How to save a small fortune: Map shows the states that will be dropping sales tax this summer so the price you see on the tag is what you'll actually pay at the register | Mail Online:
"Here’s a good way to save some money as tax-free holiday time roles around.
Fill up your gas tank and follow the map.
Slate put together a ‘Tax-Free Road Map’ that shows sixteen states to shop tax-free for particular items in August."
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Is education nationalization falling apart?
Is education nationalization falling apart? - EAGnews.org powered by Education Action Group Foundation, Inc.:
"Ironically, it is perhaps because Common Core supporters have devoted huge amounts of their time and resources to denying that Washington had a major role in advancing the Core–a role they quietly called for–that may have caused them to miss the cracking in the tripod’s testing leg.
Or perhaps they knew, because most states wouldn’t do so on their own, that they would need Washington to force states to adopt uniform tests, while understanding that openly stating that necessity would prove toxic to their cause.
They knew that Americans, largely, do not want overt federal control over what their schools teach and how their kids are tested.
So they continued to downplay the need to establish any sort of governing structure to keep their tripod together, lest simple logic make clear to the public that only Washington could accomplish what the standardizers need.
In other words, the need to stay hush-hush about the federal role–in order to protect national standardization–ultimately may be what kills it."
"Ironically, it is perhaps because Common Core supporters have devoted huge amounts of their time and resources to denying that Washington had a major role in advancing the Core–a role they quietly called for–that may have caused them to miss the cracking in the tripod’s testing leg.
Or perhaps they knew, because most states wouldn’t do so on their own, that they would need Washington to force states to adopt uniform tests, while understanding that openly stating that necessity would prove toxic to their cause.
They knew that Americans, largely, do not want overt federal control over what their schools teach and how their kids are tested.
So they continued to downplay the need to establish any sort of governing structure to keep their tripod together, lest simple logic make clear to the public that only Washington could accomplish what the standardizers need.
In other words, the need to stay hush-hush about the federal role–in order to protect national standardization–ultimately may be what kills it."
Unions Cry Crocodile Tears on Municipal Pensions
Unions Cry Crocodile Tears on Municipal Pensions [Michigan Capitol Confidential]:
"These defined-benefit pension systems were a contributor to the mountain of liabilities that finally drove the city of Detroit to seek federal bankruptcy protection last week.
Across the country, they are widely perceived as ocean liners racing toward clearly visible icebergs, with few of the policymakers at the helm doing anything meaningful to reduce speed or change course."
"These defined-benefit pension systems were a contributor to the mountain of liabilities that finally drove the city of Detroit to seek federal bankruptcy protection last week.
Across the country, they are widely perceived as ocean liners racing toward clearly visible icebergs, with few of the policymakers at the helm doing anything meaningful to reduce speed or change course."
THEY KEEP DOING THIS STUFF: ABC’s Misleading Edit of Juror B29.
Instapundit » Blog Archive » THEY KEEP DOING THIS STUFF: ABC’s Misleading Edit of Juror B29
THEY KEEP DOING THIS STUFF: ABC’s Misleading Edit of Juror B29.
It’s like you can’t trust journalists to report the news rather than manufacture it.
Yesterday Breitbart News noted the ABC interview with Juror B29. The big news was that Maddy–her last name was never used to protect her privacy–had told Robin Roberts “George Zimmerman got away with murder.” And indeed if you watch the Nightline edit of the interview she does seem to say that without hesitation or reservation.
However, William Saletan at Slate points out that the unedited interview seems to show something different. Maddy actually hesitates twice when answering Roberts’ question which contains the statement “George Zimmerman got away with murder.” As Saletan points out “she looks as though she’s trying to reconcile the sentiment that’s been quoted to her—that Zimmerman ‘got away with murder’—with her own perspective. So she repeats the quote and adds words of her own, to convey what she thinks: that there’s a justice higher than the law, which Zimmerman will have to face ”
I agree with Saletan’s take on this. Maddy appears to be offering a response to a statement that was presented to her. You can see Maddy’s unedited response in the clip below (Scroll in about 2 minutes). . . . NBC is still being sued by George Zimmerman for the misleading edit of the 911 call which made him appear racist. ABC seems to be similarly misleading viewers about what juror Maddy said and meant in an effort to generate headlines.
It’s like you can’t trust journalists to report the news rather than manufacture it.
Friday, July 26, 2013
'Carlos Danger ' rising business superstar
'Carlos Danger ' rising business superstar- MSN Money: "Spirit Airlines seized upon the name for a special promotion offering $24 off its Mexico vacation packages. The airline's new ad shows a superhero hot dog with the name holding a cell phone."Crazy Fast Food Facts
Crazy Fast Food Facts - Likes:
"#13 Every month, 90% of Americans visit a McDonald's restaurant."
"#13 Every month, 90% of Americans visit a McDonald's restaurant."
Here are 5 job stats Obama won’t tell you about
Here are 5 job stats Obama won’t tell you about – Glenn Beck
To explain how badly the Obama administration has failed to fix the economy, Stu read some of the facts that Obama left out (via AEI) of his speech yesterday:
1. Over 69 percent of the jobs created in Q2 2013 and over 57 percent of all the jobs created in the first half of 2013 were created in the three lowest wage sub-sectors of the economy, Retail Trade, Administrative and Waste Services, and Leisure and Hospitality, that otherwise account for an aggregate of only 33 percent of all private sector jobs.2. These jobs, in the aggregate, pay an average of only $15.80 per hour, compared with the other two-thirds of private sector jobs, which pay $27.16 per hour. Relative to unemployment benefits and other assistance, jobs at $15.80 per hour put less than $3.00/hour more in the pockets of a newly working consumer.3. About half of the jobs created during the first half of 2013, and a large majority of the jobs created in Q2 2013, appear to have been part-time jobsthat offer employees as little as one hour of work per week, and up to 35 hours of work.4. After falling from a recession high of 9.2 million to a post-recession low of 7.6 million at the end of Q1 2013, the number of people saying they are working part time because they can’t find full time work (part time for economic reasons) crept back up to 8.2 million, double pre-recession levels.5. Nearly 100 percent of the decline in the U-3 unemployment rate has been the result of there being fewer workers in the labor force as a percentage of the employable population. If the Labor Force Participation Rate had not fallen from October 2009, when unemployment hit its Great Recession peak of 10 percent, unemployment would today still be around 10 percent. Moreover, if the LFPR were held constant from its highest pre-recession level of 66.40 percent in January 2007 (when unemployment was 4.6 percent), the U-3 unemployment rate would be nearly 12 percent today.
10 Crazy Red-Light Camera Cases
10 Crazy Red-Light Camera Cases - Popular Mechanics:
"Red-Light Cameras Bankrupt City
Like many cities around the country, San Bernardino, Calif., tried to make money via red-light cameras.
But it didn't turn out so well for this town.
In 2008, San Bernardino was caught cheating:
To write more tickets, the city was using yellow lights that were timed too short for California law.
When the city restored the proper yellow-light durations, the revenue from red-light violations sank—so much so that San Bernardino was losing money to ATS, the company it hired to operate the camera system.
In 2011, the city council voted to end the contract before its 2014 term and pay ATS what it thought would be a $110,000 exit fee, but ATS claimed it was owed $1.9 million.
In March 2012, the city added three more red-light cameras to try to make enough money to pay back ATS, even though by that time a San Bernardino county court had ruled that photo tickets were inadmissible hearsay. In August 2012 the city filed for bankruptcy, allowing it to finally end its contract with ATS. "
"Red-Light Cameras Bankrupt City
Like many cities around the country, San Bernardino, Calif., tried to make money via red-light cameras.
But it didn't turn out so well for this town.
In 2008, San Bernardino was caught cheating:
To write more tickets, the city was using yellow lights that were timed too short for California law.
When the city restored the proper yellow-light durations, the revenue from red-light violations sank—so much so that San Bernardino was losing money to ATS, the company it hired to operate the camera system.
In 2011, the city council voted to end the contract before its 2014 term and pay ATS what it thought would be a $110,000 exit fee, but ATS claimed it was owed $1.9 million.
In March 2012, the city added three more red-light cameras to try to make enough money to pay back ATS, even though by that time a San Bernardino county court had ruled that photo tickets were inadmissible hearsay. In August 2012 the city filed for bankruptcy, allowing it to finally end its contract with ATS. "
College Republicans Denied Admittance to Obama Speech
College Republicans Denied Admittance to Obama Speech | National Review Online:
"President Obama was bound to receive a warm response from the audience attending his speech at the University of Central Missouri yesterday — because some students who disagreed with him weren’t allowed into the building.
Christopher White of The College Fix reports that students wearing “Tea Party T-Shirts and others who wore patriotic or Republican-inspired clothing” were turned away at the door under the guise of security concerns"
"President Obama was bound to receive a warm response from the audience attending his speech at the University of Central Missouri yesterday — because some students who disagreed with him weren’t allowed into the building.
Christopher White of The College Fix reports that students wearing “Tea Party T-Shirts and others who wore patriotic or Republican-inspired clothing” were turned away at the door under the guise of security concerns"
Michigan town to celebrate annual Bologna Fest
Michigan town to celebrate annual Bologna Fest | Detroit Free Press | freep.com:
"Yale is known for making bologna since 1906."
"Yale is known for making bologna since 1906."
Don’t buy the right-wing myth about Detroit
Don’t buy the right-wing myth about Detroit - Salon.com:
"Conservatives want you to think high taxes drove people away. The real truth is much worse for their radical agenda"
"Conservatives want you to think high taxes drove people away. The real truth is much worse for their radical agenda"
Corporate Interests Killed Detroit
Corporate Interests Killed Detroit - Ring Of Fire Radio: Robert Kennedy Jr, Mike Papantonio and Sam Seder:
"It wasn’t quite a bad national economy or even the Detroit municipal pension program that threw the Motor City into bankruptcy, it was right-wing, pro-corporate fiscal policy that did it.
So of course the right-wingers want to make it seem like it wasn’t their fault."
"It wasn’t quite a bad national economy or even the Detroit municipal pension program that threw the Motor City into bankruptcy, it was right-wing, pro-corporate fiscal policy that did it.
So of course the right-wingers want to make it seem like it wasn’t their fault."
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Child support law 'outrageous'
Child support law 'outrageous' | WOOD TV8:
"When a divorced dad was ordered to pay support for a child who isn't his, he turned to Target 8 for help.
It's legal for the state to order Joseph Chmelar to pay for another man's child and to deny biological fathers who want to pay from doing so.
One lawmaker called that "outrageous."
"When a divorced dad was ordered to pay support for a child who isn't his, he turned to Target 8 for help.
It's legal for the state to order Joseph Chmelar to pay for another man's child and to deny biological fathers who want to pay from doing so.
One lawmaker called that "outrageous."
The Wages of Bankruptcy: Stockton’s Cautionary Tale for Detroit
The Wages of Bankruptcy: Stockton’s Cautionary Tale for Detroit | TIME.com:
"More than a year after filing for Chapter 9 protection, the California city is struggling with protracted court battles and stripped city services — and that's exactly what the Motor City might be in for"
"More than a year after filing for Chapter 9 protection, the California city is struggling with protracted court battles and stripped city services — and that's exactly what the Motor City might be in for"
Coleman Young: the Communist Who Destroyed Detroit
Coleman Young: the Communist Who Destroyed Detroit:
"If one man could be blamed most for the destruction of Detroit, it would be Coleman Young.
Mayor from 1974 to 1993, Young set a city already in decline on the pathway to the disaster area it is today."
"If one man could be blamed most for the destruction of Detroit, it would be Coleman Young.
Mayor from 1974 to 1993, Young set a city already in decline on the pathway to the disaster area it is today."
Michigan board OKs new Red Wings arena in Detroit
Michigan board OKs new Red Wings arena in Detroit | Hockey - Home:
"LANSING, Mich. -
A state board has given the go-ahead for a new Red Wings arena in downtown Detroit that will be partially paid for with tax dollars.
The Michigan Strategic Fund Board on Wednesday unanimously approved the Downtown Development Authority's request to use economic development taxes for the project.
The board also signaled the intent to issue bonds to build the arena."
"LANSING, Mich. -
A state board has given the go-ahead for a new Red Wings arena in downtown Detroit that will be partially paid for with tax dollars.
The Michigan Strategic Fund Board on Wednesday unanimously approved the Downtown Development Authority's request to use economic development taxes for the project.
The board also signaled the intent to issue bonds to build the arena."
US Marshal Upset That Couple His Police Gang Terrorized Went to the Press
US Marshal Upset That Couple His Police Gang Terrorized Went to the Press - Hit & Run : Reason.com:
"Ultimately, Marshal Wiggins is upset that he has to answer a reporter's questions about his conduct while conducting a sweep through the war-torn streets of Kabul an apartment complex in a peaceful Florida city.
Goldsberry wasn't arrested or shot despite pointing a gun at a cop, so Wiggins said, “She sure shouldn't be going to the press.”
Let's hope Wiggins and his hopped-up gang don't decide to shoot first, in the future, just to avoid dealing with unpleasant reports in the press.
This seems like a good moment to mention former Reason staffer Radley Balko's new book, Rise of the Warrior Cop, about militarized policing.
And, as a side note, on New York City's WOR radio, yesterday, I was asked by guest host Brett Winterble if America is now a police state. Yes, I said. Yes, it is"
"Ultimately, Marshal Wiggins is upset that he has to answer a reporter's questions about his conduct while conducting a sweep through the war-torn streets of Kabul an apartment complex in a peaceful Florida city.
Goldsberry wasn't arrested or shot despite pointing a gun at a cop, so Wiggins said, “She sure shouldn't be going to the press.”
Let's hope Wiggins and his hopped-up gang don't decide to shoot first, in the future, just to avoid dealing with unpleasant reports in the press.
This seems like a good moment to mention former Reason staffer Radley Balko's new book, Rise of the Warrior Cop, about militarized policing.
And, as a side note, on New York City's WOR radio, yesterday, I was asked by guest host Brett Winterble if America is now a police state. Yes, I said. Yes, it is"
South Omaha matriarch dies after brutal rape, beating
South Omaha matriarch dies after brutal rape, beating - Omaha.com:
When their husbands went off to World War II, Louise Sollowin and her sister bought a house in South Omaha and moved in together.
There, she held court in the kitchen, whipping up vast meals and, as she did, shooing people from her sacred domain.
The house is where she sewed drapes and pajamas for her grandchildren.
And it was where the 93-year-old woman met her end in brutal fashion, where she was sexually assaulted and pummeled in her bed by an intruder, according to Omaha police.
Sollowin died Wednesday at the Nebraska Medical Center, four days after the attack carried out by a man she did not know......
Sergio Martinez-Perez, 19, beat and raped Sollowin because he had been drinking much of the previous night and was “angry with women,” a prosecutor told a Douglas County Court judge Wednesday.
....U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has asked the jail to hold him, an official there said. That is often an indication that the federal agency is questioning an inmate's immigration status.
When their husbands went off to World War II, Louise Sollowin and her sister bought a house in South Omaha and moved in together.
There, she held court in the kitchen, whipping up vast meals and, as she did, shooing people from her sacred domain.
The house is where she sewed drapes and pajamas for her grandchildren.
And it was where the 93-year-old woman met her end in brutal fashion, where she was sexually assaulted and pummeled in her bed by an intruder, according to Omaha police.
Sollowin died Wednesday at the Nebraska Medical Center, four days after the attack carried out by a man she did not know......
Sergio Martinez-Perez, 19, beat and raped Sollowin because he had been drinking much of the previous night and was “angry with women,” a prosecutor told a Douglas County Court judge Wednesday.
....U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has asked the jail to hold him, an official there said. That is often an indication that the federal agency is questioning an inmate's immigration status.
State and Local Pension Liabilities
State and Local Pension Liabilities | Cato @ Liberty:
"Yet $3 trillion is hardly chicken feed. Novy-Marx and Rauh estimate that to fund these pensions fully within 30 years, states would need to raise taxes by $1,385 per household, per year, over that period."
"Yet $3 trillion is hardly chicken feed. Novy-Marx and Rauh estimate that to fund these pensions fully within 30 years, states would need to raise taxes by $1,385 per household, per year, over that period."
Door-To-Door Mail Delivery To End Under New Plan
Door-To-Door Mail Delivery To End Under New Plan - Slashdot:
"Reuters reports that under a cost-saving plan by the US Postal Service, millions of Americans accustomed to getting their mail delivered to their doors will have to trek to the curb and residents of new homes will use neighborhood mailbox clusters. 'Converting delivery away from door delivery to either curb line or centralized delivery would enable the Postal Service to provide service to more customers in less time,' says Postal Service spokeswoman Sue Brennan. More than 30 million American homes get door-to-door delivery and another 50 million get their mail dropped at their curbside mailboxes. But the Post Service, which is buckling under massive financial losses, sees savings in centralized mail delivery. Door-to-door delivery costs the Postal Service about $353 per address each year while curbside delivery costs $224, and cluster boxes cost $160 per address. But unions say it's a bad idea to end delivery to doorsteps and will be disruptive for the elderly and disabled. 'It's madness,' says Jim Sauber, chief of staff for the National Association of Letter Carriers. 'The idea that somebody is going to walk down to their mailbox in Buffalo, New York, in the winter snow to get their mail is just crazy.'"
"Reuters reports that under a cost-saving plan by the US Postal Service, millions of Americans accustomed to getting their mail delivered to their doors will have to trek to the curb and residents of new homes will use neighborhood mailbox clusters. 'Converting delivery away from door delivery to either curb line or centralized delivery would enable the Postal Service to provide service to more customers in less time,' says Postal Service spokeswoman Sue Brennan. More than 30 million American homes get door-to-door delivery and another 50 million get their mail dropped at their curbside mailboxes. But the Post Service, which is buckling under massive financial losses, sees savings in centralized mail delivery. Door-to-door delivery costs the Postal Service about $353 per address each year while curbside delivery costs $224, and cluster boxes cost $160 per address. But unions say it's a bad idea to end delivery to doorsteps and will be disruptive for the elderly and disabled. 'It's madness,' says Jim Sauber, chief of staff for the National Association of Letter Carriers. 'The idea that somebody is going to walk down to their mailbox in Buffalo, New York, in the winter snow to get their mail is just crazy.'"
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Rep. Justin Amash's amendment to defund NSA spying defeated in close vote
Rep. Justin Amash's amendment to defund NSA spying defeated in close vote | MLive.com:
"Ninety-four Republicans voted for the amendment, as did 111 Democrats.
Amash's fellow West Michigan Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, voted in favor of the proposal."
"Ninety-four Republicans voted for the amendment, as did 111 Democrats.
Amash's fellow West Michigan Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, voted in favor of the proposal."
Why Muskegon County is giving free bus rides to the youth fair Thursday and Friday
Why Muskegon County is giving free bus rides to the youth fair Thursday and Friday | MLive.com:
"The bus service to the fair will run Thursday, July 25, and Friday, July 26.
A bus headed for the fairgrounds in Sullivan Township will depart from the MATS downtown Muskegon terminal, 351 Morris Ave., at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The bus will stop to pick up more passengers from the Muskegon Heights transfer station on Baker Street south of Manahan Avenue, at 12:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., arriving at the fair grounds at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.
A bus returning to town will depart from the fair at 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., arriving in Muskegon Heights at 2:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., and arriving in downtown Muskegon 2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m."
"The bus service to the fair will run Thursday, July 25, and Friday, July 26.
A bus headed for the fairgrounds in Sullivan Township will depart from the MATS downtown Muskegon terminal, 351 Morris Ave., at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The bus will stop to pick up more passengers from the Muskegon Heights transfer station on Baker Street south of Manahan Avenue, at 12:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., arriving at the fair grounds at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.
A bus returning to town will depart from the fair at 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., arriving in Muskegon Heights at 2:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., and arriving in downtown Muskegon 2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m."
George H. W. Bush Shaves His Head In Solidarity With 2-Year-Old Suffering From Leukemia
George H. W. Bush Shaves His Head In Solidarity With 2-Year-Old Suffering From Leukemia:
"Former President George H. W. Bush and members of the Secret Service wanted to show their support for Patrick, the 2-year-old son of a member of Bush’s security detail."
"Former President George H. W. Bush and members of the Secret Service wanted to show their support for Patrick, the 2-year-old son of a member of Bush’s security detail."
Iodization Effect On IQ
Iodization Effect On IQ - Business Insider:
"Iodine deficiency remains the world's leading cause of preventable mental retardation.
According to a new study, its introduction in America in 1924 had an effect so profound that it raised the country's IQ."
"Iodine deficiency remains the world's leading cause of preventable mental retardation.
According to a new study, its introduction in America in 1924 had an effect so profound that it raised the country's IQ."
Guardian Angels: Don’t Let Mag Mile Become “Muggers’ Mile”
Guardian Angels: Don’t Let Mag Mile Become “Muggers’ Mile” « CBS Chicago:
"They said criminals have been turning the popular stretch of Michigan Avenue into their own ATM, and attacks there have grown more violent. "
"They said criminals have been turning the popular stretch of Michigan Avenue into their own ATM, and attacks there have grown more violent. "
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