Saturday, February 04, 2017
History for February 4
History for February 4 - On-This-Day.com:
Charles Lindbergh 1902, Rosa Parks 1913, George A. Romero 1940
David Brenner 1945, Dan Quayle 1947, Alice Cooper 1948 - Singer, musician
1789 - Electors unanimously chose George Washington to be the first president of the United States.
1824 - J.W. Goodrich introduced rubber galoshes to the public.
1861 - Delegates from six southern states met in Montgomery, AL, to form the Confederate States of America.
1904 - The Russo-Japanese War began after Japan laid siege to Port Arthur.
1932 - The first Winter Olympics were held in the United States at Lake Placid, NY.
1957 - Smith-Corona Manufacturing Inc., of New York, began selling portable electric typewriters. The first machine weighed 19 pounds.
1974 - Patricia (Patty) Hearst was kidnapped in Berkeley, CA, by the Symbionese Liberation Army.
2004 - The social networking website Facebook.com was launched.
Friday, February 03, 2017
Americans Should Not Have to Subsidize Campus Lawlessness
Americans Should Not Have to Subsidize Campus Lawlessness:
"In 1964, students at the University of California, Berkeley joined together to fight for their right to free speech.
Last night, a group of over 1,500 protestors showed up on that same campus to shut down a speaker with whom they disagreed, and about 150 of them started a riot.
Clearly, the culture of tolerance on college campuses has changed quite a bit since 1964."
Last night, a group of over 1,500 protestors showed up on that same campus to shut down a speaker with whom they disagreed, and about 150 of them started a riot.
Clearly, the culture of tolerance on college campuses has changed quite a bit since 1964."
Public Radio’s incomplete story on Aspen’s taxpayer-subsidized housing
Beaton: Public Radio’s incomplete story on Aspen’s taxpayer-subsidized housing | AspenTimes.com: "Taxpayer-subsidized Colorado Public Radio likes taxpayer subsidies.I know from personal experience that they even like Aspen’s taxpayer-subsidized housing program, where residents making as much as $186,000 receive million-dollar houses for dimes on the dollar.
...story was broadcast on Colorado Public Radio last week, is reproduced on its website and was circulated on social media.
The gist of his story is that the taxpayer-subsidized housing program is a success but needs more taxpayer money for more houses for more young people because the existing residents are aging and never move out. (Why would they?)
The article concluded that the program will become a taxpayer-subsidized retirement home unless the taxpayers cough up even more money.
That’s all true.
But the CPR piece failed to mention many other problems that I touched on in my conversation with the reporter and would have detailed in our follow-up conversation.
...The article contends that this is necessary because Aspen workers who don’t live in town spend “hours a day commuting in their cars.”
In point of fact, however, the commute from Basalt (a very nice town, even though it’s not Aspen) is about 25 minutes each way — which is about the average commute in America.
That drive from Basalt is through the scenic Roaring Fork Valley, not the commute over Interstate 25 in rush hour that Denver commuters routinely endure.
Alternatively, the bus from Basalt runs every 15 minutes.The bus stations are more like bus mansions.
They’re built of native stone with heated enclosures that cost $250,000 each. (No, that’s not a typo.)
The buses themselves are equipped with free Wi-Fi.
Residents of the taxpayer-subsidized housing notoriously fail to maintain them.
That’s because there’s no incentive to do so.
When they sell, after all, they get the same price set by the housing office regardless of whether the house is in perfect condition or falling down.
In fact, the city has determined that the homeowners’ association reserves are only 22 percent of what’s necessary.
The HOAs are now asking the city to make up the difference with additional taxpayer money.
For example, the residents of one project are threatening to sue the city because the taxpayer-subsidized stain on their taxpayer-subsidized decks is fading.
In another instance, a resident is complaining to the City Council that the sound insulation is defective because she hears her neighbor.
The $186,000 income cutoff for the program conveniently includes every city employee, top to bottom.
And indeed, lots of city employees live there.
A few years ago, four out of the five city council members lived there — including the mayor.
Fraud is rampant..."
Read on!
College pledges to hire professors based on skin color, mandates social-justice workshops
College pledges to hire professors based on skin color, mandates social-justice workshops - The College Fix:
"And a chief diversity officer to oversee it all
A women’s college is planning to hire new professors based on the color of their skin because of the “demonstrated benefits” of nonwhite faculty.
...After a year of deliberation, the Barnard College Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion released a set of draft recommendations last week with the aim of improving “representation, inclusion, and social justice” in the classroom and on campus.
Beyond hiring a new C-level official to oversee diversity efforts, the recommendations include mandatory social justice workshops for all community members and extra academic support specifically for racial minorities.
The effort is so expensive that Barnard, which is affiliated with Columbia University, will have to launch a new fundraising campaign to pull it off, as the recommendations acknowledge.
Everyone ‘will be expected to participate’..."
"And a chief diversity officer to oversee it all
...After a year of deliberation, the Barnard College Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion released a set of draft recommendations last week with the aim of improving “representation, inclusion, and social justice” in the classroom and on campus.
Beyond hiring a new C-level official to oversee diversity efforts, the recommendations include mandatory social justice workshops for all community members and extra academic support specifically for racial minorities.
The effort is so expensive that Barnard, which is affiliated with Columbia University, will have to launch a new fundraising campaign to pull it off, as the recommendations acknowledge.
Everyone ‘will be expected to participate’..."
Delaware inmates take four prison guards hostage, blame the whole situation on Trump – TheBlaze
Delaware inmates take four prison guards hostage, blame the whole situation on Trump – TheBlaze:
"According to KYW-TV, who obtained a copy of the audio, one of the inmates can be heard blaming the hostage situation on Trump, explaining the men were fearful after his election.
“We’re trying to explain our reasons for doing what we’re doing. Donald Trump, everything that he did, all the things that he’s doing now…We know that the institution’s gonna change for the worse,” the inmate said. He did not name any specific actions from Trump that led the inmates to conclude that."
"According to KYW-TV, who obtained a copy of the audio, one of the inmates can be heard blaming the hostage situation on Trump, explaining the men were fearful after his election.
“We’re trying to explain our reasons for doing what we’re doing. Donald Trump, everything that he did, all the things that he’s doing now…We know that the institution’s gonna change for the worse,” the inmate said. He did not name any specific actions from Trump that led the inmates to conclude that."
Martin Armstrong Warns "We Are Getting Generationally Dumber!"
Martin Armstrong Warns "We Are Getting Generationally Dumber!" | Zero Hedge"Recent studies are discovering that each generation is becoming increasingly stupid.
A study from Iceland has highlighted a downward spiral in human intelligence.
The genetics firm in Reykjavik found that groups of genes that predispose people to spend more years in education became a little rarer in the country from 1910 to 1975.
The sample size was more than 100,000 Icelanders.
They found a slight decline over the 65-year period...
The genetics firm in Reykjavik found that groups of genes that predispose people to spend more years in education became a little rarer in the country from 1910 to 1975.
The sample size was more than 100,000 Icelanders.
They found a slight decline over the 65-year period...
"The cumulative effect over time means this is going to have a dramatic effect on the genetic predisposition to educational attainment, and unless something comes along to counteract that, it could have a profound effect on educational attainment in our society,"
There may be another explanation for this trend.
The more affluent a society becomes, several factors unleash.
The birthrate declines sharply, for as people become wealthier, women prefer not to have children.
The poorest cultures have the greatest number of births because children take care of their parents.
...The more affluent a society becomes, the lower the birthrate.
The more affluent a society becomes, several factors unleash.
The birthrate declines sharply, for as people become wealthier, women prefer not to have children.
The poorest cultures have the greatest number of births because children take care of their parents.
...The more affluent a society becomes, the lower the birthrate.
The next side effect is intelligence.
...The wealthier a society becomes, the more we are relieved of basic skills.
The less we do with our hands, the less coordination we develop, and intelligence diminishes which contributes to the fall of empires, nations, and city-states."
...The wealthier a society becomes, the more we are relieved of basic skills.
The less we do with our hands, the less coordination we develop, and intelligence diminishes which contributes to the fall of empires, nations, and city-states."
Global epidemic of blindness on the horizon, study says
Global epidemic of blindness on the horizon, study says | Daily Mail Online:
'Global epidemic of blindness' on the horizon, experts warn: Hours spent staring at screens 'will rob millions of their sight decades early'
'Global epidemic of blindness' on the horizon, experts warn: Hours spent staring at screens 'will rob millions of their sight decades early'
- High energy light from digital screens is damaging our retinas, a new study says
- Damage to the retinas - the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye - is the biggest cause of central blindness
- Experts say it is now 'clearer than ever' that we are facing a new global epidemic
- But using a filter over screens can prevent further damage, researchers claim
Staring at digital screens for several hours can cause irreversible damage to the retinas, potentially leading to central blindness, a new study claims.
Noon-toon-----DON'T TRIGGER ME! - New flag for Safe Space Cadets
DON'T TRIGGER ME! - New flag for Safe Space Cadets:
"So that the Safe Space Cadets will not be unequal in their kultural wealth, I have created a new, politically-korrekt version of the (in)famous Gadsden Flag (*ptooey*). It will be raised every time there is a call to "arms" (for hugging).
I haven't quite figured out yet what this flag should be called. The Thinskin Flag? The Hasbeen Flag? This most humble Kommisar welcomes the contributions of the most equal masses for thechristening dedication of this new symbol of hatred wussiness lameness revolutionary zeal!"
"So that the Safe Space Cadets will not be unequal in their kultural wealth, I have created a new, politically-korrekt version of the (in)famous Gadsden Flag (*ptooey*). It will be raised every time there is a call to "arms" (for hugging).
I haven't quite figured out yet what this flag should be called. The Thinskin Flag? The Hasbeen Flag? This most humble Kommisar welcomes the contributions of the most equal masses for the
United Arab Emirates' Officials Praise U.S. President Donald Trump's Moratorium
United Arab Emirates' Officials Praise U.S. President Donald Trump's Moratorium:
"The foreign minister to the United Arab Emirates, a Muslim-dominant country that borders Saudi Arabia and Oman, has come out in defense of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recently enacted moratorium on immigration from terror-prone nations.
“The United States has taken a decision that is within the American sovereign decision,” foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan reportedly said during a press conference Wednesday alongside his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.
“There are attempts to give the impression that this decision is directed against a particular religion, but what proves this talk to be incorrect first is what the U.S. administration itself says … that this decision is not directed at a certain religion.”"
"The foreign minister to the United Arab Emirates, a Muslim-dominant country that borders Saudi Arabia and Oman, has come out in defense of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recently enacted moratorium on immigration from terror-prone nations.
“The United States has taken a decision that is within the American sovereign decision,” foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan reportedly said during a press conference Wednesday alongside his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.
“There are attempts to give the impression that this decision is directed against a particular religion, but what proves this talk to be incorrect first is what the U.S. administration itself says … that this decision is not directed at a certain religion.”"
Be Careful What You Wish For (especially if it is Hitler...)
Be Careful What You Wish For (especially if it is... | Scott Adams' Blog:
"As a trained persuader, I’m seeing a dangerous situation forming that I assume is invisible to most of you.
The setup is that during the presidential campaign Trump’s critics accused him of being Hitler(ish) and they were sure other citizens would see it too, thus preventing this alleged monster from taking office.
They were wrong.
The alleged monster took office.
Now you have literally millions of citizens in the United States who were either right about Trump being the next Hitler, and we will see that behavior emerge from him soon, or they are complete morons.
That’s a trigger for cognitive dissonance.
The science says these frightened folks will start interpreting all they see as Hitler behavior no matter how ridiculous it might seem to the objective observer.
And sure enough, we are seeing that...
...But lately I get the feeling that Trump’s critics have evolved from expecting Trump to be Hitler to preferring it.
Obviously they don’t prefer it in a conscious way.
But the alternative to Trump becoming Hitler is that they have to live out the rest of their lives as confirmed morons.
No one wants to be a confirmed moron.
...It’s a threat to their egos.
A big one..."
Read on!
"As a trained persuader, I’m seeing a dangerous situation forming that I assume is invisible to most of you.
They were wrong.
The alleged monster took office.
Now you have literally millions of citizens in the United States who were either right about Trump being the next Hitler, and we will see that behavior emerge from him soon, or they are complete morons.
That’s a trigger for cognitive dissonance.
The science says these frightened folks will start interpreting all they see as Hitler behavior no matter how ridiculous it might seem to the objective observer.
And sure enough, we are seeing that...
...But lately I get the feeling that Trump’s critics have evolved from expecting Trump to be Hitler to preferring it.
Obviously they don’t prefer it in a conscious way.
But the alternative to Trump becoming Hitler is that they have to live out the rest of their lives as confirmed morons.
No one wants to be a confirmed moron.
...It’s a threat to their egos.
A big one..."
Read on!
Cornell branded student a sexual harasser for underwear theft with no evidence
Cornell branded student a sexual harasser for underwear theft with no evidence - The College Fix
What happens when you have no evidence to evaluate an allegation?
What happens when you have no evidence to evaluate an allegation?
Under Cornell policy, you judge the credibility of the accuser versus the accused, and hope you don’t get sued later.
The Cornell Daily Sun has a feature on the school’s sexual-misconduct policy, and whether Cornell is abiding by a recent revision of its text following a damning internal review of its “inequities” toward accused students the previous school year.
It opens with a doozy:
The Cornell Daily Sun has a feature on the school’s sexual-misconduct policy, and whether Cornell is abiding by a recent revision of its text following a damning internal review of its “inequities” toward accused students the previous school year.
It opens with a doozy:
Read on!When a Cornellian noticed that 10 undergarments were missing from her room, she claimed that she had been sexually harassed under Policy 6.4 — Cornell’s policies and guidelines for handling issues of discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault and violence.Based solely on her intuition, the student blamed one of her male classmates for the theft, according to a report drafted by Amanda Minikus J.D. ’15, the University’s Judicial Codes Counselor at the time.
The University’s investigator had “no evidence whatsoever to place the [male student] (or anyone else for that matter) at the scene of the theft,” according to the Minikus report. But somehow, the investigator determined that the female complainant was more credible than the male respondent. Then, using an evidentiary standard that places a low burden on the complainant, the University’s investigator — who was also the case’s adjudicator — deemed the male respondent guilty of sexual harassment. …Had the male student not appealed the decision and had the appellate panel not overturned the initial decision due to a lack of evidence, his Cornell transcript would have identified him as a sexual harasser for the rest of his life..."
Colorado lawmaker wants to let victims of crimes committed by immigrants sue politicians in “sanctuary cities”
Colorado lawmaker wants to let victims of crimes committed by immigrants sue politicians in “sanctuary cities” – The Denver Post:"A Republican state lawmaker on Monday announced a bill that would allow victims of certain crimes committed by immigrants in the country illegally to sue politicians who refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
The proposal, which has not yet been introduced, targets so-called “sanctuary cities” like Denver, Boulder and Aurora, where police and other officials have said they won’t enforce federal immigration laws.
“It’s beyond any reasonable thought as to why the Democrats, along with (Denver Mayor Michael Hancock), would continue to not only act outside the law, which they swore to uphold, but also enjoy immunity from their reckless decision to place Coloradans in danger because of the sanctuary city policies that they created and continue to implement,” Rep. Dave Williams, R-Colorado Springs, said in a news release announcing the bill..."
Obama Exposed For Allowing Muslim Brotherhood To Infiltrate Our Gov’t with a Plan To Destroy America | The Proud Conservative
Obama Exposed For Allowing Muslim Brotherhood To Infiltrate Our Gov’t with a Plan To Destroy America | The Proud Conservative:
"This is made abundantly clear in the “Muslim Brotherhood Plan for America” document that you are about to hear from. Brigitte Gabriel, President of ACT for America, absolutely destroys Barack Obama and exposes a little know fact about one particular Islamic organization operating right here inside the United States."
Who Will Pay for San Francisco's Tilting, Sinking Millennium Tower?
Who Will Pay for San Francisco's Tilting, Sinking Millennium Tower? - Bloomberg:
"...Nina Agabian, a retired director of research in global health science at the University of California, bought a 29th-floor apartment in San Francisco’s Millennium Tower in 2010.
...The building, which opened in 2008 and was touted as the most luxurious tower in San Francisco, became a beacon of the city’s burgeoning wealth, attracting tech millionaires, venture capitalists, and even the San Francisco 49ers retired quarterback Joe Montana.
The 58-story tower's shine faded on May 10, 2016, when Agabian attended a homeowners association meeting and was informed that the building had sunk 16 inches into the earth and tilted over 15 inches at its tip and 2 inches at the base, according to suits filed by residents and the city of San Francisco.
“You can imagine how distressed we were to know that, for one, our lifetime investment and savings are at risk,” she said.
“And we have no idea whether or not there’s a fix to it, and if there is a fix to it, what it will entail.”
The building, meanwhile, continues to sink.
As Agabian and more than 20 other residents file multiple lawsuits against the building’s developer, the city of San Francisco, and the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, another, potentially more ominous development has emerged.
...But according to experts, fixing whatever is causing the building to tilt could cost far more than that amount.
Further adding to residents' woes is that it's not even clear if coverage will be available under the liability policy: It might have been voided by the flaws in the building.
“I don't foresee a scenario where anyone writes a check under any policy,” said Sarah Sherman, the U.S. property practice leader at JLT Specialty USA, an insurance broker in San Francisco. “There's no way to avoid litigation at this point.”
It's possible, in other words, that homeowners already under water on their damaged real estate investments may have to cover millions in costs to repair the building.
And that's not even the extreme worst-case scenario—in 1989, some buildings on loose San Francisco soil collapsed during an earthquake.
The city has asked Millennium Partners for information on how much the building can further settle without compromising the building's stability and how it will perform during a quake.
In a letter dated January 13, 2017, MP declined to supply the city with that data, citing ongoing litigation and mediation..."
"...Nina Agabian, a retired director of research in global health science at the University of California, bought a 29th-floor apartment in San Francisco’s Millennium Tower in 2010.
...The building, which opened in 2008 and was touted as the most luxurious tower in San Francisco, became a beacon of the city’s burgeoning wealth, attracting tech millionaires, venture capitalists, and even the San Francisco 49ers retired quarterback Joe Montana.
“You can imagine how distressed we were to know that, for one, our lifetime investment and savings are at risk,” she said.
“And we have no idea whether or not there’s a fix to it, and if there is a fix to it, what it will entail.”
The building, meanwhile, continues to sink.
As Agabian and more than 20 other residents file multiple lawsuits against the building’s developer, the city of San Francisco, and the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, another, potentially more ominous development has emerged.
...But according to experts, fixing whatever is causing the building to tilt could cost far more than that amount.
Further adding to residents' woes is that it's not even clear if coverage will be available under the liability policy: It might have been voided by the flaws in the building.
“I don't foresee a scenario where anyone writes a check under any policy,” said Sarah Sherman, the U.S. property practice leader at JLT Specialty USA, an insurance broker in San Francisco. “There's no way to avoid litigation at this point.”
It's possible, in other words, that homeowners already under water on their damaged real estate investments may have to cover millions in costs to repair the building.
And that's not even the extreme worst-case scenario—in 1989, some buildings on loose San Francisco soil collapsed during an earthquake.
The city has asked Millennium Partners for information on how much the building can further settle without compromising the building's stability and how it will perform during a quake.
In a letter dated January 13, 2017, MP declined to supply the city with that data, citing ongoing litigation and mediation..."
History for February 3
History for February 3 - On-This-Day.com:
Horace Greeley 1811, Gertrude Stein 1874, Norman Rockwell 1894
James A. Michener 1907, Morgan Fairchild 1950, Nathan Lane 1956
1815 - The world's first commercial cheese factory was established in Switzerland.
1913 - The 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. It authorized the power to impose and collect income tax.
1927 - The Federal Radio Commission was created when U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signed a bill.
1941 - In Vichy, France, the Nazis used force to restore Pierre Laval to office.
1951 - Dick Button won the U.S. figure skating title for the sixth time.
1969 - At the Palestinian National Congress in Cairo, Yasser Arafat was appointed leader of the PLO.
1972 - The first Winter Olympics in Asia were held at Sapporo, Japan.
1998 - In Italy, a U.S. Military plane hit a cable causing the death of 20 skiers on a lift.
Thursday, February 02, 2017
Gorka: Flynn Sent a 'Deadly Clear' Message by Putting Iran 'On Notice' | Fox News Insider
Gorka: Flynn Sent a 'Deadly Clear' Message by Putting Iran 'On Notice' | Fox News Insider:
"He explained on "Hannity" tonight that White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn "putting Iran on notice" shows that there has been a significant shift from the policies of the Obama administration.
"We don’t have a national security team made up of 28-year-old grad school students who have degrees in fictional writing. We have a very serious national security team," Gorka said.
"We sent a very clear message," Gorka said. "
"We don’t have a national security team made up of 28-year-old grad school students who have degrees in fictional writing. We have a very serious national security team," Gorka said.
"We sent a very clear message," Gorka said. "
Dems are right, Gorsuch is 'hostile' to the liberal agenda. And the problem is ... ?
Dems are right, Gorsuch is 'hostile' to the liberal agenda. And the problem is ...?:
"Well, yeah. That was kind of the point.
The American people, the ones who gave Republicans governing majorities at the federal level and across the country, wanted something Pelosi would call “hostile.” And Gorsuch promises to be hostile, indeed. Hostile to the evisceration of the Constitution. Hostile to decades of bad jurisprudence that has made confetti out of our founding documents. Hostile to ever-increasing federal overreach. Hostile to the desecration of citizens and states’ sovereignty. And hostile the societal transformation without representation."
"Well, yeah. That was kind of the point.
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