Thursday, January 01, 2009

Daly said...... the PGA Tour suspended him for six months.

My Way - Sports News
"John Daly smashed one tee shot off the top of a beer can during a pro-am. At another tournament, he returned from a rain delay with Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden as his caddie. And his most memorable photo this year came in an orange jail suit, eyes half-closed....
Daly said .....'Is it fair that I got suspended?' he said. 'It's not fair in reality, but it's probably fair in perception.'"

Baltimore not as bloody in '08 with fewer killings

Baltimore not as bloody in '08 with fewer killings
"Police in the city once nicknamed 'Bodymore, Murdaland,' are going after the most entrenched criminals and are starting to see success. As of midnight Thursday, there were 234 homicides in 2008, down from 282 killings a year ago."

Suspicious packages force mass evacuation in Aspen

Suspicious packages force mass evacuation in Aspen
"Suspicious packages and threatening notes were found at two banks, forcing the evacuation of a 16-block downtown area. A fireworks show was pushed back from 8:30 p.m. until midnight and then canceled altogether."

The lightbulb of the future?

The lightbulb of the future?
Luxim's plasma lightbulb
Silicon Valley's Luxim has developed a lightbulb the size of a Tic Tac that gives off as much light as a streetlight. ..."

Government aid could save U.S. newspapers, spark debate | Special Coverage | Reuters

Government aid could save U.S. newspapers, spark debate Special Coverage Reuters

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Today in Investor's Business Daily stock analysis and business news

Today in Investor's Business Daily stock analysis and business news: "As we've noted, 2008 has been a year of records for cold and snowfall and may indeed be the coldest year of the 21st century thus far. In the U.S., the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration registered 63 local snowfall records and 115 lowest-ever temperatures for the month of October.
Global thermometers stopped rising after 1998, and have plummeted in the last two years by more than 0.5 degrees Celsius. The 2007-2008 temperature drop was not predicted by global climate models. But it was predictable by a decline in sunspot activity since 2000.
When the sun is active, it's not uncommon to see sunspot numbers of 100 or more in a single month. Every 11 years, activity slows, and numbers briefly drop near zero. Normally sunspots return very quickly, as a new cycle begins. But this year, the start of a new cycle, the sun has been eerily quiet."

Las Vegas public pension system broke

Las Vegas Business Press
"'We are the only state with no minimum age,' he said.

Nevada requires 20 years on the job to qualify for the pension.

More alarming, Hill said, were health care benefits offered retired public employees."

Let There Be Dark?

Let There Be Dark?
"Moving past the term “controlling light wastage,” which seems to be little more than a euphemism for darker city streets, plenty of data link dim urban areas with higher crime rates. A 2004 study in the Journal of British Criminology, for example, studied 13 U.S. and British cities and concluded that improved street lighting, on average, was associated with a 20 percent decrease in crime. In contrast, I could find no data linking the inability to see the Milky Way with any sort of harm to anyone."

Uncle Jay Explains: Year-end! 12-22-08

Monday, December 29, 2008

Michelle O's a 'Goddess.' Palin is 'Worst Dressed' | NewsBusters.org

Fashion Writer: Michelle O's a 'Goddess.' Palin is 'Worst Dressed' NewsBusters.org: "It appears Obamamania has not only infiltrated British newspapers, but so has Palin Derangement Syndrome...even in the fashion section."

We must face facts!
THEY are always deranged about something/someone...
Bummer dudes!

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Muskegon outsourcing?


I just was told that the address we must use to send in our city of Muskegon property taxes is in Chicago.... yes, THAT Chicago.

The Chicago of Senators-for-sale, Governors making license plates, "The Dailey Machine", "SouthSidePolitical Machine", etc.

And, oh yeah, home of our President-elect.

Anyway, I have a few thoughts about Muskegon outsourcing our tax collection services.

1. WHY!!!!!!

I assume the "official" reason is that it is "cheaper/more efficient" to outsource a city duty to the 2nd most corrupt city in the midwest (imagine if we outsourced to Detroit!).

2. But if it is "cheaper/more efficient" where are the savings right here in Muskegon?

What jobs have been cut?

What net savings accrue to us poor Muskegonites by this fiscal efficiency?

3. Why the silence from the City of Muskegon?

Why are we not proudly told by the city of their brilliant move to save costs to the taxpayers?

4. Why isn't The Muskegon Chronicle front-paging the great news that the city of Muskegon is utilizing the same methods of efficiency that The Chronicle recently imposed, ITSELF, to save moolah, outsourcing?

5. And if not pride at the new efficiency:

Where is the outrage?

The angry, double-dog umbrage!

The "say it ain't so Joe!" in high dudgeon from the editorialistas of our Muskegon Chronicle who have long warned us of the evils of outsourcing?

6. The silence is... not deafening.... simply consistent from our city of Muskegon and its lapdog/newspaper of self-destruction.

7. Or it might just be that someone paid someone to make the deal and we, the taxpayers are screwed again.

Thank God for Indiana!

GordoM-prefers-Muskegon-but-is-comforted-that-Indiana-"self"-outsourcing-is-an-option

SensaAbilities - Muskegon Opinion - The Muskegon Chronicle Online - Michigan Newspaper - MLive.com

SensaAbilities
If you feel overwhelmed by too much stuff, too many responsibilities, and too little time and money, 'Voluntary Simplicity' may be for you. West Michigan Interfaith will sponsor the five-week discussion series 6-8 p.m. Thursdays Jan. 8-Feb. 5 at the Torrent House, across from Hackley Public Library.
Developed by Northwest Earth Institute, this program is for all who want a path away from environmental destruction and toward an increasing awareness of how personal choices impact physical, emotional and spiritual health. The study guide quotes wisdom from a variety of spiritual teachers and philosophers who have found both inner and outer peace in a simple lifestyle.
The series is FREE, but participants are expected to read a chapter each week from a study guide, which can be purchased from Northwest Institute for $25 each; guides may be shared. Call Connie at (616) 846-8465 to register."

"Free" is $25 bucks?
Newspeak it is!

Detroit vs. Green Bay - Recap - December 28, 2008

Detroit vs. Green Bay - Recap - December 28, 2008: "The Detroit Lions own a distinction no team wants: worst in NFL history."

A PERFECT SEASON, dude!

Indy tradition dead!

My Way - Sports News
"Earlier this week, the speedway began making changes as it closed its 45-year-old hotel, the Brickyard Crossing Inn, where some drivers used to stay in May and scenes from Paul Newman's movie 'Winning' were shot."

What, no bailout for Indy motels?

Anger, sadness over fabricated Holocaust story

Anger, sadness over fabricated Holocaust story
"The damage is broad. Publishing, the most trusting of industries, has again been burned by a memoir that fact-checking might have prevented. Berkley is an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), which in March pulled Margaret B. Jones''Love and Consequences' after the author acknowledged she had invented her story of gang life in Los Angeles. Winfrey fell, as she did with James Frey, for a narrative of suffering and redemption better suited for television than for history."

"most trusting of...."?
Sounds more like laziness and wilful ignorance.
All in a business that thrives on both.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Muskegon County sued by U.S. over sexual harassment - MLive.com

Muskegon County sued by U.S. over sexual harassment - MLive.com: "The federal lawsuit -- one of only 12 such filed this year in the United States -- alleges the county 'failed to respond with adequate remedial measures' to employee Eva Amaya's complaints of multiple instances of sexual harassment, and to similar complaints by other employees."

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Monday, December 22, 2008

U.S. newspaper shuns Web, and thrives

U.S. newspaper shuns Web, and thrives
"'Why would I put anything on the Web?' asked Dan Jacobson, the publisher and owner of the newspaper. 'I don't understand how putting content on the Web would do anything but help destroy our paper. Why should we give our readers any incentive whatsoever to not look at our content along with our advertisements, a large number of which are beautiful and cheap full-page ads?'"

The "progressives" who run our nation's newspapers thought that joint operating agreements (like the destructive "merging of The Detroit News & FreePress) would allow each newspaper to have a monopoly.

And they were right!

Except monopolies rarely produce high quality...... and progressives were never interested in quality to begin with. So......

The customers took the free stuff (who needs quality when it's free!) and dropped the rest.

It is amazing that newspaper owners are at a total loss as to why their companies are collapsing.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Solis' Selection for Secretary of Labor | National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation

Solis' Selection for Secretary of Labor National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation: "Right to Work President Mark Mix discusses Obama's upcoming appointment of forced unionism activist Hilda Solis as Secretary of Labor with Neil Cavuto of Fox News:"