Daily Fred Fact

"Some people are homeless because of their financial situation, others are homeless because of substance abuse, while still others are homeless because they looked at Fred Thompson funny and he destroyed their home"


IMAO: Fred Thompson Facts Archives

France counts cost of health reform

Our froggie friends never were much for planning ahead.

BBC NEWS Europe France counts cost of health reform: "The abundance and generosity of its health service has turned France into a nation of hypochondriacs.

It consumes far more drugs than any other nation in Europe, and they are almost always the expensive patented kind rather than the cheaper generic alternatives."

GordoM-wonders-why-they-need-so-much-wine-with-all-the-free-drugs

French healthcare is 'badly run'

Well, this is France, after all.

BBC NEWS Europe French healthcare is 'badly run': "The report says citizens must pay more and doctors must alter their behaviour.
Failure to do so could add 66 billion euros a year to France's public budget deficit by 2020, it adds.
The warning comes after thousands of health workers protested on Thursday over staff shortages and the 'creeping privatisation' of the health system."

GordoM-doesn't-trust-surrender-monkeys-with-his-health

New Jersey Apologizes for Slavery

I guess everything else is just fine in NJ.

Sure glad they took the taxpayer's time and money to straighten things out.

Still waiting for an apology for Newark....

New Jersey Apologizes for Slavery: "New Jersey became the first Northern state to apologize for slavery, as legislators approved a resolution Monday expressing 'profound regret' for the state's role in the practice."

GordoM-wonders-when-they'll-appologize-for-The-Sopranos

Upbeat news = no MSM coverage

Kudlow just doesn't make it to the headlines of the MSM.

And the MSM still contends they're unbiased?

Kudlow's Money Politic$: "Despite Friday’s soft jobs number, I do not believe we are heading into a recession. Any slowdown in the U.S will be very short-lived. I’m sticking with Goldilocks 2.0.

Payroll jobs rose a mere 18,000 for December. But we had a 115,000 jobs gain in November and a 159,000 gain in October."

Scientologists heading downtown

Why does everything about Detroit and Scientology always smell real bad?

$9,773 in taxes on a $3.5 million dollar property?

Something ain't right.....

Scientologists heading downtown

The church paid $3.5 million for a vacant eight-story building at Griswold and West Jefferson facing Hart Plaza……. .
……...Because the church will own the building, however, the city won't reap property taxes from it. The site was previously owned by the financial services firm Raymond James & Associates. The firm paid $9,773 in taxes in 2006.

Katrina victims swamp corps with trillions in claims - USATODAY.com

Good grief!

And the democrats tell us we don't need tort reform?

Katrina victims swamp corps with trillions in claims - USATODAY.com: "Tens of thousands of people whose property was destroyed when Hurricane Katrina overwhelmed New Orleans' protective levees have filed claims demanding the government pay astronomical sums that would be enough money to make multimillionaires of everyone in Louisiana."

Student who accidentally fired shot reinstated

Did he "accidently" bring a handgun into school?

There's got to be more to this story ........ or maybe less .........

Student who accidentally fired shot reinstated: "An Ottawa Hills High School student expelled for accidentally firing a gun in the school was unanimously reinstated Monday.
But district staff members believe the student plans to attend classes in another district. Joseph Davon Davis was 16 when a handgun accidentally fired in a school lavatory on Oct. 5, 2006. State law requires a mandatory 180-day expulsion, and students are permitted to apply to be reinstated.
District spokesman John Helmholdt said reports indicate Davis completed counseling and community service. 'There is a sense that this is a young man who recognizes he made a mistake and wants to right a wrong,' he said."

Why is this a "tough" call?

Aren't "illegals" here illegally?

I'm stunned that we used to give them drivers licenses.

It's about time!

Cox makes tough, but correct call on licenses - mlive.com: "Attorney General Mike Cox is getting blasted for his ruling against the issuance of driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Yet he and other state legal chiefs are only reacting to the vacuum that has served as a substitute for policy all these many years in Washington, D.C."

Urgent: Merrill S. Bailey Bridge closed - Muskegon Chronicle - MLive.com

Urgent: Merrill S. Bailey Bridge closed - Muskegon Chronicle - MLive.com: "Norton Shores officials closed the Merrill S. Bailey Bridge over Mona Lake on Henry Street this morning after discovering Monday night's storms may have undermined a portion of the bridge abutment."

Red Wings fans?

Bloomberg.com: Latin America: "Portuguese authorities seized 9.4 metric tons of cocaine hidden in a shipment of frozen octopus from Venezuela, according to a statement on the Web site of Portugal's judicial police."

University employees get $5,000 for buying home in Detroit

Let's see.....

$5,000 from UofD's money tree (us).

An additional $5,000 from HUD (us).

And a nifty earmark to "non-profit" JVS (paid by us) to "help secure the additional $5,000".

All to give to UofD employees (paid by us) to buy homes? Where the heck do they live now?

University employees get $5,000 for buying home in Detroit: "Under the program, the university will offer a $5,000 down payment to qualifying employees who are buying a home in one of the three university neighborhoods. JVS, a Southfield-based nonprofit human service organization, will partner with the UDM to help employees secure an additional $5,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, officials said."

Peter, Paul & Mary?

When hammers are banned, only the criminals will have hammers ....... and free lunches......

Man robs Subway with hammer: "Authorities are looking for a man who used a hammer to rob a Grand Rapids-area restaurant.
Kent County sheriff's department officials say the robber demanded money and fled with about $200 Sunday night from the Subway restaurant in Alpine Township."

New meaning for "Greatest Hits"?

On This Date in History

1610 The astronomer Galileo Galilei sighted four of Jupiter's moons.

Planets ordered to wear underpants

1789 The first U.S. presidential election was held. Americans voted for electors who, a month later, chose George Washington to be the nation's first president.

Palm Beach voters thought he was Chad Washington

1800 Millard Fillmore, the 13th president of the United States, was born in Summerhill, N.Y.

The Fillmore East and West celebrated his birth.

1927 Commercial transatlantic telephone service was inaugurated between New York and London.

Cell phone service put off for 70 years.

1953 President Harry S. Truman announced in his State of the Union address that the United States had developed a hydrogen bomb.

He lamented that Japan had already surrendered.

1959 The United States recognized Fidel Castro's new government in Cuba.

Oops!

1997 Newt Gingrich became the first Republican re-elected House speaker in 68 years.

Woohoo!

1999 President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial began in the Senate. (He was later acquited on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.)

Doh!

2005 Actor Brad Pitt and actress Jennifer Aniston announced they were separating after four years of marriage.

Who?

2006 Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, facing corruption charges, stepped down as House majority leader. (He resigned from Congress in June 2006.)

Doh!

GordoM-remembers-it-all

tennis is good!

What's not to like?

My goodness are subsidized grocery stores next?

Lack of grocers prompts action: "A recently formed task force has city and business leaders joining together to answer an oft-asked question among Detroiters: Why aren't there more grocery stores in the city?
Dubbed the Detroit Fresh Food Access Initiative, the 40-plus member group of government and business leaders is exploring how local regulations and permit processes can be simplified to attract more full-scale grocers to the city.
Olga Savic, director of strategy and external affairs for the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation and one of the group's co-chairs, said the group's formation couldn't have come at a better time for the city."

Liberal Fascism. A redundancy?

Amazon.com: Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning: Books: Jonah Goldberg

"Buy this book...or the dog dies"

Tornado Warning issued for Muskegon, rest of area under a Tornado Watch

The anti-casino gods don't seem to like this get together?

Maybe it'll suck up the round-a-bout!

yes.....

WZZM13 - Tornado Warning issued for Muskegon, rest of area under a Tornado Watch: "WZZM 13's Phil Dawson is in Muskegon working on a story at city hall. The meeting was interrupted and people inside were told to seek shelter in the basement."

Homeless Michigan Dems?

Momma always told me voting democrat would be bad for my future.

National convention hotel rooms taken away from Michigan Dems: "LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan Democrats no longer can count on getting hotel rooms at their national convention in Denver.
The Democratic National Committee's Rules Committee last month stripped Michigan of its 156 national convention delegates as punishment for scheduling an early presidential primary in violation of party rules. State party officials had until Saturday to come up with an alternative to the Jan. 15 contest, but declined to do so.
That decision caused the DNC to informally tell state Democratic Chairman Mark Brewer that the party no longer has reservations at the Red Lion Hotel Denver Central during the Aug. 25-28 convention, state party spokesman Jason Moon said Monday.
'We think that those hotel rooms will be given back to us,' Moon added."

Nifty thunderstorm in January

I've always loved thunderstorms and a rare Winter T-storm is just another treat from those 10,000 sq. ft. mansion owners and private jet flyers.

Thank you global warmers!

Hollywood keeps giving, even if their movies suck......

GordoM-finds-the-good-in-everything

Cheap Tatas?

Tatas are always to be prized, but inexpensive Tatas are a rare treat.

And at $2500?

Ummmmmm.....nice Tatas....

Maybe I need two?

All eyes on Tata's Rs 1 lakh car-India Business-Business-The Times of India: "the Tata people's car which has been dominating mindspace both inside and outside the industry for its sheer concept and execution since the better part of a decade."

New Fred Thompson Video: Kill. Protect. Punch.

You cannot see this video and not vote for Fred!

Or you may die!

New Fred Thompson Video: Kill. Protect. Punch.

Isn't "dipping" the same thing as "stealing"?

The Detroit News Online: "Lawmakers and Gov. Jennifer Granholm dealt with the deficit by delaying payments to state universities and community colleges, dipping into funds set aside for job training and substance abuse treatment and selling off part of the state's future tobacco settlement. Taxes were not raised to fill the hole."

I just saw a PT Cruiser with a "car bra".

Gave me the willies......

Wow! Miss America might be packin'!

BLACKFIVE: Army Medic (and Miss Utah) Competing in Miss America Pageant: "GI Jill, Sergeant Jill Stevens, a Utah National Guard Medic and OEF veteran, is someone you can be proud of and support on January 26, 2008, when she competes in the Miss America Pageant.
As a National Guard soldier in College, her university pageant director convinced her to compete. She scoffed at the idea."

She's Smokin'!

Heh....

Deja Vu - WSJ.com: "a New York alderman, Peter McGuinness, proposed a city ordinance that would prohibit women from smoking in hotels, restaurants or other public places.
'Young fellows go into our restaurants to find women folks sucking cigarettes,' the alderman argued. 'What happens? The young fellows lose all respect for the women, and the next thing you know the young fellows, vampired by these smoking women, desert their homes, their wives and children, rob their employers and even commit murder so that they can get money to lavish on these smoking women.'"

(the entire column is in the 2 comments section)

A great question

TCS Daily - My Global Warming Question: "My question is this:
what are the most persuasive reasons for believing that the rise in temperature is due to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide?"

Sad, sad people.

5 of 7 developed complications?

Sounds too much like the Laetrile scam in Mexico.

Americans seek stem cell treatments in China - Cloning and stem cells- msnbc.com: "Noting the lack of evidence, three Western doctors undertook their own limited study. It involved seven patients with spinal cord injuries who chose to get fetal brain tissue injections at one hospital in China. The study reported “no clinically useful improvements” — even though most patients believed they were better. Five developed complications such as meningitis."

MSM shocked, demands new study!

Who'd of guessed......

Michigan sees fewer gun deaths — with more permits: "Six years after new rules made it much easier to get a license to carry concealed weapons, the number of Michiganders legally packing heat has increased more than six-fold.
But dire predictions about increased violence and bloodshed have largely gone unfulfilled, according to law enforcement officials and, to the extent they can be measured, crime statistics."

Earth friendly?

Maybe he was just trying to reduce her "carbon footprint"?

My Way News - Cops: Man Cooked Parts of Slain Woman: "A man killed his girlfriend, then filleted and cooked parts of her body before calling police to tell them what he was doing, authorities said Sunday."

Is Ford back?

Wow!
35 MPG, Six airbags and...
$16,000!!!!!


Ford Vehicles: 2008 Ford Focus - See pricing details, photos, options, packages, and more

What ever happened to "rainy day funds"?

Maybe they ought to take a hard look at the "budget dudes"?

This is happening everywhere.

"It's not our fault" ..... please reelect us..... and vote us more of your money.....or stop complaining"

Lansing State Journal: Clinton Co. roads budget snowed under: "After the first of two major snowfalls, Clinton County officials said their snow removal money for 2007 was gone, forcing them to use money set aside for other projects.
'We've already exceeded what we budgeted for '07, so whatever money we use (for the rest of the year) we won't have for '08 projects,' said Mike Nobach, the director of the Clinton County Road Commission"

This is scary

Voting by mail starts for California's 2008 presidential primary: "Vote-by-mail ballots go out this week in the nation's most populous state, forcing presidential campaigns to consider using scarce dollars to lure early California voters while contests unfold in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.
More than half the total votes in California's Feb. 5 primary could be mailed in, and many of those ballots will be cast long before Election Day in a state that has seen scant evidence of the 2008 presidential campaign."

Don't eat that donut or we're gonna cut ya!

Junkfood Science: A heart stopper

Bringing in the new year, Radio Iowa reported from a bariatric surgeon at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha. Increasing numbers of teens are coming in wanting bariatric surgeries, according to Dr. Ranjan Sudan, and “some doctors are looking at performing weight loss surgeries [sic] on children as young as five.”

A Fox News Debate Round-Up - Right Wing News (Conservative News and Views)

A Fox News Debate Round-Up - Right Wing News (Conservative News and Views)

The "unbiased, patriotic" MSM and friends

In their own words.

Best of Notable Quotables 2007 -- Media Research Center

List of common misconceptions

List of common misconceptions - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Attack of the killer bulbs?

Yeah, but isn't saving the Planet more important the health of ....polluters?

Low-energy bulbs 'could cause skin cancer' - Telegraph: "The new energy-saving bulbs produce a more intense light and can exacerbate a range of existing skin problems."

"Why I Believe Bush Must Go"

At least Ronnie went with class..... and quietly.

Why I Believe Bush Must Go: "By George McGovern
Sunday, January 6, 2008; B01

As we enter the eighth year of the Bush-Cheney administration, I have belatedly and painfully concluded that the only honorable course for me is to urge the impeachment of the president and the vice president."

Not everyone agrees:

http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2008_01_06-2008_01_12.shtml#1199673472

Into the mind of madness

Loose Change 911

"Are you feelin' Hucky, punk?"

Opinion: Secular left vs. Christian left huckabee, huck, guy, put, afford - OCRegister.com: "Confronted by Preacher Huckabee standing astride the Iowa caucuses, smirking, 'Are you feelin' Hucky, punk?', many of my conservative pals are inclined to respond, 'Shoot me now.'"

Muskegon Presidential Primary info

http://www.co.muskegon.mi.us/clerk/ballotinformation.htm

Absentee voter application:

http://www.co.muskegon.mi.us/clerk/av_ballot_app_pres_prim.pdf

Comparison Test: 2007-2008 V6 Family Sedans

OK, this isn't a "family" car.

Pretty nifty photo, don't ya think?

Nissan GT-R.... zoom...

Comparison Test: 2007-2008 V6 Family Sedans: "When we last rounded up V6-powered family sedans in March 2006, the 2007 Toyota Camry XLE V6 came out on top, granting it an instant ticket to this year's face-off. But the competition is much different now, and its rivals this time around include the Nissan Altima, wholly redesigned in 2007, and all-new 2008 versions of the Chevrolet Malibu and Honda Accord."

John McCain in Norton Shores/Spring Lake Monday Jan, 14

John McCain 2008 - John McCain for President

Janurary 14 Schedule

Kazoo,Holland, Grand Rapids

Spring Lake:

4:00PM Nichols Co.

1391 Judson Rd

Spring Lake

You may want to be there by 3:30 p.m. so that you can get the best spot.
Family & Friends are welcome! Nichols is at the end of Judson Road, off of
Grand Haven Road. Has a Spring Lake Address but is in Norton Shores.

Well, duh......

Michigan GOP leaders?

Yep.....

"I try to think but nothing happens", "Soitenly", "Woob Woob Woob", "Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk", "I'm a victim of soicumstance", "Why you Numbskull".



U.S. Rep. Hoekstra fears Michigan's primary will be 'tainted': "Republican U.S. Representative Peter Hoekstra says the way the primary is set up could have a negative impact on the Republican candidates, “It's structured so poorly, and the results may be very much tainted because it's not really a Republican Primary.” Hoekstra explains, “It's really a primary that's open to all voters in the state, but all voter's in the state will probably only vote in the Republican Primary, it's really a mish-mash.'"

You had to see this one comming

Wow!

Way better than a "task force" is a "task force AND citizen advisory committee"!

And there is that little inconvience of spending the road money for other more "important" stuff years ago.....

Times Herald - www.thetimesherald.com - Port Huron, MI: "The state Department of Transportation's multi-billion dollar budget isn't enough to maintain the state's roads at their current condition, and Sen. Jud Gilbert, R-Algonac, wants solutions.

Recently, Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed a bill Gilbert sponsored last year that will create a task force and citizen advisory committee charged with proposing alternative revenue sources to pay for the state's transportation needs."

The decline is due in part to the fact the state has spent bond money generated in previous years, Gilbert said, ..."

"Availability Entrepreneurs" or simply, "liars"?

Predictions for 2008 - Climate Change - Global Warming - John Tierney - New York Times: "But there’s bound to be some weird weather somewhere, and we will react like the sailors in the Book of Jonah. When a storm hit their ship, they didn’t ascribe it to a seasonal weather pattern. They quickly identified the cause (Jonah’s sinfulness) and agreed to an appropriate policy response (throw Jonah overboard).
Today’s interpreters of the weather are what social scientists call availability entrepreneurs: the activists, journalists and publicity-savvy scientists who selectively monitor the globe looking for newsworthy evidence of a new form of sinfulness, burning fossil fuels."

God rest his soul

Major Andy Olmsted

Obsidian Wings: Andy Olmsted: "Andrew Olmsted, who also posted here as G'Kar, was killed yesterday in Iraq. Andy gave me a post to publish in the event of his death; the last revisions to it were made in July."

Michigration?

I haven't seen a "popularity" poll on Jennie lately.....wonder why........

Study confirms: Michigration: "A United Van Lines migration study said Michigan residents are leaving the state at a rate higher than any other state for two years in a row. Census Bureau figures indicate a population loss of 36,000 people."

"loophole" casino for Muskegon?

This one has an odor right from the start.

Maybe we ought to check the bank deposits of some of our City officials?

U.P. tribe to propose casino plan: "A delegation from the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians based in Watersmeet in the far west corner of the Upper Peninsula is expected to present a casino proposal to the city at a 5:30 p.m. work session.
Local leaders in contact with Lac Vieux Desert Band officials indicate the U.P. tribe wants to open a casino in an existing downtown building. The tribe reportedly is looking at the former SPX headquarters in the Terrace Point development, community leaders indicate.
It is also unknown how the tribe intends to get state and federal approval of a Muskegon casino, a difficult and usually years-long process. Some tribal leaders reportedly have indicated there is a 'loophole' that can be used to expedite the approval process."

But the Lac Vieux tribe has many hurdles to climb. Due to the distance between Muskegon and its reservation in the western Upper Peninsula, Bush said it will have to show that it owned land in the Muskegon area prior to the signing of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Control Act in Oct. 17, 1988

Michigan voters stiffed again

The democrat vote is essentially worthless in the Michigan primary and the GOPers have, AGAIN, set themselves up to let democrat crossovers determine who wins the Republican primary.

Nice job Michigan State party leaders..... yeah, right....

Obama's absence on state ballot rankles some : "But come Jan. 15, the name Obama will appear nowhere on Michigan's Democratic primary ballot. A squabble between state and national party officials over the primary date led Obama and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards to withdraw their names from the ballot."

"Ask not what he can do for your country,

but what he can do to Hillary"

(courtesy Lucianne.com)

Oh...my....God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Year's snowstorm hits Mich. hard - NewsFlash - mlive.com: "A fast-moving New Year's Day storm dumped more than a foot of snow on southeastern Michigan, a record blast that made driving hazardous, snarled the flight home for holiday travelers and threatened to do the same in New England."

Snow in Michigan!
In January!!!!!!!!!!!!

More "proof" of the wisdumb of the AlGoreites....

Ten things that will change your future - Technology - smh.com.au

Ten things that will change your future - Technology - smh.com.au