The psychology of the housing mess - Opinion - USATODAY.com: "The crisis is compounded by what psychologists call 'loss aversion.' The real estate market is by no means immune to this phenomenon. Numerous studies have shown that humans hate losses much more than they like gains. This means that losing $1,000 hurts you about twice as much as winning $1,000 makes you feel good. In the stock market, investors hold on to losers longer than winners, even though there are tax incentives to do just the opposite.
How does this play out in the housing market? Reluctant to take less for their houses than their neighbor got just a year ago, sellers tend to keep their houses on the market for far too long. So even as the market began to go south, people foolishly failed to budge."
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Palestinians: Carter Achieved Nothing
Palestinians: Carter Achieved Nothing
"Recent talks between former president Jimmy Carter and a militant leader failed to make much of a difference in Gaza, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said Wednesday."
"Recent talks between former president Jimmy Carter and a militant leader failed to make much of a difference in Gaza, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said Wednesday."
Antarctic Deep Sea Gets Colder
Antarctic Deep Sea Gets Colder: "At the same time satellite images from the Antarctic summer have shown the largest sea-ice extent on record"
12,491 total alcohol-related crashes
TBO.com - News From AP: "In the past decade, the number of impaired drivers involved in alcohol-related crashes has remained relatively stable - from 12,348 in 1996 to 12,491 in 2006. Those figures cover drivers with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher.
The federal government also released estimates of driving under the influence of illicit drugs. The rates were highest in the District of Columbia, 7 percent; Rhode Island, 6.8 percent; and Massachusetts, 6.4 percent."
If the 12,491 number is accurate, it sure seems like a lot of energy spent on a relatively small problem.
The federal government also released estimates of driving under the influence of illicit drugs. The rates were highest in the District of Columbia, 7 percent; Rhode Island, 6.8 percent; and Massachusetts, 6.4 percent."
If the 12,491 number is accurate, it sure seems like a lot of energy spent on a relatively small problem.
The Editors on Ethanol on National Review Online
The Editors on Ethanol on National Review Online: "Congress has created an artificial demand for ethanol to satisfy the farm lobby, which is one of the most powerful in Washington. To make matters worse, almost every major candidate for president in the last 20 years has supported ethanol subsidies because of the program’s importance in the capital of corn, Iowa, which holds the nation’s first presidential caucuses."
Obama’s Real Bill Ayers Problem
Obama’s Real Bill Ayers Problem
"Ayers’s politics have hardly changed since his Weatherman days. He still boasts about working full-time to bring down American capitalism and imperialism. This time, however, he does it from his tenured perch as Distinguished Professor of Education at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Instead of planting bombs in public buildings, Ayers now works to indoctrinate America’s future teachers in the revolutionary cause, urging them to pass on the lessons to their public school students."
All being paid for with our tax dollars!
Ain't America great?
Not to Obama's buddies......
"Ayers’s politics have hardly changed since his Weatherman days. He still boasts about working full-time to bring down American capitalism and imperialism. This time, however, he does it from his tenured perch as Distinguished Professor of Education at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Instead of planting bombs in public buildings, Ayers now works to indoctrinate America’s future teachers in the revolutionary cause, urging them to pass on the lessons to their public school students."
All being paid for with our tax dollars!
Ain't America great?
Not to Obama's buddies......
Tuition outrage at MSU!
Tuition at MSU could go up 7 percent for fall '08
"Students at Michigan State University could face a 7 percent tuition increase this fall, according to preliminary budget materials released by the university."
That increase, which would put average annual tuition at about $10,300, would be one of the lower ones of recent years. MSU has upped tuition by double-digit percentages twice since 2003.
An additional $12.6 million has been proposed to pay for faculty salary increases, an average 4.5 percent increase, in order to make them more competitive with salaries at other Big Ten schools. MSU salaries currently rank ninth out of 11.
"We don't want to have a compensation program that causes a brain drain," Simon said.
Is there no limit to the brain drain of Michigan taxpayers?
"Students at Michigan State University could face a 7 percent tuition increase this fall, according to preliminary budget materials released by the university."
That increase, which would put average annual tuition at about $10,300, would be one of the lower ones of recent years. MSU has upped tuition by double-digit percentages twice since 2003.
An additional $12.6 million has been proposed to pay for faculty salary increases, an average 4.5 percent increase, in order to make them more competitive with salaries at other Big Ten schools. MSU salaries currently rank ninth out of 11.
"We don't want to have a compensation program that causes a brain drain," Simon said.
Is there no limit to the brain drain of Michigan taxpayers?
Atlantic City votes to ban smoking on floor of casnios
Atlantic City votes to ban smoking on floor of casnios
"Atlantic City leaders have voted to ban smoking on the gambling floor of all casinos."
"Atlantic City leaders have voted to ban smoking on the gambling floor of all casinos."
Farmers Market getting its spring cleaning
Farmers Market getting its spring cleaning
"Friends of the Muskegon Farmers Market will roll up their sleeves and do a little spring cleaning from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the market, 700 Yuba.
Anyone in the mood to volunteer is invited to join the Friends to paint stall tops, sweep parking lots, pick up winter trash and do general cleaning to get the market ready for its May 3 opening.
The city of Muskegon, which owns the market....."
"Friends of the Muskegon Farmers Market will roll up their sleeves and do a little spring cleaning from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the market, 700 Yuba.
Anyone in the mood to volunteer is invited to join the Friends to paint stall tops, sweep parking lots, pick up winter trash and do general cleaning to get the market ready for its May 3 opening.
The city of Muskegon, which owns the market....."
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Shirley Temple breaks arm on eve of 80th birthday | Entertainment | People | Reuters
Shirley Temple breaks arm on eve of 80th birthday Entertainment People Reuters: "Shirley Temple Black, one of the most popular child stars in Hollywood history, marks her 80th birthday on Wednesday but plans a subdued day at home because of a recent accident.
'I broke my arm last week at my house, it hurts quite a bit,' she told Reuters on Tuesday."
'I broke my arm last week at my house, it hurts quite a bit,' she told Reuters on Tuesday."
Bombed Syrian reactor was nearly complete
Bombed Syrian reactor was nearly complete
"The Bush administration will tell Congress tomorrow that a nuclear facility in Syria built with North Korean help was nearly complete when Israel bombed it in September, and that Pyongyang has not provided any further nuclear assistance to the hard-line Arab nation, at least at that site, U.S. officials said."
"The Bush administration will tell Congress tomorrow that a nuclear facility in Syria built with North Korean help was nearly complete when Israel bombed it in September, and that Pyongyang has not provided any further nuclear assistance to the hard-line Arab nation, at least at that site, U.S. officials said."
Senate Republicans kill pay discrimination bill
Senate Republicans kill pay discrimination bill:
"Republicans in the Senate have killed a bill that would have removed limits on how long workers can wait before suing their employers for pay discrimination....
So important was the bill to Democrats that Majority Leader Harry Reid delayed the vote until dinnertime to allow Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama to cast votes and, for the first time in months, speak on the Senate floor. Republican presidential candidate John McCain did not attend the vote.
Opponents said the bill would cause a flood of lawsuits. Democrats said it was needed to help employees to recoup lost wages."
Classic liberal "journalism" avoiding the "how did they vote" minutia.
GordoM will help!
B.Hussein and Mrs Bill voted to have unending time limits for lawsuits against employers.
Like... forever dude....
If you were "dissed" 45 years ago, call a democrat check-writing-class-action-lawyer and cash in baby!
B. Hussein and Mrs Bill voted for the bill.
Sen. McCrook didn't have to vote because there were enough votes to defeat the bill.
No wonder "newspapers" are dying.
"Republicans in the Senate have killed a bill that would have removed limits on how long workers can wait before suing their employers for pay discrimination....
So important was the bill to Democrats that Majority Leader Harry Reid delayed the vote until dinnertime to allow Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama to cast votes and, for the first time in months, speak on the Senate floor. Republican presidential candidate John McCain did not attend the vote.
Opponents said the bill would cause a flood of lawsuits. Democrats said it was needed to help employees to recoup lost wages."
Classic liberal "journalism" avoiding the "how did they vote" minutia.
GordoM will help!
B.Hussein and Mrs Bill voted to have unending time limits for lawsuits against employers.
Like... forever dude....
If you were "dissed" 45 years ago, call a democrat check-writing-class-action-lawyer and cash in baby!
B. Hussein and Mrs Bill voted for the bill.
Sen. McCrook didn't have to vote because there were enough votes to defeat the bill.
No wonder "newspapers" are dying.
Bad News on North Korea
Bad News on North Korea:
"This has not been a good few weeks for the North Korean nuclear accord, which Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice apparently hopes will be one of her signature achievements. First came word that Pyongyang would not deliver the full and complete listing of its nuclear activities that had previously been agreed to. The State Department, desperate to clinch a deal, would not allow this blatant noncompliance to sink the agreement.
Now comes word, via this Wall Street Journal report, that the intelligence community will confirm for Congress what is already widely suspected–that the Syrian site bombed last September by Israel was a plutonium-producing nuclear reactor being built by North Korea."
"This has not been a good few weeks for the North Korean nuclear accord, which Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice apparently hopes will be one of her signature achievements. First came word that Pyongyang would not deliver the full and complete listing of its nuclear activities that had previously been agreed to. The State Department, desperate to clinch a deal, would not allow this blatant noncompliance to sink the agreement.
Now comes word, via this Wall Street Journal report, that the intelligence community will confirm for Congress what is already widely suspected–that the Syrian site bombed last September by Israel was a plutonium-producing nuclear reactor being built by North Korea."
Is Condi turning into Maddie?
Great Lakes water supply at risk
Author says Great Lakes water supply at risk
"Great Lakes need better protections against future water diversions that could hurt the lakes' ecosystems and the region's economy. Current rules governing water diversions from the lakes are dysfunctional,"
Water wars will be bigger than energy wars over the next 20 years.
"Great Lakes need better protections against future water diversions that could hurt the lakes' ecosystems and the region's economy. Current rules governing water diversions from the lakes are dysfunctional,"
Water wars will be bigger than energy wars over the next 20 years.
Ethanol Effect causing worldwide FOOD riots!
"Food riots caused by rising food prices have erupted around the world. Five people died in uprisings in Haiti, perhaps the first of many casualties to come from the fad of being 'green."
It uses more energy than it produces.
It raises food prices worldwide.
It results in less oil for the world.
And it increases our cost of gasoline.
(click on the ear to see the entire story)
Global warning
Stop the world!
A Muskegon teenager will go to trial on felony assault charges for throwing a classroom globe at a tutor."
A Muskegon teenager will go to trial on felony assault charges for throwing a classroom globe at a tutor."
"So Diamond, you'd prefer to watch a video....?"
“Gay” Sex Kills
“Gay” Sex Kills:
Can you imagine officials at a middle school, junior high or high school setting aside a day to promote “tolerance” for heavy smoking and drinking among children?
"admitting that “HIV is a gay disease,” Matt Foreman, outgoing Executive Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, acknowledged what the medical community has known for decades: the homosexual lifestyle is extremely high-risk and often leads to disease and even death."
Can you imagine officials at a middle school, junior high or high school setting aside a day to promote “tolerance” for heavy smoking and drinking among children?
"admitting that “HIV is a gay disease,” Matt Foreman, outgoing Executive Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, acknowledged what the medical community has known for decades: the homosexual lifestyle is extremely high-risk and often leads to disease and even death."
Sunspots and a possible new ice age (updated)
Sunspots and a possible new ice age (updated)
"There is some serious evidence accumulating that we may be on the brink of not just global cooling, but an ice age.
Sunspots are historically correlated with temperature on earth. During the Dalton Minimum, beginning in 1790, the number of sunspots was low, as the earth's climate turned cold for a few decades. At http://www.spaceweather.com/ you can see live images of the sun taken from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory in space. Right now there is but one tiny sunspot."
"There is some serious evidence accumulating that we may be on the brink of not just global cooling, but an ice age.
Sunspots are historically correlated with temperature on earth. During the Dalton Minimum, beginning in 1790, the number of sunspots was low, as the earth's climate turned cold for a few decades. At http://www.spaceweather.com/ you can see live images of the sun taken from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory in space. Right now there is but one tiny sunspot."
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Photos of Paris under Nazi occupation draw fire
"Photos of carefree Parisians lazing in cafes, flocking to cinemas or enjoying a day at the races during the Nazi occupation have sparked outrage in Paris and calls for the exhibit to be shut down.
The 270 unpublished photographs by Andre Zucca, a French photographer who worked for the Nazi propaganda magazine Signal, are billed as the only major collection of color pictures taken during the four years of the Paris occupation."
The 270 unpublished photographs by Andre Zucca, a French photographer who worked for the Nazi propaganda magazine Signal, are billed as the only major collection of color pictures taken during the four years of the Paris occupation."
You'd think this would be scary to the Froggies. Maybe substitute burqas or hijabs for the Nazi heads and see what happens?
BBC NEWS Father fined for overfilling bin
"Mr Corkhill, who shares a house with his partner and three children and also has a child from a previous relationship, said the authority recently switched from weekly to fortnightly refuse collections, but added that the supplied bins were not big enough to cope.
He added: 'I could not believe I had been fined for putting rubbish in a bin."
He added: 'I could not believe I had been fined for putting rubbish in a bin."
His trash can was "overfilled" and his penalty is $500!
In Chicago, fears of a long, bloody summer - CNN.com
In Chicago, fears of a long, bloody summer - CNN.com: "Nine people were killed in 36 shootings over the weekend in Chicago, reflecting what some community leaders say is a deadly breakdown in discipline among gang members after a crackdown over the past few years put many of their leaders behind bars."
Understand that neither the UN nor any other country supports the Bush administration in the pacification of Chicago.
Understand that neither the UN nor any other country supports the Bush administration in the pacification of Chicago.
The Case for Ending Ethanol Subsidies
The Case for Ending Ethanol Subsidies
"Congress mandated the production of 9 billion gallons of ethanol or other renewable fuels this year; that number will gradually increase until it reaches 36 billion gallons in 2022. In addition, ethanol producers receive a tax break of 51 cents a gallon, and corn growers receive huge subsidies that may increase in the next farm bill."
"Congress mandated the production of 9 billion gallons of ethanol or other renewable fuels this year; that number will gradually increase until it reaches 36 billion gallons in 2022. In addition, ethanol producers receive a tax break of 51 cents a gallon, and corn growers receive huge subsidies that may increase in the next farm bill."
Earth Daze, Courtesy Of Al Gore
Earth Daze, Courtesy Of Al Gore:
"This Earth Day finds the world threatened not by rising sea levels, but by rising food prices. Many on the planet are more likely to starve than drown, and we have only Gore's disciples to blame."
"This Earth Day finds the world threatened not by rising sea levels, but by rising food prices. Many on the planet are more likely to starve than drown, and we have only Gore's disciples to blame."
Whirlpool plant suspends 39 workers for lying about smoking
Whirlpool plant suspends 39 workers for lying about smoking: "Whirlpool Corp.'s Evansville, Ind., plant has suspended 39 workers for smoking while claiming on their health insurance they were nonsmokers."
Arrest warrant issued for woman charged with prostitution
Arrest warrant issued for woman charged with prostitution: "An arrest warrant has been issued for a Westland woman whom police say was paid for sex by Senator Debbie Stabenow's husband."
No arrest for the john?
Oh, yeah. He's already served his time in hell.... husband of Big Deb.
No arrest for the john?
Oh, yeah. He's already served his time in hell.... husband of Big Deb.
Brown: food crisis is global threat
Brown: food crisis is global threat:
"British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says rising food prices pose as great a threat to world prosperity as the global credit crunch. And he's warning that spiraling prices could reverse any progress being made to ease poverty in developing countries."
This is almost entirely driven by ethanol and the enviro-looney lobby.
"British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says rising food prices pose as great a threat to world prosperity as the global credit crunch. And he's warning that spiraling prices could reverse any progress being made to ease poverty in developing countries."
This is almost entirely driven by ethanol and the enviro-looney lobby.
Crews work to repair turtle fence in Muskegon
Crews work to repair turtle fence in Muskegon: "Taxpayer money will not be used to make the repairs. Instead the insurance companies of the drivers who damaged the fence must pay for the work. The federal funding for the fence itself was specifically earmarked for an environmental project."
I guess some earmarks are better than others!
I guess some earmarks are better than others!
Obama's Waffle Controversy - TalkLeft: The Politics Of Crime
Obama's Waffle Controversy - TalkLeft: The Politics Of Crime: "Obama just doesn't give the press much access, sometimes shutting them down for weeks at a time. Why? Does this make sense to anyone else as a campaign strategy? I'm baffled by it."
Happy Earth Day!
I travelled down to Grand Haven to buy REAL fertilizer, not the Muskegonized version.
Meijers only has the zero phosphate (Muskegonized) fertilizer.
Good old Walmart has both types.
Ummm, better living through chemistry!
Many hope for Clinton and Obama on one ticket, except the candidates themselves - International Herald Tribune
Many hope for Clinton and Obama on one ticket, except the candidates themselves - International Herald Tribune: "Alternatively, would the poll-obsessed Clintons want to wake up in the White House residence in 2009 and read about Vice President Obama's sky-high popularity ratings, and how they make her look like his stern old lady?"
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