History for February 21

History for February 21 - On-This-Day.com

Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, TX (Feb 21-22). Seewww.cowboy-poetry.org

In 1885, the Washington Monument was dedicated.

Happy Birthday! Charlotte Church, Gary Lockwood, Alan Rickman

1842 - John J. Greenough patented the sewing machine.
 

1848 - The Communist Manifesto was published by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. 

1878 - The first telephone directories issued in the U.S. were distributed to residents in New Haven, CT. It was a single page of only fifty names. 


1904 - The National Ski Association was formed in Ishpeming, MI. 













1916 - During World War I, the Battle of Verdun began in France. The battle ended on December 18, 1916 with a French victory over Germany. 


1947 - Edwin Land demonstrated the Polaroid Land Camera to the Optical Society of America in New York City. It was the first camera to take, develop and print a picture on photo paper all in about 60 seconds. The photos were black and white. The camera went on sale the following year. 


1965 - Malcolm X was assassinated in New York City at the age of 39 by assassins identified as Black Muslims. 


1975 - Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell and former White House aides H.R. Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman were sentenced to 2 1/2 to 8 years in prison for their roles in the Watergate cover-up. 


1988 - In Baton Rouge, LA, TV evangelist Jimmy Swaggart confessed to his congregation that he was guilty of an unspecified sin. He announced that he was leaving the pulpit temporarily. Swaggart had been linked to an admitted prostitute.

Obama White House: After Minimum Wage Increase, Employers can Learn to Accept ‘Lower Profit Margins’

Obama White House: After Minimum Wage Increase, Employers can Learn to Accept ‘Lower Profit Margins’:

The White House sprang into action on Tuesday and defended the minimum wage increase as a function of helping millions of lower-class Americans make ends meet. Jason Furman, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, and Betsey Stevenson, Council of Economic Advisers member wrote on the official White House website (emphasis added)

“Overall the logic for the finding that raising the minimum wage does not result in large adverse impacts on employment is that paying workers a better wage can improve productivity and thereby reduce unit labor costs. These adjustments, along with others that firms can make, help explain why the increase in the minimum wage need not lead to a reduction in employment. Higher wages lead to lower turnover, reducing the amount employers must spend recruiting and training new employees. Paying workers more can also improve motivation, morale, focus, and health, all of which can make workers more productive. In addition, by reducing absenteeism, higher wages can increase the productivity of coworkers who depend on each other or work in teams. In addition, businesses can adjust in other ways rather than reducing employment (for example, by accepting lower profit margins). CBO’s estimates do not appear to fully reflect the increased emphasis on all of these factors from the recent economics literature.”

Well federal grant fraud is a crime...right?-----Women, children and puppies hurt most!-----------Climate change brings more crime

Climate change brings more crime - latimes.com:

"A new study broadens a notion held by the earliest criminologists: Periods of higher temperatures -- on an hour-by-hour or week-to-week basis -- are likely to produce more crime.

The study by Matthew Ranson of Abt Associates, a research and consulting firm in Cambridge, Mass., suggests global warming will trigger more crimes including murders and rapes over the next century, with social costs estimated to run as high as $115 billion.

Between 2010 and 2099, climate change can be expected to cause an additional 22,000 murders, 180,000 cases of rape, 1.2 million aggravated assaults, 2.3 million simple assaults, 260,000 robberies, 1.3 million burglaries, 2.2 million cases of larceny and 580,000 cases of vehicle theft, the study published this week in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management says."

Armed Mom fights back against home invaders forcing them to retreat!

Armed Mom fights back against home invaders forcing them to retreat!:
"Watch as this armed Mother fights back against home invaders on Detroit’s west side.
As you know it ALWAYS pays to be prepared.
Imagine the tragedy that would have occurred in this situation if the gun grabbers had their way and this mother and her children were left defenseless!
Fortunately, this was not the case and she and her children not only survived, but scored a victory for the good guys!"

OMG, it's a war against gravity!!!----------------Don't just sit there! It could be harmful later in life

Don't just sit there! It could be harmful later in life:

"Sitting too much, sometimes called sitting disease, may increase the risk of disability in people over age 60, a new study suggests.

Adults this age spend an average of two-thirds of their waking time being sedentary -- roughly nine hours a day, the research showed.

 Every additional hour adults over age 60 spend sitting increases by 50% their risk of being disabled for activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and walking, says the study's lead author Dorothy Dunlop, a professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Too many people "have very low levels of activity," she says."

ObamaFraud cooking the books.... again-----------More than 12,000 congressional staffers have enrolled in health plans through Obamacare

More than 12,000 congressional staffers have enrolled in health plans through Obamacare - The Washington Post:
"Thousands of people have purchased health coverage through the District of Columbia’s new small-business insurance marketplace, but only a tiny fraction of them actually own or work for a small business.
The rest are members of or work for a single large organization — Congress."

Pure, unadulterated waste of time...and MONEY!-------------Federal report says U.S. regulations exceed cost of India's economy

Ken Braun: Federal report says U.S. regulations exceed cost of India's economy | MLive.com

With a cost of $1.8 trillion per year, the price of federal regulations is nearly as large as every penny of annual economic activity taking place in Russia, India, Italy or Canada, four of the eleven biggest economies on Earth. 

......Frightening as this all sounds, the truly terrifying news is the source of the information. 

It’s not Fox News or a Republican talking point. 

It’s not a university research paper or from a think tank. 

Instead, it’s an estimate produced by the federal government itself.

OMG! The potheads are discovering private competition....what a concept.....dude.....--------People In Other States Say Colorado Pot Is Better, Stronger

People In Other States Say Colorado Pot Is Better, Stronger « CBS Denver:
"SAN ANTONIO, Texas (CBS4) – Colorado is one of 20 states where medical marijuana is legal and one of two states where recreational pot is legal for adults.
Texas is not one of those states, but some people who live there claim they are getting high thanks to family and friends shipping the drug to them.
One woman living in San Antonio, who didn’t want her identity revealed, told CBS station KEYE-TV she smokes pot every day.
“I have friends and other acquaintances who know people there,” said the woman.
Her hookup isn’t the dealer down the street but lives in Colorado and sends it to her.
Since marijuana was legalized in Colorado, pot smokers in other states claim they can get better quality marijuana since there is more competition."

Wisconsin SEIU's message: Nice job you got there, be a shame if you lost it

Wisconsin SEIU's message: Nice job you got there, be a shame if you lost it | WashingtonExaminer.com:
"Here's how it works: Milwaukee County officials approved a living wage requirement for local government contractors to pay at least $11.33 per hour. 
SEIU's Wisconsin Jobs Now campaign was the main backer of the requirement.

But the new law includes a convenient way for contractors to avoid having to pay the living wage — they can agree to force their employees to join SEIU.
Pay up or else.

In other words, SEIU's message is this: 
You can pay us this way or you can pay us that way, but the bottom line here is you are going to pay.

The union doesn't care which way you go.
If a contractor opts to pay the living wage, the union can claim credit, thus strengthening its appeal to workers to join voluntarily.
Or the contractor can get off the hook by shifting the burden to employees who then have to pay the SEIU for the privilege of holding a job.
Expect to see this approach more frequently across the country as unions cast about for ways to reverse the membership decline that has been evident for years."

Why is the Obama Administration Putting Government Monitors in Newsrooms?

Why is the Obama Administration Putting Government Monitors in Newsrooms? | RedState:
"The Obama Administration’s Federal Communication Commission (FCC) is poised to place government monitors in newsrooms across the country in an absurdly draconian attempt to intimidate and control the media.

Before you dismiss this assertion as utterly preposterous (we all know how that turned out when the Tea Party complained that it was being targeted by the IRS), this bombshell of an accusation comes from an actual FCC Commissioner."

Drivers ticketed for failing to clear snow off vehicles under new 'ice missile' law

Drivers ticketed for failing to clear snow off vehicles under new 'ice missile' law | Mail Online:
"Drivers ticketed for failing to clear snow off their vehicles under new 'ice missile' law
New Connecticut law lets police cite motorists who drive with snow, ice piled atop their vehicles
Lawmaker began pushing law after a sheet of ice flew off a truck, struck his wife's windshield
The law highlights a problem for the trucking industry: 
How do you get ice off an 18-wheeler?"

.......At $120 per summons that amounts to $27,600 in tickets in a month and a half.

The fine is $75, plus $45 in various surcharges.

I Am a Ukrainian

Vote or pay. Simple choice------Want to vote absentee in Muskegon County's upcoming school millage election? Here's how

Note this "helpful" article neglects to tell us the amount of the millage election.
It is $43 MILLION!

Want to vote absentee in Muskegon County's upcoming school millage election? Here's how | MLive.com: "MUSKEGON, MI -- Saturday is the deadline to obtain an absentee ballot to vote in Tuesday's Muskegon County-wide school millage election.

The county's 11 traditional public school districts are seeking a 10-year 1-mill property tax increase to pay for security and technology improvements.
The measure is being pursued by the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District, which will forward all proceeds of the tax to the school districts on a per-pupil basis."

Gov't Monitors in Newsrooms? FCC to Look Into Media Decision-Making

Gov't Monitors in Newsrooms? FCC to Look Into Media Decision-Making | Fox News Insider:
"In a controversial move, the Obama administration is looking to send the FCC in to investigate how the media chooses stories.
Shannon Bream reported this morning on the plan, which is quickly drawing criticism as a possible infringement on the freedom of the press.

The Multi-Market Study of Critical Information Needs (CINs) initiative was proposed last May
.
The FCC explained that it wanted information from television and radio broadcasters "to ascertain the process by which stories are selected, station priorities (for content production quality, and populations served), perceived station bias, perceived percent of news dedicated to each of the eight CIN's and perceived responsiveness to underserved populations."

The FCC has identified eight CINs, or key topics that the government believes should be covered."

The Official Forecast of the U.S. Government Never Saw This Winter Coming

The Official Forecast of the U.S. Government Never Saw This Winter Coming - Businessweek:
"Surprised by how tough this winter has been?
You’re in good company:
Last fall the Climate Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted that temperatures would be above normal from November through January across much of the Lower 48 states. 
This graphic shows just how wrong the official forecast of the U.S. government was:"

History for February 20

History for February 20 - On-This-Day.com
World Day for Social Justice (United Nations)

In 1895, Frederick Douglass died. He was born probably in February 1817.

Birth anniversaries of Ansel Adams (1902-84), Robert Altman (1925-2006), Carl E. Stotz, founder of Little League baseball (1920-92).

Happy Birthday! Jennifer O’Neill, Sidney Poitier, Bobby Unser

1792 - U.S. President George Washington signed the Postal Service Act thereby creating the U.S. Post Office. 


1809 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the power of the federal government was greater than that of any individual state. 


1839 - The U.S. Congress prohibited dueling in the District of Columbia. 

1872 - Luther Crowell received a patent for a machine that manufactured paper bags. 


1872 - Silas Noble and J.P. Cooley patented the toothpick manufacturing machine. 



1944 - "Big Week" began as U.S. bombers began raiding German aircraft manufacturing centers during World War II. 

1962 - John Glenn made space history when he orbited the world three times in 4 hours, 55 minutes. He was the first American to orbit the Earth. He was aboard the Friendship 7 Mercury capsule.
 

1987 - A bomb exploded in a computer store in Salt Lake City, UT. The blast was blamed on the Unabomber. 


1998 - American Tara Lipinski, at age 15, became the youngest gold medalist in winter Olympics history when she won the ladies' figure skating title at Nagano, Japan. 


2003 - In West Warwick, RI, 99 people were killed when fire destroyed the nightclub The Station. The fire started with sparks from a pyrotechnic display being used by Great White. Ty Longley, guitarist for Great White, was one of the victims in the fire.

Rogue Chihuahuas overrun Arizona town

Rogue Chihuahuas overrun Arizona town | Rare:

"Stray packs of Chihuahuas have taken over the streets of one Arizona town, striking fear into the hearts of its residents with their jagged teeth and high-pitched yelps.

Animal control has been doing their best to handle the situation in Maryvale, a town in Phoenix, but the little rat dogs have proven to be a formidable force.

 “We compared the number of calls we got in 2013 from that area to similar areas in town and the calls from Maryvale were three times higher than surrounding areas,” said Melissa Gable with Maricopa County Animal Care and Control."

Obama orders new green rules

Obama orders new green rules | TheHill:
"Obama also vocally defended his prior work on fuel efficiency standards, arguing doomsday predictions about how the auto industry would react to new regulations had not been borne out.
In Obama's first term, the administration completed fuel standards requiring a 20 percent reduction in heavy-vehicle emissions by 2018, as well as a 35.5 miles per gallon average on regular automobiles.

“Every time somebody says you can't grow the economy while bringing down pollution, it's turned out they've been wrong,” Obama said."

Faculty Hampering Heroin Bust At Elementary School

Faculty Hampering Heroin Bust At Elementary School » Black & Right:
"When it’s not all about The Children….
Fallsburg (New York) police investigating the reported discovery of heroin and drug paraphernalia in a faculty bathroom at Benjamin Cosor Elementary School say the refusal by a group of teachers to cooperate is hampering their probe.

 No one has been charged, but six teachers and an aide were identified as having used the men’s room before a school staff member reportedly found a heroin baggie on Feb. 11.

Just before the winter break in December, heroin and needles were reportedly found in the same bathroom.

Each of the seven faculty members initially agreed to give urine samples, but then rescinded their cooperation and hired lawyers on the advice of the school district’s union, Fallsburg police Chief Simmie Williams said."

Fourth Georgia hospital closes due to Obamacare cuts

Fourth Georgia hospital closes due to Obamacare cuts | The Daily Caller:

"The fourth Georgia hospital in two years is closing its doors due to severe financial difficulties caused by Obamacare’s payment cuts for emergency services.
The Lower Oconee Community Hospital is, for now, a critical access hospital in southeastern Georgia that holds 25 beds.

The hospital is suffering from serious cash-flow problems, largely due to the area’s 23 percent uninsured population, and hopes to reopen as “some kind of urgent care center,” CEO Karen O’Neal said."

Who’d a-thunk it? Student success is not ‘Priority No. 1′ for most unionized public school teachers?

Who’d a-thunk it? Student success is not ‘Priority No. 1′ for most unionized public school teachers? | AEIdeas:
"But in a distorted teacher union-dominated world you would be wrong, because student success is obviously not the primary concern of the public school monopoly.
Preservation of the status quo and a continuation of the current failed public school model, and preserving its power, are the primary concerns of the teachers unions and their administrative enablers, which now includes the New York mayor.
In the insane, upside-down world of public school unions, Eva Moskowitz is the teachers union’s Enemy No. 1 for daring to make student success Priority No. 1 at her successful charter schools. 
Unfortunately, it now looks like continuing and duplicating the success of charter schools including Moskowitz’s Success Academies will be much more difficult in New York City, and thousands of poor children will be casualties of the new mayor’s “War on Charters.”"

Minimum Wage Hike Attacks Young and Industrious

Minimum Wage Hike Attacks Young and Industrious | CNS News:
""It would lift millions of Americans out of poverty, and help millions more work their way out of poverty, without requiring a single dollar in new taxes or spending," said Obama. 
Perhaps he is right.
"Tax" may not precisely describe Obama's proposal.
"Attack" might be more accurate.
Who is targeted by this assault on free enterprise?
Industrious young people — those who, historically, have been on their way up in America — and the entrepreneurs who employ them."