French Ideal of Bicycle-Sharing Meets Reality
"Just as Le Corbusier’s white cruciform towers once excited visions of the industrial-age city of the future, so Vélib’, Paris’s bicycle rental system, inspired a new urban ethos for the era of climate change.
Renters of Vélib' bicycles in Paris say it can be a challenge to find functioning ones among those that have been vandalized.
In Paris 80 percent of Vélib' bicycles are stolen or damaged.
Residents here can rent a sturdy bicycle from hundreds of public stations and pedal to their destinations, an inexpensive, healthy and low-carbon alternative to hopping in a car or bus.
But this latest French utopia has met a prosaic reality: Many of the specially designed bikes, which cost $3,500 each, are showing up on black markets in Eastern Europe and northern Africa.
Many others are being spirited away for urban joy rides, then ditched by roadsides, their wheels bent and tires stripped.
With 80 percent of the initial 20,600 bicycles stolen or damaged, the program’s organizers have had to hire several hundred people just to fix them. And along with the dent in the city-subsidized budget has been a blow to the Parisian psyche."
What do you bet this "brilliant" idea is coming to a US city near you soon.....probably with "stimulus" dollars.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Slain mosque leader's followers deny FBI claims
Slain mosque leader's followers deny FBI claims
"A mosque on Friday dismissed as 'utterly preposterous' the FBI's allegations that its slain leader was part of a radical Islamic group."
"A mosque on Friday dismissed as 'utterly preposterous' the FBI's allegations that its slain leader was part of a radical Islamic group."
AMERICA IS ME - Anthem for "We the People" by Mack Hayes - Tea Party salute.
Listen to this and love our country!
Twenty Years Ago, One Hit Changed Two Lives Forever
Twenty Years Ago, One Hit Changed Two Lives Forever
"Brad Gaines will do it again early Wednesday morning. He'll grab some Clorox and glass cleaner, toss them in the trunk of his Buick and head to a little cemetery 175 miles away.
His long, strange trip actually began 20 years ago today.
'I'll be doing it until I die,' Gaines said"
Grab a hankie...
"Brad Gaines will do it again early Wednesday morning. He'll grab some Clorox and glass cleaner, toss them in the trunk of his Buick and head to a little cemetery 175 miles away.
His long, strange trip actually began 20 years ago today.
'I'll be doing it until I die,' Gaines said"
Grab a hankie...
Thursday, October 29, 2009
If we're going to cap those outrageous payments ...
If we're going to cap those outrageous payments
"The eighth annual study by National Taxpayers United of Illinois of the state's top 100 government pension payouts.
It reveals that scores of administrators or teachers in the state public education and higher education systems could receive larger retirement checks than the senior executives carrying the burden of repairing the nation's banking system.
Wow, indeed."
"The eighth annual study by National Taxpayers United of Illinois of the state's top 100 government pension payouts.
It reveals that scores of administrators or teachers in the state public education and higher education systems could receive larger retirement checks than the senior executives carrying the burden of repairing the nation's banking system.
Wow, indeed."
Cash for Clunkers costs taxpayers $24,000 per car
Cash for Clunkers costs taxpayers $24,000 per car
"A total of 690,000 new vehicles were sold under the Cash for Clunkers program last summer, but only 125,000 of those were vehicles that would not have been sold anyway, according to an analysis released Wednesday by the automotive Web site Edmunds.com.
Still, auto sales contributed heavily to the economy's expansion in the third quarter, adding 1.7 percentage points to the nation's gross domestic product growth.
Is the economy really getting better?
The Cash for Clunkers program gave car buyers rebates of up to $4,500 if they traded in less fuel-efficient vehicles for new vehicles that met certain fuel economy requirements. A total of $3 billion was allotted for those rebates.
The average rebate was $4,000. But the overwhelming majority of sales would have taken place anyway at some time in the last half of 2009, according to Edmunds.com. That means the government ended up spending about $24,000 each for those 125,000 additional vehicle sales."
"A total of 690,000 new vehicles were sold under the Cash for Clunkers program last summer, but only 125,000 of those were vehicles that would not have been sold anyway, according to an analysis released Wednesday by the automotive Web site Edmunds.com.
Still, auto sales contributed heavily to the economy's expansion in the third quarter, adding 1.7 percentage points to the nation's gross domestic product growth.
Is the economy really getting better?
The Cash for Clunkers program gave car buyers rebates of up to $4,500 if they traded in less fuel-efficient vehicles for new vehicles that met certain fuel economy requirements. A total of $3 billion was allotted for those rebates.
The average rebate was $4,000. But the overwhelming majority of sales would have taken place anyway at some time in the last half of 2009, according to Edmunds.com. That means the government ended up spending about $24,000 each for those 125,000 additional vehicle sales."
Mainstream Media Ignores Juicy ACORN Nuggets - Townhall.com
Hannah Giles : Mainstream Media Ignores Juicy ACORN Nuggets
"The “Pimp and Pro” story, exposing ACORN’s willingness to advise a prostitute on tax evasion and child sex trafficking, hit America a few weeks ago.
There were a myriad number of angles to report, yet the Mainstream Media's favorite approach seems to be the method in which James O’Keefe and I orchestrated and gathered the information."
"The “Pimp and Pro” story, exposing ACORN’s willingness to advise a prostitute on tax evasion and child sex trafficking, hit America a few weeks ago.
There were a myriad number of angles to report, yet the Mainstream Media's favorite approach seems to be the method in which James O’Keefe and I orchestrated and gathered the information."
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Guantanamo prisoners to get swine flu vaccine
Guantanamo prisoners to get swine flu vaccine
"Even as some Americans await the arrival of their swine flu vaccines, the Pentagon has decided to vaccinate both soldiers and terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba."
Kinda like Obama prefers terrorists to your grandma?
Yup!
"Even as some Americans await the arrival of their swine flu vaccines, the Pentagon has decided to vaccinate both soldiers and terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba."
Kinda like Obama prefers terrorists to your grandma?
Yup!
“I will never rush the solemn decision of…hand me the 5-iron, would you?”
“I will never rush the solemn decision of…hand me the 5-iron, would you?”
"AN ADDRESS TO THE TROOPS, GOOD SPORTS THAT THEY ARE"
"AN ADDRESS TO THE TROOPS, GOOD SPORTS THAT THEY ARE"
Michigan's debt to federal government for unemployment claims: $2.8B and counting
Michigan's debt to federal government for unemployment claims: $2.8B and counting
"Michigan has been borrowing from the federal government to pay out unemployment insurance benefit claims since mid-2008, when its own trust fund became insolvent, and now owes the feds $2.8 billion.
The total is expected to grow higher.......There is no estimate for when the state might be able to fully repay the debt, Isotalo said."
"Michigan has been borrowing from the federal government to pay out unemployment insurance benefit claims since mid-2008, when its own trust fund became insolvent, and now owes the feds $2.8 billion.
The total is expected to grow higher.......There is no estimate for when the state might be able to fully repay the debt, Isotalo said."
When will it be paid?
NY23 Hits Its Tipping Point
NY23 Hits Its Tipping Point
"The official GOP nominee -- Dede Scozzafava, a very liberal New York Assemblywoman -- now trails her Democratic opponent, Bill Owens, and the Conservative Party nominee, Doug Hoffman, according to a survey released Monday by the Club for Growth.
The survey shows Hoffman surging into the lead with 31 percent, to 27 percent for Owens, with a fading Scozzafava drawing just 20 percent of the vote, and 22 percent of the voters still undecided."
"The official GOP nominee -- Dede Scozzafava, a very liberal New York Assemblywoman -- now trails her Democratic opponent, Bill Owens, and the Conservative Party nominee, Doug Hoffman, according to a survey released Monday by the Club for Growth.
The survey shows Hoffman surging into the lead with 31 percent, to 27 percent for Owens, with a fading Scozzafava drawing just 20 percent of the vote, and 22 percent of the voters still undecided."
Washington's Suicide Mission - WSJ.com
Holman Jenkins: Washington's Suicide Mission
"It's no exaggeration to say the Senate health-care bill taking shape is the equivalent of climbing aboard a train about to plunge into a canyon and deciding what it really needs is a bomb on board."
"It's no exaggeration to say the Senate health-care bill taking shape is the equivalent of climbing aboard a train about to plunge into a canyon and deciding what it really needs is a bomb on board."
The problem is that it's us in the suicide belts.
LSJ Blogs: Hey, Joe: MSU short two running backs
LSJ Blogs: Hey, Joe: MSU short two running backs
"MSU short two running backs
MSU announced Wednesday that Caulton Ray and Andre Anderson are no longer on the team's active roster. Here's the release from associate athletic director John Lewandowski:
'Michigan State head football coach Mark Dantonio confirmed Wednesday afternoon that running backs Andre Anderson and Caulton Ray have been removed from the active roster.'
That's it. Lewandowski also said this is not a legal issue. Looks to me like a playing time issue, and it's somewhat surprising that it took this long for someone to bolt (or be 'removed,' as the statement makes clear).
No word on possible destinations.
For the rest of the season, MSU is now down to its freshmen, Ashton Leggett and A.J. Jimmerson."
"MSU short two running backs
MSU announced Wednesday that Caulton Ray and Andre Anderson are no longer on the team's active roster. Here's the release from associate athletic director John Lewandowski:
'Michigan State head football coach Mark Dantonio confirmed Wednesday afternoon that running backs Andre Anderson and Caulton Ray have been removed from the active roster.'
That's it. Lewandowski also said this is not a legal issue. Looks to me like a playing time issue, and it's somewhat surprising that it took this long for someone to bolt (or be 'removed,' as the statement makes clear).
No word on possible destinations.
For the rest of the season, MSU is now down to its freshmen, Ashton Leggett and A.J. Jimmerson."
Federal perks enough to make you sick
Federal perks enough to make you sick
"Buried deep in the $680 billion military spending bill sitting on President Barack Obama's desk is a sweet morsel that lets federal workers count unused sick time in calculating their pension benefit.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that change, over 10 years, will cost $343 million — and even more after that."
"Buried deep in the $680 billion military spending bill sitting on President Barack Obama's desk is a sweet morsel that lets federal workers count unused sick time in calculating their pension benefit.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that change, over 10 years, will cost $343 million — and even more after that."
This theft by our elected leaders happens EVERY day!
When are we going to rise up?
Rocco's Modern Life
Rocco's Modern Life:
"It would be hard to pack so much ignorance into one short paragraph if one were really trying.
We can deduce that Landesman doesn't even have to try."
A MUST READ!
Very scary the people our president surrounds himself with.
"It would be hard to pack so much ignorance into one short paragraph if one were really trying.
We can deduce that Landesman doesn't even have to try."
A MUST READ!
Very scary the people our president surrounds himself with.
The ins and outs of Chapter 9 | Detroit
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The ins and outs of Chapter 9
"After watching a recent debate among candidates for Detroit City Council, it has become apparent that Detroiters need to be educated on the application of Chapter 9 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to Detroit's financial mess."
Detroit is going down..but who else will they bring with them?
"After watching a recent debate among candidates for Detroit City Council, it has become apparent that Detroiters need to be educated on the application of Chapter 9 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to Detroit's financial mess."
Detroit is going down..but who else will they bring with them?
Thomas Sowell On Economics Of Medical Care
Thomas Sowell On Economics Of Medical Care:
"Dr. Sowell has granted IBD permission to run one of the chapters of 'Applied Economics' — 'The Economics of Medical Care' — in its entirety.
We are doing so because of its relevance to the debate over health care reform.
The chapter will run in nine parts over the next week and a half.
The first part starts below and continues in the Issues & Insights section, where the other eight parts will appear"
Click the link and wrap yourself in brilliance.
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=510506
"Dr. Sowell has granted IBD permission to run one of the chapters of 'Applied Economics' — 'The Economics of Medical Care' — in its entirety.
We are doing so because of its relevance to the debate over health care reform.
The chapter will run in nine parts over the next week and a half.
The first part starts below and continues in the Issues & Insights section, where the other eight parts will appear"
Click the link and wrap yourself in brilliance.
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=510506
Efficient Market Theory and the Crisis
Jeremy J. Siegel: Efficient Market Theory and the Crisis
"in the 61 years from 1945 through 2006 the maximum cumulative decline in the average price of homes was 2.84% in 1991. If this low volatility of home prices persisted into the future, a mortgage security composed of a nationally diversified portfolio of loans comprising the first 80% of a home's value would have never come close to defaulting. The credit quality of home buyers was secondary because it was thought that underlying collateral—the home—could always cover the principal in the event the homeowner defaulted. These models led credit agencies to rate these subprime mortgages as 'investment grade.'
But this assessment was faulty. From 2000 through 2006, national home prices rose by 88.7%, far more than the 17.5% gain in the consumer price index or the paltry 1% rise in median household income. Never before have home prices jumped that far ahead of prices and incomes.
This should have sent up red flags and cast doubts on using models that looked only at historical declines to judge future risk. But these flags were ignored as Wall Street was reaping large profits bundling and selling the securities while Congress was happy that more Americans could enjoy the 'American Dream' of home ownershi"
"in the 61 years from 1945 through 2006 the maximum cumulative decline in the average price of homes was 2.84% in 1991. If this low volatility of home prices persisted into the future, a mortgage security composed of a nationally diversified portfolio of loans comprising the first 80% of a home's value would have never come close to defaulting. The credit quality of home buyers was secondary because it was thought that underlying collateral—the home—could always cover the principal in the event the homeowner defaulted. These models led credit agencies to rate these subprime mortgages as 'investment grade.'
But this assessment was faulty. From 2000 through 2006, national home prices rose by 88.7%, far more than the 17.5% gain in the consumer price index or the paltry 1% rise in median household income. Never before have home prices jumped that far ahead of prices and incomes.
This should have sent up red flags and cast doubts on using models that looked only at historical declines to judge future risk. But these flags were ignored as Wall Street was reaping large profits bundling and selling the securities while Congress was happy that more Americans could enjoy the 'American Dream' of home ownershi"
THE EVER-EXPANDING University of Phoenix.
THE EVER-EXPANDING University of Phoenix.
“In the world of for-profit higher education, and higher education in general, the University of Phoenix has historically been viewed as the 800-pound gorilla.
As of Tuesday, it may be more like a 1,000-pound gorilla.
As Phoenix’s parent company, the Apollo Group, reported its fourth quarter and annual earnings Tuesday, it announced that the university’s enrollment of degree-seeking students grew to 443,000 as of August 2009, up 22 percent from 362,000 in August 2008. . . . About two-thirds of the university’s new students as of August are female, 27.7 percent are African-American, and about half are 30 or over.”
“In the world of for-profit higher education, and higher education in general, the University of Phoenix has historically been viewed as the 800-pound gorilla.
As of Tuesday, it may be more like a 1,000-pound gorilla.
As Phoenix’s parent company, the Apollo Group, reported its fourth quarter and annual earnings Tuesday, it announced that the university’s enrollment of degree-seeking students grew to 443,000 as of August 2009, up 22 percent from 362,000 in August 2008. . . . About two-thirds of the university’s new students as of August are female, 27.7 percent are African-American, and about half are 30 or over.”
How Dems outmaneuvered GOP on ACORN
How Dems outmaneuvered GOP on ACORN
"Although the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency -- designed to deal with issues like mortgages and credit-card fees -- has nothing to do with community organizing, Democrats offered an amendment that could allow ACORN and groups like it to participate in the new agency."
Read it all. It's pretty disgusting.
"Although the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency -- designed to deal with issues like mortgages and credit-card fees -- has nothing to do with community organizing, Democrats offered an amendment that could allow ACORN and groups like it to participate in the new agency."
Read it all. It's pretty disgusting.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Tax refugees staging escape from New York
Tax refugees staging escape from New York: "New Yorkers are fleeing the state and city in alarming numbers -- and costing a fortune in lost tax dollars, a new study shows.
More than 1.5 million state residents left for other parts of the United States from 2000 to 2008, according to the report from the Empire Center for New York State Policy.
More than 1.5 million state residents left for other parts of the United States from 2000 to 2008, according to the report from the Empire Center for New York State Policy.
It was the biggest out-of-state migration in the country.
The vast majority of the migrants, 1.1 million, were former residents of New York City -- meaning one out of seven city taxpayers moved out."
The vast majority of the migrants, 1.1 million, were former residents of New York City -- meaning one out of seven city taxpayers moved out."
I'm sure the democrat governor is happy that millionaire Rush Limbaugh is already gone.....right?
DC sniper Muhammad set to die by lethal injection
DC sniper Muhammad set to die by lethal injection
"The mastermind of the 2002 Washington, DC-area sniper attacks will die by lethal injection next month, Virginia officials said Tuesday.
John Allen Muhammad declined to choose between lethal injection and electrocution, so under state law the method defaults to lethal injection, Virginia Department of Corrections spokesman Larry Traylor said.
Muhammad is scheduled to be executed Nov. 10 for the October 2002 slaying of Dean Harold Meyers at a Manassas gas station during a string of shootings."
It will be a great day in America!
"The mastermind of the 2002 Washington, DC-area sniper attacks will die by lethal injection next month, Virginia officials said Tuesday.
John Allen Muhammad declined to choose between lethal injection and electrocution, so under state law the method defaults to lethal injection, Virginia Department of Corrections spokesman Larry Traylor said.
Muhammad is scheduled to be executed Nov. 10 for the October 2002 slaying of Dean Harold Meyers at a Manassas gas station during a string of shootings."
It will be a great day in America!
Pardon Me, but Your Sycophancy Is Showing
Pardon Me, but Your Sycophancy Is Showing
"Take Rocco Landesman, the new head of the National Endowment of the Arts.
In a speech in Brooklyn last week, he said of Barack Obama,
“This is the first president that actually writes his own books since Teddy Roosevelt and arguably the first to write them really well since Lincoln.”
Oh, dear, where do I begin?
Well, let’s start with grammar. It’s “the first president who,” not “the first president that.”
Second, he implicitly accuses Presidents Clinton, Bush 41, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy, Eisenhower, Truman, Hoover, Coolidge, and Wilson of having had their memoirs, autobiographies, and other works ghosted."
Excellent article.
And why do we have a "head" of the NEA who is a ignorant political hack?!!!
"Take Rocco Landesman, the new head of the National Endowment of the Arts.
In a speech in Brooklyn last week, he said of Barack Obama,
“This is the first president that actually writes his own books since Teddy Roosevelt and arguably the first to write them really well since Lincoln.”
Oh, dear, where do I begin?
Well, let’s start with grammar. It’s “the first president who,” not “the first president that.”
Second, he implicitly accuses Presidents Clinton, Bush 41, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy, Eisenhower, Truman, Hoover, Coolidge, and Wilson of having had their memoirs, autobiographies, and other works ghosted."
Excellent article.
And why do we have a "head" of the NEA who is a ignorant political hack?!!!
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