BOW NOT promises to oppose plans for a Whitehall Township Wal-Mart, calls for April 24 protest | MLive.com:
"The opponents have created a group called Back Off Walmart – Not Our Town, which goes by BOW NOT. The group has created a Facebook page and used a Change.org website petition which has received more than 900 “signatures” from across the country asking that plans for a Whitehall Township Wal-Mart be rejected.
A pro-Wal-Mart in Whitehall Township petition on change.org has 26 signatures.
But when it comes to more traditional protest, BOW NOT will be playing that game as well.
The group has asked Wal-Mart opponents to gather Wednesday, April 24, at 6:30 p.m. for a rally at the Whitehall Township Hall, 7644 Durham Road, before the 7 p.m. special Whitehall Township Planning Commission meeting."
Saturday, April 20, 2013
In residential real estate, bid farewell to the 'master bedroom'
In residential real estate, bid farewell to the 'master bedroom' - Baltimore Business Journal:
The “master suite” is being phased out — not from our homes, but from our lexicon.
A survey of 10 major Washington, D.C.-area homebuilders found that six no longer use the term “master” in
their floor plans to describe the largest bedroom in the house. They have replaced it with “owner’s suite” or
“owner’s bedroom” or, in one case, “mastre bedroom.”
Why? In large part for exactly the reason you would think: “Master” has connotation problems, in gender (it
skews toward male) and race (the slave-master).
Enter the owner's suite.4/19/13 Inresidential real estate, bidfarewell tothe'master bedroom' - BaltimoreBusiness Journal
m.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2013/04/16/homebuilders-scrap-racist.html?r=full 2/3
“I imagine it’s not only a more accurate description but also a more politically correct term of art,” said Steve
Nardella, senior vice president of operations for Bethesda-based Winchester Homes Inc.
Either way, the “master suite” has been linguistically shoved aside.
Winchester, Pulte Homes, NV Homes and Ryan Homes (both under the NVR Inc. umbrella), Van Metre Cos.
and D.R. Horton Inc. have allreplaced “master” in their floor plans, some more recently than others.
Richmond American Homes, Shulz Homes Corp. Sekas Homes Ltd. (in some of its models) and Quaker
Custom Homes LLC continue to employ the word “master” in their designs.
In general, said Grant Johnson of Sekas Homes, “we’re using owner suite, but sometimes it will come through as
master.”
Over time, “master” will be filtered out entirely, he said. The change is “just working through the industry, and
finally, bingo, we got it.”
Randy Creaser, owner of D.C.’s Creaser/O’Brien Architects PC, said he ditched “master” in the early 1990s in
his home designs. He vaguely recalled a few lawsuits brought against builders over the phrase. Pulte
spokeswoman Valerie Dolenga said Pulte made the shift maybe three or four years ago.
The “master suite” is being phased out — not from our homes, but from our lexicon.
A survey of 10 major Washington, D.C.-area homebuilders found that six no longer use the term “master” in
their floor plans to describe the largest bedroom in the house. They have replaced it with “owner’s suite” or
“owner’s bedroom” or, in one case, “mastre bedroom.”
Why? In large part for exactly the reason you would think: “Master” has connotation problems, in gender (it
skews toward male) and race (the slave-master).
Enter the owner's suite.4/19/13 Inresidential real estate, bidfarewell tothe'master bedroom' - BaltimoreBusiness Journal
m.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2013/04/16/homebuilders-scrap-racist.html?r=full 2/3
“I imagine it’s not only a more accurate description but also a more politically correct term of art,” said Steve
Nardella, senior vice president of operations for Bethesda-based Winchester Homes Inc.
Either way, the “master suite” has been linguistically shoved aside.
Winchester, Pulte Homes, NV Homes and Ryan Homes (both under the NVR Inc. umbrella), Van Metre Cos.
and D.R. Horton Inc. have allreplaced “master” in their floor plans, some more recently than others.
Richmond American Homes, Shulz Homes Corp. Sekas Homes Ltd. (in some of its models) and Quaker
Custom Homes LLC continue to employ the word “master” in their designs.
In general, said Grant Johnson of Sekas Homes, “we’re using owner suite, but sometimes it will come through as
master.”
Over time, “master” will be filtered out entirely, he said. The change is “just working through the industry, and
finally, bingo, we got it.”
Randy Creaser, owner of D.C.’s Creaser/O’Brien Architects PC, said he ditched “master” in the early 1990s in
his home designs. He vaguely recalled a few lawsuits brought against builders over the phrase. Pulte
spokeswoman Valerie Dolenga said Pulte made the shift maybe three or four years ago.
Detroit EM Kevyn Orr letter could indicate end to collective bargaining with unions
Detroit EM Kevyn Orr letter could indicate end to collective bargaining with unions | MLive.com:
Unions in general are at odds with the 2012 emergency manager law that empowers state-appointed officials to trump and unilaterally amend existing bargaining agreements.
Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr on Thursday issued a letter to state labor officials saying he has no obligation to collaborative bargaining or arbitration, which some speculate could be a hint that he intends to circumvent traditional bargaining mechanisms and make changes to the pay and benefits of Detroit employees with or without their consent, Reuters reports (full story).
"It's obvious what they're trying to do," Dan McNamara, president of the firefighters' unions, told Reuters. "They don't plan to negotiate with us."
Days after Orr took office, a federal lawsuit was filed challenging the sweeping emergency manager powers.It's Orr's intention to restructure the city's budget and expenses to ensure it doesn't go bankrupt.
Detroit is running a $100 million annual budget deficit and has $14 billion in long-term debt. There are nearly 50 unions that contract with the city.
"Everything is on the table," Orr said when he was appointed March 17. "I hope to be inclusive... I am going to make decisions and move forward."
Lawmakers Call for Abolishing ‘Corruption-Infested’ Pennsylvania Turnpike
Lawmakers Call for Abolishing ‘Corruption-Infested’ Pennsylvania Turnpike | Heartlander Magazine:
"Pennsylvania has two transportation agencies.
One controls more than 40,000 miles of state roads and 25,000 bridges, and another maintains 545 miles of tolled highway.
The former has seven executives, one for every 5,857 miles of roadway; the latter nine executives, one for every 60 miles of roadway.
For a group of Republican lawmakers, this doesn’t add up, especially when one of those agencies was the subject of a 44-month long grand jury investigation over alleged bid-rigging."
"Pennsylvania has two transportation agencies.
One controls more than 40,000 miles of state roads and 25,000 bridges, and another maintains 545 miles of tolled highway.
The former has seven executives, one for every 5,857 miles of roadway; the latter nine executives, one for every 60 miles of roadway.
For a group of Republican lawmakers, this doesn’t add up, especially when one of those agencies was the subject of a 44-month long grand jury investigation over alleged bid-rigging."
Snyder defends secret project to reform education system
Snyder defends secret project to reform education system | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com
Gov. Rick Snyder on Friday defended his administration's involvement in a secret project that is trying to develop a cheaper way to deliver public education through a voucher-like funding system.
The education reform advisory team's existence had been secret until The Detroit News reported Friday about a months-long "skunk works" project to design a new "value school" that costs $5,000 per child annually to operate — $2,000 less than the state's minimum per-pupil funding. The group includes employees of software companies, charter school advocates and five state employees.
"There's people in the executive branch and any parts of government, actually in the general community, that get together and try to come up with new ideas and try to innovate and bring those ideas forward," Snyder told reporters Friday after the 14th annual Leadership Luncheon at the Renaissance Center in Detroit.
"That's what I would view a group like that — just working together to say they want to come up with new ideas and throw them out there. That's how you come up with new ideas. Most of them don't go anywhere, but you don't want to discourage people from trying and being creative."
Add Boston Marathon Bombing to pile of Failed Eliminationist Narratives
Add Boston Marathon Bombing to pile of Failed Eliminationist Narratives - Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion:
It started with Bill Sparkman, the part-time Census worker who went missing and then was found dead, setting off an avalanche of mainstream media and left-blogosphere accusations that he was the victim of anti-government “right-wing” hate. It turned out that Sparkman killed himself, but there were few if any apologies coming.
The Sparkman accusations were based on nothing more than a desire to demonize the newly formed and rapidly growing Tea Party movement as terrorists and un-American. It was as if theywere hoping for an act of Tea Party violence.
Yet there was a theory behind the madness, the Eliminationist Narrative created by Dave Neiwart of Crooks and Liars about an “eliminationist” radical right seeking to dehumanize and eliminate political opposition. It was a play on the over-used narrative of Richard Hofstadter’s “paranoid style” in American politics.
The Eliminationist Narrative was aided and abetted by an abuse of the term “right-wing” to include groups who are the opposite of conservatism and the Tea Party movement.
In the case of Sparkman, the accusations were just Another Failed Eliminationist Narrative. And the Eliminationist Narrative would fail time and time again:
- James Holmes
- Jared Loughner
- The Cabby Stabber
- The “killer” of Bill Sparkman
- Amy Bishop
- The Fort Hood Shooter
- The IRS Plane Crasher
- The Pentagon Shooter
We can now add the Boston Marathon Bombing to the pile. The wild speculation that there was a Tea Party or “right-wing” connection proved false
Muskegon man shot at, home struck by gunfire in early morning shooting
Muskegon man shot at, home struck by gunfire in early morning shooting | MLive.com:
"The shooting incident occurred as two subjects were walking toward the victim.
One of the subjects was armed and fired several shots in the victim's direction, police said."
"The shooting incident occurred as two subjects were walking toward the victim.
One of the subjects was armed and fired several shots in the victim's direction, police said."
4 shot in basement in Ohio
4 shot in basement in Ohio - UPI.com:
"Four people were found shot in the head in the basement of a townhouse in an Akron, Ohio, public housing complex on Thursday, according to police.
A friend found the bodies shortly before 3 p.m., after entering the home and seeing signs of something amiss, reports NBC News.
All four appeared to be shot in the head execution style."
"Four people were found shot in the head in the basement of a townhouse in an Akron, Ohio, public housing complex on Thursday, according to police.
A friend found the bodies shortly before 3 p.m., after entering the home and seeing signs of something amiss, reports NBC News.
All four appeared to be shot in the head execution style."
Friday, April 19, 2013
Massive University of Wisconsin Slush Fund Discovered
BREAKING NEWS - Massive University of Wisconsin Slush Fund Discovered - Right Wisconsin - Conservative politics and perspective powered by Charlie Sykes:
"UPDATE: From a Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo confirming the existence of the massive UW Slush Fund:
The UW System had a tuition balance of $414.1 million as of June 30, 2012.
By comparison, the UW System's tuition balance was $212.8 million as of June 30, 2009.
During this time period, base resident undergraduate tuition increased by 5.5% annually.
It should be noted that the UW System's tuition balance increased significantly at the same time that the UW System has been subject to significant GPR funding reductions and lapses.
While the University of Wisconsin has been raising tuition and clamoring for more taxpayer support they have been stockpiling hundreds of millions of dollars in unspent tuition and federal grant monies.
Sources in Madison familiar with the discovery tell RightWisconsin that the total of non earmarked funds in the massive UW Slush Fund is at least $450 million."
"UPDATE: From a Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo confirming the existence of the massive UW Slush Fund:
The UW System had a tuition balance of $414.1 million as of June 30, 2012.
By comparison, the UW System's tuition balance was $212.8 million as of June 30, 2009.
During this time period, base resident undergraduate tuition increased by 5.5% annually.
It should be noted that the UW System's tuition balance increased significantly at the same time that the UW System has been subject to significant GPR funding reductions and lapses.
While the University of Wisconsin has been raising tuition and clamoring for more taxpayer support they have been stockpiling hundreds of millions of dollars in unspent tuition and federal grant monies.
Sources in Madison familiar with the discovery tell RightWisconsin that the total of non earmarked funds in the massive UW Slush Fund is at least $450 million."
Oops! Feds Underestimate Court Project by $2 Billion
Oops! Feds Underestimate Court Project by $2 Billion | Judicial Watch:
"For example the Federal Judiciary told Congress that 12 courthouse projects would cost around $1 billion when in fact it will take a whopping $3.2 billion to finish the job.
This means that the project masters likely planned to squeeze the extra $2.2 billion out of Congress mid construction, when lawmakers had little choice but to allocate the funds for completion.
The audit, conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), flat out says that the document the judiciary uses to request money for courthouse construction projects “lacks transparency and key information” about their “cost.”
"For example the Federal Judiciary told Congress that 12 courthouse projects would cost around $1 billion when in fact it will take a whopping $3.2 billion to finish the job.
This means that the project masters likely planned to squeeze the extra $2.2 billion out of Congress mid construction, when lawmakers had little choice but to allocate the funds for completion.
The audit, conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), flat out says that the document the judiciary uses to request money for courthouse construction projects “lacks transparency and key information” about their “cost.”
Unlike Boston, with Benghazi ...
Twitter / SharylAttkisson: Unlike Boston, with Benghazi ...:
Follow Sharyl Attkisson @SharylAttkisson
"Unlike Boston, with Benghazi the govt never released the promised surveillance video. And no suspects identified or arrests to date.
Reply Retweet Favorite More
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Joe Bua @JoeWatchesTV 1h
.@SharylAttkisson That's quite the fixation you have. You must be reading your email from Tea Party Express.
'via Blog this'
Follow Sharyl Attkisson @SharylAttkisson
"Unlike Boston, with Benghazi the govt never released the promised surveillance video. And no suspects identified or arrests to date.
Reply Retweet Favorite More
203
RETWEETS
27
FAVORITES
7:17 AM - 19 Apr 13
Joe Bua @JoeWatchesTV 1h
.@SharylAttkisson That's quite the fixation you have. You must be reading your email from Tea Party Express.
'via Blog this'
Boston Bomber Could Have Been Deported After 2009 Conviction
Boston Bomber Could Have Been Deported After 2009 Conviction | Judicial Watch:
"Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the 26-year-old killed in a wild shootout with police, was a legal U.S. resident who nevertheless could have been removed from the country after a 2009 domestic violence conviction, according to a Judicial Watch source.
That means the Obama administration missed an opportunity to deport Tsarnaev but evidently didn’t feel he represented a big enough threat.
Adding insult to injury, the other bomber, little brother Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was rewarded with American Citizenship on September 11, 2012 in Boston, according to JW’s source.
The 19-year-old, who is still on the run, was granted asylum in Arlington Virginia on September 27, 2002, JW’s source reveals."
"Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the 26-year-old killed in a wild shootout with police, was a legal U.S. resident who nevertheless could have been removed from the country after a 2009 domestic violence conviction, according to a Judicial Watch source.
That means the Obama administration missed an opportunity to deport Tsarnaev but evidently didn’t feel he represented a big enough threat.
Adding insult to injury, the other bomber, little brother Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was rewarded with American Citizenship on September 11, 2012 in Boston, according to JW’s source.
The 19-year-old, who is still on the run, was granted asylum in Arlington Virginia on September 27, 2002, JW’s source reveals."
Zombie foreclosure statistics scary
Zombie foreclosure statistics scary - chicagotribune.com:
"In a zombie foreclosure, the owner has gotten a foreclosure notice and subsequently packed up and moved, apparently thinking it's over — the banks will finish the job.
But many banks, for various reasons, haven't followed through with the rest of the process, and the homes languish in the absent homeowners' names.
And the homeowners, sometimes years later, find out they're still on the hook for property taxes.
There are about 302,000 "zombies," according to RealtyTrac, a housing data company that studies foreclosure activity."
"In a zombie foreclosure, the owner has gotten a foreclosure notice and subsequently packed up and moved, apparently thinking it's over — the banks will finish the job.
But many banks, for various reasons, haven't followed through with the rest of the process, and the homes languish in the absent homeowners' names.
And the homeowners, sometimes years later, find out they're still on the hook for property taxes.
There are about 302,000 "zombies," according to RealtyTrac, a housing data company that studies foreclosure activity."
Twitter feed suggests Boston Marathon terrorist was an Obama supporter
Twitter feed suggests Boston Marathon terrorist was an Obama supporter « Bob Owens
"Boston Marathon terrorist suspect Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev is still on the run, but his real Twitter feed @J_tsar has been discovered.
Most of it is the sort of superficial fluff you’d expect from someone his age, but he did make statements alluding to drug use, terrorist, and his political beliefs.
"Boston Marathon terrorist suspect Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev is still on the run, but his real Twitter feed @J_tsar has been discovered.
Most of it is the sort of superficial fluff you’d expect from someone his age, but he did make statements alluding to drug use, terrorist, and his political beliefs.
Here are some supportive retweets he made in the wake of Barack Obama’s reelection.
Excerpt from November Twitter feed of terrorist Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev.
They “are the ones we’ve been waiting for,” and they are both Islamic terrorists and leftists"
Excerpt from November Twitter feed of terrorist Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev.
They “are the ones we’ve been waiting for,” and they are both Islamic terrorists and leftists"
Detroit 3 may be exempted from vehicle fees for Regional Transit Authority
Detroit 3 may be exempted from vehicle fees for Regional Transit Authority | Detroit Free Press | freep.com
"Critics are blasting a bill that would exempt thousands of automakers’ test vehicles that drive metro Detroit’s roadways from potential taxes meant to pay for southeast Michigan’s new Regional Transit Authority before the effort gets off the ground.
A bill introduced in the state Senate this week would exempt up to 11,000-12,000 General Motors vehicles alone registered in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties from having to pay a tax that hasn’t been proposed yet.
Similar numbers for Ford and Chrysler weren’t immediately available."
"Critics are blasting a bill that would exempt thousands of automakers’ test vehicles that drive metro Detroit’s roadways from potential taxes meant to pay for southeast Michigan’s new Regional Transit Authority before the effort gets off the ground.
A bill introduced in the state Senate this week would exempt up to 11,000-12,000 General Motors vehicles alone registered in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties from having to pay a tax that hasn’t been proposed yet.
Similar numbers for Ford and Chrysler weren’t immediately available."
Cellphone Video of Shootout with Boston Bombers, and Did the Younger Brother Tweet Supporting Gun Control?
The PJ Tatler » Cellphone Video of Shootout with Boston Bombers, and Did the Younger Brother Tweet Supporting Gun Control?:
"UPDATE: According to BuzzFeed, Dzhokhar is a registered voter.
Update: Both were evidently registered voters.
Neither were/are citizens of the US."
"UPDATE: According to BuzzFeed, Dzhokhar is a registered voter.
Update: Both were evidently registered voters.
Neither were/are citizens of the US."
CISPA passes U.S. House: Death of the Fourth Amendment?
CISPA passes U.S. House: Death of the Fourth Amendment? | ZDNet:
"CISPA will allow private sector firms to search personal and sensitive user data of ordinary U.S. residents to identify "threat information," which can then be shared with other opt-in firms and the U.S. government — without the need for a court-ordered warrant.
This means a company like Facebook, Twitter, Google, or any other technology or telecoms company, including your cell service provider, would be legally able to hand over vast amounts of data to the U.S. government and its law enforcement — for whatever purpose it deems necessary — and face no legal reprisals.
And despite numerous amendments and changes, there are no requirements that personal data, such as health records or banking information, should be anonymized before sharing it with the government."
"CISPA will allow private sector firms to search personal and sensitive user data of ordinary U.S. residents to identify "threat information," which can then be shared with other opt-in firms and the U.S. government — without the need for a court-ordered warrant.
This means a company like Facebook, Twitter, Google, or any other technology or telecoms company, including your cell service provider, would be legally able to hand over vast amounts of data to the U.S. government and its law enforcement — for whatever purpose it deems necessary — and face no legal reprisals.
And despite numerous amendments and changes, there are no requirements that personal data, such as health records or banking information, should be anonymized before sharing it with the government."
Thursday, April 18, 2013
An Indecent Proposal That Just Might Solve the Primary Care Crisis: Meet the 35 Hour Work Week
An Indecent Proposal That Just Might Solve the Primary Care Crisis: Meet the 35 Hour Work Week |
The Health Care Blog: "Structuring the job of Medicare PCPs into a 35 hour work week would probably attract more clinicians to the job.
It would also help PCPs maintain the cognitive and emotional resources needed to do the job consistently well, and could reduce burnout in this group of key clinicians."
The Health Care Blog: "Structuring the job of Medicare PCPs into a 35 hour work week would probably attract more clinicians to the job.
It would also help PCPs maintain the cognitive and emotional resources needed to do the job consistently well, and could reduce burnout in this group of key clinicians."
Former Muskegon Community College cashier charged with embezzling nearly $4,000
Former Muskegon Community College cashier charged with embezzling nearly $4,000 | MLive.com:
"According to Senior Assistant Muskegon County Prosecutor Matt Roberts, Boucher’s employers became suspicious when a bank deposit that should have been made, wasn’t.
Roberts said Boucher allegedly had been taking money from payments made to her at the college. "
"According to Senior Assistant Muskegon County Prosecutor Matt Roberts, Boucher’s employers became suspicious when a bank deposit that should have been made, wasn’t.
Roberts said Boucher allegedly had been taking money from payments made to her at the college. "
24 IRS workers in TN accused of theft
24 IRS workers in TN accused of theft | The Tennessean | tennessean.com:
"First it was the families of dead people and state employees.
Now, authorities say Internal Revenue Service employees in Tennessee were stealing unemployment and other benefits while fully employed.
On Thursday, 13 of those employees were indicted on federal charges that they lied to get unemployment, food stamps, welfare and housing vouchers.
An additional 11 have been indicted on state charges of theft greater than $1,000.
In all, authorities say the workers improperly received more than $250,000 in government benefits."
"First it was the families of dead people and state employees.
Now, authorities say Internal Revenue Service employees in Tennessee were stealing unemployment and other benefits while fully employed.
On Thursday, 13 of those employees were indicted on federal charges that they lied to get unemployment, food stamps, welfare and housing vouchers.
An additional 11 have been indicted on state charges of theft greater than $1,000.
In all, authorities say the workers improperly received more than $250,000 in government benefits."
Legislature targets drug users, lottery winners seeking state assistance
Legislature targets drug users, lottery winners seeking state assistance | Detroit Free Press | freep.com:
"Low-income people are a big topic of conversation in Lansing this week, from cracking down on public assistance recipients who happen to collect on winning lottery tickets, to impending discussion of bills that would require suspicion-based drug testing for people who are applying for public assistance.
Even store owners are facing harsher penalties if they continuously sell liquor or lottery tickets to people who are illegally paying for the goods with bridge cards, which replaced food stamps.
While the bills are labeled as commonsense solutions to fraud and abuse in the public assistance benefit rolls, other see them as the opening salvos of a war on poor people, punishing many for the sins of a few."
"Low-income people are a big topic of conversation in Lansing this week, from cracking down on public assistance recipients who happen to collect on winning lottery tickets, to impending discussion of bills that would require suspicion-based drug testing for people who are applying for public assistance.
Even store owners are facing harsher penalties if they continuously sell liquor or lottery tickets to people who are illegally paying for the goods with bridge cards, which replaced food stamps.
While the bills are labeled as commonsense solutions to fraud and abuse in the public assistance benefit rolls, other see them as the opening salvos of a war on poor people, punishing many for the sins of a few."
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