Monday, March 07, 2011

Feds: No new drilling permits, but we'll tap into Strategic Petroleum Reserve!

Feds: No new drilling permits, but we'll tap into Strategic Petroleum Reserve! Phillip Suderman Beltway Confidential Washington Examiner
"The move effectively continues the de facto ban on deepwater drilling in the Gulf.
On Sunday however, White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley said the Obama administration is considering tapping into the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve as one way to help ease soaring oil prices.
Interior has imposed a de facto moratorium on deepwater drilling since the BP oil spill last year."

Milwaukee teachers drop Viagra suit

Milwaukee teachers drop Viagra suit
"The Milwaukee teachers union has dropped a lawsuit seeking to get its taxpayer-funded Viagra back."

Michigan Town Is Divided Over Charges of Child Pornography - NYTimes.com

Michigan Town Is Divided Over Charges of Child Pornography - NYTimes.com
"People in this economically pressed town near Lake Michigan are divided into two camps: Those who think Evan Emory should pay hard for what he did, and those who think he should be let off easy."

Report says too many whites, men leading military

Report says too many whites, men leading military - Yahoo! News
"The report ordered by Congress in 2009 calls for greater diversity in the military's leadership so it will better reflect the racial, ethnic and gender mix in the armed forces and in American society"

Gas prices are about more than just oil

My Way News - Gas prices are about more than just oil
"When Jay Ricker, owner of the BP gas station off Interstate 70 in Plainfield, Ind., set the price of unleaded gasoline at $3.44 per gallon on Monday of last week, it was 4 cents higher than the Friday before."

Why Are We Still In Germany?

Why Are We Still In Germany? - Investors.com
"According to Bismarck's best-known maxim on Europe's most troublesome region, the Balkans are not worth the bones of a single Pomeranian grenadier.
Americans could be forgiven for harboring similar sentiments after the murder of two U.S. airmen in Germany by a Kosovar Muslim.

Remember Kosovo?
Me neither. But it was big at the time, launched by Bill Clinton in the wake of his Monica difficulties:
Make war, not love, as the boomers advise.
So Clinton did — and without any pesky U.N. resolutions, or even the pretense of seeking them.
Instead, he and Tony Blair and even Jacques Chirac just cried 'Bombs away!' and got on with it.
And the left didn't mind at all — because, for a modern western nation, war is only legitimate if you have no conceivable national interest in whatever war you're waging."

Gas price increases are intentional move by Obama

Gas price increases are intentional move by Obama - HUMAN EVENTS
"Why the hypocrisy?
It is very simple to understand.

The left knew that George W. Bush was not a fan of their green agenda.
The green agenda consists of coal powered cars, urban living, and punitive measures to stop that mythical force known as global warming . . . or climate change depending on what day it is.

Barack Obama buys the agenda hook, line, and sinker."

The lawsuit abuse problem in a nutshell ington Examiner

The lawsuit abuse problem in a nutshell Examiner Editorial Editorials Washington Examiner
"America's legal system cries out for reform when a solicitation described by a federal judge as 'junk mail' can expose a mortgage company to as much as $16 billion in liability for allegedly failing to provide 16 million recipients with a sufficiently 'clear and conspicuous' notice of one of their rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
The prospect of having to face so massive a liability forced the company to settle a class-action lawsuit filed against it by plaintiff lawyers, who then received from the defendant $3.5 million in fees.
The lawyers got something else, too -- a promise from the company they sued that its executives would not criticize the lawyers in public regarding any issue in the case.

The company is prevented from talking about the settlement in critical terms, but this newspaper is not:
We agree with Class Action Watch Executive Director Lawrence Schonbrun that the case represents 'the class action mess in a nutshell.'"

Sunday, March 06, 2011

CoachIzzo.com

CoachIzzo.com

Just back from E Lansing and the annual MSU basketball banquet.
This was the video they played at the end.

Northwestern prof apologizes for live sex act

Northwestern prof apologizes for live sex act - U.S. news - msnbc.com
"A Northwestern University professor who allowed an on-campus presentation of a live sex act during an after-class event apologized on Saturday and said it would not happen again."

Saturday, March 05, 2011

Public Unions: The Rise of Arithmetic and How Taxpayers and the Little Guy Are Left Behind

CARPE DIEM: Public Unions: The Rise of Arithmetic and How Taxpayers and the Little Guy Are Left Behind

State controller finds more big public employee salaries, including $875,000 for hospital chief

State controller finds more big public employee salaries, including $875,000 for hospital chief L.A. NOW Los Angeles Times
"State Controller John Chiang has released a new round of compensation figures for public sector employees, including a Bay Area hospital executive who made about $875,000 in 2009, and a San Gabriel Valley water official who was paid close to $600,000."

Rescuers call off attempts to save man who fell 190ft into abandoned mine shaft... despite video showing he is still breathing

Rescuers call off attempts to save man who fell 190ft into abandoned mine shaft... despite video showing he is still breathing Mail Online
"Ms Worley said.
Authorities have been closing shafts that pose the most danger near towns and recreation sites.
She said: 'People's curiosity sometimes gets the best of them.
'These were way out in the middle of nowhere where few people would venture.'"

This UK article about an American in the USA........Obamacare as a rescue avoidance option?

Why Are We Still In Germany?

Why Are We Still In Germany? - Investors.com
"According to Bismarck's best-known maxim on Europe's most troublesome region, the Balkans are not worth the bones of a single Pomeranian grenadier.
Americans could be forgiven for harboring similar sentiments after the murder of two U.S. airmen in Germany by a Kosovar Muslim.

Remember Kosovo?
Me neither.

But it was big at the time, launched by Bill Clinton in the wake of his Monica difficulties:
Make war, not love, as the boomers advise.

So Clinton did — and without any pesky U.N. resolutions, or even the pretense of seeking them.

Instead, he and Tony Blair and even Jacques Chirac just cried 'Bombs away!' and got on with it.
And the left didn't mind at all — because, for a modern western nation, war is only legitimate if you have no conceivable national interest in whatever war you're waging."

Gender Differences in Ability vs. Achievement

CARPE DIEM: Gender Differences in Ability vs. Achievement
"She found that Bright Girls, when given something to learn that was particularly foreign or complex, were quick to give up; the higher the girls' IQ, the more likely they were to throw in the towel.
In fact, the straight-A girls showed the most helpless responses.
Bright boys, on the other hand, saw the difficult material as a challenge, and found it energizing.
They were more likely to redouble their efforts rather than give up."

Very interesting...with no answers.

Mercy H.E.A.R.T. Center-Tuesday!

Mercy H.E.A.R.T. Center
"Lipid Profiles and Glucose ScreeningsA blood draw to obtain Total Cholesterol, LDL, HDL, Triglycerides, and Glucose values.
Open to community.
Results sent to your home in about 1 week.
12 hour fast required prior to testing.
Second Tuesday of every month.
Walk-ins between 7:00 AM and 12:00 PM.
$15 for a Lipid Profile
$6 for a Glucose Test
$21 for both"

This is a great deal if you pay for your own health care (I do).
The next screening is this Tues. March 8.
Don't forget to fast!

Practicing Capitalism Without a License?

Practicing Capitalism Without a License? [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
"'Over the past decade more than 100 bills have been introduced in Michigan to impose licensure on everything from interior designers to practitioners of 'oriental medicine,' ” Jack McHugh, senior legislative analyst at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, wrote in an e-mail. These are always claimed to be about protecting the public, but it's actually a protection racket and conspiracy by existing businesses to raise prices.”"

Two night meetings scheduled concerning Muskegon County redistricting

Two night meetings scheduled concerning Muskegon County redistricting MLive.com
"The meetings, designed to generate public input, are scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Egelston Township Hall, 5428 E. Apple Ave., and 7 p.m. March 21 at the Ravenna Township Fire Station, 3763 Blackmer Road."

Teacher Benefits in Wisconsin and Michigan

Teacher Benefits in Wisconsin and Michigan [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
"Gov. Rick Snyder has stated that “Michigan is not Wisconsin,” and that he doesn’t want to pick a fight with unions.
Yet when it comes to the costs of school employee benefits, Michigan is eerily similar to Wisconsin, and in both states the root cause is also the same: government employee union collective bargaining privileges."

The Cartel Trailer - HD

Raising the Debt Ceiling: It Just Makes Sense. Not.

theblogprof: ReasonTV: Raising the Debt Ceiling: It Just Makes Sense. Not.
Here's the absurdly high deficits of Obama’s first two years and this coming one:

Rep Don Young Urges Producing American Energy & Opening ANWR

State's long-term pension debt jumps sharply

State's long-term pension debt jumps sharply - DailyHerald.com
"Illinois government employees, downstate teachers and university staff have been promised $139 billion worth of retirement benefits, but the pension systems have only $63 billion in assets.

Eventually, the state will have to come up with money to make up that difference."

Atlas Shrugged: Part 1 Review: A Timely Must-See

Atlas Shrugged: Part 1; Review: A Timely Must-See

Santelli: 'Good' Jobs Report Has Dark Side

Santelli: 'Good' Jobs Report Has Dark Side — CNBC, CNBC.com Market and Economy News - CNBC
"Upon closer scrutiny though, there is another factor contributing to the drop that is not necessarily good news: The official size of the U.S. labor force is shrinking."

The Union, Not Day Care Providers, Is Getting the ‘Pay Cut’

The Union, Not Day Care Providers, Is Getting the ‘Pay Cut’ [Mackinac Center]
"What’s truly striking is that a union that was willing to take millions of dollars from the child care subsidy payments of “welfare-to-work” families is now expressing concern that children will be thrown into poverty.
The evidence (including union e-mails) seems clear that this whole day care arrangement was concocted by the unions and the Granholm administration to siphon millions of dollars from needy families and day care owners without providing anything in return."

Friday, March 04, 2011

Sebelius Cracks! Admits the Obamacare Books Were Cooked

Sebelius Cracks! Admits the Obamacare Books Were Cooked - Obamacare - Fox Nation
"The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee invited Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to swing by and have a little chin wag about the budgetary implications of ObamaCare.
Representative John Shimkus (R-IL) noticed that the rather large sum of $500 billion was dedicated to both sustaining Medicare and funding ObamaCare.
When he asked Sebelius which destiny awaited those five hundred billion clams, she replied, 'Both.'

That's right, folks: another part of the ObamaCare fraud involved double-counting half a trillion dollars.
Shimkus said he was 'shocked' to learn this. '

We knew the health care law's actual cost was much greater than originally told to the public,' he declared. '
And now, the truth is slowly coming out in administration reports and testimony.'

In other news, Shimkus was equally 'shocked' to discover there was gambling going on at Rick's Café."

Warning: After Reading This, You Will Want Ken Jennings to Be Your New Best Nerd

Warning: After Reading This, You Will Want Ken Jennings to Be Your New Best Nerd -- Daily Intel
"He has political insights:

Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Harry Reid (D-NV) both called me back personally in 2004 to try to get me to run for Orrin Hatch's Senate seat.
I am not making this up.
Win on a game show and you can apparently run for the US Senate.
That was when I realized the Democratic Party was f@#$ed in '04.

He shares self-deprecating Mormon humor:

1. Christina Aguilera was born Mormon. Not our finest effort ....

5. My Sunday school teacher, when I was a Mormon teen, once memorably advised us that 'There's nothing more overrated than sex, and nothing more underrated than a good bowel movement.' It totally worked ... I don't remember a single other sermon from when I was a kid, but I think about this guy exactly once a day, and then again once a week."

»Forbes: Taxpayers Don’t Fund Public Pensions (Seriously!)

»Forbes: Taxpayers Don’t Fund Public Pensions (Seriously!) - Big Government
"The Wall Street Journal – on the very same day as Unger’s blog – pointed out that not only do taxpayers pay the teachers’ portion of the pension obligation, but the school district pays an additional 6.8 percent. According to the Journal:

“Teachers belong to the Wisconsin state pension plan.
That plan requires a 6.8% employer contribution and 6.2% from the employee.
However, according to the collective-bargaining agreement in place since 1996, the district pays the employees’ share as well, for a total of 13%.”

Ungar’s argument can’t be taken seriously.

It’s absurd to suggest that taxpayers aren’t funding (and ultimately on the hook for) government employee pensions.
Clearly we are."

This is exactly what is going on in almost every county, city and township in Michigan.
It must be exposed and stopped or our state will collapse!

Connecticut Town Ordered to Pay for Union Workers’ Coffee

Connecticut Town Ordered to Pay for Union Workers’ Coffee - FoxNews.com
"A Connecticut town must provide their union workers free coffee and milk, according to a ruling from the State Board of Labor Relations.

The board also ordered town leaders to reinstate “Dress Down Fridays” for the union clerical and custodial workers.

The dispute involved the town of Orange and the local chapter of the United Public Service Employees Union.

The board determined the town retaliated against the union members for comments they made at a finance meeting in 2009.

The day after that meeting, First Selectman James Zeloi eliminated the free coffee and milk and the following day ended “Dress Down Friday.”

Zeoli told The New Haven Register that he pulled the plug on the coffee to save money and stopped casual Fridays because some employees were
abusing the privilege.

“It shows you how crazy state government has become,” Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Chris Healy told Fox News Radio.
“You’d almost laugh at it, if it wasn’t so serious in tone."