MuskegonPundit

Friday, May 17, 2013

Muskegon Community College board approves tuition, adjunct pay increases; warns of no increase for faculty

Muskegon Community College board approves tuition, adjunct pay increases; warns of no increase for faculty | MLive.com:
"A 4.7 percent tuition increase plus an additional $7 per contact hour fee were approved by the board of trustees Wednesday.
As a result, the cost of taking 12 credits, or contact hours, per semester would increase from $1,146 to $1,278. Administrators have said the increases should raise $1.4 million each year."

Bike Time vs. Muskegon Farmers Market: Conflict brewing for 2014, city commissioners told

Bike Time vs. Muskegon Farmers Market: Conflict brewing for 2014, city commissioners told | MLive.com:
"The concept that the “market comes first” is more than a bit troubling to Bike Time promoters, who have used the entire stretch of West Western Avenue from Seventh to Terrace streets, Warmington said.
The thought is that the bike festival and the market could not coexist at the far east end of West Western Avenue during the festival weekend."

Detroit's pension boards spending $22,000 to send 4 trustees to Hawaii conference

Detroit's pension boards spending $22,000 to send 4 trustees to Hawaii conference | Detroit Free Press | freep.com:

Second Top IRS Official To Leave Amid Massive Scandal – Was Only in Position for 8 DAYS!

Second Top IRS Official To Leave Amid Massive Scandal – Was Only in Position for 8 DAYS! | The Gateway Pundit:

Thursday, May 16, 2013

IRS tax exemption/Obamacare exec got $103,390 in bonuses

IRS tax exemption/Obamacare exec got $103,390 in bonuses | WashingtonExaminer.com:
"Sarah Hall Ingram, the IRS executive in charge of the tax exempt division in 2010 when it began targeting conservative Tea Party, evangelical and pro-Israel groups for harrassment, got more than $100,000 in bonuses between 2009 and 2012.
More recently, Ingram was promoted to serve as director of the tax agency's Obamacare program office, a position that put her in charge of the vast expansion of the IRS' regulatory power and staffing in connection with federal health care, ABC reported earlier today."

Morel Mushroom Links

Math test mistake means Michigan students will get new MEAP scores

Math test mistake means Michigan students will get new MEAP scores | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Let’s Not Make a Federal Case of it

Let’s Not Make A Federal Case Of It | Somewhat Reasonable:
"Actually, a larger percentage of Asian attorneys (7 out of approximately 42,336) appeared before SCOTUS last term than that of any other race; but that wasn’t the headline.
The fact that people are trying to turn this number into an illustration of institutional racism is both troubling, and sad.
But if the left really wants to take it up with someone, they should start with the current administration, seeing as how a large chunk of the attorneys who appeared before our Supreme Court were with the office of the Solicitor General – and not one was Black."

Feds gave witness protection to terrorists

Feds gave witness protection to terrorists - Washington Times:
"The federal government gave witness protection to known and suspected terrorists and the U.S. Marshals Service even lost track of two of those people, according to a report Thursday from the Justice Department’s auditor that exposes the previously hidden side of the witness program."

IRS scandal: West Michigan Tea Party leader contends group was targeted

IRS scandal: West Michigan Tea Party leader contends group was targeted | MLive.com:
"Everybody's always had a fear of the IRS," Chiodo said Thursday, May 16, during a telephone interview.
"The IRS being used for political purposes really puts fear in peoples' hearts."

Goodwill Minimum Wage Loophole Will Shock You

John Hrabe: Goodwill Minimum Wage Loophole Will Shock You:
"In a recent investigation for Watchdog.org, I reported that a majority of Goodwill entities in the United States pay people with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage, while these same Goodwills simultaneously spend tens of millions of dollars per year on executive compensation and travel-related expenses."

Scandals? What scandals?

NPR website today

Dambusters 70th official unveiling | GAR

Feature – Dambusters 70th official unveiling | GAR

May 2013 - Dambusters 70th Anniversary

May 2013 - Dambusters 70th Anniversary — Military Forum | Airliners.net

I like the 1956 movie starring Michael Redgrave. Although I think African-Americans will be offended by the name of the Wing Commander's dog.

[Edited 2013-04-26 21:15:36]

Ain't I a stinker?

GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12700 posts, RR: 80
Reply 5, posted Sat Apr 27 2013 05:39:48 your local time (2 weeks 5 days 14 hours 36 minutes ago) and read 1077 times:

Quoting Confuscius (Reply 4):
I like the 1956 movie starring Michael Redgrave. Although I think African-Americans will be offended by the name of the Wing Commander's dog.

On a recent showing on terrestrial TV here, the dog's name was cut.
A bit silly, though offensive to us now, in the essentially mono racial Britain of WW2 it would not have been.

Gibson was in reality deeply upset by the dog's death.
He was a complex man Guy Gibson, born in India to British parents, educated in the UK, he joined the RAF before the war and was on bombers from the start.

Flying Hamden's he was was of the few who actually manged to reach his targets in those early night bombing days.
With the night time Blitz on the country after the Battle Of Britain, Gibson was assigned, as an experienced night time pilot, to fly the Blenheim night fighters, the first in the world to be fitted with an airborne radar, he and his crewman shot down three German bombers in this period. Gibson was upset he did not get more.

His personality, background and education made Gibson uncomfortable around all but fellow officers, deeply driven and a disciplinarian, he was not popular with either NCO pilots or ground crew.
A difficult marriage also made him unhappy in his personal life, though that might have had something to do with his, it's been alleged, using his rank to get sexual favours from other's wife's and girlfriends.
Certainly his serial philandering was common knowledge.

His parents had split up when he was 6, his mother an alcoholic by the time he was 12, his public school was strict. The woman he married in 1940 was older and an actress, he met her by, essentially stalking her at her theatre.
A short man, many thought him as essentially lonely and insecure.

Leading 106 Sqn on Lancaster's however, he gained a reputation as a highly effective commander, by now he had won the Distinguished Flying Cross and Distinguished Flying Medal. He was a hard taskmaster expecting his men to show the same absolute commitment, incredible bravery that he did. All of the time.

Hand picked to lead 617 Sqn when it was formed, he had to, for a couple of months, keep secret the target for the raids. All through the dangerous low level night ime training that was very tough on the crews.
On the raid itself, after dropping his bomb, he stayed to divert anti aircraft fire from other attacking aircraft, on all the target dams, extremely dangerous to say the least.
Small wonder he was after the raid he was awarded that highest honour, the Victoria Cross.
Gibson didn't really care, the comedown after the raid, the losses amongst his men, left him depressed.
Then came the PR stuff, the raid had been a morale booster and Gibson spearheaded all that.
He wanted to just get back flying and fighting.

This included a trip to the US which even his friends said went to his head, with hints of heavy womanising.
Bomber Command though, with it's danger and terrible casualty rate, did have a culture of flying hard, fighting hard and playing very hard. Every time, in all senses, in the air or in recreation on the ground, might well be your last.
Everyone had lost many friends.

Gibson however did write, in this period, his classic account 'Enemy Coast Ahead'.
But he was deeply frustrated at his now genuine fame and national hero status keeping him on the ground.
He always wanted 'one last'. One last mission, one last bombing run, so he pulled strings to get one last attack on the enemy. He had been unhappy, felt marginalised, his negative traits of intolerance and pomposity were as bad as ever. So somehow, he got himself back operational flying. On a low level sortie in a Mosquito in September 1944 he crashed and he and his crewman were killed. He was 26.

Richard Todd's sympathetic portrayal of Gibson in the 1955 film, though a fine performance, did not touch on the more negative aspects of Gibson. It was not that sort of film and that was not the era, when WW2 was fresh in the memory, for anything but a heroic role.

Parts of that downed Mosquito, along with many other artifacts of both Gibson and 617 sqn, are preserved at RAF Scampton to this day. Including his dog's grave.

[Edited 2013-04-27 03:14:38]

See how your hometown’s checkbook is holding up (searchable database)

See how your hometown’s checkbook is holding up (searchable database) | Bridge Michigan

17 years later, 'It Takes A Village' becomes a federal program

17 years later, 'It Takes A Village' becomes a federal program | WashingtonExaminer.com:

Snow days: Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signs law allowing longer school days rather than makeups

Snow days: Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signs law allowing longer school days rather than makeups | MLive.com:
"Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder on Thursday signed into law legislation allowing school districts that cancelled class multiple times this winter to meet state requirements by extending existing days rather than scheduling makeups."

American Indian mascots: Michigan bills would force civil rights department to fund school changes

American Indian mascots: Michigan bills would force civil rights department to fund school changes | MLive.com:
"Republican lawmakers are introducing legislation that would strip funding from the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and make the money available to local schools if they are forced to change their American Indian-related mascots as a result of a discrimination complaint filed by the department."

Venezuela hopes to wipe out toilet paper shortage by importing 50m rolls

Venezuela hopes to wipe out toilet paper shortage by importing 50m rolls | World news | guardian.co.uk: "Minister blames shortage on 'excessive demand caused by media campaign generated to disrupt the country'"

Men who are physically strong are more likely to have right wing political views

Men who are physically strong are more likely to have right wing political views | Mail Online:
"Men who are physically strong are more likely to have right wing political views
Weaker men more likely to support welfare state and wealth redistribution
Link may reflect psychological traits that evolved in our ancestors
Strength was a proxy for ability to defend or acquire resources"

Mark Hollis, Jim Delany speak on MSU, Big Ten issues: What they said and what I think | Couch on fire

Mark Hollis, Jim Delany speak on MSU, Big Ten issues: What they said and what I think | Couch on fire:
"– Hollis spoke about the seriousness of this upcoming season for MSU football. It should be noted, he was prompted to do so by a question that afforded almost no other response.
What was he supposed to say?
“Well, guys, we’ll do our best and see how it goes.”
Still, they were strong words and I’m sure, by some media outlets, will be sensationalized.
Here’s some of what Hollis said, when asked at what point 6-6 becomes unacceptable:
“(If it happened again) there’d probably be a gathering of troops to ask why are we there two years in a row. … It is a very important season for Michigan State, no question.”

My take: Again, this was prompted and a probably unavoidable response.
But it is important that MSU’s AD is on record with such urgency.
It’s a starting point with him if this season were to play out poorly."

Not just Detroit: New report finds fiscal troubles for dozens of city halls across Michigan

Not just Detroit: New report finds fiscal troubles for dozens of city halls across Michigan | MLive.com:
"While the financial problems of Detroit have captured the headlines this spring, a new analysis released today on government finance finds that dozens of Michigan communities may be on a course for crisis.
According to Munetrix, a Web-based data consultant in Auburn Hills, dozens of local units of government were in a financial state that is “cause for concern” in their 2011 fiscal years.