Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Zawdie Abiade launches mayoral campaign unlike any seen in the city of Muskegon

Zawdie Abiade launches mayoral campaign unlike any seen in the city of Muskegon | MLive.com
"There is no doubt that Abiade’s campaign is going to shake up the political landscape in the city and throughout the county.
But it will be the city voters in November who will decide whether the 59-year-old Muskegon political newcomer will, in the candidate’s words, “make history” and “change” Michigan."

ELIMINATIONIST RHETORIC: Teachers union leader jokes about killing the rich.

Instapundit » Blog Archive » ELIMINATIONIST RHETORIC: Teachers union leader jokes about killing the rich.
"JANUARY 9, 2013
ELIMINATIONIST RHETORIC: Teachers union leader jokes about killing the rich.
But this is my favorite part:
“The thing is, [the rich] think nothing about killing us,” she said. “They think nothing about putting our people in harm’s way. They think nothing about lethal working conditions.”
She cited the fact that not all Chicago schools have air conditioning as evidence that the union’s opponents want teachers to work in dangerous conditions.
Well, that is dangerous when you’re morbidly obese, I guess. (See photo).
Plus this:
Lewis is no stranger to controversial comments. In the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting, she charged Teach for America with helping to “kill and disenfranchise children from schools across the nation.”
Nice to know that someone like this is playing a major role in America’s public education system."

Tuesday, January 08, 2013

Breast Cancer Screenings Cost Medicare $1 Billion Annually

Breast Cancer Screenings Cost Medicare $1 Billion Annually - ABC News
"Medicare spends almost as much money screening for breast cancer as it does treating it, according to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Breast cancer screenings cost Medicare $1.08 billion annually, lead researcher Dr. Cary Gross and his team at the Yale School of Medicine found.
Given that Medicare spends $1.36 billion a year on breast cancer treatment, Gross said he expected the screenings costs to be much lower."


Planned Parenthood reports record year for abortions

Planned Parenthood reports record year for abortions | WashingtonExaminer.com

Sunday, January 06, 2013

EyeOnMuskegon 1-6-2013


Renegade River Show-1-6-2012


Renegade River Show-1-6-2012


Stark Evidence of US, British Naval Decline

Blog: Stark Evidence of US, British Naval Decline
"The re-emergence of what used to called "privateers" (Sir Francis Drake is the most famous example from history) is the latest sign of outsourcing or abandonment of traditional military functions by Western nations whose militaries have contracted to pinpoint-size in the wake of the growth of the modern welfare state.
Private security and private armies -- again, once known to history as "mercenaries," are another aspect of this trend."

Question of the day: What would it take to get the Muskegon area pulling together?

Question of the day: What would it take to get the Muskegon area pulling together? | MLive.com

MichiganVotes.org Weekly Roll Call

December 27, 2012, MichiganVotes.org Weekly Roll Call [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
Individual legislators missed 2,234 votes in 2012, according to MichiganVotes.org 'Missed Votes Report'

Peg West: Our reader panel is a special Muskegon-area sounding board

Peg West: Our reader panel is a special Muskegon-area sounding board | MLive.com
One way we are doing that is through a local reader panel.
We started it last year, and like to switch it up about every six months.
Weplan to start with a new group in coming weeks.
The brainchild of our community engagement specialist, PaulaHolmes-Greeley, this panel of citizens agrees to be a sounding board for theissues of our day, and to react quickly when necessary to whatever may crop up.
They also are asked to make a special effort to participatein our comments section, and will do so by name.

County Prevailing Wage Law Could Add Millions To Taxpayer Costs

County Prevailing Wage Law Could Add Millions To Taxpayer Costs [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
On Dec. 13, Muskegon County Administrator Bonnie Hammersley told Michigan Capitol Confidential that she'd prefer the prevailing wage ordinance not apply to the jail project.
"My understanding is that if we don't have federal dollars in it, we don't need to use prevailing wage," Hammersley said.
"We won't use it unless we have to, because it’s an administrative burden. It adds to the cost."
Heath Kaplan, Muskegon County finance and management services director said the county’s prevailing wage ordinance would apply to the jail project.
Kaplan was asked if the ordinance would add $2 million or more to the project.
"That seems somewhat high to me," Kaplan said.
However, he said he wasn't certain of a better estimate.

Saturday, January 05, 2013

New Year, New Nannies: Concord, MA Bans Water Bottles

Cost of Government Center :: New Year, New Nannies: Concord, MA Bans Water Bottles
"Concord, MA, has set a new record for pointless government overreach after a ban on sales of plastic water bottles went into effect with the onset of the new year.
After three years of attempts to prevent Concord residents from choosing to hydrate themselves with fresh, filtered, unflavored, uncarbonated water - unless it’s sold in container larger than one liter – the bylaw was passed on April 26 last year and came into effect January 1, 2013. "


Self-Destruct Mode

LIBERTY REVIEW
Obama doesn’t have a problem shipping guns and war planes to the enemies of the United States.
He does however want the American people to give up their right to bear arms.
Obama is arming our enemies while trying his very best to disarm American citizens.

Brrr! China's coldest winter in decades at new low

News from The Associated Press
China Meteorological Administration on Friday said the national average was -3.8 degrees Celsius (25 degrees Fahrenheit) since late November, the coldest in nearly three decades.

Longer expiration date, no inactivity fees add to gift card boom

Longer expiration date, no inactivity fees add to gift card boom | Business | Detroit City And Press
Prior to 2008, if a gift card went unclaimed past its expiration date, the retailer was required to report it as abandoned and the money went to the state as unclaimed property, Hallan said.
After 2008, laws said the gift cards no longer can have expiration dates of less than five years.
In addition, the retailers can't change the terms and conditions during that time period and can't charge inactivity fees or service fees, although Hallan said there can still be an activation fee.
In addition, retailers — not the state — retains the money if cards go unused for longer than five years.
"It's kind of a win-win for consumers and retailers," Hallan said.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130105/BIZ/301050328#ixzz2H8rRMhrW

At 27, David Flynn is youngest chair of Macomb County Board of Commissioners

At 27, David Flynn is youngest chair of Macomb County Board of Commissioners | Crain's Detroit Business
Flynn, a member of Crain's 2010 class of 20 in their 20s, was the executive director of "Charter = County Executive," which collected 35,000 signatures to establish a county executive form of government with a reduced number of commissioners.
The charter form of government, approved in 2009 by voters, cut the number of commissioners from 26 to 13.

12 Detroit homes accidentally demolished

12 Detroit homes accidentally demolished | Crain's Detroit Business
The Detroit News reported that the structure had been demolished by the state's Land Bank Fast Track Authority as part of a program to eliminate blight near three schools.
City official Karla Henderson said at least 11 other properties also were demolished by mistake. They were purchased by a local investor.
City and state officials said mistakes like these are rare.

Migration study: Despite population gain, Michigan still losing more residents in moves to other states

Migration study: Despite population gain, Michigan still losing more residents in moves to other states | MLive.com
The estimates, released last month, indicate that Michigan's population grew in 2012 for the first time since 2004, inching upwards from 9,876,801 in 2011 to 9,883,360.
Most of that growth was natural, as births outnumbered deaths.
But state demographer Ken Darga attributed some of the gains to shifting migration patterns, noting that increased international immigration is offsetting continued domestic losses.
Michigan was the only state to lose population between the 2000 and 2010 Census.

Desperate Spain Raids Pension Fund

Desperate Spain Raids Pension Fund | Via Meadia
“Most of the [Spanish] fund is an accounting trick,” said Javier Díaz-Giménez, an economics professor in Spain’s IESE business school.
“The government is lending money to another branch of government.” .
[S]ome analysts say Spain will have trouble finding buyers for the estimated €207 billion in debt it plans to issue in 2013, up from €186 billion in 2012, to cover central-government operations, debt maturities of 17 regional administrations, and overdue energy bills.