Ten Thousand Commandments: Regulations Increasingly Used to Enact Measures Voters Wouldn't Approve | Competitive Enterprise Institute:
"According to the new edition of the report, released today by the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Americans spend an estimated $1.8 trillion a year to comply with federal regulations.
For the first time, that’s more than half the level of total federal expenditures.
Agencies spend $61 billion per year just to administer and enforce federal regulations—a 50 percent increase in the last decade."
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Fatkinis By GabiFresh & swimsuitsforall: A Bikini Line For Plus-Sizes
Fatkinis By GabiFresh & swimsuitsforall: A Bikini Line For Plus-Sizes:"Now, with the advent of “fatkinis” and this amazing collection that resulted from Gabi Gregg and swimsuitsforall collaborating, it’s easy for anybody between a size 10 and 24 to find gorgeous bikinis."
Awesome. Scammers faking disabilities to cut lines
Awesome. Scammers faking disabilities to cut lines « Hot Air:
"I’ve been witness to this myself on multiple occasions, the most recent being this January. I was flying to Atlanta by way of Detroit. In the Motor City I was waiting with two colleagues when I saw an older – though not that much older than me- couple come to the boarding area. They were a well dressed, genteel seeming African American couple, with the woman pushing the man in a wheelchair. I was immediately moved to feel a bit sorry for them having to cram onto a flight while dealing with the infirmities which can accompany our golden years. After wheeling up and checking with the gate agent, it turned out that they were moved in to early, preferred boarding and upgraded to the front of the plane. It was a feel good moment for everyone.
I was in zone 2 for that flight and happened to follow not far behind them through the entry ramp. Reaching the end, the gentleman hopped up out of the wheelchair, grabbed both of the carry-on bags from his wife (again, a gentlemanly move) and proceeded to move to their upgraded seating, tossing the bags up into the overhead compartment and taking his seat, the wheelchair left forgotten on the jetway"
"I’ve been witness to this myself on multiple occasions, the most recent being this January. I was flying to Atlanta by way of Detroit. In the Motor City I was waiting with two colleagues when I saw an older – though not that much older than me- couple come to the boarding area. They were a well dressed, genteel seeming African American couple, with the woman pushing the man in a wheelchair. I was immediately moved to feel a bit sorry for them having to cram onto a flight while dealing with the infirmities which can accompany our golden years. After wheeling up and checking with the gate agent, it turned out that they were moved in to early, preferred boarding and upgraded to the front of the plane. It was a feel good moment for everyone.
I was in zone 2 for that flight and happened to follow not far behind them through the entry ramp. Reaching the end, the gentleman hopped up out of the wheelchair, grabbed both of the carry-on bags from his wife (again, a gentlemanly move) and proceeded to move to their upgraded seating, tossing the bags up into the overhead compartment and taking his seat, the wheelchair left forgotten on the jetway"
District Spent $20K Per Student, Had Rodents In the Schools, Holes In the Ceiling and Walls
District Spent $20K Per Student, Had Rodents In the Schools, Holes In the Ceiling and Walls [Michigan Capitol Confidential]:
"Though the Highland Park School District spent $19,634 per pupil in 2010-11, which was the highest in the state, district schools were so mismanaged that they had rodents in the classrooms, holes in the ceilings and walls, and horrendous filth in the bathrooms."
"Though the Highland Park School District spent $19,634 per pupil in 2010-11, which was the highest in the state, district schools were so mismanaged that they had rodents in the classrooms, holes in the ceilings and walls, and horrendous filth in the bathrooms."
Flint emergency manager wants to hike city income taxes
Flint emergency manager wants to hike city income taxes | MLive.com:
"Emergency manager Ed Kurtz told MLive-Flint Journal on Monday, May 20, that a 0.5 percent income tax increase to Flint residents and a 0.25 percent increase to workers living outside the city would generate $7 million in revenue annually.
The current rate is 1 percent for Flint residents and .05 percent for those living outside the city.
....."The city faces a $19.1 million combined deficit from 2012.
"Emergency manager Ed Kurtz told MLive-Flint Journal on Monday, May 20, that a 0.5 percent income tax increase to Flint residents and a 0.25 percent increase to workers living outside the city would generate $7 million in revenue annually.
The current rate is 1 percent for Flint residents and .05 percent for those living outside the city.
....."The city faces a $19.1 million combined deficit from 2012.
Gun control: Cartridge ID law to take effect
Gun control: Cartridge ID law to take effect - SFGate:
"Worse yet, Michel said, manufacturers will be unwilling to add this expensive feature to guns sold in a single state, and will instead keep manufacturing weapons for the other states, where demand already far exceeds supply.
The effect, he said, would be a ban on new semiautomatic handguns in California, which the NRA will challenge in court."
"Worse yet, Michel said, manufacturers will be unwilling to add this expensive feature to guns sold in a single state, and will instead keep manufacturing weapons for the other states, where demand already far exceeds supply.
The effect, he said, would be a ban on new semiautomatic handguns in California, which the NRA will challenge in court."
Monday, May 20, 2013
Last time CO2 was this high, the world was underwater? NO, actually
Last time CO2 was this high, the world was underwater? NO, actually • The Register:
"....the problem with this is that over these sorts of timescales, areas of the Earth's crust rise and fall as much as the sea does.
And nobody thus far has taken account of that - it has just been assumed that the rocky coasts have remained fixed with respect to the centre of the Earth, which means that the studies thus far have been - basically - wrong.
"No prediction of ancient ice volumes can ever again ignore the Earth's interior dynamics,” says Rowley."
"....the problem with this is that over these sorts of timescales, areas of the Earth's crust rise and fall as much as the sea does.
And nobody thus far has taken account of that - it has just been assumed that the rocky coasts have remained fixed with respect to the centre of the Earth, which means that the studies thus far have been - basically - wrong.
"No prediction of ancient ice volumes can ever again ignore the Earth's interior dynamics,” says Rowley."
DSM-5 | The Book of Woe
Book Review: DSM-5 | The Book of Woe | Saving Normal - WSJ.com:
"But he concludes that the truth needs to be told: Even in the hands of "honest and eloquent men" such as Dr. Frances, he writes, "psychiatric diagnosis is built on fiction and sold to the public as fact."
"But he concludes that the truth needs to be told: Even in the hands of "honest and eloquent men" such as Dr. Frances, he writes, "psychiatric diagnosis is built on fiction and sold to the public as fact."
In-Flight Thieves Targeting Airline Travelers’ Carry-On Bags
In-Flight Thieves Targeting Airline Travelers’ Carry-On Bags « CBS Boston:
"Travel experts such as Hobica say theft on planes is a growing problem, with bags getting swiped, valuables stolen and pockets picked.
Jewelry, money and medications are often the sought-after prizes, Hobica said."
"Travel experts such as Hobica say theft on planes is a growing problem, with bags getting swiped, valuables stolen and pockets picked.
Jewelry, money and medications are often the sought-after prizes, Hobica said."
What's behind the U.S. military's climbing suicide rate?
What's behind the U.S. military's climbing suicide rate? - The Week:
"Exposure to combat doesn't explain all of it. While post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries both may contribute to suicidal behavior, the Pentagon data shows that half of those who committed suicide were never deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan and 80 percent of them never even saw combat."
"Exposure to combat doesn't explain all of it. While post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries both may contribute to suicidal behavior, the Pentagon data shows that half of those who committed suicide were never deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan and 80 percent of them never even saw combat."
Red Tails and Tall Tales
Red Tails and Tall Tales - Taki's Magazine:
"Not to be quieted by accusations of Tuskegee Airmen Denialism, Haulman would author the small tract Nine Myths About the Tuskegee Airmen that pretty much shoots down all the lies sold as truth to keep the Red Tails story flying."
"Not to be quieted by accusations of Tuskegee Airmen Denialism, Haulman would author the small tract Nine Myths About the Tuskegee Airmen that pretty much shoots down all the lies sold as truth to keep the Red Tails story flying."
Climate slowdown means extreme rates of warming 'not as likely'
BBC News - Climate slowdown means extreme rates of warming 'not as likely':
"Scientists say the recent downturn in the rate of global warming will lead to lower temperature rises in the short-term.
Since 1998, there has been an unexplained "standstill" in the heating of the Earth's atmosphere.
Writing in Nature Geoscience, the researchers say this will reduce predicted warming in the coming decades.
But long-term, the expected temperature rises will not alter significantly."
"Scientists say the recent downturn in the rate of global warming will lead to lower temperature rises in the short-term.
Since 1998, there has been an unexplained "standstill" in the heating of the Earth's atmosphere.
Writing in Nature Geoscience, the researchers say this will reduce predicted warming in the coming decades.
But long-term, the expected temperature rises will not alter significantly."
D.C. man won't face gun charges for shooting pit bull attacking boy
D.C. man won't face gun charges for shooting pit bull attacking boy - Washington Times:
"Authorities last week made an agreement not to prosecute a Northwest D.C. man who used his unregistered handgun to kill a pit bull in order to stop it from mauling a child in his neighborhood.
As part of the agreement, Benjamin Srigley, 39, was required to pay a $1,000 fine but will not have criminal charges filed against him for the three unregistered firearms and the ammunition that investigators found in his possession, said Ted Gest, a spokesman for the office of the attorney general. "
"Authorities last week made an agreement not to prosecute a Northwest D.C. man who used his unregistered handgun to kill a pit bull in order to stop it from mauling a child in his neighborhood.
As part of the agreement, Benjamin Srigley, 39, was required to pay a $1,000 fine but will not have criminal charges filed against him for the three unregistered firearms and the ammunition that investigators found in his possession, said Ted Gest, a spokesman for the office of the attorney general. "
We’re not “deleveraging”, we’re defaulting en masse.
We’re not “deleveraging”, we’re defaulting en masse. | RareGHTENING
Lately there has been an amusing and very spurious, not to mention wrong, argument
among both the “serious media” and the various tabloids, that US households have
delevered to the tune of $1 trillion, primarily as a result of mortgage debt reductions
(not to be confused with total consumer debt which month after month
hits new record highs,
primarily due to soaring student and GM auto loans).
The implication here is that unlike in year past, US households are finally doing the
responsible thing and are actively deleveraging of their own free will.
This couldn’t be further from the truth, and to put baseless rumors of this nature to
rest once and for all, below we have compiled a simple chart using the NY Fed’s
own data, showing the total change in mortgage debt, and what portion of it is
due to discharges (aka defaults) of 1st and 2nd lien debt.
In a nutshell: based on NYFed calculations,
there has been $800 billion in mortgage debt
deleveraging since the end of 2007.
This has been due to $1.2 trillion in discharges
(the amount is greater than the total first lien mortgages, due to the increasing
use of HELOCs and 2nd lien mortgages before the housing bubble popped).
among both the “serious media” and the various tabloids, that US households have
delevered to the tune of $1 trillion, primarily as a result of mortgage debt reductions
(not to be confused with total consumer debt which month after month
hits new record highs,
primarily due to soaring student and GM auto loans).
The implication here is that unlike in year past, US households are finally doing the
responsible thing and are actively deleveraging of their own free will.
This couldn’t be further from the truth, and to put baseless rumors of this nature to
rest once and for all, below we have compiled a simple chart using the NY Fed’s
own data, showing the total change in mortgage debt, and what portion of it is
due to discharges (aka defaults) of 1st and 2nd lien debt.
In a nutshell: based on NYFed calculations,
there has been $800 billion in mortgage debt
deleveraging since the end of 2007.
This has been due to $1.2 trillion in discharges
(the amount is greater than the total first lien mortgages, due to the increasing
use of HELOCs and 2nd lien mortgages before the housing bubble popped).
Why French Kids Don't Have ADHD
Why French Kids Don't Have ADHD | Psychology Today:
"In the United States, at least 9% of school-aged children have been diagnosed with ADHD, and are taking pharmaceutical medications.
In France, the percentage of kids diagnosed and medicated for ADHD is less than .5%. "
"In the United States, at least 9% of school-aged children have been diagnosed with ADHD, and are taking pharmaceutical medications.
In France, the percentage of kids diagnosed and medicated for ADHD is less than .5%. "
Medical Firm Sues IRS For 4th Amendment Violation In Records Seizure
Medical Firm Sues IRS For 4th Amendment Violation In Records Seizure - Slashdot:
"cold fjord writes
"A healthcare provider has sued the Internal Revenue Service and 15 of its agents, charging they wrongfully seized 60 million medical records from 10 million Americans ...
[The unnamed company alleges] the agency violated the Fourth Amendment in 2011, when agents executed a search warrant for financial data on one employee – and that led to the seizure of information on 10 million, including state judges.
The search warrant did not specify that the IRS could take medical information, UPI said.
And information technology officials warned the IRS about the potential to violate medical privacy laws before agents executed the warrant, the complaint said."
"cold fjord writes
"A healthcare provider has sued the Internal Revenue Service and 15 of its agents, charging they wrongfully seized 60 million medical records from 10 million Americans ...
[The unnamed company alleges] the agency violated the Fourth Amendment in 2011, when agents executed a search warrant for financial data on one employee – and that led to the seizure of information on 10 million, including state judges.
The search warrant did not specify that the IRS could take medical information, UPI said.
And information technology officials warned the IRS about the potential to violate medical privacy laws before agents executed the warrant, the complaint said."
Loss of Funding Not To Blame For School District Failures
Loss of Funding Not To Blame For School District Failures [Michigan Capitol Confidential]:
"But even after factoring in inflation, Albion received more money per pupil in 2011 than it did in 2007, according to the Michigan Department of Education. Including local, state and federal funding, Albion received $9,345 per pupil in 2006-07 ($10,138 in 2011 dollars).
In actual dollars, Albion received $10,993 per pupil in 2010-11, the most recent year data is available."
"But even after factoring in inflation, Albion received more money per pupil in 2011 than it did in 2007, according to the Michigan Department of Education. Including local, state and federal funding, Albion received $9,345 per pupil in 2006-07 ($10,138 in 2011 dollars).
In actual dollars, Albion received $10,993 per pupil in 2010-11, the most recent year data is available."
Measles surges in UK years after vaccine scare
Measles surges in UK years after vaccine scare - Yahoo! News:
"This year, the U.K. has had more than 1,200 cases of measles, after a record number of nearly 2,000 cases last year.
The country once recorded only several dozen cases every year. It now ranks second in Europe, behind only Romania."
"This year, the U.K. has had more than 1,200 cases of measles, after a record number of nearly 2,000 cases last year.
The country once recorded only several dozen cases every year. It now ranks second in Europe, behind only Romania."
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Non-deportation rate drops — to 99.2 percent
Non-deportation rate drops — to 99.2 percent - Washington Times:
"The Homeland Security Department has granted legal status to 99.2 percent of all illegal immigrants who have applied under President Obama’s new non-deportation policy for young adults, according to the latest numbers released Friday."
"The Homeland Security Department has granted legal status to 99.2 percent of all illegal immigrants who have applied under President Obama’s new non-deportation policy for young adults, according to the latest numbers released Friday."
Quotation of the day: Murray Rothbard on ‘economic ignorance’
Quotation of the day: Murray Rothbard on ‘economic ignorance’ | AEIdeas:
"Carpe Diem
Quotation of the day: Murray Rothbard on ‘economic ignorance’
Mark J. Perry | May 18, 2013, 10:19 am
“It is no crime to be ignorant of economics, which is, after all, a specialized discipline and one that most people consider to be a ‘dismal science.’
But it is totally irresponsible to have a loud and vociferous opinion on economic subjects while remaining in this state of ignorance.”
~Murray Rothbard Making Economic Sense (1995)"
"Carpe Diem
Quotation of the day: Murray Rothbard on ‘economic ignorance’
Mark J. Perry | May 18, 2013, 10:19 am
“It is no crime to be ignorant of economics, which is, after all, a specialized discipline and one that most people consider to be a ‘dismal science.’
But it is totally irresponsible to have a loud and vociferous opinion on economic subjects while remaining in this state of ignorance.”
~Murray Rothbard Making Economic Sense (1995)"
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Tom Perez and his 'disparate impact' hiring quotas lose in court
Examiner Editorial: Tom Perez and his 'disparate impact' hiring quotas lose in court | WashingtonExaminer.com:
"That's the disturbing message from a discrimination suit DOJ filed against the New York City Fire Department alleging that it discriminated against black and Hispanic applicants.
Oddly enough, the case was not based on any particular act of discrimination.
It was based purely on the fact that somebody somewhere decided that too many NYFD applicants had failed a job exam.
The DOJ argued that these multiple failures were undeniable evidence of "disparate impact."
That's the quack legal theory that it isn't necessary to show discriminatory intent to prove discrimination.
All that is required is evidence that a policy or procedure has "the effect of disproportionately excluding members of a particular protected group," to quote from DOJ's website.
A district judge in 2010 awarded $128 million in damages to those applicants and appointed a monitor to oversee NYFD's hiring practices. "
"That's the disturbing message from a discrimination suit DOJ filed against the New York City Fire Department alleging that it discriminated against black and Hispanic applicants.
Oddly enough, the case was not based on any particular act of discrimination.
It was based purely on the fact that somebody somewhere decided that too many NYFD applicants had failed a job exam.
The DOJ argued that these multiple failures were undeniable evidence of "disparate impact."
That's the quack legal theory that it isn't necessary to show discriminatory intent to prove discrimination.
All that is required is evidence that a policy or procedure has "the effect of disproportionately excluding members of a particular protected group," to quote from DOJ's website.
A district judge in 2010 awarded $128 million in damages to those applicants and appointed a monitor to oversee NYFD's hiring practices. "
The IRS Scandal Started at the Top
Strassel: The IRS Scandal Started at the Top - WSJ.com:
"Mr. Obama didn't need to pick up the phone.
All he needed to do was exactly what he did do, in full view, for three years:
Publicly suggest that conservative political groups were engaged in nefarious deeds; publicly call out by name political opponents whom he'd like to see harassed; and publicly have his party pressure the IRS to take action.
Mr. Obama now professes shock and outrage that bureaucrats at the IRS did exactly what the president of the United States said was the right and honorable thing to do.
"He put a target on our backs, and he's now going to blame the people who are shooting at us?" asks Idaho businessman and longtime Republican donor Frank VanderSloot."
"Mr. Obama didn't need to pick up the phone.
All he needed to do was exactly what he did do, in full view, for three years:
Publicly suggest that conservative political groups were engaged in nefarious deeds; publicly call out by name political opponents whom he'd like to see harassed; and publicly have his party pressure the IRS to take action.
Mr. Obama now professes shock and outrage that bureaucrats at the IRS did exactly what the president of the United States said was the right and honorable thing to do.
"He put a target on our backs, and he's now going to blame the people who are shooting at us?" asks Idaho businessman and longtime Republican donor Frank VanderSloot."
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