North Pole Sees Unprecedented July Cold – Arctic Sees Shortest Summer On Record — ‘Normally the high Arctic has about 90 days above freezing. This year there was less than half that’ | Climate Depot:
"North Pole Sees Unprecedented July Cold
– Arctic Sees Shortest Summer On Record
—‘Normally the high Arctic has about 90 days above freezing.
This year there was less than half that’"
Sunday, August 04, 2013
Saturday, August 03, 2013
Ken Braun: Michigan's Certificate of Need helps hospitals, hurts patients
Ken Braun: Michigan's Certificate of Need helps hospitals, hurts patients | MLive.com:
"But in Michigan, we have the Certificate of Need Commission.
The job of this powerful but obscure bit of meddling is to determine how much medicine is too much medicine.
On its website, the Michigan Department of Community Health says the CON program balances “cost, quality and access issues, and ensures that only needed services are developed in Michigan.”
In plain-English, this means even highly-qualified medical providers must beg for permission before adding hospital services ranging from MRI scanners and transplant surgery, down to just basic hospital beds.
If the CON Commission thinks too many hospital beds or MRIs exist already, it will say “no.”
"But in Michigan, we have the Certificate of Need Commission.
The job of this powerful but obscure bit of meddling is to determine how much medicine is too much medicine.
On its website, the Michigan Department of Community Health says the CON program balances “cost, quality and access issues, and ensures that only needed services are developed in Michigan.”
In plain-English, this means even highly-qualified medical providers must beg for permission before adding hospital services ranging from MRI scanners and transplant surgery, down to just basic hospital beds.
If the CON Commission thinks too many hospital beds or MRIs exist already, it will say “no.”
More Bankruptcies Won’t Solve Cities’ Crises
More Bankruptcies Won’t Solve Cities’ Crises - Bloomberg:
"That is why, despite their well-documented pension problems, the three recent California bankruptcies either didn’t seek (Vallejo) or aren’t currently seeking (Stockton and San Bernardino) pension cuts through the Chapter 9 process.
Detroit is seeking pension cuts in bankruptcy as a result of the state’s emergency-manager law, not the bankruptcy process itself."
"That is why, despite their well-documented pension problems, the three recent California bankruptcies either didn’t seek (Vallejo) or aren’t currently seeking (Stockton and San Bernardino) pension cuts through the Chapter 9 process.
Detroit is seeking pension cuts in bankruptcy as a result of the state’s emergency-manager law, not the bankruptcy process itself."
Villainous Company: Racism, Conversations, and the Sound of One Hand
Villainous Company: Racism, Conversations, and the Sound of One Hand Clapping:
The racial experiences of blacks are poignant and touching: the young man who feels alienated by the suspicious glances of complete strangers, the father who finds it exquisitely painful to explain to his teenaged son that he mustn't give the police cause to arrest him, are meant to elicit sympathy.
The racial experiences of whites, on the other hand, are deemed not germane to this "honest" and frank racial discussion.
The racial experiences of blacks are poignant and touching: the young man who feels alienated by the suspicious glances of complete strangers, the father who finds it exquisitely painful to explain to his teenaged son that he mustn't give the police cause to arrest him, are meant to elicit sympathy.
The racial experiences of whites, on the other hand, are deemed not germane to this "honest" and frank racial discussion.
For reasons not explained, they simply don't signify.
Actual experiences like being robbed or threatened illustrate no larger theme about race relations in America.
In this, they are different from the woman clutching her purse or the click of a car door.
These more privileged experiences clearly underscore Deep, Racial Truths.
The experiences of white folk, on the other hand, are treated as isolated incidents with no deeper meaning. Bringing them up is Not Helpful - it can only lead to forbidden thoughts and proscribed ideas (like the notion that people of all races are slow to forget unpleasant experiences, or that we all have an unfortunate tendency to generalize from particulars).
The President is right to think purse-clutching women are indicative of some larger problem.
Hanson is wrong to think that menacing teens are symbolic of anything.
Allen Park Churches, Unions Team Up To Promote Tax Increase
Allen Park Churches, Unions Team Up To Promote Tax Increase [Michigan Capitol Confidential]:
"When it comes to local politics, churches often stay on the sidelines.
That was not the case in Allen Park where the city's two largest churches staged a "unity rally" in support of a tax increase request.
Allen Park is being overseen by an emergency manager for overspending — most notably on union contracts and a film studio deal that went bad."
"When it comes to local politics, churches often stay on the sidelines.
That was not the case in Allen Park where the city's two largest churches staged a "unity rally" in support of a tax increase request.
Allen Park is being overseen by an emergency manager for overspending — most notably on union contracts and a film studio deal that went bad."
Pontiac Public Schools has financial emergency, review team announces
Pontiac Public Schools has financial emergency, review team announces | MLive.com
A review team has declared Pontiac Public Schools to be in a financial emergency, the last step before an emergency manager could be appointed to take over the district.
......Pontiac Public Schools has a budget deficit of $37.7 million for fiscal year 2012, a 53.6 percent increase over the deficit for fiscal year 2011, the review team found.
Additionally, the district has $33 million in unpaid bills to vendors and defaulted on a $1.4 million bond payment in May.
The district is also facing a $7.8 million judgment against it for unpaid premiums to the Michigan Education Special Services Association, which provides health coverage for employees. That judgment was spread over a 10-year period
The 50 most dangerous neighborhoods --- a personal note
The 50 most dangerous neighborhoods --- a personal note | WashingtonExaminer.com:
"I note with sadness that the single most dangerous neighborhood, identified as W Chicago/Livernois Ave in Detroit, is within two or three blocks of the church where my parents were married in 1943.
The violent crime rate is reported to be 149.48 per 1,000 people, which suggests that your chance of being a victim of violent crime is something like 1 in 7."
"I note with sadness that the single most dangerous neighborhood, identified as W Chicago/Livernois Ave in Detroit, is within two or three blocks of the church where my parents were married in 1943.
The violent crime rate is reported to be 149.48 per 1,000 people, which suggests that your chance of being a victim of violent crime is something like 1 in 7."
Planned open-carry firearm march reduced to demonstration at request of Grand Haven police
Planned open-carry firearm march reduced to demonstration at request of Grand Haven police | MLive.com: "Instead, the march was cancelled in favor of a stationary demonstration in front of city hall.
Rally organizer Shane Wimer said the change was made at the request of Grand Haven Department of Public Safety, which he ultimately granted.
“I agreed out of respect for the community I live in and because of the respect I have for the law enforcement here,” Wimer said. “Grand Haven has a great police department and I would rather work with them than rub them the wrong way.”"
Rally organizer Shane Wimer said the change was made at the request of Grand Haven Department of Public Safety, which he ultimately granted.
“I agreed out of respect for the community I live in and because of the respect I have for the law enforcement here,” Wimer said. “Grand Haven has a great police department and I would rather work with them than rub them the wrong way.”"
Friday, August 02, 2013
Rangel assails tea party's 'white crackers,' compares GOP to terrorists
Rangel assails tea party's 'white crackers,' compares GOP to terrorists - Washington Times:
"New York Rep. Charlie Rangel sat down with the Daily Beast and he wants the world to know: The tea party are a bunch of “white crackers.”
“It is the same group we faced in the South with those white crackers and the dogs and the police,” Mr. Rangel told the publication. “They didn’t care about how they looked. It was just fierce indifference to human life that caused America to say enough is enough.”
House Republicans didn’t get off any easier. The congressman likened them to terrorists: “What’s going on is sabotage. Terrorists couldn’t do a better job than the Republicans are doing.”
"New York Rep. Charlie Rangel sat down with the Daily Beast and he wants the world to know: The tea party are a bunch of “white crackers.”
“It is the same group we faced in the South with those white crackers and the dogs and the police,” Mr. Rangel told the publication. “They didn’t care about how they looked. It was just fierce indifference to human life that caused America to say enough is enough.”
House Republicans didn’t get off any easier. The congressman likened them to terrorists: “What’s going on is sabotage. Terrorists couldn’t do a better job than the Republicans are doing.”
Rep. Ellison: ‘There’s Plenty of Money, It’s Just The Government Doesn’t Have It’
Rep. Ellison: ‘There’s Plenty of Money, It’s Just The Government Doesn’t Have It’ | CNS News:
“The bottom line is we’re not broke, there’s plenty of money, it’s just the government doesn’t have it,” Ellison continued,
“The government has a right, the government and the people of the United States have a right to run the programs of the United States. Health, welfare, housing – all these things.”
The ‘Inclusive Prosperity Act’ would levy a sales tax on the trading of stocks, bonds and derivatives.
Ellison estimates it would generate $300 billion in revenues annually."
“The bottom line is we’re not broke, there’s plenty of money, it’s just the government doesn’t have it,” Ellison continued,
“The government has a right, the government and the people of the United States have a right to run the programs of the United States. Health, welfare, housing – all these things.”
The ‘Inclusive Prosperity Act’ would levy a sales tax on the trading of stocks, bonds and derivatives.
Ellison estimates it would generate $300 billion in revenues annually."
The New York Times fails its readers—and the country
Column: The New York Times fails its readers—and the country | Washington Free Beacon:
"Most of the other questions are constructed so as to provide the president an opportunity to attack the GOP and restate his accomplishments and goals.
Edward Snowden, Lois Lerner, James Rosen, Mohamed Morsi, Bashar Assad, Nouri al-Maliki, Vladimir Putin, Hasan Rouhani, and Hamid Karzai are not mentioned.
Eliot Spitzer, Anthony Weiner, and Bob Filner are not mentioned.
Indeed, hardly a single event or personality that has occupied the public imagination over the last six months is mentioned.
The exception is Trayvon Martin, who the president references toward the end of the exchange. "
"Most of the other questions are constructed so as to provide the president an opportunity to attack the GOP and restate his accomplishments and goals.
Edward Snowden, Lois Lerner, James Rosen, Mohamed Morsi, Bashar Assad, Nouri al-Maliki, Vladimir Putin, Hasan Rouhani, and Hamid Karzai are not mentioned.
Eliot Spitzer, Anthony Weiner, and Bob Filner are not mentioned.
Indeed, hardly a single event or personality that has occupied the public imagination over the last six months is mentioned.
The exception is Trayvon Martin, who the president references toward the end of the exchange. "
9-1-1 Calls Depict Chaos, Gangs On Chicago’s Lakefront
9-1-1 Calls Depict Chaos, Gangs On Chicago’s Lakefront « CBS Chicago:
"The operator says they’ll send the beach patrol.
At 9:34 p.m., a caller at the beach says a fight is breaking out: “Yeah, we need the cops down here on Oak Street Beach.
There’s a whole gang of hoodlums fighting and kicking each other in the head and jumping on each other.”
A caller also mentions people trying to escape the chaos by crossing a busy roadway.
“We need cops out here ASAP,” he says.
Later, a caller reports purses being stolen at Division and Oak.
“People are running, things are getting stolen,” the caller says.
“People are hitting the ground.”
Another caller says: “We’re at Oak Street Beach and there are gangs of kids beating up people here.
I don’t know if there’s any cops in the area.”
The Chicago Police Department says its staffing was appropriate on July 4."
"The operator says they’ll send the beach patrol.
At 9:34 p.m., a caller at the beach says a fight is breaking out: “Yeah, we need the cops down here on Oak Street Beach.
There’s a whole gang of hoodlums fighting and kicking each other in the head and jumping on each other.”
A caller also mentions people trying to escape the chaos by crossing a busy roadway.
“We need cops out here ASAP,” he says.
Later, a caller reports purses being stolen at Division and Oak.
“People are running, things are getting stolen,” the caller says.
“People are hitting the ground.”
Another caller says: “We’re at Oak Street Beach and there are gangs of kids beating up people here.
I don’t know if there’s any cops in the area.”
The Chicago Police Department says its staffing was appropriate on July 4."
Seattle bans words 'citizen' and 'brown bag'
Seattle bans words 'citizen' and 'brown bag' - Telegraph:
"A memo which was circulated within local government in Washington state, before being leaked to local TV station KOMO News, advised state workers that they should refrain from using such phrases in official business.
According to the memo, the word ‘citizen’ is offensive to those Seattlelites who are residents in the city, but not US citizens.
The phrase ‘brown bag’ is offensive for its having been used as a verb during racial segregation in the United States. "
"A memo which was circulated within local government in Washington state, before being leaked to local TV station KOMO News, advised state workers that they should refrain from using such phrases in official business.
According to the memo, the word ‘citizen’ is offensive to those Seattlelites who are residents in the city, but not US citizens.
The phrase ‘brown bag’ is offensive for its having been used as a verb during racial segregation in the United States. "
Of 953,000 Jobs Created In 2013, 77%, Or 731,000 Are Part-Time
Obamacare Full Frontal: Of 953,000 Jobs Created In 2013, 77%, Or 731,000 Are Part-Time | Zero Hedge:
"the US was slowly being converted to a part-time worker society.
This slow conversion accelerated drastically in the last few months, and especially in June, when part time jobs exploded higher by 360K while full time jobs dropped by 240K.
In July we are sad to report that America's conversation to a part-time worker society is not "tapering": according to the Household Survey, of the 266K jobs created (note this number differs from the establishment survey), only 35% of jobs, or 92K, were full time.
The rest were... not."
"the US was slowly being converted to a part-time worker society.
This slow conversion accelerated drastically in the last few months, and especially in June, when part time jobs exploded higher by 360K while full time jobs dropped by 240K.
In July we are sad to report that America's conversation to a part-time worker society is not "tapering": according to the Household Survey, of the 266K jobs created (note this number differs from the establishment survey), only 35% of jobs, or 92K, were full time.
The rest were... not."
New Pelosi Agenda: Moms Free from 'Burden of Child Care'
New Pelosi Agenda: Moms Free from 'Burden of Child Care':
"In an interview on National Public Radio (NPR), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said her new agenda for women will give mothers access to day care so they can “earn without carrying the burden of child care.”
"In an interview on National Public Radio (NPR), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said her new agenda for women will give mothers access to day care so they can “earn without carrying the burden of child care.”
Top 25 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in America – 2013
Top 25 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in America – 2013 – Neighborhood Scout:
"We're #1!
"We're #1!
......and #2!
......and #3!
......and more!
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