Payback Time - Wave of Debt Payments Facing U.S. Government

Payback Time - Wave of Debt Payments Facing U.S. Government
"The United States government is financing its more than trillion-dollar-a-year borrowing with i.o.u.’s on terms that seem too good to be true.

But that happy situation, aided by ultralow interest rates, may not last much longer."

“What a good country or a good squirrel should be doing is stashing away nuts for the winter. The United States is not only not saving nuts, it’s eating the ones left over from the last winter.” WILLIAM H. GROSS

The Great Thanksgiving Hoax

http://mises.org/journals/fm/fm1185.pdf

How Private Property Saved the Pilgrims

How Private Property Saved the Pilgrims
"Today is Thanksgiving.
And there is no better time to remember an underappreciated lesson of the original Thanksgiving: that the Pilgrims nearly starved to death because of collectivism and eventually saved themselves by adopting a system of private property.
Economist Benjamin Powell tells the story here:"

Climategate’s Perry Mason Moment

Climategate’s Perry Mason Moment
"In an October 14 email to fellow alarmist Tom Wigley, Trenberth plaintively writes:
How come you do not agree with a statement that says we are no where close to knowing where energy is going or whether clouds are changing to make the planet brighter.
We are not close to balancing the energy budget.
The fact that we can not account for what is happening in the climate system makes any consideration of geoengineering quite hopeless as we will never be able to tell if it is successful or not!
It is a travesty!

It’s a Perry Mason moment.

First, by admitting that we “are nowhere close” to understanding atmospheric energy flows, the much-vaunted Trenberth has trashed all the climate models on which the gloom-and-doom IPCC forecasts are based.
If energy flows in the climate system cannot be accounted for, then they cannot be modeled — and there can be no basis upon which to make predictions of future temperatures.

That’s case closed, right there.
But there’s more."

Road commission board appointment a golden rocking chair?

Road commission board appointment a golden rocking chair?
"So, I wasn’t surprised to read last week that Mahoney removed Derezinski and another bipartisan commissioner, Chuck Buzzell, from the road commission screening committee. That occurred just days before applicants were interviewed for an opening.

With those two out of the way, Mahoney was able to push through the appointment of a longtime labor union and Democratic Party activist to the road commission.

It smells like the bad old days, all over again.

Residents of Muskegon County should wake up, attend a few meetings, ask a few questions and vote accordingly. If they fail to do that, they deserve the local government they get."

A Secret Thanksgiving Wish

A Secret Thanksgiving Wish
"Allow me to share my secret Thanksgiving desire.
I wish to go through an entire Thanksgiving Day without reading in a newspaper, seeing on the internet, or have anyone mention to me that Native Americans have nothing to be thankful for today, that they are in mourning, and that it’s my fault."

Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation

Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation

"It’s become a bit of a tradition here to post President George Washington’s Thanksgiving Day proclamation around this time of year:"

The Desolate Wilderness

The Desolate Wilderness
"Here beginneth the chronicle of those memorable circumstances of the year 1620, as recorded by Nathaniel Morton, keeper of the records of Plymouth Colony, based on the account of William Bradford, sometime governor thereof:"

Giving Thanks for Capitalism, The Invisible Hand, the Miracle of the Free Market and No Turkey Czars

Giving Thanks for Capitalism, The Invisible Hand, the Miracle of the Free Market and No Turkey Czars
"And even if your turkey appeared in your local grocery stores only because of the 'selfishness' or 'corporate greed' of thousands of turkey farmers, truckers, and supermarket owners who are complete strangers to you and your family, it's still part of the miracle of the marketplace where 'individually selfish decisions lead to collectively efficient outcomes.'"

John Bolton Was Right After All

John Bolton Was Right After All
"I certainly don't expect the New York Times to admit that one of their greatest bogeymen turned out to be correct about Iran's nuclear game-playing.
However, the Times Editorial Board did once say 'John Bolton is right. Kofi Annan is wrong.'"

Forrest For the Trees

Forrest For the Trees
"I learned above all that politics is hard work. Let me just say that in politics as in everything else you get what you pay for.
The currency in which you pay the price for results in politics is personal effort."

"Six Charged In Town Hall Disturbance"

"Six Charged In Town Hall Disturbance"
"It occurs to me that if these union thugs had been Navy SEALS apprehending a terrorist mass murderer of Americans, rather than agents of the Democratic Party trying to suppress expression of a political view with which the Democratic Party disagrees, they would have been treated far more harshly.
Why do you think that is?"

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CLIMATEGATE

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CLIMATEGATE

As the scandal over bogus climate data explodes, here's a handy rundown of what you need to know about the scandal now officially known as "Climategate."

The scandal that the suffix –gate implies is the state of climate science over the past decade or so revealed by a thousand or so emails, documents, and computer code sets between various prominent scientists released following a leak from the Climate Research Unit (CRU) at the University of East Anglia in the UK.

This may seem obscure, but the science involved is being used to justify the diversion of literally trillions of dollars of the world’s wealth in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by phasing out fossil fuels. The CRU is the Pentagon of global warming science, and these documents are its Pentagon Papers.

Here are three things everyone should know about the Climategate Papers. Links are provided so that the full context of every quote can be seen by anyone interested.

First, the scientists discuss manipulating data to get their preferred results....

Secondly, scientists on several occasions discussed methods of subverting the scientific peer review process to ensure that skeptical papers had no access to publication....

Finally, the scientists worked to circumvent the Freedom of Information process of the United Kingdom....


So what does this all mean?
It does not mean that there is no warming trend or that mankind has not been responsible for at least some of the warming.
To claim that as result of these documents is clearly a step too far.
However, it is clear that at least one branch of climate science — paleoclimatology — has become hopelessly politicized to the point of engaging in unethical and possibly illegal behavior.

To the extent that paleoclimatology is an important part of the scientific case for action regarding global warming, urgent reassessments need to be made.
In the meantime, all those responsible for political action on global warming should stop the process pending the results of inquiries, investigations, and any criminal proceedings.
What cannot happen is the process carrying on as if nothing has happened.

This could prove to be climate science’s Vietnam.

PRE-THANKSGIVING READ: TURKEYS OF THE YEAR

PRE-THANKSGIVING READ: TURKEYS OF THE YEAR
"As we gather ‘round the Thanksgiving table, bow our heads in prayer, and feast on the holiday bird, it is only fitting to take a moment to fete the unforgettable turkeys of 2009."

Congress May Probe Leaked Global Warming E-Mails

Congress May Probe Leaked Global Warming E-Mails
"A few days after leaked e-mail messages appeared on the Internet, the U.S. Congress may probe whether prominent scientists who are advocates of global warming theories misrepresented the truth about climate change."

Ed Begley Jr. Loses It On Fox News

Ed Begley Jr. Loses It On Fox News
"Yikes. Someone got the talking points.
Can you say, “Peer reviewed studies?”
Methinks those leaked emails that pretty much show Global Warming is … what’s the best way to put it?… the big fat freakin’ lie we all knew it was, has stirred our friend Ed up some.
You know what he sounds like? Someone who believes the Earth is 6,000 years old trying to explain away a dinosaur fossil.
Oh, that old time religion…"

Climategate: the final nail in the coffin of ‘Anthropogenic Global Warming’?

Climategate: the final nail in the coffin of ‘Anthropogenic Global Warming’?
"If you own any shares in alternative energy companies I should start dumping them NOW."

Ottawa County tells Michigan officials it plans to launch health insure program for low-income residents

Ottawa County tells Michigan officials it plans to launch health insure program for low-income residents
"Whether the offering gets off the ground will depend on if it can secure state funding.
If the state approves, the nonprofit plan would qualify for state funding based on its membership.
The funding would range from $132 per member if Ottawa is designated urban to $157 if designated rural, Knol said.
'It would be cost neutral to the county,' she said."

Muskegon Heights' garbage pickup rate increasing $5 a month

Muskegon Heights' garbage pickup rate increasing $5 a month
"The city’s 16.85 operating millage includes 3 mills for sanitation, which — at least during the past two decades — has not been enough to cover the city’s costs of paying a private contractor to collect its residents’ garbage, Paige said.

Sanitation charges are based on weight.

The issue has surfaced repeatedly in recent years, but previous administrators and council have either refused to raise rates or been unable to agree on a solution.

Paige said the new $5 fee still will not cover the deficit, but will help alleviate the problem."

Norton Shores joins study of water alternatives

Norton Shores joins study of water alternatives
The two communities that have been at odds for years with Muskegon Heights concerning service provided by the water system owned by that city are now partnering on a plan that eventually may lead to the two pulling out of the Muskegon Heights system."

Another 10 Bizarre World Records - Oddee.com

Another 10 Bizarre World Records - Oddee.com
"Most Books Typed Backwards"
Using a computer and four blank keyboards, and without looking at the screen, Michele Santelia (Italy) typed backwards 67 books (3,503,013 words, 19,760,936 characters , 23.198 pages, 263,931 paragraphs, 499,554 lines) in their original languages including The Odyssey, Macbeth, The Vulgate Bible, the Guinness World Records Book 2002, and the Dead Sea Scrolls in Ancient Hebrew. Michele put together a 4,05 mt (13 ft 12 in) high tower of the books typed. He completed typing backwards Etruscan scripts in Etruscan Language and The Million in Ancient Chinese on 16 November 2008

Life Is Getting Measurably Better for Many People Here and Abroad; There's A Lot to Be Thankful For

Life Is Getting Measurably Better for Many People Here and Abroad;

There's A Lot to Be Thankful For
"1. Life expectancy in the U.S. reached an all-time high of 77.9 years in 2007, the latest year for which statistics are available, continuing a long upward trend (see chart above, data here).
(That's 75.3 years for men and 80.4 years for women.)"

Power Line

Power Line: "Navy SEALs have secretly captured one of the most wanted terrorists in Iraq -- the alleged mastermind of the murder and mutilation of four Blackwater USA security guards in Fallujah in 2004. And three of the SEALs who captured him are now facing criminal charges, sources told FoxNews.com. ..."

Tribune, Scripps Use Thanksgiving to Increase Prices

Tribune, Scripps Use Thanksgiving to Increase Prices
"U.S. Thanksgiving falls on Nov. 26 this year. Newspapers from Washington to San Bernardino, California, will be charging Sunday prices for Thursday editions stuffed with ads for the retail bargains on offer on “Black Friday,”

Interesting.
They're increasing prices on the product they make the most money on.
So, if the cost of a newspaper matters to a customer (it does), there will be fewer customers buying that day's paper.
And less advertising money to the newspapers down the pike...and so on and so forth....

At U, future teachers may be reeducated

At U, future teachers may be reeducated
"Do you believe in the American dream -- the idea that in this country, hardworking people of every race, color and creed can get ahead on their own merits?
If so, that belief may soon bar you from getting a license to teach in Minnesota public schools -- at least if you plan to get your teaching degree at the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus.
In a report compiled last summer, the Race, Culture, Class and Gender Task Group at the U's College of Education and Human Development recommended that aspiring teachers there must repudiate the notion of 'the American Dream' in order to obtain the recommendation for licensure required by the Minnesota Board of Teaching"

AP: Economy's rebound not as strong as first thought. 3.5% Q3 GDP revised down to 2.8%

AP: Economy's rebound not as strong as first thought. 3.5% Q3 GDP revised down to 2.8%
"So if the consumer spending is down, one way to artificially inflate the GDP number is to increase government spending with money that the government doesn't, by the way, have. \
In essence, the GDP number is positive due to increased debt!
It's purchased on a government card that has no credit limit.
Yet, the MSM has trumpeted the end of the recession after 4 straight quarters of negative GDP:"

The Wilding of Sarah Palin

The Wilding of Sarah Palin
"When I was in college, I read a book that changed my life.
It was Susan Brownmiller's tome, Against Our Will: Men, Women, and Rape, which explained rape as an act of power, not just lust.
What I found particularly chilling was the chapter on war -- how rape is used to terrorize a population and destroy the enemy's spirit."

MSU gets federal funding to help study wind speeds

MSU gets federal funding to help study wind speeds
"Michigan State University will receive $83,806 to measure wind speeds in five areas around the state.

The state says in a release Thursday that the project is designed to assess Michigan's wind energy potential and encourage job growth in that industry.

Michigan State will install anemometers on public safety communications towers in Gratiot, Delta, Antrim, Mason and Hillsdale counties. The new information will help create a wind power map for Michigan, identifying and promoting areas best suited for wind power development.

Data collected in other Midwest states indicates current measurements may underestimate Michigan's wind energy potential.

The project is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act."

Report: Michigan housing chief defaults on loans, faces more than $100 million in lawsuits | Detroit News - - MLive.com

Report: Michigan housing chief defaults on loans, faces more than $100 million in lawsuits
"A local homebuilder who chairs the state housing authority has been the target of lawsuits seeking more than $100 million in judgments."
Our state government is simply a shell to cover for their big money cronies....despicable!

Wall Street squeezing debt-ridden Detroit to the tune of $4.2 million per month

Wall Street squeezing debt-ridden Detroit to the tune of $4.2 million per month