Big brother to log your drinking habits and waist size | Mail Online:
"He added: ‘It is unbelievable how little the public is being told about what is going on, while GPs are being strong-armed into handing over details about their patients and to not make a fuss."
Friday, February 01, 2013
Something stinks in Muskegon
Please read this article from The Muskegon Chronicle and my comments below:
Muskegon County Commissioners
discuss: Is there such a thing as a good, cheap lawyer?
By Stephen Kloosterman |
sklooste@mlive.com
on January 30, 2013 at 8:26 AM,
updated January 30, 2013 at 8:27 AM
MUSKEGON, MI -- Muskegon County
Commissioners weighed whether there is such a thing as a good, cheap lawyer –
and, if so, was it worth a bidding competition to find one.
The county’s contract with its
corporate counsel prompted questions from District 3 County Commissioner Susie
Hughes at the commissioners’ Tuesday, Jan. 29 meeting. The contract passed
unanimously but not after a lively discussion among the commissioners, led by
Hughes.
“I wonder if we had checked any
other prices,” she said. Hughes, who ran as a Democrat for her county
commission seat, is a former county Republican Party officer.
County Administrator Bonnie
Hammersley said she hadn’t put the contract out for bids from other firms. It
was only a short, one-year extension of the county’s long-standing relationship
with Muskegon-based Williams Hughes PLLC, one commissioner pointed out.
District 4 County Commissioner
Bob Scolnik also defended Hammersley's decision.
“Number one, if I wanted an
attorney, I wouldn't pick the cheapest attorney,” he said.
Scolnik, a Republican, also
said that the county attorney, Theodore Williams, does a good job of staying
out of politics.
“I never even know what he
thinks about this, and that’s a good thing,” he said.
Hughes also questioned whether
it was wise to use a firm that lists nearly a dozen area municipalities as
clients. Williams and Hammersley reviewed the county’s conflict of interest policy:
Where there is a conflict of interest, lawyers in the county prosecutor’s
office represent the county, and the municipality in question is represented by
someone else.
The contract allows Williams
Hughes to charge the county $125 an hour for work done by a partner in the
legal firm, $80 an hour for work done by an associate, and $50 an hour for work
done by a paralegal.
The county budgeted $ 135,000
in legal fees for fiscal year 2012, according to the county’s website.
It's hard to believe the
reporter was actually at that county board meeting.
1. Commissioner Hughes never
even hinted at hiring "the cheapest lawyer".
Only commissioner Scolnik used
that term.
Clearly intending to intimidate
the newly elected female commissioner.
2. Hughes made two important
points followed by questions that were never adequately answered:
a. Hasn't it long been county policy
to competitively bid out for expensive contracts?
Why the change now?
b. Given the large number of
townships and city's already represented by the current firm and the likelihood
of conflicts of interest, shouldn't the board discuss the issue?
And receive clear answers?
3. Instead, these important
questions remain unanswered and even undiscussed in any depth as county administrator Hammersley dissembled and commissioner Scolnik cleverly distracted the board (and, apparently, the reporter) from the
biggest elephant in the room.
The quality of the legal advice
offered by current attorney.
Last year, the county was sued
for violating the federal Freedom Of Information Act and the Michigan Open
Meetings Act.
Two clearly basic protections
for citizens that ought to be "county law 101" for EVERY attorney
paid with public funds.
As The Muskegon Chronicle reported
"several county commissioners made it clear they were not admitting any
wrongdoing by conducting the closed session involving a legal opinion."
The county attorney in
question, steadfastly denied, in both verbal and written communication to the
litigants, that the county was innocent of all allegations.
Unfortunately, the county
violated both laws.
Only when the case was to go to
sworn depositions that would lead to a full trial, did the county admit to the
violations and offer to settle.
The county commission belatedly
and ultimately admitted guilt, settled and paid damages. (I have a copy of that
settlement).
Last wek, commissioner Bob
Scolnik proudly told the board that he was comfortable with the current
attorney who "does a good job of staying out of politics".
Too bad neither Scolnik nor the
rest of the county board seem to care as much about the quality of advice when
the rights of the county's citizens are at risk.
The entire meeting is available
at EyeOnMuskegon.com ( http://muskegontaxpayers.blogspot.com/2013/01/2013-1-22-ways-means.html)
Colorado law enforcement grapples with reality of legal pot
Colorado law enforcement grapples with reality of legal pot | The Daily Caller
"Amendment 64 not only protects legal growers from arrest, but also from asset seizure, meaning that if a defendant later proves his growing operation complied with the law, cops are liable for any plants they may have seized.
In practice, the rule would mean that police departments would have to care for the plants and return them if a defendant prevails in court."
"Amendment 64 not only protects legal growers from arrest, but also from asset seizure, meaning that if a defendant later proves his growing operation complied with the law, cops are liable for any plants they may have seized.
In practice, the rule would mean that police departments would have to care for the plants and return them if a defendant prevails in court."
Menendez drained more than 1/3 of bank account in January to pay for past Dominican Republic travel
Menendez drained more than 1/3 of bank account in January to pay for past Dominican Republic travel | The Daily Caller
"A check that Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez wrote to his longtime campaign donor Dr. Salomon Melgen on Jan. 4 to cover private jet travel to the Dominican Republic represented more than one-third of his cash-on-hand — and perhaps as much as 90 percent — according to an analysis of his most recent U.S. Senate financial disclosure report."
"A check that Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez wrote to his longtime campaign donor Dr. Salomon Melgen on Jan. 4 to cover private jet travel to the Dominican Republic represented more than one-third of his cash-on-hand — and perhaps as much as 90 percent — according to an analysis of his most recent U.S. Senate financial disclosure report."
$100K Teachers? Unions Are Standing In the Way
$100K Teachers? Unions Are Standing In the Way [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
Charles Owens, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, said there are teachers in public schools worth $100,000 or more.
"But the current school system doesn't reward that kind of achievement," Owens said.
"It rewards bureaucracy and sloth and tenure. …
We won't measure performance.
We won't measure standards.
We just think they should make $100,000 a year because it is the right thing to do.
It will attract people.
No doubt about that.
And given the current structure of public education where pay is how long you stick around and not performance, I think it would get a lot of people — I wouldn't be so sure about the qualified part."
Charles Owens, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, said there are teachers in public schools worth $100,000 or more.
"But the current school system doesn't reward that kind of achievement," Owens said.
"It rewards bureaucracy and sloth and tenure. …
We won't measure performance.
We won't measure standards.
We just think they should make $100,000 a year because it is the right thing to do.
It will attract people.
No doubt about that.
And given the current structure of public education where pay is how long you stick around and not performance, I think it would get a lot of people — I wouldn't be so sure about the qualified part."
ObamaCare´s Broken Promises
Lucianne.com News Forum - Thread:
"The "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2011" is surely one of the most misnamed pieces of legislation ever to become law.
The only part of that title that is anywhere near reality is the date "2011".
And even that is suspect, as various versions of this monstrosity have been produced since probably the time of the Truman Administration.
Written in more or less its present form, it has been lying in a desk drawer until the opportune time to pull it out came along.
No other part of that title even applies."
"The "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2011" is surely one of the most misnamed pieces of legislation ever to become law.
The only part of that title that is anywhere near reality is the date "2011".
And even that is suspect, as various versions of this monstrosity have been produced since probably the time of the Truman Administration.
Written in more or less its present form, it has been lying in a desk drawer until the opportune time to pull it out came along.
No other part of that title even applies."
Detroit mayoral candidate Lisa Howze to air Super Bowl ad to promote campaign, city's 'brighter future'
Detroit mayoral candidate Lisa Howze to air Super Bowl ad to promote campaign, city's 'brighter future' | MLive.com
"Howze faces stiff competition from Sheriff Benny Napolean and former DMC CEO Mike Duggan, who both have clear intentions of running, though neither have held official announcements.
State Rep. Fred Durhal, Jr. is also running, though his campaign has so far been relatively quiet.
Mayor Dave Bing has not yet said whether or not he'll seek re-election.
Other high-profile figures rumored as potential candidates include City Council President Charles Pugh, ousted Corporation Counsel Krystal Crittendon and outspoken attorney Geoffrey Fieger."
"Howze faces stiff competition from Sheriff Benny Napolean and former DMC CEO Mike Duggan, who both have clear intentions of running, though neither have held official announcements.
State Rep. Fred Durhal, Jr. is also running, though his campaign has so far been relatively quiet.
Mayor Dave Bing has not yet said whether or not he'll seek re-election.
Other high-profile figures rumored as potential candidates include City Council President Charles Pugh, ousted Corporation Counsel Krystal Crittendon and outspoken attorney Geoffrey Fieger."
Navy cuts up $277M minesweeper
Navy cuts up $277M minesweeper | Washington Free Beacon
The $277 million USS Guardian, a Naval warship that clears waterways of mines, crashed into a coral reef near the Philippines earlier this month.
The Navy will disassemble it piece by piece in order to avoid damaging the reef rather than tow the multi-million dollar ship off of the reef and perform necessary repairs.
“Our only supportable option is to dismantle the damaged ship and remove it in sections,” Capt. Darryn James, a spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, was quoted as saying Tuesday by the Military Times.
One Navy source criticized decision makers for deliberately destroying the expensive warship just weeks before devastating cuts to the defense budget are scheduled to take place.
“Boneheaded decision making on the way into the reef and boneheaded decision making on the way out,” said the source, who requested anonymity so as not to be seen criticizing the Navy. “It’s amazing how we can find ways to spend more money we don’t have on the eve of sequestration.”
It remains unclear how much the cleanup operation will cost U.S. taxpayers.
It is believed the ship crashed into the reef due to the use of flawed maps.
“The U.S. Navy also revealed Jan. 18 that the digital navigational chart in use by the Guardian misplaced the correct location of the reef by about eight nautical miles,” the Military Times reported.
The $277 million USS Guardian, a Naval warship that clears waterways of mines, crashed into a coral reef near the Philippines earlier this month.
The Navy will disassemble it piece by piece in order to avoid damaging the reef rather than tow the multi-million dollar ship off of the reef and perform necessary repairs.
“Our only supportable option is to dismantle the damaged ship and remove it in sections,” Capt. Darryn James, a spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, was quoted as saying Tuesday by the Military Times.
One Navy source criticized decision makers for deliberately destroying the expensive warship just weeks before devastating cuts to the defense budget are scheduled to take place.
“Boneheaded decision making on the way into the reef and boneheaded decision making on the way out,” said the source, who requested anonymity so as not to be seen criticizing the Navy. “It’s amazing how we can find ways to spend more money we don’t have on the eve of sequestration.”
It remains unclear how much the cleanup operation will cost U.S. taxpayers.
It is believed the ship crashed into the reef due to the use of flawed maps.
“The U.S. Navy also revealed Jan. 18 that the digital navigational chart in use by the Guardian misplaced the correct location of the reef by about eight nautical miles,” the Military Times reported.
STUDY: New E15 Gas Can Ruin Auto Engines.
Instapundit » Blog Archive » STUDY: New E15 Gas Can Ruin Auto Engines.
"STUDY: New E15 Gas Can Ruin Auto Engines.
“In 2010 and 2011, EPA gave the green light to use E15 – the 15 percent ethanol gasoline blend – in model-year-2001-and-later cars and some other vehicles.
EPA’s action was irresponsible.
EPA knew E15 vehicle testing was ongoing but decided not to wait for the results.
Why did EPA move forward prematurely?
Part of the answer may be the need to raise the permissible concentration level of ethanol so that greater volumes could be used, as required by the federal Renewable Fuel Standard.
Most gasoline sold today is an E10 blend, but rising volume requirements under the law can’t be met much longer without going to higher blends.”
Reader Bill Richmond emails: “Feds are pushing E15, not because of green fantasies about E15 itself, but because the existing formulas (mostly E10) weren’t using enough ethanol to meet the mandated amount of ethanol use.
Central planning failures always lead to more central planning.
It’s a beautiful thing.
Well, not really.”
Except for central planners."
"STUDY: New E15 Gas Can Ruin Auto Engines.
“In 2010 and 2011, EPA gave the green light to use E15 – the 15 percent ethanol gasoline blend – in model-year-2001-and-later cars and some other vehicles.
EPA’s action was irresponsible.
EPA knew E15 vehicle testing was ongoing but decided not to wait for the results.
Why did EPA move forward prematurely?
Part of the answer may be the need to raise the permissible concentration level of ethanol so that greater volumes could be used, as required by the federal Renewable Fuel Standard.
Most gasoline sold today is an E10 blend, but rising volume requirements under the law can’t be met much longer without going to higher blends.”
Reader Bill Richmond emails: “Feds are pushing E15, not because of green fantasies about E15 itself, but because the existing formulas (mostly E10) weren’t using enough ethanol to meet the mandated amount of ethanol use.
Central planning failures always lead to more central planning.
It’s a beautiful thing.
Well, not really.”
Except for central planners."
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