Dionne Warwick files for bankruptcy: Singer owes over $10 million, has just $25K in assets - NY Daily News:
"The vast majority of her debt is $10.2 million in tax claims from the IRS and the state of California.
She also owes a former manager about $500,000, and ran up $20,000 in Visa credit card debt, court papers showed."
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Big Depositors in Cyprus to Lose Far More Than Feared
Big Depositors in Cyprus to Lose Far More Than Feared:
"Under conditions expected to be announced on Saturday, depositors in Bank of Cyprus will get shares in the bank worth 37.5 percent of their deposits over 100,000 euros, the source told Reuters, while the rest of their deposits may never be paid back.
The toughening of the terms will send a clear signal that the bailout means the end of Cyprus as a hub for offshore finance and could accelerate economic decline on the island and bring steeper job losses."
Holy crapoli!
"Under conditions expected to be announced on Saturday, depositors in Bank of Cyprus will get shares in the bank worth 37.5 percent of their deposits over 100,000 euros, the source told Reuters, while the rest of their deposits may never be paid back.
The toughening of the terms will send a clear signal that the bailout means the end of Cyprus as a hub for offshore finance and could accelerate economic decline on the island and bring steeper job losses."
Holy crapoli!
Rick Ross, Lil Wayne pulled from Muskegon radio station now getting national attention
Rick Ross, Lil Wayne pulled from Muskegon radio station now getting national attention | MLive.com:
A Muskegon radio station has received national attention for its decision to ban music by rappers Rick Ross and Lil' Wayne from its rotation.
Rapper Rick Ross, who has recently faced criticism for controversial lyrics.AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
The Muskegon-based radio station 103.7
A Muskegon radio station has received national attention for its decision to ban music by rappers Rick Ross and Lil' Wayne from its rotation.
Rapper Rick Ross, who has recently faced criticism for controversial lyrics.AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
The Muskegon-based radio station 103.7
The Beat WUVS-LP released a statementThursday, March 28 indicating that it would no longer play those artists' music.
The move, said the self-described urban educational public station, was a way for it to take a stand against disrespectful music.
"We pride ourselves on playing music that is non-degrading and non-violent," the announcement read.
"We pride ourselves on playing music that is non-degrading and non-violent," the announcement read.
"While we believe in freedom of speech, creative writing and individualism, we refuse to be part of the problem by spreading messages that could harm or end someone's life."
Ross and Lil Wayne were singled out because of recent lyrical controversies.
In February, Lil Wayne faced criticism for rapping that he would "beat" a woman's genitalia "like Emmett Till" during a cameo of the song, "Karate Chop (Remix)" by another rapper called Future.
Till was a black teen who was kidnapped and violently killed by white men in 1955.
His death was one of the events that helped spark the Civil Rights movement.
Ross began receiving public outcry earlier this week for a lyric that suggested he had slipped crystallized MDMA and then had sex with her.
Ross and Lil Wayne were singled out because of recent lyrical controversies.
In February, Lil Wayne faced criticism for rapping that he would "beat" a woman's genitalia "like Emmett Till" during a cameo of the song, "Karate Chop (Remix)" by another rapper called Future.
Till was a black teen who was kidnapped and violently killed by white men in 1955.
His death was one of the events that helped spark the Civil Rights movement.
Ross began receiving public outcry earlier this week for a lyric that suggested he had slipped crystallized MDMA and then had sex with her.
Critics, like the station, charge that the lines celebrate and encourage the behavior.
Since posting the message Thursday, the radio station has been mentioned for its stance in several publications, includingThe Hollywood Reporter, the International Business Times and Billboard Biz, the online extension of Billboard magazine.
But the radio station has always stayed away from music that "promotes drug use, gang life and criminalistic behavior," said 103.7
"We just didn't do no press release," he said.
"We always took the road of trying to do what is best for the community, what is best for our listeners."
Since posting the message Thursday, the radio station has been mentioned for its stance in several publications, includingThe Hollywood Reporter, the International Business Times and Billboard Biz, the online extension of Billboard magazine.
But the radio station has always stayed away from music that "promotes drug use, gang life and criminalistic behavior," said 103.7
"We just didn't do no press release," he said.
"We always took the road of trying to do what is best for the community, what is best for our listeners."
WTC cross can stay in National September 11 Memorial & Museum: judge
WTC cross can stay in National September 11 Memorial & Museum: judge - NYPOST.com:
"A New York judge has tossed out a lawsuit seeking to stop the display of a cross-shaped steel beam found among the World Trade Center's wreckage.
Federal judge Deborah Batts on Friday rejected the arguments of a national atheists' group.
American Atheists had sued the National September 11 Memorial & Museum's operators in 2011 on constitutional grounds."
"A New York judge has tossed out a lawsuit seeking to stop the display of a cross-shaped steel beam found among the World Trade Center's wreckage.
Federal judge Deborah Batts on Friday rejected the arguments of a national atheists' group.
American Atheists had sued the National September 11 Memorial & Museum's operators in 2011 on constitutional grounds."
Friday, March 29, 2013
Muskegon-area violence: Some readers doubt promised witness protection
Muskegon-area violence: Some readers doubt promised witness protection | MLive.com:
"Some commenters stated that the overall judicial “system” is flawed and that witnesses, and even victims themselves, are fearful to come forward due to the possibility of retaliation.
Others stated that witnesses will end up being convicted if they say too much, thus deterring them from coming forward as well."
"Some commenters stated that the overall judicial “system” is flawed and that witnesses, and even victims themselves, are fearful to come forward due to the possibility of retaliation.
Others stated that witnesses will end up being convicted if they say too much, thus deterring them from coming forward as well."
Stu Padazo had this to say:
As much as I want to believe that people would be protected, I don't. If Mr. Hilson had control of the Hts police dept, then I would believe it. There are people who know the person who shot the 18 yr old back in late Jan. No one will report it because it is a WELL known fact that the police department is UNDER staffed and the crime in that community is sky HIGH. The pastors and the social justice committee have done nothing in the community that is long term or impactful. Do they even meet any more? They sure do come together for photo opportunities.
Some suggested that officials promising to protect witnesses really won’t make a difference. One commenter claims that law enforcement officials should go about it differently.
dreadflingstone says:
People don't trust the "system", its been like this for 100's of years, probably has something to do w/ being enslaved by the white man. Its pervasive and won't just go away. In 2013 you have a society of unemployed non skilled people living in Muskegon's poorest neighborhoods. What's their hope for the future? The young people grow up w/ very little guidance and very little hope. They then gravitate towards quick money and petty posturing(gang affiliation). The authorities need to work on the root causes, not just apprehending the bad guys and getting people to "talk'. The authorities are treating this problem from the wrong end and until somebody has the balls to confront the real problem and treat it accordingly, then it'll just be more of the same.
North Carolina Woman Fights Off Two Male Intruders with Pistol
The PJ Tatler » North Carolina Woman Fights Off Two Male Intruders with Pistol:
"They were eventually caught and now face charges.
One of them is just 16 years old.
Neighbor Wayne Crumpler sounds like a good man.
“She was lucky she knew how to use a handgun and lucky she had it.
Because If she hadn’t, we might be going to a funeral,” he said.
“I’m proud of her.”
Was it luck, or forethought and preparation?
Two firearms just saved at least one life and helped take two criminals off the streets, at least for a while."
"They were eventually caught and now face charges.
One of them is just 16 years old.
Neighbor Wayne Crumpler sounds like a good man.
“She was lucky she knew how to use a handgun and lucky she had it.
Because If she hadn’t, we might be going to a funeral,” he said.
“I’m proud of her.”
Was it luck, or forethought and preparation?
Two firearms just saved at least one life and helped take two criminals off the streets, at least for a while."
"If you will vote for me, I will give you ice cream."
"If you will vote for me, I will give you ice cream.":
Editor’s Note: Received via email. Original author unknown.
From a teacher in Nashville:
We are worried about ‘the cow’ when it is all about the Ice Cream.
The most eye-opening civics lesson I ever had was while teaching 3rd grade.
The last Presidential election was heating up and some of the children showed an interest.
I decided we would have an election for a class president.
We would choose our nominees.
They would make a campaign speech and the class would vote.
To simplify the process, candidates were nominated by other class members.
We discussed what kinds of characteristics these students should have.
We got many nominations and from those, Jamie and Olivia were picked to run for the top spot.
The class had done a great job in their selections.
Both candidates were good kids.
I thought Jamie might have an advantage because he got lots of parental support.
I had never seen Olivia’s mother.
The day arrived when they were to make their speeches.
Jamie went first.
He had specific ideas about how to make our class a better place.
He ended by promising to do his very best.
Everyone applauded and he sat down.
Now is was Olivia’s turn to speak.
Her speech was concise.
She said, “If you will vote for me, I will give you ice cream.”
She sat down.
The class went wild.
“Yes! Yes! We want ice cream.”
She surely would say more.
She did not have to.
A discussion followed.
How did she plan to pay for the ice cream?
She wasn’t sure.
But no one pursued that question.
They took her at her word.
Would her parents buy it or would the class pay for it…
She didn’t know.
The class really didn’t care.
All they were thinking about was ice cream…
Jamie was forgotten.
Olivia won by a landslide.
Every time Barack Obama opened his mouth he offered ice cream and 51.4 % of the people reacted like nine year old’s.
They want ice cream.
The other 48.6% percent know they’re going to have to feed the cow and clean up the mess.
This is the ice cream Obama promised us!
Remember, the government cannot give anything to anyone that they have not first taken away from someone else.
Did you vote for the ice cream?
New gun laws could mean economic woes for booming gun industry
New gun laws could mean economic woes for booming gun industry | The Daily Caller:
"Over the past two years, while the rest of the country faced unemployment rates above 8 percent, the gun industry added more than 37,000 new jobs, with average salary of $47,000.
The report states that in 2012 alone, the industry paid $5.1 billion in federal taxes and was responsible for $33.6 billion in economic activity."
"Over the past two years, while the rest of the country faced unemployment rates above 8 percent, the gun industry added more than 37,000 new jobs, with average salary of $47,000.
The report states that in 2012 alone, the industry paid $5.1 billion in federal taxes and was responsible for $33.6 billion in economic activity."
OBAMA PITCHES PUBLIC WORKS SPENDING TO CREATE JOBS
News from The Associated Press:
"Among the proposals Obama called for, which require approval from Congress, are:
-$4 billion in new spending on two infrastructure programs that award loans and grants.
-Higher caps on "private activity bonds" to encourage more private spending on highways and other infrastructure projects. State and local governments use the bonds to attract investment.
-Giving foreign pension funds tax-exempt status when selling U.S. infrastructure, property or real estate assets. U.S. pension funds are generally tax exempt in those circumstances.
The administration says some international pension funds cite the tax burden as a reason for not investing in American infrastructure.
-A renewed call for a $10 billion national "infrastructure bank."
"Among the proposals Obama called for, which require approval from Congress, are:
-$4 billion in new spending on two infrastructure programs that award loans and grants.
-Higher caps on "private activity bonds" to encourage more private spending on highways and other infrastructure projects. State and local governments use the bonds to attract investment.
-Giving foreign pension funds tax-exempt status when selling U.S. infrastructure, property or real estate assets. U.S. pension funds are generally tax exempt in those circumstances.
The administration says some international pension funds cite the tax burden as a reason for not investing in American infrastructure.
-A renewed call for a $10 billion national "infrastructure bank."
Already fired twice, Tollway boss ousted again for allegedly sleeping on the job
Already fired twice, Tollway boss ousted again for allegedly sleeping on the job - Chicago Sun-Times:
"A $78,444-a-year Illinois Tollway garage supervisor who was fired twice by the state agency — only to win his job back both times — has been fired yet again after he was photographed seemingly sleeping at work.
Joseph Caffarello, 29, was terminated for not only snoozing on the job, but also for being “intimidating, threatening, abusive, condescending and loud’’ to the people he supervised, according to an audit released Thursday by the Tollway’s inspector general."
"A $78,444-a-year Illinois Tollway garage supervisor who was fired twice by the state agency — only to win his job back both times — has been fired yet again after he was photographed seemingly sleeping at work.
Joseph Caffarello, 29, was terminated for not only snoozing on the job, but also for being “intimidating, threatening, abusive, condescending and loud’’ to the people he supervised, according to an audit released Thursday by the Tollway’s inspector general."
New solar structure cools buildings in full sunlight, replacing air conditioners
New solar structure cools buildings in full sunlight, replacing air conditioners | KurzweilAI:
"Stanford University researchers have designed an entirely new form of cooling structure that cools even when the sun is shining, eliminating the need for air conditioning.
Such a structure could vastly improve the daylight cooling of buildings, cars, and other structures by reflecting sunlight back into space.
“We’ve developed a new type of structure that reflects the vast majority of sunlight, while at the same time it sends heat into that coldness, which cools manmade structures even in the day time,” explained Shanhui Fan, professor of electrical engineering and senior author of a Nano Letters paper.
The trick: (1) the reflector has to reflect as much of the sunlight as possible and (2) the structure also must efficiently radiate heat back into space — that is, within a specific wavelength range in which the atmosphere is nearly transparent."
"Stanford University researchers have designed an entirely new form of cooling structure that cools even when the sun is shining, eliminating the need for air conditioning.
Such a structure could vastly improve the daylight cooling of buildings, cars, and other structures by reflecting sunlight back into space.
“We’ve developed a new type of structure that reflects the vast majority of sunlight, while at the same time it sends heat into that coldness, which cools manmade structures even in the day time,” explained Shanhui Fan, professor of electrical engineering and senior author of a Nano Letters paper.
The trick: (1) the reflector has to reflect as much of the sunlight as possible and (2) the structure also must efficiently radiate heat back into space — that is, within a specific wavelength range in which the atmosphere is nearly transparent."
Lawmakers Demand Answers on $50-Million, Sequester-Eve TSA Uniform Deal
Lawmakers Demand Answers on $50-Million, Sequester-Eve TSA Uniform Deal | CNS News:
"....the TSA awarded the contract to VF Imagewear on Feb. 27, two days before $44 billion in automatic across-the-board spending cuts, known as the sequester, began being implemented on March 1.
By Mar. 4, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was warning of long lines at airports due to furloughs at the TSA because of the budget cuts, which are actually reductions in the increase in spending – more money total will be spent in 2013 than in 2012."
"....the TSA awarded the contract to VF Imagewear on Feb. 27, two days before $44 billion in automatic across-the-board spending cuts, known as the sequester, began being implemented on March 1.
By Mar. 4, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was warning of long lines at airports due to furloughs at the TSA because of the budget cuts, which are actually reductions in the increase in spending – more money total will be spent in 2013 than in 2012."
Proposed Obama Trade Agreement would Ban Buy America Laws
Top Stories - Proposed Obama Trade Agreement would Ban Buy America Laws - AllGov - News:
"The proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which has been negotiated largely in secret, would prevent the U.S. government from giving preference to American companies for federal contracts.
Around since the 1933, the so-called “Buy American” policy allows domestic companies to put in more costly bids for government work and still receive the contract, even if a foreign business offers to provide the product or service for less money."
"The proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which has been negotiated largely in secret, would prevent the U.S. government from giving preference to American companies for federal contracts.
Around since the 1933, the so-called “Buy American” policy allows domestic companies to put in more costly bids for government work and still receive the contract, even if a foreign business offers to provide the product or service for less money."
Twenty-year hiatus in rising temperatures has climate scientists puzzled
Twenty-year hiatus in rising temperatures has climate scientists puzzled | The Australian:
"Another paper published by leading climate scientist James Hansen, the head of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, says the lower than expected temperature rise between 2000 and the present could be explained by increased emissions from burning coal."
"Another paper published by leading climate scientist James Hansen, the head of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, says the lower than expected temperature rise between 2000 and the present could be explained by increased emissions from burning coal."
Survey: Majority support Muskegon County millage for school technology
Survey: Majority support Muskegon County millage for school technology | MLive.com:
"A proposed millage increase to pay for school technology is supported by a majority of adults polled in Muskegon County, according to the intermediate school district superintendent.
Of the 400 people who responded to a telephone survey, 68 percent were supportive of the proposed 10-year, 1-mill tax increase"
"A proposed millage increase to pay for school technology is supported by a majority of adults polled in Muskegon County, according to the intermediate school district superintendent.
Of the 400 people who responded to a telephone survey, 68 percent were supportive of the proposed 10-year, 1-mill tax increase"
Junior Plans to Milk Parents a Little Longer
Junior Plans to Milk Parents a Little Longer: Survey:
"While teens expect to rely on their parents more, teens also think they will be financially better off, or as well off as their parents with nearly 65 percent expressing this opinion, the AllState and Junior Achievement USA survey found.
That's up from up from 56 percent last year.
Teens were even more optimistic in Tru's survey, with 90 percent believing they'll be at least as well off as their parents.
.......Unemployment data overall paints a stark picture for young adults as they near the beginning of their careers.
Although the overall unemployment rate edged down to 7.7 percent in February, the jobless rate for those aged 20 to 24 years old stands at 13.1 percent."
"While teens expect to rely on their parents more, teens also think they will be financially better off, or as well off as their parents with nearly 65 percent expressing this opinion, the AllState and Junior Achievement USA survey found.
That's up from up from 56 percent last year.
Teens were even more optimistic in Tru's survey, with 90 percent believing they'll be at least as well off as their parents.
.......Unemployment data overall paints a stark picture for young adults as they near the beginning of their careers.
Although the overall unemployment rate edged down to 7.7 percent in February, the jobless rate for those aged 20 to 24 years old stands at 13.1 percent."
The Failure of Deterrence in Korea
The Failure of Deterrence in Korea | World Affairs Journal:
"In a poll released last month by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, 66 percent of South Koreans said they wanted their country to develop nuclear weapons to ward off attacks from North Korea.
In fact, only 48 percent of the population last year believed America would use nukes to retaliate against a North Korean nuclear strike against them, down 7 percent from 2011."
"In a poll released last month by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, 66 percent of South Koreans said they wanted their country to develop nuclear weapons to ward off attacks from North Korea.
In fact, only 48 percent of the population last year believed America would use nukes to retaliate against a North Korean nuclear strike against them, down 7 percent from 2011."
Are We Equal?
Are We Equal? - Walter E. Williams - [page]:
"Are women equal to men?
Are Jews equal to gentiles?
Are blacks equal to Italians, Irish, Polish and other white people?
The answer is probably a big fat no, and the pretense or assumption that we are equal -- or should be equal -- is foolhardy and creates mischief.
Let's look at it."
"Are women equal to men?
Are Jews equal to gentiles?
Are blacks equal to Italians, Irish, Polish and other white people?
The answer is probably a big fat no, and the pretense or assumption that we are equal -- or should be equal -- is foolhardy and creates mischief.
Let's look at it."
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