CFFR » CBS ‘60 Minutes’ shines spotlight on the states’ budget and pension crises
"Steve Kroft reports on the precarious financial conditions many states are facing — including California — and what they’re doing about it"
Monday, December 20, 2010
Paid to Leave: Generous Teacher Buyouts at East Lansing Public Schools
Paid to Leave: Generous Teacher Buyouts at East Lansing Public Schools [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
“If the goal is to save money by incentivizing teachers to retire, the incentive for teachers is to hang around until you are the top three,” Van Beek said.
“Can you hang around for $35,000, $40,000?
Buy a boat when you retire?
Yeah.”"
“If the goal is to save money by incentivizing teachers to retire, the incentive for teachers is to hang around until you are the top three,” Van Beek said.
“Can you hang around for $35,000, $40,000?
Buy a boat when you retire?
Yeah.”"
YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT AT WORK.
Instapundit » Blog Archive » YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT AT WORK. “Intent on killing his ex-girlfriend, Sharp picked up a knife,
"When seconds count, the police are only minutes away. That’s not their fault — it’s just physics."
"When seconds count, the police are only minutes away. That’s not their fault — it’s just physics."
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Merry Christmas from TIGER Valley on Vimeo
Merry Christmas from TIGER Valley on Vimeo
"TIGER Valley is a premier firearms and operational skills training facility located in central Texas.
The facility includes a 1000 yard KD range,"
A beautiful holiday message of faith, hope and self reliance!
WATCH IT!
"TIGER Valley is a premier firearms and operational skills training facility located in central Texas.
The facility includes a 1000 yard KD range,"
A beautiful holiday message of faith, hope and self reliance!
WATCH IT!
Navy X-47B Unmanned Fighter Set for First Flight
"Now, the U.S. Navy’s X-47B unmanned strike fighter that is set to take its first flight soon.
The aircraft was built by Northrop Grumman and will be a carrier-based unmanned attack aircraft."
The climate bugaboo is the strangest intellectual aberration of our age
The climate bugaboo is the strangest intellectual aberration of our age - Telegraph
"'But don’t you realise,' said the bearded, staring enviro-zomb with the regrettable T-shirt, “that global cooling is what we must expect because of global warming?”
'Don’t you realise,' I replied, 'how silly that sounds?
The lowest temperatures ever recorded here in Cancun six days in a row; four extreme winters on the trot in the Northern hemisphere; more people dying in one three-day cold snap in little England in 2002 than Oxfam pretends died of ‘global warming’ worldwide throughout 2010; where’s your perspective, man?'"
"'But don’t you realise,' said the bearded, staring enviro-zomb with the regrettable T-shirt, “that global cooling is what we must expect because of global warming?”
'Don’t you realise,' I replied, 'how silly that sounds?
The lowest temperatures ever recorded here in Cancun six days in a row; four extreme winters on the trot in the Northern hemisphere; more people dying in one three-day cold snap in little England in 2002 than Oxfam pretends died of ‘global warming’ worldwide throughout 2010; where’s your perspective, man?'"
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Scent of Danger: Is New-Car Smell Responsible for Car Accident?
Scent of Danger: Is New-Car Smell Responsible for Car Accident?
"An accident expert investigating a hit-and-run in Edwards, Colo., says a collision between a driver and a bicyclist may have been caused, in part, by the fresh scent inside a month-old 2010 Mercedes-Benz sedan"
"An accident expert investigating a hit-and-run in Edwards, Colo., says a collision between a driver and a bicyclist may have been caused, in part, by the fresh scent inside a month-old 2010 Mercedes-Benz sedan"
Marching Band Forms Giant Kicker, Presumably Makes 50-Yard Field Goal
Marching Band Forms Giant Kicker, Presumably Makes 50-Yard Field Goal (Video) -- Back Porch FanHouse
"It's not too often that you see a marching band get together and pay tribute to the most thankless job in sports.
But, that's exactly what happened this weekend when a video appeared online of a marching band joining forces to form a giant kicker.
Run!!"
Watch this video!
"It's not too often that you see a marching band get together and pay tribute to the most thankless job in sports.
But, that's exactly what happened this weekend when a video appeared online of a marching band joining forces to form a giant kicker.
Run!!"
Watch this video!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Residents to counter protest at funeral
Residents to counter protest at funeral jacksonsun.com The Jackson Sun
"Hours after members of the Westboro Baptist Church posted a news release to announce they plan to picket Dustin Finch's funeral in Humboldt on Saturday"
Where do these fools get their money for all these trips?
"Hours after members of the Westboro Baptist Church posted a news release to announce they plan to picket Dustin Finch's funeral in Humboldt on Saturday"
Where do these fools get their money for all these trips?
Washington subway police to begin random bag checks
Washington subway police to begin random bag checks Reuters
"Officers will start random bag inspections on the sprawling Washington subway system"
This is public transportation, folks....
"Officers will start random bag inspections on the sprawling Washington subway system"
This is public transportation, folks....
Qantas: Engine Problems Mean Its A380s Can’t Fly to the U.S. Big Problem
Qantas: Engine Problems Mean Its A380s Can’t Fly to the U.S. Big Problem BNET
"At nearly 7,500 miles, Qantas needs every bit of thrust to get off the ground at LAX with a full passenger load and a lot of fuel.
And that full thrust requirement is apparently why Qantas is having bigger engine problems with this airplane than anyone else.
Any time you use full thrust, you put more stress on the engine.
Engines are supposed to handle that just fine, but not in this case."
"At nearly 7,500 miles, Qantas needs every bit of thrust to get off the ground at LAX with a full passenger load and a lot of fuel.
And that full thrust requirement is apparently why Qantas is having bigger engine problems with this airplane than anyone else.
Any time you use full thrust, you put more stress on the engine.
Engines are supposed to handle that just fine, but not in this case."
Muskegon County to ponder implementing 'Violence Free' zones in response to shootings
Muskegon County to ponder implementing 'Violence Free' zones in response to shootings MLive.com
"a staff recommendation to spend up to $20,000 in grant money to bring in Woodson"
"a staff recommendation to spend up to $20,000 in grant money to bring in Woodson"
Center sues Kent County school districts for union agreements
Center sues Kent County school districts for union agreements wzzm13.com Grand Rapids, MI
"The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation announced a lawsuit today charging that nine Kent County school districts, the Kent Intermediate School District, and the Kent County Education Association, could save millions of dollars if they didn't have anti-privatization language in their collective bargaining agreements."
"The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation announced a lawsuit today charging that nine Kent County school districts, the Kent Intermediate School District, and the Kent County Education Association, could save millions of dollars if they didn't have anti-privatization language in their collective bargaining agreements."
Michigan senate, term limits part of early ballot efforts
Michigan senate, term limits part of early ballot efforts lansingstatejournal.com Lansing State Journal
"A retired state of Michigan employee is starting a longshot bid to eliminate the state Senate, end term limits for legislators and ban collective bargaining for state workers."
"A retired state of Michigan employee is starting a longshot bid to eliminate the state Senate, end term limits for legislators and ban collective bargaining for state workers."
Niagara Falls ran dry: Photos show moment iconic waterfall came to standstilll
Niagara Falls ran dry: Photos show moment iconic waterfall came to standstilll Mail Online
"The stark images reveal North America's iconic - and most powerful - waterfall to be almost as dry as a desert."
"The stark images reveal North America's iconic - and most powerful - waterfall to be almost as dry as a desert."
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Working Database of All Earmarks Included in the Omnibus Spending Bill
Working Database of All Earmarks Included in the Omnibus Spending Bill - Right Now - Tom Coburn, M.D., United States Senator from Oklahoma
"The end-of-the-year Omnibus Appropriations bill includes approximately $8.3 billion and 6,714 earmarks.
Click here for a working database of all the earmarks included in the Omnibus Appropriations bill.
It's important to note that the database only refers to disclosed earmarks, not the billions in undisclosed earmarks."
"The end-of-the-year Omnibus Appropriations bill includes approximately $8.3 billion and 6,714 earmarks.
Click here for a working database of all the earmarks included in the Omnibus Appropriations bill.
It's important to note that the database only refers to disclosed earmarks, not the billions in undisclosed earmarks."
Redistribution on steroids
seMissourian.com: Column: Mike Jensen: Redistribution on steroids
"In the midst of a colossal global concern for the economic stability of our great nation, Emanuel Cleaver, Missouri's 5th Congressional District representative, has one small earmark on his wish list that deserves some attention.
Cleaver has listed a new earmark -- one of several -- and he promises to 'fight for every one.'
But this is a whopping $48 billion package that must go down as the grandaddy of all earmarks.
Proposed by a gentleman named Lamar Mickens, president of the not-for-profit Quality Day Campus, the $48 billion earmark would funnel money into the inner cities to give money to the poor and thereby produce a much larger consumer class to buy the goods and services produced in this country.
Just call this redistribution on steroids.
Cleaver's office says this of the proposal:
'The Epicenter is a proposed estimated $48 billion (Phase One) mass scale urban reclamation project for combating, reducing, reversing and/or eliminating poverty within under served communities by utilizing mass scale economic redevelopment to bring about stability and self reliance."
This writer neglected to cite the congressman's political affiliation.
Anyone want to hazard a guess?
"In the midst of a colossal global concern for the economic stability of our great nation, Emanuel Cleaver, Missouri's 5th Congressional District representative, has one small earmark on his wish list that deserves some attention.
Cleaver has listed a new earmark -- one of several -- and he promises to 'fight for every one.'
But this is a whopping $48 billion package that must go down as the grandaddy of all earmarks.
Proposed by a gentleman named Lamar Mickens, president of the not-for-profit Quality Day Campus, the $48 billion earmark would funnel money into the inner cities to give money to the poor and thereby produce a much larger consumer class to buy the goods and services produced in this country.
Just call this redistribution on steroids.
Cleaver's office says this of the proposal:
'The Epicenter is a proposed estimated $48 billion (Phase One) mass scale urban reclamation project for combating, reducing, reversing and/or eliminating poverty within under served communities by utilizing mass scale economic redevelopment to bring about stability and self reliance."
This writer neglected to cite the congressman's political affiliation.
Anyone want to hazard a guess?
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Secret government votes?!!!!!!!
WM10/12 - 217 It was moved by Mahoney, supported by Engle, to authorize Charles Buzzell, County Commissioner, to purchase up to five (5) years of MERS generic service credit at a cost provided by the MERS Plan Document and in keeping with the County policy regarding purchase of generic service credit with 100 percent of the total actuarial cost being paid by the employee.
Motion carried.
Two BIG issues here but the biggest is our county clerk is hiding the votes from the official minutes of the meetings.
"Motion carried" tells us little people NOTHING about how our representitaves voted on the issue!
Secret government or gangster government?
Or BOTH!
Motion carried.
Two BIG issues here but the biggest is our county clerk is hiding the votes from the official minutes of the meetings.
"Motion carried" tells us little people NOTHING about how our representitaves voted on the issue!
Secret government or gangster government?
Or BOTH!
Santelli: Clarity from Fed? No. Inflation? Yes.
Santelli: Clarity from Fed? No. Inflation? Yes. - CNBC
"How can a program that was designed to drive rates lower be deemed a success if rates are now sharply higher?
Why is there so little clarity from an entity that is now among the largest holders of Treasury securities?
My conclusion is that the goal of Chairman Bernanke and the Federal Open Market Committee was to monetize the growing U.S. debt and generate future inflation.
On the last score….generating inflation….I think time will prove the Fed highly successful."
"How can a program that was designed to drive rates lower be deemed a success if rates are now sharply higher?
Why is there so little clarity from an entity that is now among the largest holders of Treasury securities?
My conclusion is that the goal of Chairman Bernanke and the Federal Open Market Committee was to monetize the growing U.S. debt and generate future inflation.
On the last score….generating inflation….I think time will prove the Fed highly successful."
Education payouts lack payoff
BILLINGSLEY: Education payouts lack payoff - Washington Times
"Canada has no federal education ministry or department and no federal Cabinet official for K-12 education.
At the federal level, Canada spends virtually nothing on K-12 education and on a per-student basis, spends about 20 percent less than the United States. Yet Canada is outperforming the United States."
"Canada has no federal education ministry or department and no federal Cabinet official for K-12 education.
At the federal level, Canada spends virtually nothing on K-12 education and on a per-student basis, spends about 20 percent less than the United States. Yet Canada is outperforming the United States."
The Worst of 2010
by Tracy K. Lorenz (sort of)
The end of the year is closing in which means we’ll soon be inundated with “Best Of” lists so, as usual, I’m putting out my annual “Worst Of” list.
But this time I thought I’d share the fun so I resurrected the old “Helper Group” to let them vent a little.
"MarySSI:
Wikileaks Security Issue – IF OUR GOVERNMENT REALLY WANTS TO KEEP OUR NATION’S TOP SECRETS CLASSIFIED, THEY SHOULD BE KEPT IN THE SAME PLACE THAT OBAMA’S COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS AND BIRTH CERTIFICATE ARE KEPT."
The end of the year is closing in which means we’ll soon be inundated with “Best Of” lists so, as usual, I’m putting out my annual “Worst Of” list.
But this time I thought I’d share the fun so I resurrected the old “Helper Group” to let them vent a little.
"MarySSI:
Wikileaks Security Issue – IF OUR GOVERNMENT REALLY WANTS TO KEEP OUR NATION’S TOP SECRETS CLASSIFIED, THEY SHOULD BE KEPT IN THE SAME PLACE THAT OBAMA’S COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS AND BIRTH CERTIFICATE ARE KEPT."
Congress' Job Approval Rating Worst in Gallup History
Congress' Job Approval Rating Worst in Gallup History
"Americans' assessment of Congress has hit a new low, with 13% saying they approve of the way Congress is handling its job.
The 83% disapproval rating is also the worst Gallup has measured in more than 30 years of tracking congressional job performance."
"Americans' assessment of Congress has hit a new low, with 13% saying they approve of the way Congress is handling its job.
The 83% disapproval rating is also the worst Gallup has measured in more than 30 years of tracking congressional job performance."
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Santelli: Clarity from Fed? No. Inflation? Yes.
Santelli: Clarity from Fed? No. Inflation? Yes. - CNBC
"Yet, since the last meeting 10-year rates are up close to 100 basis points!
I am not sure what amazes me more — the fact that the Fed didn’t even MENTION the rate rise in today’s statement, or that many believe the various purchase plans have been “successful.”
How can a program that was designed to drive rates lower be deemed a success if rates are now sharply higher?"
"Yet, since the last meeting 10-year rates are up close to 100 basis points!
I am not sure what amazes me more — the fact that the Fed didn’t even MENTION the rate rise in today’s statement, or that many believe the various purchase plans have been “successful.”
How can a program that was designed to drive rates lower be deemed a success if rates are now sharply higher?"
Canadians With More Debt Than U.S. Spark Policy Makers' Warning
Canadians With More Debt Than U.S. Spark Policy Makers' Warning - Bloomberg
"Canada’s top economic officials yesterday urged households to be wary of taking on too much debt after data showed the indebtedness of Canadians surpassed U.S. levels for the first time in 12 years."
"Canada’s top economic officials yesterday urged households to be wary of taking on too much debt after data showed the indebtedness of Canadians surpassed U.S. levels for the first time in 12 years."
CNN to Host GOP Primary Debate Next June
CNN to Host GOP Primary Debate Next June - TVNewser
"CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information."
Oh, these folks are funny.....
"CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information."
Oh, these folks are funny.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)