Ummm. Don't farmers have to get up early. And work REAL long hours? ------Detroit teen's urban farming vision to roll down Woodward in Thanksgiving Parade

Oh, I get it. 
It's about getting grants and government funding. 
That's the ticket!

Detroit teen's urban farming vision to roll down Woodward in Thanksgiving Parade | Detroit Free Press | freep.com:
"On Monday, Cook, an eighth-grader at the Henry Ford Academy School for Creative Studies, smiled from ear to ear as she saw for the first time “Michigan Farms on City Streets,” a float constructed by the Parade Company that features children shopping for gigantic stalks of corn, super-sized sunflowers and other overgrown fruits and vegetables sprouting from a pink and purple truck."

OMG! USA Today finally sees the disaster to come! Rein in reckless public pensions

Rein in reckless public pensions: Our view

One lesson is that public disgust with government — and particularly government spending — includes anger over the unaffordable sweetheart deals that states and localities signed with public employee labor unions, a core Democratic constituency.

..Fueling taxpayers' anger is that they are financing benefits no longer available to most private-sector workers. 

Some state and local government workers can retire in their 50s, after 33 years of service, and continue drawing the same income.

Estimates for the total shortfall of public pensions start at about $700 billion. 

In 2011, the Congressional Budget Office said that $2 trillion to $3 trillion was more accurate. Even a long bull market won't make the problem go away.

In Western Europe, the average jobless rate is twice as high in countries with a minimum wage vs. those with no minimum

In Western Europe, the average jobless rate is twice as high in countries with a minimum wage vs. those with no minimum | AEIdeas:

Politically, it's not good to be more unpopular than chlamydia......

OK. If it's an "investment", ought we not see a return on our investment? Democratic lawmakers lead panel discussion on education reform in Muskegon

Democratic lawmakers lead panel discussion on education reform in Muskegon | MLive.com:
"“Education is not simply an expense, it’s an investment,” Whitmer said.
“Every dollar we invest in education, we get returns over and over again.
What we’ve seen in the last three years is unprecedented cuts to our schools.
We need to not just cut the pie different ways; we need to make a bigger pie.”"

...The proposal calls for disclosure of the amount of taxpayer dollars actually spent on classroom instruction.

........ For one, the lack of school funding is impacting contract negotiations and straining relationships between teachers and administrators.”

It's not just the power. It's the people that power attracts.

$115,731/yr and he Can't Be Fired?!!!! --------DHS Still Hasn't Fired Black Supremacist Who Called for Mass Murder of Whites

DHS Still Hasn't Fired Black Supremacist Who Called for Mass Murder of Whites - NationalJournal.com

The black-nationalist Department of Homeland Security employee who was placed on leave almost four months ago for running a website that espouses the mass murder of whites has still not been fired, an agency spokesperson told National Journal.

..Kimathi, using the online nom de guerre "the Irritated Genie," called for "ethnic cleansing" of "black-skinned Uncle Tom race traitors" on his website, which envisioned a massive race war on the horizon. "In order for Black people to survive the 21st century, we are going to have to kill a lot of whites—more than our Christian hearts can possibly count," he wrote.

In other postings, he warned that whites and their enablers like President Obama are trying to "homosexualize" black men in order to make them weaker, and suggested that a woman's primary role in life should be to "keep a strong Black man happy." He also seemed to hold anti-Semitic views, claiming in a Facebook post that his website was under attack from a conspiracy of "zionist smallhats, the Uncle Tom koons," and, naturally, "the haters."

Kimathi, who has been at DHS since 2009, works for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and made$115,731 in 2012.
Civil service laws make it difficult for the federal government to fire employees.

Detroit-ization=Financial SUICIDE------Muskegon city officials fight to keep on top of 'legacy costs'

And they underfund on purpose!
Muskegon city officials fight to keep on top of 'legacy costs' | MLive.com:
"As a city with a $24 million general fund, Muskegon only has total unfunded legacy costs of $10.3 million for projected retiree pensions and health care coverage.
That is $269 in financial liability for every one of the city’s 38,401 residents.

Compared to other Muskegon County municipalities, Muskegon is in pretty good shape.
Fruitport Township with a $1.7 million liability equaling $143 for each of its residents leads the county local units of government and the city of Norton Shores has the biggest legacy hurdle with $51 million in costs equaling $2,141 per resident, according to the MSU study as reported by Bridge."

Detroit's new race war? Will downtown Detroit be a white enclave?

Finley: Will downtown Detroit be a white enclave? | The Detroit News

The divide around here once was between Detroit and the suburbs.
Now, in the words of race warrior Shirley Stancato, it’s becoming between “downtown and those other people.”

The other people the New Detroit head is talking about live in Detroit’s rapidly disintegrating neighborhoods.
They’re largely African-American, and a high percentage are poor.
Downtown, meanwhile, is a magnet for creative and upwardly mobile young people of both races, but the tilt is heavily toward whites.

“It’s an issue,” says Stancato, whose organization is dedicated to closing the racial divide.

“It’s a symptom of concerns that are just underneath the surface.”

The resentment broke through during the recent Detroit mayoral campaign.
The downtown vs. neighborhoods conflict became a sub-theme that both candidates had to address on the campaign trail.

How could it not?
Downtown seems immune to Detroit’s broken finances.
It’s booming thanks to private investments and its sudden emergence as a cool city for young people to live and work in.

Private dollars take care of everything from street clean-up to security within the downtown and Midtown zones.

Turning our schools into eco-madrassas-----Man-Made Global Warming Discussions Heating Up in Michigan

Man-Made Global Warming Discussions Heating Up in Michigan [Michigan Capitol Confidential]:
"The Michigan Department of Education is considering discussing in the "near future" a state standard for science that some say would teach that climate change is man-made and factual.
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are being promoted as a new, nationwide curriculum for how science should be taught in grades K-12, and have been met with plenty of controversy."

"Climate change" confab not going well in Warsaw| Human Events

"Climate change" confab not going well in Warsaw | Human Events:
"Japan’s target is shifting from a 25 percent reduction to a 3 percent increase over the 1990 baseline?
That’s pretty dramatic.
Responses range from “disappointment” in the European Union, to “regret” by the United Nations, to “dismay” from China.
”Climate activists” conducted themselves in accordance with the usual rituals of their primitive, nonsensical religion, by eating sushi over the simulated dead bodies of Typhoon Haiyan victims, who the cult believes were actually killed by the Angry Sky Gods of global warming.  
Remember, global warming causes all bad weather, and also causes the absence of bad weather.
The Angry Sky Gods are fearsome even when you catch them in rare good humor."

Guy Builds Ten Weapons With Products Purchased After Getting Through Airport Security

Guy Builds Ten Weapons With Products Purchased After Getting Through Airport Security | Techdirt
So, who's behind this? Apparently, it's a security researcher named Evan Booth who explains that he sent all of these examples to the TSA. He also explains his response to the obvious question: "but what if the terrorists see these videos?"

That’s a great question. An even better question is: What if they already know all this? All of these findings have been reported to the Department of Homeland Security (TSA) to help them better detect these types of threats. Furthermore, the next time you fly, you’ll be flying as a more informed consumer (and taxpayer, possibly) — one who is more equipped to demand better, more appropriate airport security.

Which, of course, is really the point. Pretending that keeping this info secret makes people safer means believing that if you don't know about a security hole it goes away.

Treasury Forced to Issue $1T in New Debt in First 6 Weeks of FY14

Treasury Forced to Issue $1T in New Debt in First 6 Weeks of FY14 | CNS News:
"Between Oct. 1, 2013, the first day of fiscal 2014, and Nov. 14—which was less than a month after Congress agreed to temporarily suspend the legal limit on the federal debt—the Treasury was forced to issue more than $1 trillion in new debt.
During that time, according to the Daily Treasury Statement, the Treasury issued $1,014,215,000,000 in new bills, notes, bonds and other securities.
The government needed this $1,014,215,000,000 to cover government obligations and expenses that exceeded the $255,080,000,000 it raked in through tax revenues during the same six-week period."

Protect yourself. Or depend on Obama-----Survival Basics – Water | The Prepper Journal

Survival Basics – Water | The Prepper JournalThe Prepper Journal:
"Apartment dwellers have additional problems but you may already have a great storage space built-in and that is your bathtub.
As soon as you know you will need it, and hopefully not too late, fill your bathtub up with water.
Optionally, you could purchase a waterBOB (http://www.waterbob.com/Information.do;jsessionid=B60587CA7C7C9DE3E813F2FE90FBEE7D? forward=home) which can hold up to 100 gallons and eliminates having to screen your water for hair or tub grime."

School cancels Christmas toy drive for needy children after atheist group threatens to sue

Poor Richard's News - School cancels Christmas toy drive for needy children after atheist group threatens to sue:
 "Yet another spineless public school official is caving under pressure from atheist bullies.
East Point Academy, a public elementary charter school in Cayce, South Carolina, has participated in a Christmas toy drive for needy children for the past several years with no complaints from students or parents.  This year, an outside group is threatening to sue the school if it continues it’s Christmas charity. "

OMG! He's lost Gloria Borger AND Time magazine: Obama’s “No Drama” Credo Led to the ACA Website Disaster

Gloria Borger: Obama’s “No Drama” Credo Led to the ACA Website Disaster | TIME.com
And yet, as the dry-runs continued to produce red flags—over and over—the president remained in his steely cocoon.
If this were the presidency of George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan, the obvious theories would abound: the chief executive is disengaged.
Or incurious.
Or worse.
But since Obama is none of the above, what gives?

Folks, they'll NEVER quit unless we break 'em down! The best nanny state order ever?

The best nanny state order ever? « Hot Air:
"Sweden’s Ice Hotel has been ordered by the National Housing Board to install fire alarms, despite being made completely out of frozen water.
The Ice Hotel, which is rebuilt every year in northern Sweden out of enormous chunks of ice from the Torne River in Jukkasjärvi, Kiruna, will this year come equipped with fire alarms – and the irony isn’t lost on the staff."

""There’s really not much left to add, I suppose. 
Except to say that if you built one in New York, they’d probably need the same equipment plus about 500 union sign-offs before you could erect it. "

Why doesn't Obama take 'em over...ObamaGrub! ---Spartan Stores goes silent amid store closings, questions where headquarters will be located

Spartan Stores goes silent amid store closings, questions where headquarters will be located | MLive.com: "The company hasn’t responded to MLive or other media inquiries to answer those questions or inquiries about plans to close four Michigan stores: a Family Fare store in Grand Ledge and the VG’s Grocery stores in Burton, Flint Township and Shelby Township.
There’s good reason the public company hasn’t been talking, says James Carey, a business law professor at Cooley Law School.
Staying silent is the best way to stay clear of running afoul of federal regulations enforced by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and upsetting shareholders who need to approve the deal.
...News reports have confirmed the pending closures through employees and a WARN notice filed with the state."

They may be funny...but they're NOT our friends.

This smells BAD! ----Risk Calculator for Cholesterol Appears Flawed

Risk Calculator for Cholesterol Appears Flawed - NYTimes.com:
"Last week, the nation’s leading heart organizations released a sweeping new set of guidelines for lowering cholesterol, along with an online calculator meant to help doctors assess risks and treatment options.
But, in a major embarrassment to the health groups, the calculator appears to greatly overestimate risk, so much so that it could mistakenly suggest that millions more people are candidates for statin drugs.
The apparent problem prompted one leading cardiologist, a past president of the American College of Cardiology, to call on Sunday for a halt to the implementation of the new guidelines.

“It’s stunning,” said the cardiologist, Dr. Steven Nissen, chief of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic.
“We need a pause to further evaluate this approach before it is implemented on a widespread basis.”

▶ Hitler's health insurance is cancelled - YouTube

▶ Hitler's health insurance is cancelled - YouTube: ""

'via Blog this'

Remember this next time they start the "only cops should have guns" ploy----City officials: Phone lines down at Muskegon City Hall

City officials: Phone lines down at Muskegon City Hall | MLive.com:
"MUSKEGON, MI -- For Muskegon residents attempting to reach officials at the city hall building this morning, including those at the department of public works office or police department, it may be awhile before that’s possible.
City officials said a “major fiber cut” on Apple Avenue this morning, Nov. 18, caused connectivity and phone line issues for Muskegon City Hall."

And the (dead) beat goes on in Detroit----Little work at theater, but fed aid still flows

Little work at theater, but fed aid still flows | The Detroit News
Detroit— The developer who promised to renovate the last remnant of downtown’s turn-of-the-century theater district a dozen years ago has done so little on the building the city is trying to seize the historic property.
Still, the Detroit City Council and the emergency manager have awarded the company $3.3 million in new federal tax dollars for more development.

So How Many Died At Watergate?

JustOneMinute: So How Many Died At Watergate?:
"And a third view - Bush was at least instrumental in leading the rebuilding effort after Katrina; the jury is out on ObamaCare.
And for those scoring at the Yglesias home, we have managerial scandals and debacles ranked by immediate bodycount:
Katrina
Benghazi
Fast and Furious (US dead only)
Chappaquiddick
Watergate/ObamaCare/Whitewater/Iran-Contra (tie).

 And do let's note - a standard lib talking point during the promotion of Obamacare was that access to health insurance saves lives. 
Dare we presume that failure to implement Obamacare thereby costs lives, eventually if not by this weekend?

Ezra Klein was talking about 15,000 to 20,000 lives per year, which dwarfs the 1,833 who died at Katrina."

Union fiscal thuggery-Bidnez as usual for ObamaCare's Union Favor

Review & Outlook: ObamaCare's Union Favor - WSJ.com:
"There's no conceivable rationale—other than politics—for releasing union-only plans from a tax that is defined as universal in the Affordable Care Act statute. 
Like so many other ObamaCare waivers, this labor dispensation will probably turn out to be illegal.
And by the way, this favor harms all other taxpayers.
The IRS assesses the reinsurance tax in annual tranches; it must collect $12 billion in 2014, $8 billion in 2015 and $5 billion 2016.
So the smaller pool of ordinary people without a union card will pay a larger individual share of the same overall amount."

"Detroit Disease" metastasizes to suburbs---To keep streetlights on, metro Detroit communities send the bill to residents

To keep streetlights on, metro Detroit communities send the bill to residents | Detroit Free Press | freep.com: "Lincoln Park City Manager Joseph Merucci said the council held public hearings before approving the measure, which will bring in about $590,00 a year, just shy of the $620,000 the service costs the city.
.......Merucci said Lincoln Park’s predicament — the city is undergoing a financial review by the state treasury and has seen its property tax valuations drop 44% in five years — requires drastic action."

Obama's america---Georgia restaurant told to remove flags honoring USA, troops

Georgia restaurant told to remove flags honoring USA, troops | Fox News:
"A Georgia restaurant owner has been ordered to remove the patriotic flags flying above his eatery, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.
Darren Miller, owner of CJ’s Hot Dogs in McDonough, was cited on Friday by a code enforcement officer for flying flags above his restaurant that honor the military.
The restaurant, Fox 5 reports, is dedicated to police officers, firefighters and those serving in the military and Miller says it’s his right to pay tribute to each group -- both inside and outside his restaurant.

Folks we're not just broke. We pay morons like this $146,50/yr! We're stupid------Anti-GOP MSU Professor Will Be Back in the Classroom Next Semester

Video here:http://www.campusreform.org/Video/?ID=5035

Anti-GOP MSU Professor Will Be Back in the Classroom Next Semester [Michigan Capitol Confidential]

MSU Spokesman Kent Cassella said in an email this week that, "Professor William Penn will be assigned to teach two small courses next semester in creative writing. 

..........A state GOP spokesman said a one-semester, paid suspension wasn't enough and Penn should have been dismissed.

........Penn's $146,510 a year salary puts him ahead of some of the state's top officials for pay. Penn earns more per year than does Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, Attorney General Bill Schuette, and Secretary of State Ruth Johnson. 

Another moronic "idea" from the "Yes, we can" folks-------Snyder challenger Schauer calls for raising minimum wage to $9.25

Snyder challenger Schauer calls for raising minimum wage to $9.25 | Crain's Detroit Business:
"Democrat Mark Schauer is proposing to raise Michigan's minimum wage to $9.25 an hour over three years and automatically tie future increases to inflation, saying he would make hiking the $7.40 wage a top priority if elected governor next year."

The same crap happens here, but our media is more helpful to the crooks----Philippine corruption magnifies effects of typhoon

My Way News - Philippine corruption magnifies effects of typhoon:
"TACLOBAN, Philippines (AP) -
"I'm not going to mince words," said Mel Fernandez, the editorial adviser for the Filipino Migrant News.
"We would like every cent to reach those poor people there rather than getting waylaid."
Corruption is a concern after any major natural disaster, as millions of dollars in cash and goods rush in from around the world.
But those worries are especially acute in the Philippines, where graft has been a part of life for decades."

The end of the scam? Federal Judge: Michigan Renewable Energy Mandate Unconstitutional

Federal Judge: Michigan Renewable Energy Mandate Unconstitutional [Michigan Capitol Confidential]:
Court battles over the Colorado and Minnesota renewable energy mandates could potentially mark the beginning of the end for similar laws in other states, including Michigan.
In June, Judge Richard Posner of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Court wrote that Michigan's in-state renewable energy mandate violates the Commerce Clause and is therefore unconstitutional."

Holi crapoli! She won't be happy until we're ALL dead------Oprah: Racists Have to Die for Racism to End

Oprah: Racists Have to Die for Racism to End | NewsBusters:
"Oprah Winfrey, one of the wealthiest people in the world, is throwing the race card again.
During an interview with the BBC Friday, she not only said that President Obama is treated with disrespect because he’s black, but also that entire generations of racists are going to have to die for racism to end (video follows with transcript and commentary):"

Highland Park mayor shot at Detroit night club

Highland Park mayor shot at Detroit night club | MLive.com:
"DETROIT, MI - Highland Park Mayor Deandre Windom was shot Sunday morning at a downtown Detroit night club, according to multiple reports.
WXYZ 7 Action News reports that Windom was shot at Key Club, located at 1440 Franklin St., just before 2 a.m. as bouncers were clearing people out of the bar."

Hmmm. Barry and his Russian friends vs the CIA and Pentagon-----A Russian GPS Using U.S. Soil Stirs Spy Fears - NYTimes.com

A Russian GPS Using U.S. Soil Stirs Spy Fears - NYTimes.com:
"In recent months, the Central Intelligence Agency and the Pentagon have been quietly waging a campaign to stop the State Department from allowing Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, to build about half a dozen of these structures, known as monitor stations, on United States soil"

Hypocrisy, thine name is Democrat------Democrat Wants Amnesty so Illegal Immigrants Can Enroll in Obamacare

Democrat Wants Amnesty so Illegal Immigrants Can Enroll in Obamacare:
"A Colorado Democrat who wanted Obamacare waivers for some of the country's wealthiest patrons of ski resorts wants the law's individual mandate to apply to today's illegal immigrants, which can only happen if they are given a pathway to citizenship."

OMG! He's lost the Detroit Free Press! Health care deductibles a shock to Michigan consumers

Health care deductibles a shock to Michigan consumers | Detroit Free Press | freep.com:
"Six weeks after the troubled rollout of the Michigan Health Insurance Marketplace, the Obama administration may be facing a new challenge: consumer anger at high deductibles in plans that were supposed to be the most affordable.
In southeast Michigan, deductibles in most of the 14 bronze plans listed on the marketplace — those with lower premiums — top $5,000 for a single person and $10,000-$12,000 for a family. Insurance won’t kick in until those out-of-pocket costs are met."

Why Detroit's lights went out, and how the city plans to get them back on

Why Detroit's lights went out, and how the city plans to get them back on | Detroit Free Press | freep.com: "The thousands of inoperable streetlights in the city and miles of darkened neighborhoods and thoroughfares are some of the most visible emblems of Detroit’s mismanagement and decades-long decline.
As many as 40% of the city’s 88,000 street and alley lights are estimated to be out. 
That astounding figure, adopted by Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr and routinely cited by national and international news media, has led to some comparisons of city services to that of a Third World country."

Man buys house next to ex-wife, erects middle finger statue

Man buys house next to ex-wife, erects middle finger statue - Fox 2 News Headlines:
"Orchard Lake, Mich. (WJBK) -
Nothing quite communicates the wrath of a scorned lover like the middle finger.
But in Bloomfield Hills, this middle finger is loud and proud - in the form of a near 12-foot high statue one man erected next door to his ex-wife.
Alan Markovitz recently moved into the home where the statue was erected, which happens to be next to the home where his ex-wife now lives with her new lover, whom she reportedly had an affair with while being married to Markovitz.
...The installation of the statue also included a spotlight to keep the message illuminated at all hours of the day.
Markovitz owns three strip clubs in Detroit recently wrote a book about his entrepreneurship, which is reportedly being turned into a TV reality series on Cinemax."

I'm thinkin' this is gonna be a long read---Flint police to post online daily crime reports starting next week

Flint police to post online daily crime reports starting next week | MLive.com:
"FLINT, MI – Flint’s new police Chief James Tolbert said a move next week will be a step toward restoring the public’s confidence in his department.
Major crimes throughout the city will be posted on its website on a day-by-day basis, Tolbert said."

Listen carefully-----Another 'Obama Lied' Euphemism About Obama's 'Cherished' Law, This Time From AP: 'Inflated Promises'

Another 'Obama Lied' Euphemism About Obama's 'Cherished' Law, This Time From AP: 'Inflated Promises' | NewsBusters:
"In a Saturday evening writeup whose purpose seemed to be to reassure Americans that they will come to accept the government forcing you to buy state-approved health insurance just as they have other government mandates and intrusions (wait til you see the parallels he attempts), the AP reporter told readers that the left's "you can keep it" guarantee was just one of many "inflated promises""

On NOW--WKBZ-Noon to 1:00---Oath Keepers: Potentially the most lethal and dangerous of all the new 'Patriot' groups

Oath Keepers: Potentially the most lethal and dangerous of all the new 'Patriot' groups | Crooks and Liars:
"That's clear from reading Justine Sharrock's in-depth piece on the Oath Keepers for Mother Jones, a must-read.
As Sharrock makes clear, one of the more disturbing aspects of this group is that it has the effect of radicalizing the very people who are supposed to be upholding the law and protecting us from violent extremists:
There are scores of patriot groups, but what makes Oath Keepers unique is that its core membership consists of men and women in uniform, including soldiers, police, and veterans.
At regular ceremonies in every state, members reaffirm their official oaths of service, pledging to protect the Constitution—but then they go a step further, vowing to disobey "unconstitutional" orders from what they view as an increasingly tyrannical government."

Yes. It's ALL about money. Someone else's money.------Demanding "climate justice" and providing "financing for climate change mitigation and adaptation measures"

Racism is thee but not me-----ESPN Host: 'I Use N-Word All Day Every Day'

ESPN Host: 'I Use N-Word All Day Every Day':
"“I love my teammates like family, but I’m DONE standing up for these N-----s!
All this s--t does is cost me money.”
Kornheiser asked Wilbon about the public use of the racial slur.
Wilbon, an African-American said, "People can be upset with me if they want, I, like a whole lot of people, use the N-word all day, every day, my whole life.""

Check out the 10 smartest cities in North America

Check out the 10 smartest cities in North America | Rare:
#1-Seattle
But how do you explain this?

Hey Seattle, This Is Why Everyone Thinks You’re Crazy

Who's leading in a Seattle city council race? Why, a socialist, of course!

http://pjmedia.com/lifestyle/2013/11/14/hey-seattle-this-is-why-everyone-thinks-youre-crazy/

The West Coast has a pretty solid reputation for leftist politics. Calling some of their more kooky leftists “socialist” is a bit of a cliche, but let’s face it — there’s so much truth to the stereotype. Take Seattle, for example. This is the city where police passed out Doritos to attendees of the annual Hempfest, where Occupy protesters dumped $5,000 out a hotel window, where lawmakers closed a budget deficit with $5 billion in tax hikes. And now this year, we have a literal socialist making inroads in a city council election.

Following the latest ballot count Tuesday night, Kshama Sawant had a 41-vote lead over 16-year incumbent Richard Conlin.
Given Washington state’s mail-in voting system, a winner won’t be named for days or even weeks after the Nov. 4 election.
Still, the strong showing by Sawant, a college economics professor and prominent figure in Seattle’s Occupy Wall Street movement, has surprised many people.[...]

This year, Sawant’s platform includes raising the minimum wage to $15.00/hour, rent control, and levying higher taxes on millionaires to pay for public works. She has seized on what she calls “economic inequality” to get the attention of her fellow leftists:

“This is one of wealthiest cities in the wealthiest country in the world,” she said. “For people to struggle for basic needs is absurd.”

City Council races are technically non-partisan in Seattle. Sawant, however, made sure people knew she was running as a Socialist, a label that would ensure defeat in many areas of the country.

The last time a self-declared Socialist ran for office in Seattle was 1991, when Yolanda Alaniz emerged from the primary in second place but was easily defeated in the general election.

“There were certainly populist candidates,” said Cline, the city archivist. “I don’t think any of them you could remotely call Socialist. Certainly there has never been anybody who has run as strongly as Sawant has.”

Go figure. At a time when the rest of the country appears to be turning more toward conservatism, we can count on Seattle to keep the stereotype of the loony Left Coast alive.

If You Liked ObamaCare, You’ll Love ClimateCare

If You Liked ObamaCare, You’ll Love ClimateCare - Reason.com:
"Using figures derived from a May 2013 Congressional Budget Office report on the economic effects of a carbon tax, an auction price of nearly $60 per ton would boost the price of a gallon of gasoline by 60 cents per gallon and the average price of electricity by about 48 percent.
The average household consumes just over 1,000 gallons of gasoline annually. Increasing the price of a gallon of gas from the current average of $3.20 to $3.80 would raise household gasoline expenditures by $600 per year. Similarly, average annual household electric bills more rise by more than $600."

Auctioning off emissions permits was not enough. The original Obama Climate Plan would have required that the United States obtain 25 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources—wind, solar, geothermal, and so on—by 2025. 
Nuclear and natural gas were not mentioned. 
As it happens, in 2012, solar, geothermal, and wind energy generated 0.11, 0.41, and 3.46 percent respectively of electric power in the United States. 
A recent Information Technology and Innovation Foundation study estimated that replacing all U.S. fossil fuel power by 2030 would cost each American household nearly $5,700 per year. 
Extrapolating from that, the earlier Obama electric power renewable fuel mandate would result in an increase in household electricity costs on the neighborhood of $570 per year.

Obama’s sorry story - OMG! He's lost the NY Daily News

Obama’s sorry story  - NY Daily News:
A mere 27,000 of those enrolled through the feds’ notorious HealthCare.gov site — less than 1,000 for each of the 34 states it serves. 
Obama says that dismal showing will be history after all the mega-glitches are fixed and people figure out the complexities of health policies. 
Just you wait and see, they’ll rush to buy then, Obama insists.

But, of course, he must.

High-End Homes: Historic cottage offers the best of Saugatuck's two seasons | MLive.com

High-End Homes: Historic cottage offers the best of Saugatuck's two seasons | MLive.com: