Friday, December 31, 2010

New York City streets unplowed, but at least sanitation workers retire well

New York City streets unplowed, but at least sanitation workers retire well Washington Examiner
"nearly 180 retired employees make over $66,000 year -- in other words, over and above the maximum salary of currently working employees.
In fact, 20 retirees make upwards of $90,000 in retirement, up to $132,360.
Couple this with how notoriously difficult it is to fire a public employee, and you'll see why a public employee crashing a snow plow into a car doesn't rattle city officials."

Illegal aliens are illegal and alien

EDITORIAL: Illegal aliens are illegal and alien - Washington Times
"Are 'illegal aliens' simply misunderstood 'undocumented immigrants?'
The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Diversity Committee believes so, and it's engaged in a campaign to 'inform and sensitize journalists as to the best language to use when writing and reporting' on the issue.
That may sound nice, but there is nothing insensitive about calling a crime a crime."

Dyson uninvents the vacuum cleaner

Dyson uninvents the vacuum cleaner - Telegraph
"Dyson’s latest vacuum cleaner does away with the bag, the cable and most of the appliance as well"

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Oops! Mich. repeals penalties for some drug crimes

Oops! Mich. repeals penalties for some drug crimes - FoxNews.com
"in December, lawmakers engrossed in a busy and lengthy lame-duck session failed to include those penalties in a drug sentencing bill.
When Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed that bill last week, the penalties for synthetic marijuana and BZP were repealed."

Coming Soon: Higher Business Payroll Taxes [Michigan Capitol Confidential]

Coming Soon: Higher Business Payroll Taxes [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
"The state of Michigan owes the federal government $3.8 billion in unemployment insurance loans and will have to start making $150 million a year on interest payments if Congress doesn’t extend a waiver by Friday"

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

The Midwest Wind Surtax - WSJ.com

Review & Outlook: The Midwest Wind Surtax - WSJ.com
"You'd think poor Michigan has enough economic troubles without the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission placing a $300 million to $500 million annual surtax on the state's electric utility bills.
But on December 16 FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff announced new rules that would essentially socialize the cost of transmission lines across 13 states in the Midwest.

That region-wide pricing scheme, according to a study commissioned by utility companies, will force Michigan to pay about 20% of as much as $20 billion in new high-voltage transmission lines—though Michigan businesses and homeowners will get little benefit.
Thanks to FERC's new tariff, nearly everything ..."

--Editorial - NYPOST.com

--Editorial - NYPOST.com
"As long as Mayor Mike is in the dock, let us also note that when it comes to building a mosque near Ground Zero, he has from the start stood behind the First Amendment -- sort of.

That is, he likes the part that gives Muslims the right to build a house of worship just about anywhere they want.
But the part guaranteeing a separation between religion and government?
Not so much.
That much became obvious last week with the release of e-mails demonstrating that City Hall did much more than offer the mosque's organizers routine help.
In fact, it turns out that Team Bloomberg was heavily involved in operating the political machinery needed to ensure that various regulatory agencies approved the controversial project -- which has rightly drawn the ire of many 9/11 survivors and victims' families.

Even to the point of pressing Community Board 1 to cast an approving vote -- so that the chairman of the Landmarks Preservation Commission could be given the 'political cover' he so urgently sought before his agency denied landmark status to the existing building."

Japan and the Limits of Keynesianism

Japan and the Limits of Keynesianism - Megan McArdle - Business - The Atlantic
"Japan and the Limits of Keynesianism

Japan's budget is in a truly terrifying state.
Reading about the government's behavior reminds me of the worst accounts of compulsive spenders on the verge of personal bankruptcy--a sort of 'What the hell, we're screwed anyway, so let's not think about it and maybe go to Cabo for the weekend.'
The budget's structural position is what is known technically to economists as 'completely hosed'; borrowing now exceeds tax revenue, and debt service costs now eat up almost half of the tax revenue the government collects.

'Unsustainable' is too weak to describe the situation; I don't know how they're doing it now."

Japan is simply America, Michigan, Muskegon, Norton Shores ...a few years down the road.

Will we ever wise up?

Texas pastor found with valuables says she's not a thief, she was protecting parishoners' belongings

Texas pastor found with valuables says she's not a thief, she was protecting parishoners' belongings Mail Online
"A Texas pastor caught with more than $10,000 worth of fur coats, designer purses and electronics insists she was protecting a parishioner's valuables from thieves, not stealing them.
Sandy McGriff, co-founder of the Church of the Living God, was caught by police loading Serita Agnew's goods into her car.
The 52-year-old claims she was picking up a peach cobbler from a friend when she detoured past church member Agnew's home."

The Four Questions Every Liberal Must Be Asked

American Thinker: The Four Questions Every Liberal Must Be Asked
"Ever notice how liberals like to spend money...particularly other people's money?"

The Unions Liable

The Unions Liable - Investors.com
"New York City's lethal non-response to this week's blizzard will deflate Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plans for a vanity presidential candidacy, as it should.
But in casting blame, look for the union label."

U.S. House members will keep a few perks, including cars

U.S. House members will keep a few perks, including cars lansingstatejournal.com Lansing State Journal
"Republicans taking control of the U.S. House in January say they'll trim members' office budgets by 5%, but Congress members will keep a few perks, including taxpayer-paid leases for vehicles -- ranging from compacts to SUVs to offices on wheels -- for their personal use."

Well DUH!
They are our betters!
Get over it... or get them OUT!

Ordained minister Sarah Samuelson arraigned on charges of hosting underage drinking party in North Muskegon

Ordained minister Sarah Samuelson arraigned on charges of hosting underage drinking party in North Muskegon MLive.com
"When police were called to the home about 11 p.m., the guests ran, many jumping out of windows, most of them without shoes or coats, Korabik said.
The approximately 15 people caught by police allegedly admitted drinking and received minor in possession of alcohol citations."

Heh...
All of them were likely to go to heaven anyway......right?
Or heck....

Sanitation Union Fires Back At Accusations Of Slow-Down

Sanitation Union Fires Back At Accusations Of Slow-Down
"The chairman of the Municipal Labor Committee, Local 831, which represents men and women of the New York City Sanitation Department says there is no truth behind a rumor that his members worked slower during the blizzard of 2010"

OK.
So, if this is their BEST......meebee we ought to explore an alternative to the monopoly?

Ford brings stop/start system to U.S.

Ford brings stop/start system to U.S. - AutoWeek Magazine
"Ford will equip many of its U.S. cars and SUVs with stop/start technology, beginning in 2012, which automatically shuts down the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop, cutting down on fuel use and emissions."

Vroom Vroom: Silent electric cars need noises

Vroom Vroom: Silent electric cars need noises - Yahoo! News
"Figures compiled by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show pedestrians and cyclists are twice as likely to be hit by a hybrid electric vehicle running silently at low speed than by a car with a normal engine."

The bike lobby rules!

We will NEVER see ads like these again


Some really old ads. Remember any?"

These are hilarious!

Good News: 9-year-old Spring Lake Township girl empties her piggy bank for worthy cause

Good News: 9-year-old Spring Lake Township girl empties her piggy bank for worthy cause MLive.com
"Instead, she donated the money to an agency that helps prisoners."

Another feel goody tale that celebrates "giving" by the private sector to those who suck the marrow out of our society.
$43 is worth an entire column?
Maybe we'll see another feel goody that announces local public unions are reducing their pay and benefits to that of us local workers.
Yeah, right.

Lil Mama Booed During New York Performance

Lil Mama Booed During New York Performance - The Boombox
"Lil Mama acted as the special guest during Chris Brown's 'All Black Christmas Extravaganza,' at Webster Hall on Thursday (Dec. 23)."

Imagine if an "artist" promoted "an all white Christmas".
Yes, there are two Americas.
And it's getting worse.

Is the Republican Party Finished?

American Thinker: Is the Republican Party Finished?
"The lame-duck session of the 111th Congress proved one thing beyond a doubt: the Republican Party does not represent the interests of conservatives."

That's why we Tea Partiers are polishing our pitch forks!