"By 2017, millennials will have more buying power than any other generation.
But so far, they're not spending like their parents did."
Monday, July 21, 2014
Oh crap! They're morons!------10 Things Millennials Won’t Spend Money On
10 Things Millennials Won’t Spend Money On | Money.com:
"By 2017, millennials will have more buying power than any other generation.
But so far, they're not spending like their parents did."
"By 2017, millennials will have more buying power than any other generation.
But so far, they're not spending like their parents did."
War on women?-----Valerie Jarrett-Opinion: We must end pregnancy discrimination
Opinion: We must end pregnancy discrimination - CNN.com:
That's why this week, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued much-needed enforcement guidance on pregnancy discrimination.
It is the first comprehensive update of the commission's guidance in more than 30 years and will translate into real relief for countless women, especially low-income women who are working hard to support their families.
Earlier this year, President Barack Obama hosted a White House Summit on Working Families that focused on the need for 21st century workplaces to adapt to the needs of the 21st century workforce with policies that are good for both families and employers.
Working parents, working families and expectant workers are vital members of our workforce.
Ensuring their success is how we maintain our global economic advantage.
That's why this week, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued much-needed enforcement guidance on pregnancy discrimination.
Earlier this year, President Barack Obama hosted a White House Summit on Working Families that focused on the need for 21st century workplaces to adapt to the needs of the 21st century workforce with policies that are good for both families and employers.
Working parents, working families and expectant workers are vital members of our workforce.
Ensuring their success is how we maintain our global economic advantage.
Feds Gave $1.9 Million Bonus to Nuclear Waste Contractor for ‘Excellent’ Work. You Might Question That Move After Reading This Story
Feds Gave $1.9 Million Bonus to Nuclear Waste Contractor for ‘Excellent’ Work. You Might Question That Move After Reading This Story. | TheBlaze.com
CARLSBAD, N.M. (TheBlaze/AP) — The contractor that operates the federal government’s underground nuclear waste dump in southeastern New Mexico received a $1.9 million bonus earlier this year.
Not necessarily unusual — except that the bonus was awarded just five days after an underground truck fire closed the facility…and another few days before a radiation leak that ultimately contaminated 22 workers at low levels.
The U.S. Department of Energy awarded Nuclear Waste Partnership the funds based on an “excellent” job performance in maintaining the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad, The Albuquerque Journal reported Sunday.
But some observers say last February’s fire and the radiation leak that followed nine days later demonstrate the contractor failed at its job.
CARLSBAD, N.M. (TheBlaze/AP) — The contractor that operates the federal government’s underground nuclear waste dump in southeastern New Mexico received a $1.9 million bonus earlier this year.Not necessarily unusual — except that the bonus was awarded just five days after an underground truck fire closed the facility…and another few days before a radiation leak that ultimately contaminated 22 workers at low levels.
The U.S. Department of Energy awarded Nuclear Waste Partnership the funds based on an “excellent” job performance in maintaining the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad, The Albuquerque Journal reported Sunday.
But some observers say last February’s fire and the radiation leak that followed nine days later demonstrate the contractor failed at its job.
Black and white is the new orange? Sheriff buys jail jumpsuits after orange becomes 'cool'
Black and white is the new orange? Sheriff buys jail jumpsuits after orange becomes 'cool' | MLive.com: "SAGINAW, MI — If orange is the new black, as the popular TV show title says, then black-and-white stripes are the new orange at the Saginaw County Jail.
The jail's all-orange jumpsuits increasingly are viewed as "cool," Saginaw County Sheriff William Federspiel says, prompting him to begin purchasing jumpsuits with horizontal black-and-white stripes for use inside the jail instead.
The choice was not arbitrary, the sheriff says.
"It's because as you see shows on television, like 'Orange Is The New Black,' some people think it's cool to look like an inmate of the Saginaw County Jail with wearing all orange jumpsuits out at the mall or in public," Federspiel says, referring to the Netflix drama.
"It's a concern because we do have our inmates out sometimes doing work in the public, and I don't want anyone to confuse them or have them walk away.
"We decided that the black-and-white stripes would be the best way to go because it signifies 'jail inmate,' and I don't see people out there wanting to wear black-and-white stripes.""
The choice was not arbitrary, the sheriff says.
"It's because as you see shows on television, like 'Orange Is The New Black,' some people think it's cool to look like an inmate of the Saginaw County Jail with wearing all orange jumpsuits out at the mall or in public," Federspiel says, referring to the Netflix drama.
"It's a concern because we do have our inmates out sometimes doing work in the public, and I don't want anyone to confuse them or have them walk away.
"We decided that the black-and-white stripes would be the best way to go because it signifies 'jail inmate,' and I don't see people out there wanting to wear black-and-white stripes.""
Now Michelle Obama Wants to Control How You Shop for Groceries
Now Michelle Obama Wants to Control How You Shop for Groceries:
"Now, Michelle Obama wants to take her nutritional demands from the school system nationwide with major changes being suggested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to nudge Americans to purchase healthier foods. "
"Now, Michelle Obama wants to take her nutritional demands from the school system nationwide with major changes being suggested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to nudge Americans to purchase healthier foods. "Still not enough to fix the roads------State Budget Has Increased $5 Billion the Past Three Years
State Budget Has Increased $5 Billion the Past Three Years [Michigan Capitol Confidential]:
"Amid all the publicity of the city of Detroit’s bankruptcy and bailout, the scramble to find money for road repairs and school superintendents who have spun funding increases as reductions, what may be lost is that the overall state budget is projected to increase by $2 billion in fiscal 2014-15.
In fact, the state will spend about $4.7 billion more than it did in 2011-12, according to the Senate Fiscal Agency.
An increase in federal money accounts for $2 billion of that $4.7 billion increase over the past three years.
The state has appropriated $53.12 billion for 2014-15.
The overall state budget was $48.42 billion in 2011-12, then increased to $48.55 billion in 2012-13 and is at $51.15 billion this year, according to the Senate Fiscal Agency.
Those figures include federal dollars.
For the 2014-15 budget that has been proposed, $21.73 billion is federal money."
"Amid all the publicity of the city of Detroit’s bankruptcy and bailout, the scramble to find money for road repairs and school superintendents who have spun funding increases as reductions, what may be lost is that the overall state budget is projected to increase by $2 billion in fiscal 2014-15.
An increase in federal money accounts for $2 billion of that $4.7 billion increase over the past three years.
The state has appropriated $53.12 billion for 2014-15.
The overall state budget was $48.42 billion in 2011-12, then increased to $48.55 billion in 2012-13 and is at $51.15 billion this year, according to the Senate Fiscal Agency.
Those figures include federal dollars.
For the 2014-15 budget that has been proposed, $21.73 billion is federal money."
The Pageant King of Alabama
The Pageant King of Alabama - NYTimes.com:
"Bill Alverson has advice for everyone. But if you ask for it, be forewarned that you might not like it.
“Clean up your Facebook — it’s too narcissistic.” (To an aspiring Miss Alabama who posted pictures of herself in crown and gown.)
“You have got to lose the ebonics!” (To a woman vying to be Miss Mississippi.)
“That’s fine, because you’re not a chunker.
If you had a weight problem, I’d say you have to lay off all the croissants.” (To a 10-year-old dreaming of a baking career.)
For this, he charges $125 an hour.
And hundreds of aspiring beauty queens pay up.
They call, text, Skype, even drive to his home in Andalusia, Ala., because Alverson is one of the most successful beauty-pageant coaches in America today."
"Bill Alverson has advice for everyone. But if you ask for it, be forewarned that you might not like it.“Clean up your Facebook — it’s too narcissistic.” (To an aspiring Miss Alabama who posted pictures of herself in crown and gown.)
“You have got to lose the ebonics!” (To a woman vying to be Miss Mississippi.)
“That’s fine, because you’re not a chunker.
If you had a weight problem, I’d say you have to lay off all the croissants.” (To a 10-year-old dreaming of a baking career.)
For this, he charges $125 an hour.
And hundreds of aspiring beauty queens pay up.
They call, text, Skype, even drive to his home in Andalusia, Ala., because Alverson is one of the most successful beauty-pageant coaches in America today."
Just another weekend in the gun free zone of Chicago
So… how’s that whole gun free zone thing in Chicago working out?
Even though they came close to setting a new record over the 4th of July, things in the Windy City aren’t slowing down much.
The toll just for Friday afternoon through Saturday morning was impressive in a pretty horrid way.
A 10-year-old girl was shot in the head and critically injured by a stray bullet fired into her home in the Garfield Park neighborhood Friday afternoon, authorities said.The girl, and another 12-year-old shot in the same neighborhood, are among 22 people shot between about 3:30 p.m. and 3 a.m.The 10-year-old was shot in the head in the 3900 block of West Gladys Avenue about 9:35 p.m., said Police News Affairs Officer Amina Greer. The girl was taken, initially in critical condition, to Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Chicago Fire Department, and later was considered in extremely critical condition, according to police. Police said she was brain dead.
Celebrate the Moon Landing(one day late) with Buzz------Watch a 72-year-old Buzz Aldrin punch a jerk in the face for calling him a 'liar'
Watch a 72-year-old Buzz Aldrin punch a jerk in the face for calling him a 'liar' - The Week:
"Watch a 72-year-old Buzz Aldrin punch a jerk in the face for calling him a 'liar'
Buzz Aldrin: Famed astronaut, second man on the moon, and puncher of smug faces."
"Watch a 72-year-old Buzz Aldrin punch a jerk in the face for calling him a 'liar'
Buzz Aldrin: Famed astronaut, second man on the moon, and puncher of smug faces."
Guess Who Said Americans Should Be ‘Proud’ of Obama’s Diplomacy | Video | TheBlaze.com
Guess Who Said Americans Should Be ‘Proud’ of Obama’s Diplomacy | Video | TheBlaze.com: "Secretary of State John Kerry defended President Barack Obama’s foreign policy accomplishments Sunday morning — and he included a jab at the man who beat him in the 2004 presidential campaign."
History for July 21
History for July 21 - On-This-Day.com
1861 - The first major battle of the U.S. Civil War began. It was the Battle of Bull Run at Manassas Junction, VA. The Confederates won the battle.
1925 - The "Monkey Trial" ended in Dayton, TN. John T. Scopes was convicted of violating the state law for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution. The conviction was later overturned.
1957 - Althea Gibson became the first black woman to win a major U.S. tennis title when she won the Women’s National clay-court singles competition.
1959 - A U.S. District Court judge in New York City ruled that "Lady Chatterley’s Lover" was not a dirty book.
1961 - Captain Virgil "Gus" Grissom became the second American to rocket into a sub-orbital pattern around the Earth. He was flying on the Liberty Bell 7.
2004 - White House officials were briefed on the September 11 commission's final report. The 575-page report concluded that hijackers exploited "deep institutional failings within our government." The report was released to the public the next day.
National Get Out of the Doghouse Day
150th birth anniversary of Frances Folsom Cleveland (1864-1947), youngest ever first lady of the US (at 21 years).
Birth anniversary of Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)
Birth anniversary Marshall McLuhan (1911-80): “Most people are alive in an earlier time, but you must be alive in our own time.”
Happy Birthday! Jon Lovitz, Janet Reno, Robin Williams
1861 - The first major battle of the U.S. Civil War began. It was the Battle of Bull Run at Manassas Junction, VA. The Confederates won the battle.
1925 - The "Monkey Trial" ended in Dayton, TN. John T. Scopes was convicted of violating the state law for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution. The conviction was later overturned.
1957 - Althea Gibson became the first black woman to win a major U.S. tennis title when she won the Women’s National clay-court singles competition.
1959 - A U.S. District Court judge in New York City ruled that "Lady Chatterley’s Lover" was not a dirty book.
1961 - Captain Virgil "Gus" Grissom became the second American to rocket into a sub-orbital pattern around the Earth. He was flying on the Liberty Bell 7.
2004 - White House officials were briefed on the September 11 commission's final report. The 575-page report concluded that hijackers exploited "deep institutional failings within our government." The report was released to the public the next day.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Mexico made deal to send more illegal aliens to the U.S. - National Immigration Reform | Examiner.com
Mexico made deal to send more illegal aliens to the U.S. - National Immigration Reform | Examiner.com:
"The Southern Border Program to Improve Passage, will provide for more border checkpoints along Mexico's border with Guatemala, and offer more protection and even emergency medical care to those making their way north. The illegal aliens will receive a so-called Regional Visitor's Card, according to El Universal."
"The Southern Border Program to Improve Passage, will provide for more border checkpoints along Mexico's border with Guatemala, and offer more protection and even emergency medical care to those making their way north. The illegal aliens will receive a so-called Regional Visitor's Card, according to El Universal."CHRISTINA HOFF SOMMERS: Hashtag feminism (e.g. #YesAllWomen) is a scourge. It brings out the worst…
Instapundit » Blog Archive » CHRISTINA HOFF SOMMERS: Hashtag feminism CHRISTINA HOFF SOMMERS:
Hashtag feminism (e.g. #YesAllWomen) is a scourge.
It brings out the worst in contemporary feminism: injustice-collecting, trauma-valorizing, male-bashing.
It also encourages group think and vigilanteeism.
Other than that, it’s fine. . . .
I only recently came to appreciate the limited power of logic, reason and evidence to change minds. Most of us, whether we know it or not, are driven by emotion and group loyalty. Cognitive scientists have long known about a phenomenon called “motivated reasoning”—we tend to use logic and reason, not to discover what we believe, but to confirm what we already think we know. Instead of changing our minds in the face of contradictory evidence, we are more likely to seize on rationalizations for what we already believe. I see this tendency in myself once in a while and try mightily to resist it.
Plus:
The Millennials have been cheated out of a serious education by their Baby Boomer teachers. Call it a generational swindle. Even the best and brightest among the 20-somethings have been shortchanged. Instead of great books, they wasted a lot of time with third-rate political tracts and courses with titles like “Women Writers of the Oklahoma Panhandle.” Instead of spending their college years debating and challenging received ideas, they had to cope with speech codes and identity politics. College educated young women in the U.S. are arguably the most fortunate people in history; yet many of them have drunk deeply from the gender feminist Kool-Aid. Girls at Yale, Haverford and Swarthmore see themselves as oppressed. That is madness. And madness can only last so long. So, I plan to continue writing books and articles, making my Factual Feminist videos and lecturing at as many campuses and laws schools as I can. American colleges have been described as islands of repression in a sea of freedom. I want to encourage rebellion among the islanders.
A little rebellion — maybe even more than a little — would be a good thing."
Hellofa good question!-----Sarah Palin: Why Aren't Illegals Sent to Mark Zuckerberg's Neighborhood?
Sarah Palin: Why Aren't Illegals Sent to Mark Zuckerberg's Neighborhood?:
"On Saturday, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin wondered why President Barack Obama's administration was not dumping illegal immigrant children in exclusive liberal communities in Manhattan, Silicon Valley, and the Washington, D.C. suburbs to live with pro-amnesty advocates.
Speaking at the Western Conservative Summit in Colorado on Saturday, Palin said that politicians and their rich pro-amnesty friends in Silicon Valley or Wall Street can afford the best security for their borders that money can buy in their exclusive, gated communities.
But Palin said when it comes to taking care of the nearly 60,000 illegal immigrant children who have come across the border since October of last year that they do not want deported, the same pro-amnesty advocates want them dumped in other communities.
"Notice they are not hauling illegals to the swanky neighborhoods of D.C. and Manhattan," Palin said.
"They are sending them to middle-class neighborhoods."
The high-tech industry has come under fire, as Palin noted, for pushing for no limits in the number of guest-worker visas that can be awarded to foreigners while laying off American workers.
A week after Bill Gates co-wrote an op-ed calling for an unlimited number of guest-worker visas, Microsoft decided this week to slash 18,000 jobs.
Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg has also spent millions of dollars through his FWD.us group to try to ram through comprehensive amnesty legislation."
"On Saturday, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin wondered why President Barack Obama's administration was not dumping illegal immigrant children in exclusive liberal communities in Manhattan, Silicon Valley, and the Washington, D.C. suburbs to live with pro-amnesty advocates.
Speaking at the Western Conservative Summit in Colorado on Saturday, Palin said that politicians and their rich pro-amnesty friends in Silicon Valley or Wall Street can afford the best security for their borders that money can buy in their exclusive, gated communities. But Palin said when it comes to taking care of the nearly 60,000 illegal immigrant children who have come across the border since October of last year that they do not want deported, the same pro-amnesty advocates want them dumped in other communities.
"Notice they are not hauling illegals to the swanky neighborhoods of D.C. and Manhattan," Palin said.
"They are sending them to middle-class neighborhoods."The high-tech industry has come under fire, as Palin noted, for pushing for no limits in the number of guest-worker visas that can be awarded to foreigners while laying off American workers.
A week after Bill Gates co-wrote an op-ed calling for an unlimited number of guest-worker visas, Microsoft decided this week to slash 18,000 jobs.
Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg has also spent millions of dollars through his FWD.us group to try to ram through comprehensive amnesty legislation."
ISIS Has a Deadly Ultimatum for Christians | TheBlaze.com
ISIS Has a Deadly Ultimatum for Christians | TheBlaze.com:
"Christians in Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, are facing an ultimatum: convert to Islam, pay a tax or abandon everything and leave.
If they don’t, they could be killed."
"Christians in Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, are facing an ultimatum: convert to Islam, pay a tax or abandon everything and leave.If they don’t, they could be killed."
Read this! An example of theft through words!!!!!-------Pension Malpractice and Fund Raids
Pension Malpractice and Fund Raids [Michigan Capitol Confidential]: "
Everyone's doing it!
By JACK MCHUGH | July 16, 2014
A Wall Street Journal editorial bemoans gimmicks used to “pay for” a federal road funding bill without either raising taxes or cutting other spending, which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday:
“Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp is paying for the additional spending with a combination of new custom fees, transfers from a fund to repair leaky underground fuel-storage tanks, and changes to pension taxes. This "pension-smoothing"—which will supply $6.4 billion of the revenue—is an especially ugly budget ruse, and thus increasingly a Congressional favorite.
“Under smoothing, employers are given permission to delay contributions to pension plans, thereby increasing corporate taxable income. That pushes immediate money to the Treasury, but at the cost of piling up pension liabilities in the longer-term, hurting employees and potentially the taxpayers who might have to bail them out. Congress used the same imaginary revenue-raiser to fund the 2012 highway bill, and the Members know most of the media won't report the boring pension details.”
Congressman Camp served one term in the Michigan House of Representatives back in 1988-1990, and as a Congressman perhaps he’s been looking to the gang at his old gig for bad ideas, because both the pension dodge and the raid on a fuel tank cleanup fund have both featured in the Michigan Legislature’s playbook over the past decade, as documented by MichiganVotes.org:
2004 House Bill 6074: Fuel tank cleanup tax "fund raid"
Public Act 390 of 2004
To extend the 7/8ths cent-per-gallon fuel sale "regulatory fee" (tax) levied for the cleanup of underground fuel tanks, and authorize a $43 million "fund raid" on the underground tank cleanup fund to avoid making spending cuts in the 2005 budget.
Passed 87 to 13 in the House on July 14, 2004 - Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Passed 32 to 5 in the Senate on September 29, 2004 - Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on October 12, 2004.
2007 House Bill 4530: Balance budget with reduced school pension fund contribution
Public Act 15 of 2007
To allow a one-time revision in the formula used by the school employee pension fund to determine how large an annual state contribution is required. One of the elements in the formula is the value of equities (stocks) in the pension fund’s portfolio, and the usual practice in determining the required annual contribution is to use a five-year moving average of their value, to account for market fluctuations. The bill would allow a one-year average, which given a strong stock market in the past year, has the effect of reducing the state contribution by $190 million less than the true actuarially sound amount.
Passed 107 to 1 in the House on April 17, 2007 - Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 22, 2007 - Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on June 6, 2007.
This is not to beat up too much on Mr. Camp, who as much as anyone is a captive of a growing institutional breakdown in Washington under the current administration.
The Journal explains:
“Mr. Camp's hand was somewhat forced by a last-ditch Democratic effort to raise the 18.4-cents-a-gallon gas tax. With the failure of President Obama's $300 billion blowout, the House Democratic fallback was to pass a patch that would expire at the end of this year. Their betting was that they and the business community (which wants higher gas taxes) could then leverage a lame-duck session to jam Republicans into a tax hike. Mr. Camp's 10-month extension at least avoids that box canyon.”"
Everyone's doing it!
By JACK MCHUGH | July 16, 2014
A Wall Street Journal editorial bemoans gimmicks used to “pay for” a federal road funding bill without either raising taxes or cutting other spending, which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday:
“Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp is paying for the additional spending with a combination of new custom fees, transfers from a fund to repair leaky underground fuel-storage tanks, and changes to pension taxes. This "pension-smoothing"—which will supply $6.4 billion of the revenue—is an especially ugly budget ruse, and thus increasingly a Congressional favorite.
“Under smoothing, employers are given permission to delay contributions to pension plans, thereby increasing corporate taxable income. That pushes immediate money to the Treasury, but at the cost of piling up pension liabilities in the longer-term, hurting employees and potentially the taxpayers who might have to bail them out. Congress used the same imaginary revenue-raiser to fund the 2012 highway bill, and the Members know most of the media won't report the boring pension details.”
Congressman Camp served one term in the Michigan House of Representatives back in 1988-1990, and as a Congressman perhaps he’s been looking to the gang at his old gig for bad ideas, because both the pension dodge and the raid on a fuel tank cleanup fund have both featured in the Michigan Legislature’s playbook over the past decade, as documented by MichiganVotes.org:
2004 House Bill 6074: Fuel tank cleanup tax "fund raid"Public Act 390 of 2004
To extend the 7/8ths cent-per-gallon fuel sale "regulatory fee" (tax) levied for the cleanup of underground fuel tanks, and authorize a $43 million "fund raid" on the underground tank cleanup fund to avoid making spending cuts in the 2005 budget.
Passed 87 to 13 in the House on July 14, 2004 - Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Passed 32 to 5 in the Senate on September 29, 2004 - Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on October 12, 2004.
2007 House Bill 4530: Balance budget with reduced school pension fund contribution
Public Act 15 of 2007
To allow a one-time revision in the formula used by the school employee pension fund to determine how large an annual state contribution is required. One of the elements in the formula is the value of equities (stocks) in the pension fund’s portfolio, and the usual practice in determining the required annual contribution is to use a five-year moving average of their value, to account for market fluctuations. The bill would allow a one-year average, which given a strong stock market in the past year, has the effect of reducing the state contribution by $190 million less than the true actuarially sound amount.
Passed 107 to 1 in the House on April 17, 2007 - Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on May 22, 2007 - Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on June 6, 2007.
This is not to beat up too much on Mr. Camp, who as much as anyone is a captive of a growing institutional breakdown in Washington under the current administration.
The Journal explains:
“Mr. Camp's hand was somewhat forced by a last-ditch Democratic effort to raise the 18.4-cents-a-gallon gas tax. With the failure of President Obama's $300 billion blowout, the House Democratic fallback was to pass a patch that would expire at the end of this year. Their betting was that they and the business community (which wants higher gas taxes) could then leverage a lame-duck session to jam Republicans into a tax hike. Mr. Camp's 10-month extension at least avoids that box canyon.”"
Imagine if we could leave the takers to take care of their own spending. Imagine!------Would Six Californias Be Better Than One?
Would Six Californias Be Better Than One? - Hit & Run : Reason.com"Should Northern California Secede and Become the State of Jefferson?," produced by Alex Manning. Approximately 5:30 minutes.
Original release date was Jun 9, 2014 and the original writeup is below.
Activists in Northern California, near the border with Oregon, are pushing to secede from the Golden State. They say they're fed up with taxes, regulation, and lack of representation. If they get their way, the country's 51st entrant would be called the State of Jefferson.
"The three major urban areas dictate politics for the entire state," says Mark Baird of the Jefferson Declaration Committee. "Our children are leaving, our economy is crashing, we are taxed, every breath we take is regulated, and we feel that a free state will cure that."To date, five county governments have signed on the plan and more may be joining up."We can't afford to run a California style beauracracy, that is true," says Baird. "But as a small rural state, we don't want to. "The idea of secession in California isn't new. During the Great Depression, folks started pushing a similar plan in the same part of the state, but threw in the towel after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941.Both California's state legislature and the U.S. Congress would have to approve the plan to make Jefferson more than a pipe dream. That's not going to happen any time soon, but Northern California's separatist movement is worth exploring as a way of pushing back against a distant and unresponsive government.
Dominoes..... fallin' fast........First Detroit, Now Flint Warns Bankruptcy "Train Is Headed For The Cliff"
First Detroit, Now Flint Warns Bankruptcy "Train Is Headed For The Cliff" | Zero Hedge:
Flint may be Michigan’s second city to plunge into bankruptcy unless retirees accept cuts in health benefits that threaten to unravel a balanced budget.
As Crain's Detroit reports, Emergency Manager Darnell Earley (Flint’s third emergency leader since it was placed under state control in 2011) warned "If we have no ability to mitigate the cost of retiree health care, that’s going to make it very difficult for the city to remain financially stable over the next few years."
As Eric Scorsone notes, "Flint's at the forefront, but a lot of cities are on the same train, and that train is headed for the cliff."
As Crain's Detroit reports, Emergency Manager Darnell Earley (Flint’s third emergency leader since it was placed under state control in 2011) warned "If we have no ability to mitigate the cost of retiree health care, that’s going to make it very difficult for the city to remain financially stable over the next few years."
As Eric Scorsone notes, "Flint's at the forefront, but a lot of cities are on the same train, and that train is headed for the cliff."
As Detroit draws worldwide attention for its record $18 billion bankruptcy, Flint demonstrates the plight of U.S. cities where unfunded post-retirement costs rival or exceed pension liabilities. In Michigan alone in 2011, municipalities had nearly $13 billion in health-care liabilities for retirees, compared with about $3 billion for pensions. Flint is among 17 cities and school districts under some form of state control.More than 80,000 Flint-area residents were employed by GM in 1978. Now, that number is about 7,500, according to a 2011 report by Michigan State University.In the past two years, the municipal workforce has been cut 20 percent and employees have taken a 20 percent pay cut.
Emergency Manager Earley warns...
Like Detroit, which a year ago this week filed the largest U.S. municipal bankruptcy, Flint has struggled with loss of population, jobs and revenue. The birthplace of General Motors Co. has only half its population of 1960.“If we have no ability to mitigate the cost of retiree health care, that’s going to make it very difficult for the city to remain financially stable over the next few years,” Earley said in an interview at City Hall. Without changes, retiree pension and health expenses would consume 32 percent of the $55 million general fund.“You can stabilize things by making sure that you’ve got the best systems in place for delivering services,” Earley said. “We haven’t had that in Flint for a number of years. We haven’t had that in Detroit for a number of years.”
The retirees are not happy...
The city’s accumulated deficit is $12.9 million, though its budget is balanced through June 30, 2016. Allowing higher insurance co-pays and deductibles for retirees will save $5 million this year, Earley said. That would make retirees’ coverage equal to that of active employees, he said.Retirees already have made wage and pension concessions, and now will pay hundreds of dollars a month for prescriptions and co-pays, their attorney, Alec Gibbs, said in an email. He said retirees on fixed incomes will face life-threatening choices.“Think of the position that they are putting these guys in: Pay for your health-care costs and starve, or use your fixed and paltry income to eke out a painful, shortened life,” Gibbs said.Blaming retirees is unfair, said U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, a Flint-area Democrat who founded the Center for Community Progress, a Washington, D.C.-based advocate for urban revitalization. More culpable, he said, are shrinking local revenue and the state’s cumulative $54.9 million reduction in aid to the city since 2003, according to the Michigan Municipal League.“It’s a conspiracy of bad news,” Kildee said. “The state balanced its budget by unbalancing city budgets.”
This is systemic...
“If Flint were to go to bankruptcy, that would highlight that this legacy-cost problem has to be addressed more globally,” said Eric Scorsone, a Michigan State University economist. “Flint’s at the forefront, but a lot of cities are on the same train, and that train is headed for the cliff.”
Into the mind of liberal madness------Al Gore is the single-issue candidate we need
Al Gore is the single-issue candidate we need - Salon.com:
With Republican pundits speculating on the possibility of a third Mitt Romney bid for the White House, I think it’s appropriate to mention another two-time presidential candidate whose moment has come in 2016 — Al Gore.
Allow me to explain.I have never met Gore, nor am I connected with anyone who has a professional interest in seeing a renaissance for Gore’s political career.
With Republican pundits speculating on the possibility of a third Mitt Romney bid for the White House, I think it’s appropriate to mention another two-time presidential candidate whose moment has come in 2016 — Al Gore.
Allow me to explain.I have never met Gore, nor am I connected with anyone who has a professional interest in seeing a renaissance for Gore’s political career.
Similarly, I am not writing this article in my capacities as a political columnist, graduate student or local Pennsylvania politician, but as a concerned citizen — not only of the United States, but of the world.
Like President Obama, who made news this week by pointing out that the climate change crisis threatens every aspect of America’s future, I want to make sure my children will grow up in a strong country, one that is safe and secure on a healthy planet.
And America needs Al Gore to make a bid for the White House because of his unique credibility on anthropogenic global warming.
Like President Obama, who made news this week by pointing out that the climate change crisis threatens every aspect of America’s future, I want to make sure my children will grow up in a strong country, one that is safe and secure on a healthy planet.
And America needs Al Gore to make a bid for the White House because of his unique credibility on anthropogenic global warming.
Boom: Harry Reid Tried To Silence Ted Cruz And It Completely Backfired In His Face
Boom: Harry Reid Tried To Silence Ted Cruz And It Completely Backfired In His Face:
"While Obama’s unilateral move resulted in deferred action in the case of illegals under a certain age who crossed the border as a child and maintained certain requirements while living in the U.S., Cruz contended that this policy has attracted the tens of thousands of Central American minors currently flooding the Mexican border.
In his response, Reid suggested that the executive order automatically legitimized these illegals, making them impervious to deportation efforts."
"While Obama’s unilateral move resulted in deferred action in the case of illegals under a certain age who crossed the border as a child and maintained certain requirements while living in the U.S., Cruz contended that this policy has attracted the tens of thousands of Central American minors currently flooding the Mexican border.In his response, Reid suggested that the executive order automatically legitimized these illegals, making them impervious to deportation efforts."
Big government vs YOU!-----------Justin Amash's support for free enterprise earns enmity of Big Business
Justin Amash's support for free enterprise earns enmity of Big Business | WashingtonExaminer.com:
"The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has jumped into a Republican congressional primary in Michigan, trying to defeat incumbent Rep. Justin Amash.
Amash's crime: being stubbornly consistent in opposing big government.
The Chamber's endorsement of Amash's opponent helps clarify some things that have long been true, but which have been muddled in the public eye and used against conservatives.
The first myth put to rest: Libertarianism and free enterprise are defenses of Big Business.
The second myth exposed: Challenging an incumbent in a primary is somehow impious or unsporting.
Amash is arguably the strongest defender of free enterprise in the House.
His rating from the Club for Growth is 100 percent.
He comes in second out of 435 House members on the National Taxpayers Union scorecard.
This consistency earned him a primary from Grand Rapids businessman Brian Ellis.
Ellis explained that Amash is too beholden to principles and the Constitution: “He's got his explanations for why he's voted," Ellis said, "but I don't really care.
I'm a businessman, I look at the bottom line.”"
"The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has jumped into a Republican congressional primary in Michigan, trying to defeat incumbent Rep. Justin Amash.Amash's crime: being stubbornly consistent in opposing big government.
The Chamber's endorsement of Amash's opponent helps clarify some things that have long been true, but which have been muddled in the public eye and used against conservatives.
The first myth put to rest: Libertarianism and free enterprise are defenses of Big Business.
The second myth exposed: Challenging an incumbent in a primary is somehow impious or unsporting.
Amash is arguably the strongest defender of free enterprise in the House.
His rating from the Club for Growth is 100 percent.
He comes in second out of 435 House members on the National Taxpayers Union scorecard.
This consistency earned him a primary from Grand Rapids businessman Brian Ellis.
Ellis explained that Amash is too beholden to principles and the Constitution: “He's got his explanations for why he's voted," Ellis said, "but I don't really care.
I'm a businessman, I look at the bottom line.”"
Soooooo. The problem is guns? And the "fix" is.....?--------Sad list: Muskegon County's eight homicides -- six in Muskegon Heights -- since April 23
Sad list: Muskegon County's eight homicides -- six in Muskegon Heights -- since April 23 | MLive.com:
"MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI –
Muskegon County police agencies have reported eight homicides in 2014 as of July 16.
Six of those were in Muskegon Heights.
All eight happened within less than 12 weeks between April 23 and July 11.
All were caused by gunfire.
Five of the shooting deaths, including four in Muskegon Heights, happened in an 18-day period starting June 24."
"MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI –
Muskegon County police agencies have reported eight homicides in 2014 as of July 16.Six of those were in Muskegon Heights.
All eight happened within less than 12 weeks between April 23 and July 11.
All were caused by gunfire.
Five of the shooting deaths, including four in Muskegon Heights, happened in an 18-day period starting June 24."
Donkey suicide bomb stopped by Israeli troops in Gaza
Donkey suicide bomb stopped by Israeli troops in Gaza - Telegraph:
"They used this donkey as a human shield, or an animal shield, if you like," said Major Arye Shalicar, an army spokesman.
"Anything, an animal or an international building, that can help make use of innocent people or international [citizens], they will use it.
We see it time and again."
"They used this donkey as a human shield, or an animal shield, if you like," said Major Arye Shalicar, an army spokesman. "Anything, an animal or an international building, that can help make use of innocent people or international [citizens], they will use it.
We see it time and again."
Who’d a-thunk it? Socialism is demoralizing, socially corrosive, and promotes individual dishonesty and cheating?
Who’d a-thunk it? Socialism is demoralizing, socially corrosive, and promotes individual dishonesty and cheating? | AEIdeas:
Who’d a-thunk it? Socialism is demoralizing, socially corrosive, and promotes individual dishonesty and cheating?
Here’s the abstract of the research paper “The (True) Legacy of Two Really Existing Economic Systems“:
By running an experiment among Germans collecting their passports or ID cards in the citizen centers of Berlin, we find that individuals with an East German family background cheat significantly more on an abstract task than those with a West German family background. The longer individuals were exposed to socialism, the more likely they were to cheat on our task. While it was recently argued that markets decay morals (Falk and Szech, 2013), we provide evidence that other political and economic regimes such as socialism might have an even more detrimental effect on individuals’ behavior.
And here’s part of the conclusion:
If socialism indeed promotes individual dishonesty, the specific features of this socio-political system that lead to this outcome remain to be determined. The East German socialist regime differed from the West German capitalist regime in several important ways. First, the system did not reward work based to merit, and made it difficult to accumulate wealth or pass anything on to one’s family. This may have resulted in a lack of meaning leading to demoralization (Ariely et al., 2008), and perhaps less concern for upholding standards of honesty.Furthermore, while the government claimed to exist in service of the people, it failed to provide functional public systems or economic security. Observing thismoral hypocrisy in government may have eroded the value citizens placed on honesty. Finally, and perhaps most straightforwardly, the political and economic system pressured people to work around official laws and cheat to game the system. Over time, individuals may come to normalize these types of behaviors. Given these distinct possible influences, further research will be needed to understand which aspects of socialism have the strongest or most lasting impacts on morality.
Watch: Oliver North Just Put A Target On Obama’s Back And Hit The Bullseye
Watch: Oliver North Just Put A Target On Obama’s Back And Hit The Bullseye:"Lt. Col. Oliver North was on Fox News’ America’s Newsroom discussing the Obama Administration’s lack of foreign policy strategy. North is asked about the growing list of foreign policy issues:"
Single Mother Facing 3 Years in NJ Prison for Being Honest about Legal Gun
Single Mother Facing 3 Years in NJ Prison for Being Honest about Legal Gun
A 27-year-old single mother from Philadelphia could face 3 years in a New Jersey prison for being honest about her legally owned gun.
Shaneen Allen had already been robbed twice last year and decided to get a firearm to keep herself and her children safe.
She took a gun safety course, applied for a concealed carry permit and it was granted.
But going to New Jersey and not being aware of the reciprocity laws could put her in big trouble with the anti-gun state.
When Allen was stopped for a minor traffic offense in New Jersey she was completely honest about her legally owned gun and everything spiraled out of control from there.
Even the police officer said that the fact that she opened her mouth about her gun was what messed up her life.
But having a concealed handgun in NJ was not her only problem.
“The judge tried to tell me that telling the truth messed me up, my life up and the cop said the same thing. Me opening my mouth and speaking out he said I’m one out of ten people that spoke up and was honest and that got me in trouble,” she said.
Allen was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of hollow-point bullets which were in the gun. Under New Jersey gun laws, the illegal possession of a gun is a second-degree felony which holds a minimum sentence of three-years in prison.
A 27-year-old single mother from Philadelphia could face 3 years in a New Jersey prison for being honest about her legally owned gun.Shaneen Allen had already been robbed twice last year and decided to get a firearm to keep herself and her children safe.
She took a gun safety course, applied for a concealed carry permit and it was granted.
But going to New Jersey and not being aware of the reciprocity laws could put her in big trouble with the anti-gun state.
When Allen was stopped for a minor traffic offense in New Jersey she was completely honest about her legally owned gun and everything spiraled out of control from there.
Even the police officer said that the fact that she opened her mouth about her gun was what messed up her life.
But having a concealed handgun in NJ was not her only problem.
“The judge tried to tell me that telling the truth messed me up, my life up and the cop said the same thing. Me opening my mouth and speaking out he said I’m one out of ten people that spoke up and was honest and that got me in trouble,” she said.
Allen was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of hollow-point bullets which were in the gun. Under New Jersey gun laws, the illegal possession of a gun is a second-degree felony which holds a minimum sentence of three-years in prison.
Muskegon Bike Time - Patriot Ride
Muskegon Bike Time - Events:
PATRIOT RIDE
Sunday, July 20- 2014
Hot Rod Harley-Davidson Parking Lot
Registration Begins...........9:00 am (Hot Rod Harley)
Ride Leaves.....................10:30 am (Hot Rod Harley)
Ride Returns...................NOON (Western Ave.- Steel Horse Alley)
Take a police escorted non-stop scenic ride of the area with 200+ of your closest friends.
Ride is approximately 1.5 hours and begins and ends at Hot Rod Harley-Davidson.
Suggested donation is $10 per person.
Ride donations go to Every Women’s Place and the Veterans Association.
Patriot Ride Route Map"
PATRIOT RIDE
Sunday, July 20- 2014
Hot Rod Harley-Davidson Parking Lot
Registration Begins...........9:00 am (Hot Rod Harley)
Ride Leaves.....................10:30 am (Hot Rod Harley)
Ride Returns...................NOON (Western Ave.- Steel Horse Alley)
Take a police escorted non-stop scenic ride of the area with 200+ of your closest friends.
Ride is approximately 1.5 hours and begins and ends at Hot Rod Harley-Davidson.
Suggested donation is $10 per person.
Ride donations go to Every Women’s Place and the Veterans Association.
Patriot Ride Route Map"
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