Logan's Law would create animal abuser registry | Lansing State Journal | lansingstatejournal.com:
"That gray and white husky has become the face of a proposed law that would force convicted animal abusers to register for a new database to be used by animal control and humane society shelters in adopting animals.
Under the law, the shelters could not adopt animals to those on the registry for five years.
“They can check this registry to find out if they are giving (the animal) to a monster,” said Falk, of Wales, Mich.
In a room packed with supporters of the proposed “Logan’s Law,” the House Judiciary Committee today began hearing testimony on whether Michigan should become the first state to create such a registry.
Proponents say it would be funded through $250 in annual fees paid by offenders and would prove a valuable resource for shelters and individuals who want to find out whether they are letting a convicted animal abuser adopt a pet."
Friday, June 07, 2013
Retiree benefits and ObamaCare collide
Retiree benefits and ObamaCare collide: Column:
" Then there's the very real uncertainty surrounding the ACA's ultimate cost — illustrated by the impact of Medicare alone, which the Office of the Chief Actuary of Medicare estimates could cost cost $10 trillion more than claimed."
" Then there's the very real uncertainty surrounding the ACA's ultimate cost — illustrated by the impact of Medicare alone, which the Office of the Chief Actuary of Medicare estimates could cost cost $10 trillion more than claimed."
States that offer extremely generous health benefits for government retirees, and which have little to no pre-funding for those benefits, could choose to move their retirees into the Affordable Care Act's new exchanges.
.......The impact doesn't end with a collection of states relieved to have better balance sheets and financial positions. What does it mean for taxpayers?
It's not as if taxpayers in those states will suddenly be free of the financial burden of providing retiree health care benefits. A significant portion of the tab would be passed on to the federal government. But the overall tax burden will shift, and in ways that Americans in other more fiscally responsible states may not appreciate. Since the exchanges are federally sponsored, much of their cost will ultimately be shared among all the nation's taxpayers. So residents in those states who push retirees onto the exchanges will get to off-load some of their financial burden to the rest of us.
....So the impact of the insurance exchanges could be good news for some state and local governments and residents, while not so good news for the rest of us.
Thursday, June 06, 2013
Greece Slides Into The "Fourth World" - The Full Photo Album
Greece Slides Into The "Fourth World" - The Full Photo Album | Zero Hedge:
"With Greek government bonds at multi-year highs (up 300% in the last year), the Athens Stock Index still up 100% in the last year, and leaders all over the Euro-zone proclaiming the crisis is over (and that Greece has "made big strides"); we thought it perhaps useful to look at the reality behind the propagandized talk and manipulation.
The sad truth is Greece is rapidly dissolving into a 'fourth world' nation with unemployment rates (broad and youth) at unprecedented levels, poverty widespread, and homelessness rife.
Perhaps, as Germany today stated that there will be no more debt reduction for Greece, it is 'math' in the first image that the TROIKA and the Greek representatives should pay special attention to..."
"With Greek government bonds at multi-year highs (up 300% in the last year), the Athens Stock Index still up 100% in the last year, and leaders all over the Euro-zone proclaiming the crisis is over (and that Greece has "made big strides"); we thought it perhaps useful to look at the reality behind the propagandized talk and manipulation.
The sad truth is Greece is rapidly dissolving into a 'fourth world' nation with unemployment rates (broad and youth) at unprecedented levels, poverty widespread, and homelessness rife.
Perhaps, as Germany today stated that there will be no more debt reduction for Greece, it is 'math' in the first image that the TROIKA and the Greek representatives should pay special attention to..."
Online 'Fairness' Tax Could Hit Your 401(k)
Online 'Fairness' Tax Could Hit Your 401(k) - Investors.com:
Additional concerns include the indirect impact on middle-class investors — the tax would hit trades done by mutual funds and retirement plans such as 401(k) accounts — and the competitive effects on particular jurisdictions, as the tax creates incentives for such transactions to move across borders.
Given these concerns, one would think that the U.S. Congress would carefully debate the merits of a financial transaction tax, not rush to approve it. Yet the U.S. Senate just passed a bill that may enable states to impose their own financial transaction taxes — a recipe for increasing economic uncertainty.
Supporters of the Marketplace Fairness Act (MFA), which the U.S. Senate passed on May 6 on a 69-27 vote, claim that online retailers enjoy an unfair advantage over their brick-and-mortar competitors. The bill, they maintain, addresses this imbalance by allowing states and localities to require "remote sellers" to collect taxes for "sales" to their residents.
However, the bill is silent on the particular products and services of "sellers" and "sales" it covers. Thus, it could open the door for state and local governments to tax financial transactions they deem as "sales" on businesses throughout the country.
County plans 60-day stop-work order on Detroit jail project
County plans 60-day stop-work order on Detroit jail project | Crain's Detroit Business:
"The highest "worst estimates" for the jail's final price tag were $391 million, Lee said, almost double the original estimated price of $220 million. "
"The highest "worst estimates" for the jail's final price tag were $391 million, Lee said, almost double the original estimated price of $220 million. "
Spanish Sub Too Heavy Thanks to Math Mistake
Spanish Sub Too Heavy Thanks to Math Mistake | TheLedger.com:
"A new, Spanish-designed submarine has a weighty problem:
The vessel is more than 70 tons too heavy, and officials fear if it goes out to sea, it will not be able to surface.
And a former Spanish official says the problem can be traced to a miscalculation — someone apparently put a decimal point in the wrong place."
"A new, Spanish-designed submarine has a weighty problem:
The vessel is more than 70 tons too heavy, and officials fear if it goes out to sea, it will not be able to surface.
And a former Spanish official says the problem can be traced to a miscalculation — someone apparently put a decimal point in the wrong place."
5 Michigan cities may qualify for $100M in federal funds for home demolitions
Report: 5 Michigan cities may qualify for $100M in federal funds for home demolitions | MLive.com:
"The fund is designed to help homeowners in states hit hardest by the recent housing crisis by providing mortgage assistance for the unemployed, matching funds for principal reduction and other assistance to avoid foreclosure."
"The fund is designed to help homeowners in states hit hardest by the recent housing crisis by providing mortgage assistance for the unemployed, matching funds for principal reduction and other assistance to avoid foreclosure."
Supt. Mike Flanagan: 55 Michigan school districts have budget deficits
Supt. Mike Flanagan: 55 Michigan school districts have budget deficits | MLive.com:
"Three schools, Muskegon Public Schools, Romulus Community Schools and Aisha Shule/DuBois Preparatory Academy, began the year in the black but are projected to end the year with deficits, according to MDE analysts."
"Three schools, Muskegon Public Schools, Romulus Community Schools and Aisha Shule/DuBois Preparatory Academy, began the year in the black but are projected to end the year with deficits, according to MDE analysts."
Red light cameras could come to a Michigan intersection near you under proposed legislation
Red light cameras could come to a Michigan intersection near you under proposed legislation | MLive.com:
"Bipartisan legislation before the House Transportation Committee would allow local municipalities to install red light cameras at intersections of their choosing and use the evidence to issue civil infractions when a vehicle fails to stop."
"Bipartisan legislation before the House Transportation Committee would allow local municipalities to install red light cameras at intersections of their choosing and use the evidence to issue civil infractions when a vehicle fails to stop."
Back on the beaches one final time: D-Day heroes return to Normandy to mark the 69th anniversary of the landings
Back on the beaches one final time: D-Day heroes return to Normandy to mark the 69th anniversary of the landings | Mail Online:
When freedom came ashore: Stunning shots of Allied troops storming Omaha Beach in Normandy by war photographer Robert Capa and how they were almost lost forever
When freedom came ashore: Stunning shots of Allied troops storming Omaha Beach in Normandy by war photographer Robert Capa and how they were almost lost forever
Remember All Those Passwords? No Need
Remember All Those Passwords? No Need - NYTimes.com:
"Dashlane has two primary features.
First, yes, it’s a password memorizer. Every time you type your account name and password into a Web page and press enter, Dashlane pops up, offering to memorize that information and fill it in the next time."
"Dashlane has two primary features.
First, yes, it’s a password memorizer. Every time you type your account name and password into a Web page and press enter, Dashlane pops up, offering to memorize that information and fill it in the next time."
Wednesday, June 05, 2013
Michigan has 2 top violent cities in US; search preliminary FBI crime data
Michigan has 2 top violent cities in US; search preliminary FBI crime data | MLive.com:
"It also shows that Flint is the most violent city in the U.S. for the third year running, followed in second place by Detroit."
"It also shows that Flint is the most violent city in the U.S. for the third year running, followed in second place by Detroit."
The Daily Caller presents: The first annual College Stupidity Awards
Daily Caller first annual College Stupidity Awards | The Daily Caller:
"Lehigh University: Most outrageous lawsuit
Lehigh University graduate Megan Thode sued Lehigh for $1.3 million because she was unhappy that she got a C+ in a class in 2009.
Thode, 27, said the grade ruined her dream of becoming a licensed professional counselor.
Her civil suit alleged breach of contract, sexual discrimination and a broader attempt to force her to abandon the graduate degree she had been pursuing.
The Pennsylvania judge in the case ruled in favor of Lehigh.
(RELATED: Lehigh University student got a C+ and now seeks $1.3 million)"
"Lehigh University: Most outrageous lawsuit
Lehigh University graduate Megan Thode sued Lehigh for $1.3 million because she was unhappy that she got a C+ in a class in 2009.
Thode, 27, said the grade ruined her dream of becoming a licensed professional counselor.
Her civil suit alleged breach of contract, sexual discrimination and a broader attempt to force her to abandon the graduate degree she had been pursuing.
The Pennsylvania judge in the case ruled in favor of Lehigh.
(RELATED: Lehigh University student got a C+ and now seeks $1.3 million)"
Atheists Want Their Own Military Chaplains
Atheists Want Their Own Military Chaplains:
"For weeks now Breitbart News has reported on religious liberty in the military, both the freedom of service members to share their faith and also the plight of military chaplains being censored on what they can say in religious counseling.
Now atheists are demanding their own chaplains. "
"For weeks now Breitbart News has reported on religious liberty in the military, both the freedom of service members to share their faith and also the plight of military chaplains being censored on what they can say in religious counseling.
Now atheists are demanding their own chaplains. "
What Enron and the IRS Have in Common
Steven Law: What Enron and the IRS Have in Common - WSJ.com:
Any good CEO will tell you that ethical meltdowns like the IRS political-targeting scandal are rarely the work of a few rogue employees. Such messes are the result of a toxic culture that has been allowed to fester.
Any good CEO will tell you that ethical meltdowns like the IRS political-targeting scandal are rarely the work of a few rogue employees. Such messes are the result of a toxic culture that has been allowed to fester.
When I was chief of staff at the Labor Department, we investigated the ethical and financial disintegration of Enron in connection with the collapse of its pension funds in 2001. What we found was a small circle of certifiably bad actors who acted without regard for the law or for anyone else. Surrounding this inner circle was a culture that gave these employees tacit permission to run roughshod over others and break the law.
While lower-level Enron employees did their jobs honorably, senior management cultivated a malignant esprit de corps that corroded the company's ethics. The C-Suite view was that no one was smarter, faster or more aggressive than these executives. Mortals couldn't possibly understand what they did. That belief created its own closed-system logic, leading to deceptive accounting schemes, self-dealing and, ultimately, a battery of criminal convictions for Enron's top brass.
What does Enron's collapse have to tell us about the shocking revelations of IRS political targeting?
Plenty.
While lower-level Enron employees did their jobs honorably, senior management cultivated a malignant esprit de corps that corroded the company's ethics. The C-Suite view was that no one was smarter, faster or more aggressive than these executives. Mortals couldn't possibly understand what they did. That belief created its own closed-system logic, leading to deceptive accounting schemes, self-dealing and, ultimately, a battery of criminal convictions for Enron's top brass.
What does Enron's collapse have to tell us about the shocking revelations of IRS political targeting?
Plenty.
The Hidden Jobless Disaster
Edward Lazear: The Hidden Jobless Disaster - WSJ.com:
"First, the better measure of a strong labor market is the proportion of the population that is working, not the proportion that isn't.
In 2006, 63.4% of the working-age population was employed.
That percentage declined to a low of 58.2% in July 2011 and now stands at 58.6%.
By this measure, the labor market's health has barely changed over the past three years."
"First, the better measure of a strong labor market is the proportion of the population that is working, not the proportion that isn't.
In 2006, 63.4% of the working-age population was employed.
That percentage declined to a low of 58.2% in July 2011 and now stands at 58.6%.
By this measure, the labor market's health has barely changed over the past three years."
Increase In CO2 Means A Greener Earth, Say Researchers
Increase In CO2 Means A Greener Earth, Say Researchers - Investors.com:
"Carbon dioxide concentrations in our atmosphere recently hit the 400 parts-per-million mark.
So is all that CO2 scorching the planet?
No.
But it does seem to be making our deserts greener.
Listening to the global warming alarmists, one would think that man-made CO2 emissions are threatening the globe.
But that's speculation.
Let's deal in reality.
And the reality, according to Australian research, is that in this era of higher carbon concentrations, plant life in dry regions has grown lush.
The greening of the deserts is due to the "fertilization effect" — the impact carbon dioxide has on plant life."
"Carbon dioxide concentrations in our atmosphere recently hit the 400 parts-per-million mark.
So is all that CO2 scorching the planet?
No.
But it does seem to be making our deserts greener.
Listening to the global warming alarmists, one would think that man-made CO2 emissions are threatening the globe.
But that's speculation.
Let's deal in reality.
And the reality, according to Australian research, is that in this era of higher carbon concentrations, plant life in dry regions has grown lush.
The greening of the deserts is due to the "fertilization effect" — the impact carbon dioxide has on plant life."
RNC hires Facebook manager as chief technology officer
RNC hires Facebook manager as chief technology officer - The Hill's Hillicon Valley
“Pleased to announce we have hired Andy Barkett as the RNC's CTO,” RNC Chairman Reince Priebus tweeted Thursday evening.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has hired a Facebook engineering manager as its new chief technology officer (CTO).
“Excited to get to work growing digital operation,” Priebus continued.
After suffering a tough loss in the 2012 presidential election, the RNC in March said the Republican Party must close the digital divide between the GOP and Democrats if it wanted to win the upcoming midterm elections and 2016 presidential race.
As part of that effort, the RNC said it wanted to hire a chief technology and digital officer by May 1 who would be responsible for recruiting a team of savvy data scientists, tech and digital advocates who would build a new data and digital operation for the upcoming contests.
Barkett's profile on the University of California, Davis Graduate School of Management website also lists experience as senior director of engineering at Livescribe, senior management consultant at Taos Mountain and technical program manager at Google.
On that page, Barkett is described as a “Renaissance man!” who is “[d]eeply interested in philosophy, literature, film and economics.”
Barkett received his Master of Business Administration from UC Davis in 2009. He also holds a bachelor's degree in political economy from the University of California, Berkeley.
How do you spell "mole"?
........yet another example of school idiocy
Instapundit » Blog Archive » THIS STORY WAS TOO LATE FOR MY USA TODAY COLUMN, but it’s yet another example of school idiocy: Boy…:
"THIS STORY WAS TOO LATE FOR MY USA TODAY COLUMN, but it’s yet another example of school idiocy:
Boy suspended for talking about guns on school bus.
“The principal told me that with what happened at Sandy Hook if you say the word ‘gun’ in my school you are going to get suspended for 10 days.”
The principal’s name is Darrel Prioleau.
But wait, there’s more: “The boy was questioned by the principal and a sheriff’s deputy, who also wanted to search the family home without a warrant.”
Sue ‘em and shame ‘em.
Posted by Glenn Reynolds at 11:31 pm"
"THIS STORY WAS TOO LATE FOR MY USA TODAY COLUMN, but it’s yet another example of school idiocy:
Boy suspended for talking about guns on school bus.
“The principal told me that with what happened at Sandy Hook if you say the word ‘gun’ in my school you are going to get suspended for 10 days.”
The principal’s name is Darrel Prioleau.
But wait, there’s more: “The boy was questioned by the principal and a sheriff’s deputy, who also wanted to search the family home without a warrant.”
Sue ‘em and shame ‘em.
Posted by Glenn Reynolds at 11:31 pm"
Average Teacher Salaries Climb
Average Teacher Salaries Climb [Michigan Capitol Confidential]:"New data released by the Michigan Department of Education shows that the average public school teacher salary in Michigan increased slightly for the 2011-2012 school year to $62,631.
This was up 1.7 percent from 2010-2011 year, but 0.6 percent less than the all-time high of $63,024 reported by the MDE for 2009-2010.
These figures include both conventional school districts and public charter schools, but the difference between these two types of schools was large, according to the data.
The average salary for charter school teachers was $42,864,[1] while the average for just conventional school teachers was $63,094.
Below are the 20 districts (with more than 100 pupils) that had the highest average teacher salaries in the state:"
Ex-DMC CEO Porter was visiting Panama on business, colleague says
Ex-DMC CEO Porter was visiting Panama on business, colleague ays | Crain's Detroit Business:
"Former Detroit Medical Center CEO Arthur Porter had both legitimate business reasons to visit Panama, and health concerns that could prevent him from making a similar trip to Montreal, where he awaits prosecution on corruption charges, some of his colleagues told Crain's this week."
"Former Detroit Medical Center CEO Arthur Porter had both legitimate business reasons to visit Panama, and health concerns that could prevent him from making a similar trip to Montreal, where he awaits prosecution on corruption charges, some of his colleagues told Crain's this week."
Jefferson County, Ala., Reaches Bankruptcy Deal
Jefferson County, Ala., Reaches Bankruptcy Deal - NYTimes.com:
"The refinancing agreement covers debt held by creditors that include JPMorgan Chase, which holds about $1.22 billion of the sewer debt, the biggest block; three bond insurers; and seven hedge funds, according to a term sheet circulated in a meeting of the county commission on Tuesday.
The terms call for these creditors to receive about $1.84 billion for the $2.4 billion of debt they now hold. The concessions were weighted most heavily toward JPMorgan, the term sheet said, “to increase the recovery of other sewer creditors.”
The bank is giving up $842 million, or about 70 percent, of the face value of its debt, according to people briefed on the negotiations. "
"The refinancing agreement covers debt held by creditors that include JPMorgan Chase, which holds about $1.22 billion of the sewer debt, the biggest block; three bond insurers; and seven hedge funds, according to a term sheet circulated in a meeting of the county commission on Tuesday.
The terms call for these creditors to receive about $1.84 billion for the $2.4 billion of debt they now hold. The concessions were weighted most heavily toward JPMorgan, the term sheet said, “to increase the recovery of other sewer creditors.”
The bank is giving up $842 million, or about 70 percent, of the face value of its debt, according to people briefed on the negotiations. "
Tax credit bonanza for illegal immigrants?
Tax credit bonanza for illegal immigrants? | The Daily Caller:
It pays to get Schumerized! Did you know that previously illegal immigrants who are legalized–like the 11 million immigrants granted Registered Provisional status by the Schumer-Rubio Gang of 8 bill–not only qualify for the Earned Income Tax credit (EITC) when they go to work (which seems reasonable enough to me) but may also get to apply for retroactive credits for previous years in which they were working illegally? Lawprofessor
Jan Ting of Temple University has the story. … Meanwhile, the Gang of 8 seems to have abandoned the idea of actually collecting back taxes from the vast majority of newly legalized (despite all the talk about how legalization isn’t “amnesty” because there are penalties etc,). But, hey, that doesn’t mean the IRS can’t send them back refunds!
Jan Ting of Temple University has the story. … Meanwhile, the Gang of 8 seems to have abandoned the idea of actually collecting back taxes from the vast majority of newly legalized (despite all the talk about how legalization isn’t “amnesty” because there are penalties etc,). But, hey, that doesn’t mean the IRS can’t send them back refunds!A visit to the IRS could actually be quite lucrative for many of newly Schumerized “provisionals.” The maximum annual EITC refund is a little over $5,000 per year for a person with two children who earns between about $13,000 and $17,000. You can can get $6,000 per year if you have three or more children. That means a potential refund check in the $15,000 range for three years of illegal, pre-amnesty work.
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