Stimulus Package: $384,949 on Duck Genitalia Study | CNS News:
"The grant was made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the stimulus package."
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
After the Aircraft Carrier: 3 Alternatives to the Navy's Vulnerable Flattops
After the Aircraft Carrier: 3 Alternatives to the Navy's Vulnerable Flattops | Danger Room | Wired.com:
"A single new carrier costs $14 billion to build plus $7 million a day to operate.
“Not a good use of U.S. taxpayer money,” Hendrix asserts.
Moreover, he contends that huge carriers with their five-acre flight decks and scores of warplanes are ill-suited to the American way of war, in which precision and avoiding civilian casualties are more important than overwhelming firepower.
Worst, Hendrix warns, the carriers — major symbols of American military might — are increasingly big targets for China’s DF-21D ship-killing ballistic missiles."
"A single new carrier costs $14 billion to build plus $7 million a day to operate.
“Not a good use of U.S. taxpayer money,” Hendrix asserts.
Moreover, he contends that huge carriers with their five-acre flight decks and scores of warplanes are ill-suited to the American way of war, in which precision and avoiding civilian casualties are more important than overwhelming firepower.
Worst, Hendrix warns, the carriers — major symbols of American military might — are increasingly big targets for China’s DF-21D ship-killing ballistic missiles."
The Prevailing Wage Wave in Michigan
The Prevailing Wage Wave in Michigan | Job Creators NetworkJob Creators Network:
"After all, wasn’t last December fun?
Who wouldn’t want another round of union thuggery at the state Capitol whereby union protesters destroyed warming tents, knocked around a popular local hot dog vendor and shouted down a billy-club-armed state police line around the Governor’s office?"
"After all, wasn’t last December fun?
Who wouldn’t want another round of union thuggery at the state Capitol whereby union protesters destroyed warming tents, knocked around a popular local hot dog vendor and shouted down a billy-club-armed state police line around the Governor’s office?"
Don't Even THINK of Building That
Best of the Web Today: Don't Even THINK of Building That - WSJ.com:
'Spending': Letting You Keep Your Own Money
"The Real Spending Problem," according to a New York Times editorial with that title, is that the government is letting you keep too much money:
"Each year, the government doles out tax breaks worth $1.1 trillion. . . .
Tax breaks work like spending.
Giving a deduction for certain activities, like homeownership or retirement savings, is the same as writing a government check to subsidize those activities.
Functionally, they mimic entitlements.
Like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, they are available, year in and year out, in full, to all who qualify."
This is nonsense.
'Spending': Letting You Keep Your Own Money
"The Real Spending Problem," according to a New York Times editorial with that title, is that the government is letting you keep too much money:
"Each year, the government doles out tax breaks worth $1.1 trillion. . . .
Tax breaks work like spending.
Giving a deduction for certain activities, like homeownership or retirement savings, is the same as writing a government check to subsidize those activities.
Functionally, they mimic entitlements.
Like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, they are available, year in and year out, in full, to all who qualify."
This is nonsense.
Tour the new Cabela's Grandville store before it opens to the public!
Tour the new Cabela's Grandville store before it opens to the public! | MLive.com:
"He said the 88,000-square-foot store includes "thousands of quality outdoor products, as well as a mountain replica, wildlife displays, aquarium, boat shop, indoor archery range, Gun Library, Bargain Cave, Deli and Fudge Shop."
No guns?
"He said the 88,000-square-foot store includes "thousands of quality outdoor products, as well as a mountain replica, wildlife displays, aquarium, boat shop, indoor archery range, Gun Library, Bargain Cave, Deli and Fudge Shop."
No guns?
Electric vehicle company to open headquarters in Detroit, create 180 jobs to build sports cars
Electric vehicle company to open headquarters in Detroit, create 180 jobs to build sports cars | MLive.com: "Detroit Electric, which produced electric vehicles in the early 1900s, today announced its intentions to create 180 jobs by the end of 2013 to help produce a new lineup of all-electric vehicles, including a limited-edition two-seat sports car."
Report: Stamp Farms bankruptcy cited in New York Times cautionary tale of surging farmland prices
Report: Stamp Farms bankruptcy cited in New York Times cautionary tale of surging farmland prices | MLive.com:
"According to the story, debt held by the nation’s farmers has risen nearly 30 percent since 2007, to an expected $277.4 billion this year, with most loans made by commercial banks, the farm credit system and the Farm Service Agency.
As prices for farmland soar, and farmers compete to buy and rent land, economists fear a collapse similar to the housing marker collapse if crop prices fall."
"According to the story, debt held by the nation’s farmers has risen nearly 30 percent since 2007, to an expected $277.4 billion this year, with most loans made by commercial banks, the farm credit system and the Farm Service Agency.
As prices for farmland soar, and farmers compete to buy and rent land, economists fear a collapse similar to the housing marker collapse if crop prices fall."
Background checks spiked after Sandy Hook shooting, says FBI director
Background checks spiked after Sandy Hook shooting, says FBI director - The Hill
"Director Robert Mueller told a House Appropriations panel on Tuesday that background check requests from licensed gun dealers has risen from an average of 54,000 each day to a current level of 81,000 every day since the Connecticut shooting, which killed 20 children and six adults.
The FBI has added about 200 people to its previously existing staff of 300 employees to ensure the background checks, conducted through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), are completed within 3 days, according to Mueller."
"Director Robert Mueller told a House Appropriations panel on Tuesday that background check requests from licensed gun dealers has risen from an average of 54,000 each day to a current level of 81,000 every day since the Connecticut shooting, which killed 20 children and six adults.
The FBI has added about 200 people to its previously existing staff of 300 employees to ensure the background checks, conducted through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), are completed within 3 days, according to Mueller."
Near-downtown Muskegon neighborhood residents ask for economic justice in farmers market relocation
Near-downtown Muskegon neighborhood residents ask for economic justice in farmers market relocation | MLive.com:
"Some like Roman Scott said he was dismayed that the issue of relocating the farmers market is being brought up to the Muskegon City Commission again after being rejected by the people several times in past years. "
"Some like Roman Scott said he was dismayed that the issue of relocating the farmers market is being brought up to the Muskegon City Commission again after being rejected by the people several times in past years. "
Muskegon Community College faculty to receive pay raise with new labor agreement | MLive.com
Muskegon Community College faculty to receive pay raise with new labor agreement | MLive.com
"The starting salary for faculty with master’s degrees increased from $42,000 to more than $51,000.
“Although that seems like a huge jump, we were getting to the point where we weren’t able to hire anyone at the entry level rate of pay,” Hilliard said.
Maximum salaries are $85,891 for someone with a master’s degree and $96,337 for faculty with a Ph.D.
The salary schedule includes 14 steps, each representing a 4 percent salary increase, that faculty advance on according to years of service and educational attainment. "
"The starting salary for faculty with master’s degrees increased from $42,000 to more than $51,000.
“Although that seems like a huge jump, we were getting to the point where we weren’t able to hire anyone at the entry level rate of pay,” Hilliard said.
Maximum salaries are $85,891 for someone with a master’s degree and $96,337 for faculty with a Ph.D.
The salary schedule includes 14 steps, each representing a 4 percent salary increase, that faculty advance on according to years of service and educational attainment. "
Chase Customers See Bank Balance Reduced to Zero
Chase Customers See Bank Balance Reduced to Zero Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!
"Millions of Chase Bank customers were affected by an unfortunately timed glitch which resulted in their checking and savings accounts showing a zero balance for several hours yesterday, prompting many to take to Twitter and express panic that their money had been stolen."
"Millions of Chase Bank customers were affected by an unfortunately timed glitch which resulted in their checking and savings accounts showing a zero balance for several hours yesterday, prompting many to take to Twitter and express panic that their money had been stolen."
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
ABC Allows a Mere 20 Seconds to 'Outrage' Over Cyprus Tax Scheme to Fund Bailout
ABC Allows a Mere 20 Seconds to 'Outrage' Over Cyprus Tax Scheme to Fund Bailout | NewsBusters:
"Just how superficial is ABC?
On Monday and Tuesday, the network allowed a mere 20 seconds to "outrage" over a plan by the European Union that would have seized ten percent of the money Cyprus residents had in their bank accounts.
ABC's World News skipped the story entirely, as did Monday's Nightline.
Good Morning America on Tuesday offered 20 seconds.
In contrast, the program devoted over five minutes to important topics, such as the newest season of Dancing With the Stars."
"Just how superficial is ABC?
On Monday and Tuesday, the network allowed a mere 20 seconds to "outrage" over a plan by the European Union that would have seized ten percent of the money Cyprus residents had in their bank accounts.
ABC's World News skipped the story entirely, as did Monday's Nightline.
Good Morning America on Tuesday offered 20 seconds.
In contrast, the program devoted over five minutes to important topics, such as the newest season of Dancing With the Stars."
Hurley agreed to pay nurse to settle no-black-nurses lawsuit, documents show
Hurley agreed to pay nurse to settle no-black-nurses lawsuit, documents show | MLive.com:
"Nurse Tonya Battle, who works in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, filed a lawsuit claiming the hospital discriminated against her when it fulfilled a father’s request not to let black nurses treat his child. Both sides announced they settled the suit Feb. 22"
"Nurse Tonya Battle, who works in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, filed a lawsuit claiming the hospital discriminated against her when it fulfilled a father’s request not to let black nurses treat his child. Both sides announced they settled the suit Feb. 22"
Court filing: Attorney General Bill Schuette says right-to-work laws apply to state government workers
Court filing: Attorney General Bill Schuette says right-to-work laws apply to state government workers | MLive.com:
"Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has filed court documents saying that the state’s new right-to-work law applies to unionized state government workers.
The filing Tuesday is a response for defendants in a lawsuit filed last month by a coalition of labor unions.
The unions argue that Michigan’s right-to-work law should not apply to roughly 35,000 unionized state employees."
"Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has filed court documents saying that the state’s new right-to-work law applies to unionized state government workers.
The filing Tuesday is a response for defendants in a lawsuit filed last month by a coalition of labor unions.
The unions argue that Michigan’s right-to-work law should not apply to roughly 35,000 unionized state employees."
Family’s Home Raided over Facebook Photo of Child’s Rifle | FOX News & Commentary: Todd Starnes
Family’s Home Raided over Facebook Photo of Child’s Rifle | FOX News & Commentary: Todd Starnes:
New Jersey police and Dept. of Children and Families officials raided the home of a firearms instructor and demanded to see his guns after he posted a Facebook photo of his 11-year-old son holding a rifle.
“Someone called family services about the photo,” said Evan Nappen, an attorney representing Shawn Moore. “It led to an incredible, heavy-handed raid on his house. They wanted to see his gun safe, his guns and search his house. They even threatened to take his kids.”
Moore was not arrested or charged.
This is the Facebook photo that led to the police raid.
A Dept. of Children and Families spokesperson told Fox News they could not confirm or deny an investigation or raid had taken place due to government regulations.
“The department has a child abuse hotline for the state of New Jersey and anybody can make a call to that hotline,” spokesperson Kristen Brown said. “We are required to follow up on every single allegation that comes into the central registry.”
China Is Engineering Genius Babies
China Is Engineering Genius Babies | VICE United States:
"At BGI Shenzhen, scientists have collected DNA samples from 2,000 of the world’s smartest people and are sequencing their entire genomes in an attempt to identify the alleles which determine human intelligence.
Apparently they’re not far from finding them, and when they do, embryo screening will allow parents to pick their brightest zygote and potentially bump up every generation's intelligence by five to 15 IQ points. "
"At BGI Shenzhen, scientists have collected DNA samples from 2,000 of the world’s smartest people and are sequencing their entire genomes in an attempt to identify the alleles which determine human intelligence.
Apparently they’re not far from finding them, and when they do, embryo screening will allow parents to pick their brightest zygote and potentially bump up every generation's intelligence by five to 15 IQ points. "
Wayne State says potential state aid cuts could force tuition increases
Wayne State says potential state aid cuts could force tuition increases | Crain's Detroit Business
Wayne State University would be punished with a loss of $27.5 million in state aid and the University of Michigan with a cut of $41 million because of proposed long-term contracts they may sign with their unions, under a bill reported Tuesday by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education.
The bill was reported along party lines.
Patrick Lindsey, vice president of government and community affairs for Wayne State, said the university could not handle a cut of that size and might be forced to increase tuition.
The bill states that any university would lose 15 percent of its funding if it extends, renews or enters into a contract after Dec. 10, 2012, and before March 28 if that contract does not achieve savings of 10 percent or greater. The dates relate to the time between when Gov. Rick Snyder signed right-to-work legislation into law and when the law takes effect.
"This has to do with circumventing state law," said the subcommittee chairman, Rep. Al Pscholka, R-Stevensville, who then acknowledged that right-to-work is not state law until next week.
"We're trying to stand up for taxpayers," Pscholka said. "An eight-year contract does not stand up for taxpayers, and I think it's pretty apparent and pretty blatant what's going on here."
Several attempts by Democrats to remove the provision from the bill failed along party lines.
Nigel Farage Message To Europeans: "Get Your Money Out While You Can"
Nigel Farage Message To Europeans: "Get Your Money Out While You Can" | Zero Hedge:
In all his years and all his experience of the desperation of the European Union's leadership "never did [he] think they would resort to stealing money from people's savings accounts."
The simple fact is that they know they cannot let any country leave, no matter how small, for "once one country goes, the whole deck of cards will come tumbling down."
There is now "clear irreconcilable differences" between the North and the South of Europeand now that they have done this in one country, "they are quite capable of doing it in Italy, Spain and anywhere."
The message that sends to people is "get your money out while you can."
As far as his British constituents, he strongly recommends George Osborne (UK Chancellor) urge ex-pats to remove all their money and do monthly transfers from home.
"Do Not Invest In The Euro-Zone," he concludes, "you have to be mad to do so - as it is now run by people who do not respect democracy, the rule of law, or the basic principles upon which Western civilization is based."
"They are propping up a Eurozone that, in the end, will collapse in disastrous failure and they are prepared to do anything to do so."
Lack of job seekers -- not jobs -- haunts this year's Thurgood Marshall Job & Career Fair Expo
Lack of job seekers -- not jobs -- haunts this year's Thurgood Marshall Job & Career Fair Expo | MLive.com:
"An underwhelming turnout of applicants – not a lack of companies with open positions – was the bane of this year's Thurgood Marshall Job & Career Fair Expo.
As the event began to wind down Tuesday, March 19, only about 100 applicants had walked through the doors of the at the Bishop Williams L. Burrell Multi-Plex Center in Muskegon Heights, said event organizer Paul Billings.
He had earlier predicted more than 700 people would come, based on the turnout for last year's event."
"An underwhelming turnout of applicants – not a lack of companies with open positions – was the bane of this year's Thurgood Marshall Job & Career Fair Expo.
As the event began to wind down Tuesday, March 19, only about 100 applicants had walked through the doors of the at the Bishop Williams L. Burrell Multi-Plex Center in Muskegon Heights, said event organizer Paul Billings.
He had earlier predicted more than 700 people would come, based on the turnout for last year's event."
$2.7M Federal Study: Why Do Lesbians Have Higher 'Risk for Hazardous Drinking'?
$2.7M Federal Study: Why Do Lesbians Have Higher 'Risk for Hazardous Drinking'? | CNS News:
"The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded $2.7 million to study why lesbians are at a higher “risk for hazardous drinking.”
The University of Illinois has received grants since 2009 for its project, "Cumulative Stress and Hazardous Drinking in a Community of Adult Lesbians," which aims to develop “culturally sensitive” strategies to prevent lesbians from being drunks."
"The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded $2.7 million to study why lesbians are at a higher “risk for hazardous drinking.”
The University of Illinois has received grants since 2009 for its project, "Cumulative Stress and Hazardous Drinking in a Community of Adult Lesbians," which aims to develop “culturally sensitive” strategies to prevent lesbians from being drunks."
National planning Cyprus-style solution for New Zealand
National planning Cyprus-style solution for New Zealand | Scoop News:
"The National Government are pushing a Cyprus-style solution to bank failure in New Zealand which will see small depositors lose some of their savings to fund big bank bailouts, the Green Party said today.
Open Bank Resolution (OBR) is Finance Minister Bill English’s favoured option dealing with a major bank failure.
If a bank fails under OBR, all depositors will have their savings reduced overnight to fund the bank’s bail out.
"The National Government are pushing a Cyprus-style solution to bank failure in New Zealand which will see small depositors lose some of their savings to fund big bank bailouts, the Green Party said today.
Open Bank Resolution (OBR) is Finance Minister Bill English’s favoured option dealing with a major bank failure.
If a bank fails under OBR, all depositors will have their savings reduced overnight to fund the bank’s bail out.
Daylight robbery in Cyprus will come to haunt EMU
Daylight robbery in Cyprus will come to haunt EMU – Telegraph Blogs:
"One's first reflex is to gasp at the stupidity of the EU policy elites, but truth is that most EU officials handling the Cyprus crisis know perfectly well that their masters have just set the slow fuse on a powder keg – and they can only pray that it is slow."
"One's first reflex is to gasp at the stupidity of the EU policy elites, but truth is that most EU officials handling the Cyprus crisis know perfectly well that their masters have just set the slow fuse on a powder keg – and they can only pray that it is slow."
Michigan Airport Home to No Planes Or Hangars Receives Over $150K A Year In Tax Dollars
Michigan Airport Home to No Planes Or Hangars Receives Over $150K A Year In Tax Dollars [Michigan Capitol Confidential]:
"Evart Municipal Airport has two flights per day, one runway, zero employees and five "likes" on its Facebook page.
Yet, the federal government spent $150,000 on the airport in 2012 while state and local taxpayers spent thousands more."
"Evart Municipal Airport has two flights per day, one runway, zero employees and five "likes" on its Facebook page.
Yet, the federal government spent $150,000 on the airport in 2012 while state and local taxpayers spent thousands more."
The Disappearing Volume of the Stock Market
Captain Capitalism: The Disappearing Volume of the Stock Market:
But ask yourself a question.
"How great of a reason is THE LACK OF VOLATILITY for a stock market rally?"
It once again is another desperate excuse, a desperate reason for stock markets to rally that once again ignores the only two things that should drive a true stock market rally -
1. Increased profits
2. Increased dividends
The fact volume is tanking, leaving a higher percentage of trading in essentially connected firms' hands, AND there has not been the increase in profits to bring the P/E of investments down to a sane level, means this is a rally only for the connected.
You might as well be a man trying to rationalize driving a VW Cabriolet by citing its fuel efficiency."
But ask yourself a question.
"How great of a reason is THE LACK OF VOLATILITY for a stock market rally?"
It once again is another desperate excuse, a desperate reason for stock markets to rally that once again ignores the only two things that should drive a true stock market rally -
1. Increased profits
2. Increased dividends
The fact volume is tanking, leaving a higher percentage of trading in essentially connected firms' hands, AND there has not been the increase in profits to bring the P/E of investments down to a sane level, means this is a rally only for the connected.
You might as well be a man trying to rationalize driving a VW Cabriolet by citing its fuel efficiency."
Europe’s Cyprus blunder
Europe’s Cyprus blunder | AEIdeas:
"European policymakers work in strange and mysterious ways.
Over the past year, they bent many rules and threw literally hundreds of billions of Euros at Greece to prevent that country from exiting the Euro.
They did so for fear that a Greek exit might cause contagion to other countries in the European periphery. And then over this last weekend, they chose to spook financial markets and risk the very contagion that they sought to avoid in the Greek case, by demanding that as part of its bailout package Cyprus imposes a tax on bank deposits."
"European policymakers work in strange and mysterious ways.
Over the past year, they bent many rules and threw literally hundreds of billions of Euros at Greece to prevent that country from exiting the Euro.
They did so for fear that a Greek exit might cause contagion to other countries in the European periphery. And then over this last weekend, they chose to spook financial markets and risk the very contagion that they sought to avoid in the Greek case, by demanding that as part of its bailout package Cyprus imposes a tax on bank deposits."
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