Monday, December 13, 2010

Man killed by Long Beach police was holding water nozzle, not gun

Man killed by Long Beach police was holding water nozzle, not gun L.A. NOW Los Angeles Times
"He was shot in the torso with a shotgun and handgun, then handcuffed, Zapalski said.

He died at the scene."

How the press missed SB 400 in 1999

On the Media: How the press missed SB 400 in 1999 - latimes.com
"The bill won approval on the final day of the state legislative session in the fall of 1999.
But searching this week for contemporaneous coverage of the law, I found little to nothing.

Reporters straining to keep up with 11th-hour deal-making that Friday in September gave plenty of attention to an agreement that would allow an expansion of Indian gambling operations around California.
A lot of attention also went to a couple of bills that cracked down on illegal sweatshops.
Another piece of legislation, providing gay students a legal shield against abuse, also made front-page news.

But SB 400 got only a handful of mentions — and terse ones at that — across dozens of papers and other outlets, including the Los Angeles Times. When Gov. Gray Davis signed the bill, it hugely expanded pension benefits for state workers.
It set a benchmark that would be followed by dozens of counties and cities."

Sasha Obama looks miserable on Christmas night out

Sasha Obama looks miserable on Christmas night out Mail Online
"When they arrived in Washington from Chicago almost two years ago, Barack and Michelle Obama publicly proclaimed that the girls were off-limits to the news media, saying they wanted to keep their daughters' lives as normal as possible"

German man castrates teenage daughter's 57-year-old boyfriend

German man castrates teenage daughter's 57-year-old boyfriend - Telegraph
"He told police: 'I received a phone call anonymously that my daughter was involved with a guy 40 years older than her.
You said you couldn't stop him – so I did.
'I saw it as my duty as a father.'"

Top RNC official hasn't voted in GOP primary for years

Top RNC official hasn't voted in GOP primary for years - Washington Times
"But longtime Washington lobbyist Angela Sailor, 42, and her political consultant husband, Elroy, 41, did vote in the 2008 Virginia Democratic presidential primary, according to Prince William County election records.

The move generated more questions when it was learned that Mr. Steele had the RNC set her salary at $180,000 a year, making her the highest-paid staff person.
Her annual salary, not including benefits, is $40,000 more than the elected co-chairman of the RNC receives."

NY Schools’ ‘Human Rights’ Curriculum Features Van Jones

» NY Schools’ ‘Human Rights’ Curriculum Features Van Jones - Big Government
"The web event originated from a classroom at Chestnut Ridge Middle School, a school with a student population that recently scored below-average on statewide tests, according to the New York Times.

It is extremely difficult to see how lessons focusing on corporate “greed,” landmine awareness, Chinese labor camps and abolishing the death penalty will do anything to raise student test scores in math, reading and science.

According to a NYSUT blog, the curriculum “introduces general human rights issues” and “urges students to become personally involved in the protection of human rights.”"

US sues school over denial of Muslim pilgrimage

US sues school over denial of Muslim pilgrimage - Yahoo! News
"The federal government sued a suburban Chicago school district Monday for denying a Muslim middle school teacher unpaid leave to make a pilgrimage to Mecca that is a central part of her religion.

In a civil rights case, the department said the school district in Berkeley, Ill., denied the request of Safoorah Khan on grounds that her requested leave was unrelated to her professional duties and was not set forth in the contract between the school district and the teachers union.

In doing so the school district violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by failing to reasonably accommodate her religious practices, the government said."

FLASHBACK: When Asked Where the Constitution Authorizes Congress to Order Americans To Buy Health Insurance, Pelosi Says: 'Are You Serious?'

FLASHBACK: When Asked Where the Constitution Authorizes Congress to Order Americans To Buy Health Insurance, Pelosi Says: 'Are You Serious?' CNSnews.com
"When CNSNews.com asked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Thursday where the Constitution authorized Congress to order Americans to buy health insurance--a mandate included in both the House and Senate versions of the health care bill--Pelosi dismissed the question by saying: “Are you serious? Are you serious?”"

Thoughts on division names, logo, trophies

Thoughts on division names, logo, trophies - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN
"After months of taking suggestions and brainstorming possibilities, the Big Ten ended up with Legends and Leaders.
Here's the breakdown:

Legends Division: Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, Minnesota, Northwestern and Nebraska

Leaders Division: Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Purdue and Indiana"

Gus Malzahn staying at Auburn

Gus Malzahn staying at Auburn - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN
"which means we'll probably see another assistant coach in the SEC approach the $1 million mark in salary and possibly even go over $1 million."

Wow!

Talk radio format coming to 106.9 FM

Talk radio format coming to 106.9 FM MLive.com
"Muskegon will get a new talk radio station as the result of a frequency shake-up that moved a popular country station.

WOOD-AM, a Grand Rapids news and talk radio station now at 1300 AM, also will be broadcast at 106.9 FM beginning early next year. The station that formerly occupied that frequency — WMUS “The Moose,” a Muskegon country station — will move up the dial to 107.9.
Star 108, currently at 107.9, will be canceled, though listeners can hear similar adult contemporary programming at 105.7 FM."

Government Unions vs. Taxpayers

Tim Pawlenty: Government Unions vs. Taxpayers - WSJ.com
"Since January 2008 the private sector has lost nearly eight million jobs while local, state and federal governments added 590,000"

The Daily Outrage: More on why our economy is going extinct

The Daily Outrage: More on why our economy is going extinct Washington Examiner

WHO: The National Science Foundation
WHAT: Gave a $141,002 federal stimulus grant to Montana State University to fund a six-week, student trip to Hangzhou, China, to study dinosaur eggs and other fossils.

WHY IT'S AN OUTRAGE: The students found ample time to experience Chinese culture and explore on taxpayers' money, but the dinosaur eggs did not hatch any new jobs.

WHERE TO VENT: Call the NSF inspector general at 800-428-2189."

Sunday, December 12, 2010

The Presidential Succession Begins.

DON SURBER: The Presidential Succession Begins.

DON SURBER: The Presidential Succession Begins. “The truth is Clinton took over the presidency on Friday when Obama just walked away. Leadership is about symbols. Mommy — Michelle Obama — called and Obama had to go home. He let Clinton take over and clean up the mess. . . . Being president sucks right now. It will get worse. His programs are a failure. His party does not like him. So he sent Biden to talk to the party and Clinton to talk to the press. At this point, it is merely symbolic of a resignation. A bad weekend. But it certainly is not something I have seen before in presidential politics.”

They’re taking bets on Obama’s departure. But he’s got an ace in the hole — he only has to run against the Republicans. . . .

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Irony alert: The unusually chilly global-warming summit

Irony alert: The unusually chilly global-warming summit - The Week
"As negotiators from nearly 200 countries met in Cancun to strategize ways to keep the planet from getting hotter, the temperature in the seaside Mexican city plunged to a 100-year record low of 54° F."

North Korea 'ready for war'

North Korea 'ready for war': News24: World: News
"Seoul - North Korea warned on Saturday that it is ready for an all-out war even as it dispatched its top diplomat to Russia amid a flurry of regional diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions over the North's deadly artillery attack on South Korea."

Hopey changey don't seem to work for president Barry O'Carter.
Bummer....

What's going on at Hartford Terrace?

Letters: What's going on at Hartford Terrace? MLive.com
"We have two elevators and one of them breaks down, usually on a weekend, about three times a month.
No one comes to fix it until regular offices hours on Monday.
They are the same elevators installed in 1973 when the building was built.
We are told the reason they break down is because they are “used more than any other elevators in town.”
There are 11 floors in the building with 16 apartments on each floor."

What's going on?
GOVERNMENT!

Imagine how efficient our entire health care system will be when these morons take control!

Democrats hurl f-bombs at Obama. Are they racist now?

theblogprof: Video: Democrats hurl f-bombs at Obama. Are they racist now?
Remember when the tea party was labeled as racist for opposing the Obama agenda?
What about Democrats not only opposing Obama's so-called compromise on keeping tax rates at present levels but hurling f-bombs at him?

Racist?

Resisting his compromise because of the color of his skin?

FDNY Set To Implement Emergency Services 'Crash Tax' CBS New York

FDNY Set To Implement Emergency Services 'Crash Tax' CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY
"But under the plan, you’ll get charged even if the accident isn’t your fault."

UN climate meeting OKs Green Fund in new accord

My Way News - UN climate meeting OKs Green Fund in new accord
"The Cancun Agreements created institutions for delivering technology and funding to poorer countries, though they did not say where the funding would come from."

Thursday, December 09, 2010

Wasting tax dollars on ethanol

Wasting tax dollars on ethanol
"IF YOU'RE wondering which of America's leaders are serious about cutting wasteful government spending, you might start by examining who's behind the effort to extend tax breaks to America's corn ethanol industry, which expire at the end of the year."

Obama uses labor board to revive Card Check | Washington Examiner

Examiner Editorial: Obama uses labor board to revive Card Check Washington Examiner
"Big Labor's No. 1 public policy goal is to abolish secret ballots in workplace representation elections."

Stella Paul's Top Ten Government Follies of 2010

American Thinker- Stella Paul's Top Ten Government Follies of 2010
"Folly One: The Federal government sued Arizona for the ultimate crime: enforcing federal law!"

Grab a drink and read 'em all!

West Virginia May Soon Set Nation-wide Pattern to Get Around the EPA

West Virginia May Soon Set Nation-wide Pattern to Get Around the EPA NetRight Daily
"Coal mining has long been under attack from environmentalists and especially the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The result of these attacks have caused coal mines to be closed until they receive certification and permits that meet the approval of bureaucrats that are decidedly anti-coal mining.
Hundreds if not thousands of coal mining jobs have been lost due to this bureaucratic nightmare.

In West Virginia though, a newly elected State Delegate has drafted legislation that would undo these unnecessary mine closures and put the miners back to work.
Gary Howell, elected to his first term in the State House of West Virginia in November, is wasting no time getting his “put West Virginia to work” legislation signed in to law.

Delegate-elect Howell told NetRightDaily.com, “[t]hese mines have met all the requirements for their EPA permits to be issued, but the Obama administration is simply not issuing the permits.
The Obama administration’s actions are illegal and are being challenged in the courts, however the court cases will take time.
The Intrastate Coal and Use Act will take effect immediately allowing the mines to open, which will not only increase employment but increase the tax bases without the need for increased taxes on the individuals and provide energy security for the nation.”"

Small-Biz Killers: Who Pays for Jobless Benefits?

Michelle Malkin » Small-Biz Killers: Who Pays for Jobless Benefits?
"....small businesses are getting whacked by skyrocketing unemployment insurance tax hikes across the country.

Friends of mine here in Colorado Springs first alerted me to their massive bills, which have arrived over the past two weeks.
Business owners from several other states have written me with similar horror stories — and I’ve included some of their experiences below. It’s yet another example of how the hidden Obama jobs death toll is wreaking havoc on America’s wealth producers."

The Top 10 Economic Myths of 2010

The Top 10 Economic Myths of 2010

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Immigrants' lawyers using culture as crime defense

Immigrants' lawyers using culture as crime defense - Yahoo! News
"The case highlighted a legal strategy that experts say immigrants' defense lawyers are using increasingly in the U.S.: the argument that a defendant's actions reflect his cultural upbringing, rather than criminal intent."

Watch out folks!
Their vile "culture" is being used as a defense against our country!

SHOCKER: GAO Report Slamming For-Profit Education Turns Out To Be “Flawed.”

Instapundit » Blog Archive » SHOCKER: GAO Report Slamming For-Profit Education Turns Out To Be “Flawed.”
“The revisions have come as the Obama administration and senior Democratic lawmakers are pushing for tougher regulation of the industry. A Republican senator said the revisions called into question some of the conclusions in the report.”

I’d like to see closer attention paid to what traditional colleges are promising, versus what they actually deliver.

Related: War On For-Profit Colleges Reeks Even Worse.
“I wouldn’t be terribly surprised to learn that people at the GAO have actually been in on the crusade to demonize proprietary colleges.
I also, unfortunately, won’t be surprised if no one pays attention to any of this, and the shameless, responsibility-dodging war on for-profits continues unabated.”

UPDATE: Bogus GAO report led to layoffs? Sure looks that way.
You’d think the federal government would want to encourage job-creation instead of job-destruction, but everything they do seems to have the opposite effect . . . ."

Our government's war on profit.
How sad.

US Treasuries hit by biggest sell-off in two years

FT.com / Capital Markets - US Treasuries hit by biggest sell-off in two years
"“Yields at this level are clearly unsustainable,” said Paul Marson, chief investment officer at Lombard Odier, the Swiss private bank."

Unions Look for Payback In the 'Lame Duck' Congress

FoxNews.com - Unions Look for Payback In the 'Lame Duck' Congress
"The unions are now making their first big push for lame duck payback, and it’s S. 3194, the so-called 'Public Employee-Employer Cooperation Act.'
Per usual, it has a wonderful name that is more or less the opposite of what the bill actually is—an unnecessary, expensive, and harmful bill that would force state and local governments to recognize union bosses as the exclusive bargaining agents for public-safety workers.

A vote on may come later this week.
This bill violates the basic tenets of our federalist system of government.
Local governments should not be forced by Washington, D.C. to impose forced unionization on their police, paramedics, and firefighters."