Reduce electricity usage
"The economy is beginning to show glimmers of recovery. But it will continue to drag for months.
You've probably slashed your budget. Luxuries are in the rearview mirror.
But savings are still possible. For example, look at your electricity bill. Maybe you can cut that.
Many electronics go into standby mode when they're not in use. That means they continue to draw power.
Unplugging them can save you money each month. This may seem like a lot of trouble. But you'll be surprised how much electricity they use.
That's what today's Cool Site shows. It also has tips to help cut standby power. Your wallet will thank you!
standby.lbl.gov
"
Thursday, April 30, 2009
I guess Obama knows about the Tea Parties *now*
I guess Obama knows about the Tea Parties *now*.
"Obama targets tea bags at town hall
At his 100th-day town hall meeting in St. Louis Wednesday, President Barack Obama took direct aim at the anti-tax “tea party” demonstrations that have cropped up over the last month and took a veiled shot at the Fox News Channel, the cable news network closely associated with the protests.
[snip]
“Those of you who are watching certain news channels on which I’m not very popular, and you see folks waving tea bags around, Obama said, “let me just remind them that I am happy to have a serious conversation about how we are going to cut our health care costs down over the long term, how we are going to stabilize Social Security.”"
Yeah right....
"Obama targets tea bags at town hall
At his 100th-day town hall meeting in St. Louis Wednesday, President Barack Obama took direct aim at the anti-tax “tea party” demonstrations that have cropped up over the last month and took a veiled shot at the Fox News Channel, the cable news network closely associated with the protests.
[snip]
“Those of you who are watching certain news channels on which I’m not very popular, and you see folks waving tea bags around, Obama said, “let me just remind them that I am happy to have a serious conversation about how we are going to cut our health care costs down over the long term, how we are going to stabilize Social Security.”"
Yeah right....
Gettelfinger Motors - WSJ.com
Gettelfinger Motors
"The biggest losers here are GM's bondholders. According the Treasury-GM debt-for-equity swap announced Monday, GM has $27.2 billion in unsecured bonds owned by the public.
These are owned by mutual funds, pension funds, hedge funds and retail investors who bought them directly through their brokers.
Under Monday's offer, they would exchange their $27.2 billion in bonds for 10% of the stock of the restructured GM. This could amount to less than five cents on the dollar.
The Treasury, which is owed $16.2 billion, would receive 50% of the stock and $8.1 billion in debt -- as much as 87 cents on the dollar.
The union's retiree health-care benefit trust would receive half of the $20 billion it is owed in stock, giving it 40% ownership of GM, plus another $10 billion in cash over time. That's worth about 76 cents on the dollar, according to some estimates.
In a genuine Chapter 11 bankruptcy, these three groups of creditors would all be similarly situated -- because all three are, for the most part, unsecured creditors of GM. And yet according to the formula presented Monday, those with the largest claim -- the bondholders -- get the smallest piece of the restructured company by a huge margin."
Why would ANYONE invest in an American corporate bond today?
Is capitalism truly dead?
"The biggest losers here are GM's bondholders. According the Treasury-GM debt-for-equity swap announced Monday, GM has $27.2 billion in unsecured bonds owned by the public.
These are owned by mutual funds, pension funds, hedge funds and retail investors who bought them directly through their brokers.
Under Monday's offer, they would exchange their $27.2 billion in bonds for 10% of the stock of the restructured GM. This could amount to less than five cents on the dollar.
The Treasury, which is owed $16.2 billion, would receive 50% of the stock and $8.1 billion in debt -- as much as 87 cents on the dollar.
The union's retiree health-care benefit trust would receive half of the $20 billion it is owed in stock, giving it 40% ownership of GM, plus another $10 billion in cash over time. That's worth about 76 cents on the dollar, according to some estimates.
In a genuine Chapter 11 bankruptcy, these three groups of creditors would all be similarly situated -- because all three are, for the most part, unsecured creditors of GM. And yet according to the formula presented Monday, those with the largest claim -- the bondholders -- get the smallest piece of the restructured company by a huge margin."
Why would ANYONE invest in an American corporate bond today?
Is capitalism truly dead?
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Talking Michigan Politics Podcast: Huntsman civil union debate, Bouchard rumors in Michigan governor's race, and Hoekstra's air time - Talking Politics
Talking Michigan Politics Podcast: Huntsman civil union debate, Bouchard rumors in Michigan governor's race, and Hoekstra's air time - Talking Politics: "In the 'Guess who's not invited to Kent County edition of the podcast...', Grand Rapids Press Politics Editor Jeff Cranson and Press Editorial Page Editor Ed Golder discuss ...
• The controversy that erupted when Kent County Republican Chairman Joanne Voorhees uninvited Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to town because he came out in favor of civil unions.
Huntsman, a likely"
• The controversy that erupted when Kent County Republican Chairman Joanne Voorhees uninvited Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to town because he came out in favor of civil unions.
Huntsman, a likely"
THE OBAMA DOCTRINE - New York Post
THE OBAMA DOCTRINE - New York Post: "AFTER a mere 100 days, the 'Obama Doctrine' for our foreign and security poli cies has emerged. And it's terrifying.
The combination of dizzying naivete, dislike of our allies, disdain for our military, distrust of our intelligence services and distaste for our own country promises the worst foreign policy of our lifetimes.
That includes President Jimmy Carter's abysmal record of failure."
The combination of dizzying naivete, dislike of our allies, disdain for our military, distrust of our intelligence services and distaste for our own country promises the worst foreign policy of our lifetimes.
That includes President Jimmy Carter's abysmal record of failure."
Phoenix leads nation in home price declines in February - Phoenix Business Journal:
Phoenix leads nation in home price declines in February
"Phoenix home prices fell 35 percent from February 2008 to February 2009, according to the new S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index. That’s the largest decline of any of the 20 largest cities in the U.S. In addition, Phoenix home prices are down 51 percent from their peak."
I guess they didn't check out Muskegon.
Bummer homeowners.
"Phoenix home prices fell 35 percent from February 2008 to February 2009, according to the new S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index. That’s the largest decline of any of the 20 largest cities in the U.S. In addition, Phoenix home prices are down 51 percent from their peak."
I guess they didn't check out Muskegon.
Bummer homeowners.
Air France crew refuse to board flight to Mexico
Air France crew refuse to board flight to Mexico
"An entire Air France crew and several individual flight attendants have refused to board flights to Mexico since Saturday because of the outbreak of swine flu, airport sources said Wednesday."
Is it genetic?
"An entire Air France crew and several individual flight attendants have refused to board flights to Mexico since Saturday because of the outbreak of swine flu, airport sources said Wednesday."
Is it genetic?
Step Away From the Vehicle: The Supreme Court imposes long-overdue limits on car searches.
Step Away From the Vehicle: The Supreme Court imposes long-overdue limits on car searches.
"Last week the U.S. Supreme Court said police may no longer routinely search the vehicles of recently arrested people"
"Last week the U.S. Supreme Court said police may no longer routinely search the vehicles of recently arrested people"
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Kent County Republican Party cancels speech by Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman over his support of civil unions
Kent County Republican Party cancels speech by Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman over his support of civil unions
"Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., a rising Republican star and presidential aspirant, will not be speaking to the Kent County party faithful Saturday, after all.
Why? Two words: civil unions.
After reading in Sunday's Press that the Mormon governor of one of the country's reddest states supports civil unions for same-sex couples, Kent County Republican Party Chairman Joanne Voorhees pulled the plug.
In an e-mail sent to party members Monday, Voorhees said she canceled his appearance at a fundraiser Saturday morning after conducting further research on his positions on issues."
"Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., a rising Republican star and presidential aspirant, will not be speaking to the Kent County party faithful Saturday, after all.
Why? Two words: civil unions.
After reading in Sunday's Press that the Mormon governor of one of the country's reddest states supports civil unions for same-sex couples, Kent County Republican Party Chairman Joanne Voorhees pulled the plug.
In an e-mail sent to party members Monday, Voorhees said she canceled his appearance at a fundraiser Saturday morning after conducting further research on his positions on issues."
Friday, April 24, 2009
Women's ski jumping lawsuit wraps up in Vancouver
Women's ski jumping lawsuit wraps up in Vancouver: "All or nothing
The women are seeking a court declaration that VANOC must either hold women's ski jumping in 2010 or no ski jumping events at all."
The women are seeking a court declaration that VANOC must either hold women's ski jumping in 2010 or no ski jumping events at all."
Americas-Most-Dangerous-Cities
Americas-Most-Dangerous-Cities
"The news has been bad for decades, but there may yet be hope for Detroit. The city's new mayor, Kenneth V. Cockrel Jr., assumed office on Sept. 19, 2009--and hasn't committed a single felony."
any guesses what the top 5 most dangerous cities share?
"The news has been bad for decades, but there may yet be hope for Detroit. The city's new mayor, Kenneth V. Cockrel Jr., assumed office on Sept. 19, 2009--and hasn't committed a single felony."
any guesses what the top 5 most dangerous cities share?
Dem Congressman: ‘Nobody in This Country Realizes That Cap-and-Trade is a Tax’
Dem Congressman: ‘Nobody in This Country Realizes That Cap-and-Trade is a Tax’
Seriously!
No one has a clue what awaits!
Seriously!
No one has a clue what awaits!
Pontiac brand reportedly will be dropped by GM -
Pontiac brand reportedly will be dropped by GM
"General Motors Corp. is preparing to eliminate its Pontiac brand, according to several industry news sources."
Ba Bye..
Sort of surprising story since it's been reported months ago.
"General Motors Corp. is preparing to eliminate its Pontiac brand, according to several industry news sources."
Ba Bye..
Sort of surprising story since it's been reported months ago.
A New Federal Tax You Could Choke On
A New Federal Tax You Could Choke On
"A New Federal Tax You Could Choke On
My congressman, Jim Moran of Virginia, has introduced 'the Plastic Bag Reduction Act of 2009 which would place a 5 cent fee on grocery bags, dry cleaning bags, take-out food bags, retail bags and service station bags, starting January 1. Under the proposal, that fee would escalate to 25 cents starting January 1, 2015.'
No plastic bags for takeout? He deserves to be pelted with last week's Chinese."
"A New Federal Tax You Could Choke On
My congressman, Jim Moran of Virginia, has introduced 'the Plastic Bag Reduction Act of 2009 which would place a 5 cent fee on grocery bags, dry cleaning bags, take-out food bags, retail bags and service station bags, starting January 1. Under the proposal, that fee would escalate to 25 cents starting January 1, 2015.'
No plastic bags for takeout? He deserves to be pelted with last week's Chinese."
West Michigan Strategic Alliance supports new Web site to help students find internships
West Michigan Strategic Alliance supports new Web site to help students find internships
"Announced simultaneously in Grand Rapids and Detroit this morning, www.interninmichigan.com was created using $2.4 million in public and private funds, including grants from the U.S. Labor Department."
Another $2.4 million well spent.... right....
"Announced simultaneously in Grand Rapids and Detroit this morning, www.interninmichigan.com was created using $2.4 million in public and private funds, including grants from the U.S. Labor Department."
Another $2.4 million well spent.... right....
Public Outcry Leads Defense Department to Reverse Spent Ammo Directive
Public Outcry Leads Defense Department to Reverse Spent Ammo Directive
"“The distressing part of it was that the government was going to lose money,” Shipley said. “They were going to lose $2 a pound and accomplish nothing.”
Spent shell casings usually sell for between $2.30 and $2.50 per pound, allowing the government to recoup a good amount of their ammunition expense budget. However, once the brass is mutilated, it has no added value and a product that was worth about $2.50 becomes worth only about 50 cents, Shipley said.
“We felt like it was just an option to bring in ammunition control rather than gun control,”"
"“The distressing part of it was that the government was going to lose money,” Shipley said. “They were going to lose $2 a pound and accomplish nothing.”
Spent shell casings usually sell for between $2.30 and $2.50 per pound, allowing the government to recoup a good amount of their ammunition expense budget. However, once the brass is mutilated, it has no added value and a product that was worth about $2.50 becomes worth only about 50 cents, Shipley said.
“We felt like it was just an option to bring in ammunition control rather than gun control,”"
Holdouts for Humble Bulb Defy a Government Phase-Out
Holdouts for Humble Bulb Defy a Government Phase-Out
"In the United States, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. effectively bans the sale of almost all incandescent bulbs by 2014, although last year Representative Michele Bachman, a Minnesota Republican, introduced the Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act, a bill that would overturn it."
"In the United States, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. effectively bans the sale of almost all incandescent bulbs by 2014, although last year Representative Michele Bachman, a Minnesota Republican, introduced the Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act, a bill that would overturn it."
Waterboarding!
The Corner on National Review Online
"How many times have you read and heard in the mainstream media that terrorists were waterboarded more than 180 times?
It turns out that’s not true.
"How many times have you read and heard in the mainstream media that terrorists were waterboarded more than 180 times?
It turns out that’s not true.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The ride of a lifetime
The ride of a lifetime
"EAST LANSING - Lorene Shinsky delivered her son, John, to an orphanage when he was 8 years old.
Edmund Shinsky had just died of a heart attack, robbing Lorene of a husband, John of a father and the household of an employed steelworker.
John then started a fire in their small house in a rough neighborhood in Lorain, Ohio. Trouble was already finding him, so off Lorene sent him to Parmadale Orphanage in Parma, with a toothbrush and a bag of clothes."
An incredible story!
READ IT!
and try not to cry....
"EAST LANSING - Lorene Shinsky delivered her son, John, to an orphanage when he was 8 years old.
Edmund Shinsky had just died of a heart attack, robbing Lorene of a husband, John of a father and the household of an employed steelworker.
John then started a fire in their small house in a rough neighborhood in Lorain, Ohio. Trouble was already finding him, so off Lorene sent him to Parmadale Orphanage in Parma, with a toothbrush and a bag of clothes."
An incredible story!
READ IT!
and try not to cry....
Obama Slow rolling......
OBAMA'S MESSAGE TO THE CIA
"Keep your head down. Duck assignments that carry political risk. Stay away from counter-terrorism.Devastating read from the WaPo's David Ignatius.
At the Central Intelligence Agency, it's known as 'slow rolling.' That's what agency officers sometimes do on politically sensitive assignments. They go through the motions; they pass cables back and forth; they take other jobs out of the danger zone; they cover their backsides."
"Keep your head down. Duck assignments that carry political risk. Stay away from counter-terrorism.Devastating read from the WaPo's David Ignatius.
At the Central Intelligence Agency, it's known as 'slow rolling.' That's what agency officers sometimes do on politically sensitive assignments. They go through the motions; they pass cables back and forth; they take other jobs out of the danger zone; they cover their backsides."
The Administration’s Pathetic Piracy Policy
The Administration’s Pathetic Piracy Policy.
“Indeed, as I’ve recounted elsewhere, since the beginning of the piracy epidemic last summer the United Nations has passed five Security Council resolutions on the subject– all under its binding Chapter VII authority. No other issue, not even the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (to say nothing of the bloody civil war in Sri Lanka or the ongoing genocide in Darfur) has commanded as much of the Council’s attention. Yet the piracy epidemic has only increased apace.
In the days after Obama announced that the U.S. would be getting tough on pirates, as if to mock his words several more vessels were seized, including another American ship.”"
“Indeed, as I’ve recounted elsewhere, since the beginning of the piracy epidemic last summer the United Nations has passed five Security Council resolutions on the subject– all under its binding Chapter VII authority. No other issue, not even the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (to say nothing of the bloody civil war in Sri Lanka or the ongoing genocide in Darfur) has commanded as much of the Council’s attention. Yet the piracy epidemic has only increased apace.
In the days after Obama announced that the U.S. would be getting tough on pirates, as if to mock his words several more vessels were seized, including another American ship.”"
Video: How to end corruption in federal government
Video: How to end corruption in federal government
"In other words, as long as we keep aggregating so much of our money in one spot, corrupt people will flock there like seagulls on a garbage scow.
What’s more, we’re the ones providing the incentive.
We demand federal action, we elect people for bringing home the bacon, and then we sit in dazed wonder when corruption ensues from having trillions of dollars up in the air in one place for people to grab.
Here are some hard truths to life:
Want to lose weight?
Eat less and exercise more.
Want to have more cash?
Work harder and spend less.
Want to end corruption in Washington DC?
Cut the budget and the size of government.
Few people really want to hear those truths.
They want magic pills for all of their concerns instead of acting out of common sense.
If we send less of our money to DC and move responsibilities back to the states and local communities, we won’t have to worry about whether we get our fair share back from DC.
Instead, we can use our own money to solve our own problems without hiring lobbyists to get it back, and we can address our own issues in the manner we like.
Our founding fathers knew all of this.
We’ve forgotten it in the vain attempt to find magic pills in a swamp"
WATCH THE VIDEO!
AND SEND IT TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!
"In other words, as long as we keep aggregating so much of our money in one spot, corrupt people will flock there like seagulls on a garbage scow.
What’s more, we’re the ones providing the incentive.
We demand federal action, we elect people for bringing home the bacon, and then we sit in dazed wonder when corruption ensues from having trillions of dollars up in the air in one place for people to grab.
Here are some hard truths to life:
Want to lose weight?
Eat less and exercise more.
Want to have more cash?
Work harder and spend less.
Want to end corruption in Washington DC?
Cut the budget and the size of government.
Few people really want to hear those truths.
They want magic pills for all of their concerns instead of acting out of common sense.
If we send less of our money to DC and move responsibilities back to the states and local communities, we won’t have to worry about whether we get our fair share back from DC.
Instead, we can use our own money to solve our own problems without hiring lobbyists to get it back, and we can address our own issues in the manner we like.
Our founding fathers knew all of this.
We’ve forgotten it in the vain attempt to find magic pills in a swamp"
WATCH THE VIDEO!
AND SEND IT TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!
RFK Jr: Obama an ‘indentured servant’ of coal industry
RFK Jr: Obama an ‘indentured servant’ of coal industry
"environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who calls President Barack Obama and other politicians who commit taxpayer money to develop it “indentured servants” of the coal industry."
We'll now that i think about it..... Kennedys can say ANYTHING they want without MSM criticism.
Ain't royalty great?
"environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who calls President Barack Obama and other politicians who commit taxpayer money to develop it “indentured servants” of the coal industry."
We'll now that i think about it..... Kennedys can say ANYTHING they want without MSM criticism.
Ain't royalty great?
Muskegon Heights seeks grant to rehire police officers
Muskegon Heights seeks grant to rehire police officers
"Muskegon Heights is in the running for a federal grant that would allow the city to restore all, or at least most, of the 11 police officers laid off Jan. 1.
Police Chief Clifton Johnson said the city has submitted a grant application for the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services hiring recovery program, also known as COPS. Federal officials have indicated that a decision about the Heights application will be made by September.
'We're hopeful,' Johnson said. 'Nothing is in stone, and many other agencies are going through the same thing.'
The city council in December voted to lay off 11 police officers -- nearly half of its force -- in a budget-cutting decision that is saving the city about $400,000 in 2009. Without the layoffs and cuts in other departments, city officials were projecting a budget deficit as high as $600,000.
Six full-time officers and five part-time officers were laid off.
The city has already received word that it will receive a federal grant this year that will allow the police department to buy new weapons for officers, Johnson said. That grant is worth $115,629."
A perfect example of how the "grant" concept has destroyed our country at every level.
There is money for police guns but not for actual police because each grant has a specific goal.
Target spending as our friends in the democrat party so often remind us.
"Muskegon Heights is in the running for a federal grant that would allow the city to restore all, or at least most, of the 11 police officers laid off Jan. 1.
Police Chief Clifton Johnson said the city has submitted a grant application for the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services hiring recovery program, also known as COPS. Federal officials have indicated that a decision about the Heights application will be made by September.
'We're hopeful,' Johnson said. 'Nothing is in stone, and many other agencies are going through the same thing.'
The city council in December voted to lay off 11 police officers -- nearly half of its force -- in a budget-cutting decision that is saving the city about $400,000 in 2009. Without the layoffs and cuts in other departments, city officials were projecting a budget deficit as high as $600,000.
Six full-time officers and five part-time officers were laid off.
The city has already received word that it will receive a federal grant this year that will allow the police department to buy new weapons for officers, Johnson said. That grant is worth $115,629."
A perfect example of how the "grant" concept has destroyed our country at every level.
There is money for police guns but not for actual police because each grant has a specific goal.
Target spending as our friends in the democrat party so often remind us.
EARTH DAY TRUTHS
EARTH DAY TRUTHS
"My dear children: You have heard that every day, in every way, the world is getting dirtier. This isn't true.
I can see where you'd think the Earth soon will be covered with trash and you'll have to move onto a spaceship and become a fat blob stuck in a floating chair. 'Wall-E' said it would happen. Good movie; bad information. It's no more real than any of those other shows about how air is turning to poison or rivers are becoming sludge or all the animals are about to vanish.
They're stories meant to scare people — like the 'Twilight Zone,' just less honest. The truth is that in most ways that count, the world you live in is much cleaner than when I was a kid...."
"My dear children: You have heard that every day, in every way, the world is getting dirtier. This isn't true.
I can see where you'd think the Earth soon will be covered with trash and you'll have to move onto a spaceship and become a fat blob stuck in a floating chair. 'Wall-E' said it would happen. Good movie; bad information. It's no more real than any of those other shows about how air is turning to poison or rivers are becoming sludge or all the animals are about to vanish.
They're stories meant to scare people — like the 'Twilight Zone,' just less honest. The truth is that in most ways that count, the world you live in is much cleaner than when I was a kid...."
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