Reindeer Games

4-Block World: Reindeer Games

I like this site.

It's like a cup of cocoa with tiny marshmallows.

State’s pension plans a ticking time bomb

Editorial: State’s pension plans a ticking time bomb - The Delaware County Daily Times
"There is a ticking time bomb in Pennsylvania."

and this:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091218/COMMUNITY/912179949?Title=City-of-Petaluma-8217-s-fiscal-time-bomb

and this:
http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_356225105.html

(all links from the fabulous (albeit relentlessly depressing) http://pensiontsunami.com/)

Stimulus money to help Early Head Start programs

Stimulus money to help Early Head Start programs
"New Early Head Start services will be offered in Muskegon and Oceana counties beginning March 1 thanks to $910,000 in stimulus dollars coming to the local Head Start program."

This is a perfect example of why the "recovery" will not happen.

Most of the federal job stimulus money has been spent on porky, vote-buying government/NGO "jobs" with little reaching the true job creators in a recovery, small and medium size businesses.

And talk of an additional "job stimulus" program?

Nothing more than another giant credit card of debt to buy votes and big union contributions for the democrat machine.

Gee, sounds just like Chicago-style politics, don't it?

Crocodile Tears:HAMAS’ Jimmuh Issues Fake Israel Apology to Help Grandson Jason Carter

Debbie Schlussel
"Well, apparently, the news has gotten to his crotchety old HAMAS- and Hezbollah-lovin’ granddaddy, because Jimmy Carter issued an obviously fake apology to the Jews and Israel that is not only phony, but nothing less than sheer politics designed to help rescue his grandson’s political ambitions."

I did think the Jimmah apology was odd.
And the major media coverage of it even odder.
Now I know the "rest of the story".

Detroit Homes for Less Than $100, Starting at $10

CARPE DIEM: Detroit Homes for Less Than $100, Starting at $10
"Detroit Homes for Less Than $100, Starting at $10"

Northeast train problems strand holiday travelers

Northeast train problems strand holiday travelers
"An electrical malfunction outside New York City brought train service to a standstill Wednesday and spotlighted problems on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor that persist despite a long-term effort to upgrade its aging power supply system."

That's government supported mass transit, folks!

Plan for wind energy farm on Lake Michigan has neighbors howling

Plan for wind energy farm on Lake Michigan has neighbors howling
"'Would anyone put these in the Grand Canyon?
This is our Grand Canyon, our beautiful spot,' said Pentwater resident Mary Stiphany, adding that the hulking turbines would obstruct views and hurt tourism.
'It would be such an eyesore.
'The response is an indication that making the dream of alternative energy real in a spot as treasured as the Great Lakes may be harder than imagined.
The plan also raises questions that have yet to be answered about offshore wind power in Michigan, such as where turbines"

15 Immune-Boosting Foods

15 Immune-Boosting Foods from WebMD:

Another Tiger story

This is going around the web:

From inside the gates: Subject: the real tiger story


"I have a Member who lives 10 houses down from Tiger in Isleworth. As we know Tiger's agent is Mark Steinberg. My Member plays golf and is real good friends with another IMG Agent; who is very good friends with Steinberg and they share the same office. This information came from the other IMG Agent to my Member, and then to me today, and according to them is up to date as yesterday when my Member left Orlando .

On Thanksgiving Day, after he and Elin and the family had Turkey Dinner, he spent the rest of the afternoon on the couch watching football and texting Rachel. After each received and sent text message he would clear his message box to rid himself of the evidence. Sometime in between there, one of his Orlando buds called him to see if he wanted to get together at the Clubhouse to play poker with the guys, to which Tiger said yes. Tiger left the house around 7:30 to go play poker, and left behind his cell phone....and one message he had forgot to delete from Rachel.

When Tiger returned home around 11:30 -12 that night, Elin confronted him about the text message in the phone, and then started a heated discussion to its regards. According to what I was told, there was more "incriminating evidence" than just the text message (i.e. photos). Tiger tried to play it off to Elin by telling her she was reading too much in to it, and did not know the story, etc. Tiger went upstairs to change into his gym shorts and t - shirt, came back down, and Elin confronted him again; to which Tiger gave the same story. Tiger sat down in a chair in the living room, and Elin sat across from him urging Tiger to just come clean. Tiger stayed to his guns and denied everything. At one point Tiger turned away to look at the TV, and as he turned back, Elin hit him on the right side of the face with the head of a 9 - iron. When she struck Tiger, she put a huge gash in the right side of his face next to his nose (causing his nose to bruise some), and virtually knocking two of his upper teeth out, and breaking the bone on the upper right side. Tiger ran scared as hell out of the house (which is why he had on no shoes) with Elin swinging the golf club throughout the hallway to the garage (i.e. causing the severe damage which has been reported). Tiger hopped in the Escalade and tried to leave; and as we know Elin knocked out the windows in the Escalade. When Tiger crashed, Elin panicked and was not sure what to tell the police (which is why there are two conflicting stories from her). When this happened, Elin immediately called Mark Steinberg to tell him what happened, and Mark told Elin to tell him what hospital they were going to, and he would meet them there.

Tiger is transported to the hospital with Elin in the ambulance, and as they arrive Mark is there waiting for them. The people from the hospital and the doctors take Tiger in for X-Rays etc to check out the damage caused. The doctors tell Mark there is not much they can do to repair the teeth and the gash, but the doctor knows a cosmetic dentist and plastic surgeon in Phoenix who will make Tiger look as if nothing happened. Tiger tells Mark to get the jet ready and lets head to Phoenix to get this done. Friday after Tiger is released from the hospital, he does not return home, he and Mark board the plane for Phoenix . If you remember FHP kept showing up at Isleworth to talk to Tiger, and was told by another FL attorney (who Tiger hired for PR reasons) Tiger was not ready to talk. Well now we know why, he was in Phoenix , and did not arrive back in Orlando until either late last Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. The surgeries were more intense than what they had originally planned, which meant Tiger was in PHX longer than he should have been. Upon arriving back in Orlando , Tiger and Elin have been in intense marriage consoling sessions (up to 6 to 7 hours a day) every day! Both Tiger and Elin have told the counselors they love each other, and want to make the marriage work. The reports you are reading on TMZ and Radar Online are about 30% accurate at best according to Mark.

In regards to Tiger's boat being in Palm Beach this week, along with Rachel; that part is true. However, Tiger is not on the boat, and is not in Palm Beach ; and Rachel is not on the boat. Her parents live 6 blocks from where the boat is, but that is it. Tiger has not returned to his house at Isleworth since the day of the accident except for the therapy sessions. IMG has enlisted the assistance of one of its most recognized sports figures, and Tiger has taken up residence in his neighborhood; Bay Hill. IMG contacted Arnold Palmer because of the high regard in which Tiger holds Arnold . Arnold has agreed, and IMG has said if anyone can get through to Tiger, Arnold may be the only person who can based on his public persona when he was at the height of his game as well. The moving trucks being shown on TMZ and Radar Online are moving out pictures and furniture which was damaged during their Thanksgiving Day argument; not of her moving out. Yes, Elin has retained a divorce attorney, but has not filed any papers, and as of yesterday had no intention on doing so. Tiger has not made any public appearances or statements due to the surgery and plastic surgery he had in PHX. It will be about another month if not more before he gets in front of a camera. Yes, Tiger is hitting golf balls late at night at Bay Hill out of their teaching center (which is equipped with lights).

That is as up to date as I have........ "

This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm

WILL 2010 BE the year of bankrupt governments?

WILL 2010 BE the year of bankrupt governments?
"The trouble with socialism is, sooner or later you run out of other people’s money."
(via Instapundit)

This is real.
This is scary!

Steak 'n Shake plans to buy Fremont Insurance to diversify interests | West Michigan Business - - MLive.com

Steak 'n Shake plans to buy Fremont Insurance to diversify interests
"Fremont sells property and casualty insurance to individuals, farms and small businesses solely in Michigan."

"Would you like to make that an insured happy meal?"

A Very Special Holiday E-Reader Roundup

A Very Special Holiday E-Reader Roundup
"however, it's an important point and has already caused a stir after a prominent author agreed to an exclusive e-book deal with Amazon. Since you have been warned, hit the jump to see our picks and pans."

Mona Shores students demonstrate the true meaning of Christmas | Muskegon News - - MLive.com

Mona Shores students demonstrate the true meaning of Christmas
"became a schoolwide project with 27 first-hour classes going above and beyond for people they’ve never met.

So with all the draconian "cuts" facing "education", we simply blow out 1st hour for a photo op and feel good conspicuous compassion.

Ain't leernin' great?

Corrections officials: Michigan will make money on Pennsylvania inmate transfer

Corrections officials: Michigan will make money on Pennsylvania inmate transfer
"“It seems to be percolating and resonating, that we’re losing money,” said Russ Marlan, spokesman for the Michigan Deparment of Corrections.
“We’re a little bit smarter than that.
We’re not going to get into a deal that costs the state.

“Not only are we preserving jobs, and allowing those people who keep their jobs to continue to buy goods in the Muskegon area, and all the economic impact they have — we’re also making money on the deal,” Marlan said."

Right.
Letting out 1000 Michigan prisoners, back to Michigan cities.....yeah, that's gonna save LOTS of money......right.....

We Interrupt this Socialization of Medicine to Bring You an Abdication of Our National Defense . . .

We Interrupt this Socialization of Medicine to Bring You an Abdication of Our National Defense . . . - Andy McCarthy - The Corner on National Review Online
"But the release announced this past weekend is just appalling.
The twelve detainees have been transferred to: Yemen, an al-Qaeda hotbed whose government makes common cause with jihadists (and has a history of allowing them to escape — or of releasing them outright);
Afghanistan, which is so ungovernable and rife with jihadism that we're surging thousands of troops there (troops the jihadists are targeting);
and Somaliland, which is not even a country,"

"Change… Obama Now More Loathed Than Bush at End of His Second Term"

Gateway Pundit
"Change… Obama Now More Loathed Than Bush at End of His Second Term"

A Good Solid B+

Barack Obama’s approval index number dropped to a new low today.

Rasmussen reported:
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows that 25% of the nation’s voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President.
Forty-six percent (46%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -21 That’s the lowest Approval Index rating yet recorded for this President (see trends).

At the end of his second term President George W. Bush had a 43% disapproval rating.

In less than one year Barack Obama managed to pi$$ off more people than George W. Bush.

Nice work, Barack."

Obama's replacement

The Weekly Standard
"Senator Roland Burris is claiming credit for a provision in Harry Reid's 'manager's amendment,' unveiled Saturday morning, that could funnel money to ACORN through the health care bill.
On December 9, Burris, an Illinois Democrat, pledged that he would filibuster a health care bill without a public option. 'If we have to get 60 and it comes back and it does not have a public option in it, I will not vote for it,' he said. Then early last week he said he could vote for the bill if there were changes made to achieve the goals of the public option: 'until this bill addresses cost, competition, and accountability in a meaningful way—it will not win [my vote].'"

Crowdsourcing The Contract With America 2.0

Chicago Boyz » Blog Archive » Crowdsourcing The Contract With America 2.0
"The GOP is not exactly the sharpest bunch of elephants on the savannah.
They are looking at a historic threat, and a historic opportunity, with the Democrats making massive and unpopular changes to the foundations of our economy and our government.
But I am seeking just about zero leadership in the opposition ranks. Gov. Palin, who is now a bystanderer, has accomplished more with her Facebook page than most of the elected legislators have managed to do from their roost in DC.
In the run-up to the 1994 takeover of Congress by the GOP, New Gingrich came up with his Contract with America, which nationalized the election.
We need an equivalent program now.
Question for our dear readers: What should CWA 2.0 have in it?
I suggest some possible items:"

We Are No Longer a Nation of Laws. Senate Sets Up Requirement for Super-Majority to Ever Repeal Obamacare

We Are No Longer a Nation of Laws. Senate Sets Up Requirement for Super-Majority to Ever Repeal Obamacare
Erick’s blog - RedState:
"Section 3403 of Senator Harry Reid’s amendment requires that “it shall not be in order in the Senate or the House of Representatives to consider any bill, resolution, amendment, or conference report that would repeal or otherwise change this subsection.”

The good news is that this only applies to one section of the Obamacare legislation.

The bad news is that it applies to regulations imposed on doctors and patients by the Independent Medicare Advisory Boards a/k/a the Death Panels."

The firefighter longevity myth surfaces again

The firefighter longevity myth surfaces again - America's Finest - SignOnSanDiego.com
"There is no difference at all -- no matter what people trying to justify their outrageous and unaffordable benefits tell you."

Beware the Taxpayer Bailout of Underfunded Teamsters Pension Funds

Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis: Beware the Taxpayer Bailout of Underfunded Teamsters Pension Funds
"Replenishing Pension Funds From Taxpayer Pockets

It should be no surprise that the Teamsters (or any union) would want taxpayer handouts, or that Congress would buy votes giving away handouts."

Lefty: 10 reasons to kill Obamacare

Lefty: 10 reasons to kill Obamacare « Don Surber
"From her Web site, her reasons for opposing Obamacare:
1. Forces you to pay up to 8% of your income to private insurance corporations — whether you want to or not.
2. If you refuse to buy the insurance, you’ll have to pay penalties of up to 2% of your annual income to the IRS.
3. Many will be forced to buy poor-quality insurance they can’t afford to use, with $11,900 in annual out-of-pocket expenses over and above their annual premiums.
4. Massive restriction on a woman’s right to choose, designed to trigger a challenge to Roe v. Wade in the Supreme Court.
5. Paid for by taxes on the middle class insurance plan you have right now through your employer, causing them to cut back benefits and increase co-pays.
6. Many of the taxes to pay for the bill start now, but most Americans won’t see any benefits — like an end to discrimination against those with preexisting conditions — until 2014 when the program begins.
7. Allows insurance companies to charge people who are older 300% more than others.
8. Grants monopolies to drug companies that will keep generic versions of expensive biotech drugs from ever coming to market.
9. No re-importation of prescription drugs, which would save consumers $100 billion over 10 years.
10. The cost of medical care will continue to rise, and insurance premiums for a family of four will rise an average of $1,000 a year — meaning in 10 years, your family’s insurance premium will be $10,000 more annually than it is right now."

Recovery not as strong as previously thought

Recovery not as strong as previously thought
"The economy grew at a 2.2 percent pace in the third quarter, as the recovery got off to a weaker start than previously thought."

Exclusive: Rep. Parker Griffith switches to GOP - - POLITICO.com

Exclusive: Rep. Parker Griffith switches to GOP - - POLITICO.com
"POLITICO has learned that Rep. Parker Griffith, a freshman Democrat from Alabama, will announce today that he’s switching parties to become a Republican."

The Best Notable Quotables of 2009

The Best Notable Quotables of 2009
"Andrea Mitchell (2755 Votes)
“What a day it was. It may take days or years to really absorb the significance of what happened to America today....When he [Barack Obama] finally emerged, he seemed, even in this throng, so solitary, somber, perhaps already feeling the weight of the world, even before he was transformed into the leader of the free world....The mass flickering of cell phone cameras on the Mall seemed like stars shining back at him.”
— NBC’s Andrea Mitchell on the January 20 Nightly News."

Grab a barf bag and read the rest.....

What recovery? Budget deficits get worse for states.

What recovery? Budget deficits get worse for states.
CSMonitor.com: "Budget deficits for 2010 have worsened in 39 states in the past two or three months, according to a new analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities."

Steven Greenhut exposes clout of government unions

Steven Greenhut exposes clout of government unions
"former Register editorial writer Steven Greenhut has just released his book, 'Plunder! How Public Employee Unions Are Raiding Treasuries, Controlling Our Lives and Bankrupting the Nation.'

For the vast majority of ordinary citizens who toil in the private sector, this book will produce more than outrage – it is likely to spur many to take up the cause of stopping these corrupting influences on our systems of governance.

The real outrage will kick in at Chapter Two, entitled 'Unbelievable Pay and Benefits.' It is here that Greenhut catalogs the shocking abuses of public employee compensation."

'Morning Joe' Team Takes Direction From WH

The Radio Equalizer: Brian Maloney: MSNBC Libtalker: 'Morning Joe' Team Takes Direction From WH
"For anyone wondering why an increasing number of conservatives now use the term 'state-controlled media' to refer to television networks and newspapers, here's one that drives the point home.

During his syndicated radio show Friday, libtalker and MSNBC host Ed Schultz relayed to listeners how he observed 'Morning Joe' Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski take feedback directly from the White House during their program last week"

And the rest of the lib MSM get's their talking points via fax and e-mail... from the White House.

Why the Reid Bill is Unconstitutional

PointOfLaw Columns: Impermissible Ratemaking in Health-Insurance Reform: Why the Reid Bill is Unconstitutional
"This action is not only a source of real anxiety but also a decision of constitutional proportions, for it systematically strips the regulated health-insurance issuers of their constitutional entitlement to earn a reasonable rate of return on the massive amounts of capital that they have already invested in building out their businesses."

Interesting.
I wonder if the constitutional questions will be addressed BEFORE the bill's provisions start their mayhem.
(via InstaPundit)

Report: Michigan gas prices up 1.2 cents

Report: Michigan gas prices up 1.2 cents
"AAA Michigan says gasoline prices are up 1.2 cents per gallon over the past week to a statewide average of $2.55."

One year ago gas was about $1.60/gal.
Seems like the Obama supporting libs in the MSM don't want us to remember that.