Muskegon Public Schools award $2.4 million in construction contracts

Muskegon Public Schools award $2.4 million in construction contracts
"But the work does not include about $50,000 in lighting improvements to the district’s two middle school swimming pools — work the school board dropped after Superintendent Colin Armstrong indicated the pools could be closed as part of cost-cutting measures for next year."

Hmmm.

For teachers union members:
The automatic annual "step-up" pay increases continue.
The automatic "cost of living" pay increase continue.
The featherbedding in classrooms continues.

But children swimming in the two swimming pools won't continue.

I guess the phrase "it's for the children" only matters when the teacher's union bosses demand more money and benefits for teachers.

more:

http://muskegonpundit.blogspot.com/2009/10/teacher-perks-bleed-budget-dry.html

Lawrence Solomon: Wikipedia’s climate doctor

Lawrence Solomon: Wikipedia’s climate doctor
"The Climategate Emails reveal something else, too: the enlistment of the most widely read source of information in the world — Wikipedia — in the wholesale rewriting of this history.

The Medieval Warm Period, which followed the meanness and cold of the Dark Ages, was a great time in human history — it allowed humans around the world to bask in a glorious warmth that vastly improved agriculture, increased life spans and otherwise bettered the human condition.

But the Medieval Warm Period was not so great for some humans in our own time — the same small band that believes the planet has now entered an unprecedented and dangerous warm period. As we now know from the Climategate Emails, this band saw the Medieval Warm Period as an enormous obstacle in their mission of spreading the word about global warming. If temperatures were warmer 1,000 years ago than today, the Climategate Emails explain in detail, their message that we now live in the warmest of all possible times would be undermined. As put by one band member, a Briton named Folland at the Hadley Centre, a Medieval Warm Period “dilutes the message rather significantly.”"

Climategate: What's the "trick" and what did it "hide"?

Climategate: What's the "trick" and what did it "hide"?
"In a new famous email, Phil Jones, then head of the Climactic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia, wrote on Nov. 16 to climate research colleagues in the United States and at his own CRU:
'Dear Ray, Mike and Malcolm,
Once Tim's got a diagram here we'll send that either later today or first thing tomorrow.
I've just completed Mike's Nature trick of adding in the real temps to each series for the last 20 years (ie from 1981 onwards) and (sic) from 1961 for Keith's to hide the decline...'
What's the trick and what did it hide?"

Michigan's Fire Safe Cigarette Law Takes Effect January 1, 2010 Manufacturers Required to Certify Self-Extinguishing Cigarettes with State

DELEG - Michigan's Fire Safe Cigarette Law Takes Effect January 1, 2010 Manufacturers Required to Certify Self-Extinguishing Cigarettes with State
"State Fire Marshal Ronald R. Farr today announced that cigarette manufacturers must certify their brand families and associated styles as fire safe in order to sell them in Michigan after January 1, 2010. The Fire Standard Compliant (FSC) mark approval process for manufacturers begins today."

Shocker: Medicare Has A Higher Claim Denial Rate Than Private Sector Employers

Shocker: Medicare Has A Higher Claim Denial Rate Than Private Sector Employers
"under the government health care we already have Americans are denied far more often than the private sector."

Why are we learning this now?
A bit late, eh.

Payoffs for states get Harry Reid to 60 votes

Payoffs for states get Harry Reid to 60 votes
"Ben Nelson’s “Cornhusker Kickback,” as the GOP is calling it, got all the attention Saturday, but other senators lined up for deals as Majority Leader Harry Reid corralled the last few votes for a health reform package.

Nelson’s might be the most blatant – a deal carved out for a single state, a permanent exemption from the state share of Medicaid expansion for Nebraska, meaning federal taxpayers have to kick in an additional $45 million in the first decade.

But another Democratic holdout, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), took credit for $10 billion in new funding for community health centers, while denying it was a “sweetheart deal.” He was clearly more enthusiastic about a bill he said he couldn’t support just three days ago.
Nelson and Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) carved out an exemption for non-profit insurers in their states from a hefty excise tax. Similar insurers in the other 48 states will pay the tax.
Vermont and Massachusetts were given additional Medicaid funding, another plus for Sanders and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
Three states – Pennsylvania, New York and Florida – all won protections for their Medicare Advantage beneficiaries at a time when the program is facing cuts nationwide.
All of this came on top of a $300 million increase for Medicaid in Louisiana, designed to win the vote of Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu."

12 Amazing Christmas Lights Around the World

12 Amazing Christmas Lights Around the World - Oddee.com

Wannabe Pundits

Wannabe Pundits

See if you can guess the topics of the New York Times articles from which the following two excerpts are drawn:

'These are all minor annoyances, mind you, in a world with daily reminders that an embittered, small-hearted senator from Connecticut can hold up health care for millions.'

'President Obama and the Congressional leadership have repeatedly stressed their commitment to wresting the wealth of the nation from the hands of a few.'

Actually, don't even try; you'll never get it.
The first article, by Timothy Egan, is about Costco opening a store in Manhattan; the second, by a Paul Greenberg (though we're pretty sure it's not the Paul Greenberg), is about--no joke--fish oil.

To be sure, both appear in the Times's opinion section, so the 'Wannabe Pundits' designation isn't totally fair.
But the political references are just so bizarre and off topic.
It's as if we were to mention, apropos of absolutely nothing, that John Kerry has the hat to this day."

Proud Flag-Waving Communists and Socialists March in Copenhagen to Stop Global Warming

Watemelons, green on the outside.
Red on the inside.
Deep, rich, dark red.
Murderous red.

A dog is a rat is a doctor is a vet

Classical Values :: A dog is a rat is a doctor is a vet
"I want to return briefly to a point made in a hard-hitting post from Canadian blogger Blazingcatfur about the awful treatment his mother received:
With barely contained anger I informed the nurse that keeping an ill, 84 year old woman in a hospital corridor for 18 hours was not the type of care that anyone should be expected to tolerate. In fact my cat receives better treatment from his vet.

This is not the first time I've seen the point raised about veterinary care being better than health care for humans.
And you don't have to compare veterinary care to health care under socialized medicine to see the difference, although it becomes particularly glaring if you do.
Under our 'system' of veterinary health care, there's generally little or no wait, they're invariably friendly (because you could always grab your dog or cat and take it to another vet), and as to the prices?"

Nine Months After Stimulus 49 of 50 States Have Lost Jobs

Nine Months After Stimulus 49 of 50 States Have Lost Jobs
"Only North Dakota and the District of Columbia have seen net job creation following the February 2009 stimulus (though both fall short of seeing the promised level of job creation)."

Islamic mosque built at 9/11 Ground Zero

Islamic mosque built at 9/11 Ground Zero
"A new Islamic mosque will open its doors just steps from Ground Zero where Muslim terrorists murdered 2,751 people in the name of Allah on Sept. 11, 2001 – and its leading imam, who conducts sensitivity training sessions for the FBI, has reportedly blamed Christians for starting mass attacks on civilians."

(HT-WSB via M-Live)

12 Creepiest Children's Books

12 Creepiest Children's Books
"The Gas We Pass: The Story of Farts, written by Shinta Cho, explores all forms of flatulence."

TaxProf Blog: Estate Tax News

TaxProf Blog: Estate Tax News
"Following up on recent estate tax posts (here, here, and here):"

Lots going on...or not.
But lots of links to the future of the death tax.

Laughing at the Left

The American Spectator : Laughing at the Left
"They believe we can spend our way out of debt.
They believe taking money from one part of the economy to give to another part somehow makes the economy bigger.
They believe people who have never run a business can run a business better than people who have spent their whole lives running businesses."

This "left lunacy" list goes on and on...it's scary...and there are SO many of them around.....
Read it and be armed against idiocy.

Are first shoes really closer to a girl's heart than her first kiss?

Are first shoes really closer to a girl's heart than her first kiss?
"Some 92 per cent of women remember the first shoes they bought with their own money - whether they were Carrie Bradshaw-inspired Manolo Blahniks or Jimmy Choos, or simply a high street bargain."

This explains a lot!

Congress Travels More, Public Pays

Congress Travels More, Public Pays
"The expenses racked up by U.S. lawmakers traveling here for a conference last month included one for the 'control room.'

Besides rooms for sleeping, the 12 members of the House of Representatives rented their hotel's fireplace-equipped presidential suite and two adjacent rooms.
The hotel cleared out the beds and in their place set up a bar, a snack room and office space.
The three extra rooms -- stocked with liquor, Coors beer, chips and salsa, sandwiches, Mrs. Fields cookies and York Peppermint Patties -- cost a total of about $1,500 a night.
They were rented for five nights.

While in Scotland, the House members toured historic buildings.
Some shopped for Scotch whisky and visited the hotel spa.
They capped the trip with a dinner at one of the region's finest restaurants, paid for by the legislators, who got $118 daily stipends for meals and incidentals.
Eleven of the 12 legislators then left the five-day conference two days early.

.......The cost they reported for such travel abroad was $13 million in 2008, a 70% jump from 2005, "

This is disgusting!

They are disgusting!

And the fact that the WSJ doesn't report the names of the congressional scum who "attended" this debacle is also disgusting.

Climategate goes SERIAL: now the Russians confirm that UK climate scientists manipulated data to exaggerate global warming

Climategate goes SERIAL: now the Russians confirm that UK climate scientists manipulated data to exaggerate global warming
"On Tuesday, the Moscow-based Institute of Economic Analysis (IEA) issued a report claiming that the Hadley Center for Climate Change based at the headquarters of the British Meteorological Office in Exeter (Devon, England) had probably tampered with Russian-climate data.

The IEA believes that Russian meteorological-station data did not substantiate the anthropogenic global-warming theory.

Analysts say Russian meteorological stations cover most of the country’s territory, and that the Hadley Center had used data submitted by only 25% of such stations in its reports.
Over 40% of Russian territory was not included in global-temperature calculations for some other reasons, rather than the lack of meteorological stations and observations."

MTA Approves Doomsday Cuts

MTA Approves Doomsday Cuts
"The MTA board has approved its 2010 doomsday budget. It includes service cuts and could leave New York City children without free rides to their public schools if it is implemented.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the nation's largest transportation agency, is facing a $383 million budget shortfall."

Remember this EVERY time a democrat (or anyone else) tells you how much better off we would be if we just had more public transportation.

59% Say Average Government Worker Earns More Than Average Taxpayer - Rasmussen Reports™

59% Say Average Government Worker Earns More Than Average Taxpayer
"Among those who have close friends or relatives who work for the government, the belief is even stronger: 61% say the average government worker earns more than the average taxpayer."

Misusing knowledge to expand government power

Misusing knowledge to expand government power
"Underlying the angry responses in focus groups and tea parties is an appreciation that problems can best be addressed by widely dispersed people with specialized knowledge operating in a predictable framework.
Not by central planners acting in ignorance of or by manipulating specialized knowledge."

Obama’s Gift To Republicans:

Obama’s Gift To Republicans
"PETER WEHNER: Obama’s Gift To Republicans: Their Resurgence.
“From strictly a governing and competence perspective, the health-care process that is unfolding has been one of the worst — and maybe the worst — we have ever seen.
Democrats are pushing for legislation that would take over one-sixth of the American economy — and they are doing it in a manner that insults the memory of Mo, Larry, and Curly.”"

I seem to remember Bill Clinton had the same effect a few years back.

Luggage Limits - Airline Baggage Allowance Policies

Luggage Limits - Airline Baggage Allowance Policies
"FREE Search Tool for Flight-Specific Baggage Information
Detailed baggage allowance information is available on all routes and ticket classes for over 100 airlines! All of the information you need to avoid expensive airline luggage fees is provided along with helpful airport specific links."

(HT Kim Komando today!)

Climategate goes SERIAL: now the Russians confirm that UK climate scientists manipulated data to exaggerate global warming – Telegraph Blogs

Climategate goes SERIAL: now the Russians confirm that UK climate scientists manipulated data to exaggerate global warming
"Climategate just got much, much bigger.
And all thanks to the Russians who, with perfect timing, dropped this bombshell just as the world’s leaders are gathering in Copenhagen to discuss ways of carbon-taxing us all back to the dark ages.
Feast your eyes on this news release from Rionovosta, via the Ria Novosti agency, posted on Icecap. (Hat Tip: Richard North)"

read it!

I came across this phrase yesterday

I came across this phrase yesterday: "FENDER SKIRTS"

(HT to Grampa!)

The fairness problem with cost shifting in health care

Bookworm Room » The fairness problem with cost shifting in health care
"One of the things that ObamaCare proponents keep saying (and please add a whining note in your mind as you read the following) is that “the current system isn’t fair.”
It’s not right, they say, that, in a rich country, some people have premium health care, while others are forced to go to a free clinic or an emergency room (or possibly back to their native Mexico).

What all these fairness proponents forget is that there is nothing fair about socialized medicine."

.....(http://www.zombietime.com/zomblog/?p=1224 )
It’s not just me saying this.
Indeed, even though I had inchoate thoughts on precisely this topic, I didn’t put it together until Zombie sent me a link to a comprehensive article spelling out everything that’s wrong with the universality of universal health care.
Please read it.
Think about it.
Forward it to friends.
Use it as the basis for letters to your Congressman or woman, or as the talking point for a friendly discussion at work

U.S. gave up billions in tax money in deal for Citigroup's bailout repayment

U.S. gave up billions in tax money in deal for Citigroup's bailout repayment
"The federal government quietly agreed to forgo billions of dollars in potential tax payments from Citigroup as part of the deal announced this week to wean the company from the massive taxpayer bailout that helped it survive the financial crisis.....
"The government is consciously forfeiting future tax revenues.
It's another form of assistance, maybe not as obvious as direct assistance but certainly another form," said Robert Willens, an expert on tax accounting who runs a firm of the same name.
"I've been doing taxes for almost 40 years, and I've never seen anything like this, where the IRS and Treasury acted unilaterally on so many fronts."

College Basketball: Highlights and lowlights of the decade - SI.com

The Decade in Sports - SI.com

"BEST SCHOOL: Michigan State

It's hard to go against North Carolina, which went to four Final Fours and won two titles, or Florida, which in 2006-07 became college basketball's first repeat champion in 15 years.
But while the Spartans only won a single championship (in 2000), they also went to four Final Fours.
Moreover, unlike the other two candidates, the Spartans made the NCAA tournament every year this decade.
That is a remarkable achievement in an era when
the best teams so frequently lose young players to the pros."

How lucky we are to have Coach Izzo!

(HT Son-of-MO)

Rep. Valentine's "massacre" of responsibility

West Michigan Reform Review
"State Rep. Mary Valentine (D-
Norton Shores) was one of the few
members who didn’t bother to vote
on a key “Race to the Top”
proposal in the House Education
Committee
this week.
She was present for the
vote, but simply stated “present”
when her name was called out."

And this "bought-and-paid-for" politician wants to be our next state senator? (replacing Jerry Van Woerkom)

Do we really need another apparatchik from the big teacher's union making decisions for us little folks?

(HT OldBlevins)

Report: Nearly 50 percent of Detroit's working-age population is unemployed

Report: Nearly 50 percent of Detroit's working-age population is unemployed
"'Michigan's unemployment rate is 15 percent;
Detroit is 30 percent reported but in reality it's probably close to 50 percent,' Bing told a group as he pitched for aid."

A few observations:
* Imagine the unemployment rate if all those with the wherewithal to leave were still in Detroit...unemployed.
* Read the comments below the article. Not too much love for Detroit or Detroiters.
* Mayor Bing has a fabulous "new" idea to pull Detroit out of its misery.....more of our money. That'll work....right?

(HT Atlanta Lou)

Don’t Cry For Me, America

The Greenroom » Forum Archive » Don’t Cry For Me, America
"In the early 20th century, Argentina was one of the richest countries in the world.
While Great Britain’s maritime power and its far-flung empire had propelled it to a dominant position among the world’s industrialized nations, only the United States challenged Argentina for the position of the world’s second-most powerful economy.........

....In 1902 Argentina was one of the world’s richest countries.

Little more than a hundred years later, it is poverty-stricken, struggling to meet its debt obligations amidst a drought.."

You MUST read this!

(HT Grampa)

Ripping YOU off!

Champion News - Setting the Standard
"One More Reason Why Illinois Needs A 'Fairness In Compensation Act.'

I recently received, via a Freedom of Information Act request, a copy of the most recent teachers' contract with High School District 214 in Arlington Heights, Illinois (see contract here).
What I found was 67 pages of gifts for the teachers at the direct expense of the taxpayers.
This document represents the definition of 'special interests'."

Just some examples.
Read them all and pay up... or do something about now!

Contract Salaries: For 2009, $48,062 (no experience) to $113,907 (18 years or more).

Fringe benefits: Automatic salary increases of 6%/yr each of last 4 years before retirement.

Average compensation: $113,612 or $12,600/mo ($90,112+$15,000+$8500).

Probable Compensation at age 40 (18 years after college graduation): $129,977 or $14,441/mo.

Teachers Work Schedule (see contract pages 17-19):
Contract year: 185 days.
Less 4 personal days and 14 sick days = 167 work days.
Work day: 8 hrs including lunch (7 hrs and 10 minutes if you subtract lunch period)
Work day = 480 minutes broken down as follows:
Five classes/student support = 300 minutes
Fifty (50) minute lunch or free period
Fifty (50) minutes "unassigned"
Eighty (80) minutes "other"

5. Total hours worked per year = 1,197 (167 days times 7hrs and 10 minutes per day).

Read the rest of the article.
It gets worse!

Tom Izzo to Mark Dantonio: 'Keep doing what you're doing'

Tom Izzo to Mark Dantonio: 'Keep doing what you're doing'
"As of Monday afternoon, Ashton Leggett was the only player who had turned himself in. He has a pretrial set for Jan. 13 in East Lansing's 54-B District Court. None of the other eight players charged with misdemeanor assault had turned themselves into East Lansing's 54-B District Court."

Say it ain't so.....

Copenhagen climate summit: Al Gore condemned over Arctic ice melting prediction

Copenhagen climate summit: Al Gore condemned over Arctic ice melting prediction
"However, he faced embarrassment last night after Dr Wieslav Maslowski, the climatologist whose work the prediction was based on, refuted his claims.

Dr Maslowski, of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, told The Times: “It’s unclear to me how this figure was arrived at.

“I would never try to estimate likelihood at anything as exact as this.”

No mention of this on the MSM today.

But lots of tiger!

Hmmm . . . Yet Another Dry Run?: United 227 Sounds Just Like AirTran 297

Hmmm . . . Yet Another Dry Run?: United 227 Sounds Just Like AirTran 297
"For those doubters who mocked me and chose to believe a lying AirTran over passenger Tedd J. Petruna regarding what happened on AirTran Flight 297 on November 17th, you might wanna start mocking the passengers of Wednesday’s United 227, too.
Oh, and maybe you might wanna start calling former NFL coach Mike Shanahan a nut, too.
He was on the flight."

I sort of remember that the airlines promised to protect us ...waay back in ...2001 too.

City quadruples fees for beer tents

City quadruples fees for beer tents
"Concerns over a proliferation of special liquor license events in Muskegon and the strain they cause city staff have led to a quadrupling of fees for 2010.

The Muskegon City Commission this week approved a recommendation of city staff and Mayor Steve Warmington to increase basic special event fees. A temporary liquor license will cost $250 per event, up from $50 this year.

That fee is for applications more than 90 days prior to the event. Applications less than 90 days before an event would cost $350.

The $250 charge is on top of all city special event permits that cost $50 — with or without alcohol."

So it costs the city $300+ to simply process a beer tent application?

And most are repeats from last year?

Meebee we ought to do a look see into what's goin' on at the city? Or not goin' on?

Too bad our newsless "newspaper" is just too busy celebrating color comics to ask any inconvenient questions.

And weddings too!
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2009/12/wedding_on_the_beach_reserve_a.html

World equity value = US medicare debt!

(read the comment!)

2009 Worldwide Bull Market Rally: Stock Markets Gain 60%, $17 Trillion in Value Since Early 2009:


"The value of world stock markets increased by $1.6 trillion in November (data here) to $45.4 trillion, the highest level for total world stock market capitalization since August 2008 (see chart)."


This ought to be great news.
Maybe it is, if true but something got me checking out a familiar number.

$45 trillion.

I did a little checking and voila! (as Sen. John Kerry would say to his foreign comrades)

Medicare Part A has $38-45 trillion in unfunded liabilities.

And that's as of today.

And that's just medicare.

Part A.

So our US government (that's you and me folks) owes almost as much for future medicare bills as the ENTIRE value of EVERY company listed on EVERY stock exchange in the WORLD!

And Obama, Pelosi, Reid and their ilk would spend even more.

Sen. Kerry Will Travel to Copenhagen Global Warming Summit by Commercial Airliner

Sen. Kerry Will Travel to Copenhagen Global Warming Summit by Commercial Airliner
"Kerry believes that global warming is man-made and he is an advocate of the United States participating in a global agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
He backs the idea of paying billions of dollars to help “developing” countries avoid the polluting path allegedly followed by the United States and other “developed” nations"

Same article as below but remember what Kerry and his green allies really want, our money!

Taken by our government tax collectors from each of us and every employer in our country and sent to his "friends" in foreign countries.

Do we really want this to happen?

Lt. Gov. John Cherry's plan to save Michigan Promise scholarships

Lt. Gov. John Cherry's plan to save Michigan Promise scholarships: Fee for water bottlers
"Lt. Gov. John Cherry is floating a plan to save the Michigan Promise scholarship by charging companies 10 cents for every bottle of water produced in the state.
Cherry is scheduled to announce his plan during stops at Grand Rapids Community College and Michigan State University on Monday.
Cherry, who is running for governor, was not available for questions Friday.
But a statement posted on his campaign Web site said the 10-cent fee would raise $118 million.
According to the site, restoring the scholarships for 96,000 students would require $100 million.
The rest would be spent on wetlands regulations and other conservation plans."

This is gonna be great!
Cherry won't charge people or "consumers", he'll get back at those greedy companies!

And it's gonna raise even more money than the children/students need so there's gonna be enough left over for wetlands and conservation!

Wow.....I'm sure glad our Lt Governor didn't mention increasing a "tax" on a company or "price elasticity" or the relationship between goods sold and employment or other spending/saving options for the "extra $16 million.

Imagine if the incurious media (which reported this story with glowing admiration) had asked if Michigan companies really need another $116 million tax right now.......naa, that would be mean to the children and wetlands.......

If you want a fatter, more anti-business/jobs, unionist Granholm, Cherry is da man!

Sen. Kerry Will Travel to Copenhagen Global Warming Summit by Commercial Airliner

Sen. Kerry Will Travel to Copenhagen Global Warming Summit by Commercial Airliner
"Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) will travel to the United Nations global warming conference in Copenhagen, Denmark on a commercial airliner, a senior Kerry aide told CNSNews.com.

“The senator expects to travel commercially as he has to past climate conferences,” the aide said, adding that the details of Kerry’s travel arrangement were contingent upon the Senate’s schedule."

The hypocrisy and phoniness of this man, and his "green" comrades, is stunning.

And the media.......willing enablers, as ever.

Incredibly, I find myself wishing the republicans were pushing the "Gorebal Warming" religion.

At least then the media might do some fact checking and exposing of rampant duplicity.

Richard Muller: Naked Copenhagen

Richard Muller: Naked Copenhagen
"Every 10% cut in the U.S. is negated by one year of China's growth.

By 2040 China could be the most economically dominant nation on earth.
The West might be able to cajole it, but won't be able to impose sanctions on China. Temperature will be at the mercy of the newly powerful economies.

Moreover, an expensive effort to reduce Western emissions sets a worthless example.
Only emissions cuts that provide measurable economic benefit to the developing nations will be adopted by them.
If the 80% U.S. emissions cut winds up hurting the U.S. economy, it guarantees China will never follow our example.

Cheap green energy is not going to be easy.
Coal is dirt cheap, and China has been installing a new gigawatt coal plant each week—enough to supply five completely new cities the size of New York every year."

From Awful to Worse

From Awful to Worse
"In most ways, the new proposal is as terrible as Reid's original bill.
It would spend hundreds of billions on a new entitlement even as our debt is mounting, inflict massive tax increases on a troubled economy, impose costly mandates on employers at a time of high unemployment, squeeze money out of Medicare without fixing the program, insert the government in countless new ways between doctors and patients, and cause millions of middle-class families to lose the employer-based insurance they have today and pay even higher premiums.

But in one crucial respect, the new proposal is far worse than the last one."

Sarah Palin and William Shatner do dueling dramatic readings on Conan.

VIDEO: Sarah Palin and William Shatner do dueling dramatic readings on Conan.
Interestingly, Palin gets lots of applause from the Tonight Show audience."

more:
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/2009/12/arctic-fox-delivers-nuclear-pimp-slap.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ReaganiteRepublicanResistance+%28The+Reaganite+Republican+%29

The 40 Biggest Stinkers of the Decade (10-1) - Inside Movies

The 40 Biggest Stinkers of the Decade

Oooeeee.....

The Ten Brands That Will Disappear In 2010

The Ten Brands That Will Disappear In 2010
"24/7 Wall St. has prepared its list of the ten brands that will disappear in 2010."

A lot of familiar names.

Can the GOP Win Back the House?

Can the GOP Win Back the House?:
"Michigan 7 (Schauer), Michigan 9 (Peters)"

Two democrat Michigan Reps. at risk!

Politically Incorrect Images

Politically Incorrect Images

These are funny!

State puts Muskegon Heights on notice to eliminate debt or go into receivership

State puts Muskegon Heights on notice to eliminate debt or go into receivership
"The Michigan Treasury Department has given the city of Muskegon Heights five years to eliminate a $620,000 budget deficit or risk going into state receivership."

Former BOE Official Buiter Says Greece May Be First EU Default

Former BOE Official Buiter Says Greece May Be First EU Default
"Former Bank of England policy maker Willem Buiter said Greece may be the first major country in the European Union to default on its debts since the aftermath of World War II.
“It’s five minutes to midnight for Greece,”"

Revenge of the Computer Nerds

Revenge of the Computer Nerds
"But the real action (and the evidence for chicanery) is in the computer code obtained from the CRU.
Our own computer guru Marc Sheppard, writing for American Thinker here and here, was one of the first to offer an accurate diagnosis of this fraudulent method of computer programming.
Analyzing the code, as Marc has indicated in his work, is a complex business.
As he pleads in one article, 'please bear with me while I get a tad techie on you.'


For the layman readers of American Thinker, I want to explain in a simple manner what went on in the construction of one piece of the controversial programming."
Read this and understand the criminal hoax that AlGore and his comrades have perpetrated on the entire world.

Moody's lowers Illinois bond rating

Moody's lowers Illinois bond rating
"In a shuddering preview of what's in store for the U.S., Moody's Investor Services lowered the state of Illinois' bond ratings on Tuesday reports Karen Pierog of Reuters.

Illinois's bond ratings are now the second lowest of all 50 states, trailing only the # 1 holder of this dubious honor--California."

TIME's Top 10 Scandals of 2009 - TIME

TIME's Top 10 Scandals of 2009 - TIME

No mention of CLIMATEGATE?!!!!!!!

The TSA makes another stupid move

The Wandering Aramean: The TSA makes another stupid move
"When the TSA make mistakes this egregious it really isn’t all that hard to pick on them."

99 US Senators voted to create this abomination.
Remember that, forever!
(HT AtlantaLou)

PLUNDER: NEW BOOK EXPOSES POWER OF UNIONS

PLUNDER: NEW BOOK EXPOSES POWER OF (public sector) UNIONS
"Steven Greenhut has just released his book, aptly titled Plunder!
How Public Employee Unions Are Raiding Treasuries Controlling Our Lives and Bankrupting the Nation.

Readers who have high blood pressure are advised to take a double dose of medication before opening this book.

For the vast majority of ordinary citizens who toil in the private sector, this book will produce more than outrage – it is likely to spur many to take up the cause of stopping these corrupting influences on our systems of governance."

Mind-Blowing Airplane Stunts - Photo Gallery, 44 Pictures - LIFE

Mind-Blowing Airplane Stunts

The Obama Recovery In Full Effect: Deficits Running 25% Higher Than Highest Estimates

The Obama Recovery In Full Effect: Deficits Running 25% Higher Than Highest Estimates
"Red ink: the government is drowning in it.
The first two months of fiscal 2010 set a new record.
Curiously, this report was issued late Friday -- the slowest news day -- and it has been completely ignored by state-run media."

Tea Party Tops GOP on Three-Way Generic Ballot

Tea Party Tops GOP on Three-Way Generic Ballot
"Running under the Tea Party brand may be better in congressional races than being a Republican.

In a three-way Generic Ballot test, the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds Democrats attracting 36% of the vote.
The Tea Party candidate picks up 23%, and Republicans finish third at 18%.
Another 22% are undecided.

(TeaParty+GOP=45%)

Among voters not affiliated with either major party, the Tea Party comes out on top.
Thirty-three percent (33%) prefer the Tea Party candidate, and 30% are undecided.
Twenty-five percent (25%) would vote for a Democrat, and just 12% prefer the GOP."

(TeaParty+GOP=45%)

Does the GOP leadership have a clue?

(HT http://conservativeinmuskegon.blogspot.com/)

This CBS holiday promo from 1966 would never be done today

Here's a subtle, beautiful "Season's Greetings" promo from CBS in 1966. This would never happen in 2009, of course. It's not loud or wacky enough. But wouldn't it be a nice breather in between people getting killed on Criminal Minds and people getting killed on CSI: NY? And can you imagine what sort of good will CBS would generate if they showed something like this again? TV fans would love it.

A letter to a senator

Do you remember the scene? The Senate. Barbara Boxer hearing from a Brigadier General? Silly General! He addresses Barbara as "Ma'am", and she CORRECTS him in front of millions of people, telling him she's "worked SO hard to earn the title, "Senator", so please to use that when speaking to her.


Get a load of this letter!


Read the letter sent to Sen. Barbara Boxer from an Alaskan Airlines pilot below.

Many of us witnessed the arrogance of Barbara Boxer on June 18, 2009 as she admonished Brigadier General Michael Walsh because he addressed her as "ma'am" and not "Senator" before a Senate hearing.


This letter is from a National Guard aviator and Captain for Alaska Airlines named Jim Hill. I wonder what he would have said if he were really angry. Long fly Alaska !!!!!



Babs:

You were so right on when you scolded the general on TV for using the term, "ma'am," instead of "Senator". After all, in the military, "ma'am" is a term of respect when addressing a female of superior rank or position. The general was totally wrong. You are not a person of superior rank or position.. You are a member of one of the world's most corrupt organizations, the U.S. Senate, equaled only by the U.S. House of Representatives.


Congress is a cesspool of liars, thieves, inside traders, traitors, drunks (one who killed a staffer, yet is still revered), criminals, and other low level swine who, as individuals (not all, but many), will do anything to enhance their lives, fortunes and power, all at the expense of the People of the United States and its Constitution, in order to be continually re-elected. Many democrats even want American troops killed by releasing photographs. How many of you could honestly say, "We pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor"? None? One? Two?


Your reaction to the general shows several things. First is your abysmal ignorance of all things military. Your treatment of the general shows you to be an elitist of the worst kind.. When the general entered the military (as most of us who served) he wrote the government a blank check, offering his life to protect your derriere, now safely and comfortably ensconced in a 20 thousand dollar leather chair, paid for by the general's taxes. You repaid him for this by humiliating him in front of millions.


Second is your puerile character, lack of sophistication, and arrogance, which borders on the hubristic. This display of brattish behavior shows you to be a virago, termagant, harridan, nag, scold or shrew, unfit for your position, regardless of the support of the unwashed, uneducated masses who have made California into the laughing stock of the nation.


What I am writing, are the same thoughts countless millions of Americans have toward Congress, but who lack the energy, ability or time to convey them. Regardless of their thoughts, most realize that politicians are pretty much the same, and will vote for the one who will bring home the most bacon, even if they do consider how corrupt that person is. Lord Acton (1834 - 1902) so aptly charged, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely."


Unbeknownst to you and your colleagues, "Mr. Power" has had his way with all of you, and we are all the worse for it.

Finally Senator, I, too, have a title. It is "Right Wing Extremist Potential Terrorist Threat." It is not of my choosing, but was given to me by your Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano. And you were offended by "ma'am"?


Have a fine day. Cheers!

Jim Hill

16808 - 103rd Avenue Court East

South Hill , WA 98374

(HT IdahoMan)

CARPE DIEM: More Evidence on Why Ethanol Really IS More Than Just Hype, It's "Dangerous, Delusional Bullshit"

CARPE DIEM: More Evidence on Why Ethanol Really IS More Than Just Hype, It's "Dangerous, Delusional Bullshit"

Deciphering the Mohammed Trial | STRATFOR

Deciphering the Mohammed Trial
Long but well worth you time.
Look for the term "reciprocal liability".

(HT to Jon)

the most comfortable...

the most comfortable...
"'For Sale - beautiful pink 'vagina couch' that I made in art school and no longer have space for."

Drunkest Guy Ever

Drunkest Guy Ever

The Web Discloses Inconvenient Climate Truths

The Web Discloses Inconvenient Climate Truths
"Over the weekend, East Anglia officials disclosed they had disposed years ago of the historic weather data underlying their analysis.
This may be one reason they've fought information requests."

Reason to be grateful Obama appointed gay porn-purveyor Jennings as Safe Schools Czar

Reason to be grateful Obama appointed gay porn-purveyor Jennings as Safe Schools Czar
"the “Safe School Czar” is........ a career gay man who is devoted to ensuring that children as young as five or six are exposed to a steady stream of sexual information that may help them get in contact with their homosexual side.
.....Jennings has very close ties to NAMBLA, an organization that actively works to legalize pedophilia.

The latest hit against Jennings is a report at Gateway Pundit.
This report details the way in which Jennings’ gay/education/political activism group, GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network), actively pushes schools to include in their reading lists extremely sexually explicit books aimed at kids in the 7th through 12th grades.
And when I say sexually explicit, I’m not talking about coy allusions to hand-holding, kissing and warm fuzzy feelings.
Gateway Pundit carefully documents precisely the kind of material Jennings’ organization wants your children to read.
It is graphic.
No child — gay, straight, confused, whatever — should be reading this kind of material.
The listed books include pornographic pictures, descriptions of sado-masochistic acts, graphic descriptions of sexual acts, etc."

This is the man Obama has appointed as our children's "Safe-Schools" czar.
Is anyone listening?

A doggy Christmas surprise - Karácsonyi kutyás meglepetés

"Our dogschool's presentation group made a surprise video for Christmas. It is our first work of this kind, but we are planning more. Enjoy and spread! :)"

Doggone great Christmas to all!

no caption needed.....

New jobless claims fall unexpectedly because last week had only 3 working days, but we won't mention that last part too much

New jobless claims fall unexpectedly because last week had only 3 working days, but we won't mention that last part too much
"Last week was Thanksgiving, meaning most offices were closed on Thursday and Friday yielding only a 3-day workweek.
So you have to figure there were 2 fewer days to file for unemployment benefits for those that either can't or just don't use a computer to do so.
The expected result is that new unemployment claims were down last week (duh!), which was apparently unexpected by the AP, as is apparent by this headline over at The Detroit News: New jobless claims fall unexpectedly.
It's not until the 4th paragraph that you get to know what really happened:"

And now the "free" press is negotiating with Obama's minions for a bailout.

We are screwed!

Sen. Boxer and ClimateGate

Sen. Boxer and ClimateGate:
"Gangsters always get antsy when threatened with exposure of their rackets, and Climate Fraud is a hell of a racket, a grand bargain among greedy science whores, malevolent government officials and a supine but protective media – Americans who get their news from The New York Times or the networks basically have no idea what we’re talking about here – who are all in this together."

Alinsky Does Afghanistan

Alinsky Does Afghanistan

"First, the president is an Alinskyite, so steeped in the ideology of the seminal community organizer that he became a top instructor in Alinskyite tactics for other up-and-coming radicals.
As David Horowitz explains in an essential new pamphlet, Barack Obama’s Rules for Revolution: The Alinsky Model, Alinksyites are fifth-column radicals.
They have, in substance, the same goals as open revolutionaries: overthrowing the existing free-market republic and replacing it with a radical’s utopia."

If you support Obama's agenda, please tell me where this "utopia" exists.

(HT to Atlanta Lou)

Another Passenger Confirms AirTran Flt. 297 Dry Run

Another Passenger Confirms AirTran Flt. 297 Dry Run

more confirmation of the post below.

Another Muslim Hijacking Dry Run?: If True, Tedd Petruna’s My New Hero; UPDATE: CONFIRMED

Another Muslim Hijacking Dry Run?: If True, Tedd Petruna’s My New Hero

UPDATE: CONFIRMED:

This chilling story has been confirmed.
Read it and click the confirmation links.
Far more chilling than the behavior of the islamics is the timid, cowardly response by the TSA and those others who we depend on to protect our families.
If this isn't a warning that we may be in the 21st century's version of 1936....then I don't know what it is.
Read it and pass it on.

Long story short….

One week ago, I went to Ohio on business and to see my father. On Tuesday, November the 17th, I returned home. If you read the papers the 18th you may have seen a blurb where a AirTran flight was cancelled from Atlanta to Houston due to a man who refused to get off of his cell phone before takeoff. It was on Fox.

This was NOT what happened.

I was in 1st class coming home. 11 Muslim men got on the plane in full attire. 2 sat in 1st class and the rest peppered themselves throughout the plane all the way to the back.

As the plane taxied to the runway the stewardesses gave the safety spiel we are all so familiar with. At that time, one of the men got on his cell and called one of his companions in the back and proceeded to talk on the phone in Arabic very loudly and very aggressively. This took the 1st stewardess out of the picture for she repeatedly told the man that cell phones were not permitted at the time. He ignored her as if she was not there.

The 2nd man who answered the phone did the same and this took out the 2nd stewardess.

In the back of the plane at this time, 2 younger Muslims, one in the back, isle, and one in front of him, window, began to show footage of a porno they had taped the night before, and were very loud about it.

Now….they are only permitted to do this prior to Jihad.

If a Muslim man goes into a strip club, he has to view the woman via mirror with his back to her. (don’t ask me….I don’t make the rules, but I’ve studied)

The 3rd stewardess informed them that they were not to have electronic devices on at this time.

To which one of the men said “shut up infidel dog!”

She went to take the camcorder and he began to scream in her face in Arabic.

At that exact moment, all 11 of them got up and started to walk the cabin.

This is where I had had enough!

I got up and started to the back where I heard a voice behind me from another Texan twice my size say “I got your back.”

I grabbed the man who had been on the phone by the arm and said “you WILL go sit down or you Will be thrown from this plane!”

As I “led” him around me to take his seat, the fellow Texan grabbed him by the back of his neck and his waist and headed out with him.

I then grabbed the 2nd man and said, “You WILL do the same!”

He protested but adrenaline was flowing now and he was going to go.

As I escorted him forward the plane doors open and 3 TSA agents and 4 police officers entered.

Me and my new Texan friend were told to cease and desist for they had this under control.

I was happy to oblige actually.

There was some commotion in the back, but within moments, all 11 were escorted off the plane.

They then unloaded their luggage.

We talked about the occurrence and were in disbelief that it had happen, when suddenly, the door open again and on walked all 11!!

Stone faced, eyes front and robotic (the only way I can describe it). The stewardess from the back had been in tears and when she saw this, she was having NONE of it! Being that I was up front, I heard and saw the whole ordeal. She told the TSA agent there was NO WAY she was staying on the plane with these men. The agent told her they had searched them and were going to go through their luggage with a fine tooth comb and that they were allowed to proceed to Houston . The captain and co-captain came out and told the agent “we and our crew will not fly this plane!” After a word or two, the entire crew, luggage in tow, left the plane. 5 minutes later, the cabin door opened again and a whole new crew walked on.

Again…..this is where I had had enough!!! I got up and asked “What the hell is going on!?!?” I was told to take my seat. They were sorry for the delay and I would be home shortly. I said “I’m getting off this plane”. The stewardess sternly told me that she could not allow me to get off. (now I’m mad!) I said “I am a grown man who bought this ticket, who’s time is mine with a family at home and I am going through that door, or I’m going through that door with you under my arm!! But I am going through that door!!” And I heard a voice behind me say “so am I”. Then everyone behind us started to get up and say the same. Within 2 minutes, I was walking off that plane where I was met with more agents who asked me to write a statement. I had 5 hours to kill at this point so why the hell not. Due to the amount of people who got off that flight, it was cancelled. I was supposed to be in Houston at 6pm. I got here at 12:30am.

Look up the date. Flight 297 Atlanta to Houston .

If this wasn’t a dry run, I don’t know what one is. The terrorists wanted to see how TSA would handle it, how the crew would handle it, and how the passengers would handle it.

I’m telling this to you because I want you to know….

The threat is real. I saw it with my own eyes….

-Tedd Petruna

Obama bumps Christmas Special

I wonder how much advertising revenue is lost every time Obama supercedes regular TV programing to give another political bla-bla speech or "televised "summit".

This week our "christian" president bumped "The Charlie Brown Christmas Special" off the air to blather on with his socialist supporters about how many new or saved jobs he's gonna get us.

So cancell a Christmas special, force TV stations to lose advertising money and keep kids and families from watching Charlie Brown enjoy Christmas on TV.

When is this going to get "old" for all those millions of unemployed Americans?

Employer-Paid=Taxpayer paid

Employer-Paid Humbug!
"Meanwhile, at least a third of California's municipal employers and a large number of other public employers across the country continue to pay their employees' share of pension costs, and require no contributions whatsoever for retiree medical benefits.

Their pension funding behaviors are the exact opposite of private-sector employers, who have cut back on employer 401(k) contributions during this recession.

.... the ideal ratio of employer-employee cost shares for retirement benefits is a number close to 50-50.

..........generally speaking, there is no justification for any public employee paying less than one-third of his true costs of retirement plan benefits."

States Take on "Double Dipping" Retirees

States Take on "Double Dipping" Retirees
"Some states are looking to prevent public employees from 'double dipping' – collecting pension benefits while still holding a government job, according to a USA Today report Thursday.

In some areas, government employees are allowed to 'retire' in order to begin collecting retirement benefits only to quickly return to work, and their normal paychecks.
But for many states battered by the economy, that loophole must be closed."

This is an outrage that we sheep allow.
it's time to e-mail every representative on your e-blast list.
It ought to be non-partisan.... but it ain't.

The demo-crooks ALL love it.

And so do ALL the RINOs.

Let's make a ruckus!

CARPE DIEM

CARPE DIEM: "Associate's Degrees: 167 for women for every 100 for men.

Bachelor's Degrees: 142 for women for every 100 for men.

Master's Degrees: 159 for women for every 100 for men.

Professional Degrees: 104 for women for every 100 for men.

Doctoral Degrees: 107 for women for every 100 for men."

Prison escapee's sentence may be commuted by Michigan Parole Board

Prison escapee's sentence may be commuted by Michigan Parole Board
"Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said he received notice from the Michigan Parole Board that Hart's sentence may be commuted.
He hasn't reviewed her entire case, but said he may be opposed to the commutation.
'Seems to me you don't reward someone who escapes,' he said"

West Michigan Republicans propose all public employees -- including teachers -- pay 15 percent of health-care costs

West Michigan Republicans propose all public employees -- including teachers -- pay 15 percent of health-care costs
"West Michigan Republicans have introduced legislation requiring all public employees -- those in local and state government, public schools and legislators -- to ante up at least 15 percent of their health-care costs."

White House Blocks Testimony on Party Crashers

White House Blocks Testimony on Party Crashers
"The White House on Wednesday invoked the separation of powers to keep Desiree Rogers, President Obama’s social secretary, from testifying on Capitol Hill about how a couple of aspiring reality television show celebrities crashed a state dinner for the prime minister of India last week."

Security incident aboard AirTran Flight 297 suggests terror “Dry Run”

Security incident aboard AirTran Flight 297 suggests terror “Dry Run”
"On November 17, an incident took place aboard AirTran Flight 297 scheduled to fly from Atlanta Hartsfield Airport to Houston that the media does not want to cover and everyone from the airline to the TSA and other government agencies want to keep very quiet."

crouching_tiger

Lucianne.com News Forum - crouching_tiger
: "We have to rely on China for the real story?"

click the link:
http://lucianne.com/article/?pageid=crouching_tiger

Walker, Grandville police announce plan to pay students $50 to report underage drinking

Walker, Grandville police announce plan to pay students $50 to report underage drinking
"To help root out underage drinking, the Walker and Grandville police departments are teaming up with the Walker-Grandville Area Action Coalition, a partnership of about 15 churches, schools and community groups to discourage teens from downing booze and challenge the perception that drinking is cool.
The coalition announced its campaign Wednesday afternoon at Kenowa Hills High School, saying it will urge students to report instances of underage drinking to Silent Observer at 774-2345 or (866) 774-2345 or silentobserver.org.
Students whose tips are true will earn $50."

$50 bucks a snitch?
Wil they issue those nifty brown shirts too?
This'll work out great....right?

Six Important Facts About the Assault Charges Three Navy SEALs Face for Doing Their Jobs

Six Important Facts About the Assault Charges Three Navy SEALs Face for Doing Their Jobs
"As my first investigative reporting effort related to the SEALs’ case, I offer six important facts about the case you’re likely not to read about in the mainstream media supplied to me by a source whom I cannot name inside the Pentagon:

1) The charges or accusations against the three Navy SEALs were not made from within the SEAL community. Sources tell me they came from someone within the Navy’s Master-at-Arm community.

2) The SEALs were presented with the option of going to Captain’s Mast for these charges but declined this form of non-judicial punishment and opted for court-martial instead. Why? Because they did not want to be judged by those outside of the SEAL community and believed the court-martial route would assure them the representation necessary to prove their innocence.
3) At no time did anyone within the Naval Special Warfare community have any control over these accusations or events other than providing advice or guidance to the accused SEALs.

4) The integrity of the chain of custody of the prisoner is at question.

5) There are extenuating circumstances that indicate there is questionable evidence in some of the accusations made.

6) Evidence will come out in a court-martial that might not have come out in a Captain’s Mast in favor of the accused SEALs."

The World's 18 Strangest Roads

The World's 18 Strangest Roads

Climategate: Science Is Dying

Climategate: Science Is Dying
"What is happening at East Anglia is an epochal event."

The Late, Great State of California

The Late, Great State of California
"California, contrary to popular opinion, is not broke.
It's only crazy, mean and at war with itself.
You may have noticed that the governor and legislators of the Golden State finally produced a 'balanced' budget with a deficit in double-digit billions.
But, hey, who's counting?"

World's Tallest - Oddee.com

World's Tallest - Oddee.com

CARPE DIEM: The Greatest Scientific Scandal of Our Age

CARPE DIEM: The Greatest Scientific Scandal of Our Age

Need to know about pension crisis

Need to know about pension crisis

Most taxpayers in Illinois are paying about 15.3 percent of their income for retirement benefits when they reach 65 years of age (social security and Medicare).

Government employees are paying an average of 8.8 percent for retirement benefits at 55 years of age (pensions and health insurance).

Cook Co. retirees concerned about pension plan

Cook Co. retirees concerned about pension plan

Who will pay while they retire and collect free money and rich-guy health care?

7 stories Obama doesn't want told

7 stories Obama doesn't want told