27-year-old who police say caused tanker explosion in Detroit offers no apology

27-year-old who police say caused tanker explosion in Detroit offers no apology
"Twenty-seven-year-old Saied Haidarian-Shari of Clawson was one of three drivers who escaped Wednesday night's fiery explosion along Interstate 75 with minor injuries.
When asked Thursday night by Fox 2 whether he felt he should apologize for the crash that also included a tractor-trailer, Haidarian-Shari said: 'No.'"

Grand Rapids Community College bookstore rentals may take sting out of high cost of college textbooks - Grand Rapids News - The Latest News, Blogs, Photos & Videos – MLive.com

Grand Rapids Community College bookstore rentals may take sting out of high cost of college textbooks - Grand Rapids News - The Latest News, Blogs, Photos & Videos – MLive.com: "Brad Ellison says he typically pays more than $100 for a college textbook and only sometimes is able to sell it back to the bookstore.
'There are times that you just get stuck with it, and it's a lot of money,' said Ellison, 37, of Spring Lake, before a Friday algebra class."

CNSNews.com - Pelosi Will Read Full Final Text of Health Care Bill Before House Vote and Give Public 'Ample' Time to Do Same, Says Spokesman

CNSNews.com - Pelosi Will Read Full Final Text of Health Care Bill Before House Vote and Give Public 'Ample' Time to Do Same, Says Spokesman: "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will read the entirety of the final text of the health care reform bill before the House votes on it and will provide the public “ample time” to review the legislation, says Pelosi's spokesman.

However, the speaker’s office declined to specify what is meant by “ample time.”"

Car convoy planned to raise awareness of dangers of road rage

Car convoy planned to raise awareness of dangers of road rage
"A car convoy is planned 9 a.m. Saturday at Mona Lake Park in Muskegon Heights to raise awareness of the dangers of road rage.
Two car convoys will leave Muskegon and Grand Rapids simultaneously Saturday as part of Road Rage Awareness Week activities scheduled in both communities."

They better not get in MY way!

And Now For Something Completely Crazy

And Now For Something Completely Crazy: "The news is coming so thick and fast these days that it's hard to keep up. The Supreme Court, socialized medicine, cap and trade, record deficits, foreign policy fecklessness--it's easy to lose track of smaller issues with all that is going on. Still, H.R. 1018 shouldn't be allowed to pass unnoticed.
H.R. 1018 is the 'Restore Our American Mustangs Act.' It can fairly be described as a welfare program for horses. Believe it or not--this isn't satire--here is what the bill will do:
[T]he 'Restore Our American Mustangs Act' ... would create a new $700 million welfare program for wild horses. The program:
* Conducts a horse census every two years
* Provides 'enhanced contraception' and birth control for horses
* Establishes an additional 19 million acres of public and private land for wild horses
* Covers $5 million tab to repair horse damage to land
* Mandates that government bureaucrats perform home inspections before Americans can adopt horses

'Enhanced contraception' for horses? Maybe I'm out of touch, but I didn't realize that wild horses use contraception at all. Maybe the measure would be worth voting for if Nancy Pelosi would commit that she will personally attempt to fit a wild stallion with an 'enhanced contraception' device at a critical moment. (Just kidding, liberals.)
Nineteen million acres, by the way, is around 28 times the area of Rhode Island. If you think Rhode Island is too small to worry about, it's also more than a third of the state of Minnesota.
The Democrats have scheduled a vote on H.R. 1018 tomorrow."

Joe Biden: ‘We Have to Go Spend Money to Keep From Going Bankrupt’

Joe Biden: ‘We Have to Go Spend Money to Keep From Going Bankrupt’
“And folks look, AARP knows and the people with me here today know, the president knows, and I know, that the status quo is simply not acceptable,” Biden said at the event on Thursday in Alexandria, Va.
“It’s totally unacceptable.
And it’s completely unsustainable. Even if we wanted to keep it the way we have it now. It can’t do it financially.” “We’re going to go bankrupt as a nation,” Biden said.
“Now, people when I say that look at me and say, ‘What are you talking about, Joe? You’re telling me we have to go spend money to keep from going bankrupt?’” Biden said. “The answer is yes, that's what I’m telling you.”

Muskegon school district buys computers, school buses

Muskegon school district buys computers, school buses
"The school board during a special meeting Tuesday agreed to pay Entre Computers, 540 W. Hovey,
$171,210 for 390 Hewlett-Packard computers,
and $146,144 for 113 Hewlett-Packard printers."

Michigan State Spartans get schedule deals with West Virginia Mountaineers, Alabama Crimson Tide

Mark your calendar: Michigan State Spartans get schedule deals with West Virginia Mountaineers, Alabama Crimson Tide
"Michigan State beefed up its future nonconference schedules Monday, announcing agreements with West Virginia and Alabama, and extending its series with longtime rival Notre Dame.
The school has signed contracts for a home-and-home series with West Virginia in 2014 and 2015, and a home-and-home series with Alabama in 2016 and 2017."

Let's get the motel reservations in NOW!

CARPE DIEM: You Can Usually Only Equalize Downwards#links#links

CARPE DIEM: You Can Usually Only Equalize Downwards

Baker College construction boom continues

Baker College construction boom continues
"In recent years, Baker has invested millions of dollars to improve its facilities, including a student fitness area and meeting rooms in the school's main campus building"

Your tax dollars at work folks!

Who needs potholes filled when student loans and government grants to Baker get us 20% graduation rates and 10% employment rates?

Albert -- the Not-So Great -- Gore

Albert -- the Not-So Great -- Gore
"Think what you want about George W. Bush, but he did do this: he saved us from a Gore Presidency. Is there a greater smelly stew of vanity, vacuity, ignorance, arrogance, and hubris in Washington than Albert Gore Jr.?"

Indictment paints portrait of Sam Riddle as middle man for Monica Conyers

Indictment paints portrait of Sam Riddle as middle man for Monica Conyers
"'Defendant Riddle and Monica Conyers,' the Detroit corruption indictment reads. Over and over again.
Conyers resigned from the Detroit City Council last month after pleading guilty to conspiracy commit bribery."

Michigan unemployment rate jumps again to 15.2 percent in June

Michigan unemployment rate jumps again to 15.2 percent in June
"Michigan's unemployment rate soared to 15.2 percent in June, the state's highest monthly rate since the spring of 1983."

House Speaker Andy Dillon proposes Michigan's 400,000 public employees receive same health insurance coverage

House Speaker Andy Dillon proposes Michigan's 400,000 public employees receive same health insurance coverage
"State employees pay between 5 and 10 percent of the cost of their health care depending on coverage type, according to report compiled by Dillon's office.
Despite a trend toward more cost-sharing at the local school district level, the report said many school employees 'pay no premiums or very small premiums for their health care.'"

Train bound for nowhere? Amtrak too costly

Train bound for nowhere? Amtrak too costly
"Our issue here is twofold: Is the $7.3 million now spent on Amtrak the best use of dwindling financial resources for a state mired in a persistent fiscal crisis; and who is using the train to Chicago?"

Mitch Ryder ready to roar into Bike Time festival

Mitch Ryder ready to roar into Bike Time festival
"The creator of such well-known hits as 'Devil With a Blue Dress On,' 'Jenny Take a Ride,' and ''Sock It To Me Baby,' Ryder plans to deliver his no-frills, high-energy classic-rock grooves to Muskegon's Bike Time festival 8:30 p.m. Saturday."

Michigan Budget Deficit Swells To Almost $2 Billion - CURRENT YEAR!

Michigan Budget Deficit Swells To Almost $2 Billion - CURRENT YEAR!
"But now, it appears that it will be closer to $2 billion. Boy was I way off.
With the growing deficit, it will be time once again for Granholm to kick the can, backfilling the shortfall with stimulus dollars that will evaporate in a year and a half, leaving a huge chasm for the next Governor."

Bride's bouquet brings down plane

Bride's bouquet brings down plane

"However, the flowers were sucked into the plane's engine causing it to catch fire and explode.

The aircraft plunged into a hostel. One passenger on the plane was badly hurt.
But about 50 people who had been in the hostel escaped unscathed, as did the pilot."

Nice wedding planner touch?

House bill to hit millionaires with 5.4 pct surtax

House bill to hit millionaires with 5.4 pct surtax
"sweeping overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system to be announced on Tuesday in the U.S. House of Representatives will include a surtax on millionaires of 5.4 percent, congressional sources said"

Let's see, take more money from rich folks, give it to Barney Frank and his buddies, and we'll have more jobs?

Just how dumb are they... or is it us?

Minority Broadcasters Seek Federal Aid

Minority Broadcasters Seek Federal Aid
A group of minority broadcasters asked Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner Monday for financial assistance akin to the aid that has been extended to the financial and auto industries."

This is GREAT! No one listens to their stations so the rest of us will live with more pot holes to subsidize the millionaire owners cuz their black?

White males gotta be gettin' close to being a minority.... right?

Meeting to focus on migrants' civil rights

Meeting to focus on migrants' civil rights
"Civil rights officials will be available to take reports on potential civil rights violations and discrimination incidents faced by migrant workers.

Reports can be conducted privately and anonymously.

Spanish-language interpreters will be available.

The civil rights agency is also accepting testimony from representatives of government and social service agencies."

So our government is goin' on a fishin' trip with the big fish being "anonymous" testimony from spanish folks given to "civil right" apparatchiks.

Folks, something is wrong here.

Port St. Lucie apologizes to Treasure Coast Tea Party

Port St. Lucie apologizes to Treasure Coast Tea Party
"About 75 members of the anti-tax group attended the City Council’s Monday night meeting looking for an apology.
They have said their civil rights were violated when they were singled out at the festival by being put into a special area with a sign nearby stating Port St. Lucie did not back their views or opinions.
Members got the apology they wanted and more Monday night the offer from Cooper to cover the cost of the city sign himself, rather than taxpayers, and the promise of no more signs at city-sponsored events."

Tea Parties in parks are nice.
75 Tea Partyers in politician's offices gets the job done!
Duh!

Nearly all my professors are Democrats. Isn't that a problem?

Nearly all my professors are Democrats. Isn't that a problem?
"What I didn't realize is that journalism that examined the dominance of liberal ideas on campus would be addressed with hostility.
A professor who confronted me declared that he was 'personally offended' by my column. He railed that his political viewpoints never affected his teaching and suggested that if I wanted a faculty with Republicans I should have attended a university in the South. 'If you like conservatism you can certainly attend the University of Texas and you can walk past the statue of Jefferson Davis everyday on your way to class,' he wrote in an e-mail."

Ain't no problomo as long as we keep the cons out....right?

GM Bankruptcy Frees Up Millions for Buick Marketing

GM Bankruptcy Frees Up Millions for Buick Marketing
"Having a bigger budget to promote Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC was among GM’s goals in shedding Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer and Saab in its 40-day restructuring. The $27,085 LaCrosse was one of about a half-dozen models featured last week when GM left Chapter 11 as a new company.
“They can spend that much now because they have half the brands to cover,” said Aaron Bragman, an analyst at IHS Global Insight Inc. in Troy, Michigan. “That’s the beauty of it.”"

Didn't Obama's car czar cut Chrysler's ad budget in half when he took over the company?
Now GM will double (relatively) its ad budget?

Thank god for CZARS.....

You call that a knife? This is a knife!

You call that a knife? This is a knife!
"A Stanley knife wielding bandit had the tables turned on him when he attempted to rob a Brisbane convenience store attendant who was cutting vegetables.
The attendant, who had a much larger kitchen knife, chased the man out of the Cut Price Supermarket store on Aminya Rd, Mansfield, about 2.50pm (AEST) on Monday.
He did not make off with any money or goods."

Tim Geithner: recession will be over within months - Telegraph

Tim Geithner: recession will be over within months - Telegraph

Business Week sale may fetch only $1

Business Week sale may fetch only $1: "Business Week sale may fetch only $1
By Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson in New York
Published: July 13 2009 20:09 Last updated: July 13 2009 23:28
McGraw-Hill could reap just $1 from a sale of Business Week, according to people familiar with the 80-year-old financial magazine’s losses"

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PALIN-BASHING IS WOMEN-BASHING? Don’t be silly. She’s not a woman, she’s a Republican….

PALIN-BASHING IS WOMEN-BASHING?
"PALIN-BASHING IS WOMEN-BASHING? Don’t be silly. She’s not a woman, she’s a Republican.
Posted at by Glenn Reynolds at 2:56 pm"

Public-employee pensions put cities, states in tight squeeze - Opinion - USATODAY.com

Public-employee pensions put cities, states in tight squeeze - Opinion - USATODAY.com

As Americans slaving away at private-sector jobs have watched their 401(k) retirement accounts pulled down about one-third by the stock market, they might have found some comfort in thinking everyone's in the same boat.
The comfort is not only small; it's false:
More than 80% of state and city government workers are guaranteed a pre-set, generous pension, and most also can retire early.
Such "defined benefit" pensions generally went out of style in private business and the federal government in the 1980s because of their cost.
They're a main reason why cities and counties across the country are in dire financial straits. Vallejo, Calif., filed for bankruptcy protection last year.
El Monte, Calif., narrowly avoided it June 30.
Others are considering it.
In New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said last month that the pension system is "out of control."

Recent stock market declines have left public and private pension plans alike underfunded, but the problem is deeper for public plans because they offer bigger pensions and make them available earlier, particularly to public safety employees. Three-fifths of state-government pension funds owe at least 20% more money than they have. According to the National Association of State Retirement Administrators, the shortfall is $430 billion, or about $3,800 for every U.S. household. Other estimates put the number above $1 trillion