News from The Associated Press:
"Killing these iconic birds is not just an irreplaceable loss for a vulnerable species.
It's also a federal crime, a charge that the Obama administration has used to prosecute oil companies when birds drown in their waste pits, and power companies when birds are electrocuted by their power lines.
But the administration has never fined or prosecuted a wind-energy company, even those that flout the law repeatedly.
Instead, the government is shielding the industry from liability and helping keep the scope of the deaths secret."
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Monday, May 13, 2013
France weighs 'culture tax' for Apple, Google products
France weighs 'culture tax' for Apple, Google products | Reuters:
"President Francois Hollande will decide by the end of July whether France should impose new taxes on technology giants like Apple and Google to finance cultural projects, a move that could feed into an anti-business image days after a spat with Yahoo!.
The Socialist government asked former Canal Plus CEO Pierre Lescure to find new ways of funding culture during an economic downturn, in line with France's "cultural exception" argument that such projects must be shielded from market forces."
"President Francois Hollande will decide by the end of July whether France should impose new taxes on technology giants like Apple and Google to finance cultural projects, a move that could feed into an anti-business image days after a spat with Yahoo!.
The Socialist government asked former Canal Plus CEO Pierre Lescure to find new ways of funding culture during an economic downturn, in line with France's "cultural exception" argument that such projects must be shielded from market forces."
New health insurer plans to break into Michigan market with different way of doing things
New health insurer plans to break into Michigan market with different way of doing things | MLive.com: "Consumers Mutual received a $72 million low-interest loan from the federal government to get off the ground.
It must be repaid by 2033."
It must be repaid by 2033."
Band of Brothers
Band of Brothers | National Review Online:
"CBS News President David Rhodes and ABC News President Ben Sherwood, both of them have siblings that not only work at the White House, that not only work for President Obama, but they work at the NSC on foreign policy issues directly related to Benghazi. Let’s call a spade a spade.
Let’s also show you why CNN did not go very far in covering these hearings because the CNN deputy bureau chief, Virginia Moseley, is married to Hillary Clinton’s deputy, Tom Nides."
"CBS News President David Rhodes and ABC News President Ben Sherwood, both of them have siblings that not only work at the White House, that not only work for President Obama, but they work at the NSC on foreign policy issues directly related to Benghazi. Let’s call a spade a spade.
Let’s also show you why CNN did not go very far in covering these hearings because the CNN deputy bureau chief, Virginia Moseley, is married to Hillary Clinton’s deputy, Tom Nides."
Detroit puts brakes on bus-stop benches
Detroit puts brakes on bus-stop benches:
"Detroit Department of Transportation officials are saying the bench was not approved. If it is affixed to a bus stop, the bench will have to be removed.
"That's ridiculous," said Molnar, 22, who recently finished his junior year at Wayne State University, where he is an urban studies student. "Now there's not going to be a bench there. Let them take that away from the community. A community that built that bench. A community that put their blood, sweat and tears in it. That's all they wanted, a bench at the bus stop."
Angelica Jones, DDOT deputy director, said the bench was not authorized, but a proposal for the project could open a dialogue.
"There is protocol that takes place," she said, "but it is our understanding that it did not take place regarding this bench. DDOT is not aware of this (bench)."
"Detroit Department of Transportation officials are saying the bench was not approved. If it is affixed to a bus stop, the bench will have to be removed.
"That's ridiculous," said Molnar, 22, who recently finished his junior year at Wayne State University, where he is an urban studies student. "Now there's not going to be a bench there. Let them take that away from the community. A community that built that bench. A community that put their blood, sweat and tears in it. That's all they wanted, a bench at the bus stop."
Angelica Jones, DDOT deputy director, said the bench was not authorized, but a proposal for the project could open a dialogue.
"There is protocol that takes place," she said, "but it is our understanding that it did not take place regarding this bench. DDOT is not aware of this (bench)."
The Power Of Drudge: A Little Civics Lesson For Janet Napolitano And Barack Obama
The Power Of Drudge: A Little Civics Lesson For Janet Napolitano And Barack Obama - Forbes:
"DHS did not deny (or meaningfully clarify) the claim.
Instead, its spokesperson attempted to justify it with a claim of doing it to get the best price.
The DHS spokesperson, AP reported, stated that DHS expends 15 million rounds every year, “mostly on shooting ranges and in training exercises.”
This wasn’t really reassuring.
1.6 billion divided by 15 million implies “strategic sourcing contracts” for … a 100 year supply.
This simply did not add up."
"DHS did not deny (or meaningfully clarify) the claim.
Instead, its spokesperson attempted to justify it with a claim of doing it to get the best price.
The DHS spokesperson, AP reported, stated that DHS expends 15 million rounds every year, “mostly on shooting ranges and in training exercises.”
This wasn’t really reassuring.
1.6 billion divided by 15 million implies “strategic sourcing contracts” for … a 100 year supply.
This simply did not add up."
Congressman Dan Kildee: Buena Vista students should continue to 'receive the food they need'
Congressman Dan Kildee: Buena Vista students should continue to 'receive the food they need' | MLive.com:
"In a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Kildee, D-Flint, said,
“Ninety-one percent of students in the Buena Vista schools receive federal food assistance through free and reduced lunch programs.
As you know, these programs help ensure that students receive adequate nutrition by providing meals to children who are not able to afford them.”
"In a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Kildee, D-Flint, said,
“Ninety-one percent of students in the Buena Vista schools receive federal food assistance through free and reduced lunch programs.
As you know, these programs help ensure that students receive adequate nutrition by providing meals to children who are not able to afford them.”
See what a third Muskegon developer is proposing for a Pere Marquette Park beach bar
See what a third Muskegon developer is proposing for a Pere Marquette Park beach bar | MLive.com:
"The Harris Hospitality proposal is to begin operations with frozen yogurt shop in the building.
As renovation allows, the restaurant group would then create a banquet facility and a bar and grill.
The proposal calls for beach equipment rentals being operated from the building, such as bicycles, beach chairs, water toys and small watercraft.
The Harris proposal also calls for a food truck operation as part of the development."
"The Harris Hospitality proposal is to begin operations with frozen yogurt shop in the building.
As renovation allows, the restaurant group would then create a banquet facility and a bar and grill.
The proposal calls for beach equipment rentals being operated from the building, such as bicycles, beach chairs, water toys and small watercraft.
The Harris proposal also calls for a food truck operation as part of the development."
Detroit insolvent, EM Kevyn Orr says
Detroit insolvent, EM Kevyn Orr says | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com:
"Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr says the city of Detroit's cash-flow crisis makes it "insolvent" and unable to borrow more money to mask over debts being made worse by skipping millions in payments for retiree pensions and health care."
"Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr says the city of Detroit's cash-flow crisis makes it "insolvent" and unable to borrow more money to mask over debts being made worse by skipping millions in payments for retiree pensions and health care."
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Interesting fact of the day: Highest paid public employee in every state is part of the higher education bubble
Interesting fact of the day: Highest paid public employee in every state is part of the higher education bubble | AEIdeas:
"The highest paid public employee in every one of the 50 states is either a college coach at a public university: football (27), basketball (13), hockey (1), or a college administrator at a public university: president (4), medical school dean (4), law school dean (1)."
"The highest paid public employee in every one of the 50 states is either a college coach at a public university: football (27), basketball (13), hockey (1), or a college administrator at a public university: president (4), medical school dean (4), law school dean (1)."
12 Shot at NOLA Mother's Day Parade - No fatalities, three in critical condition
12 Shot at NOLA Mother's Day Parade - No fatalities, three in critical condition:
"At least 12 people have been injured in a shooting at a Mother's Day second-line parade in New Orleans, the Times-Picayune reports.
..... The suspects—one of whom is described as 18 to 22 years old with short hair, wearing a white shirt and blue jeans—were seen fleeing after the incident and are still at large."
Justin Bieber?
"At least 12 people have been injured in a shooting at a Mother's Day second-line parade in New Orleans, the Times-Picayune reports.
..... The suspects—one of whom is described as 18 to 22 years old with short hair, wearing a white shirt and blue jeans—were seen fleeing after the incident and are still at large."
Justin Bieber?
Obamacare: Taxpayers Must Report Personal Health ID Info to IRS
Americans for Tax Reform : Obamacare: Taxpayers Must Report Personal Health ID Info to IRS:
"This new tax information document must, at a minimum, contain: the name and health insurance identification number of the taxpayer; the name and tax identification number of the health insurance company; the number of months the taxpayer was covered by this insurance plan; and whether or not the plan was purchased in one of Obamacare’s “exchanges.”
This will involve millions of new tax documents landing in mailboxes across America every January, along with the usual raft of W-2s, 1099s, and 1098s.
At tax time, the 140 million families who file a tax return will have to get acquainted with a brand new tax filing form.
Six million of these families will end up paying Obamacare’s individual mandate non-compliance tax penalty."
"This new tax information document must, at a minimum, contain: the name and health insurance identification number of the taxpayer; the name and tax identification number of the health insurance company; the number of months the taxpayer was covered by this insurance plan; and whether or not the plan was purchased in one of Obamacare’s “exchanges.”
This will involve millions of new tax documents landing in mailboxes across America every January, along with the usual raft of W-2s, 1099s, and 1098s.
At tax time, the 140 million families who file a tax return will have to get acquainted with a brand new tax filing form.
Six million of these families will end up paying Obamacare’s individual mandate non-compliance tax penalty."
Collecting Rainwater Now Illegal in Many States as Big Government Claims Ownership Over Our Water
Collecting Rainwater Now Illegal in Many States as Big Government Claims Ownership Over Our Water | World Truth.TV:
"You may not be aware of this, but many Western states, including Utah, Washington and Colorado, have long outlawed individuals from collecting rainwater on their own properties because, according to officials, that rain belongs to someone else."
"You may not be aware of this, but many Western states, including Utah, Washington and Colorado, have long outlawed individuals from collecting rainwater on their own properties because, according to officials, that rain belongs to someone else."
THIS PIECE BY ROSS DOUTHAT ON THE IRS’S ATTACK ON TEA PARTY GROUPS IS PRETTY GOOD, but the comments …
THIS PIECE BY ROSS DOUTHAT ON THE IRS’S ATTACK ON TEA PARTY GROUPS IS PRETTY GOOD, but the comments …:
.......but the comments indicate that a rather large portion of the NYT readership is just fine with having brownshirts go after people for their ideas.
Hey, fascists tend to be big-government enthusiasts, not small-government advocates.
Posted by Glenn Reynolds at 11:03 pm"
.......but the comments indicate that a rather large portion of the NYT readership is just fine with having brownshirts go after people for their ideas.
Hey, fascists tend to be big-government enthusiasts, not small-government advocates.
Posted by Glenn Reynolds at 11:03 pm"
What Benghazi reveals about our nation
What Benghazi reveals about our nation ... - Daily Inter Lake: Frank:
"The words of Thomas Jefferson stand as a warning to us all:
“...whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that, whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them right.”
The opposite goes without saying as well.
When the people are not well-informed, they cannot be relied upon to notice when things go wrong, nor can they set them right, nor —ultimately — can they be trusted with their own government.
Let us hope we have not reached that point.
Otherwise, like Rome and Julius Caesar, we may ultimately meet a tragic end."
"The words of Thomas Jefferson stand as a warning to us all:
“...whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that, whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them right.”
The opposite goes without saying as well.
When the people are not well-informed, they cannot be relied upon to notice when things go wrong, nor can they set them right, nor —ultimately — can they be trusted with their own government.
Let us hope we have not reached that point.
Otherwise, like Rome and Julius Caesar, we may ultimately meet a tragic end."
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Janitors claim lack of Spanish translations discriminatory
Janitors claim lack of Spanish translations discriminatory | The Daily Caller:
"A group of Spanish-speaking custodial workers in Colorado have filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that the Auraria Higher Education Center in Denver discriminated against them by failing to provide Spanish translations."
"A group of Spanish-speaking custodial workers in Colorado have filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that the Auraria Higher Education Center in Denver discriminated against them by failing to provide Spanish translations."
Smartphones driving violent crime across U.S.
Smartphones driving violent crime across U.S. - Computerworld:
"Incidents of cellphone theft have been rising for several years and are fast becoming an epidemic.
IDG News Service collected data on serious crimes in San Francisco from November to April and recorded 579 thefts of cellphones or tablets, accounting for 41 percent of all serious crime.
On several days, like Feb. 27, the only serious crimes reported in the daily police log were cellphone thefts."
"Incidents of cellphone theft have been rising for several years and are fast becoming an epidemic.
IDG News Service collected data on serious crimes in San Francisco from November to April and recorded 579 thefts of cellphones or tablets, accounting for 41 percent of all serious crime.
On several days, like Feb. 27, the only serious crimes reported in the daily police log were cellphone thefts."
Overqualified Yet Underprepared, Graduates Face 'Unique Paradox': Study
Overqualified Yet Underprepared, Graduates Face 'Unique Paradox': Study:
"It's unconscionable," said Amy Laitinen, deputy director for higher education at the New America Foundation, a Washington think tank.
"This is one of the biggest investments students are ever going to make, and they have little to no information about what the return on their investment will be."
"It's unconscionable," said Amy Laitinen, deputy director for higher education at the New America Foundation, a Washington think tank.
"This is one of the biggest investments students are ever going to make, and they have little to no information about what the return on their investment will be."
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