Why Underemployment May Be Worse Than It Looks:
"Gallup reports that 17.2 percent of the workforce is underemployed, a startling number compounded by its divergence from the government's count.
....From a broader perspective, the Gallup measure actually has increased from its 15.9 percent multi-year low in October 2012.
The potential significance of the recent trough is that it came a month before the Federal Reserve launched the third round of quantitative easing, the $85 billion a month bond-buying program that is supposed to help the central bank achieve its dual objectives of price stability—and full employment."
Tuesday, July 09, 2013
Monday, July 08, 2013
Civil libertarians' hypocrisy
Jonah Goldberg: Civil libertarians' hypocrisy
What I have a hard time understanding, however, is how one can get worked up into a near panic about an overreaching national security apparatus while also celebrating other government expansions into our lives, chief among them the hydrahead leviathan of the Affordable Care Act (aka ObamaCare). The 2009 stimulus created ahealth database that will store all your health records. The Federal Data Services Hubwill record everything bureaucrats deem useful, from your incarceration record and immigration status to whether or not you had an abortion or were treated for depression or erectile dysfunction.
In other words, while the NSA can tell if you searched the Web for "Viagra," the Hub will know if you were actually prescribed the medication and for how long. Yes, there are rules for keeping that information private, but you don't need security clearance or a warrant to get it.
Then there's the IRS. We already have evidence of abuse there. For instance, the National Organization for Marriage, which opposes same-sex marriage, had its tax returns and private donor information leaked to the news media last year, presumably in order to embarrass Mitt Romney (he gave the group $10,000) and others during the presidential election.
And yet, worrying about NSA abuse is cast as high-minded while worrying about ObamaCare or the IRS is seen as paranoid. Why?
What Went Wrong with Asiana Flight 214
Blog: What Went Wrong with Asiana Flight 214:
"The underlying reason of their error is one that is both simple and frightening and one that we see occurring more and more frequently.
Airline pilots are losing their ability to fly their aircraft.
Overreliance on automation has degraded airline pilots' basic flying skills to the point that many seem unable to cope when they are forced by circumstances to hand fly the aircraft."
"The underlying reason of their error is one that is both simple and frightening and one that we see occurring more and more frequently.
Airline pilots are losing their ability to fly their aircraft.
Overreliance on automation has degraded airline pilots' basic flying skills to the point that many seem unable to cope when they are forced by circumstances to hand fly the aircraft."
1 dead, 6 wounded in South Side shootings
1 dead, 6 wounded in South Side shootings - chicagotribune.com:
"Sunday's attacks brought to at least 74 the number of people shot since Wednesday afternoon in Chicago, with 12 of those victims killed."
"Sunday's attacks brought to at least 74 the number of people shot since Wednesday afternoon in Chicago, with 12 of those victims killed."
No guns allowed, but punishment varies for those caught packing at federal courthouse
No guns allowed, but punishment varies for those caught packing at federal courthouse | Detroit Free Press | freep.com:
"The sign on the federal courthouse in Detroit reads plain and simple: No weapons allowed.
U.S. Rep. John Conyers’ office manager broke that rule recently when security officers found a gun in her purse.
But unlike others caught doing the same thing, the Michigan Democrat’s clerk didn’t lose her job — or get criminally charged.
Conyers’ Detroit office manager Betty Petrenz, who was in court for her fiasco on May 1, got luckier.
She got a ticket for having a gun on federal property and was recommended for pretrial diversion — a form of punishment that one federal magistrate recently referred to as “a gift.”
It involves no fine or jail time, but essentially requires a person to have good behavior for a certain amount of time, and then the ticket gets dismissed."
"The sign on the federal courthouse in Detroit reads plain and simple: No weapons allowed.
U.S. Rep. John Conyers’ office manager broke that rule recently when security officers found a gun in her purse.
But unlike others caught doing the same thing, the Michigan Democrat’s clerk didn’t lose her job — or get criminally charged.
Conyers’ Detroit office manager Betty Petrenz, who was in court for her fiasco on May 1, got luckier.
She got a ticket for having a gun on federal property and was recommended for pretrial diversion — a form of punishment that one federal magistrate recently referred to as “a gift.”
It involves no fine or jail time, but essentially requires a person to have good behavior for a certain amount of time, and then the ticket gets dismissed."
DPS students lose class time as power outage problems grow
DPS students lose class time as power outage problems grow | Detroit Free Press | freep.com:
"While the city prepares to hand over its limping power system to DTE Energy, Detroit students continue to see their classes canceled due to frequent outages.
For the 2012-13 school year ending June 13, a total of 31 schools in the Detroit Public Schools district lost power for one to four days each due to problems with the Detroit Public Lighting Department, "
"While the city prepares to hand over its limping power system to DTE Energy, Detroit students continue to see their classes canceled due to frequent outages.
For the 2012-13 school year ending June 13, a total of 31 schools in the Detroit Public Schools district lost power for one to four days each due to problems with the Detroit Public Lighting Department, "
Sunday, July 07, 2013
MIA work 'acutely dysfunctional'
My Way News - AP IMPACT: MIA work 'acutely dysfunctional':
"The Pentagon's effort to account for tens of thousands of Americans missing in action from foreign wars is so inept, mismanaged and wasteful that it risks descending from "dysfunction to total failure," according to an internal study suppressed by military officials."
"The Pentagon's effort to account for tens of thousands of Americans missing in action from foreign wars is so inept, mismanaged and wasteful that it risks descending from "dysfunction to total failure," according to an internal study suppressed by military officials."
Solar storm of 1859
Solar storm of 1859 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
"On September 1–2, 1859, the largest recorded geomagnetic storm occurred.
Aurorae were seen around the world, even over the Caribbean; those over the Rocky Mountains were so bright that their glow awoke gold miners, who began preparing breakfast because they thought it was morning.[3] People who happened to be awake in the northeastern US could read a newspaper by the aurora's light.[5]
The aurora was visible from as far from the poles as Cuba and Hawaii.[6]
Telegraph systems all over Europe and North America failed, in some cases shocking telegraph operators.[7] Telegraph pylons threw sparks. [8]
Some telegraph systems continued to send and receive messages despite having been disconnected from their power supplies.[9]"
"On September 1–2, 1859, the largest recorded geomagnetic storm occurred.
Aurorae were seen around the world, even over the Caribbean; those over the Rocky Mountains were so bright that their glow awoke gold miners, who began preparing breakfast because they thought it was morning.[3] People who happened to be awake in the northeastern US could read a newspaper by the aurora's light.[5]
The aurora was visible from as far from the poles as Cuba and Hawaii.[6]
Telegraph systems all over Europe and North America failed, in some cases shocking telegraph operators.[7] Telegraph pylons threw sparks. [8]
Some telegraph systems continued to send and receive messages despite having been disconnected from their power supplies.[9]"
Why Politicians Don't Cut Spending
Only 2 minutes long and it answers the question "Why don't we demand spending cuts-and why politicians NEVER will make those cuts.
We ARE doomed.......
We ARE doomed.......
Metro rips out Phantom Planter’s flowers at Dupont Circle station
Metro rips out Phantom Planter’s flowers at Dupont Circle station - The Washington Post:
"It turns out I underestimated Metro bureaucrats’ capacity for folly.
Two weeks ago, I wrote that the transit system would look silly if it let perish 1,000 flowers planted secretly at the Dupont Circle station by local garden artist Henry Docter, the self-described Phantom Planter."
"It turns out I underestimated Metro bureaucrats’ capacity for folly.
Two weeks ago, I wrote that the transit system would look silly if it let perish 1,000 flowers planted secretly at the Dupont Circle station by local garden artist Henry Docter, the self-described Phantom Planter."
Millage election for Muskegon County schools moves step closer with filing of petitions
Millage election for Muskegon County schools moves step closer with filing of petitions | MLive.com:
"The petitions seek a 1-mill, 10-year property tax increase. Tax revenues would be distributed to the county’s 11 traditional school districts according to enrollment and could be used for technology or security improvements.
It is estimated the millage would generate $4.3 million in 2014, its first year in effect.
“This is not about schools wanting more,” said MAISD Superintendent Dave Sipka. “This is schools trying to provide the learning tools for kids in a different age than we’ve ever been in before.”
"The petitions seek a 1-mill, 10-year property tax increase. Tax revenues would be distributed to the county’s 11 traditional school districts according to enrollment and could be used for technology or security improvements.
It is estimated the millage would generate $4.3 million in 2014, its first year in effect.
“This is not about schools wanting more,” said MAISD Superintendent Dave Sipka. “This is schools trying to provide the learning tools for kids in a different age than we’ve ever been in before.”
Ethanol trade undermines U.S. biofuels policy
Ethanol trade undermines U.S. biofuels policy:
"An update to the RFS, which took effect in July 2010, stipulates that a proportion of the mandate must be met by fuels with lower greenhouse gas emissions than corn ethanol, which is home-grown and plentiful.
This policy change created an incentive for U.S. companies to import sugarcane ethanol from Brazil, a major producer, as it produces fewer emissions.
At the same time, more corn ethanol made in the United States is now being exported to Brazil, as U.S. demand has dropped.
As a result, since the start of 2011, the United States and Brazil have shipped over 1 billion gallons of ethanol back and forth – more than 500 million gallons each way.
The emissions generated by the shipping have worsened the carbon footprint of both fuels."
....“Swapping of ethanol with Brazil results in twice as many transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, undermining the objective of the policy,” said Geoff Cooper, vice-president of research and analysis at the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), a Washington, D.C.-based industry organisation.
"An update to the RFS, which took effect in July 2010, stipulates that a proportion of the mandate must be met by fuels with lower greenhouse gas emissions than corn ethanol, which is home-grown and plentiful.
This policy change created an incentive for U.S. companies to import sugarcane ethanol from Brazil, a major producer, as it produces fewer emissions.
At the same time, more corn ethanol made in the United States is now being exported to Brazil, as U.S. demand has dropped.
As a result, since the start of 2011, the United States and Brazil have shipped over 1 billion gallons of ethanol back and forth – more than 500 million gallons each way.
The emissions generated by the shipping have worsened the carbon footprint of both fuels."
....“Swapping of ethanol with Brazil results in twice as many transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, undermining the objective of the policy,” said Geoff Cooper, vice-president of research and analysis at the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), a Washington, D.C.-based industry organisation.
Cooper said the trade amounts to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, over and above the saving that comes from using sugarcane ethanol instead of fossil fuels, because of the way the ethanol is shunted between the two countries.
Report: Government is responsible for housing bubble, not banks
Report: Government is responsible for housing bubble, not banks | The Daily Caller:
"The housing bubble was inflated by federal policies created by President Bill Clinton, then expanded by President George W. Bush.
The policies were supported by Senator and then President Barack Obama.
The policies were intended to help low-skilled Americans — especially African-Americans — and Hispanic immigrants gain housing wealth by pushing down mortgage requirements, such as down-payments.
But the government policy had the reverse effect, and the housing collapse after 2007 eliminated much of the wealth held by African-American and Hispanic families.
Since the 2007 crash, Obama and his Democrats allies have argued the crash was caused by greedy bankers’ unfair and illegal treatment of African-American and Hispanic borrowers."
"The housing bubble was inflated by federal policies created by President Bill Clinton, then expanded by President George W. Bush.
The policies were supported by Senator and then President Barack Obama.
The policies were intended to help low-skilled Americans — especially African-Americans — and Hispanic immigrants gain housing wealth by pushing down mortgage requirements, such as down-payments.
But the government policy had the reverse effect, and the housing collapse after 2007 eliminated much of the wealth held by African-American and Hispanic families.
Since the 2007 crash, Obama and his Democrats allies have argued the crash was caused by greedy bankers’ unfair and illegal treatment of African-American and Hispanic borrowers."
MichiganVotes.org Weekly Vote Report
June 28, 2013, MichiganVotes.org Weekly Vote Report [Michigan Capitol Confidential]:
"House Bill 4242, Raise burden of proof to justify new government regulations: Passed 108 to 0 in the House
To require government agencies to demonstrate that a rule they want to impose is “necessary and suitable to achieve its purpose in proportion to the burdens it places on individuals.”"
"House Bill 4242, Raise burden of proof to justify new government regulations: Passed 108 to 0 in the House
To require government agencies to demonstrate that a rule they want to impose is “necessary and suitable to achieve its purpose in proportion to the burdens it places on individuals.”"
MichiganVotes.org Weekly Vote Report
June 28, 2013, MichiganVotes.org Weekly Vote Report [Michigan Capitol Confidential]:
"Senate Bill 175, Undo National Guard pension reform: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate
To reverse a 2010 reform that eliminated "defined benefit" pensions for future Michigan National Guard commanders and their assistants, and instead provided 401k benefits.
The 2010 reform was adopted following reports of these "Adjutant Generals" being granted generous state pensions based on limited state service ($78,000 to $133,000 for 1.5 years to 13 years service)."
"Senate Bill 175, Undo National Guard pension reform: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate
To reverse a 2010 reform that eliminated "defined benefit" pensions for future Michigan National Guard commanders and their assistants, and instead provided 401k benefits.
The 2010 reform was adopted following reports of these "Adjutant Generals" being granted generous state pensions based on limited state service ($78,000 to $133,000 for 1.5 years to 13 years service)."
Please Don't Be Satisfied With This Jobs Report
Please Don't Be Satisfied With This Jobs Report - Jordan Weissmann - The Atlantic:
"The government's broadest underemployment measure , known as U-6, jumped from 13.8 percent to 14.3 percent, thanks a huge leap in the number of employees working part time because they couldn't find full-time work. "
"The government's broadest underemployment measure , known as U-6, jumped from 13.8 percent to 14.3 percent, thanks a huge leap in the number of employees working part time because they couldn't find full-time work. "
Castle Dunes development of Nugent Sand's South Lake before Norton Shores planners July 9
Castle Dunes development of Nugent Sand's South Lake before Norton Shores planners July 9 | MLive.com:
"The Norton Shores Planning Commission meeting and public hearing on the Castle Dunes zoning issue is set for Tuesday, July 9 at 5:30 p.m. in the community room of the Norton Shores Branch Library, 705 Seminole. "
"The Norton Shores Planning Commission meeting and public hearing on the Castle Dunes zoning issue is set for Tuesday, July 9 at 5:30 p.m. in the community room of the Norton Shores Branch Library, 705 Seminole. "
Let The Progressive Groups Targeted and Harassed by the IRS Come Forward
Let The Progressive Groups Targeted and Harassed by the IRS Come Forward - Forbes:
"In a piece that extends over two pages, the Times did not speak with one conservative group that had been singled out and harassed.
More importantly, it did not mention any progressive group that had been targeted and harassed, although its article claims equal mistreatment for all."
"In a piece that extends over two pages, the Times did not speak with one conservative group that had been singled out and harassed.
More importantly, it did not mention any progressive group that had been targeted and harassed, although its article claims equal mistreatment for all."
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