Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Now get 'em fixed-Check out six places Muskegon city officials told need to be improved

Check out six places Muskegon city officials told need to be improved | MLive.com:
"Here are six of the dozens of suggestions that Peterson received during the trip that took he and city staff from downtown to Pere Marquette Park to the west and Muskegon Community College’s campus on the east:"

MSM kinda missed this one-OFA Rally on Capitol Steps Draws Two Dozen

OFA Rally on Capitol Steps Draws Two Dozen:
View image on Twitter

Cesspool of Alabama State U. ignores governor’s major fraud findings

Alabama State U. ignores governor’s major fraud findings | The Daily Caller:
"Alabama Republican Gov. Robert Bentley released the findings on Monday.
The audit concluded that “despite the numerous impediments to the investigation… there is sufficient predication to believe that a jury or trier of fact could conclude that multiple acts of fraud, waste and/or abuse are occurring and/or have occurred at ASU.”"

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

More College Subsidies a Poor Investment

More College Subsidies a Poor Investment [Michigan Capitol Confidential]:
"At the national level, despite a 10-fold increase in federal funding, a lower percentage of low-income citizens are getting college degrees today than 40 years ago (12 percent in 1970 vs. 7 percent today)."

Bodies Double as Cash Machines With U.S. Income Lagging

Bodies Double as Cash Machines With U.S. Income Lagging: Economy - Bloomberg:
"In all but two quarters since the beginning of 2011, “hair,” “eggs,” or “kidney” have been among the top four autofill results for the Google search query, “I want to sell my...,” according to Nicholas Colas, chief market strategist at New York-based ConvergEx Group, which provides brokerage and trading-related services for institutional investors.
While Americans can legally sell hair, breast milk and eggs, the sale and purchase of a kidney in the U.S. is against the law.
“The fact that people even explore it indicates that there are still a lot of people worried about their financial outlook,” said Colas, who tracks off-the-grid economic indicators.
“This is very much unlike every other recovery that we’ve had. 
It’s going to be a slow-grinding, very frustrating recovery.”"

Lew: Interest Rate on T-Bills Nearly Tripled In One Week

Lew: Interest Rate on T-Bills Nearly Tripled In One Week | CNS News:
"Testifying in the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said that the Treasury last week needed to offer nearly triple the interest rate it had offered the week before in order to sell Treasury bills at public auction."

A ‘Common’ Debate: Common Core Curriculum Standards Are Promising But Dangerous

A ‘Common’ Debate: Common Core Curriculum Standards Are Promising But Dangerous [Mackinac Center]:
"Despite these advantages, there’s little evidence that implementing more standards will lead to better outcomes for students all by itself. Examining the effect state standards have had in the past at boosting learning, the Brookings Institution found that “the Common Core will have little to no effect on student achievement.”"

Obamanation! Obamacare insurance market deeply flawed: Aetna CEO

Obamacare insurance market deeply flawed: Aetna CEO:
"Aetna's CEO gave a harshly critical review Monday of the federal government's Obamacare marketplace, saying, "There's so much wrong, you just don't know what's broken until you get a lot more of it fixed.""

Tonight 6:30-8:30 A ‘Common’ Debate: Common Core Curriculum Standards Are Promising But Dangerous

More info about tonighthttp://muskegonpundit.blogspot.com/2013/10/tomorrow-tue-1015-learn-about-it.html

A ‘Common’ Debate: Common Core Curriculum Standards Are Promising But Dangerous [Mackinac Center]:
There are many other reasons to be skeptical of the Common Core’s ability to improve public education. Although collaboratively developed by state politicians, there is a very real threat the federal government will usurp control of these standards. The Obama administration’s decision to entice states to adopt these standards in order to qualify for the “Race to the Top” federal grant was a step in this direction. 
If the federal government gains control of these standards, it’s unlikely they will remain rigorous. They will become highly politicized, and wealthy special interest groups (notably, teachers unions and public school officials) will lobby to have these standards reduced  or watered down.
None of this would harm Michigan if the state could maintain its ability to back away from the standards at any time. But if the federal government again ties resources to the use of these standards, and if Michigan is heavily “invested,” opting out may become politically and practically difficult, if not impossible.
High standards should be used to hold tax-funded schools accountable for delivering educational opportunities to students. This is a worthy goal. But it’s more easily achieved by creating a marketplace of educational services where those who know and care the most about the best interests of children — parents —are the ultimate  arbiters of quality. This decentralized and apolitical accountability beats any top-down dictate from the state. 
The reality is though that until all parents have the ability to hold schools accountable by saying “no thank you” and voting with their feet, we’ll have to rely on some form of state-mandated accountability standards. The Common Core are better than Michigan’s status quo on this count,  but also dangerous. Ideally, Michigan would implement better standards without risking the certain dangers associated with federal control of these standards.

Watch: They Will Clear The Shelves Within Hours: “Like a Tornado” |

Watch: They Will Clear The Shelves Within Hours: “Like a Tornado” |:
"This weekend the nation’s Electronic Benefits Transfer crashed, leaving millions of Americans around the country wondering where they would get their next meal.

One woman, interviewed just minutes after she learned the system was no longer functioning, complained that she was unable to put food on the table.
“How am I going to feed my family,” she asked, noting that she has six kids to feed."

Robert Shiller's Devastating Takedown Of Housing As An Investment Will Have You Renting For The Rest Of Your Life

Robert Shiller's Devastating Takedown Of Housing As An Investment Will Have You Renting For The Rest Of Your Life – DIY Tech - TG Daily:
"Housing traditionally is not viewed as a great investment.
It takes maintenance, it depreciates, it goes out of style.
All of those are problems.
And there’s technical progress in housing.
So, new ones are better…
“So, why was it considered an investment? 
That was a fad. 
That was an idea that took hold in the early 2000′s.
And I don’t expect it to come back."

Union thugs win a BIG one! Judge: County Must Repay Retired Workers

Judge: County Must Repay Retired Workers - News Talk 1400 AM WDTK Detroit:
"(Wayne County, MI) -- Wayne County needs to repay millions of dollars and interest to restore a pension fund and let it hand-out the 13th monthly checks to retirees.
That's what a judge ruled yesterday.
He ordered the county to restore 32-million-dollars, plus interest, to the fund that pays 13th checks annually to retired workers, and make other payments needed to make-up for retirees not getting enough money for several years. 
The judge sided with unions in his decision while the county is going to file an appeal to his recommendations."

Obama's "amerika"-Anyone think it's gonna get better?-- Muskegon-area homeowners beware: Home invasions on the rise, police say

Muskegon-area homeowners beware: Home invasions on the rise, police say | MLive.com:
"NORTON SHORES, MI -- A slew of home invasions, in which televisions and other electronics seem to be the target, have occurred recently in Muskegon County, particularly in the cities of Muskegon and Norton Shores.
Police are asking residents to be aware of the recent uptick and report any suspicious activity."

Simple math. Poor, middleclass folks can't afford to buy homes. The rich can. These numbers bode very poorly for our country. Metro Detroit home sale prices up 48 percent over last year; total sales up, too

Metro Detroit home sale prices up 48 percent over last year; total sales up, too | Crain's Detroit Business:

Holy crapola!!! Treasury Bills Collapse

Treasury Bills Collapse | Zero Hedge:
"As equities continue to press back towards all-time highs, the Treasury Bill market is growing increasingly uncomrtable that these "people" in DC will find a solution before the 10/17/13 bill matures (10/17/13 Bill +15 at 35bps now!).
Dec VIX is continuing to diverge higher against stock exuberance as at least someone is hedging.
Following the dismal tail in the 3- and 6-month bill auctions, it seems the US equity market's dissonance is remarkable...
It's not just the short-dated Bills, Feb Bills are now 8-9bps higher in yield (triple the levels they started the day at!)"

Here's a List of 313+ Employers Who Have Cut Hours Because of Obamacare

Here's a List of 313+ Employers Who Have Cut Hours Because of Obamacare:
"Obamacare is being protested by the unions.
It’s causing the deficit to increase by $6 trillion.
It’s hurting the young people especially hard.
It’s causing insurance premiums to skyrocket as much as 1-400%.
Over 40% of small business have stopped hiring. It’s a failure.

Now, the great people at the Investors Business Daily have published a document with over 300 employers who have cut hours because of Obamacare.
Please note that this list is being updated constantly… it’s getting worse by the day.
You can read the Excel sheet here or read the list on this page."

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE ON THE LEFT

Instapundit » Blog Archive 
"CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE ON THE LEFT — BILL AYERS’ BOMBS.
Civil disobedience on the right — illicit lawn maintenance at national monuments.

Posted by Glenn Reynolds at 10:54 am"

This doesn't include SS, Medi-etc., VA, other theft.....Who Owns the US Debt Held by the Public?

Who Owns the US Debt Held by the Public? | Mercatus: "In 2000, foreign investors held roughly half as much debt as domestic investors;"

Ted Nugent Cuts His Hair, Hints At Presidential Run

Ted Nugent Cuts His Hair, Hints At Presidential Run « CBS Detroit:
"Is Ted Nugent considering a run for the White House?
The outdoorsman, and Michigan native, is known for his guitar licks and long locks, but a recent photo posted to his wife Shemane Nugent’s Instagram account shows The Nuge with a short, conservative haircut. and no ponytail.
In a Washington Post interview, The Motor City Madman hinted at presidential ambitions.
Hi, I’m Ted Nugent. I have nine children from seven women, and I’m running for president.” 
Nugent takes a sip of water, having delivered his potential slogan. 
“Yeah, I’m thinking about it.”"

Agency spent $3.5 million on furniture pre-shutdown

Agency spent $3.5 million on furniture pre-shutdown | The Daily Caller:
 "VA spent $7,559,675 on September 30, the last day the government was fully operating before this month’s partial shutdown.

Federal government agencies faced a “spend it or lose it” scenario on that day, the last day of the 2013 fiscal year, prompting excessive spending binges as the White Houseand Congress failed to reach a continuing resolution agreement."

Roger Simon and Media Bias

Roger Simon and Media Bias | National Review Online:
"Most mainstream journalists roll their eyes at the idea the MSM is biased.
It’s a tired argument, I know.
But it’s simply remarkable that when supposedly objective reporters move on to the opinion column racket they reveal themselves as utterly conventional liberal Democrats.
When any longtime New York Times reporter rewarded with a column at the Times or elsewhere — Nick Kristoff, Bill Keller, Maureen Dowd, Anthony Lewis, EJ Dionne et al. — rips off the mask it turns out that they were exactly as liberal as conservatives suspected.
It’s like that Saturday Night Live skit where Obama takes off his Obama mask to reveal that he’s Barack Obama."

Worst Car Park Exit Ever OCTOBER 2013

Money-pit Detroit deepens-M-1 Rail to bidders: Contract will begin Dec. 1; streetcar service will begin February 2016

M-1 Rail to bidders: Contract will begin Dec. 1; streetcar service will begin February 2016 | Crain's Detroit Business:
"The $137 million nonprofit M-1 Rail effort is seeking a company to design, engineer and manufacture six streetcars for use on the 3.2-mile grade-level rail loop that will be constructed over the next two years on Detroit's Woodward Avenue between West Grand Boulevard and Congress streets.

The system is projected to be operating for paying passengers by February 2016, according to the request-for-proposal."

Mega banks win another one.......Michigan Commerce Bank to be sold to Troy's Talmer Bancorp

Michigan Commerce Bank to be sold to Troy's Talmer Bancorp | MLive.com:
"Michigan Commerce Bank is one of Capitol Bancorp’s largest remaining affiliate banks, with offices in Auburn Hills, Brighton, Detroit, Grand Haven, Holland, Kentwood, Macomb, Muskegon, Farmington Hills and Pontiac. In 2010, federal and state banking regulators ordered the bank to correct “unsound banking practices.”