Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Market crash and street riots within a year: Americans should plan for an economic 9/11

Market crash and street riots within a year: Americans should plan for an economic 9/11 Mail Online
But analysts say Americans will riot when another Great Depression hits

Muskegon Heights starting teachers would earn $21,000 under latest plan

Muskegon Heights starting teachers would earn $21,000 under latest plan MLive.com
Teachers' starting salary currently is $35,096, and the most teachers there can earn is $67,916, according to a salary schedule posted on the district's website.

On goals, fans, walk-ons, legends and Hoosiers

On goals, fans, walk-ons, legends and Hoosiers - LSJ Blogs: Hey, Joe
MSU coach Tom Izzo said he gradually saw more possibilities for the Spartans as they answered his questions.
That started with junior center Derrick Nix’s offseason push to get in shape.
“What he really did is work his butt off, literally,” Izzo said of Nix. “And took his stomach with him.”

Great quote.
Great article.
Go Green!

Soldiers don fake belly, breasts to better understand pregnant troops' exercise concerns

Soldiers don fake belly, breasts to better understand pregnant troops' exercise concerns - Army - Stripes
The Army is ordering its hardened combat veterans to wear fake breasts and empathy bellies so they can better understand how pregnant soldiers feel during physical training.

Hopin' for change NOW!

The Work Ethic and U.S. Unemployment

Articles: The Work Ethic and U.S. Unemployment
Quality does not mean technical skills acquired in college classrooms or what is learned on the job.
It refers to basic dispositions required for every job, from ditch-digger to neurosurgeon -- even for sports, --and summarized by the term "work ethic."
Absent these, all the billions in educational spending or tax cuts are pointless.
Here's the discouraging point: in today's social climate, imparting a solid work ethic in those who lack it is exceedingly difficult -- and in some cases, impossible.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Milwaukee Clipper's proposed move to Heritage Landing on Muskegon County agenda

Milwaukee Clipper's proposed move to Heritage Landing on Muskegon County agenda MLive.com
The planning session is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the county’s training center on the South Campus near the intersection of Apple and Pine in Muskegon.

EVERYONE IS INVITED!!!!!!!!!
Be there!

Self-Employed Workers vs. Government Workers

Self-Employed Workers vs. Government Workers – A Financial Comparison « Union Watch
In both cases, the annual compensation used for comparison is $70,000, which is the average base salary paid to state and local government employees in California (ref. U.S. Census data for California: State, and Local).
But the impact of benefits paid by the government employer, combined with the impact of mandatory employee contributions (taxes, retirement set-asides, and healthcare costs), yield dramatically different end results in terms of total net compensation.
Both the self-employed worker and the government worker make $70,000 per year.
But to say they make the same amount of money is grossly misleading.

The loony Left, out to destroy youngsters' hopes of a job

The loony Left, out to destroy youngsters' hopes of a job - Telegraph
And yet there are a tiny number of bellyachers from the Socialist Workers Party who have decided that they hate the scheme, that it is a ramp for bullying and exploitation, and that they are going to disrupt it in any way they can.
The amazing thing is that they appear to be succeeding.
They have been sitting with their placards in McDonald’s and Tesco, and wailing about “slave labour”.

UN Ready to Adopt Report Praising Gaddafi Human Rights Record

UN Ready to Adopt Report Praising Gaddafi Human Rights Record - Katie Pavlich
Two points:
The first being yes, the report was drawn up before the Libyan uprising, however, the fact that the UN is still even considering the report's adoption is ridiculous.
Second, is it really possible the UN can embarrass itself further?

Spartans win Big Ten with unselfishness

Michael Rosenberg: Spartans win Big Ten with unselfishness Detroit Free Press freep.com
It is a testament to Green's unselfishness that he can take credit for the team's unselfishness and still sound unselfish

Chevy Volt - Building A Better Tomorrow

Michigan Retirement

Michigan Retirement

Vintage fighter plane lands safely after landing gear trouble

Vintage fighter plane lands safely after landing gear trouble al.com
After the landing gear problem arose, the owner of the plane Gardner was flying, Cavanaugh Flight Museum of Dallas, got the pilot in contact by radio with Bob Hoover, a 90-year-old P-51 veteran from World War II and the Korean War

The Unstoppable Teacher Pension Fund Monster

The Unstoppable Teacher Pension Fund Monster [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
The upward trend of these payments is striking:
In 1984, they cost just 3.22 percent of school payroll expenses.
Today they swallow nearly 25 percent of payroll.

Algae, European Gas Prices, and Born in the U.S.A

Algae, European Gas Prices, and Born in the U.S.A - By Victor Davis Hanson - The Corner - National Review Online
As gas nears $5-a-gallon out west, the president, who has cancelled a key pipeline and frozen federal leases from Alaska to the East Coast, teaches us about American algae potential, in the way he used to emphasize the importance of tire pressure and “tune-ups.”

UK has run out of money

George Osborne: UK has run out of money - Telegraph
The Government 'has run out of money' and cannot afford debt-fuelled tax cuts or extra spending, George Osborne has admitted.

AAA Michigan: Gas prices up 24 cents in past week

AAA Michigan: Gas prices up 24 cents in past week Detroit Free Press freep.com

Read the entire article.
No frowny faces, no angst about the poor.
Just "nothing going on here, move along".
If "it's Bush's fault" won't work anymore, just bury the story....and it'll go away?

Marshals Service shares loot forfeited from criminals

Marshals Service shares loot forfeited from criminals Detroit Free Press freep.com
Seizing criminals' ill-gotten gains has become a booming business for Uncle Sam, especially in these lean economic times.

Edmunds: Spring For U.S. Car Sales, Winter For GM

Edmunds: Spring For U.S. Car Sales, Winter For GM The Truth About Cars
Edmunds has handed in its predictions for February sales.
Its bottom line is similar to the forecast made by Kelley Blue Book a few days ago: More than a million cars sold, GM the big loser of the month.

Bill in works to let Michigan's community colleges offer 4-year degrees in nursing, other fields

Bill in works to let Michigan's community colleges offer 4-year degrees in nursing, other fields Detroit Free Press freep.com

A way to reduce college costs......or just add another bunch of crooks to the student ripoff bandwagon?

Oscars 2012 - The Real Winners and Losers - Forbes

Oscars 2012 - The Real Winners and Losers - Forbes
Crystal was a late addition to the Oscar telecast after Eddie Murphy and Brett Ratner dropped out.
While he helped the show move quickly his bits felt incredibly out of date and he made the whole event feel very much like a small group of old people patting themselves on the back.

Billy Crystal’s Shtick, and the Academy, Need Freshening - NYTimes.com

Billy Crystal’s Shtick, and the Academy, Need Freshening - NYTimes.com
The industry congratulates itself on its big, progressive heart but it’s the progressivism of a 62-year-old white man — the median age of Academy voters, according to a study by The Los Angeles Times.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

EyeOnMuskegon

Engineering Society of Detroit creates ‘pipeline’ to address state’s shortage of engineers

Engineering Society of Detroit creates ‘pipeline’ to address state’s shortage of engineers Crain's Detroit Business
Other actions that need to be taken, he said, include:

• The state Legislature’s creating a Michigan Investment Corporation Act before the next election to lower the cost of doing business in the state by 30 percent without relying on tax or fiscal incentives.
He said that “a new mega-authority that lowers the cost of doing business by 30 percent (could turn) Michigan into the Hong Kong of the U.S.”

• Enacting a health care delivery system based on best practices.

• Organizing a manufacturing symposium by the engineering society to help Michigan better compete against the Chinese and others.

• Gov. Rick Snyder’s signing an executive order mandating the use of best practices to reduce waste in public construction projects.

Editorial: What does 'something big' mean in Muskegon?

Editorial: What does 'something big' mean in Muskegon? MLive.com
rightofyou posts:

"You are coming at this problem from the wrong angle.
In a nutshell, Muskegon's problem is it's reputation as a 'far left, pro-union' town and government that refuses to get out of the way of those that want to do truly 'big things' here in Muskegon.
This will never change until Muskegon wises up and finally elects a 'pro-business' representation.
Until then, dream on as you continue to whither!"

Riders oppose bus cut plan

Riders oppose bus cut plan The Detroit News detroitnews.com
Detroit— Frustrations with the city's bus operations boiled over Friday as dozens of residents voiced opposition to the city's plan to eliminate routes and weekend service next week for the system's 104,000 daily riders.

A look at Romney’s big economic speech

A look at Romney’s big economic speech « The Enterprise Blog
Here’s a lovely Wordle word cloud of Mitt Romney’s speech yesterday in Michigan:

"Wordle"
Cool!

Ficano's move to end 401(k) perk OK'd

Briefs: Ficano's move to end 401(k) perk OK'd The Detroit News detroitnews.com
The board of the Wayne County Retirement System signed off Friday on a plan by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano to end a perk that pays his appointees $5 for every $1 they kick into their retirement.

Green Energy Company Struggles, Lays Off Workers — But Rewards Top Executives

Green Energy Company Struggles, Lays Off Workers — But Rewards Top Executives [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
In the nine months since David Prystash was named ChiefFinancial Officer of A123 Systems — thebattery manufacturer that received $390.1 million in federal and state subsidies — the company has laid off 125 employees and had a net loss of $172 million throughthe first three quarters of 2011.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Passerby ignore 86-year-old carjacking victim crawling for help at gas station

Video: Passerby ignore 86-year-old carjacking victim crawling for help at gas station MLive.com
An 86-year-old World War II veteran whose leg was broken when he was carjacked at a gas station was ignored by customers as he crawled through the parking lot for help.

Thieves hit Aaron Brantley from behind and stole his 2010 Chrysler 200 (recently purchased to replace another stolen car) at 10:40 a.m. on Wednesday, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The gas station is located at W. McNichols and Fairfield, just west of the campus of University of Detroit-Mercy.