Sat: Blue Lake Township to investigate controversial firefighter training session MLive.com: "Stapel said he arrived to the training session at 7:45 p.m. and worked until 9 p.m., which is supported by a time sheet Radtke provided to the Chronicle. He said he didn't know what the training would be when he went to Bower's house, but he didn't expect to do construction work.
“All I did the whole time I was there was hang sheetrock,” he said.
Radtke said firefighters were paid for training from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., but most stayed to work on the house until about 9:30 p.m. without pay for the last half-hour. He provided The Chronicle with a copy of a handwritten outline of the training session, which listed, as educational elements of the training: noting elements of roof, ceiling and wall construction; looking at what a firefighter would need to avoid while cutting through a wall to escape a fire; and looking at how to cut around a window to create a door if a fire blocks normal entrances."
Saturday, March 19, 2011
American Thinker: The Media and the Republicans
American Thinker: The Media and the Republicans: "The American mainstream media, once the most dominant news gathering entity in the world, has lost its credibility and is in the process of losing its influence. Yet the Republicans and some conservative intelligentsia in Washington D.C. still foolishly curry the media's favor, cower in fear of their by-gone power and do not understand their motives and mindless acquiescence to group-think mentality.
Since 1990 total newspaper circulation has dropped by 17.3 million readers (28%). The three network news broadcasts have suffered a similar fate. Since 1991 they have lost 12.6 million viewers (34%). The various mainstream news magazines such a Time and Newsweek are a mere skeleton of their former selves."
Since 1990 total newspaper circulation has dropped by 17.3 million readers (28%). The three network news broadcasts have suffered a similar fate. Since 1991 they have lost 12.6 million viewers (34%). The various mainstream news magazines such a Time and Newsweek are a mere skeleton of their former selves."
Costa Mesa layoffs: Nearly half of Costa Mesa city employees get layoff notices
Costa Mesa layoffs: Nearly half of Costa Mesa city employees get layoff notices - latimes.com
"Costa Mesa has sent layoff notices to nearly half of its employees in a dramatic austerity program being closely watched by other cities struggling with ballooning pension obligations."
"Costa Mesa has sent layoff notices to nearly half of its employees in a dramatic austerity program being closely watched by other cities struggling with ballooning pension obligations."
Helen Thomas Defends Palestinian Suicide Bombers in Playboy Magazine
Helen Thomas Defends Palestinian Suicide Bombers in Playboy Magazine « Commentary Magazine
"Veteran reporter Helen Thomas turned up in Playboy magazine this month (fully clothed, don’t worry) as part of her ongoing anti-Semitic publicity tour."
"Veteran reporter Helen Thomas turned up in Playboy magazine this month (fully clothed, don’t worry) as part of her ongoing anti-Semitic publicity tour."
European governments “completely puzzled” about U.S. position on Libya
European governments “completely puzzled” about U.S. position on Libya The Cable
"Clinton's unwillingness to commit the United States to a specific position led many in the room to wonder exactly where the administration stood on the situation in Libya.
'Frankly we are just completely puzzled,' the diplomat said.
'We are wondering if this is a priority for the United States.'"
"Clinton's unwillingness to commit the United States to a specific position led many in the room to wonder exactly where the administration stood on the situation in Libya.
'Frankly we are just completely puzzled,' the diplomat said.
'We are wondering if this is a priority for the United States.'"
Retirees see pension tax as attack on middle class
Retirees see pension tax as attack on middle class - BusinessWeek
"Snyder says Michigan can't afford the $900 million it loses to some of the nation's most generous senior tax breaks, and seniors are pushing the tax burden onto younger residents.
Retirees say it's unfair to make them pay more so Snyder can cut business taxes by $1.7 billion."
"Snyder says Michigan can't afford the $900 million it loses to some of the nation's most generous senior tax breaks, and seniors are pushing the tax burden onto younger residents.
Retirees say it's unfair to make them pay more so Snyder can cut business taxes by $1.7 billion."
Spartans played for Merchant after coach left
Spartans played for Merchant after coach left - Washington Times:
"When Joanne McCallie left Michigan State to coach at Duke, incoming recruits Kalisha Keane,
Johnson, Brittney Thomas and Cetera Washington didn’t look for a way out.
They stayed and became Spartans under new coach Suzy Merchant.
Turned out to be a good move.
Michigan State won its first outright Big Ten title this season and is a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Spartans (26-5) will play Northern Iowa (27-5) on Sunday night in Wichita, Kan."
"When Joanne McCallie left Michigan State to coach at Duke, incoming recruits Kalisha Keane,
Johnson, Brittney Thomas and Cetera Washington didn’t look for a way out.
They stayed and became Spartans under new coach Suzy Merchant.
Turned out to be a good move.
Michigan State won its first outright Big Ten title this season and is a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Spartans (26-5) will play Northern Iowa (27-5) on Sunday night in Wichita, Kan."
» Is Obama’s Team Ready to Dump the Dollar?
» Is Obama’s Team Ready to Dump the Dollar? The Loft
"This week, Geithner said he was 'quite open' to the establishment of a new global reserve currency."
"This week, Geithner said he was 'quite open' to the establishment of a new global reserve currency."
Congressional Scorecard
Congressional Scorecard
"The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), a public policy organization dedicated to the principles of free markets and limited government, has assembled a voting scorecard for the 112th Congress focusing on worker issues.
CEI’s labor policy website, Workplacechoice.org, will be the only real time congressional voting scorecard devoted to analyzing Congress’ labor record from a free-market perspective."
"The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), a public policy organization dedicated to the principles of free markets and limited government, has assembled a voting scorecard for the 112th Congress focusing on worker issues.
CEI’s labor policy website, Workplacechoice.org, will be the only real time congressional voting scorecard devoted to analyzing Congress’ labor record from a free-market perspective."
End the Drug War, Save Black America
End the Drug War, Save Black America - Reason Magazine
"'Therefore, if the War on Drugs were terminated, the main factor keeping race-based resentment a core element in the American social fabric would no longer exist.
America would be a better place for all.'"
"'Therefore, if the War on Drugs were terminated, the main factor keeping race-based resentment a core element in the American social fabric would no longer exist.
America would be a better place for all.'"
Michigan Automotive News -
Michigan Automotive News -: "With video: Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder booed by union workers at Ford Focus celebration"
Qadaffi's Chicago Connection
"And who can forget the photo of a beaming Obama shaking hands with a starstruck Qadaffi at the G8 summit in Italy in July 2009?"
TARP Was No Win for the Taxpayers
Articles & Commentary
"Almost 30 months after its birth, TARP is far from dead.
More than 550 banks, AIG, GM, Chrysler and others still have approximately $160 billion of taxpayer money outstanding."
"Almost 30 months after its birth, TARP is far from dead.
More than 550 banks, AIG, GM, Chrysler and others still have approximately $160 billion of taxpayer money outstanding."
Friday, March 18, 2011
WEAC’s bullying tactics against businesses unworthy behavior for so-called “public servants”
"Union leaders can dress it up and use innocuous-sounding phrases like “ voluntary consumer activism,” but the bottom line is that Wisconsin’s unions are now resorting to thug-like behavior against political opponents, real or imagined."
Union equates lavish benefits to black civil rights
Union equates lavish benefits to black civil rights Byron York Politics Washington Examiner
"Fresh from defeat in Wisconsin, union leaders are planning a new campaign not just to head off future challenges to their collective bargaining powers but also to make the case that organized labor's benefits and prerogatives -- wages, health care, and pensions that are more generous than those of comparable workers in the private sector -- are the moral equivalent of rights won by black Americans during the civil rights movement."
"Fresh from defeat in Wisconsin, union leaders are planning a new campaign not just to head off future challenges to their collective bargaining powers but also to make the case that organized labor's benefits and prerogatives -- wages, health care, and pensions that are more generous than those of comparable workers in the private sector -- are the moral equivalent of rights won by black Americans during the civil rights movement."
Grand Rapids school board candidate says budget cuts require closer look at privatization, pension reform
Grand Rapids school board candidate says budget cuts require closer look at privatization, pension reform MLive.com
"Her three point plan includes the following:
1- Better fiscal management: Let’s privatize non-essential services. We need to eliminate collective bargaining because all we are really doing is bargaining away our children’s
education.
2. Common sense cost cutting: We must use a defined contribution plan. MESSA (union-owned teacher health insurance) is a Cadillac plan that teachers pay nothing or next to nothing for. We must also roll back administrative extras such as vehicle allowances and monthly stipends.
3. More teacher accountability: We must reform teacher tenure."
Whoa nellie!
The education establishment will hate these 3 points!
Imagine an outsider who thinks cost and performance ought to be major considerations!
This woman may be the most articulate hope for our children's financial future.
Christine Jurrians.
Remember her name.
"Her three point plan includes the following:
1- Better fiscal management: Let’s privatize non-essential services. We need to eliminate collective bargaining because all we are really doing is bargaining away our children’s
education.
2. Common sense cost cutting: We must use a defined contribution plan. MESSA (union-owned teacher health insurance) is a Cadillac plan that teachers pay nothing or next to nothing for. We must also roll back administrative extras such as vehicle allowances and monthly stipends.
3. More teacher accountability: We must reform teacher tenure."
Whoa nellie!
The education establishment will hate these 3 points!
Imagine an outsider who thinks cost and performance ought to be major considerations!
This woman may be the most articulate hope for our children's financial future.
Christine Jurrians.
Remember her name.
20 Days of Left-Wing Thuggery in Wisconsin: When Will Obama, Democrats, and MSM Call for Civility?
» 20 Days of Left-Wing Thuggery in Wisconsin: When Will Obama, Democrats, and MSM Call for Civility? - Big Government
"Below, you’ll find a compilation of 20 days worth of the death threats, vandalism, and intimidation practiced by pro-union thugs opposed to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s budget repair bill."
"Below, you’ll find a compilation of 20 days worth of the death threats, vandalism, and intimidation practiced by pro-union thugs opposed to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s budget repair bill."
Chevy Volt: The Car From Atlas Shrugged Motors
"Volt sales are anemic:
326 in December,
321 in January, and
281 in February.
GM announced a production run of 100,000 in the first two years.
Who is going to buy all these cars?"
326 in December,
321 in January, and
281 in February.
GM announced a production run of 100,000 in the first two years.
Who is going to buy all these cars?"
Muskegon County law enforcement agencies interested in body cams, can't afford them
Muskegon County law enforcement agencies interested in body cams, can't afford them MLive.com: "While some police agencies nationwide have begun using tiny body cameras to record actions of officers and those with whom they have contact, Muskegon County jurisdictions aren’t on board.
The biggest roadblock? The cost to maintain them, authorities say."
The biggest roadblock? The cost to maintain them, authorities say."
The Libyan Tea Party
EL SENUSSI: The Libyan Tea Party - Washington Times
"My traveling companion intimated to me,
“This must be the Libyan version of the Tea Party.”
If tea is synonymous with reform, then I hope it is."
"Libyan tea Party"?
That sorta explains Barry O'Carter's "support", doesn't it?
"My traveling companion intimated to me,
“This must be the Libyan version of the Tea Party.”
If tea is synonymous with reform, then I hope it is."
"Libyan tea Party"?
That sorta explains Barry O'Carter's "support", doesn't it?
Ray Nagin clone in the White House
American Thinker Blog: Ray Nagin clone in the White House
"Fortunately this inept mayor, Ray Nagin, is now out of office and unable to inflict upon his constituents his monumental incompetence any longer.
Unfortunately for America, his federal counterpart is very much in power for another two years and is inflicting the similar damage of his Nagin-like cluelessness and ineptitude on not just New Orleans, but America and the entire world."
"Fortunately this inept mayor, Ray Nagin, is now out of office and unable to inflict upon his constituents his monumental incompetence any longer.
Unfortunately for America, his federal counterpart is very much in power for another two years and is inflicting the similar damage of his Nagin-like cluelessness and ineptitude on not just New Orleans, but America and the entire world."
One driver cut off another in U.S. 131 road-rage incident that led to wrench assault
One driver cut off another in U.S. 131 road-rage incident that led to wrench assault MLive.com
"The 50-year-old Grand Rapids area man sought his own treatment Wednesday night after another motorist hit him in the head with a 15-inch ratchet after both vehicles had pulled off the freeway at West River Drive."
"The 50-year-old Grand Rapids area man sought his own treatment Wednesday night after another motorist hit him in the head with a 15-inch ratchet after both vehicles had pulled off the freeway at West River Drive."
Arne Duncan: No March Madness for NCAA teams with poor graduation rates
Arne Duncan: No March Madness for NCAA teams with poor graduation rates MLive.com
"Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim told USA Today that Duncan's proposal is “completely nuts.”
He told the paper that because basketball teams have small rosters, it takes only two or three players to bring a team below the cutoff.
“Any good school can have a bad class and fall below,” Boeheim said.
“It's a lot more difficult than it looks.
What looks to be simple on paper isn't as simple as it looks.
If three guys leave (school) and your other seven guys are 'A' students, that still puts you below.
It's hard to recover from that.”"
"Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim told USA Today that Duncan's proposal is “completely nuts.”
He told the paper that because basketball teams have small rosters, it takes only two or three players to bring a team below the cutoff.
“Any good school can have a bad class and fall below,” Boeheim said.
“It's a lot more difficult than it looks.
What looks to be simple on paper isn't as simple as it looks.
If three guys leave (school) and your other seven guys are 'A' students, that still puts you below.
It's hard to recover from that.”"
Diversity panel wants military to look like U.S.
Diversity panel wants military to look like U.S. - Washington Times
"The commission says it wants the military to resemble the ethnic makeup of America.
It is urging the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force to “validate” the standards — such as education, test scores, criminal records and drug use — that disqualify large numbers of blacks and Hispanics.
“Racial/ethnic minorities are less likely to meet eligibility requirements than are non-Hispanic whites, and that gap is widening,” the report says."
"The gap is widening" so our betters in government now tell us we need to dumb-size our military?
Why should our military resemble America?
Has most of America been trained to kill bad guys?
"The commission says it wants the military to resemble the ethnic makeup of America.
It is urging the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force to “validate” the standards — such as education, test scores, criminal records and drug use — that disqualify large numbers of blacks and Hispanics.
“Racial/ethnic minorities are less likely to meet eligibility requirements than are non-Hispanic whites, and that gap is widening,” the report says."
"The gap is widening" so our betters in government now tell us we need to dumb-size our military?
Why should our military resemble America?
Has most of America been trained to kill bad guys?
Detroit News critic who quit over edited Chrysler review: 'A matter of principle'
Detroit News critic who quit over edited Chrysler review: 'A matter of principle' MLive.com
"Burgess' online review did not include this passage, which was in the print version:
'If this car came in tortoise shell, the EPA would have to put it on the endangered sedan list to prevent trappers and automotive enthusiasts from rightfully shooting it into extinction.'"
"Burgess' online review did not include this passage, which was in the print version:
'If this car came in tortoise shell, the EPA would have to put it on the endangered sedan list to prevent trappers and automotive enthusiasts from rightfully shooting it into extinction.'"
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