Friday, October 23, 2009

Experts Puzzle Over How Flight Overshot Airport

Experts Puzzle Over How Flight Overshot Airport
"Federal investigators intensified their efforts on Friday to determine why a commercial jet carrying 144 passengers and five crew members over the northern plains of the United States on Wednesday night overshot its destination by 150 miles."

Like they fell asleep, duh....
We sure need more experts don't we!
Meebee we need some experts to tell us why so many experts are so dumb?

Canon S90


Canon S90
Wired.com Product Reviews:
"The S90 is the best compact camera I've ever used."

ummm, new camera craving growing.....

GOP calls Granholm's move to increase Michigan student funding cut to $292 per student 'fear mongering'

GOP calls Granholm's move to increase Michigan student funding cut to $292 per student 'fear mongering'
'The Legislature put a balanced budget on the governor's desk,' said state Rep. Kevin Elsenheimer, R-Kewadin, the House Republican leader. .
'Clearly, she's using fear mongering to set the stage for her tax increases.'"

S&P 500's PE Ratio of 139 Isn't Sustainable


S&P 500's PE Ratio of 139 Isn't Sustainable
"For investors a PE ratio in the 25 to 30 range means it will be difficult to find bargains, as you cannot expect an expansion of the PE ratio to contribute a higher level on the S&P 500 index.
Moreover, there is a risk the S&P PE ratio could contract, causing the level of the S&P 500 index to fall.
A drop to 20 on the S&P 500 PE ratio gives us a high of 917 on the S&P 500, assuming earnings does not change from its forecast.
Going forward investors need to keep in mind that the risk of a PE ratio contraction is a possibility.
A rise in the S&P 500 PE ratio is unlikely"

Romer: Impact of stimulus will level off


Romer: Impact of stimulus will level off:
"top White House economist says spending from the $787 billion economic stimulus has already had its biggest impact on economic growth and will likely not contribute to significant expansion next year."

Not a surprise to most. It never was a "stimulus", just an enormous pork dump on Barry's favored comrades.

The semi-bright side of this debacle might be that the world has seen just about every socialists economic-trick and they don't work.

Maybe some will start to get the message?

California Treasurer Lockyer: pensions will ‘bankrupt’ state « Calpensions


California Treasurer Lockyer: pensions will ‘bankrupt’ state
"State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, who sits on both the CalPERS and CalSTRS public pension boards, got the attention of his listeners during a legislative hearing yesterday.

“It’s impossible for this Legislature to reform the pension system, and if we don’t it will bankrupt the state,” is the Lockyer quote jotted down by one observer.

“My general view of the pensions is that the current benefits that have been promised are probably hard to maintain and the (retiree) health benefits that have been promised are impossible to maintain,” he said."

What will a bankrupt California mean for the rest of our country?

Holiday travel on a budget

Holiday travel on a budget
"visit Airfare Watchdog http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/. It lists deals from all airlines.
Don’t stop with the airlines, though. You can often find better deals on aggregator sites and other travel sites. Here are a few of the best:"

Excellent list of travel sites.

Chart of the Day: S&P500 P/E Ratio


Chart of the Day: S&P500 P/E Ratio
"As a result of the recent plunge in earnings and recent stock market rally, the PE ratio spiked and just peaked at 144 – a record high.
Currently, with 97% of US corporations having reported for Q2 2009, the PE ratio now stands at a lofty 129."

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Audit of Home Tax Credit Shows Errors and Abuses

Audit of Home Tax Credit Shows Errors and Abuses
"Just as Congressional leaders are calling for an extension of a popular $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers, or even an expansion to all home purchasers, government investigators reported Thursday that their audits suggest widespread abuse and errors in the program."

I'm shocked, shocked to see ...bla, bla, ad nausium....again...and again....

Former Phillips School building may house homeless

Former Phillips School building may house homeless
"Housing for the homeless, and not substance abuse treatment, now is the plan for the former Phillips School, according to officials with West Michigan Therapy, which is hoping to take ownership of the shuttered building."

Another government (non-tax paying) entity providing free housing in Muskegon!

Don't we have hundreds of empty appartments and houses already?
Why spend tax money for more housing when we've already got too many empty homes and appartments!

Some Coopersville parents question district providing laptops to middle-school students

Some Coopersville parents question district providing laptops to middle-school students
"A few parents are not thrilled with every Coopersville Middle School student getting a laptop computer this year.
At a Board of Education meeting this week, one parent said children who use the school’s resource room for challenged students, such as her eighth-grade son, should not have received a laptop.
“It’s a lazy way of learning,” she said, referring to the laptops’ spell check and other automatic services. “How educational are these for the kids?”
Two other parents complained about the $30 liability fee that families are charged for students who want to take their laptops home."

Good grief!

The elite world of public employees

The elite world of public employees
"It is hard to make a case for going to work in the private sector anymore because government employees just have it better.
Even now, when the private sector is facing major cutbacks and layoffs, government, at the state and federal levels, still offer unparalleled perks, benefits, and salaries – even in the face of seemingly insurmountable budget deficits.
There is something terribly wrong with this picture"

Could Los Angeles Go Bankrupt?

Milken SOS: Could Los Angeles Go Bankrupt?
"Here’s a sobering thought: could the City of Angels go bankrupt?
Following up on recent comments by former LA Mayor Richard Riordan that Los Angeles was on the way to bankruptcy unless it got concessions from unions..."

So many dominoes, so many left to fall....

Cat 5 Hurricane Rick threatens Mexico resort city

Cat 5 Hurricane Rick threatens Mexico resort city
"Hurricane Rick, the strongest eastern North Pacific storm in more than a decade, raged across open seas on Sunday, but forecasters said it could veer into resorts at the tip of the Baja California Peninsula by midweek.
The track of the Category 5 hurricane threatened to disrupt a major sport fishing tournament scheduled to start Wednesday in Los Cabos, where hundreds of fishermen - mainly Americans - were gathering.
The hurricane's winds were still a howling 175 mph (280 kph) Sunday, down slightly from a peak of 180 mph (285 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. But it was projected to move over cooler waters and weaken to around Category 2 status with winds of around 98 mph (156 kph) before hitting land."

I saved this from last week.
....never mind

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

HMM: “Voters in this small city decided overwhelmingly last year to do away with the party affiliat…

HMM: “Voters in this small city decided overwhelmingly last year to do away with the party affiliat…
"HMM: “Voters in this small city decided overwhelmingly last year to do away with the party affiliation of candidates in local elections, but the Obama administration recently overruled the electorate and decided that equal rights for black voters cannot be achieved without the Democratic Party.
The Justice Department’s ruling, which affects races for City Council and mayor, went so far as to say partisan elections are needed so that black voters can elect their ‘candidates of choice’ – identified by the department as those who are Democrats and almost exclusively black.”
If this is an accurate report, it will only strengthen claims that the Department of Justice has been politicized under Eric Holder, particularly as the decision was “made by the same Justice official who ordered the dismissal of a voting rights case against members of the New Black Panther Party in Philadelphia.”"

Imagine the MSM response if this was a republican administration.

Muskegon, Shoreline Inn to give valuation dispute to referee

Muskegon, Shoreline Inn to give valuation dispute to referee
"The city and hotel owner will agree to accept the property value determined by the independent appraiser, avoiding a lengthy and costly property tax appeal, city staff said.
The city would have to pay for legal fees and appraisal services if the hotel property tax case were taken to the Michigan Tax Tribunal, they said."

Big surprise that an entrepreneur doesn't trust the city to accurately value their property....right

Monday, October 19, 2009

Persistent criminals could escape trial under new CPS guidelines

Persistent criminals could escape trial under new CPS guidelines
"Hundreds of offenders may escape charges because court action would not be deemed “proportionate” to their crimes, under guidelines that set out the most significant changes to prosecution principles in 90 years"

In Hawaii, school's out for recession

In Hawaii, school's out for recession
"At a time when President Barack Obama is pushing for more time in the classroom, his home state has created the nation's shortest school year under a new union contract that closes schools on most Fridays for the remainder of the academic calendar.
The deal whacks 17 days from the school year for budget-cutting reasons and has education advocates incensed that Hawaii is drastically cutting the academic calendar at a time when it already ranks near the bottom in national educational achievement."

Michigan limits mercury from coal-fired plants

Michigan limits mercury from coal-fired plants
"Michigan's coal-fired power plants will be required to make drastic cuts in mercury emissions under regulations announced Monday.
The rules developed by the Department of Environmental Quality are designed to implement a policy Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced three years ago to slash the generators' mercury output 90 percent by 2015.
Coal-fired plants produce 60 percent of Michigan's electricity."

Imagine you're a company CEO thinking of expanding in Michigan ...... or moving out....

Times Says It Will Cut 100 Newsroom Jobs

Times Says It Will Cut 100 Newsroom Jobs
"The New York Times plans to eliminate 100 newsroom jobs — about 8 percent of the total — by year’s end, offering buyouts to union and non-union employees, and resorting to layoffs if it cannot get enough people to leave voluntarily, the paper announced on Monday"

Who would not cheer the soon demise of Pravda on the East River.
Take those few niblets of hope while the tsunami progressivism rolls over.....

Black leaders getting restless for answers in Muskegon police shooting that killed one man | Muskegon News - - MLive.com

Black leaders getting restless for answers in Muskegon police shooting that killed one man
"Anger and frustration within the Muskegon community has continued over the lack of information released by law enforcement officials about the nearly month-old shooting of a Muskegon man.

It’s something Rev. William Anderson hopes to address during a community meeting on Tuesday.

Anderson, president of the Muskegon branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, is hosting a townhall-style meeting at 6 p.m. at Angel Community Christian Church about the shooting of Julius Allen-Ray Johnson"

This "anger" from black leaders might just have some legitimacy 'cept their congenital silence at outrage from anyone other than a brotha..... and we wonder where our contry is going?

How cool is this! Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) from us to THEM!





Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)
"As of Oct. 1, 2008, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the new name for the federal Food Stamp Program.

The new name reflects the changes we’ve made to meet the needs of our clients, including a focus on nutrition and an increase in benefit amounts.
SNAP is the federal name for the program.
State programs may have different names.

Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) is an electronic system that allows a recipient to authorize transfer of their government benefits from a Federal account to a retailer account to pay for products received.
EBT is used in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. BT has been implemented in all States since June of 2004."
I saw this "EBT" on a pizza flier.
So our tax dollars are supporting PIZZA as a "focus on nutrition"?

Don't ya just love government's love of "nutrition"?
And don't you love SNAP!

Residents of Missouri's Dancing Rabbit test the limits of green living

Residents of Missouri's Dancing Rabbit test the limits of green living
"Drawn by cheap land prices and a lack of repressive zoning restrictions, Missouri is home to more than 50 'intentional communities,' a broad term that includes communes, co-housing, and student co-ops."

The future of eco-loonie?

Rush Limbaugh: The Race Card, Football and Me

Rush Limbaugh: The Race Card, Football and Me - WSJ.com
"David Checketts, an investor and owner of sports teams, approached me in late May about investing in the St. Louis Rams football franchise.
As a football fan, I was intrigued.
I invited him to my home where we discussed it further.
Even after informing him that some people might try to make an issue of my participation, Mr. Checketts said he didn't much care.
I accepted his offer."

READ THIS!

MSU Homecoming 2009


Spartan March Madness sets records!


My Way - Sports News
"It would be hard for Michigan State to be much better than it was last season, when it went 31-7, won the Big Ten by the second-largest margin in history and went 5-1 in the NCAA tournament, including upsets of overall top seed Louisville and semifinal opponent Connecticut in Ford Field, 92 miles from campus.
'When I recruited these guys, we talkd about the chance to play for a championship in our own state,' Izzo said.
'We put 73,000 fans in Detroit, had 30,000 for a public practice and had 9,000 in a mall for a pep rally, all records.
In fact, your program now has the number 1, 2 and 3 largest crowds ever to watch a basketball game.'
Izzo has always compared his program to the established powers and looked at crowd counts for Midnight Madness.
When told that people were turned away Friday night and there was a sellout crowd of 14,759, he flashed a satisfied smile.
'That's the most we've had here by a lot,' he said. '...
One of my personal dreams was to somehow fill this place for Midnight Madness.
Now, we've done that.'"
Tom rode in on an IndyCar replica.... gonna get back to Indy in March 2010!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Ariz. sheriff launches immigration sweep

Ariz. sheriff launches immigration sweep
"'It doesn't bother me, because we are going to do the same thing,' said Arpaio, whose deputies had arrested 16 people by Friday evening on unspecified charges.
'I am the elected sheriff.
I don't take orders from the federal government.'"

Destruction Of Healthcare Delivery System Underway

Destruction Of Healthcare Delivery System Underway
"If you want to understand why Aetna, Independence Blue Cross (Keystone), and other insurance companies are dropping some, though not all, of their Medicare Advantage policies, you have to understand the way these plans have been tainted by President Obama and the Democratic proposals for Obamacare in its various forms.
Their proposals, not yet enacted, will destroy the greatest health care delivery system in the world if enacted.
But what they have already done has started to do serious damage to our system, as exemplified by what is going on with Medicare Advantage.
Medicare Advantage plans are popular and have many advantages for senior citizens. So, naturally, Mr. Obama wants to kill them."

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Taking the National Debt Seriously

Taking the National Debt Seriously
"The OMB projects deficits of about $9 trillion over the next 10 years.
If that occurs, the national debt will be almost $21 trillion by 2019.
However, the actual amount could be much higher.
The OMB also optimistically projects $13.5 trillion of revenue increases over the next decade, while minimizing the inevitable rise in interest rates that will come with an expanding national debt.
During Jimmy Carter's years in the White House, Treasury yields reached 15%. The 2009 average interest rate on the debt was only 3.2%.
With our mounting national debt and budget deficits, it is reasonable to assume that in the near future interest rates on new and refinanced debt could double or triple."

Dow 10,000 isn't a green light for economy

Dow 10,000 isn't a green light for economy
"Several experts point out than many of the relatively strong earnings reports helping to lift the markets in recent days are being driven by cost cuts, rather than strong revenue growth that would be a better indicator of consumers and businesses being willing to spend again.
If businesses keep cutting costs to make the numbers that Wall Street wants to see, that can only put more downward pressure on jobs and wages, and result in weaker economic growth or another downturn.
'The companies are cutting fat, and in many cases cutting bone and muscle.
There's no organic economic growth there,' said Yamarone."