Saturday, November 27, 2010

Federal judge to no longer oversee Detroit water department

"U.S. District Judge John Feikens, who turns 93 next week and has been ill recently, began oversight of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department 33 years ago as part of a pollution lawsuit settlement.
Feikens' departure is the third major leadership loss for the department in recent months at a time when state regulators have found major pollution violations in the Detroit River caused by the city's wastewater treatment plant."

Norton Shores sewer, water rates likely to rise | MLive.com

Norton Shores sewer, water rates likely to rise MLive.com
"A typical homeowner would see their quarterly combined water and sewer bill climb 18 percent, to $164.91, according to a city proposal.
If agreed upon by the city council, the hike would take effect in January."

Well, if you sign a idiotic long term contract with the devil (Muskegon Heights), what do you expect?

Thursday, November 25, 2010

GIVING THANKS FOR AMERICAN INGENUITY

GIVING THANKS FOR AMERICAN INGENUITY Newsradio 620 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin News, Talk, Sports, Weather Charlie Sykes
"Consider the electric carving knife that so many of you will use without a second thought this Thanksgiving holiday season."

New START, Old Whine

New START, Old Whine - Investors.com
"Then came the kicker from President Obama: "Ronald Reagan said, 'Trust but verify.' We can't verify right now.

...A nuclear arms control pact cannot be passed blindly under the rationale that 'it is in everybody's interests to work on reducing our nuclear arsenals.'

GOP senators want it made clear what New START really does, and what Moscow believes it does.
They want the detailed records of our negotiations, and as of now the president refuses to provide them.

Trusting Europe's judgment is no way to verify that post-Cold War Russia really will be constrained in the future."

Donkey Turkeys

Donkey Turkeys - WSJ.com
"To our mind, this passage captures the essence of left-wing 'progressives.'

Their personal fulfillment depends on the exercise of political power to control the lives of others.

That's why Americans find today's Democratic Party creepy and repellent--why they voted it out of power at the earliest opportunity."

The Ghost of Thanksgiving Yet to Come

The Ghost of Thanksgiving Yet to Come
"He wondered what might have happened if the public had stood up while there was still time, maybe back around 2010, when all the real nonsense began.
“Maybe we wouldn’t be where we are today if we’d just said ‘enough is enough’ when we had the chance,” he thought.
Maybe so, Winston.
Maybe so."

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Federal court decision establishes most of Isabella County, including northern Mount Pleasant, as 'Indian Country'

Federal court decision establishes most of Isabella County, including northern Mount Pleasant, as 'Indian Country' MLive.com
"Based on the decision, if an American Indian were cited for a traffic violation — or any law violation — in northern Mount Pleasant and other tribal properties, the tribe and not Isabella County District Court would deliver punishment."

RealClearPolitics - A Lost Thanksgiving Lesson

RealClearPolitics - A Lost Thanksgiving Lesson
"Total production was too meager to support the population, and famine resulted.
This went on for two years.

'So as it well appeared that famine must still ensue the next year also, if not some way prevented,' wrote Gov. William Bradford in his diary. The colonists, he said, 'began to think how they might raise as much corn as they could, and obtain a better crop than they had done, that they might not still thus languish in misery.
At length after much debate of things, (I) (with the advice of the chiefest among them) gave way that they should set corn every man for his own particular, and in that regard trust to themselves.
And so assigned to every family a parcel of land.'

In other words, the people of Plymouth moved from socialism to private farming.
The results were dramatic."

The Fred Upton Voting Record

The Fred Upton Voting Record NetRight Daily

Former Justice Pulls Back Curtain on Michigan Supreme Court

Former Justice Pulls Back Curtain on Michigan Supreme Court - Law Blog - WSJ
"We sense that we have not heard the last of this dispute."

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

The Cost of the Debt Explosion

The Cost of the Debt Explosion - By Veronique de Rugy - The Corner - National Review Online
"Here is what our future looks like if we don’t cut spending dramatically."

Whitman's maid story was pushed by nurses union

Whitman's maid story was pushed by nurses union
"How did an undocumented, Mexican-born housekeeper, Nicandra Diaz Santillan, end up in the national spotlight, boldly confronting her former boss, billionaire GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman?

The short answer: with the help of a union."

The Rapid posts salaries for Grand Rapids bus drivers, executives

The Rapid posts salaries for Grand Rapids bus drivers, executives MLive.com
"That's a legitimate and understandable question, Rapid officials say.
That's why visitors to their website can now view freshly posted salary range data."

Interesting there is NO pension or health care benefit info posted.

Joe Paterno plans to coach Penn State Nittany Lions in 2011 - ESPN

Joe Paterno plans to coach Penn State Nittany Lions in 2011 - ESPN
"Joe Paterno says he plans to return as Penn State coach next season, putting an end to any speculation about retirement."

Should public retirement age be hiked past 60?

Should public retirement age be hiked past 60? - OC Watchdog : The Orange County Register
"So the good states of the Union are starting to face up to the fact that they can’t afford to pay the pensions and other benefits they’ve promised to retirees.

Oops.

We told you earlier about how the Pew Center on the States has released a new nationwide review of how states are mobilizing to battle their coming $1 trillion pension tsunami,

And we note that while California has raised the retirement age for most employees from 55 to 60, other states have raised it to 62, and even 67.

Some note that Social Security doesn’t fully kick in until you’re 67.

What do you think? (You might want to ponder the charts below, from a Pew report, before you cast your vote.)"

Michigan Forbids City of Hamtramck to Seek Bankruptcy; My Advice to Hamtramck: "Default"

Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis: Michigan Forbids City of Hamtramck to Seek Bankruptcy; My Advice to Hamtramck: "Default"
"That Hamtramck is clearly bankrupt, unable to bay bills, saddled with unions salaries, pension promises that cannot be met, as well as other problems it desperately needs to get rid of without burdening taxpayers even more, is of no concern to the current governor of the state.

Please consider this updated report Michigan Forbids City To Seek Municipal Bankruptcy.

A spokesman for the Michigan state treasury said Thursday that municipal bankruptcy isn't an option for Hamtramck, the small city near Detroit that earlier this month asked the state for permission to file for the process."

Read this!

Climbing to the top of the tower!

Grab your balls and watch this video

Detroit Symphony Orchestra Management, Musicians in Talks

Detroit Symphony Orchestra Management, Musicians in Talks - WSJ.com

The DSO's 85 musicians walked off the job in late September after negotiations broke down over a proposed contract calling for the salaries of veteran musicians to be cut by nearly a third while new players would start at 42% below the current base of $104,650.

Pension and health benefits also would be cut.

So us taxpayers are gonna chip in so rich folks can listed to rich folks play music?

The 'Build America' Debt Bomb

Steven Malanga: The 'Build America' Debt Bomb - WSJ.com

"One sure signal has been the sharp rise in the cost for investors to insure against default.

In June, the price of a contract protecting an investor from a default by Illinois on its bonds rose to a record high of $309,100 on $10 million of debt over five years, according to CMA Datavision.

The national average for states is $190,000 per $10 million in debt.

At that point, Illinois surpassed California as the worst credit risk among U.S. states"

Grab a drink and read it all.
This is scary!

New Years with Elvis!

Mona Lake Productions

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Bristol Palin’s dancing on TV set off man in standoff, complaint says

Bristol Palin’s dancing on TV set off man in standoff, complaint says
"According to the complaint, Cowan and his wife were watching “Dancing with the Stars” when Cowan jumped up and swore as Bristol Palin appeared, saying something about “the (expletive) politics.”

Cowan was upset that a political figure’s daughter was on the show when he didn’t think she was a good dancer, the complaint states.

According to the complaint:
......He was carrying a single-shot shotgun, which he loaded and fired into the television."

PDS (Palin Derangement Syndrome) strikes again!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

George Gilder: California's Destructive Green Jobs Lobby

George Gilder: California's Destructive Green Jobs Lobby - WSJ.com
"This was the California referendum to repeal Assembly Bill 32, the so-called Global Warming Solutions Act, which ratchets the state's economy back to 1990 levels of greenhouse gases by 2020.

That's a 30% drop followed by a mandated 80% overall drop by 2050."

Holton classrooms to get telephones

Holton classrooms to get telephones MLive.com
"Communication between parents and teachers in Holton will get a lot easier with the installation of telephones in classrooms.

The Holton Public Schools Board of Education recently agreed to spend $64,782 on the new phone system that will include 105 telephone sets.

That’s enough for each classroom, as well as school offices and teacher’s lounges, said Superintendent Ann Cardon."

Monday, November 15, 2010

Muskegon downtown besieged conversation

Pop-goes-the-taxpayers-Bridge-Card

Pop-goes-the-taxpayers-Bridge-Card WOOD TV8

Holland said he called the state.

They told him the customer didn't violate any of the rules regarding Bridge Card purchases.

Teacher Pensions: Funding Shortfall Nears $500 Billion

Teacher Pensions: Funding Shortfall Nears $500 Billion - TIME
"Teacher pensions may not sound like a sexy or even high-profile issue, but keep reading: they're threatening the fiscal health of many states and could cost you — yes, you — thousands of dollars."

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Michigan child-care workers suing to break free of UAW union

Michigan child-care workers suing to break free of UAW union
"In 2006, the UAW and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) were formally approved as partners in a union called Child Care Providers Together Michigan.

Only 15 percent of the providers voted, but 92 percent were in favor."

That's the key deal.
The unions got an arrangement with the US government that only the voters on a given vote mattered in gaining a majority.
So if they kept the vote secret or make it hard to vote, they win.
Nice?
Vote democrat and you'll get more of this crap!

Greenspan says deficit could spark bond crisis

Greenspan says deficit could spark bond crisis - Business - Personal finance - Stocks & economy - msnbc.com
"The United States must move to rein in its massive budget deficits or it faces the risk of a bond market crisis, former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said Sunday"

Well...duh.....

That Greenspan would even have to say this is a clear indication of how bad things really are.

Why Can't Chuck Get His Business Off the Ground?



click on the "Miami" arrow at the bottom-middle and think "MUSKEGON".

COOL IT - Official Movie Trailer