History for January 17

History for January 17 - On-This-Day.com

Birth anniversary of Benjamin Franklin (1706-90).

Birth anniversaries of Al Capone (1899-1947)

Happy birthday to US First Lady Michelle Obama!

Happy Birthday! Muhammad Ali

1377 - The Papal See was transferred from Avignon in France back to Rome. 


1773 - Captain Cook's Resolution became the first ship to cross the Antarctic Circle.


1795 - The Dudingston Curling Society was organized in Edinburgh, Scotland. 



1893 - Hawaii's monarchy was overthrown when a group of businessmen and sugar planters forced Queen Liliuokalani to abdicate. 


1912 - English explorer Robert Falcon Scott reached the South Pole. Norwegian Roald Amundsen had beaten him there by one month. Scott and his party died during the return trip. 


1934 - Ferdinand Porsche submitted a design for a people's car, a "Volkswagen," to the new German Reich government. 


1945 - Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg disappeared in Hungary while in Soviet custody. Wallenberg was credited with saving tens of thousands of Jews. 


1961 - In his farewell address, U.S. President Eisenhower warned against the rise of "the military-industrial complex." 

The Last 2 Times This Happened, The US Was Already In Recession

The Last 2 Times This Happened, The US Was Already In Recession | Zero Hedge

While the market seems to have rapidly given up worrying about the piss-poor jobs data from last week, the fact of the matter is the longer-term trend of 'employment' in America is anything but questionable. As we pointed out, and was so broadly understood, the number of people in the labor force in American is fading fast. In fact, as the chart below shows, the last 2 times the civilian labor force fell on an annual basis like this, the US economy was already in recession...

Sophist

A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg
sophist

PRONUNCIATION:

(SOF-ist)

MEANING:

noun: One who makes clever, but unsound arguments.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin sophista, from Greek sophistes (sage), from sophos (clever). Earliest documented use: 1542. In ancient Greece, Sophists were philosophers and teachers known for their subtle, but fallacious reasoning.

USAGE:

"But this day Mansoor had turned five, and Ma used a sophist's argument to call for a celebration."
M.G. Vassanji; The Assassin's Song; Doubleday; 2007.

Why Bridgegate made headlines but Obama’s IRS scandal didn't

Instapundit » Blog Archive » ANALYSIS: Why Bridgegate made headlines but Obama’s IRS scandal didn’t. Government officials…:

ANALYSIS: Why Bridgegate made headlines but Obama’s IRS scandal didn’t.

Government officials and political operatives working for Christie, for weird and petty reasons, chose to make traffic worse. That’s the takeaway. When they are reminded of the fact that people working on Christie’s behalf thought it was a good political game to mire tens of thousands of their fellow Americans in the nightmarish gridlock that is a daily dreaded prospect for tens of millions, they will be discomfited by that and by the politician in whose name it was done.

And yet, you know what is also something everybody would find “relatable”? Politicians who sic the tax man on others for political gain. Everybody has to deal with the IRS and fears it. Last year, we learned from the Internal Revenue Service itself that it had targeted ideological opponents of the president for special scrutiny and investigation — because they were ideological opponents.

That’s juicy, just as Bridgegate is juicy. It’s something we can all understand, it speaks to our greatest fears, and it’s the sort of thing TV newspeople could gab about for days on end without needing a fresh piece of news to keep it going.

And yet, according to Scott Whitlock of the Media Research Center, “In less than 24 hours, the three networks have devoted 17 times more coverage to a traffic scandal involving Chris Christie than they’ve allowed in the last six months to Barack Obama’s Internal Revenue Service controversy.”

Why? Oh, come on, you know why. Christie belongs to one political party. Obama belongs to the other. You know which ones they belong to. And you know which ones the people at the three networks belong to, too: In surveys going back decades, anywhere from 80% to 90% of Washington’s journalists say they vote Democratic.

Scandals are not just about themselves; they are about the media atmosphere that surrounds them. They are perpetuated and deepened by the attention of journalists, whose relentless pursuit of every angle keeps the story going. That is exactly what has been missing from the IRS scandal from its outset; Republicans in Congress have been the dogged pursuers, not the press.

They’re not the Fourth Estate. They’re the Praetorian Guard.

I sure they got a great plan to make them young scofflaws pay up....right?--------Obamacare Slipping: Low Youth Enrollment Will Drive Prices Higher

Obamacare Slipping: Low Youth Enrollment Will Drive Prices Higher | Truth Revolt:

Reuters is reporting that youth enrollment into Obamacare has missed its target. If this trend continues, it will only mean one thing - higher premiums to cover the gap.

Youth enrollment at only 24 percent means the target was missed by 14 percent, yet the administration remains confident that these numbers will rise. They should hope so, because if not, it will prove what Republicans have warned since the beginning and what the media ignores altogether - Obamacare is too expensive.

One factor that may be keeping young people from signing up is the fact that 3 million are now allowed to stay on their parents' insurance plans. This creates a huge problem for Obamacare because its architects are relying on young and healthy people enrolling to offset the cost of covering older, sicker people. 

This trend is turning out to be a worst-case scenario.

A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation said having younger adults make up only 25 percent of enrollees would present a "worst case" scenario. They found that costs then would be about 2.4 percent higher, but insurers would retain a very slim profit margin.

Therefore, insurance premiums will be raised. But this comes as no surprise to anyone paying attention.

Senior UK Defense Advisor: Obama Is Clueless About ‘What He Wants To Do In The World’

Senior UK Defense Advisor: Obama Is Clueless About ‘What He Wants To Do In The World’ - The Daily Beast:
"Sir Hew Strachan, an expert on the history of war, says that the president’s strategic failures in Afghanistan and Syria have crippled America’s position in the world.
President Obama is “chronically incapable” of military strategy and falls far short of his predecessor George W. Bush, according to one of Britain’s most senior military advisors.

Sir Hew Strachan, an advisor to the Chief of the Defense Staff, told The Daily Beast that the United States and Britain were guilty of total strategic failure in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Obama’s attempts to intervene on behalf of the Syrian rebels “has left them in a far worse position than they were before.”"

Cost of Obamacare's insurer bailout program won't be known until summer 2015

Cost of Obamacare's insurer bailout program won't be known until summer 2015 | WashingtonExaminer.com:
"A program to refund insurance companies for losses incurred during the implementation of President Obama’s health care law could impose significant costs on American taxpayers, but under regulations issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, those costs won’t be known until the summer of 2015.

Republicans led by Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Rep. Tim Griffin of Arkansas have called for repealing what’s known as the risk corridors program, which has also been described as a bailout of the insurance industry.
Under the program, insurers have to estimate the amount of money they expect to pay out in medical claims each year along with their premium revenue and administrative costs.
Insurers who do significantly better than expected must pay HHS and those who do worse than expected receive money from HHS.
But it's remained an open question how much this could potentially cost."

House easily passes $1T omnibus spending bill with 359-67 vote

House easily passes $1T omnibus spending bill with 359-67 vote | TheHill:
"While most Democrats clearly preferred funding the government over risking a government shutdown, they also complained that the process needs to improve.
“This can be described very charitably as a mixed bag,” said Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.). “This is a 1,500-page bill that nobody has actually read.”
Yet the bill won even more support than the two-year budget deal it was based on. Ninety-four House members had voted against the budget deal.
Even conservative budget hawk Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.), who had signaled he would vote against any bill based on the new budget, voted “yes.”
“When I ran for office in 2010, I told people that I wanted to roll back spending in Washington to 2008 [pre-stimulus] levels,” he said. “I even put that on my flyers. Today, I had the chance to do what I told people I would do if they elected me.”
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) said he was surprised by the strong vote

“I’m almost giddy,” he said. “I think it’s a really good demonstration of trying to work across the aisle and across the dome.”"

Only a moron who's NEVER bought insurance, paid taxes, seen a gas or electric bill or bought food could be surprised that there is inflation------US consumer prices up 0.3 pct, most in 6 months

US consumer prices up 0.3 pct, most in 6 months - The Denver Post:
"WASHINGTON—U.S. consumer prices rose last month by the most since June, driven up by higher gas prices, but excluding energy, inflation was tame.
The Labor Department said Thursday that the consumer price index rose a seasonally adjusted 0.3 percent in December, after a flat reading the previous month.

Prices increased 1.5 percent in 2013, down from 1.7 percent in 2012.
That's below the Federal Reserve's target of 2 percent."

They passed it and the MSM still refuses to read it----What You Were Never Told About Obamacare

What You Were Never Told About Obamacare – LewRockwell.com:
"The first is the Reinsurance Program under which large claims are capped for insurers offering individual plans under Obamacare.
Insurers pay for claims up to $45,000, while the Federal government picks up 80% of the costs exceeding $45,000 up to a maximum of $250,000.
This means that Obamacare is a public-private insurance scheme and that we are already half-way to the “single-payer” insurance program that Obama and his left-wing cronies so keenly pine for.
Needless to say, neither President Obama nor the establishment media have publicized this provision of Obamacare."

Teen Pregnancy Rate Drops 45.7 Percent When Planned Parenthood Leaves Town

Teen Pregnancy Rate Drops 45.7 Percent When Planned Parenthood Leaves Town - Saving Our Future:
"A study across the Texas Panhandle, using government statistics from 16 counties, found that the teen pregnancy rates among 13-17-year olds from 1994 through 2010 showed dramatic declines even as Planned Parenthood Federation of America facilities in the region shut down—dwindling from 19 family planning facilities to zero."

Ummm, doesn't pot give ya the munchies? And they're surprised "edibles" are popular among the pot heads?------Edible marijuana sales shattering sales projections in Colorado

7NEWS - Edible marijuana sales shattering sales projections in Colorado - Local Story:
"DENVER - A one-month supply of marijuana edibles, gone in the first three days of January.
That's what the area's largest supplier of marijuana edibles is saying about the incredible demand for the product since recreational sales were legalized in Colorado on Jan. 1.
"We are working hard," said Joe Hodas, chief marketing officer for Dixie Elixirs and Edibles. "We like to call ourselves the future of cannabis."
There is so much demand for edibles right now, they limit customers to two edible products a day at recreational pot shops like LoDo Wellness at 16th St. and Wazee in downtown Denver."

Government against its citizens------Lawmaker calls for Udall investigation over Obamacare numbers

Lawmaker calls for Udall investigation over Obamacare numbers | The Daily Caller
Colorado Republican Rep. Cory Gardner told a Colorado news site that he wants Democratic Sen. Mark Udall investigated for allegedly trying to bully the state insurance commissioner into lowering the number of people whose insurance policies were canceled under Obamacare.
“I think anytime you have an office that is caught red-handed in a hostile phone call where they are trying to change what is recognized as legitimate numbers for political purposes, that’s an inappropriate use of government power,” Gardner told the Colorado Observer.
“It’s clear from the emails the senator wasn’t worried about the 250,000 people who lost their insurance, he wanted to change the numbers so it didn’t look bad.”

Dang it! We're missin' Aspen's Gay Ski Week------Gay Ski Week’s Laugh Whore

Gay Ski Week’s Laugh Whore | Aspen Daily News Online:

Obama to Dems: I'll act with or without Congress

Obama to Dems: I'll act with or without Congress - Yahoo News:
"WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has told Senate Democrats he plans to use his executive authority to act in 2014 when Congress stands in his way."

VIDEO: Jimmy Kimmel Rails on Obamacare and Uninformed Young People

VIDEO: Jimmy Kimmel Rails on Obamacare and Uninformed Young People | Conservative Outfitters:
"(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEX: Hi. I'm Alex, and this is my wife Martha, and we're both approaching the big 6-0.

MARTHA: And we have health care issues to deal with.

ALEX: I take blood pressure medication.

MARTHA: And Levitra.

ALEX: Yes. And Martha’s got beta blockers and something for her osteoporosis. And it’s not cheap.

MARTHA: But fortunately we don't have to pay for it.

ALEX: No, you do.

MARTHA: That’s right. You young people are paying for our drugs and our doctors.

ALEX: Not to mention our Social Security and our Medicare when we retire to Boca. And you know why?

MARTHA: Because you don't vote.

ALEX: And we do.

MARTHA: That’s right. Hope you enjoy that Burning Guy festival.

ALEX: Come on, Martha, let's go find that Levitra.

MARTHA: Oh, Alex!

ANNOUNCER: The Affordable Care Act. Next time, maybe pick up a newspaper.

(END VIDEO CLIP)"

WeMog Friday!

Come out to Pigeon Creek Park and ski or snow shoe. Friday Jan 17 at 1:00p.m.

Directions: 

US31 south of Grand Haven  to Stanton Rd and go east to park. Grand Rapids Folks, Lake Michigan Dr to 120th (by the Yellow Jacket) and go south to Stanton Rd and then West to Park

Or:

Car Pool: Hile Rd Park and Ride at US31 and I-96 at 12:15pm 

See you there

Plus:

Pancake Breakfast 

Saturday Jan 18 2014

Breakfast: 8:00 am - 11:00 am 

Crockery Township Hall, Nunica

17421  112th Ave. 

All proceeds will be used towards the $25,000 needed to match the Grant from the Loutit foundation to complete the purchase of lane for the bicycle path.

Adult: $5.00

Kids: 5-12 years $3.00

Under 4: Free

Donations may also be made to:

Crockery Citizens Committee

P.O. Box 255

Nunica MI 49448

We can stop this...only if we expend some effort...... wanna bet?-----America's Dwindling Economic Freedom

Terry Miller: America's Dwindling Economic Freedom - WSJ.com:
"World economic freedom has reached record levels, according to the 2014 Index of Economic Freedom, released Tuesday by the Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal.
But after seven straight years of decline, the U.S. has dropped out of the top 10 most economically free countries."

Amazing what competition will do-----AC Casino Revenue Below $3B; 1st Time in 22 Years

AC Casino Revenue Below $3B; 1st Time in 22 Years - ABC News:
"Atlantic City's casino revenue fell below $3 billion last year for the first time in 22 years, as increasing competition in the northeastern U.S. continued to shrink the market.
....It marked the seventh straight year of plunging gambling revenue for Atlantic City, which won $5.2 billion in 2006. 
That was the year the first of what would become 12 Pennsylvania casinos opened, cutting deeply into a market the New Jersey resort town once called its own."

Gimme a break-----Marijuana amnesty boxes going up at Colorado Springs Airport

Marijuana amnesty boxes going up at Colorado Springs Airport:
"Amnesty boxes are going up at the Colorado Springs airport for those who didn't realize that it's illegal to carry pot on a plane.

Under the Colorado law legalizing recreational marijuana, it is legal to leave the drug in a parked car at the airport.
Bringing marijuana inside is, however, prohibited.
Officials are encouraging people to leave their marijuana behind, but they also want to help people who broke the law and don't want to miss their flights.
Installation of the boxes begins on Wednesday.

According to KKTV-TV (http://tinyurl.com/mju3yna ), the ban on pot at the airport applies to both recreational and medical marijuana.
If passengers are caught trying to bring pot onto a plane, they could face up to $2,500 in fines and possible jail time."

Your tax dollars at work----CU sociology professor Patti Adler, who teaches deviant behavior class, is retiring - Local Story

7NEWS - CU sociology professor Patti Adler, who teaches deviant behavior class, is retiring - Local Story
"BOULDER, Colo. - A University of Colorado professor who was briefly barred from teaching a course called "Deviance in U.S. Society" says she is retiring.

The Boulder Daily Camera reported Tuesday sociology professor Patti Adler plans to teach the course this semester and again in May and then retire.

University officials ordered Adler to stop teaching the class in December, saying a role-playing skit on prostitution might have created a hostile environment for students who didn't want to participate. The university relented after an executive committee in the sociology department reviewed and cleared the class."

Michigan chair company founder sues after falling out of chair

Michigan chair company founder sues after falling out of chair | The Detroit News:

Grand Rapids — The founder of a Michigan chair company is suing another furniture company after falling out of a chair and hurting his back.

The lawsuit says David Miller was attending a staff meeting at Grand Rapids Chair in 2012 when he leaned down to pick up a pencil. 

A chair leg broke, sending Miller crashing to the concrete floor.

Miller says sharp pain in his lower back prevented him from continuing to serve as president of the Grand Rapids-area company. 

A lawsuit filed Monday in Grand Rapids federal court seeks more than $75,000.

The lawsuit accuses U.S. Furniture of making a defective chair. 

The California-based company said no one was available to speak to a reporter Tuesday.

History for January 16 -

History for January 16 - On-This-Day.com

Happy Birthday! A.J. Foyt

1547 - Ivan the Terrible was crowned Czar of Russia.

1866 - Mr. Everett Barney patented the metal screw, clamp skate. 


1919 - The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibited the sale or transportation of alcoholic beverages, was ratified. It was later repealed by the 21st Amendment. 


1920 - Prohibition went into effect in the U.S. 









1944 - General Dwight D. Eisenhower took command of the Allied invasion force in London. 


1970 - Colonel Muammar el-Quaddafi became virtual president of Libya.

 

1979 - The Shah of Iran and his family fled Iran for Egypt. 


1988 - Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder was fired as a CBS sports commentator one day after telling a TV station in Washington, DC, that, during the era of slavery, blacks had been bred to produce stronger offspring. 


In 1991, the first Gulf War began as Allied forces launched a major air strike against Iraq (Desert Storm).


2002 - The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted sanctions against Osama bin Laden, his terror network and the remnants of the Taliban. The sanctions required that all nations impose arms embargoes and freeze their finances.