What recovery? Budget deficits get worse for states.

What recovery? Budget deficits get worse for states.
CSMonitor.com: "Budget deficits for 2010 have worsened in 39 states in the past two or three months, according to a new analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities."

Steven Greenhut exposes clout of government unions

Steven Greenhut exposes clout of government unions
"former Register editorial writer Steven Greenhut has just released his book, 'Plunder! How Public Employee Unions Are Raiding Treasuries, Controlling Our Lives and Bankrupting the Nation.'

For the vast majority of ordinary citizens who toil in the private sector, this book will produce more than outrage – it is likely to spur many to take up the cause of stopping these corrupting influences on our systems of governance.

The real outrage will kick in at Chapter Two, entitled 'Unbelievable Pay and Benefits.' It is here that Greenhut catalogs the shocking abuses of public employee compensation."

'Morning Joe' Team Takes Direction From WH

The Radio Equalizer: Brian Maloney: MSNBC Libtalker: 'Morning Joe' Team Takes Direction From WH
"For anyone wondering why an increasing number of conservatives now use the term 'state-controlled media' to refer to television networks and newspapers, here's one that drives the point home.

During his syndicated radio show Friday, libtalker and MSNBC host Ed Schultz relayed to listeners how he observed 'Morning Joe' Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski take feedback directly from the White House during their program last week"

And the rest of the lib MSM get's their talking points via fax and e-mail... from the White House.

Why the Reid Bill is Unconstitutional

PointOfLaw Columns: Impermissible Ratemaking in Health-Insurance Reform: Why the Reid Bill is Unconstitutional
"This action is not only a source of real anxiety but also a decision of constitutional proportions, for it systematically strips the regulated health-insurance issuers of their constitutional entitlement to earn a reasonable rate of return on the massive amounts of capital that they have already invested in building out their businesses."

Interesting.
I wonder if the constitutional questions will be addressed BEFORE the bill's provisions start their mayhem.
(via InstaPundit)

Report: Michigan gas prices up 1.2 cents

Report: Michigan gas prices up 1.2 cents
"AAA Michigan says gasoline prices are up 1.2 cents per gallon over the past week to a statewide average of $2.55."

One year ago gas was about $1.60/gal.
Seems like the Obama supporting libs in the MSM don't want us to remember that.

Gordon Brown calls for new group to police global environment issues

Gordon Brown calls for new group to police global environment issues
"A new global body dedicated to environmental stewardship is needed to prevent a repeat of the deadlock which undermined the Copenhagen climate change summit, Gordon Brown will say tomorrow.

The UN’s consensual method of negotiation, which requires all 192 countries to reach agreement, needs to be reformed to ensure that the will of the majority prevails, he feels.

....... One of the frustrations for me was the lack of a global body with the sole responsibility for environmental stewardship."

Right,we want these criminal fools to vote our money to themselves.

check out just who they are:

http://muskegonpundit.blogspot.com/2009/12/proud-flag-waving-communists-and.html

English Channel trains halted indefinitely

English Channel trains halted indefinitely
"The French government on Monday announced a thorough investigation into the shutdown of the Eurostar, as the suspension of the only passenger rail link between Britain and continental Europe entered its third day, hitting holiday travel plans for some 55,000 people."

I thought the european train systems were SO much better than our transportation systems.
Something to be admired and emulated...... like their health care systems.....and military.....

Wind-farm developers face hurdles before project can become reality

Wind-farm developers face hurdles before project can become reality
"There was an audible gasp at a public hearing Tuesday when the audience saw what the proposed Aegir Offshore Wind Farm would look like from Mears State Park in Pentwater."

Wait till they see how much it costs!

...and all those dead birdies......

Fruitport Township, county, Indian tribe set up account for casino-related expenses

Fruitport Township, county, Indian tribe set up account for casino-related expenses
"The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians has proposed constructing a casino on the property near I-96 and U.S. 31. The tribe, which operates Little River Casino in Manistee, purchased the former Great Lakes Downs racetrack in 2008 and acquired additional adjacent property for a 233-acre site."

Not really noteworthy except for a comment by a friend yesterday.
"When is it gonna open?"

Lots of hurdles still remain before the fat lady sings and we may have a whole new state government elected in about 10 months.

Muskegon Public Schools award $2.4 million in construction contracts

Muskegon Public Schools award $2.4 million in construction contracts
"But the work does not include about $50,000 in lighting improvements to the district’s two middle school swimming pools — work the school board dropped after Superintendent Colin Armstrong indicated the pools could be closed as part of cost-cutting measures for next year."

Hmmm.

For teachers union members:
The automatic annual "step-up" pay increases continue.
The automatic "cost of living" pay increase continue.
The featherbedding in classrooms continues.

But children swimming in the two swimming pools won't continue.

I guess the phrase "it's for the children" only matters when the teacher's union bosses demand more money and benefits for teachers.

more:

http://muskegonpundit.blogspot.com/2009/10/teacher-perks-bleed-budget-dry.html

Lawrence Solomon: Wikipedia’s climate doctor

Lawrence Solomon: Wikipedia’s climate doctor
"The Climategate Emails reveal something else, too: the enlistment of the most widely read source of information in the world — Wikipedia — in the wholesale rewriting of this history.

The Medieval Warm Period, which followed the meanness and cold of the Dark Ages, was a great time in human history — it allowed humans around the world to bask in a glorious warmth that vastly improved agriculture, increased life spans and otherwise bettered the human condition.

But the Medieval Warm Period was not so great for some humans in our own time — the same small band that believes the planet has now entered an unprecedented and dangerous warm period. As we now know from the Climategate Emails, this band saw the Medieval Warm Period as an enormous obstacle in their mission of spreading the word about global warming. If temperatures were warmer 1,000 years ago than today, the Climategate Emails explain in detail, their message that we now live in the warmest of all possible times would be undermined. As put by one band member, a Briton named Folland at the Hadley Centre, a Medieval Warm Period “dilutes the message rather significantly.”"

Climategate: What's the "trick" and what did it "hide"?

Climategate: What's the "trick" and what did it "hide"?
"In a new famous email, Phil Jones, then head of the Climactic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia, wrote on Nov. 16 to climate research colleagues in the United States and at his own CRU:
'Dear Ray, Mike and Malcolm,
Once Tim's got a diagram here we'll send that either later today or first thing tomorrow.
I've just completed Mike's Nature trick of adding in the real temps to each series for the last 20 years (ie from 1981 onwards) and (sic) from 1961 for Keith's to hide the decline...'
What's the trick and what did it hide?"

Michigan's Fire Safe Cigarette Law Takes Effect January 1, 2010 Manufacturers Required to Certify Self-Extinguishing Cigarettes with State

DELEG - Michigan's Fire Safe Cigarette Law Takes Effect January 1, 2010 Manufacturers Required to Certify Self-Extinguishing Cigarettes with State
"State Fire Marshal Ronald R. Farr today announced that cigarette manufacturers must certify their brand families and associated styles as fire safe in order to sell them in Michigan after January 1, 2010. The Fire Standard Compliant (FSC) mark approval process for manufacturers begins today."

Shocker: Medicare Has A Higher Claim Denial Rate Than Private Sector Employers

Shocker: Medicare Has A Higher Claim Denial Rate Than Private Sector Employers
"under the government health care we already have Americans are denied far more often than the private sector."

Why are we learning this now?
A bit late, eh.

Payoffs for states get Harry Reid to 60 votes

Payoffs for states get Harry Reid to 60 votes
"Ben Nelson’s “Cornhusker Kickback,” as the GOP is calling it, got all the attention Saturday, but other senators lined up for deals as Majority Leader Harry Reid corralled the last few votes for a health reform package.

Nelson’s might be the most blatant – a deal carved out for a single state, a permanent exemption from the state share of Medicaid expansion for Nebraska, meaning federal taxpayers have to kick in an additional $45 million in the first decade.

But another Democratic holdout, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), took credit for $10 billion in new funding for community health centers, while denying it was a “sweetheart deal.” He was clearly more enthusiastic about a bill he said he couldn’t support just three days ago.
Nelson and Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) carved out an exemption for non-profit insurers in their states from a hefty excise tax. Similar insurers in the other 48 states will pay the tax.
Vermont and Massachusetts were given additional Medicaid funding, another plus for Sanders and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
Three states – Pennsylvania, New York and Florida – all won protections for their Medicare Advantage beneficiaries at a time when the program is facing cuts nationwide.
All of this came on top of a $300 million increase for Medicaid in Louisiana, designed to win the vote of Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu."

12 Amazing Christmas Lights Around the World

12 Amazing Christmas Lights Around the World - Oddee.com

Wannabe Pundits

Wannabe Pundits

See if you can guess the topics of the New York Times articles from which the following two excerpts are drawn:

'These are all minor annoyances, mind you, in a world with daily reminders that an embittered, small-hearted senator from Connecticut can hold up health care for millions.'

'President Obama and the Congressional leadership have repeatedly stressed their commitment to wresting the wealth of the nation from the hands of a few.'

Actually, don't even try; you'll never get it.
The first article, by Timothy Egan, is about Costco opening a store in Manhattan; the second, by a Paul Greenberg (though we're pretty sure it's not the Paul Greenberg), is about--no joke--fish oil.

To be sure, both appear in the Times's opinion section, so the 'Wannabe Pundits' designation isn't totally fair.
But the political references are just so bizarre and off topic.
It's as if we were to mention, apropos of absolutely nothing, that John Kerry has the hat to this day."

Proud Flag-Waving Communists and Socialists March in Copenhagen to Stop Global Warming

Watemelons, green on the outside.
Red on the inside.
Deep, rich, dark red.
Murderous red.

A dog is a rat is a doctor is a vet

Classical Values :: A dog is a rat is a doctor is a vet
"I want to return briefly to a point made in a hard-hitting post from Canadian blogger Blazingcatfur about the awful treatment his mother received:
With barely contained anger I informed the nurse that keeping an ill, 84 year old woman in a hospital corridor for 18 hours was not the type of care that anyone should be expected to tolerate. In fact my cat receives better treatment from his vet.

This is not the first time I've seen the point raised about veterinary care being better than health care for humans.
And you don't have to compare veterinary care to health care under socialized medicine to see the difference, although it becomes particularly glaring if you do.
Under our 'system' of veterinary health care, there's generally little or no wait, they're invariably friendly (because you could always grab your dog or cat and take it to another vet), and as to the prices?"

Nine Months After Stimulus 49 of 50 States Have Lost Jobs

Nine Months After Stimulus 49 of 50 States Have Lost Jobs
"Only North Dakota and the District of Columbia have seen net job creation following the February 2009 stimulus (though both fall short of seeing the promised level of job creation)."