Fireworks shows need new environmental review - SignOnSanDiego.com
"He said some “events” such as temporary Christmas tree stands have existing exemptions under the law, but many others don’t."
Folks, these people are ravenous!
They gobble power with every fibre of their minds and bodies.
We must stop them.
Get involved before it's too late!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
A boost in tourism will aid one of Michigan's big businesses
Editorial: A boost in tourism will aid one of Michigan's big businesses MLive.com
"Much of the credit for that increase goes to a rebounding economy.
Some of the spike can be attributed to the award-winning Pure Michigan advertising campaign.
The return on investment for that campaign — the tax dollars generated for those spent — is well established."
"Well established"?
By who?
If this "boost" was caused by or helped in any significantly measurable way by the ads, wouldn't the private businesses who benefited be adding their own money for more advertising?
But they're not.
What does that tell you?
"Much of the credit for that increase goes to a rebounding economy.
Some of the spike can be attributed to the award-winning Pure Michigan advertising campaign.
The return on investment for that campaign — the tax dollars generated for those spent — is well established."
"Well established"?
By who?
If this "boost" was caused by or helped in any significantly measurable way by the ads, wouldn't the private businesses who benefited be adding their own money for more advertising?
But they're not.
What does that tell you?
Say what? Italian seismologists face manslaughter
Say what? Italian seismologists face manslaughter - CBS News
"Say what?
Italian seismologists face manslaughter
Local prosecutor says scientists downplayed threat of 2009 quake that caused more than 300 deaths in L'Aquila, Italy"
While there may be some comfort in great distance between Europe and US, what happens in loony countries doesn't always stay in loony countries.
Be afwade, vewy afwade....
"Say what?
Italian seismologists face manslaughter
Local prosecutor says scientists downplayed threat of 2009 quake that caused more than 300 deaths in L'Aquila, Italy"
While there may be some comfort in great distance between Europe and US, what happens in loony countries doesn't always stay in loony countries.
Be afwade, vewy afwade....
Ronald McDonald
FoodPolitik Clown Logic Ronald McDonald The Daily Caller
"There’s even a study that says simply seeing overweight people can cause weight gain.
Kleenex and fax machines haven’t been linked to obesity yet, but give today’s “public health” movement a few years."
The "it's someone else's fault" crowd has won.
The victims will be the same old crowd...and the rest of us who will pay the accusers a big bonus for their victory.
"There’s even a study that says simply seeing overweight people can cause weight gain.
Kleenex and fax machines haven’t been linked to obesity yet, but give today’s “public health” movement a few years."
The "it's someone else's fault" crowd has won.
The victims will be the same old crowd...and the rest of us who will pay the accusers a big bonus for their victory.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Jim Tressel Resigns At Ohio State
Jim Tressel Resigns At Ohio State WBNS-10TV, Central Ohio News
"COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State coach Jim Tressel resigned on Monday, the Columbus Dispatch reported."
Denny Stolz must be smiling.......
"COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State coach Jim Tressel resigned on Monday, the Columbus Dispatch reported."
Denny Stolz must be smiling.......
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Memorial Day History
"In 1915, inspired by the poem 'In Flanders Fields,' Moina Michael replied with her own poem:
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war.
She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need.
Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms.Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women.
This tradition spread to other countries."
Massive state, local tax increases and record high revenue must pay down debt
Massive state, local tax increases and record high revenue must pay down debt
"The most frightening fact revealed by the latest BEA data is the steady increase in “Total Expenditures” quarter by quarter, year by year throughout the recession, despite politicians shrieking hysterically about “cuts.”
First quarter state and local government spending increased 12.3 percent from 2007 to 2011. It went up every year.
Annual spending went up every year throughout the recession for a total increase of 8.1 percent from 2007 through 2010.
But the second scariest numbers are those showing “Total Expenditures” bigger than “Total Receipts” back to 1985, with the deficits growing bigger and bigger every year despite claims of “balanced” budgets.
What are the scariest numbers?
The ones not even on the books.
State and local politicians refuse to account for at least $18 trillion in hidden debts and obligations they have run up secretly, like shopaholics with a stolen credit card."
"The most frightening fact revealed by the latest BEA data is the steady increase in “Total Expenditures” quarter by quarter, year by year throughout the recession, despite politicians shrieking hysterically about “cuts.”
First quarter state and local government spending increased 12.3 percent from 2007 to 2011. It went up every year.
Annual spending went up every year throughout the recession for a total increase of 8.1 percent from 2007 through 2010.
But the second scariest numbers are those showing “Total Expenditures” bigger than “Total Receipts” back to 1985, with the deficits growing bigger and bigger every year despite claims of “balanced” budgets.
What are the scariest numbers?
The ones not even on the books.
State and local politicians refuse to account for at least $18 trillion in hidden debts and obligations they have run up secretly, like shopaholics with a stolen credit card."
SCOTUS Makes It Official: California A Failed State
SCOTUS Makes It Official: California A Failed State Via Meadia
"The controversial US Supreme Court decision (pdf) that could ultimately force California to release tens of thousands of prison inmates is more than a shockingly broad exercise of judicial power.
It is also an official declaration by the highest constitutional authority in the land that California meets the strict test of state failure: it can no longer enforce the law within its frontiers.
Let there be no mistake: when you produce so many criminals that you can’t afford to lock them up, you are a failed state.
Virtually every important civil institution in society has to fail to get you to this point.
Your homes and houses of worship are failing to build law abiding citizens, much less responsible and informed voters.
Your schools aren’t educating enough of your kids to make an honest living.
Your taxes and policies are so bad that you are driving thousands of businesses away.
Your management systems must be fouled and confused to the max for you to create something so dysfunctional, so wildly beyond your means, that the Supreme Court of the United States (wisely or foolishly is another question) starts to micromanage your jails.
California used to be the glory of this country, the dream by the sea, the magic state.
Now it produces so many criminals it can’t pay to keep them locked up.
This is partly a blue social model thing.
California’s public unions are sucking the state dry — like a parasite killing its host."
"The controversial US Supreme Court decision (pdf) that could ultimately force California to release tens of thousands of prison inmates is more than a shockingly broad exercise of judicial power.
It is also an official declaration by the highest constitutional authority in the land that California meets the strict test of state failure: it can no longer enforce the law within its frontiers.
Let there be no mistake: when you produce so many criminals that you can’t afford to lock them up, you are a failed state.
Virtually every important civil institution in society has to fail to get you to this point.
Your homes and houses of worship are failing to build law abiding citizens, much less responsible and informed voters.
Your schools aren’t educating enough of your kids to make an honest living.
Your taxes and policies are so bad that you are driving thousands of businesses away.
Your management systems must be fouled and confused to the max for you to create something so dysfunctional, so wildly beyond your means, that the Supreme Court of the United States (wisely or foolishly is another question) starts to micromanage your jails.
California used to be the glory of this country, the dream by the sea, the magic state.
Now it produces so many criminals it can’t pay to keep them locked up.
This is partly a blue social model thing.
California’s public unions are sucking the state dry — like a parasite killing its host."
Pro-Obama media always shocked by bad economic news
Pro-Obama media always shocked by bad economic news Michael Barone Politics Washington Examiner: "'How many times in a row can something happen unexpectedly before the experts start to, you know, expect it?
At some point, shouldn't they be required to state the foundation for their expectations?'"
At some point, shouldn't they be required to state the foundation for their expectations?'"
Albemarle Road church fined $100 per branch for excessive tree pruning
Albemarle Road church fined $100 per branch for excessive tree pruning CharlotteObserver.com & The Charlotte Observer Newspaper
"The fine will be dropped if the church replaces each of the improperly pruned trees, said Tom Johnson, senior urban forester for city of Charlotte Land Development Division."
Sorta like a mini-czar?
"The fine will be dropped if the church replaces each of the improperly pruned trees, said Tom Johnson, senior urban forester for city of Charlotte Land Development Division."
Sorta like a mini-czar?
I PREDICT MORE SUITS LIKE THIS:
Instapundit » Blog Archive » I PREDICT MORE SUITS LIKE THIS
"I PREDICT MORE SUITS LIKE THIS:
Unemployed Grad Files $50m Class Action v. Law School for Misrepresenting Placement Data.
“Plaintiff would not have attended TJSL and incurred more than $150,000 in school loans if she knew the truth about her job prospects upon graduation.”
Posted by Glenn Reynolds at 2:29 pm"
"I PREDICT MORE SUITS LIKE THIS:
Unemployed Grad Files $50m Class Action v. Law School for Misrepresenting Placement Data.
“Plaintiff would not have attended TJSL and incurred more than $150,000 in school loans if she knew the truth about her job prospects upon graduation.”
Posted by Glenn Reynolds at 2:29 pm"
Saturday, May 28, 2011
PBS: Under ObamaCare, you will see a nurse practitioner, not a doctor
theblogprof: PBS: Under ObamaCare, you will see a nurse practitioner, not a doctor
"Kiss your health goodbye.
From a December 2010 poll: 74% of doctors will retire, work part-time or quit if Obamacare takes effect. The whole nurse practitioner thing isn't new.
We on the right saw this one coming down the pike long ago:
Detroit Free Press admits that under ObamaCare, you will see a nurse practitioner, not a doctor because Obama "created or saved" a massive doctor shortage.
More on that from PBS that tries its best to put a happy face on the whole thing"
"Kiss your health goodbye.
From a December 2010 poll: 74% of doctors will retire, work part-time or quit if Obamacare takes effect. The whole nurse practitioner thing isn't new.
We on the right saw this one coming down the pike long ago:
Detroit Free Press admits that under ObamaCare, you will see a nurse practitioner, not a doctor because Obama "created or saved" a massive doctor shortage.
More on that from PBS that tries its best to put a happy face on the whole thing"
Poster Girl for all the troops
Not our boys, but heroes true.
‘Cause I shook hands with a Digger
on the wrong side of the world.
With a wife at home who holds her breath
And brand new baby girl.
And the Digger fights for freedom
In a job that must be done
And I let go of his hand
So proud to be Australian."
1st Heritage Flight
1st Heritage Flight Video
"The very first video we made for the Heritage Flight. If you've seen a Heritage Flight in person you will recognize the song "We Remember" from musician Dwayne O'Brien.
This video captures the early history of the program with demo pilots like Mike "Chanz" Chandler in the F-15.
"Chanz" went on to become the Thunderbirds commander leader.
There is a lot of history in this piece."
A wonderful video to help us remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Brothers and the funeral of Scott Zaur.
Brothers and the funeral of Scott Zaur.
"On Friday the 13th, May 2011 my friend Scott, veteran of two tours in Iraq and an Army Sniper, got into his full dress uniform.
It was late morning when, having walked out to his drive way he put a shotgun to his head and pulled the trigger."
Please read this heartbreaking tribute to a fallen soldier.
"On Friday the 13th, May 2011 my friend Scott, veteran of two tours in Iraq and an Army Sniper, got into his full dress uniform.
It was late morning when, having walked out to his drive way he put a shotgun to his head and pulled the trigger."
Please read this heartbreaking tribute to a fallen soldier.
Obama’s ‘Victory Dance’ on Auto Bailouts Could Hurt Business, Industry Expert Warns
Obama’s ‘Victory Dance’ on Auto Bailouts Could Hurt Business, Industry Expert Warns CNSnews.com
"Market research indicated that the bailouts were unpopular and had a stigmatizing effect on automakers, added the expert.".....
"The Treasury Department still owns 26.5 percent of GM and 8.6 percent of Chrysler, with poor prospects for earning back its entire investment in both companies."
"Market research indicated that the bailouts were unpopular and had a stigmatizing effect on automakers, added the expert.".....
"The Treasury Department still owns 26.5 percent of GM and 8.6 percent of Chrysler, with poor prospects for earning back its entire investment in both companies."
Libya Crisis: Obama Gives Moammar Gadhafi Ultimatum
Libya Crisis: Obama Gives Moammar Gadhafi Ultimatum - ABC News
"President Obama told a bipartisan group of members of Congress today that he expects the U.S. would be actively involved in any military action against Libya for 'days, not weeks,' after which he said the U.S. would take more of a supporting role, sources tell ABC News."
In case you forgot....or wondered where all the Code Pink folks went.....
"President Obama told a bipartisan group of members of Congress today that he expects the U.S. would be actively involved in any military action against Libya for 'days, not weeks,' after which he said the U.S. would take more of a supporting role, sources tell ABC News."
In case you forgot....or wondered where all the Code Pink folks went.....
Recount confirms one-vote win in Orchard View school board race
Recount confirms one-vote win in Orchard View school board race MLive.com
Another reminder of the power of just one vote.
Another reminder of the power of just one vote.
Editorial: Will 'Obamalaise' Create Another Downturn?
Editorial: Will 'Obamalaise' Create Another Downturn? - Investors.com
Among the bad news:
• Businesses last month slashed orders for autos and other durable goods by the largest amount in six months.
• Industrial output dropped the most in April for any month since the start of the recovery, indicating the manufacturing sector may be rolling over.
• Jobless claims last week unexpectedly shot up and topped 400,000 for the seventh straight week, signaling that payroll growth remains soft — in fact, the pace of hiring may be slowing.
• April housing starts plunged 11%, confirming the housing industry remains moribund.
• Foreclosures last quarter accounted for 28% of all home sales — the highest share in a year and nearly six times above the normal rate.
• Consumer spending last quarter expanded just 2% after rising at a 4% clip in the fourth quarter.
• Net corporate profits last quarter fell 1% after rising 3% in the fourth quarter, and weaker earnings continue to act as a drag on stocks.
• The overall economy last quarter grew a lower-than-expected 1.8% vs. 3.1% in the fourth, showing gross domestic product growth is braking hard
Among the bad news:
• Businesses last month slashed orders for autos and other durable goods by the largest amount in six months.
• Industrial output dropped the most in April for any month since the start of the recovery, indicating the manufacturing sector may be rolling over.
• Jobless claims last week unexpectedly shot up and topped 400,000 for the seventh straight week, signaling that payroll growth remains soft — in fact, the pace of hiring may be slowing.
• April housing starts plunged 11%, confirming the housing industry remains moribund.
• Foreclosures last quarter accounted for 28% of all home sales — the highest share in a year and nearly six times above the normal rate.
• Consumer spending last quarter expanded just 2% after rising at a 4% clip in the fourth quarter.
• Net corporate profits last quarter fell 1% after rising 3% in the fourth quarter, and weaker earnings continue to act as a drag on stocks.
• The overall economy last quarter grew a lower-than-expected 1.8% vs. 3.1% in the fourth, showing gross domestic product growth is braking hard
Economic Stagnation Explained, at 30,000 Fee
Carter: Economic Stagnation Explained, at 30,000 Feet - Bloomberg:
"The man in the aisle seat is trying to tell me why he refuses to hire anybody.
His business is successful, he says, as the 737 cruises smoothly eastward.
Demand for his product is up. But he still won’t hire.
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t know how much it will cost,” he explains.
“How can I hire new workers today, when I don’t know how much they will cost me tomorrow?”
He’s referring not to wages, but to regulation:
He has no way of telling what new rules will go into effect when.
His business, although it covers several states, operates on low margins.
He can’t afford to take the chance of losing what little profit there is to the next round of regulatory changes. And so he’s hiring nobody until he has some certainty about cost."
"The man in the aisle seat is trying to tell me why he refuses to hire anybody.
His business is successful, he says, as the 737 cruises smoothly eastward.
Demand for his product is up. But he still won’t hire.
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t know how much it will cost,” he explains.
“How can I hire new workers today, when I don’t know how much they will cost me tomorrow?”
He’s referring not to wages, but to regulation:
He has no way of telling what new rules will go into effect when.
His business, although it covers several states, operates on low margins.
He can’t afford to take the chance of losing what little profit there is to the next round of regulatory changes. And so he’s hiring nobody until he has some certainty about cost."
How Michigan's bond rating stacks up
Lsj - How Michigan's bond rating stacks up
"Here's a look at how states rate with Standard and Poor's:
—AAA: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming.
—AA+ (double A plus): Alaska, Idaho, Kansas, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington state.
—AA: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
—AA- (double A minus): MICHIGAN, Arizona, Kentucky, New Jersey.
—A+ (A plus): Illinois.
—A- (A minus): California."
Just for fun, try guessing which are red states and which are blue.
(hint: red states seem to be at the top of the page)
"Here's a look at how states rate with Standard and Poor's:
—AAA: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming.
—AA+ (double A plus): Alaska, Idaho, Kansas, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington state.
—AA: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
—AA- (double A minus): MICHIGAN, Arizona, Kentucky, New Jersey.
—A+ (A plus): Illinois.
—A- (A minus): California."
Just for fun, try guessing which are red states and which are blue.
(hint: red states seem to be at the top of the page)
Friday, May 27, 2011
DC Schoolchildren forced to eat raw onions for snacks
theblogprof: DC Schoolchildren forced to eat raw onions for snacks
"For the umpteenth time, the days when your kids learned math, reading and writing in public schools is all but over, replaced with a government-run one where students heads are filled with environmental and nutritional propaganda.
There had never been anything wrong with cookies and milk.
Yet in the DC government school system, the worst in the nation right behind Detroit Public Schools, the focus is on forcing kids to eat what they don't want to"
"For the umpteenth time, the days when your kids learned math, reading and writing in public schools is all but over, replaced with a government-run one where students heads are filled with environmental and nutritional propaganda.
There had never been anything wrong with cookies and milk.
Yet in the DC government school system, the worst in the nation right behind Detroit Public Schools, the focus is on forcing kids to eat what they don't want to"
General Motors Will Never Repay Taxpayers - Reason Magazine
General Motors Will Never Repay Taxpayers - Reason Magazine
"This means that, outside of miracle, taxpayers will lose anywhere from $13 to $19 billion on their principal and another $15 billion on taxes for a grand total of up to $28 to $34 billion* in losses.
And that’s just for GM. Chrysler is whole different—and equally sordid—story.
Even Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner acknowledged last month: “We’re going to lose money in the auto industry.”"
"This means that, outside of miracle, taxpayers will lose anywhere from $13 to $19 billion on their principal and another $15 billion on taxes for a grand total of up to $28 to $34 billion* in losses.
And that’s just for GM. Chrysler is whole different—and equally sordid—story.
Even Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner acknowledged last month: “We’re going to lose money in the auto industry.”"
Dark Skies Ahead
Dark Skies Ahead NetRight Daily
"Specifically, the biggest driver of new spending has been “the rise of the welfare state”.
As Woodhill notes, “‘Payments to Individuals’ (both direct and via grants to State and local governments) exploded from 3.6 percent of GDP to 12.7 percent of GDP.”"
"Specifically, the biggest driver of new spending has been “the rise of the welfare state”.
As Woodhill notes, “‘Payments to Individuals’ (both direct and via grants to State and local governments) exploded from 3.6 percent of GDP to 12.7 percent of GDP.”"
Illinois lawmakers need to reform pensions
Illinois lawmakers need to reform pensions - chicagotribune.com
"We have to repair public pension systems in order to preserve them for public employees — of Illinois, of Chicago, of Cook County, of school districts statewide."
"We have to repair public pension systems in order to preserve them for public employees — of Illinois, of Chicago, of Cook County, of school districts statewide."
The truth behind Chrysler’s fake auto bailout pay back
The truth behind Chrysler’s fake auto bailout pay back Conn Carroll Beltway Confidential Washington Examiner
"But as The Truth About Cars reports, the loan pay back is just another Obama con job:
Back in November of 2009, when GM announced that it would repay its government loans, it didn’t take much investigation to realize that The General was simply shuffling government money from one pocket to the other and that true “payback” was still a ways off. …
And now that our government finds itself “contemplating a runaway deficit and getting rid of its 8 percent of Chrysler’s equity,” would you believe that a similar federal money-shuffle is under way?
Believe it.
American taxpayers have already spent more than $13 billion bailing out Chrysler.
The Obama administration already forgave more than $4 billion of that debt when the company filed for bankruptcy in 2009.
Taxpayers are never getting that money back.
But how is Chrysler now paying off the rest of the $7.6 billion they owe the Treasury Department?"
"But as The Truth About Cars reports, the loan pay back is just another Obama con job:
Back in November of 2009, when GM announced that it would repay its government loans, it didn’t take much investigation to realize that The General was simply shuffling government money from one pocket to the other and that true “payback” was still a ways off. …
And now that our government finds itself “contemplating a runaway deficit and getting rid of its 8 percent of Chrysler’s equity,” would you believe that a similar federal money-shuffle is under way?
Believe it.
American taxpayers have already spent more than $13 billion bailing out Chrysler.
The Obama administration already forgave more than $4 billion of that debt when the company filed for bankruptcy in 2009.
Taxpayers are never getting that money back.
But how is Chrysler now paying off the rest of the $7.6 billion they owe the Treasury Department?"
Fat City |Thank you, Illinois taxpayers, for my cushy life.
Fat City- Thank you, Illinois taxpayers, for my cushy life.
"After 34 years of teaching sociology at the University of Illinois at Chicago, I recently retired at age 64 at 80 percent of my pay for life."
This calculation was based on a salary spiked by summer teaching, and since I no longer pay into the retirement fund, I now receive significantly more than when I “worked.”
But that’s not all:
There’s a generous health insurance plan, a guaranteed 3 percent annual cost of living increase, and a few other perquisites.
Having overinvested in my retirement annuity, I received a fat refund and—when it rains, it pours—another for unused sick leave.
I was also offered the opportunity to teach as an emeritus for three years, receiving $8,000 per course, double the pay for adjuncts, which works out to over $200 an hour.
Another going-away present was summer pay, one ninth of my salary, with no teaching obligation.
I haven’t done the math but I suspect that, given a normal life span, these benefits nearly doubled my salary. And in Illinois these benefits are constitutionally guaranteed, up there with freedom of religion and speech.
Why do I put “worked” in quotation marks? Because my main task as a university professor was self-cultivation: reading and writing about topics that interested me. Maybe this counts as work. But here I am today—like many of my retired colleagues—doing pretty much what I have done since the day I began graduate school, albeit with less intensity.
Before retiring, I carried a teaching load of two courses per semester: six hours of lecture a week.
I usually scheduled classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays:
The rest of the week was mine.
Colleagues who pursued grants taught less, some rarely seeing a classroom.
The gaps this left in the department’s course offerings were filled by adjuncts, hired with little scrutiny and subject to little supervision, and paid little.
Sadly, there is more.
Click the link above to read it all.
"After 34 years of teaching sociology at the University of Illinois at Chicago, I recently retired at age 64 at 80 percent of my pay for life."
This calculation was based on a salary spiked by summer teaching, and since I no longer pay into the retirement fund, I now receive significantly more than when I “worked.”
But that’s not all:
There’s a generous health insurance plan, a guaranteed 3 percent annual cost of living increase, and a few other perquisites.
Having overinvested in my retirement annuity, I received a fat refund and—when it rains, it pours—another for unused sick leave.
I was also offered the opportunity to teach as an emeritus for three years, receiving $8,000 per course, double the pay for adjuncts, which works out to over $200 an hour.
Another going-away present was summer pay, one ninth of my salary, with no teaching obligation.
I haven’t done the math but I suspect that, given a normal life span, these benefits nearly doubled my salary. And in Illinois these benefits are constitutionally guaranteed, up there with freedom of religion and speech.
Why do I put “worked” in quotation marks? Because my main task as a university professor was self-cultivation: reading and writing about topics that interested me. Maybe this counts as work. But here I am today—like many of my retired colleagues—doing pretty much what I have done since the day I began graduate school, albeit with less intensity.
Before retiring, I carried a teaching load of two courses per semester: six hours of lecture a week.
I usually scheduled classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays:
The rest of the week was mine.
Colleagues who pursued grants taught less, some rarely seeing a classroom.
The gaps this left in the department’s course offerings were filled by adjuncts, hired with little scrutiny and subject to little supervision, and paid little.
Sadly, there is more.
Click the link above to read it all.
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