Tuesday, November 27, 2012

EyeOnMuskegon 11-25-2012


Bankrupt San Bernardino cuts $26 million, tries to stay afloat

Bankrupt San Bernardino cuts $26 million, tries to stay afloat - latimes.com
At Monday’s hearing, Councilman Chas Kelley blasted the budget-cutting plan for being shortsighted and not addressing San Bernardino’s long-term financial health, which he said depends on attracting business and expanding the middle class.

Benghazi explained: Interview with an “Intelligence Insider”

Benghazi explained: Interview with an “Intelligence Insider”
There was absolutely no diplomatic consulate in Benghazi.
None.
Words are important here.
They can create a wrong image, an incorrect picture of what was really going on.
The property where our Ambassador and other Americans were murdered was a rented villa consisting of a primary residence with a couple of outbuildings behind the actual house.
The reason they’re still calling it a consulate is to subtly divert any questions about our activities there.

Lake effect snow could be heavy this year for Michigan, and here's why

Lake effect snow could be heavy this year for Michigan, and here's why | MLive.com

Bankrupt San Bernardino to halt payments to Calpers, bondholders

Bankrupt San Bernardino to halt payments to Calpers, bondholders | Reuters

Where Americans Are Moving

Where Americans Are Moving | Newgeography.com
How about the biggest losers?
From 2000-09, the metropolitan areas that suffered the biggest net domestic migration losses resemble something of an urbanist dream team: New York, which saw a net outflow of a whopping 1.9 million citizens, followed by the Los Angeles metro area (-1,337,522), Chicago, Detroit, and, despite recent improvements, San Francisco-Oakland.
The raw numbers make it clear that California has lost its appeal for migrants from other parts of the U.S., and has become an exporter of people and talent (and income).

Crovitz: The U.N.'s Internet Sneak Attack

Crovitz: The U.N.'s Internet Sneak Attack - WSJ.com

'New Normal' Of The U.S. Economy Dumbs Down Excellence And Isn't Normal

'New Normal' Of The U.S. Economy Dumbs Down Excellence And Isn't Normal - Investors.com
As the table below shows, the four-year average (2010-13) of 2% real GDP growth would be the lowest of any four years following a negative growth period (of at least one year), since the Crash of 1929.
And it would not be the lowest by just a little, but by a lot.

Cox and Archer: Why $16 Trillion Only Hints at the True U.S. Debt - WSJ.com

Cox and Archer: Why $16 Trillion Only Hints at the True U.S. Debt - WSJ.com
We most often hear about the alarming $15.96 trillion national debt (more than 100% of GDP), and the 2012 budget deficit of $1.1 trillion (6.97% of GDP).
As dangerous as those numbers are, they do not begin to tell the story of the federal government's true liabilities.
The actual liabilities of the federal government—including Social Security, Medicare, and federal employees' future retirement benefits—already exceed $86.8 trillion, or 550% of GDP.
For the year ending Dec. 31, 2011, the annual accrued expense of Medicare and Social Security was $7 trillion.
Nothing like that figure is used in calculating the deficit. In reality, the reported budget deficit is less than one-fifth of the more accurate figure.
Why haven't Americans heard about the titanic $86.8 trillion liability from these programs?

Vague University Policies Can Get Students In Trouble For Jokes, 'Obnoxious' Comments, 'Insulting' ...

Vague University Policies Can Get Students In Trouble For Jokes, 'Obnoxious' Comments, 'Insulting' ...
CMU has a "Bias Incident Response Team" to look into vaguely-defined problems.
"Anytime anyone in the CMU community feels belittled, disrespected, threatened, or unsafe because of who they are, the entire university community is diminished," says the university website.
"That's why it's important to report all bias incidents — even those intended as jokes.
If you have observed or experienced a bias incident, it should be reported as soon as possible."

Monday, November 26, 2012

November is expected to be the best month for new car sales in almost 5 years, since January 2008

November is expected to be the best month for new car sales in almost 5 years, since January 2008 | AEIdeas
Update: Ward’s Auto is even a little bit more optimistic and is projecting November sales to come in at 15.2 million vehicles, partly due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy.

Peter Suderman drops a truth-bomb on Walmart critics

Peter Suderman drops a truth-bomb on Walmart critics (with tweets) · lachlanmarkay3 · Storify

Couple swept to sea in effort to save son, dog

Couple swept to sea in effort to save son, dog - Yahoo! News
The dog got out of the water on its own, Jones said.

Jamie Foxx: 'Our Lord and Savior Barack Obama'

Jamie Foxx: 'Our Lord and Savior Barack Obama' | NewsBusters.org
JAMIE FOXX: "First of all, give an honor to God and our lord and savior Barack Obama. Barack Obama."
Please also notice that this clip was used as a promo for the presentation by BET.

Another laughable Benghazi lie

Another laughable Benghazi lie - NYPOST.com
What’s also heart-rendingly clear is that our diplomats and security personnel understood the danger they were in, repeatedly requested more resources — and were left to die, as US military and intelligence assets monitored their deaths in real time, lacking the orders to protect them.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Mark Steyn: Jill Kelley for secretary of state

Mark Steyn: Jill Kelley for secretary of state | kelley, intelligence, director - Opinion - The Orange County Register
As appears to be well known, the Kelleys have financial problems, and their luxury home faces foreclosure.
For awhile they ran a charity, the Doctor Kelley Cancer Foundation, which makes terminal cancer patients' final wishes come true.
In 2007, they took in $157,284 in donations, and ran up expenses of $81,927 on dining, entertainment and travel.
So, if you've got cancer, and your dying wish is for Jill Kelley to party, this is the charity for you.

After fiscal cliff comes fiscal avalanche

LEE: After fiscal cliff comes fiscal avalanche - Washington Times
While Washington is preoccupied with the so-called fiscal cliff, little attention has been given to the fiscal avalanche that will occur if we continue down an unsustainable, long-term path, causing markets to turn sour on U.S. debt and leading to a spike in interest rates.
Such a eurolike crisis would make the fiscal cliff look like a dip in the road.
Unlike driving off a cliff, which you can see coming and make last-minute adjustments to avert, we cannot predict with any reasonable certainty when the avalanche will break.
If it does, there will be little anyone can do to prevent its devastating effects.

The New National Emblem; The Ostrich

Blog: The New National Emblem; The Ostrich
Shortly after World War II, Churchill and Truman were riding a train to Fulton Missouri to give speeches. Churchill gave his, now famous, "Iron Curtain" speech; and no one can remember what Truman said.
 During the train ride Truman was eager to show Winston Churchill the new National emblem that Truman had modified.
The eagle no longer looked toward the arrows in the left talon of the eagle but had shifted its gaze toward the olive branch in its right talon.
Churchill was quoted as saying that perhaps the head should be on a swivel so that it could look either the right or the left as was needed at the time.
Truman was not amused.

Shut Up and Play Nice: How the Western World Is Limiting Free Speech

Shut Up and Play Nice: How the Western World Is Limiting Free Speech - Slashdot
concealment writes
"In the face of the violence that frequently results from anti-religious expression, some world leaders seem to be losing their patience with free speech.
After a video called 'Innocence of Muslims' appeared on YouTube and sparked violent protests in several Muslim nations last month, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned that 'when some people use this freedom of expression to provoke or humiliate some others' values and beliefs, then this cannot be protected.'
It appears that the one thing modern society can no longer tolerate is intolerance.
As Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard put it in her recent speech before the United Nations, 'Our tolerance must never extend to tolerating religious hatred.'"

War of 1812

War of 1812 | News | National Post

Dang!
Them Canuks is still paranoid!

City Wants Drunk Drivers to Pay Police Costs

City Wants Drunk Drivers to Pay Police Costs [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
The City of Holland is proposing an ordinance that would fine people up to $400 if they are caught drunk and driving.
The money would cover the expense associated with the offense.

Cushing man gets jail for striking estranged wife with genitalia

Cushing man gets jail for striking estranged wife with genitalia — Midcoast — Bangor Daily News — BDN Maine
he incident occurred in July in Warren when his wife of 39 years, who was estranged from him, stayed at his place.
He offered her $20 for sex, and when she refused he took out his penis and struck her with it, according to the prosecution’s version of events to which he pleaded guilty.

Why Samsung's Galaxy Will Never Beat Apple's iPhone

Why Samsung's Galaxy Will Never Beat Apple's iPhone - Businessweek
"Buckus Toothnail, 11/17/2012 10:53 AM
I love these "predictions". Samsung's Galaxy will never beat Apple's iPhone??? It ALREADY DID! More Galaxy S3s were sold in August than iPhone 4Ss! Nice "prediction" Nostradamus!"

Here’s How Republicans Can Show They’re Serious About Free Markets

Here’s How Republicans Can Show They’re Serious About Free Markets - Businessweek
hese facts aren’t new.
What’s new is the tone.
Derek Khanna, the memo’s author, writes like an unashamed free marketeer, and in doing so manages to latch on to a larger point: Laws that help businesses often harm markets.

From the memo:
Today’s legal regime of copyright law is seen by many as a form of corporate welfare that hurts innovation and hurts the consumer.
It is a system that picks winners and losers, and the losers are new industries that could generate new wealth and added value.
We frankly may have no idea how it actually hurts innovation, because we don’t know what isn’t able to be produced as a result of our current system. (Emphasis in the original.)

Last year, for the first time, sales of adult diapers in Japan exceeded those for babies.

Japanese Stocks? Yes, They Really Think So - Businessweek
Last year, for the first time, sales of adult diapers in Japan exceeded those for babies.

Sandy island: Australian scientists discover Manhattan-sized landmass doesn’t actually exist

Sandy island: Australian scientists discover Manhattan-sized landmass doesn’t actually exist | World | News | National Post

Must read the comments!

Graphic: Canada’s national debt | Graphics

Graphic: Canada’s national debt | Graphics | News | National Post