Wednesday, January 02, 2013

What global warming? Alaska is headed for an ice age as scientists report state's steady temperature decline

What global warming? Alaska is headed for an ice age as scientists report state's steady temperature decline | Mail Online
Since 2000, temperatures in Alaska have dropped by 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit

Scientists reviewed weather reports from 20 climate stations operated by the National Weather Service located across Alaska, 19 of the 20 weather stations reported falling temperatures

An ocean phenomenon has disrupted a storm regulating system thus allowing cold winter storms to linger longer and bring a deep chill

Local residents have noticed the colder temps but say its no big deal since they are already bundled up for 20-below zero temperatures

County Prevailing Wage Law Could Add Millions To Taxpayer Costs

County Prevailing Wage Law Could Add Millions To Taxpayer Costs [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy has researched the costs of prevailing wage laws in Michigan.
It has concluded that prevailing wage laws can add 10 percent to 15 percent to the cost of construction projects.
If Muskegon County's prevailing wage ordinance were to add 10 percent to the cost of the jail project, the ordinance would put local taxpayers on the hook for an additional $2.3 million to $4.7 million.

Hollywood: Cinema attendance plummets to 25-year low

Hollywood: Cinema attendance plummets to 25-year low | Mail Online
The golden age of the silver screen may be coming to a close.
Attendance at movie theatres is at a 25-year low, with young consumers – those who often see the most films – down 40 per cent since 2002.

Dreading your diet? Don't worry...plump people live LONGER than their skinnier counterparts

Dreading your diet? Don't worry...plump people live LONGER than their skinnier counterparts | Mail Online

‘Cliff’ bill is a bitter pill for House’s tea party adherents to swallow

‘Cliff’ bill is a bitter pill for House’s tea party adherents to swallow - The Washington Post
The bill was 153 pages long. t was written only the day before, by Washington insiders working in the dark of night.
It was crammed with giveaways and legislative spare parts: tax breaks for wind farms and racetracks.
A change to nuclear-weapons policy.
Government payments for cheese.
And, most significantly, the bill will raise taxes but do relatively little to cut government spending or the massive federal deficit.

How to Clean Up the List of Apps that Have Access to Your Accounts

How to Clean Up the List of Apps that Have Access to Your Accounts - How-To Geek

Tuesday, January 01, 2013

Photos of the Year - The Wall Street Journal

Photos of the Year - The Wall Street Journal

Members-only clubs for legal pot use open in Colorado

Members-only clubs for legal pot use open in Colorado | Fox News

Monumental deceit: How our politicians have lied and lied about the true purpose of the European behemoth

Monumental deceit: How our politicians have lied and lied about the true purpose of the European behemoth | Mail Online

Sperm donor ordered to pay child support to lesbian couple despite him giving up rights to the child

Sperm donor ordered to pay child support to lesbian couple despite him giving up rights to the child | Mail Online
The legal agreement that the three made in 2009 was deemed invalid by Kansas state because they did not use a certified doctor for the insemination.

"Stockton tries a Chrysler"

Fix Pacifica: Bakersfield bankruptcy in stalemate
Wall Street Journal/Review and Outlook/Top Stories in Opinion, 12/31/12. "Stockton tries a Chrysler"

The municipal bankruptcy unfolding in Stockton, California is giving investors a bad case of deja vu. Just as the Obama Administration bailed out the United Auto Workers in Chrysler's bankruptcy while hanging bondholders out to dry, the city of Stockton is subordinating its bond debt to worker pensions.
But what's really scary is that the Stockton case could be replayed in dozens of California cities.

The San Joaquin Valley's second largest city filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy this summer after a three-month mediation with creditors and unions ended in stalemate.
Bond insurers that guarantee about $200 million in debt wouldn't submit to a haircut unless the rich pensions that helped drive the city to bankruptcy were also clipped.
Yet unions wouldn't countenance an even modest reduction to their pensions.

.... Ratings agencies downplay the "systemic risk" that the Stocktons of the United States pose to the $3.7 trillion municipal bond market.
But then they also said mortgage-backed securities were Triple-A.
While the market may not be in danger of blowing up soon, bondholders face a very real danger of being blown off to preserve worker pensions.

Gunman shoots one outside San Antonio movie theater

Gunman shoots one outside San Antonio movie theater | The Desert Sun | mydesert.com:
The gunman entered the theater and fired a shot but struck no one, Antu said.
An off-duty sheriff’s deputy working security then shot the gunman.