Poet Maya Angelou Blasts Gun at Home Intruder |:
"I was in my house in North Carolina.
It was fall.
I heard someone walking on the leaves.
And somebody actually turned the knob.
So I said, “Stand four feet back because I’m going to shoot now!”
Boom! Boom!
The police came by and said, “Ms. Angelou, the shots came from inside the house.”
I said, “Well, I don’t know how that happened"
Wednesday, April 03, 2013
USA Today | Sports | COLLEGE | Salaries
USA Today | Sports | COLLEGE | Salaries:
"4 Michigan State Big Ten Tom Izzo"
"4 Michigan State Big Ten Tom Izzo"
Wisconsin's Labor Lost
Political Diary: Wisconsin's Labor Lost - WSJ.com:
"Remember Big Labor's throw-down last year over Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's public-sector union reforms?
The fight ended with a squeak yesterday as conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Patience Roggensack handily defeated union-backed candidate and Marquette University law professor Ed Fallone, with some 57% of the vote.
The vote means conservatives retain 4-3 control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
The next two justices up for reelection on the court will be from its liberal wing, which means that after yesterday's win conservatives are likely to maintain or extend their majority for years to come.
That's a blow to unions......."
"Remember Big Labor's throw-down last year over Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's public-sector union reforms?
The fight ended with a squeak yesterday as conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Patience Roggensack handily defeated union-backed candidate and Marquette University law professor Ed Fallone, with some 57% of the vote.
The vote means conservatives retain 4-3 control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
The next two justices up for reelection on the court will be from its liberal wing, which means that after yesterday's win conservatives are likely to maintain or extend their majority for years to come.
That's a blow to unions......."
Fractional Reserve Speed Dating
Captain Capitalism: Fractional Reserve Speed Dating
Naturally, you would think money is the only commodity that can lend itself (pun FULLY intended) well to a fractional reserve system, but in my trials and tribulations in life as a SAEG (tm) I have come upon another commodity where fractional reserving is done, and it isn't in banking.
It's in speed dating.
Many years ago I gave speed dating one shot. I walked into the joint, dropped my $35 down along with 7 other men and for that $35 we got to meet 8 other women for 5 minutes a piece. The one date that I did manage to score out of this escapade brought her gay male friend to chaperone, which prompted me to dance with pretty much every other girl on the floor but her.
Naturally, you would think money is the only commodity that can lend itself (pun FULLY intended) well to a fractional reserve system, but in my trials and tribulations in life as a SAEG (tm) I have come upon another commodity where fractional reserving is done, and it isn't in banking.
It's in speed dating.
Many years ago I gave speed dating one shot. I walked into the joint, dropped my $35 down along with 7 other men and for that $35 we got to meet 8 other women for 5 minutes a piece. The one date that I did manage to score out of this escapade brought her gay male friend to chaperone, which prompted me to dance with pretty much every other girl on the floor but her.
Gay-chaperoned dates aside, the point was there was an equal number of men to women. 8 to 8. For if there was a shortage on either end you would have too many of one gender chasing too few of the other.
But something interesting occurred after the speed dating event was over. As some people headed to the bar, I decided to approach one of the girls I was interested in and chat her up a bit. Using a simple approach I said,
"You ever done this before?"
She said,
"Yes, but technically not tonight."
Curious, I said,
"Why technically not tonight?"
And her response was one for the Economics of Dating history books.
"Well, the guy who runs this speed dating thing always has too many men and not enough women. So he calls us when he has extra guys and we just fill in and act like we're interested. If women don't show up, he can't sell as many tickets so he buys us drinks as compensation."
Kind of curious about the math, not to mention I just wanted to see how screwed over me and the other 7 men were, I asked,
"So how many women were plants?"
She said,
"4."
I was more or less speechless, but the cynical side of me let out a cynical "Heh, what will they think of next?" Seeing she herself was a plant, I just walked away, went to my car and left.
Naturally I was somewhat upset at this little bit of trickery. What was sold as a way for 8 men to meet 8 women was in reality 8 men to meet 4 women. In short a fraction of the women that were truly available. But by cheating the system of sorts, the host of the speed dating was able to "create" women just like banks "create" money and profit from this newly created asset. He just had to pay them interest in the form of free cocktails (and no doubt the ego tinglies of leading poor saps on).
But something interesting occurred after the speed dating event was over. As some people headed to the bar, I decided to approach one of the girls I was interested in and chat her up a bit. Using a simple approach I said,
"You ever done this before?"
She said,
"Yes, but technically not tonight."
Curious, I said,
"Why technically not tonight?"
And her response was one for the Economics of Dating history books.
"Well, the guy who runs this speed dating thing always has too many men and not enough women. So he calls us when he has extra guys and we just fill in and act like we're interested. If women don't show up, he can't sell as many tickets so he buys us drinks as compensation."
Kind of curious about the math, not to mention I just wanted to see how screwed over me and the other 7 men were, I asked,
"So how many women were plants?"
She said,
"4."
I was more or less speechless, but the cynical side of me let out a cynical "Heh, what will they think of next?" Seeing she herself was a plant, I just walked away, went to my car and left.
Naturally I was somewhat upset at this little bit of trickery. What was sold as a way for 8 men to meet 8 women was in reality 8 men to meet 4 women. In short a fraction of the women that were truly available. But by cheating the system of sorts, the host of the speed dating was able to "create" women just like banks "create" money and profit from this newly created asset. He just had to pay them interest in the form of free cocktails (and no doubt the ego tinglies of leading poor saps on).
"The Great Cyprus Bank Robbery"
Ron Paul: "The Great Cyprus Bank Robbery" | Zero Hedge:
"The elites in the EU and IMF failed to learn their lesson from the popular backlash to these tax proposals, and have openly talked about using Cyprus as a template for future bank bailouts.
This raises the prospect of raids on bank accounts, pension funds, and any investments the government can get its hands on.
In other words, no one's money is safe in any financial institution in Europe.
Bank runs are now a certainty in future crises, as the people realize that they do not really own the money in their accounts.
How long before bureaucrat and banker try that here?"
"The elites in the EU and IMF failed to learn their lesson from the popular backlash to these tax proposals, and have openly talked about using Cyprus as a template for future bank bailouts.
This raises the prospect of raids on bank accounts, pension funds, and any investments the government can get its hands on.
In other words, no one's money is safe in any financial institution in Europe.
Bank runs are now a certainty in future crises, as the people realize that they do not really own the money in their accounts.
How long before bureaucrat and banker try that here?"
Montague group to hold nonpartisan presentation on fracking | MLive.com
Montague group to hold nonpartisan presentation on fracking | MLive.com
"Resolving Our American Democracy, or ROAD, based in Montague, is a nonpartisan civic group and doesn't advocate for specific positions or political candidates, said ROAD Co-chairman Dave Frederick. ROAD holds monthly meetings with informational presentations.
"It's basically to inform people on the issue and do it in a nonpartisan way," Frederick said.
Frederick said that the presenter, Thompson, is a retired corporate researcher and writer who has promised to try to give a balanced presentation.
But, Frederick, said, there will be an opportunity at the end of the meeting to hear from Joy Smith of the Committee to Ban Fracking in Michigan, and sign the committee's petition to ban fracking.
"That will be an option for those at the end who have made up their minds," he said."
"Resolving Our American Democracy, or ROAD, based in Montague, is a nonpartisan civic group and doesn't advocate for specific positions or political candidates, said ROAD Co-chairman Dave Frederick. ROAD holds monthly meetings with informational presentations.
"It's basically to inform people on the issue and do it in a nonpartisan way," Frederick said.
Frederick said that the presenter, Thompson, is a retired corporate researcher and writer who has promised to try to give a balanced presentation.
But, Frederick, said, there will be an opportunity at the end of the meeting to hear from Joy Smith of the Committee to Ban Fracking in Michigan, and sign the committee's petition to ban fracking.
"That will be an option for those at the end who have made up their minds," he said."
Why are Michigan's energy costs so high?
Why are Michigan's energy costs so high? | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com:
While Michigan's average electricity rate increase of 29 percent since 2007 is not much different than the 28 percent average increase in Indiana and 22 percent average increase in Wisconsin, it is double the 14 percent average increase in Ohio and dramatically different than the 1 percent increase in Illinois.
If each of these states had similar declines in demand, why have price changes been so different?
The answer is Illinois and Ohio have competitive retail electric markets. Indiana and Wisconsin have clung to traditional monopoly regulation and Michigan, in 2008, abandoned its movement toward market-based pricing in favor of government price-setting.
.....Michigan's high rates are the result of the 2008 reversal of the customer choice and competition program begun in 2000.
While Michigan's average electricity rate increase of 29 percent since 2007 is not much different than the 28 percent average increase in Indiana and 22 percent average increase in Wisconsin, it is double the 14 percent average increase in Ohio and dramatically different than the 1 percent increase in Illinois.
If each of these states had similar declines in demand, why have price changes been so different?
The answer is Illinois and Ohio have competitive retail electric markets. Indiana and Wisconsin have clung to traditional monopoly regulation and Michigan, in 2008, abandoned its movement toward market-based pricing in favor of government price-setting.
.....Michigan's high rates are the result of the 2008 reversal of the customer choice and competition program begun in 2000.
Michigan's two largest utilities, DTE Energy and Consumers Energy, were keenly aware that during an economic slowdown they would have to charge lower prices to meet the competition.
Their solution was to outlaw customer choice except for a fortunate handful of customers accounting for just 10 percent of electricity usage, mainly larger businesses and government.
Monopoly regulation stands the world on its head — prices rise when demand drops.
Muskegon county board meetings: April 2013-video links
No more "I can't make the meetings" excuses.
They're spending us into bankruptcy and you sit at home.
OK.
Now you can sit at home, watch your computer screen and see them at "work".
You silence simply supports their scams.
Do SOMETHING before there is nothing left to do anything about!
County main page: http://www.co.muskegon.mi.us/
2013-4-2 Human resources
http://youtu.be/2VCqeKYiCrE
2013-4-2 Courts-Public safety
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK6dMN71DlE
2013-4-4 Ways and means
2013-4-9 Full board
2013-4-9 Board Planning Session
When: Tuesday, April 9, 2013 - 1:00 PM
Location: South Campus Training Center, 133 E. Apple, Room #205
2013-4-11 Public works
2013-4-16 Ways and means
2013-4-18 Transportation
2013-4-18 Comm dev/Strategic planning
2013-4-23 Full board
Emergency manager: Muskegon Heights schools debt retirement plan jeopardized by water system woes
Emergency manager: Muskegon Heights schools debt retirement plan jeopardized by water system woes | MLive.com:
"Emergency Manager Donald Weatherspoon told the Muskegon Heights school board Monday that he felt his concerns expressed to city officials last month were brushed off.
Board President Trinell Scott, who was at the meeting of city officials, agreed.
“The city manager basically said Dr. Weatherspoon didn’t really know what he was talking about, to sum it up in a nutshell,” Scott said.
“To me, I felt like they kind of didn’t want to hear what we had to say.”"
"Emergency Manager Donald Weatherspoon told the Muskegon Heights school board Monday that he felt his concerns expressed to city officials last month were brushed off.
Board President Trinell Scott, who was at the meeting of city officials, agreed.
“The city manager basically said Dr. Weatherspoon didn’t really know what he was talking about, to sum it up in a nutshell,” Scott said.
“To me, I felt like they kind of didn’t want to hear what we had to say.”"
Pension fight heats up in Pontiac as emergency manager looks to reorganize board
Pension fight heats up in Pontiac as emergency manager looks to reorganize board | MLive.com:
"Schimmel cited $5.5 million in failed investments, a $2,200-a-month office space rental and trustee travel as reasons for his intervention."
"Schimmel cited $5.5 million in failed investments, a $2,200-a-month office space rental and trustee travel as reasons for his intervention."
Stockton, Calif. Goes Bankrupt, Raising Question: Who Gets Paid?
Stockton, Calif. Goes Bankrupt, Raising Question: Who Gets Paid? | CNS News:
"But the case is also being watched closely because it could answer the significant question of who gets paid first by financially strapped cities — retirement funds or creditors.
"I don't know whether spiked pensions can be reeled back in," U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Klein said while making the ruling.
"There are very complex and difficult questions of law that I can see out there on the horizon."
The potential constitutional question in the Stockton case is whether federal bankruptcy law trumps a California law that says money owed to the state pension fund must be paid."
"But the case is also being watched closely because it could answer the significant question of who gets paid first by financially strapped cities — retirement funds or creditors.
"I don't know whether spiked pensions can be reeled back in," U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Klein said while making the ruling.
"There are very complex and difficult questions of law that I can see out there on the horizon."
The potential constitutional question in the Stockton case is whether federal bankruptcy law trumps a California law that says money owed to the state pension fund must be paid."
Obama’s continued use of the claim that 40 percent of gun sales lack background checks
Obama’s continued use of the claim that 40 percent of gun sales lack background checks - The Washington Post:
Why wouldn’t we want to close the loophole that allows as many as 40 percent of all gun purchases to take place without a background check?”
— President Obama, remarks on gun safety, March 28, 2013
“FACT: Nearly 40% of all gun sales don't require a background check under current law. #DemandAction”
— tweet from @BarackObama, March 28
The Facts
There are two key problems with the president’s use of this statistic:
The numbers are about two decades old, yet he acts as if they are fresh, and he refers to “purchases” or “sales” when in fact the original report concerned “gun acquisitions” and “transactions.”
Those are much broader categories of data.
.....Digging deeper, we found that the survey sample was just 251 people.
(The survey was done by telephone, using a random-digit-dial method, with a response rate of 50 percent.)
With this sample size, the 95 percent confidence interval will be plus or minus six percentage points.
Moreover, when asked whether the respondent bought from a licensed firearms dealer, the possible answers included “probably was/think so” and “probably not,” leaving open the possibility the purchaser was mistaken. (The “probably not” answers were counted as “no.”)
The numbers are about two decades old, yet he acts as if they are fresh, and he refers to “purchases” or “sales” when in fact the original report concerned “gun acquisitions” and “transactions.”
Those are much broader categories of data.
.....Digging deeper, we found that the survey sample was just 251 people.
(The survey was done by telephone, using a random-digit-dial method, with a response rate of 50 percent.)
With this sample size, the 95 percent confidence interval will be plus or minus six percentage points.
Moreover, when asked whether the respondent bought from a licensed firearms dealer, the possible answers included “probably was/think so” and “probably not,” leaving open the possibility the purchaser was mistaken. (The “probably not” answers were counted as “no.”)
Maryland Moves Forward with Controversial Chicken-Waste Electricity Project
Maryland Moves Forward with Controversial Chicken-Waste Electricity Project | Heartlander Magazine:
“Wide-Ranging Economic Harm
In addition to taxpayers and consumers worrying about the negative economic impacts of taxpayer subsidies and higher electricity prices, farmers fear the diversion of rich organic fertilizer to electricity production will create fertilizer scarcity and drive up fertilizer prices.....
...“I have a positive opinion of turning poultry waste into energy where it is cost-effective,” said Daniel Simmons, director of regulatory and state affairs at the Institute for Energy Research.
“Wide-Ranging Economic Harm
In addition to taxpayers and consumers worrying about the negative economic impacts of taxpayer subsidies and higher electricity prices, farmers fear the diversion of rich organic fertilizer to electricity production will create fertilizer scarcity and drive up fertilizer prices.....
...“I have a positive opinion of turning poultry waste into energy where it is cost-effective,” said Daniel Simmons, director of regulatory and state affairs at the Institute for Energy Research.
“But the real key is that these projects should compete in the market for electricity like everyone else and not receive above-market rates for their electricity.
“Sadly, it looks like Maryland is subsidizing waste-to-energy and costing Marylanders in the process,” Simmons added.
“This facility would not be built if government allowed free-market pricing mechanisms to work without government intrusion.”
Tonight is the last night of 'Doggy Style' gathering for Detroit's gay community and friends
Tonight is the last night of 'Doggy Style' gathering for Detroit's gay community and friends | MLive.com
"DETROIT, MI - Tonight is the last night of Doggy Style at the Park Bar – at least until the end of October.
During Major League Baseball’s off-season, Tuesday nights at the Park Bar in downtown Detroit bar have been known as Doggy Style nights, a weekly party for Detroit's gay community.
Joe Posch, owner of Midtown's Hugh, founded Doggy Style night at The Park Bar with Canine to Five owner Liz Blondy in 2007 because of what he says is "disjointed" gay community.
There's a relatively strong gay presence in Ferndale, but the city of Detroit itself lacks any cohesive or strong LGBT community, he said."
"DETROIT, MI - Tonight is the last night of Doggy Style at the Park Bar – at least until the end of October.
During Major League Baseball’s off-season, Tuesday nights at the Park Bar in downtown Detroit bar have been known as Doggy Style nights, a weekly party for Detroit's gay community.
Joe Posch, owner of Midtown's Hugh, founded Doggy Style night at The Park Bar with Canine to Five owner Liz Blondy in 2007 because of what he says is "disjointed" gay community.
There's a relatively strong gay presence in Ferndale, but the city of Detroit itself lacks any cohesive or strong LGBT community, he said."
Detroit Electric to unveil first EV sports car tonight
Detroit Electric to unveil first EV sports car tonight | MLive.com:
"When announcing the vehicle and company last month, Graunstadt said the vehicles will be produced in Metro Detroit, and the production facility is expected to have an annual capacity of 2,500 sports cars and about 180 employees."
"When announcing the vehicle and company last month, Graunstadt said the vehicles will be produced in Metro Detroit, and the production facility is expected to have an annual capacity of 2,500 sports cars and about 180 employees."
Widespread arsons in Flint rarely result in criminal charges
Widespread arsons in Flint rarely result in criminal charges | MLive.com:
"Over a five-year span that saw 1,631 suspicious fires to vacant buildings in the city and more than 1,000 confirmed arson cases reported to the state, just 135 arson-related charges were filed in Flint District Court."
"Over a five-year span that saw 1,631 suspicious fires to vacant buildings in the city and more than 1,000 confirmed arson cases reported to the state, just 135 arson-related charges were filed in Flint District Court."
Michigan Reps. Collene Lamonte, Brandon Dillon pitch House Democrats' Middle Class Plan
Michigan Reps. Collene Lamonte, Brandon Dillon pitch House Democrats' Middle Class Plan | MLive.com:
"At a press conference April 2, state Reps. Collene Lamonte, D-Montague, and Brandon Dillon, D-Grand Rapids, promoted the plan, which includes repealing a tax on seniors’ retirement income, and an increase of $320 per student in the state’s dollars-per-student funding.
“We heard these deep concerns over and over again at all of our stops,” Lamonte said.
Lamonte and Dillon declined to talk about how the changes would be paid for, saying that the information would be made public when House Democrats release their budget priorities next week.
But Dillion said the reforms could be accomplished “without raising taxes one penny.”
"At a press conference April 2, state Reps. Collene Lamonte, D-Montague, and Brandon Dillon, D-Grand Rapids, promoted the plan, which includes repealing a tax on seniors’ retirement income, and an increase of $320 per student in the state’s dollars-per-student funding.
“We heard these deep concerns over and over again at all of our stops,” Lamonte said.
Lamonte and Dillon declined to talk about how the changes would be paid for, saying that the information would be made public when House Democrats release their budget priorities next week.
But Dillion said the reforms could be accomplished “without raising taxes one penny.”
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Muskegon man, 25, faces trial for allegedly shooting man's abdomen
Muskegon man, 25, faces trial for allegedly shooting man's abdomen | MLive.com:
"The Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office also added two new counts Tuesday: being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm while committing a felony."
"The Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office also added two new counts Tuesday: being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm while committing a felony."
Those Courageous Racists
Best of the Web Today: Those Courageous Racists - WSJ.com:
Their website informs visitors that the twins "received close to a million dollars in grants from the National Science Foundation."
"The NSF is a federal agency, so your tax dollars have subsidized the authors of what can only be described as a racist rant. Here's the opening:
Imagine if African American men and boys were committing mass shootings month after month, year after year. Articles and interviews would flood the media, and we'd have political debates demanding that African Americans be "held accountable."
Then, if an atrocity such as the Newtown, Conn., shootings took place and African American male leaders held a news conference to offer solutions, their credibility would be questionable.
The public would tell these leaders that they need to focus on problems in their own culture and communities.
But when the criminals and leaders are white men, race and gender become the elephant in the room.
Nearly all of the mass shootings in this country in recent years--not just Newtown, Aurora, Fort Hood, Tucson and Columbine--have been committed by white men and boys.
Yet when the National Rifle Association (NRA), led by white men, held a news conference after the Newtown massacre to advise Americans on how to reduce gun violence, its leaders' opinions were widely discussed."
There is so much wrong with this, we could write a column about it.
Which, come to think of it, is exactly what we are doing even as we type.
Their website informs visitors that the twins "received close to a million dollars in grants from the National Science Foundation."
"The NSF is a federal agency, so your tax dollars have subsidized the authors of what can only be described as a racist rant. Here's the opening:
Imagine if African American men and boys were committing mass shootings month after month, year after year. Articles and interviews would flood the media, and we'd have political debates demanding that African Americans be "held accountable."
Then, if an atrocity such as the Newtown, Conn., shootings took place and African American male leaders held a news conference to offer solutions, their credibility would be questionable.
The public would tell these leaders that they need to focus on problems in their own culture and communities.
But when the criminals and leaders are white men, race and gender become the elephant in the room.
Nearly all of the mass shootings in this country in recent years--not just Newtown, Aurora, Fort Hood, Tucson and Columbine--have been committed by white men and boys.
Yet when the National Rifle Association (NRA), led by white men, held a news conference after the Newtown massacre to advise Americans on how to reduce gun violence, its leaders' opinions were widely discussed."
There is so much wrong with this, we could write a column about it.
Which, come to think of it, is exactly what we are doing even as we type.
Sen. Malcolm Smith Arrested In Alleged Plot To Rig NYC Mayor’s Race
Sen. Malcolm Smith Arrested In Alleged Plot To Rig NYC Mayor’s Race « CBS New York:
“The charges we unsealed today demonstrate once again that a ‘show me the money’ culture seems to pervade every level of New York government,” U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said."
“The charges we unsealed today demonstrate once again that a ‘show me the money’ culture seems to pervade every level of New York government,” U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said."
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