Thursday, February 21, 2013

Restaurants Prepare for Cost of New Menus Mandated by Obamacare

Restaurants Prepare for Cost of New Menus Mandated by Obamacare | Heartlander Magazine
"Section 4205 of Obama’s law requires restaurants and similar retail food establishments with 20 or more locations to list calorie content information for standard menu items on all menus and menu boards, including drive-through boards.
The law also requires vending machine operators who own or operate 20 or more vending machines to disclose calorie content for certain items."

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Republicans struggle to agree on candidates who can win

Michael Barone: Republicans struggle to agree on candidates who can win | WashingtonExaminer.com
"So I don't see this as a fight between the grass roots and the Washington establishment.
It's a struggle to find candidates with serious convictions and good political instincts -- which is usually an uphill struggle for Republicans."

These tactics work. Why does the GOP act like there is no internet?

Below is an e-mail I received yesterday from my "friends" at "Organizing for Action", the successor of U.S. president Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign and of Organizing for America, which itself succeeded Obama's 2008 campaign.

While I vigorously disagree with the message, I marvel at its pure, simple brilliance.
Clearly well written and emotionally powerful, it sets the stage for its most important component.
Like YouTube and Facebook, it brings the reader into its sympathetic cyber arms and induces them to share their own, personal story.
Once a person responds, they are hooked!

Responders provide the content.
And "Our staff will review and post your submission" as they effectively troll for great writers and lieutenants who will sell the party line for them.
All at ZERO cost!

There's been much buzz amongst republican "thinkers" that seems to be split between giddy hi-fiving over the discovery of the nifty new phrase "low-info-voters" and mocking those very "lo-fo" Americans.

I don't get it.
Is the current republican power structure our own version of simpleton "low-information-leaders"?
Do they even know what "social media" is?
Do they even know the basics of who the media is?

If we ever hope to sell our message, we must find cyber-leaders to break through the country club walls and realize that Dick Nixon's bad showing in his televised Kennedy debate has relevance still today.
Please guys, open your eyes!
Jim Riley 

"Friend --
Maybe you've seen firsthand how gun violence can rip apart a family and a community.
Or maybe you're concerned by what you see on the news.
Whatever your reason, those in Congress who oppose sensible change need to hear from you: Share your personal story or views on why Congress should act right now to help protect our kids and reduce gun violence.
Your story will inspire others to speak out and show legislators that now is the time.
President Obama said it: "More than a thousand birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries have been stolen from our lives by a bullet from a gun" in just the two months since the tragedy in Newtown.
Each of those families deserves a vote by Congress on commonsense measures to help protect our kids.
But we need to demand it.

It's easy to share your story or point of view:
1. Provide your basic information. (Please note: For your privacy, we'll only publish your city and your first name and last initial.)
2. If you have a photo or video you'd like to share, paste a link into that field. You can paste an Instagram or Twitter link, but cannot upload a photo directly.
3. In the final box, compose your personal story or views about reducing gun violence.
4. After you agree to the submission terms, hit the green "Tell Your Story" button. Our staff will review and post your submission.

Please share your story today:
http://my.barackobama.com/Share-Your-Story-on-Gun-Violence
This won't be easy, but if we can save even one life, it'll be worth it.

Thanks,
Jon
Jon Carson
Executive Director
Organizing for Action
P.S. -- Read some of the powerful stories that folks have already shared, then hit the "Tell Your Story" button to submit your own.
----------------
Let's finish what we started. Chip in $25 or more to Organizing for Action, the grassroots movement that will get the job done."

Articles: Why Are Some People Prone to Obey?

Articles: Why Are Some People Prone to Obey?:

Captain Capitalism

Captain Capitalism:

Chris Christie’s project labor no-brainer

Chris Christie’s project labor no-brainer | NetRight Daily
"A conservative estimate by the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University has found that “PLAs increase the cost of construction by 12 percent to 18 percent,” comparing the period when PLAs were prohibited under federal law to when they were not."

We've got the same, self imposed, scam here in Muskegon called "prevailing wage".
Great deal for the union insiders who contribute to county commission races.
Not so great a deal for us poor folks without clout.

Police: Muskegon man claims 'one of the largest porn collections' in Michigan stolen from home

Police: Muskegon man claims 'one of the largest porn collections' in Michigan stolen from home | MLive.com
"The owner of the missing pornography told police it was allegedly “one of the largest porn collections” in the state and valued it at $6,500. "

Debate Commission Co-Chair: Yeah, Candy Crowley Was a 'Mistake'

Debate Commission Co-Chair: Yeah, Candy Crowley Was a 'Mistake'
"Fahrenkopf, a stalwart Republican, co-chairs the Commission on Presidential Debates with Mike McCurry, who served as press secretary in the White House under President Bill Clinton. "

Detroit's financial crisis now in governor's hands

Detroit's financial crisis now in governor's hands - Yahoo! News:
" The city's long-term liabilities, including underfunded pensions, are more than $14 billion."

The Wages of Sin Taxes

The Wages of Sin Taxes | Competitive Enterprise Institute:
"In his study, The Wages of Sin Taxes, Chris Snowdon reveals that these taxes not only do little to limit the use of “bad” products, they do nothing to reduce societal costs.
Most remarkably, Snowdon demonstrates that those shockingly large estimates of the costs that the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, sugar, and fat supposedly impose on society have little basis in reality.

LIBERTY REVIEW-Runaway President

LIBERTY REVIEW:
"Shortly after listening to Dr. Carson’s speech, I listened to the State of the Union Address.
Where Dr. Carson filled me with pride, the dictator and chief was suffocating.
Maybe it’s because I no longer listen to the mainstream media but all I could think of after his first couple minutes of mind numbing dialog was, what comic book is he reading?  
He states fiction as if it were fact.
The state of our union is not stronger."

Obama's Economic Growth Record Is The Worst In 60 Years

Obama's Economic Growth Record Is The Worst In 60 Years - Investors.com
"To put Obama's mind-bogglingly low number in perspective, consider this: It was less than half the tally achieved during Bush's second term.
It was barely a quarter of the tally achieved under President Carter.
It was the worst tally achieved during any presidential term in the past 60 years.
And here's the kicker: If it had been doubled (to 1.6%), it still would have been the worst tally in the past 60 years."

Video: Meet the fastest-growing demographic among gun owners

Video: Meet the fastest-growing demographic among gun owners « Hot Air:

US tyre boss mocks ‘crazy’ French unions

US tyre boss mocks ‘crazy’ French unions - FRANCE - FRANCE 24
"The head of US tyre manufacturer Titan International told the French government Wednesday that his firm will not take over a loss-making Goodyear factory because the unions there are “crazy” and its employees “only work three hours a day”.

“How stupid do you think we are?” Titan Chief Executive Maurice Taylor asked French Minister for Industrial Renewal Arnaud Montebourg in a letter published by French business daily Les Echos [in French and English].
“I have visited that factory a couple of times. T
he French workforce gets paid high wages but only works for three hours.

EMILY MILLER ON OBAMA AND GUN CONTROL

Instapundit » Blog Archive » EMILY MILLER ON OBAMA AND GUN CONTROL

Chicago is a dangerous town, but gun control hasn’t made it better. The city forbids the law-abiding from having guns, leaving the bad guys to rule the streets. The result is one of the highest murder rates in the country. President Obama’s plan isn’t to reverse from a failed course, but to apply federal gun registration and confiscation of certain weapons nationwide.
Addressing students at Hyde Park Academy last week, Mr. Obama recalled the recent murder of Hadiya Pendleton, a teenager. “It’s not unique to Chicago,” he said. “It’s not unique to this country. Too many of our children are being taken away from us.”
The rising homicide rate actually is unique to the president’s hometown. The 506 murders last year reflected a 16 percent increase over the previous year. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, this happened while the rest of the country saw a 2 percent decrease in homicides; the national rate is at its lowest point since 1963.

Doubling down on failure while pointing fingers at others has become a hallmark. Posted by Glenn Reynolds at 8:47 am

Al Sharpton's National Action Network to rally over no-black-nurses lawsuit claims at Hurley Medical Center today

Al Sharpton's National Action Network to rally over no-black-nurses lawsuit claims at Hurley Medical Center today | MLive.com:
"FLINT, MI -- The state director of the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network plans to speak outside Hurley Medical Center today, Feb. 19, demanding hospital officials answer charges that they granted a father's request that only white nurses care for his infant child."

Fraternity suspends University of Michigan chapter over semi-nude photos

Fraternity suspends University of Michigan chapter over semi-nude photos:
"The national Pi Kappa Alpha office has indefinitely suspended its University of Michigan chapter after semi-nude photos of fraternity members were leaked online, gaining national attention."

Government admits misplacing more money than the sequester will cut

Ken Braun: Government admits misplacing more money than the sequester will cut | MLive.com:
"But perhaps the best comparison is against the pile of cash that the Federal government ADMITS to squandering every year.
According to the Office of Management and Budget’s “Payment Accuracy” website, more than $100 billion in “improper payments” are now being misdirected EVERY YEAR.
How does this happen, you might ask the “Payment Accuracy” people?"

Michigan farmers may face migrant worker shortage after last year's devastating weather

Michigan farmers may face migrant worker shortage after last year's devastating weather | MLive.com
"Even with thousands of Michiganders looking for work, Clover Adams doesn't see them taking the jobs.
"That's an issue.
It's why we have migrant labor to begin with," she said.
"They're not willing to take the work and I don't know that anything's changed."

Pot tourism in Colo.? Marijuana regulators OK idea

The Associated Press: Pot tourism in Colo.? Marijuana regulators OK idea
"Marijuana purchased in Colorado must stay in Colorado," Pabon warned.
"We could attract greater federal scrutiny and displeasure of our neighbors," if marijuana flows across state lines, he said."

World Day of Social Justice, 20 February

World Day of Social Justice, 20 February
"For the United Nations, the pursuit of social justice for all is at the core of our global mission to promote development and human dignity.
The adoption by the International Labour Organization of the Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization is just one recent example of the UN system’s commitment to social justice.
The Declaration focuses on guaranteeing fair outcomes for all through employment, social protection, social dialogue, and fundamental principles and rights at work."

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Ohio Officials: Poll Worker May Have Voted Six Times

Ohio Officials: Poll Worker May Have Voted Six Times - By Eliana Johnson - The Corner - National Review Online
"Richardson is currently facing charges of voter fraud but maintains her innocence.
“I can’t understand these charges against me of voter fraud,” she told Cincinnati’s Channel 9 News.
“Have they never heard of . . . overlooking mailing in a ballot or registering to vote at a precinct after you’ve forgotten that you’ve mailed in a ballot or you’ve been told that the ballot may be too late?”"

ANOTHER EPA OFFICIAL RESIGNS over use of improper “secret” email accounts.

Instapundit » Blog Archive » ANOTHER EPA OFFICIAL RESIGNS over use of improper “secret” email accounts.

“EPA Region 8 administrator James Martin is resigning this week, according to a press release from Sen. David Vitter (R., La.). Martin faces a congressional probe for allegedly using a private email account to circumvent disclosure requirements.
Bob Perciasepe, the current acting EPA administrator, also used a private account to send emails to other EPA officials, Vitter said his office has discovered.”
Transparency!
Posted by Glenn Reynolds at 3:55 pm"

House Rep Wants To Force Homeschool Parents to Report Attendance to The State

House Rep Wants To Force Homeschool Parents to Report Attendance to The State [Michigan Capitol Confidential]:
"With no evidence of a problem, Rep. Woodrow Stanley,D-Flint, wants to track homeschooled students for truancy"

Gedney Foods agrees to drop 'midget' from small pickle label

Gedney Foods agrees to drop 'midget' from small pickle label - UPI.com:
"Little People of America, which represents people who are under 4 feet, 10 inches, in height, considers the word midget offensive."

Review team: Detroit is in financial emergency

Review team: Detroit is in financial emergency - Houston Chronicle:
"The team released its findings Tuesday, saying in a report to Snyder that "no satisfactory plan exists to resolve a serious financial problem."

Former Tholstrup Cheese plant in Norton Shores closes, eliminating 20 jobs

Former Tholstrup Cheese plant in Norton Shores closes, eliminating 20 jobs | MLive.com

Arts-Focused Colleges Rack Up Most Student Debt

Arts-Focused Colleges Rack Up Most Student Debt - WSJ.com
"Graduates of Arts-Focused Schools Are Shown to Rack Up the Most Student Debt"

Excellent interactive chart-go there!

Happy 4 Year Tea Party Anniversary – Courtesy Of The Rick Santelli Rant |

Happy 4 Year Tea Party Anniversary – Courtesy Of The Rick Santelli Rant

Chuck Todd: It's 'Mythology' That MSM Hostile To Conservatives

Chuck Todd: It's 'Mythology' That MSM Hostile To Conservatives | NewsBusters:
"TODD: I think that it's, I think that the mythology of the big, bad non-conservative media has gotten into some offices, and so that there's this fear of, oh we can't do, we can't do anything that's not--it's sort of this--and I feel like it's a mythology that now younger staffers believe and then it infuses, and then these guys, they actually believe the spin that's out there, oh, my God, that's what the mainstream media does, they do anything to disrupt the conservative agenda.
And so literally, you only--Lindsey, John McCain, you know, that's been my, I just fear that it's sort of like this whole, there's this whole sort of this, the mythology of this, the media's out to get conservatives is believed among more and more actual staffers."