'Chainsaw Pinch':
NYT's Chairman Cuts Way to Profitability, Doubles Comp to $6 Million
"In the midst of all of this, the Journal reports that Times Company chairman 'Pinch' Sulzberger's total compensation more than doubled in 2009 to roughly $6 million,"
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Democrats Dump Student Aid Overhaul Into Health Care Bill
Democrats Dump Student Aid Overhaul Into Health Care Bill
"If a yearlong struggle to pass sweeping health care reform that will affect every American wasn't enough for Democrats, they have now decided to add a sweeping overhaul of student aid to the bill.
That means Democrats will try to muscle through two top administration priorities using a bare-knuckled tactic called reconciliation that only requires the approval of a simple majority in the Senate and prevents Republicans from killing the bills through filibusters."
"If a yearlong struggle to pass sweeping health care reform that will affect every American wasn't enough for Democrats, they have now decided to add a sweeping overhaul of student aid to the bill.
That means Democrats will try to muscle through two top administration priorities using a bare-knuckled tactic called reconciliation that only requires the approval of a simple majority in the Senate and prevents Republicans from killing the bills through filibusters."
The Coming Greek Debt Bubble
The Coming Greek Debt Bubble « The Baseline Scenario
"The French and Germans are apparently actually encouraging banks, pension funds, and individuals to buy these bonds – despite the fact senior politicians must surely know this is a Ponzi scheme, i.e., people can get out of Greek bonds only to the extent that new investors come in."
"The French and Germans are apparently actually encouraging banks, pension funds, and individuals to buy these bonds – despite the fact senior politicians must surely know this is a Ponzi scheme, i.e., people can get out of Greek bonds only to the extent that new investors come in."
American Thinker: 'Are Liberals, Atheists More Evolved than Conservatives?'
American Thinker: 'Are Liberals, Atheists More Evolved than Conservatives?'
"The National Geographic headline is therefore characteristically absurd, but it's also typical of the cultural Left today -- and of its hopeless cravings to validate itself as being smarter, better-educated, and of course, more compassionate than those conservative throwbacks to a brute past.
Somehow the Left always needs to boast, and like any other compulsive boaster, it is compensating for its own feelings of inferiority.
I suspect that that's the real inner nature of the Left:
Most of its followers worry about their personal adequacy in life."
"The National Geographic headline is therefore characteristically absurd, but it's also typical of the cultural Left today -- and of its hopeless cravings to validate itself as being smarter, better-educated, and of course, more compassionate than those conservative throwbacks to a brute past.
Somehow the Left always needs to boast, and like any other compulsive boaster, it is compensating for its own feelings of inferiority.
I suspect that that's the real inner nature of the Left:
Most of its followers worry about their personal adequacy in life."
IRS visits Sacramento carwash in pursuit of 4 cents
Bob Shallit: IRS visits Sacramento carwash in pursuit of 4 cents - Sacramento Business, Housing Market News Sacramento Bee
"The really odd part of this: The letter that was hand-delivered to Zeff's on-site manager showed the amount of money owed to the feds was ... 4 cents.
Inexplicably, penalties and taxes accruing on the debt – stemming from the 2006 tax year – were listed as $202.31, leaving Harv's with an obligation of $202.35."
"The really odd part of this: The letter that was hand-delivered to Zeff's on-site manager showed the amount of money owed to the feds was ... 4 cents.
Inexplicably, penalties and taxes accruing on the debt – stemming from the 2006 tax year – were listed as $202.31, leaving Harv's with an obligation of $202.35."
The Big Wind-Power Cover-Up
The Big Wind-Power Cover-Up - Investors.com
"Scandal: Spain exposed the boondoggle of wind power in 2009, discrediting an idea touted by the Obama administration. In response, U.S. officials banded with trade lobbyists to hide the facts.
It was a cold day at the Energy Department when researchers at King Juan Carlos University in Spain released a study showing that every 'green job' created by the wind industry killed off 4.27 other jobs elsewhere in the Spanish economy."
"Scandal: Spain exposed the boondoggle of wind power in 2009, discrediting an idea touted by the Obama administration. In response, U.S. officials banded with trade lobbyists to hide the facts.
It was a cold day at the Energy Department when researchers at King Juan Carlos University in Spain released a study showing that every 'green job' created by the wind industry killed off 4.27 other jobs elsewhere in the Spanish economy."
Friday, March 12, 2010
Firefighters told to 'use common sense' - The Scotsman
Firefighters told to 'use common sense' - The Scotsman
"Fire services will be told to follow new 'non-bureaucratic' guidelines and take a 'sensible' approach to hazardous incidents under a new policy unveiled by the Health and Safety Executive.
HSE chiefs said the guidelines aimed to ensure firefighters could do their jobs properly without employers flouting safety legislation. Brigade unions welcomed the ruling, saying a balance had to be struck between safety rules and allowing fire crews to do their job.
But one MP called for a complete overhaul of safety guidelines and their impact on rescues after the conclusion of a fatal accident inquiry into the death of Alison Hume.
The 44-year-old, from Galston in Ayrshire, spent six hours at the bottom of a pit because Strathclyde Fire and Rescue was banned from using rope equipment to rescue members of the public.
Mrs Hume, who suffered head and chest injuries after plunging 60ft, died shortly after being brought to the surface from the disused shaft 120 yards from her home."
"Fire services will be told to follow new 'non-bureaucratic' guidelines and take a 'sensible' approach to hazardous incidents under a new policy unveiled by the Health and Safety Executive.
HSE chiefs said the guidelines aimed to ensure firefighters could do their jobs properly without employers flouting safety legislation. Brigade unions welcomed the ruling, saying a balance had to be struck between safety rules and allowing fire crews to do their job.
But one MP called for a complete overhaul of safety guidelines and their impact on rescues after the conclusion of a fatal accident inquiry into the death of Alison Hume.
The 44-year-old, from Galston in Ayrshire, spent six hours at the bottom of a pit because Strathclyde Fire and Rescue was banned from using rope equipment to rescue members of the public.
Mrs Hume, who suffered head and chest injuries after plunging 60ft, died shortly after being brought to the surface from the disused shaft 120 yards from her home."
Divided board votes for new school history standards
Divided board votes for new school history standards Houston & Texas News Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
"Mary Helen Berlanga, D-Corpus Christi, said the standards ignore the Ku Klux Klan in Texas, Texas Rangers “killing Mexican-Americans without justification” and the U.S. Army's role in the attempted extermination of American Indians.
“Until we are ready to tell the truth about history, we don't have a good history or a good social studies curriculum for Texas,” she said.
She had failed in an attempt earlier in the meeting to get the history standards to identify Tejanos who fell defending the Alamo."
We sometimes forget that some of our elected officials HATE our country.
We must not let them redefine our American history!
Will we continue to let them brainwash our children?
"Mary Helen Berlanga, D-Corpus Christi, said the standards ignore the Ku Klux Klan in Texas, Texas Rangers “killing Mexican-Americans without justification” and the U.S. Army's role in the attempted extermination of American Indians.
“Until we are ready to tell the truth about history, we don't have a good history or a good social studies curriculum for Texas,” she said.
She had failed in an attempt earlier in the meeting to get the history standards to identify Tejanos who fell defending the Alamo."
We sometimes forget that some of our elected officials HATE our country.
We must not let them redefine our American history!
Will we continue to let them brainwash our children?
Health Care BS - MASSA: HOUSE PASSES GOP RESOLUTION TO INVESTIGATE WHAT PELOSI KNEW & WHEN
Health Care BS - MASSA: HOUSE PASSES GOP RESOLUTION TO INVESTIGATE WHAT PELOSI KNEW & WHEN
"Needless to say, the Republicans smelled a rat. A senior GOP aide put it as follows:
This is completely unacceptable … What are Democrats on the ethics committee afraid of? What is the Democratic leadership hiding?
To find out what ”leadership” knew and when, the GOP offered a privileged resolution calling for an investigation of how Massa’s case was handled—and it passed:
The GOP’s privileged resolution on an investigation of what members of Congress knew about Rep. Eric Massa’s (D-N.Y.) problems has passed the House, on a 360-2 vote. Both “no” votes came from Republicans.
My bet?
Pelosi & Co. are covering up the fact that they tried to blackmail Massa into supporting Obamacare.
His sudden ouster probably happened because he wouldn’t “stay bought.”"
"Needless to say, the Republicans smelled a rat. A senior GOP aide put it as follows:
This is completely unacceptable … What are Democrats on the ethics committee afraid of? What is the Democratic leadership hiding?
To find out what ”leadership” knew and when, the GOP offered a privileged resolution calling for an investigation of how Massa’s case was handled—and it passed:
The GOP’s privileged resolution on an investigation of what members of Congress knew about Rep. Eric Massa’s (D-N.Y.) problems has passed the House, on a 360-2 vote. Both “no” votes came from Republicans.
My bet?
Pelosi & Co. are covering up the fact that they tried to blackmail Massa into supporting Obamacare.
His sudden ouster probably happened because he wouldn’t “stay bought.”"
Thursday, March 11, 2010
The Frisky
Jacques Magazine Sports Issue The Frisky:
"Jacques Magazine “Sports” Issues More About Skivvies Than Squash"
I used to play squash.... and this is EXACTLY how I remember my most memorable matches!
"Jacques Magazine “Sports” Issues More About Skivvies Than Squash"
I used to play squash.... and this is EXACTLY how I remember my most memorable matches!
UC Tuition Hikes and Public Employee Pensions - WSJ.com
UC Tuition Hikes and Public Employee Pensions - WSJ.com: "The California legislature? Good luck with that. In 1999, the Democratic legislature ran a reckless gamble that makes Wall Street's bankers look cautious. At the top of a bull market, they assumed their investment returns would grow at a 8.25% rate in perpetuity—equivalent to assuming that the Dow would reach 25,000 by 2009—and enacted a huge pension boon for public-safety and industrial unions.
The bill refigured the compensation formula for pension benefits of all public-safety employees who retired on or after January 1, 2000. It let firefighters retire at age 50 and receive 3% of their final year's compensation times the number of years they worked. If a firefighter started working at the age of 20, he could retire at 50 and earn 90% of his final salary, in perpetuity. One San Ramon Valley fire chief's yearly pension amounted to $284,000—more than his $221,000 annual salary."
The bill refigured the compensation formula for pension benefits of all public-safety employees who retired on or after January 1, 2000. It let firefighters retire at age 50 and receive 3% of their final year's compensation times the number of years they worked. If a firefighter started working at the age of 20, he could retire at 50 and earn 90% of his final salary, in perpetuity. One San Ramon Valley fire chief's yearly pension amounted to $284,000—more than his $221,000 annual salary."
Daley: Day of reckoning for financial crisis
Daley: Day of reckoning for financial crisis
"Mayor Daley warned today that the day of reckoning has arrived for a financial crisis that’s choking local taxpayers: underfunded city pensions."
"Mayor Daley warned today that the day of reckoning has arrived for a financial crisis that’s choking local taxpayers: underfunded city pensions."
Gov't workers feel no economic pain - Washington Times
Gov't workers feel no economic pain - Washington Times: "The recession and the ongoing jobless recovery devastated much of the private-sector work force last year, sending unemployment soaring, but government workers emerged essentially unscathed, according to data released Wednesday by the Labor Department.
Meanwhile, the compensation for state and local government employees continued to easily outdistance the wages and benefits for workers in private business, a separate Labor Department report showed."
Meanwhile, the compensation for state and local government employees continued to easily outdistance the wages and benefits for workers in private business, a separate Labor Department report showed."
Motion to force Prichard to pay pensioners denied by judge
Motion to force Prichard to pay pensioners denied by judge al.com
"A bankruptcy court judge denied a motion Tuesday that would force Prichard to pay its pensioners, saying they do not qualify as administrative claims -- or day-to-day obligations -- of the city."
"A bankruptcy court judge denied a motion Tuesday that would force Prichard to pay its pensioners, saying they do not qualify as administrative claims -- or day-to-day obligations -- of the city."
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
SO IS THIS THE HOPE, OR THE CHANGE? Monthly deficit hits $220 billion, highest in U.S. history.
Instapundit » Blog Archive » SO IS THIS THE HOPE, OR THE CHANGE? Monthly deficit hits $220 billion, highest in U.S. history.
“According to CBO, based on an analysis of the deeply deceitful numbers presented to it by Reid and Obama, the national panacea of health-care reform will save us $132 billion over the next 10 years.
"Which means the feds blew through our big decade-long ObamaCare refund in about … 17 days last month.”"
“According to CBO, based on an analysis of the deeply deceitful numbers presented to it by Reid and Obama, the national panacea of health-care reform will save us $132 billion over the next 10 years.
"Which means the feds blew through our big decade-long ObamaCare refund in about … 17 days last month.”"
Muhammad cartoon republished
Muhammad cartoon republished
"At least three Swedish newspapers on Wednesday published a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad with the body of a dog after an alleged plot to murder the artist who created it was uncovered in Ireland."
"At least three Swedish newspapers on Wednesday published a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad with the body of a dog after an alleged plot to murder the artist who created it was uncovered in Ireland."
‘The only thing necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men to do nothing."
Greece warns of worse downturn as strikes loom
Greece warns of worse downturn as strikes loom - swissinfo
"The Greek economy is set to shrink by more than expected this year, the government said on Wednesday, as it braced for nationwide strikes protesting its plans for bringing the country's budget deficit under control.
Greece, grappling with a ballooning deficit and a 300 billion euro (272 billion pound) debt pile, told the European Union that 2010 gross domestic product (GDP) would 'most likely' shrink by more than the 0.3 percent currently forecast."
"The Greek economy is set to shrink by more than expected this year, the government said on Wednesday, as it braced for nationwide strikes protesting its plans for bringing the country's budget deficit under control.
Greece, grappling with a ballooning deficit and a 300 billion euro (272 billion pound) debt pile, told the European Union that 2010 gross domestic product (GDP) would 'most likely' shrink by more than the 0.3 percent currently forecast."
MEA's sabotage kept Michigan out of Race to Top finalists
MEA's sabotage kept Michigan out of Race to Top finalists
"It's hard to argue with the White House's decision not to include Michigan among the 16 finalists for the first round of federal Race to the Top education grants.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said repeatedly that heavy weight was given to applications from states where all parties were committed to reform.
Michigan can't even pretend to qualify under that standard.
It bickered for months about whether to adopt the required reforms.
Even after it did, the arguing and obstruction continued.
Place the blame for the loss of the much-needed grants squarely on the Michigan Education Association.
It sabotaged the state's application at every step."
"It's hard to argue with the White House's decision not to include Michigan among the 16 finalists for the first round of federal Race to the Top education grants.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said repeatedly that heavy weight was given to applications from states where all parties were committed to reform.
Michigan can't even pretend to qualify under that standard.
It bickered for months about whether to adopt the required reforms.
Even after it did, the arguing and obstruction continued.
Place the blame for the loss of the much-needed grants squarely on the Michigan Education Association.
It sabotaged the state's application at every step."
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