Stop the Muskegon Madness!

I believe it is everyone's civic duty to try to stop expensive, pork-laden projects that will benefit few and actually hurt the city of Muskegon.

And the "concrete canyon" (derived from the suicidal "CoolCities" debacle) design for the remains of "downtown" Muskegon fits my description of civic duty.

Here's why:

This entire porkfest is a quest to build an $8.6 million dollar multistory parking ramp across from the downtown Muskegon Holiday Inn.

This ramp will replace a failed, similar sized ramp just torn down LAST year. 150 yards away from the new $8.6 millions proposal!

It also includes the tearing down of the current Herman Ivory Bus Terminal.

Which is 50 yards from its NEW proposed location!

So why would anyone, even old GordoMuskegon be against this "brilliance"?

1. Few will benefit. All will pay.

This expensive boondoggle of a parking ramp is purely for the benefit of the "Frauenthalians".

The "Frauenthalians" are:

Those devotees of the Frauenthal theater and the now defunct City Cafe.

http://muskegonpundit.blogspot.com/2009/01/downtown-city-cafe-closes.html

Add in the Chamber of Commerce, the Community Foundation, Baker Culinary bigwigs and the few (if any) folks who have an equity interest in the three new buildings that now make up the "Concrete Canyon".

And the few, sad reminents of The Muskegon Chronicle editorialists.

And oh yeah, that group bought us the "Muskegon Can opener" as a testament to their cultural superiority.

This is a city issue, NOT a county issue.

But the entire county will pay for it.

And only the Frauenthalians will benefit.

2. It isn't need now.

Our city looks like Beruit.

There is parking potential everywhere.

But "parkers" are nowhere to be seen!

If they don't build a multi-million dollar ramp but instead build a nice, open parking lot, across from the totally-subsided-by-taxpayers-Holiday-Inn, there is plenty of parking now.

3. It will be crime central.

The old ramp was never used because it wasn't needed AND because it was "all crime all the time".

Zero police protection then and thugs figured it out instantly.

Our new ramp has NO police protection in the plan.

4. It will cost "someone" $150,000/year to operate.

Their bogus spreadsheet shows a net profit.

It will have a major net loss every year.

And the "someone" who will pay will, again, be the residents of Muskegon county.

5. The Frauenthalians have already spent $200 MILLION dollars of our tax dollars on downtown Muskegon.

And the $8.6 million, that is SO important now, wasn't important enough to include in the $200 million? Why?

Something smells here.

6. The "Concrete Canyon" will make the lake winds even more powerful.

That will make downtown even windier, colder and less attractive to visit.

7. The city of Muskegon and the Frauenthalians have shown their disinterest in a quality downtown by making any visitor to our downtown unwelcome.

The street lights aren't synchronized.

The roads aren't plowed.

The sidewalks aren't shoveled.

They want to charge for parking in a town that has never needed to pay for parking in the past.

And isn't stupid enough to pay for it in the future.

The city and the "Frauies" simply don't understand what brings customers into a shopping/entertainment district.

Their actions are to be believed more than their words.

8. More taxes are coming because of this boondoggle!

And now we see the true spirit of the Frauenthalians!

This same group that has masterminded the $200,000,000 "rising" of downtown Muskegon has a new idea.

They're out of (our) money so the NEW IDEA is Increasing the taxes on any business that would be foolish enough to exist in the tax hell that Muskegon currently is.

This is supposed to attract new businesses and new visitors to Muskegon?

9. We just don't trust them!

Remember the same folks who champion this Canyonizing of our town were the same folks who masterminded the last enormous millage that "saved" the Walker arena, the Frauenthal and the Community Foundation offices.

How did that work out folks?

The Walker went from a site that paid $1/year to put on events into a sinkhole where millions of dollars were paid by the city/county (US!) and resulted in the end of most events in our arena.

The wonderful Frauenthal redo was nice but ...same result. Nifty place but no reason to go to since there were no shows and the Frauenthalian restaurant bellied up even when SUBSIDIZED!

These same "promisers" of "trust us again" sound more like Bernie Madoff than Warren Buffet.

No wait!

They sound just like Governor Jenny Granholm, "In five years, you're gonna be blown away!"
http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2008/12/9/12133/9591

There is still time to stop this giant tax sucking machine!

Call your county commissioner.

Now!

M-Live=liberal MSM

This post got me banned from the M-Live Muskegon forum:

These fools tell us they can run our entire health care system?

They can't even get $40 rebates right!

Little pieces of paper is too hard for that crowd.

Gimme a break!

http://muskegonpundit.blogspot.com/2009/01/digital-tv-coupons-in-short-supply.html

Interesting how the religion of "free" "health care" requires them to destroy their customers.

But consistent!

Downtown City Cafe closes

Downtown City Cafe closes
"Located in the basement off the main lobby of the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts, City Cafe historically has had a strong lunch business and drawn large crowds for evening events at the Frauenthal Theater. But it closed for business Wednesday.
The Frauenthal owner and operator is the Community Foundation for Muskegon County.

Well, duh!
A tax-exempt foundation subsidizing (running!) a tax-paying restaurant in a dying city..... what did they expect?

Kent County group offers tax preparation help for low- and moderate-income families

Kent County group offers tax preparation help for low- and moderate-income families
"The coalition includes Heart of West Michigan United Way, the Kent County Department of Human Services, the City of Grand Rapids, and the IRS."

Nice gimmick!
Make the tax forms so complicated you can convince yourself to increase spending (politically connected employees) to "help" out "the "poor".

Simply making the tax forms easier never occurred to them, did it?

Mr. B's Pancake House staff works for free to help boss

Mr. B's Pancake House staff works for free to help boss
"In a world yearning for good news, meet Mary VanDam who decided to help out her boss during tough economic times by working a Sunday shift for free.
Then, just to put icing on the cake, she convinced her fellow employees at Mr. B's Pancake House to do the same."

Ummmm, not a bad idea..... I'm sure Prez Barry has this in mind for federal employees....

I wonder if the Chronicle writer had it in mind for the county/teachers too?

Yeah right!

After The Crisis: A Parody of 15 Corporate Logos

After The Crisis: A Parody of 15 Corporate Logos

Digital TV coupons in short supply

Digital TV coupons in short supply
"The national switch to digital TV broadcasting is getting bumpy.
Federal coupons for digital converter boxes have run out, making it increasingly likely that many Americans won't be ready for the Feb. 17 switch.
Requests for the coupons, which are worth $40, are being placed on a waiting list that stretches more than a million names long. Coupons are expected to become available when money from expired coupons returns to the federal government, although no date has been set."

Remember!
These "federal" folks will be the same "federal" folks who will run our Nationalized "health care" if we let them!

MSU hockey players Corey Tropp, Andrew Conboy suspended for season

MSU hockey players Corey Tropp, Andrew Conboy suspended for season
"Michigan State University suspended hockey players Andrew Conboy and Corey Tropp for the rest of the season Monday evening after their attack of Michigan defenseman Steve Kampfer during the teams' game at Yost Ice Arena on Saturday night."

Special assessment would help fund Muskegon downtown's promotional arm

Special assessment would help fund Muskegon downtown's promotional arm
"Downtown Muskegon already has a special taxing district with its Downtown Development Authority. Tax funds raised in that district are used to pay off bonds associated with the former Muskegon Mall property. Since the mall has closed, the DDA has raised enough money to pay off the bonds but not enough to help promote the downtown, city officials say.
'Most cities have something to keep their downtowns going,' said Cathy Burbaker-Clarke, the city's planning and economic development director. 'We are already using DDA money for other reasons. We don't want to slow down our progress downtown.'"

FANTASTIC!

Just what downtown Muskegon needs most, MORE TAXES!

The phrase that jumps into my mind is "death spiral".

Gay Portland Mayor Won't Resign Over Lying About Relationship With Teen

Gay Portland Mayor Won't Resign Over Lying About Relationship With Teen
"Mayor Sam Adams publicly apologized this past week for lying early in his campaign about the relationship with an 18-year-old man in 2005."

Gotta love the news distorters.

An 18 year old in Iraq is a kid.

An 18 year old with a democrat dick up his ass is "a Man".

That's liberal America, folks.....

Departing Chronicle veterans helped shape paper

Departing Chronicle veterans helped shape paper

"Reporters Susan Harrison Wolffis, Clayton Hardiman, Bill Iddings, Robert Burns, Lisa Medendorp and Terry Judd leave Friday. Editorial Page Editor David Kolb leaves in mid-February.
Reporters Susan Treutler and Steve Gunn left us a few weeks ago.
We'll also be bidding farewell to some people whose names you may not be quite as familiar with, but who have contributed much to our newspaper, often without bylines or the reader recognition that goes with them."

Michigan prisons snuff out tobacco products on Feb. 1

Michigan prisons snuff out tobacco products on Feb. 1
"Mel Grieshaber, executive director of the Michigan Corrections Organization union that represents corrections officers, said classifying tobacco as a controlled substance inside prison walls has its drawbacks.
'It creates a new contraband,' he said. 'Tobacco is a high-level bartering item"

Another insane move by the idiots who are determined to kill our state.

Cigs will be the new currency in our prisons.

The scum who run our state don't even ban smoking outside of the Capital building.

Sick, disgusting cowards!

Air Foil International in expansion mode

Air Foil International in expansion mode
"AFI Machining received a tax abatement on $1.3 million of new equipment, while AFI Drill Hole received a similar tax break for $576,536 worth of new equipment. Combined, the companies are projected to increase employment from 6 to 12 employees, company officials told the Muskegon City Commission.
Currently, all of the Air Foil International operations employ 28 workers, according to city records. The larger estimates of up to 150 new workers in the next three to five years is based upon attracting new contracts from existing customers such as Alcoa Howmet Castings in Whitehall along with turbine engine builders General Electric, Rolls Royce, Siemens and Pratt & Whitney."

$1.9 million works out to $67,000 per employee!

Something is wrong here.... or simply consistent with business as usual in Muskegon.

The Harbor Theater

The Harbor Theater
"Muskegon's Only Source of Independent and Foreign Cinema"

Save this link!

The Harbor Theater is getting it!

OPENING FEBRUARY 6th - ALL 10 Oscar Nominated Shorts
Auf der Strecke (2007): Reto Caffi
Manon sur le bitume (2007): Elizabeth Marre, Olivier Pont
New Boy (2007): Steph Green, Tamara Anghie
Grisen (2008): Tivi Magnusson, Dorthe Warnø Høgh
Spielzeugland (2007): Jochen Alexander Freydank

Newspaper claims car thief transformed into a goat

Newspaper claims car thief transformed into a goat
"One of Nigeria's biggest daily newspapers reported that police implicated a goat in an attempted automobile theft. In a front-page article on Friday, the Vanguard newspaper said that two men tried to steal a Mazda car two days earlier in Kwara State, with one suspect transforming himself into a goat as vigilantes cornered him."

This is "BIG" as Barry H has Nigerian roots!

Is B. Hussein Obama a goat?

This is BIG!

CARPE DIEM: Interesting Charts of the Day

CARPE DIEM: Interesting Charts of the Day
"As the chart shows, there has been a general downward trend in government employees as a percent of total payrolls since the mid-1970s, from more than 19% in 1975 to below 16% by 1998, with a slight reversal of the trend since 2000.
As much as we hear about the growth in government, it seems like the jobs data tell a different story. Comment welcome.
One explanation for the top chart is that there have been so many productivity gains in manufacturing that we can produce increasingly higher levels of output over time with fewer and fewer manufacturing workers?"

VERY interesting charts.

This site is a MUST every day.

Cut cable costs by watching TV online for free

Cut cable costs by watching TV online for free
"Your television service probably isn’t high on that list. But maybe it can be.
Most major television networks are putting their shows online. You can watch the latest episodes whenever you want. For some shows entire seasons are available."

This is cool!

All animals are equal . . .

All animals are equal
"“All animals are equal” read the original sign in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, but shortly after Napoleon and his fellow porcine commissars take over that motto is emended to “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.”"

Meebee some are hearing the new sound of "change"?

Accessorizing the Wine-Box Revolution

Accessorizing the Wine-Box Revolution
"I have it on good authority that boxed wine is cool again. No, really."

CARPE DIEM: More On $71 Per Hour vs. $49 Per Hour

CARPE DIEM: More On $71 Per Hour vs. $49 Per Hour: "What do employees of the United Auto Workers cost auto makers in salary and benefits?"

Despite the hot air, the Antarctic is not warming up

Despite the hot air, the Antarctic is not warming up
"This instantly became the warmists' chief icon, made the centrepiece of the IPCC's 2001 report. But Mann's selective use of data and the flaws in his computer model were then so devastatingly torn apart that it has become the most comprehensively discredited artefact in the history of science."

Obama lie at the begining?

How did the media ignore this?

Obama to Republicans on Stimulus Package: I Won:

True, but Obama won by, among other things, promising a net decrease in federal spending.
Here he is during the third debate: 'what I've done throughout this campaign is to propose a net spending cut.... What I want to emphasize ... is that I have been a strong proponent of pay-as-you-go. Every dollar that I've proposed, I've proposed an additional cut so that it matches.'
Obama would have a much better case for Republican deference to his spending plans if he had actually campaigned in favor of the most massive increase in federal spending, ever, instead of as a budget-cutter."

PREZ ZINGS GOP FOE IN A $TIMULATING TALK

PREZ ZINGS GOP FOE IN A $TIMULATING TALK
"President Obama warned Republicans on Capitol Hill today that they need to quit listening to radio king Rush Limbaugh if they want to get along with Democrats and the new administration.
'You can't just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done,' he told top GOP leaders, whom he had invited to the White House to discuss his nearly $1 trillion stimulus package.
One White House official confirmed the comment but said he was simply trying to make a larger point about bipartisan efforts."

Imagine if President Bush told democrat politicians they "can't just listen to Oprah, The View, Olbermann, AirAmerica, etc."!

To simply make a "larger point".

President "B Hussein Obama" is quickly morphing into "President Hussein" WAY too quickly!

Chrysler jobs bank ends Monday

Chrysler jobs bank ends Monday
"The controversial jobs bank -- a program that allowed UAW workers to receive pay while not working -- ends Monday at Chrysler, the union has told its members.
"In a letter obtained by the Free Press, General Holiefield, the UAW's vice president of the Chrysler department, told members that the change was to comply with the terms of the federal loan agreement that gave Chrysler $4 billion to stay afloat.
"Without this loan, the corporation would most certainly" have "been forced to file for bankruptcy protection," he wrote in the letter dated Thursday.
"In order to be in compliance with the mandate, the jobs bank will be eliminated effective Jan. 26," he added. "Employees that are either in the jobs bank or would have been in the bank will be placed on unemployment ... until such time that we have a clarification of all of the stipulations ... in the 'terms of agreement.' "

What the heck does "until such time that we have a clarification of all stipulations" mean?

Is there weasel room in this deal?

Wolverine World Wide tannery closure means higher sewer rates

Wolverine World Wide tannery closure means higher sewer rates
"In anticipation of the footwear factory's closure, Rockford officials plan a 25 percent rate hike for sewer users"

Every utility bill in Michigan will be increasing significantly as our governmental leaders realize that we consumers will take any increase they foist on us with silence.

The "poor" and "minorities" will be spared the increases as they have a loud voice.

Take from the "rich", give to the poor.

Robin Hood, dudes!

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton cooperating with probe into denied access at inauguration

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton cooperating with probe into denied access at inauguration
"charging that there had been a 'failure in planning and organization and one that must be explained.'"

Remember, these are the same people who want to control our entire health care system!

Downtown Muskegon sculpture cleaned of graffiti

Downtown Muskegon sculpture cleaned of graffiti
'Muskegon, Together Rising,' the large-scale sculpture symbolizing the rebirth of the city's downtown, is as good as new.
The graffiti recently spray-painted on one side of the welded stainless steel sculpture was successfully removed."

Finally!

A LETTER FROM THE BOSS

A LETTER FROM THE BOSS
"Here is what many of you don’t understand … to stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government mandated to me that I didn’t need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now."

Excellent and chilling.

Read the entire letter.

I know of 3 business owners here in Muskegon thinking the EXACT same thing.

Exactly as Ayn Rand proffered in Atlas Shrugged.

DAVE PICKS GILLIBRAND AS LIBERAL DEMS HOWL

DAVE PICKS GILLIBRAND AS LIBERAL DEMS HOWL
"has chosen little-known, NRA-backed, upstate Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton as New York's junior senator, it was learned last night.
The surprising - and, for many Democrats shocking - decision to pick the conservative Gillibrand, 42"

Holy moley!
NY goes from a brain-dead Kennedy to a woman with REAL intelect and spunk.
Who'd of thunk?

Graffiti mars downtown sculpture

Graffiti mars downtown sculpture
"The vandals who spray painted graffiti on the downtown Muskegon sculpture, 'Muskegon, Together Rising,' have not only disrespected its artist but also 'offended an entire community,' said the president of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County."

This crime happened Monday and it's still not repaired.

Just a sad blot on a sad, expensive, enormous can opener, in the land of grant writers, earmarks and unemployment.

Lotta folks who cheered President Obama's call for action seem to prefer others do the "action".

Explosive Video Reich, Obamas economic advisor no "White Male Construction Workers"

Explosive Video Reich, Obamas economic advisor no "White Male Construction Workers"

Holy shittake!

My letter to my local newspaper

A question to the managers of The Muskegon Chronicle

I've attached a link to an article about a local newspaper that is thriving in today's tough newspaper market.

Their formula is simple;
1. Don't give your product away for free
2. Make your product worth the customer's money

http://muskegonpundit.blogspot.com/2008/12/us-newspaper-shuns-web-and-thrives.html

Also attached is another link

http://muskegonpundit.blogspot.com/2009/01/newspapers-commit-suicide-read-all.html

It includes this letter to the WSJ that exemplifies what most of my friends say about our local paper:

" Exactly right, except the media do not take reports and put them into understandable context. They distort reports completely out of context, and call it truth. Papers are not going out of business because bloggers will do reporters' work for free; papers are falling because they are confirming readers' belief that we cannot trust the mass media, ever, on anything, so why pay for lies? The blogosphere did not do this to you; you did it to yourselves."

We simply don't get the real news from The Muskegon Chronicle therefore we won't pay for it any longer.

I've been a Chronicle subscriber since 1976.

When I recently dropped my subscription I wasn't asked why. There was no follow up call to see why they had lost another customer.

I sensed there really was no interest in hearing the truth.

Monopolies tend to produce inferior product and the loss of competitive skills.

Our county, cities and townships have serious problems ahead.

Muskegon County will lose approximately $3 million in state funding within 14 months.

There are offers from private companies to take over our airport and Brookhaven that could save the county $millions per year.

The county seems to be on the verge of tearing down the Herman Ivory Bus Terminal and building a very expensive multi-story parking ramp 50 yards away. And about 150 yards away from the parking ramp they just tore down!

Our schools are not educating our children, according to the MEAP scores.

And what do we hear from The Chronicle?..............zzzzzzzz

Where is the expose on the Hilton/Holiday Inn bond debacle?

Instead we get COLOR comics!

There is serious news to be reported and The Chronicle is a no show at every event.

Do I sound angry?

You bet!

A once great newspaper that provided essential information to our community has abrogated its responsibility and in so doing destroyed the jobs of its employees and soon, it seems, will finalize its own destruction.

I doubt there is the business acumen or the will, this late in the game, to become the trusted source of facts and truth that The Chronicle once was.

I'd sure love to be proven wrong.

GordoM-sad-to-see-a-future-similar-to-the-present-"journalism"

Patient care needs to be No. 1 priority

Patient care needs to be No. 1 priority
"Does any of this apply to the current layoff announcement? Only if fewer nurses translates into less attention to detail within the Mercy Health Care system."

Interesting editorial from the remains of the once great Muskegon Chronicle.

The editorialist seems to advocate for greater "attention" for patients yet past editorials have shown our local paper to be a tireless champion of government run health care.

Like our post office?
Our wonderful state unemployment office?
Our US Treasury?

Just where in the world is a government run health care system better than the USA?

The crocodile tears of The Chronicle betray their contempt for the patient in need of quality care.

Not Warming As Much as We Thought

Not Warming As Much as We Thought
"John Ray over at the Greenie Watch site found a little nugget from James Hansen and NASA: the warming trend has been projected downward. Since Hansen’s GISS data always seems to be at odds with satellite observations, it has come under close scrutiny as of late. The latest revision from Hansen and company is downward, to 0.15 degrees C per decade, which is a full 25% lower than the IPCC’s “gold standard” predictions (with 95% accuracy) of 0.20 degrees C per decade. No press release yet on this, however."

Muskegon Taxpayers Alliance

Muskegon Taxpayers Alliance: "Today 3:30 commissioners meet!
The big one here today is the Transportation committee and will they continue their quest to tear down the Herman Ivory bus terminal and replace it 50 yards away in the new parking ramp across from the Holiday Inn."

Today Thursday 3:30 4th floor County Building

Geithner apologizes for not paying taxes

Geithner apologizes for not paying taxes
"Treasury Secretary-designate Timothy Geithner said Wednesday he was careless in failing to pay $34,000 in Social Security and Medicare taxes earlier this decade but declared 'I have paid what I owed' and apologized to Congress.
He told the Senate Finance Committee he was sorry that his past transgressions were now an issue in his confirmation at a time of deepening economic distress

This man will be our Treasury Secretary?
He got caught and now apologizes?
And that's OK?
What a way for Obama to start!

Snarky Huntress: Lessons In Reality: Bitches With Guns

Snarky Huntress: Lessons In Reality: Bitches With Guns
"But his size was not the only ominous thing.
He had a rope, coiled up on his arm in big circles.
Maryann recognized it right away as the type of rope used in rodeos and ranches.
He was grinning, but it was a cruel kind of grin.
Her surprise clearly registered on her face, and the giant man began to laugh, but his laugh was as mean as his smile.
Then he spoke.'I'm gonna have some REEEEEEAL fun now!!'"

Yikes!
Read it all and tell yourself you support "gun control".

GRCC hires Muskegon football coach Tony Annese

GRCC hires Muskegon football coach Tony Annese
"Grand Rapids Community College's search for a new head football coach has ended with the man the school wanted all along.
Tony Annese, who led Muskegon High School to state Division 2 championships in 2004, 2006 and last season, signed a one-year renewable contract Wednesday"

(hat tip to KegonMan at the Muskegon Forum)

Judge Obama on Performance Alone

Judge Obama on Performance Alone
"For example, Mr. Obama was forced to give a speech on race as a result of revelations that he'd long attended a church led by a demagogue. It was an ordinary speech. At best it was successful at minimizing a political problem. Yet some in the media equated it to the Gettysburg Address."

The liberal media will never judge Obama on merit alone.

They have judged him purely on the color of his skin and will continue to judge him on the deepness of his socialism.

All the while preaching to us about the racism of anyone who would criticize.

Big Brothers, Big Sisters needs mentors

Big Brothers, Big Sisters needs mentors
"Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lakeshore has launched a campaign to find mentors willing to help at-risk children who need positive role models.
Right now, there are 78 children on a waiting list in Muskegon, Oceana, Ottawa and Mason counties."

This is an excellent program, though far more effective for Little Brothers than Little Sisters.

If you have the time and want to truly help a young person, give it a try.

You'll feel better about yourself and our entire community.

Making Michigan MORE expensive!

Making Michigan more expensive!
"Lastt week, Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm signed into law a measure that should make Michigan's Great Lakes cleaner.
Beginning July 1, 2010, retailers can sell dish and laundry detergents only if they contain no more than 0.5 percent phosphorus. Right now, amounts are as high as 8.7 percent....

Legislators shouldn't stop with just soap. They should take a close look at Bay County, where a ban on phosphorus-based lawn fertilizers went into effect Jan. 1. Then the next logical step is to examine the economic impact of mandating environmentally friendly fertilizers for agriculture use.
In any case, the phosphorus detergent law is a good one -- and a good start."

Way to go Jenny!

We don't have any other problems in our state so more enviro-interference is just what the fiscal doctor ordered!

For the benefit of Indiana and Ohio that is.....

Michigan Chamber of Commerce upset over jobless claims logjam

Michigan Chamber of Commerce upset over jobless claims logjam
"But the Michigan Chamber of Commerce said Michigan's unemployment insurance agency and Gov. Jennifer Granholm's office should have anticipated the problem but instead focused on less pressing issues such as renaming the labor department. The unemployment system is financed through employer payroll taxes.
Callers to a phone line handling applications for jobless benefits sometimes can't get through. The Internet system for jobless claims is operational but at times has been slowed by heavy volume."

Don't worry Jenny, it's Engler's fault!

Climate Confusion

Climate Confusion :
"Here are three indisputable scientific facts about climate that are sufficient on their own to throttle any claims of manmade global warming.
First, we know from studies of Antarctic ice that, over the last 650,000 years or so, warmer temperatures have preceded increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels by hundreds, if not thousands of years. The ice studies indicate that the carbon-dioxide-causes-global warming theory is precisely backwards.

Second, during the 20th century, there is simply no correlation between carbon dioxide emissions and global temperature. Not only did most of the century’s temperature rise occur before most of the century’s manmade greenhouse gas emissions, but during 1940-1975 global temperatures actually declined while atmospheric carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide emission levels steadily increased.

Finally, the ultimate test of a scientific theory is whether it has predictive value. We used Newton’s laws of physics, for example, to land men on the moon. Unfortunately, there are no climate models that predict trends and changes in global climate with any degree of accuracy. Think about the recent failures with hurricane season predictions or even the risk of relying on what your local weatherman predicts for tomorrow’s weather - and you’ll start to get an idea of how far away science is from predicting global climate 10, 50 and 100 years from now."

Michigan "works"?

Students For A Free Economy:
"MichiganWorks! office somewhere in the Great Lakes State:"

click for a laugh...... and a groan.

(hat tip to the excellent http://www.rightmichigan.com/)

Alone among networks, Fox News gives Bush homecoming cheer

Alone among networks, Fox News gives Bush homecoming cheer
"Fox News was the only major national TV outlet that carried a live telecast of former President Bush's homecoming speech to cheering supporters in Midland, Texas."

Little surprise here from the "unbiased" main stream media.

Mission 1 Accomplished

Mission 1 Accomplished

This is needed

You may not agree with everything President Bush has done but he HAS kept us all safe from the Islamic monsters who have vowed to kill us all.

Click on this site and thank our President for standing tall when most cowered in fear.

Click further on to see the thousands of others who share your sentiments.

We are not alone!

My note of thanks:

Mr. President,

You have been our STONEWALL in the face of unbearable pressure. From friends and foe alike.

And your stalwart determination to make the world a better place for all God's children will be remembered forever.

Thank you, President Bush and Laura, for your strength and high honor over these last eight years.

God speed

Skier Gets Summons for Hit-and-Run

Skier Gets Summons for Hit-and-Run on Aspen Slope
"A Massachusetts man has been issued a summons for allegedly leaving the scene of a skiing accident in Aspen.
A Pitkin County sheriff's deputy served the summons to 61-year-old William Marsh at a condominium complex where he was staying on Saturday.
Marsh is accused of colliding with a skier earlier that day on Aspen Mountain.
Sheriff Patrol Director Ann Stephenson says Marsh stopped to give the other skier his contact information, but left the accident scene before the ski patrol arrived. That's a violation of the Colorado Skier Safety Act.
The other man, who was not identified, was treated for a shoulder injury at Aspen Valley Hospital, where a nurse reported the alleged safety act violation."

America passes a milestone!

America passes a milestone!
"We now have more poeple employed in government than manufacturing."

Tom Phillips - Humor Index "Plus"

Tom Phillips - Humor Index "Plus"

WHY KIDS LOVE BIODIESEL

WHY KIDS LOVE BIODIESEL
"When it gets cold it turns to goo... and they get a day off. Turns out the stuff wasn't realy made for our kind of winter. Who'd a thought?"