The corruption you see, the doomsday you don't - chicagotribune.com
Yes, we're talking here in part — but only in part — about the galling expose that began on the front page of Sunday's Tribune under the maddening headline, "Sub for a day, teacher pension for life":
Two lobbyists with no prior teaching experience were allowed to count their years as union employees toward a state teacher pension once they served a single day of subbing in 2007 …
Over the course of their lifetimes, both men stand to receive more than a million dollars each from a state pension fund that has less than half of the assets it needs to cover promises made to tens of thousands of public school teachers. …
The revelation that one day of substitute teaching allowed officials from a state teachers union to tap into an ailing public pension fund is yet another example of how the Illinois pension system has been manipulated for political purposes and personal gain.
Political purposes and personal gain.
Hmm.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
10 States With The Highest Debt Per Person
10 States With The Highest Debt Per Person: Report
The total of U.S. state debt, including pension liabilities, could surpass $4 trillion, with California owing the most and Vermont owing the least, according to an analysis released on Monday.
The nonprofit State Budget Solutions combined states' major debt and future liabilities, primarily for pensions and employee healthcare, unemployment insurance loans, outstanding bonds and projected fiscal 2011 budget gaps.
It found that in total, states are in debt for $4.2 trillion
The total of U.S. state debt, including pension liabilities, could surpass $4 trillion, with California owing the most and Vermont owing the least, according to an analysis released on Monday.
The nonprofit State Budget Solutions combined states' major debt and future liabilities, primarily for pensions and employee healthcare, unemployment insurance loans, outstanding bonds and projected fiscal 2011 budget gaps.
It found that in total, states are in debt for $4.2 trillion
Repeat criminals to face mandatory life sentences
Repeat criminals to face mandatory life sentences Mail Online
Repeat criminals convicted of a second serious offence will face a mandatory life sentence, under new ‘two-strikes’ rules.
Life terms will automatically go to anyone twice given jail terms of ten years or more for crimes such as rape, child abuse, serious GBH and terrorism offences.
They will also apply to the crime of ‘causing or allowing the death of a child’ - the offence for which Baby Peter’s mother and boyfriend were jailed.
Repeat criminals convicted of a second serious offence will face a mandatory life sentence, under new ‘two-strikes’ rules.
Life terms will automatically go to anyone twice given jail terms of ten years or more for crimes such as rape, child abuse, serious GBH and terrorism offences.
They will also apply to the crime of ‘causing or allowing the death of a child’ - the offence for which Baby Peter’s mother and boyfriend were jailed.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Europe Doesn’t Want To Pony Up More Cash, Seeks U.S.-Led IMF Rescue
Europe Doesn’t Want To Pony Up More Cash, Seeks U.S.-Led IMF Rescue
In other words, Europe wants the U.S., China and the Mideast to come to its rescue without Germany, France or other “rich” euro zone members ponying up more cash.
In other words, Europe wants the U.S., China and the Mideast to come to its rescue without Germany, France or other “rich” euro zone members ponying up more cash.
Failed Democrat Pol Sues Critics Over Election Loss
Failed Democrat Pol Sues Critics Over Election Loss - Peter Roff (usnews.com)
Amazingly, rather than laugh the suit out of court U.S. District Court judge Timothy S. Black, an Obama appointee, is allowing it to go forward.
Amazingly, rather than laugh the suit out of court U.S. District Court judge Timothy S. Black, an Obama appointee, is allowing it to go forward.
Monday, October 24, 2011
John Who? - WSJ.com
John Who? - WSJ.com
The best detail is this: "The librarians have eschewed the Dewey Decimal System, concerned by historical accounts that portray Melvil Dewey, its inventor, as a racist and misogynist."
The best detail is this: "The librarians have eschewed the Dewey Decimal System, concerned by historical accounts that portray Melvil Dewey, its inventor, as a racist and misogynist."
Sunday, October 23, 2011
iowahawk: Together, I Shall Ride You To Victory
iowahawk: Together, I Shall Ride You To Victory
Who, you may ask, is T. Coddington Van Voorhees VII?
Simply put, a man born to the conservative saddle.
The only scion of the legendary swashbuckling conservative editor / author / bon vivant T. Coddington Van Voorhees VI, I have since my earliest days honed a conservatism forged in the fires of intellectual combat, stoked by the bellows of classic education, and tempered in the cooling waters of good breeding.
Who, you may ask, is T. Coddington Van Voorhees VII?
Simply put, a man born to the conservative saddle.
The only scion of the legendary swashbuckling conservative editor / author / bon vivant T. Coddington Van Voorhees VI, I have since my earliest days honed a conservatism forged in the fires of intellectual combat, stoked by the bellows of classic education, and tempered in the cooling waters of good breeding.
For Rhode Island, the Pension Crisis Is Now
For Rhode Island, the Pension Crisis Is Now - NYTimes.com
ON the night of Sept. 8, Gina M. Raimondo, a financier by trade, rolled up here with news no one wanted to hear: Rhode Island, she declared, was going broke.
ON the night of Sept. 8, Gina M. Raimondo, a financier by trade, rolled up here with news no one wanted to hear: Rhode Island, she declared, was going broke.
Flashback: Obama’s Failed Stimulus Cost More than 9 Year Iraq War
As the War in Iraq winds down remember…
The entire cost of the Iraq War was less than Barack Obama’s failed stimulus bill.
Nice work, champ!
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Fraud case leaves California Democrats scrambling
Fraud case leaves California Democrats scrambling Reuters
Stunning accusations that a top California Democratic campaign treasurer looted the war chests of her big-name clients have left candidates across the state scrambling to raise more money as election season looms.
Kinde Durkee, who controlled the funds of roughly 400 candidates and groups, ranging from Senator Dianne Feinstein to local Democratic youth clubs, was arrested in September and charged with fraud.
Stunning accusations that a top California Democratic campaign treasurer looted the war chests of her big-name clients have left candidates across the state scrambling to raise more money as election season looms.
Kinde Durkee, who controlled the funds of roughly 400 candidates and groups, ranging from Senator Dianne Feinstein to local Democratic youth clubs, was arrested in September and charged with fraud.
50 Things I Learned From The Movies
50 Things I Learned From The Movies
3. The ventilation system of any building is the perfect hiding place.
No one will ever think of looking for you in there, and you can travel to any other part of the building you want without difficulty.
3. The ventilation system of any building is the perfect hiding place.
No one will ever think of looking for you in there, and you can travel to any other part of the building you want without difficulty.
Why Publish the Marco Rubio Story?
Why Publish the Marco Rubio Story? « Commentary Magazine
I just want to offer a few thoughts, based on years working in newsrooms, of how a piece like Roig-Franzia’s comes to be and why it is usually published even when it fails to make its own case.
I just want to offer a few thoughts, based on years working in newsrooms, of how a piece like Roig-Franzia’s comes to be and why it is usually published even when it fails to make its own case.
DOJ Finds A Cause
DOJ Finds A Cause - WSJ.com
: In the end it couldn't have come as any great shock when the Department of Justice intervened on behalf of a Muslim school teacher who claimed that the board of her Illinois school district was guilty of religious bias.
Nor could it have come as any surprise that the Board of Education, Berkeley School District 87 Cook Country Illinois, was finally forced to settle the case brought against it by the DOJ.
Still, even Americans accustomed to the relentless -- more precisely the relentlessly selective -- political correctness of the Obama Justice Department had to have been startled at the facts of this case and the deranged notions of equity that had impelled Eric Holder's DOJ to go rushing into battle against the school district.
: In the end it couldn't have come as any great shock when the Department of Justice intervened on behalf of a Muslim school teacher who claimed that the board of her Illinois school district was guilty of religious bias.
Nor could it have come as any surprise that the Board of Education, Berkeley School District 87 Cook Country Illinois, was finally forced to settle the case brought against it by the DOJ.
Still, even Americans accustomed to the relentless -- more precisely the relentlessly selective -- political correctness of the Obama Justice Department had to have been startled at the facts of this case and the deranged notions of equity that had impelled Eric Holder's DOJ to go rushing into battle against the school district.
Biden 2016? VP Says "I'll Make Up My Mind On That Later"
Biden 2016? VP Says "I'll Make Up My Mind On That Later" RealClearPolitics
"I'll make up my mind on that later," Vice President Joe Biden said in an interview with CNN's Candy Crowley.
"I'm in one of the, probably the best shape I've been in in my life"
"I'll make up my mind on that later," Vice President Joe Biden said in an interview with CNN's Candy Crowley.
"I'm in one of the, probably the best shape I've been in in my life"
Friday, October 21, 2011
Punishment on Loan from Rush
Punishment on Loan from Rush Heartlander Magazine
A Texas woman says she was subjected to cruel and unusual punishment after her arrest by being forced to listen to talk-show host Rush Limbaugh in the squad car.
What a strange country we live in.
A Texas woman says she was subjected to cruel and unusual punishment after her arrest by being forced to listen to talk-show host Rush Limbaugh in the squad car.
What a strange country we live in.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
THE FISKER KARMA: Solyndra On Wheels?
Instapundit » Blog Archive
THE FISKER KARMA: Solyndra On Wheels?
“Our tax dollars at work… a half-billion dollar loan (actually $529 million) from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a hybrid toy for the wealthy and/or celebri-licious (like Leonardo DiCaprio, one of the first customers) that, in real world driving, won’t get much better mileage than your average crossover utility vehicle.
Not only that, but the cars are manufactured in Finland — that’s right, Finland – and shipped here for sale, where their purchasers will then receive a $7,500 tax credit for buying one . . . .
Oh, and by the way, it just so happens that several major investors in the company are also major donors to the Democratic Party.
Can you say, ‘crony capitalism?’”
At least it’s really good looking
THE FISKER KARMA: Solyndra On Wheels?
“Our tax dollars at work… a half-billion dollar loan (actually $529 million) from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a hybrid toy for the wealthy and/or celebri-licious (like Leonardo DiCaprio, one of the first customers) that, in real world driving, won’t get much better mileage than your average crossover utility vehicle.
Not only that, but the cars are manufactured in Finland — that’s right, Finland – and shipped here for sale, where their purchasers will then receive a $7,500 tax credit for buying one . . . .
Oh, and by the way, it just so happens that several major investors in the company are also major donors to the Democratic Party.
Can you say, ‘crony capitalism?’”
At least it’s really good looking
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
SF plan would offer tax break for hiring felons
SF plan would offer tax break for hiring felons
San Francisco businesses that hire people with felony convictions would get a tax break, under legislation expected to be introduced today.
San Francisco businesses that hire people with felony convictions would get a tax break, under legislation expected to be introduced today.
Toby Keith is never one to mince words in songs
Toby Keith is never one to mince words in songs Reuters
"When I decided to go out on my own in 2004 with Show Dog/Universal, people asked me 'What makes you think you can run a label?'
I told them, 'Because I've seen the people who do it and I'd put a bullet in my mug if I couldn't do as good a job as they do!
And here we are, six years later, still kicking and rocking."
"When I decided to go out on my own in 2004 with Show Dog/Universal, people asked me 'What makes you think you can run a label?'
I told them, 'Because I've seen the people who do it and I'd put a bullet in my mug if I couldn't do as good a job as they do!
And here we are, six years later, still kicking and rocking."
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Should Illinois taxpayers care that state pension funds face imminent bankruptcy?
Should Illinois taxpayers care that state pension funds face imminent bankruptcy? - chicagotribune.com
Illinois' biggest problem is the state budget; the budget's biggest problem is the plush pensions for public employees; lavish pensions are a problem because of a constitutional clause that bans the "diminishment or impairment" of their benefits.
How did we get into this mess?
Illinois' biggest problem is the state budget; the budget's biggest problem is the plush pensions for public employees; lavish pensions are a problem because of a constitutional clause that bans the "diminishment or impairment" of their benefits.
How did we get into this mess?
Articles: Obama: 1, Informed Public: 0
Articles: Obama: 1, Informed Public: 0
I've been worried about this for some time: the government would start either manipulating the data or hiding it altogether.
Eliminating the Abstract is not just a matter of crimping the mirth of data hobbyists like me; it is ominous.
It is hiding the truth.
It is Soviet-like.
It is a short step from airbrushing people out of photos.
The Abstract has been around for 133 years, or about a century longer than the Department of Education has.
I've been worried about this for some time: the government would start either manipulating the data or hiding it altogether.
Eliminating the Abstract is not just a matter of crimping the mirth of data hobbyists like me; it is ominous.
It is hiding the truth.
It is Soviet-like.
It is a short step from airbrushing people out of photos.
The Abstract has been around for 133 years, or about a century longer than the Department of Education has.
Publishing: Amazon Signs Up Authors, Writing Publishers Out of Deal
Publishing: Amazon Signs Up Authors, Writing Publishers Out of Deal - CNBC
Several large publishers declined to speak on the record about Amazon’s efforts.
“Publishers are terrified and don’t know what to do,”
I must admit, after reading a few books on my Kindle, I just don't like the size, weight and hassle of "books".
Several large publishers declined to speak on the record about Amazon’s efforts.
“Publishers are terrified and don’t know what to do,”
I must admit, after reading a few books on my Kindle, I just don't like the size, weight and hassle of "books".
Monday, October 17, 2011
BREAKING: An IPCC backchannel ‘cloud’ was apparently established to hide IPCC deliberations from FOIA.
BREAKING: An IPCC backchannel ‘cloud’ was apparently established to hide IPCC deliberations from FOIA. Watts Up With That?: UPDATE: (9:20 PST 10-17) the FOI request has been released, a copy of which is now linked below.
CEI has learned of a UN plan recently put in place to hide official correspondence on non-governmental accounts, which correspondence a federal inspector general has already confirmed are subject to FOIA.
This ‘cloud’ serves as a dead-drop of sorts for discussions by U.S. government employees over the next report being produced by the scandal-plagued IPCC, which is funded with millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars.
By Christopher Horner, CEI.org for WUWT
Although this is seedy and unlawful at any time, it also goes in the ‘bad timing’ file.
Or it’s good timing, depending on one’s perspective.
Just as a brand new book further exposes the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)(which scam I dissected here, and in more disturbing detail here), and on the heels of the weekend surprise of a 2005 memo showing President Obama’s cooling/warming/population zealot of a ‘science czar’ John Holdren is the kind of guy Mitt Romney turns to to develop his ‘environmental’ policies, we’ve exposed the Obama administration and IPCC have cooperated to subvert U.S. transparency laws, run domestically out of Holdren’s White House office.
More on the info-lies of the global warmists.
CEI has learned of a UN plan recently put in place to hide official correspondence on non-governmental accounts, which correspondence a federal inspector general has already confirmed are subject to FOIA.
This ‘cloud’ serves as a dead-drop of sorts for discussions by U.S. government employees over the next report being produced by the scandal-plagued IPCC, which is funded with millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars.
By Christopher Horner, CEI.org for WUWT
Although this is seedy and unlawful at any time, it also goes in the ‘bad timing’ file.
Or it’s good timing, depending on one’s perspective.
Just as a brand new book further exposes the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)(which scam I dissected here, and in more disturbing detail here), and on the heels of the weekend surprise of a 2005 memo showing President Obama’s cooling/warming/population zealot of a ‘science czar’ John Holdren is the kind of guy Mitt Romney turns to to develop his ‘environmental’ policies, we’ve exposed the Obama administration and IPCC have cooperated to subvert U.S. transparency laws, run domestically out of Holdren’s White House office.
More on the info-lies of the global warmists.
What if they gave an election and nobody came?
Letters: What if they gave an election and nobody came? MLive.com
Elections matter, right?
What if we had an election scheduled and there was a way, an easy and almost free way, for an interested citizen to run for office, but no one knew about it?
Elections matter, right?
What if we had an election scheduled and there was a way, an easy and almost free way, for an interested citizen to run for office, but no one knew about it?
The Austerity Myth: Federal Spending Up 5% This Year
The Austerity Myth: Federal Spending Up 5% This Year - Investors.com
In fact, in the first nine months of this year, federal spending was $120 billion higher than in the same period in 2010, the data show.
That's an increase of almost 5%. And deficits during this time were $23.5 billion higher.
These spending hikes haven't stopped many analysts from claiming that the country is in an age of budget austerity, one that's hurting economic growth.
A July article in USA Today, for example, claimed that "Already in 2011, softer government spending has sapped growth."
Is the liberal media just dumb?
I doubt it.
LIARS!!!!!!!!
In fact, in the first nine months of this year, federal spending was $120 billion higher than in the same period in 2010, the data show.
That's an increase of almost 5%. And deficits during this time were $23.5 billion higher.
These spending hikes haven't stopped many analysts from claiming that the country is in an age of budget austerity, one that's hurting economic growth.
A July article in USA Today, for example, claimed that "Already in 2011, softer government spending has sapped growth."
Is the liberal media just dumb?
I doubt it.
LIARS!!!!!!!!
NUGENT: Nobody needs Michael Moore's hypocritical advice
NUGENT: Nobody needs Michael Moore's hypocritical advice - Washington Times
Of course, the uninspired, uneducated, unskilled and stoned have been conditioned for generations to expect something for nothing.
They will always be in the tank of the left-wing movement - and they will always be unmotivated and poor and will continue to blame others for their condition.
Instead of busting their humps working two or three jobs, they have time to protest on Wall Street.
Fascinating.
Of course, the uninspired, uneducated, unskilled and stoned have been conditioned for generations to expect something for nothing.
They will always be in the tank of the left-wing movement - and they will always be unmotivated and poor and will continue to blame others for their condition.
Instead of busting their humps working two or three jobs, they have time to protest on Wall Street.
Fascinating.
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