Obama’s whopper about Rutherford B. Hayes and the telephone

Obama’s whopper about Rutherford B. Hayes and the telephone - The Washington Post

The Pinocchio Test

It’s bad enough for one president to knock another one for not being on Mount Rushmore, but it’s particularly egregious to do so based on incorrect information.
....Our final ruling was swayed in the end by this:
The president in particular has a responsibility to get historical facts right, and in this case he got them completely backwards.
Obama mocked Hayes for “looking backwards ... not looking forwards.”
In reality, Hayes embraced the new technology.
He should be an Obama hero, not a skunk.
Hayes is dead and buried, but he deserves an apology.

Four Pinocchios

Puerto Rico’s Governor Confident About Statehood

Puerto Rico’s Governor Confident About Statehood - Fox News
But, they will vote on a statehood referendum on that day. Gov. Luis Fortuno tells Fox News it will be a process but he is confident it will happen.

EyeOnMuskegon 3-18-2012

School districts get $22.2 million in 'edujobs' cash, much of it coming at the expense of charter schools

School districts get $22.2 million in 'edujobs' cash, much of it coming at the expense of charter schools | MLive.com
State Education Department spokesman Martin Ackley said districts can use the money to cover an existing salary or hire someone new, but the money must be used for salaries – for people employed by the district itself.
That was a problem for charter schools, which often use teachers who technically work for a management company – resulting in the extra $17.5 million.

Millions Could Receive Insurance Rebates In 2012, Despite Industry Opposition

Millions Could Receive Insurance Rebates In 2012, Despite Industry Opposition | Fox News
The insurance industry, along with a slew of state officials, have been fighting the policy.
Based on rules that were issued at the end of last year, Washington will require insurers to spend between 80 and 85 percent of premium dollars on medical care.

Insurance companies that violate the rule will be required to effectively refund their customers.
But while insurers say the rules could jeopardize plans across the country, customers are nevertheless expected to receive a rebate windfall starting this year.
Preliminary estimates indicate as many as 9 million Americans could receive up to $1.4 billion in rebates.
That's an average of roughly $160 a person, though the amounts are likely to vary.

Minnesota Moves on Right-to-Work, Taps Mackinac Center For Bill Wording

Minnesota Moves on Right-to-Work, Taps Mackinac Center For Bill Wording [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
To be placed on the ballot, either bill would have to be passed by both the Minnesota House and Senate by simple majority votes.
In contrast, for the Legislature to put a proposal on the ballot in Michigan, two-thirds super-majority votes are required in both the House and Senate.
Union protesters are turning out at the Minnesota Capitol building for each step in the process.
The unions are already targeting six Republican senators over the issue.

New Report Names Newspapers as the Fastest Shrinking Industry in America

New Report Names Newspapers as the Fastest Shrinking Industry in America
While renewables grew 49.2%, the Internet 24.6% and online publishing 24.3%, newspapers led the way in a downward direction, shrinking a whopping 28.4%.

Cheeseburgers adverts same as sex and violence say SNP

Cheeseburgers adverts same as sex and violence say SNP - Politics - Scotsman.com
ADVERTS for cheeseburgers should join sex, violence and bad language and be banned from TV before 9pm, according to the Scottish government.
The SNP claim that making it illegal to show advertisements for foods with high fat, sugar or salt content before the 9pm sex and violence watershed will protect the health of children and reduce obesity.
Public health minister Michael Matheson has written to the UK government calling for the introduction of such a ban, which would affect adverts for fast-food chains such as McDonald’s, Burger King and KFC

Pope Of Egypt's Coptic Christian Church Dies

Pope Of Egypt's Coptic Christian Church Dies | Fox News
Pope Shenouda III, the patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church who led Egypt's Christian minority for 40 years during a time of increasing tensions with Muslims, has died.

Interesting timing, doncha think?

Bleak outlook for US newspapers

Bleak outlook for US newspapers - FT.com
the Council of Economic Advisers have reported that the press is “America’s fastest-shrinking industry”, measured by jobs lost;
 the Newspaper Association of America has shown that advertising sales have halved since 2005 and are now at 1984’s level;
and the Pew Research Center has found that for every digital ad dollar they earned, they lost $7 in print ads.

Proposed Muskegon County Jail project to get input from citizens committee

Proposed Muskegon County Jail project to get input from citizens committee | MLive.com
Those interested in being a candidate for the Citizens Review Committee should fill out an application, which is available on the county’s website at www.co.muskegon.mi.us.
Once on the website’s main page, click on the County Government link, then the County Board of Commissioners link, then the Citizen Appointments link and finally at the bottom of the page is a link to an application form.

American Flag With President Obama's Image Sparks Outrage At Florida Democrats

American Flag With President Obama's Image Sparks Outrage At Florida Democrats | Fox News
An American flag with President Obama's image in place of the stars flew over a Florida county's Democrat headquarters long enough to enrage local veterans who called the altered banner "a disgrace."