FoxNews.com - Unions Look for Payback In the 'Lame Duck' Congress
"The unions are now making their first big push for lame duck payback, and it’s S. 3194, the so-called 'Public Employee-Employer Cooperation Act.'
Per usual, it has a wonderful name that is more or less the opposite of what the bill actually is—an unnecessary, expensive, and harmful bill that would force state and local governments to recognize union bosses as the exclusive bargaining agents for public-safety workers.

A vote on may come later this week.
This bill violates the basic tenets of our federalist system of government.
Local governments should not be forced by Washington, D.C. to impose forced unionization on their police, paramedics, and firefighters."

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Department of Transportation new rules will make cars more expensive

Department of Transportation new rules will make cars more expensive The Daily Caller - Breaking News, Opinion, Research, and Entertainment
"Thought that new car was expensive now?
Wait till the Department of Transportation implements its latest plan to protect Americans from themselves.

Last week, the department announced regulations that would require all new vehicles to install video cameras on their back bumpers.
The idea is to make backing up safer, and it’s not optional."

Hillary Clinton’s humiliation by Iran’s Foreign Minister illustrates the futility of appeasement

Hillary Clinton’s humiliation by Iran’s Foreign Minister illustrates the futility of appeasement – Telegraph Blogs
"It is hard to see what the United States gains from its most senior diplomat reaching out to the Iranian Foreign Minister.

It has echoes of British officials shaking hands with the representatives of Nazi Germany in the 1930s, as though it were a civilised regime that played by the rules of international diplomacy."

Muskegon's Damon Knox makes football commitment to Michigan State University

Update: Muskegon's Damon Knox makes football commitment to Michigan State University - MLive.com
"Knox (6-5, 270) recorded more than 100 tackles this season and batted down many passes.
He also played tight end and used his good size, strength and quickness.
MSU recruited Knox as a defensive lineman."

Pajamas Media » MSM Inertia: What We Can Learn from 120 Years of Climate Catastrophe Reporting

Pajamas Media » MSM Inertia: What We Can Learn from 120 Years of Climate Catastrophe Reporting

But when one looks back at the history of climate reporting, you find a remarkably consistent and recurring theme.
The global temperature has cycled from cold to warm to cold to warm again over the last 120 years.

The media cycles of impending climatic doom mirror the climate cycles themselves, but with a roughly ten- to fifteen-year lag.

It seems whenever the world warms, the volume of global warming stories increases to match the trend.

Conversely, when the climate cools the major media outlets pull on their long johns and warn us of the next ice age.

However, it takes many years for the media to catch up to what the climate is actually doing.

Wall Street propers under President Obama

Wall Street propers under President Obama--Charles Gasparino - NYPOST.com
"After all, his latest push to 'remedy' 9.8 percent unemployment for the masses is an extension of unemployment benefits.
Meanwhile, his policies aren't just making Wall Streeters rich, as bonuses are expected to hit record highs this year.
They're also likely (according to some insiders) to spark a hiring spree among bankers in the new year"

Monday, December 06, 2010

That is so rank: Gallup, on the presidents

That is so rank: Gallup, on the presidents Washington Examiner

"What do presidential rankings say about America?
Apparently, we are nostalgic -- for better economic times (see: Bill Clinton, ranked third) and happier, sun-drenched days aboard the presidential yacht (JFK).

Gallup likes to take America's pulse every year on how we perceive as we look back.
Here are the current Gallup rankings:

Kennedy, 85 percent
Reagan, 74 percent
Clinton, 69 percent
G. H.W. Bush, 64 percent
Ford, 61 percent
Carter, 52 percent
LBJ, 49 percent
GW Bush, 47 percent
Nixon, 29 percent

Huh.
Carter more than Bush?
And...Ford's 61 percent?
Gallup noted that Kennedy has ranked first since 1990.
Also:
The most notable changes in this year's update are a nine-point drop in Carter's approval rating and eight-point increases in those for Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Johnson."

Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | UK News :: Britain is freezing to death

Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express UK News :: Britain is freezing to death
"Many have been using their free travel ­passes to spend the day riding on buses while others are seeking refuge from the cold in libraries and shopping centres."

Proof of global warming....

Euro collapse 'possible' amid deepening divisions over bail-out - Telegraph

Euro collapse 'possible' amid deepening divisions over bail-out - Telegraph
"Under questioning from MPs on the Treasury Select Committee, Stephen Nickell, a member of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) and a former Bank of England rate-setter, said a collapse of the single currency was 'a possibility'.
Asked more broadly about the sustainability of currency unions, he added: 'The general consensus is that sooner or later they fail for one reason or another – but that doesn't mean to say it always happens.'"

Final Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery Now Delayed Until Feb. 3 At The Earliest

Final Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery Now Delayed Until Feb. 3 At The Earliest Popular Science
"NASA engineers repaired the cracks and reapplied foam to cushion the tank, but managers want to test the repairs and make sure they will hold up during launch.
The foam initially cracked during loading operations for the shuttle’s planned Nov. 5 liftoff to the International Space Station."

This is looking a bit scary.

Multiculturalism Hits The Wall

American Thinker: Multiculturalism Hits The Wall
"According to multicultural theory, the 'white' race (never further defined) forms a privileged oppressor class, forever and completely at odds with members of other races.
The relationship between races is presented only in terms of power, in which the oppressed races became in effect a proletariat awaiting liberation through revolutionary activity.
Under these terms, every action taken by the white oppressors is illegitimate, while those taken by the 'subaltern' races are justified, no matter what their evident nature and intent.
As a global theory, multiculturalism possesses universal applicability under all circumstances.
Every aspect of racial and ethnic relations must be seen through the multicultural lens."

Sparks fly at Gov. Christie's Parsippany town hall meeting regarding superintendent salaries

Sparks fly at Gov. Christie's Parsippany town hall meeting regarding superintendent salaries NJ.com
"Christie has been publicly feuding with Parsippany-Troy Hills Superintendent Leroy Seitz since he renegotiated his contract to push his salary to $216,040 in advance of the impending $175,000 cap set to go into affect Feb. 7."

Chase orders Southlake bank to remove Christmas tree

Chase orders Southlake bank to remove Christmas tree Northeast Tarrant
"Chase Bank told a businessman to remove the Christmas tree he donated to a local branch because it could offend people."

Federal workers will still receive raises despite pay freeze

Federal workers will still receive raises despite pay freeze The Daily Caller - Breaking News, Opinion, Research, and Entertainment
"President Obama’s proposal of a pay freeze for federal employees is a small step towards curbing government spending.

However, a closer look shows there is less to it than meets the eye.

In fact, many federal employees will still see their salaries increased."

It's even worse in the states and municipalities where automatic "step" increases combine with COI jumps to boost the already bloated pension calculation.
And don't forget that health care costs are going up far faster than public employees own contribution.

So that works out to FOUR AUTOMATIC compensation increases EVERY YEAR!

Ten Republicans duck out on tax vote

Ten Republicans duck out on tax vote Washington Examiner
"But in one case, ten Republicans didn't bother to vote, and in the other 11 Republicans didn't vote.
Here are the 11: Bunning, Burr, Chambliss, Cornyn, Gregg, Hutchison, Inhofe, Isakson, Sessions, Vitter, and Voinovich."

Remember these names for the primaries in 2012!

Michigan rock fests 1967-1972

rock fests

May 24/Sunday: College Field, East Lansing
~ The Jefferson Airplane, Mountain, Chicago, John Sebastian, The Rotary Connection ~

I also remember Rod Stewart & The Small Faces, Ten Years After at the same concert.
Ah, the good old days!

WikiLeaks cables reveal how US manipulated climate accord

WikiLeaks cables reveal how US manipulated climate accord Environment The Guardian
"The US diplomatic cables reveal how the US seeks dirt on nations opposed to its approach to tackling global warming;
how financial and other aid is used by countries to gain political backing;
how distrust, broken promises and creative accounting dog negotiations;
and how the US mounted a secret global diplomatic offensive to overwhelm opposition to the controversial 'Copenhagen accord', the unofficial document that emerged from the ruins of the Copenhagen climate change summit in 2009."

Saturday, December 04, 2010

The sight of women's breasts won't deter Islamists – they're obsessed with sex

The sight of women's breasts won't deter Islamists – they're obsessed with sex – Telegraph Blogs
"Denmark’s government is being called upon to employ a lethal new weapon in the fight against Islamist extremism: bare breasts.

No, I’m not making this up – and also deny outrageous suggestions that I’m looking for an excuse to tear myself away from the world-changing Wikileaks exposé.

Peter Skaarup, the foreign policy spokesman of the Danish People’s Party, wants footage of topless women at beaches to be included in a video shown to prospective immigrants, in order to deter religious fundamentalists."

Cancún climate talks in danger of collapse over Kyoto continuation

Cancún climate talks in danger of collapse over Kyoto continuation Environment The Guardian
"The Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (Alba) group of nine Latin American countries – who claim they are backed by African, Arab countries and other developing nations – said they were not prepared to see an end to the treaty that legally requires all of its signatories to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

Friday, December 03, 2010

Muskegon Campaign Contributions -- Huffington Post

Muskegon Campaign Contributions -- Huffington Post

Interesting to see who really stands tall.

Military takes over air traffic control in Spain

My Way News - Military takes over air traffic control in Spain
"Spain's military took control of the nation's airspace Friday night after air traffic controllers staged a massive sickout that stranded hundreds of thousands of travelers on the eve of a long holiday weekend, forcing the government to shut down Madrid's big international hub and seven other airports."

This is what will happen when we unionize the TSA idiots.

Top Transit Chief Salaries Criticized by State Lawmaker

Top Transit Chief Salaries Criticized by State Lawmaker [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
"Last month, MichCapCon.com revealed that a bus driver in Lansing was paid $140,000 last year."

Spartans won't be one-season wonder in football

Spartans won't be one-season wonder in football MLive.com
"“I think it’s been a fundamental reason why we’ve been successful -- we are developing depth.
We have good young players and they’re coming.”"

Michael shoots his .45 with his feet

YouTube - Michael shoots his .45 with his feet

Pretty nifty!

Wave goodbye to Internet freedom

EDITORIAL: Wave goodbye to Internet freedom - Washington Times
"With a straight face, Mr. Genachowski suggested that government red tape will increase the 'freedom' of online services that have flourished because bureaucratic busybodies have been blocked from tinkering with the Web.

Ordinarily, it would be appropriate at this point to supply an example from the proposed regulations illustrating the problem.

Mr. Genachowski's draft document has over 550 footnotes and is stamped 'non-public, for internal use only' to ensure nobody outside the agency sees it until the rules are approved in a scheduled Dec. 21 vote.

So much for 'openness.'"

'You won't be able to sell your house,' Daley warns

'You won't be able to sell your house,' Daley warns :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Politics
"The Illinois Senate on Thursday approved police and firefighter pension legislation that Mayor Daley warned would blow a $550 million hole in the city budget, but the top Senate Democrat pledged to try softening that financial hit next month.

Municipalities won pension cutbacks for incoming cops and firefighters, including bumping up the retirement age with full benefits from 50 to 55, limiting retirement cost-of-living increases and capping the final salary upon which pensions are based, among other things. Existing public-safety workers aren't affected"

They can retire at 50?!!!!!

Splendid Abandoned Airplanes

Dark Roasted Blend: Splendid Abandoned Airplanes
"When Flying Is No Longer An Option (Jet Planes in Backyards)"

Boehner to create ladies' room off House floor

Boehner to create ladies' room off House floor - Yahoo! News
"House Speaker-to-be John Boehner is planning to install the first-ever women's restroom next to the floor of the House of Representatives.
Boehner's office says he'll direct the Architect of the Capitol to convert an office into a ladies' room just steps away from where lawmakers cast votes and debate legislation.

Female members of the House have long complained that while their male colleagues can duck in and out of a men's room right next to the chamber, their closest available restroom is much further away in the Congressional Women's Reading Room, across the ornate Statuary Hall filled with sculptures of prominent Americans."

Sexist GOPers!

Thursday, December 02, 2010

The 25 Funniest Analogies (Collected by High School English Teachers)

The 25 Funniest Analogies (Collected by High School English Teachers) « Writing English

"5. She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up."

Yes, there are many more!

The Danger of a Global Double Dip Recession Is Real

The Danger of a Global Double Dip Recession Is Real - US News and World Report
"Among Spengler's convictions was that money, instead of serving mankind, would betray the Western civilization as it had others—and money in politics and media especially.
If he could have seen this election season, he would have been even more downcast!
Money is surely the great corrupter of American democracy.

Congressmen have to spend more of their time raising money for misleading and defamatory television commercials—and resisting briberies of one kind or another—than they spend studying our predicaments."

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Into the fray - LSJ Blogs: Hey, Joe

Into the fray - LSJ Blogs: Hey, Joe
"After a practice here today, MSU did what few, if any, opponents have done.
The Spartans marched right through Krzyzewskiville.

For those who don't know, K-ville is the name of the area where the Duke students camp out, grill, eat, drink, play frisbee and generally act rowdy as they camp out before big games (I just walked through it -- wild scene).

Tom Izzo and his team walked right through it this afternoon, a scene athletic director Mark Hollis called 'surreal.'

The Cameron Crazies apparently were stunned at first, but eventually Izzo threw the football around with a few of them, and came away with a brat."

Underclothes That Display The 4th Amendment When X-Rayed by TSA

Underclothes That Display The 4th Amendment When X-Rayed by TSA

IMF: US Ready to Back Bigger EU Stability Fund

IMF: US Ready to Back Bigger EU Stability Fund: Official - CNBC
"The United States would be ready to support the extension of the European Financial Stability Facility via an extra commitment of money from the International Monetary Fund, a U.S. official told Reuters on Wednesday."

Well, Barry did promise that he'd make Europeans love us, right?

Mystery Surrounds Cyber Missile That Crippled Iran's Nuclear Weapons Ambitions

FoxNews.com - Mystery Surrounds Cyber Missile That Crippled Iran's Nuclear Weapons Ambitions
"The construction of the worm was so advanced, it was “like the arrival of an F-35 into a World War I battlefield,” says Ralph Langner, the computer expert who was the first to sound the alarm about Stuxnet.
Others have called it the first “weaponized” computer virus.

Simply put, Stuxnet is an incredibly advanced, undetectable computer worm that took years to construct and was designed to jump from computer to computer until it found the specific, protected control system that it aimed to destroy: Iran’s nuclear enrichment program."

An amazing story!

Women accused of hiding merchandise in body fat

Women accused of hiding merchandise in body fat - KFOR
"Two women are arrested for shoplifting and police say they used their bodies to conceal the goods. Edmond police authorities say it was at the Edmond TJ Maxx that loss prevention officers found the duo stuffing items under their belly fat and breasts."

Official: Gov't won't end drilling ban off Fla.

My Way News - Official: Gov't won't end drilling ban off Fla.
"The Obama administration won't allow any new oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico for at least the next seven years because of the BP oil spill, a senior administration official told The Associated Press on Wednesday."

7 YEARS!!!!

Oh, wait a minute..... Jan. 2013 is only 2 years away.
Whew!

I got this e-mail from the democrat party today

Dear xxxxx,

I wanted to let you know about an important development at the DSCC.

Senator Murray will be taking the helm here at the Committee at a critical time for Senate Democrats and there’s truly no better choice.
In 2010 we proved that strong candidates running aggressive campaigns can beat expectations.
We faced very strong headwinds this November, but we held off Republicans because grassroots donors and the truth were able to stop Karl Rove’s billionaire friends and their lies.

Patty Murray led this charge with a smart, aggressive campaign - a model for what all of our incumbents need to do in 2012 to be successful.
Patty is a great senator, a true fighter, and will no doubt have a strong term as Chair of the DSCC.

Send a message to Sen. Murray welcoming her to the DSCC.

Patty M is arguably the dumbest senator in recent history.
And the dumbocrats elected her to run their senate races for the next election?!!!
Take a look at the list and laugh:
http://muskegonpundit.blogspot.com/2010/10/united-states-senate-elections-2012.html

Back in my day

The Washington Post

Report from Week 228, in which you were asked to tell Gen-Xers how much harder you had it in the old days:

Second Runner-Up: In my day, we couldn't afford shoes, so we went barefoot. In the winter we had to wrap our feet with barbed wire for traction. (Bill Flavin, Alexandria)

First Runner-Up: In my day we didn't have MTV or in-line skates, or any of that stuff. No, it was 45s and regular old metal-wheeled roller skates, and the 45s always skipped, so to get them to play right you'd weigh the needle down with something like quarters, which we never had because our allowances were way too small, so we'd use our skate keys instead and end up forgetting they were taped to the record player arm so that we couldn't adjust our skates, which didn't really matter because those crummy metal wheels would kill you if you hit a pebble anyway, and in those days roads had real pebbles on them, not like today. (Russell Beland, Springfield)

And the winner of the velour bicentennial poster: In my day, we didn't have no rocks. We had to go down to the creek and wash our clothes by beating them with our heads. (Barry Blyveis, Columbia)

Honorable Mentions:

In my day, we didn't have dogs or cats. All I had was Silver Beauty, my beloved paper clip. (Jennifer Hart, Arlington)

In my day, attitudes were different. For example, women didn't like sex. At least that is what they told me. (Tom Witte, Gaithersburg)

When I was your age, we didn't have fake doggie-do. We only had real doggie-do, and no one thought it was a damn bit funny. (Brendan Bassett, Columbia)

Back in the 1970s we didn't have the space shuttle to get all excited about. We had to settle for men walking on the crummy moon. (Russell Beland, Springfield)

In my day, we didn't have days. There was only "time for work," "time for prayer" and "time for sleep." The sheriff would go around and tell everyone when to change. (Elden Carnahan, Laurel)

In my day, people could only dream of hitchhiking a ride on a comet. (David Ronka, Charlottesville)

In my day, we didn't have hand-held calculators. We had to do addition on our fingers. To subtract, we had to have some fingers amputated. (Jon Patrick Smith, Washington)

In my day, we didn't have mouses to move the cursor around. We only had the arrows, and if the up arrow was broken and you needed to get to the top of the screen, well, you just hit the left arrow a thousand times, dadgummit. (Kevin Cuddihy, Fairfax)

In my day, we didn't get that disembodied, slightly ticked-off voice saying 'Doors closing.' We got on the train, the doors closed, and if your hand was sticking out it scraped along the tunnel all the damn way to the Silver Spring station and it was a bloody stump at the end. But the base fare was only a dollar. (Russell Beland, Springfield)

In my day, we didn't have water. We had to smash together our own hydrogen and oxygen atoms. (Diana Hugue, Bowie) In my day, we didn't have Strom Thurmond. Oh, wait, yes we did ... (Peg Sheeran, Vienna)

Kids today think the world revolves around them. In my day, the sun revolved around the world, and the world was perched on the back of a giant tortoise. (Jonathan Paul, Garrett Park)

In my day, we wore our pants up around our armpits. Monstrous wedgies, but we looked snappy. (Bruce Evans, Washington)

In the old days, nobody asked you to sign petitions. The sheriff just came to your house and told you you was part of a posse. (Barry Blyveis, Columbia)

Back in my day, "60 Minutes" wasn't just a bunch of gray-haired liberal 80-year-old guys. It was a bunch of gray-haired liberal 60-year-old guys. (Russell Beland, Springfield, and Jerry Pannullo, Kensington)

In my day, we didn't have virtual reality. If a one-eyed razorback barbarian warrior was chasing you with an ax, you just had to hope you could outrun him. (Sarah M. Wolford, Hanover)

An Error By Dems May Allow The Lawsuit Against Health Care Reform To Succeed

An Error By Dems May Allow The Lawsuit Against Health Care Reform To Succeed TPMDC
"Quite often, legislators include what's known as a 'severability clause' in their bills.

These are meant to protect the bulk of a law in the event that a small portion of it is determined to be unconstitutional.
That small portion must go, or be changed, but pretty much everything else is allowed to stand.

In a sin of omission, Democrats left such a clause out of the health care law, and now the plaintiffs in at least one of the cases against it want the court to take an axe to the whole thing if the judge decides that the individual mandate provision is unconstitutional."

The democrooks are as stupid as they are dishonest.

Social Security cuts are part of deficit plan

My Way News - Social Security cuts are part of deficit plan
"proposed cuts to Medicare, curtailment of tax breaks and a doubling of the federal tax on a gallon of gasoline."

But federal spending on union employees and never-ending annual raises, bonuses and benefits and earmarks are just "ducky"!

whats-mine-is-yours

whats-mine-is-yours: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance
"in 2009, he found 150 companies or organizations that provided sharing platforms.

Now he counts 6,000.

Among them: Zipcar, which allows urban dwellers to access a vehicle for as little as $6 an hour;
ThredUp, where parents can trade kids' clothes;
Airbnb.com, which allows people to rent out rooms to travelers;
and landshare.net in the United Kingdom, which matches land and garden owners with growers, who then share the produce."

This may be the best way to avoid predatory taxes and the mega-corporation's hold on us little people.

Michigan Legislative Scorecard

Michigan Legislative Scorecard Americans for Prosperity-Michigan
"Michigan Legislative Scorecard
See how your legislator measures up with AFP-Michigan’s Legislative Scorecard.
Each Michigan State Senator and State Representative was scored based on votes selected by AFP-Michigan as being the most critical to limiting taxation, controlling spending, and reforming government."

This is an excellent tool to score our electeds on 10 key votes.
Let's keep a keen eye on them and let them know that our Michigan primary election is only 20 months away!

November Speaks, But Is Lansing Listening?

November Speaks, But Is Lansing Listening? Americans for Prosperity-Michigan
"A recent Associated Press article pointed out that “there are nearly 20 lobbyists for every lawmaker” in Michigan; a total of 2,783.
In 2009, Michigan fulltime lobbyists (many paid for with your tax dollars) spent almost $12 million more than in 2001, a 60% increase."

And who speaks for the Michigan taxpayer?
The Tea Parties are our only hope!

How Immigration and Multiculturalism Destroyed Detroit

Frosty Wooldridge -- How Immigration and Multiculturalism Destroyed Detroit
"Immigration will keep pouring more and more uneducated third world immigrants from the Middle East into Detroit—thus creating a beachhead for Islamic hegemony in America.
If 50 percent illiteracy continues, we will see more homegrown terrorists spawned out of the Muslim ghettos of Detroit.
Illiteracy plus Islam equals walking human bombs."

Can Republicans Talk?

RealClearPolitics - Will Dems Go the Class Warfare Route?
"These are the facts.
But facts do not 'speak for themselves.'

In terms of facts, the Republicans have the stronger case.
But that doesn't matter, unless they make the case, which they show little sign of doing.

Democrats already understand the need for articulation.
Robert Reich is only one of many articulate Democratic spokesmen.
But where are the articulate Republicans?
Do they even understand how crucial articulation is?"