North Muskegon, Heights post offices on list for possible closure
"The post offices in Muskegon Heights and North Muskegon are among a list of nearly 700 offices across the country that are potential candidates to be closed as the U.S. Postal Service deals with staggering financial losses.
The Postal Service has been struggling with a sharp decline in mail volume as people and businesses switch to e-mail both for personal contact and bill paying.
The agency is facing a nearly $7 billion potential loss this fiscal year despite a 2 cent increase in the price of stamps in May, cuts in staff and removal of collection boxes."
Amazing that FedEx and UPS have been paying taxes for decades and the USPS just continues to suck up American tax dollars.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Alabama's Jefferson County makes massive job cuts
Alabama's Jefferson County makes massive job cuts
"Alabama's debt-ridden Jefferson County laid off about two-thirds of its 3,600 employees on Monday because of plummeting revenues, a move that will sharply curtail services in areas ranging from roads to courthouses."
This is HUGE!
I never understood the employee's or the union attitudes.
Did they think the endless raises and benefits would continue forever?
Muskegon County may be in the same boat.
"Alabama's debt-ridden Jefferson County laid off about two-thirds of its 3,600 employees on Monday because of plummeting revenues, a move that will sharply curtail services in areas ranging from roads to courthouses."
This is HUGE!
I never understood the employee's or the union attitudes.
Did they think the endless raises and benefits would continue forever?
Muskegon County may be in the same boat.
Changing state's 56-year-old ban on Sunday car sales would help dealers
Changing state's 56-year-old ban on Sunday car sales would help dealers - MLive.com: "When West Michigan residents leave church this morning, some will head for Sunday brunch at their favorite restaurant.
Others will eat at home, but they might stop for milk at the grocery store or pick up Grandpa's medicine at the pharmacy on the way. Another contingent will hit the mall or even shop for a book at Family Christian stores.
But one thing they won't do is buy a car.
Michigan's 56-year-old blue law forbids Sunday car sales in counties with more than 130,000 people. The legislation passed when the Chevy Bel-Air, the Nash Rambler Country Club sedan and the Ford Crestline Victoria all rolled through town.
If the law sounds as rusty as that Rambler would be today, its wording won't dissuade you:
'It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to engage in the business of buying, selling, trading or exchanging new, used or second-hand motor vehicles or offering to buy, sell, trade or exchange, or participate in the negotiation thereof, or attempt to buy, sell, trade or exchange any motor vehicle or interest therein, or of any written instrument pertaining thereto, on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday.'"
Amazing that our state has such a destructive law...... oh...wait a minute.... not so amazing...
Bummer!
Others will eat at home, but they might stop for milk at the grocery store or pick up Grandpa's medicine at the pharmacy on the way. Another contingent will hit the mall or even shop for a book at Family Christian stores.
But one thing they won't do is buy a car.
Michigan's 56-year-old blue law forbids Sunday car sales in counties with more than 130,000 people. The legislation passed when the Chevy Bel-Air, the Nash Rambler Country Club sedan and the Ford Crestline Victoria all rolled through town.
If the law sounds as rusty as that Rambler would be today, its wording won't dissuade you:
'It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to engage in the business of buying, selling, trading or exchanging new, used or second-hand motor vehicles or offering to buy, sell, trade or exchange, or participate in the negotiation thereof, or attempt to buy, sell, trade or exchange any motor vehicle or interest therein, or of any written instrument pertaining thereto, on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday.'"
Amazing that our state has such a destructive law...... oh...wait a minute.... not so amazing...
Bummer!
The 5 myths of health care reform
The 5 myths of health care reform
"The Lesson :
Socialism fails, because a roomful of bureaucrats can't possibly have the same knowledge as millions of patients, nurses and doctors.
Socialized medicine, like most other government takeovers of the private sector, will end up doing the opposite of what it is intended to do.
Instead of helping Americans improve medical care, it will make it worse.
Much worse."
"The Lesson :
Socialism fails, because a roomful of bureaucrats can't possibly have the same knowledge as millions of patients, nurses and doctors.
Socialized medicine, like most other government takeovers of the private sector, will end up doing the opposite of what it is intended to do.
Instead of helping Americans improve medical care, it will make it worse.
Much worse."
Read it all!
My Oshkosh 2009: A real life hero; an amazing coincidence; the most beautiful airplane ever
My Oshkosh 2009: A real life hero; an amazing coincidence; the most beautiful airplane ever:
“Excuse me, I hope you don’t mind the interruption, but I was in Stalag Luft III with the man who jumped from that plane.”
Amazing story from an amazing venue.
I had hoped to attend but ......
Uncovered Video: Obama Explains How His Health Care Plan Will ‘Eliminate’ Private Insurance
Uncovered Video: Obama Explains How His Health Care Plan Will ‘Eliminate’ Private Insurance
Proof... but no surprise from our prevaricator-in-chief.
Proof... but no surprise from our prevaricator-in-chief.
Can-do spirits!
Can-do spirits!
"Stacy Slagor had never entered a cooking contest in her life, but she couldn't resist the San Diego County Fair's SPAM recipe competition this summer.
“I like SPAM and I like the fair, so why not?” figured the 40-year-old UCSD employee."
"Stacy Slagor had never entered a cooking contest in her life, but she couldn't resist the San Diego County Fair's SPAM recipe competition this summer.
“I like SPAM and I like the fair, so why not?” figured the 40-year-old UCSD employee."
NPR's sophestry with kids!
http://ncane.com/01n
Okay, sports fans, get a load of this — it will not make you happy, I wager. Last week, a friend of mine wrote,
Hi, Jay,
I have to recount to you an incident that involved my daughter a few days ago. Here goes:
Both of my daughters participate in a student-run theater group called Act 2 Act whose purpose is to raise money for human-rights causes. They are rehearsing The Diary of Anne Frank, to be performed this weekend. They have been doing local radio interviews to promote the play.
My twelve-year-old is playing Anne, and her director — the founder of the group — is 16. They did an interview by phone with an NPR correspondent. She asked some odd, leading questions such as “Isn’t this the first time you’ve ever done something helpful like this?” and “What does this have to do with President Obama?” The answer to the first question is “No, we do this sort of thing regularly,” and the answer to the second is, “Well, nothing.” The kids were really put on the spot. It was all strange and disconcerting.
Well, everything became clear when the interview aired later in the evening. The correspondent shaped the piece to insinuate that the kids had been inspired by Barack Obama to start this theater company and do this play. OMG! (As the kids say.) We all know the NPR mindset, but to stoop so low and take away from these kids their own heartfelt inspiration — that was just disgusting.
Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting. Could you remind me, once more, why we have government radio, and government TV, anyway? I guess this is what Dan Rather means by “public media” (as if privately owned media weren’t public). It’s bad enough when an ordinary, commercial outlet is shoddy, misleading, or mendacious. But a taxpayer-funded outlet?This may be mere emotion talking, but if there’s one reform I’d like to see, it is to do away altogether with government media in this liberal republic (and you know I mean liberal in an older, honorable sense).
Okay, sports fans, get a load of this — it will not make you happy, I wager. Last week, a friend of mine wrote,
Hi, Jay,
I have to recount to you an incident that involved my daughter a few days ago. Here goes:
Both of my daughters participate in a student-run theater group called Act 2 Act whose purpose is to raise money for human-rights causes. They are rehearsing The Diary of Anne Frank, to be performed this weekend. They have been doing local radio interviews to promote the play.
My twelve-year-old is playing Anne, and her director — the founder of the group — is 16. They did an interview by phone with an NPR correspondent. She asked some odd, leading questions such as “Isn’t this the first time you’ve ever done something helpful like this?” and “What does this have to do with President Obama?” The answer to the first question is “No, we do this sort of thing regularly,” and the answer to the second is, “Well, nothing.” The kids were really put on the spot. It was all strange and disconcerting.
Well, everything became clear when the interview aired later in the evening. The correspondent shaped the piece to insinuate that the kids had been inspired by Barack Obama to start this theater company and do this play. OMG! (As the kids say.) We all know the NPR mindset, but to stoop so low and take away from these kids their own heartfelt inspiration — that was just disgusting.
Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting. Could you remind me, once more, why we have government radio, and government TV, anyway? I guess this is what Dan Rather means by “public media” (as if privately owned media weren’t public). It’s bad enough when an ordinary, commercial outlet is shoddy, misleading, or mendacious. But a taxpayer-funded outlet?This may be mere emotion talking, but if there’s one reform I’d like to see, it is to do away altogether with government media in this liberal republic (and you know I mean liberal in an older, honorable sense).
Racial insights!
Racial insights!
"It's my committee's opinion that it violates our 'Best Practices List' to act as if you're calling the police chief to report the supposedly racist officer who came to help you.
It's also considered highly inappropriate, in terms of race relations, to begin screaming at the officer insipid questions such as 'Do you know who I am?' and 'Do you know who you are messing with?'"
"It's my committee's opinion that it violates our 'Best Practices List' to act as if you're calling the police chief to report the supposedly racist officer who came to help you.
It's also considered highly inappropriate, in terms of race relations, to begin screaming at the officer insipid questions such as 'Do you know who I am?' and 'Do you know who you are messing with?'"
Read the comments
Dufus loses winning lottery ticket
"It was a $500,000 answer to his prayers and it was in his back pocket. And then, suddenly, it wasn't. On his way to a Florida Lottery office Wednesday to claim his half-million-dollar prize, Louis Tolentino, a 69-year-old retiree who lives near Wellington, lost the ticket(Snip)in his excitement he forgot to sign the ticket. Without his signature, anyone who finds it could turn it in as his or her own."
"It was a $500,000 answer to his prayers and it was in his back pocket. And then, suddenly, it wasn't. On his way to a Florida Lottery office Wednesday to claim his half-million-dollar prize, Louis Tolentino, a 69-year-old retiree who lives near Wellington, lost the ticket(Snip)in his excitement he forgot to sign the ticket. Without his signature, anyone who finds it could turn it in as his or her own."
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Muskegon's Leggett hopes to step into starting role for Spartans
Muskegon's Leggett hopes to step into starting role for Spartans
"The former Muskegon Big Red came out of spring practice with a slight edge over a group of talented but inexperienced running backs, according to Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio."
"The former Muskegon Big Red came out of spring practice with a slight edge over a group of talented but inexperienced running backs, according to Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio."
ABC NEWS: Geithner Won’t Rule Out New Taxes For Middle Class. Hey, wait, I thought Obama promised …
Geithner Won’t Rule Out New Taxes For Middle Class.
"ABC NEWS: Geithner Won’t Rule Out New Taxes For Middle Class.
Hey, wait, I thought Obama promised that no one making less than $250,000 a year would see a tax increase?"
Who'd of guessed?
"ABC NEWS: Geithner Won’t Rule Out New Taxes For Middle Class.
Hey, wait, I thought Obama promised that no one making less than $250,000 a year would see a tax increase?"
Who'd of guessed?
Patients forced to live in agony after NHS refuses to pay for painkilling injections
Patients forced to live in agony after NHS refuses to pay for painkilling injections
"Tens of thousands with chronic back pain will be forced to live in agony after a decision to slash the number of painkilling injections issued on the NHS, doctors have warned."
"Tens of thousands with chronic back pain will be forced to live in agony after a decision to slash the number of painkilling injections issued on the NHS, doctors have warned."
Why Sarah Palin Fans Feel Betrayed
Why Sarah Palin Fans Feel Betrayed
"To be conservative is to be betrayed on a regular basis.
You send your kids to a school that tries to slyly indoctrinate them into liberalism, you come home to watch an “unbiased” news show that covers almost every story differently based on whether a Republican or Democrat is involved, and then you try to unwind by watching TV shows that take guarded shots at the values you cherish.....
"To be conservative is to be betrayed on a regular basis.
You send your kids to a school that tries to slyly indoctrinate them into liberalism, you come home to watch an “unbiased” news show that covers almost every story differently based on whether a Republican or Democrat is involved, and then you try to unwind by watching TV shows that take guarded shots at the values you cherish.....
.......There’s only one Sarah Palin and there’s not another soul on the national stage who can even come close to filling her high heels.
At a time when the Republican Party has lost so many seats in Congress that it’s teetering on the brink of irrelevancy, Palin’s detractors on the right should ask themselves how much sense it makes to help the liberal media try to tear down the biggest star in the conservative movement."
Where is the Public Outrage Over Pensions?
Where is the Public Outrage Over Pensions?
"You might be reading my blog wondering where is public outrage over pensions?
For example, how can PSP Investments lose billions and still pay their top officers bonuses, allowing them to get extremely well compensated in a terrible year?
And it's not just PSP. The same is happening in many other large public Canadian pension funds, including CPPIB where top officers got millions with their bonuses after losing a whopping $24 billion in FY 2009.
So where is the outrage?
I just came back from Greece where if even a fraction of this came out in the media, there would be riots in the streets.
The same can be said about other European countries, especially in France.
But 'civilized' Canadians seem to be sleepwalking while their pensions are dwindling.
The unions are keeping silent too.
Why?
Maybe because they know that the federal and provincial governments are on the hook to pay out pension benefits even if the public pension plans are severely underfunded.
Why make a fuss when you know the government will come in and shore up the plan?"
"You might be reading my blog wondering where is public outrage over pensions?
For example, how can PSP Investments lose billions and still pay their top officers bonuses, allowing them to get extremely well compensated in a terrible year?
And it's not just PSP. The same is happening in many other large public Canadian pension funds, including CPPIB where top officers got millions with their bonuses after losing a whopping $24 billion in FY 2009.
So where is the outrage?
I just came back from Greece where if even a fraction of this came out in the media, there would be riots in the streets.
The same can be said about other European countries, especially in France.
But 'civilized' Canadians seem to be sleepwalking while their pensions are dwindling.
The unions are keeping silent too.
Why?
Maybe because they know that the federal and provincial governments are on the hook to pay out pension benefits even if the public pension plans are severely underfunded.
Why make a fuss when you know the government will come in and shore up the plan?"
Segway rental service offers tours of Grand Rapids
Segway rental service offers tours of Grand Rapids
"Segway Tours of Grand Rapids, began his rental operation in May.......
Kaback rents the two-wheeled scooters at $50 for a half-hour ride....
....The prices are on par with Segway rentals in Fort Lauderdale, Chicago and other cities, he said.
Kaback said he owns eight Segways, which he bought for $38,000. "
Good luck......but I sure hope he didn't get "stimulus" money for this.
"Segway Tours of Grand Rapids, began his rental operation in May.......
Kaback rents the two-wheeled scooters at $50 for a half-hour ride....
....The prices are on par with Segway rentals in Fort Lauderdale, Chicago and other cities, he said.
Kaback said he owns eight Segways, which he bought for $38,000. "
Good luck......but I sure hope he didn't get "stimulus" money for this.
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Birthers Versus True Believers
Birthers Versus True Believers
"Let's think big (in a small-minded way) - suppose the original certifcate has Obama as 'Barry', with attendant documentation formally changing his name to 'Barack' when Obama was in his teens or twenties. That would be a hard memory lapse to explain, and sort of mar the current version of his 'Dreams From My Father' story."
"Let's think big (in a small-minded way) - suppose the original certifcate has Obama as 'Barry', with attendant documentation formally changing his name to 'Barack' when Obama was in his teens or twenties. That would be a hard memory lapse to explain, and sort of mar the current version of his 'Dreams From My Father' story."
Gordo's Musings
I watched the local news shows this morning and they were ALL talking about how SUCCESSFUL the cash for junk cars was.
Like they were surprised that the government giving out free money was popular to those who got the free money.
Like they were surprised that the government giving out free money was popular to those who got the free money.
Isn't EVERY "free money" program popular?
Are these TV folks seriously stupid or just lying to us?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Are these TV folks seriously stupid or just lying to us?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The same folks who complain about EVERY government department (road repair, cops, non-synchronized stop lights, giant deficits, et al, etcetera....) are totally convinced that Obama and Rom Emanuel (with help from Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank) will run our entire health care system with precision, efficiency and economy.
ARE THEY NUTS???????
ARE THEY NUTS???????
update:
the rest of us are just too stupid....
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