Thursday, January 19, 2012

» Rubber Rooms’ Kissing Cousin: New York City’s Absent Teacher Reserve Program

» Rubber Rooms’ Kissing Cousin: New York City’s Absent Teacher Reserve Program - Big Government
New York City government schools have had some pretty outrageous policies.
Rubber rooms were a great example.
They were special places created for teachers accused of crimes, incompetence and the like.
Due to state tenure laws, it actually cost less to house the failed teachers in a location where they couldn’t inflict more damage on students, than to go through the lengthy and expensive legal process necessary to fire them.
Thanks Big Labor!
Now New York administrators are trying to deep-six a program created a few years ago in the collective bargaining agreement with the United Federation of Teachers: the Absent Teacher Reserve.

NYC Business Bled to Death Over Toy Guns

Moonbattery » NYC Business Bled to Death Over Toy Guns
The owner of a discount store in Brooklyn says the city is holding him up for $30,000 in fines he can’t afford — all because he stocked six toy sheriff sets that included plastic guns.
And now the .44-caliber fines for the orange-tipped, obvious fakes are forcing him to close for good.

After two more fatal shootings, Flint emergency manager says he welcomes more state help with crime

After two more fatal shootings, Flint emergency manager says he welcomes more state help with crime MLive.com

Steve Gunn: Muskegon County made the wrong choice on criminal history in the hiring process

Steve Gunn: Muskegon County made the wrong choice on criminal history in the hiring process MLive.com
But remaining ignorant about the applicant's background until late in the hiring process does nothing to further that cause.
It only enhances the chance of a county official making a terrible mistake and hiring somebody who will make all of us live to regret their decision.
At least with a checked "yes" box, the interviewer will not forget to ask about all the pertinent details and accidently hire a dangerous person for a sensitive job.

State of the State: 7 Detroit highlights from Governor Rick Snyder's address

State of the State: 7 Detroit highlights from Governor Rick Snyder's address MLive.com
What did he say about Michigan’s largest city, Detroit?
Here are some highlights.

Plans halted for wind farm in northwestern Lower Peninsula

Plans halted for wind farm in northwestern Lower Peninsula MLive.com
Milton Howard, vice president of wind development, said the timing was off to sell electricity generated by the project.

Judge tosses suit over Jack Kevorkian artwork

Judge tosses suit over Jack Kevorkian artwork MLive.com
A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed in suburban Detroit by the estate of Dr. Jack Kevorkian against a Massachusetts museum that refused to return 17 of his paintings.

Rick Santorum's Tragic Yearbook Photo

Rick Santorum's Tragic Yearbook Photo - Joshua Green - Politics - The Atlantic
I suppose it's Santorum's misfortune to have been in high school during this era.
I'm pretty sure that 1976 wasn't too kind to anyone. B
ut still. Wow--he looks like McLovin in polyester.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

13 Politically Incorrect Gun Rules

13 Politically Incorrect Gun Rules « » Print The Daily Caller:
6. The average response time of a 911 call is 23 minutes; the response time of a .357 is 1400 feet per second.

We Don't Want To Alarm Anyone, But... Is Something Bad Happening To The Economy In January?

We Don't Want To Alarm Anyone, But... Is Something Bad Happening To The Economy In January?

New Obama OMB director a Bain alum

New Obama OMB director a Bain alum Campaign 2012 Washington Examiner
Jeffrey Zients will serve as President Obama's new acting director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), but the president's decision might undercut attacks on Republican Mitt Romney's career as a venture capitalist, because Zients and Romney are both alumni of Bain & Company

Brewer you've never heard of is No. 1 in US, depending how you count

Bottom Line - Brewer you've never heard of is No. 1 in US, depending how you count
A beer maker many drinkers haven’t heard of has become the top American brewer.
Depending on how you define “American brewer.”
G.G. Yuengling and Son didn’t as much dethrone Budweiser, Miller and Coors as it had to wait for them to get acquired by foreign companies.

As Economy Fails To Ignite, Fed Prepares Next Round Of Quantitative Easing

As Economy Fails To Ignite, Fed Prepares Next Round Of Quantitative Easing - Investors.com:
Boom?
Well, the Fed doesn't see it that way.

Chaos on the Costa Concordia

BobKrumm.com » Chaos on the Costa Concordia
To those who view this weekend’s catastrophe as evidence of the end of civility, I say, cheer up.
Had it been a German or British ship that went down in the North Sea, I submit that the scene would have been far more reminiscent of the Titanic’s “women and children first” rule, than the chaos of the Costa Concordia.

On the other hand, the Concorida gives witness to the unbridgeable divide in Europe.
The Continent is two cultures separated by a common currency.
Economic chaos is the inevitable result.
And women and children may end up being the first thrown overboard.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

CARPE DIEM: Petroleum, Fuel Lead U.S. Exports in November

CARPE DIEM: Petroleum, Fuel Lead U.S. Exports in November

It’s All Fun and Games Until a Fake Penis Gets You Fired

It’s All Fun and Games Until a Fake Penis Gets You Fired « Above the Law: A Legal Web Site – News, Commentary, and Opinions on Law Firms, Lawyers, Law School, Law Suits, Judges and Courts
Here’s the best part — Davis claims that this was a discriminatory firing because one of her co-workers, a man who wore women’s clothing and prostheses, was neither fired nor disciplined for doing so.
Double standard, much

Battery plant planned for Muskegon Township delayed due to European financial crisis

Battery plant planned for Muskegon Township delayed due to European financial crisis MLive.com
The two-phase development was projected to have created 745 jobs with an overall $670 million investment.
Community leaders, job seekers, contractors and industrial suppliers were thrilled when the Michigan Legislature in December 2009 created a special $135 million battery tax credit for fortu's Muskegon development.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Man on probation, fined for role in tea party scam

Man on probation, fined for role in tea party scam Detroit Free Press freep.com
He and fellow Democratic official Michael McGuinness were indicted by a one-man grand jury in March for attempting to put unknowing residents on the ballot as tea party candidates

Matty Moroun's 'motion for release' denied by Court of Appeals; Moroun and Stamper will spend night in jail

Matty Moroun's 'motion for release' denied by Court of Appeals; Moroun and Stamper will spend night in jail MLive.com:
The Michigan Court of Appeals, by a 2-1 vote, denied Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Moroun’s and Detroit International Bridge Company President Dan Stamper’s motion for release from jail pending the appeal of a Wayne County Circuit Court contempt ruling.

James O’Keefe Video Purports to Show Ease of Voter Fraud in N.H. Primary

James O’Keefe Video Purports to Show Ease of Voter Fraud in N.H. Primary - ABC News
A video posted the day after the New Hampshire Primary from conservative gonzo James O’Keefe either exposes why voting laws are too lax or comes close to itself being voter fraud (or both), by obtaining the ballots of dead Granite Staters on primary day.
The video has already sparked an investigation in the New Hampshire State Attorney General’s office, both because of the weaknesses of the electoral system it seems to demonstrate and the potential legal violations those making the film might have committed, according to N.H. Associate Attorney General Richard Head.

Protest planned for first ship to dock at EGT grain terminal

Protest planned for first ship to dock at EGT grain terminal
The U.S. Coast Guard will escort the first ship coming to the EGT grain terminal at the Port of Longview this month, and the Occupy movement and local labor groups say they are planning to greet the vessel with a massive protest.

Michigan Supreme Court hears medical pot cases

Michigan Supreme Court hears medical pot cases MLive.com
The Michigan Supreme Court sought Thursday to clarify a murky state law that allows medical marijuana under some circumstances, hearing the appeals of two people charged with drug crimes since voters approved the program in 2008.

Sleeping Bear Dunes gets $1.3M for non-motor trail

Sleeping Bear Dunes gets $1.3M for non-motor trail MLive.com
U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin say that Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has received a $1.3 million federal transportation grant to continue work on a 27-mile hike-and-bike trail.
The Michigan Democrats said Thursday that the money comes from a U.S. Department of Transportation program aimed at reducing vehicle congestion at national parks.

Detroit imposes business hours at police precincts

Detroit imposes business hours at police precincts MLive.com
Fighting crime is a 24-hour job, but Detroit police stations will be sticking to business hours.
The department is rolling out a plan to close precincts and district headquarters to the public after 4 p.m.

Dems want rule change to avoid confusing voters

Dems want rule change to avoid confusing voters MLive.com
Michigan Democratic Chairman Mark Brewer on Thursday accused Republicans of trying to create confusion over his party's presidential nominating process by putting President Barack Obama's name on the Feb. 28 primary ballot even though he asked that it be left off.

District Refuses to Sell Unused Building to Public Charter School

District Refuses to Sell Unused Building to Public Charter School — Despite Receiving $250K Asking ... [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
Battle Creek Public Schools pays tens of thousands of dollars per year to maintain empty school