Revealed: Detroit Gave $2 Billion in Undisclosed Union-Brokered Bonuses:
"A stunning new actuary report on Detroit's pension implosion has revealed that Detroit trustees doled out nearly $2 billion in undisclosed holiday "bonuses" to Detroit workers and retirees negotiated by the city and its unions."
Sunday, September 29, 2013
TaxMoney pit becomes enormous sinkhole for taxpayers-Economics of Detroit favor rehabbing historic buildings, expert says
Economics of Detroit favor rehabbing historic buildings, expert says | MLive.com:"DETROIT, MI - Hundreds of developers, tax attorneys, accountants and other community revitalization professionals converged on Detroit last week for the Novogradac Historic Tax Credit Conference."
"If we pay them, they will come....."
Saturday, September 28, 2013
A weatherman breaks down in tears and vows NEVER to fly again due to grim climate-change report
A weatherman breaks down in tears and vows NEVER to fly again due to grim climate-change report | Mail Online:
"Holthaus, who now writes for Quartz, has decided he will also reduce his carbon footprint by giving up on air travel.
‘I just broke down in tears in boarding area at SFO while on phone with my wife.
I've never cried because of a science report before. #IPCC,’ was his first tweet on around 2pm on Friday.
‘I realised just now:
This has to be the last flight I ever take.
I’m committing right now to stop flying.
It’s not worth the climate,’ he tweeted a few minutes later."
"Holthaus, who now writes for Quartz, has decided he will also reduce his carbon footprint by giving up on air travel.
‘I just broke down in tears in boarding area at SFO while on phone with my wife.
I've never cried because of a science report before. #IPCC,’ was his first tweet on around 2pm on Friday.
‘I realised just now:
This has to be the last flight I ever take.
I’m committing right now to stop flying.
It’s not worth the climate,’ he tweeted a few minutes later."
Worse Is the New Normal
Worse Is the New Normal | National Review Online:
"George Orwell, after attending a meeting of impoverished but passive miners, remarked sadly that “there is no turbulence left in England.”
The Democrats, and much of the Republican establishment, have made a bet that there is no turbulence left in America, and the citizenry will stand mute before Obamacare’s wrecking ball.
Unless they’re willing to accept a worse life for their children and grandchildren, middle-class Americans need to prove them wrong."
"George Orwell, after attending a meeting of impoverished but passive miners, remarked sadly that “there is no turbulence left in England.”
The Democrats, and much of the Republican establishment, have made a bet that there is no turbulence left in America, and the citizenry will stand mute before Obamacare’s wrecking ball.
Unless they’re willing to accept a worse life for their children and grandchildren, middle-class Americans need to prove them wrong."
President Obama lied to us -- he told America some real whoppers about ObamaCare
President Obama lied to us -- he told America some real whoppers about ObamaCare | Fox News:
"President Obama lied to us.
It wasn’t a white lie.
It wasn’t a fib.
It wasn’t a half truth.
It was a bold-faced lie."
"President Obama lied to us.
It wasn’t a white lie.
It wasn’t a fib.
It wasn’t a half truth.
It was a bold-faced lie."
The Catchy Obamacare Song That Will Probably Have You Singing, Laughing and Nodding in Agreement
The Catchy Obamacare Song That Will Probably Have You Singing, Laughing and Nodding in Agreement | Video | TheBlaze.com:
"What’s a law that’s so good
folks who passed and defended it
see it and got waivers
to be exempted? It’s
like Olestra, at first
it sounded hip
but we quickly found ourselves
dealing with a whole lot of sh…
Obamacare, Obamacare
Unions and businesses both in despair"
"What’s a law that’s so good
folks who passed and defended it
see it and got waivers
to be exempted? It’s
like Olestra, at first
it sounded hip
but we quickly found ourselves
dealing with a whole lot of sh…
Obamacare, Obamacare
Unions and businesses both in despair"
Financial tsunami rewards loyal democrat leaders and voters in Detroit
Treasury official to coordinate funds for blight fight as part of $320M in aid to Detroit | Crain's Detroit Business:
"Obama administration officials said today they are sending someone to Detroit to coordinate a federal effort to help fix the city.
It's part of a plan by U.S. President Barack Obama that will commit at least $320 million to bankrupt Detroit, primarily through grants and other programs, to raze blighted buildings, hire police and firefighters and improve transit."
"Obama administration officials said today they are sending someone to Detroit to coordinate a federal effort to help fix the city.
It's part of a plan by U.S. President Barack Obama that will commit at least $320 million to bankrupt Detroit, primarily through grants and other programs, to raze blighted buildings, hire police and firefighters and improve transit."
Woman makes sandwiches for boyfriend; liberals make poopy in pants
Woman makes sandwiches for boyfriend; liberals make poopy in pants | The Daily Caller:
"WHAT THE F***??? THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!
Noah Rothman, Mediaite:
[A] young woman has attracted attention from culinary world icons such as Emeril Lagasse, Michael White and Ken Friedman with 300sandwiches.com,” a New York Post story published on Tuesday began. The Post revealed that this mystery woman was, in fact, New York Post Page Six reporter Stephanie Smith. The Post story revealed that she not only enjoys making sandwiches for her boyfriend, he requests them frequently. Now, outrage is swelling over Smith’s boyfriend’s sandwich requests."
"WHAT THE F***??? THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!
Noah Rothman, Mediaite:
[A] young woman has attracted attention from culinary world icons such as Emeril Lagasse, Michael White and Ken Friedman with 300sandwiches.com,” a New York Post story published on Tuesday began. The Post revealed that this mystery woman was, in fact, New York Post Page Six reporter Stephanie Smith. The Post story revealed that she not only enjoys making sandwiches for her boyfriend, he requests them frequently. Now, outrage is swelling over Smith’s boyfriend’s sandwich requests."
Seymour Hersh: Bin Laden Raid “One Big Lie”
Seymour Hersh: Bin Laden Raid “One Big Lie” Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!: "On the subject of the Navy Seal raid that supposedly resulted in the death of the Al-Qaeda terror leader, Hersh remarked,
“Nothing’s been done about that story, it’s one big lie, not one word of it is true.”
Hersh added that the Obama administration habitually lies but they continue to do so because the press allows them to get away with it.
“It’s pathetic, they are more than obsequious, they are afraid to pick on this guy [Obama],” Hersh told the Guardian."
“Nothing’s been done about that story, it’s one big lie, not one word of it is true.”
Hersh added that the Obama administration habitually lies but they continue to do so because the press allows them to get away with it.
“It’s pathetic, they are more than obsequious, they are afraid to pick on this guy [Obama],” Hersh told the Guardian."
No MSU football today so....Insult the Bye Week with a Limerick
Insult the Bye Week with a Limerick:
"The Bye Week just isn't that great:
Their players are all second-rate,
The coaches are punks,
Their fans are all drunks
And their cheerleaders are overweight."
Lots more at link.
"The Bye Week just isn't that great:
Their players are all second-rate,
The coaches are punks,
Their fans are all drunks
And their cheerleaders are overweight."
Lots more at link.
Friday, September 27, 2013
"If you like your plan, you can keep your plan." - Barack Obama
My Current Plan (BCBS)
Mo pmt: $286.25
Annual Deductable: $1000
Co-pay:30%
Max annual out-of-pocket: $3500 (plus monthly payments)
Similar plan BENEFITS to what I now have:
Mo pmt: $829.84
Annual Deductable: $1500
Co-pay:20%
Max annual out-of-pocket: :$4000 (plus monthly payments)
Similar plan PRICE to what I now have:
Mo. pmt:$267.26
Annual Deductable: $7500
Co-pay:20%
Max annual out-of-pocket:$11,000 (plus monthly payments)
Plus there's this gem: *These rates
do not include upcoming federal taxes that will be added to your bill when they
become effective.
20 Things I Learned While I Was in North Korea
wait but why: 20 Things I Learned While I Was in North Korea
15) No North Korean people have access to the internet because the government is concerned that people would see things that would make them feel unfairly critical toward the West, and the government would like to protect the West's reputation by preventing the people from going on the internet.
Yup. That is the story I was told when I asked our North Korean guide why no one can go on the internet. One of the most absurd explanations for anything—apparently the government isn't even trying to lie credibly anymore.
What the (most privileged) people do have access to is the North Korean intRAnet, a network limited to government-approved North Korean websites.
15) No North Korean people have access to the internet because the government is concerned that people would see things that would make them feel unfairly critical toward the West, and the government would like to protect the West's reputation by preventing the people from going on the internet.
Yup. That is the story I was told when I asked our North Korean guide why no one can go on the internet. One of the most absurd explanations for anything—apparently the government isn't even trying to lie credibly anymore.
What the (most privileged) people do have access to is the North Korean intRAnet, a network limited to government-approved North Korean websites.
How to cut the Google cord
How to cut the Google cord | How To - CNET:
"If Google services work for you, there's no reason to change.
After all, it's no accident the company's worth a gazillion dollars.
But if you're wondering whether a competing service might have more to offer, making the switch from Gmail, Google Drive, or Google search isn't difficult.
It's got nothing to do with politics, economics, or philosophy.
Honest."
"If Google services work for you, there's no reason to change.
After all, it's no accident the company's worth a gazillion dollars.
But if you're wondering whether a competing service might have more to offer, making the switch from Gmail, Google Drive, or Google search isn't difficult.
It's got nothing to do with politics, economics, or philosophy.
Honest."
Cooley Law Plans To RAISE Tuition, Will Consider LOWERING Standards
Cooley Law Plans To RAISE Tuition, Will Consider LOWERING Standards « Above the Law: A Legal Web Site
The median LSAT score for students at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School is 145. This means that Cooley is already trawling in the waters of the bottom 25 percent of LSAT takers. So when Cooley Law Dean Don LeDuc says that the school might consider lowering its admissions standards to cover the drop in law school applications, it’s fair to ask what’s lower than the bottom of the barrel.
Are they going to start admitting people who took the LSAT in crayon? Are they going to start admitting people who can’t read? If the median score is 145 and you’re going to bring that number down, what (if any) “standards” does your school still purport to have?
Cooley would rather lower its standards than lower its tuition. In fact, LeDuc says that tuition is going the other way: Cooley announced that it will raise first-year tuition by 9 percent and tuition on everybody else by 8 percent. It’s almost as if Cooley has taken upon itself the responsibility of punishing people too ignorant to research legal education….
I use strong words when discussing Cooley because I think what they are doing is wrong. Tuition at Cooley will now cost $43,500 for the first year. Charging $43,500 for people who struggle to break 145 on the LSAT is just taking advantage of people who are too disadvantaged or uninformed to protect themselves. That’s all it is. It’s like giving a high school drop-out a predatory home loan, paying a drug addict in drugs for sexual favors, or convincing grandma to invest her life savings in a risky business venture. Cooley has a ridiculous informational advantage over its students, and it is literally targeting and exploiting people with poor logical reasoning skills, as evidenced by their performance on the LSAT.
Detroit's Pension Ponzi Scheme
Blog: Detroit's Pension Ponzi Scheme:
"So who benefited from this abuse of the trustees' powers?
According to their spokeswoman:
"Of all the nonpension payments, she said, 54 percent went to active workers, 14 percent went to retirees and 32 percent went to the city, which used its share to lower its annual contributions to the fund.
The excess payments were often made near the end of the year, when recipients needed money for the holidays, or to heat their homes."
So in addition to playing Santa Claus to retirees each December and using the pension fund as a slush fund, the trustees paid out money already in the plan to help the city fund payments into the plan?
That is a fraud on both the taxpayers and the retirees who depend upon the solvency of the plan.
Why aren't these people in jail? "
"So who benefited from this abuse of the trustees' powers?
According to their spokeswoman:
"Of all the nonpension payments, she said, 54 percent went to active workers, 14 percent went to retirees and 32 percent went to the city, which used its share to lower its annual contributions to the fund.
The excess payments were often made near the end of the year, when recipients needed money for the holidays, or to heat their homes."
So in addition to playing Santa Claus to retirees each December and using the pension fund as a slush fund, the trustees paid out money already in the plan to help the city fund payments into the plan?
That is a fraud on both the taxpayers and the retirees who depend upon the solvency of the plan.
Why aren't these people in jail? "
When Bubbles Fail: Albert Edwards Explains What Happens When The Fed Can No Longer Contain The Fury Of The "99%"
When Bubbles Fail: Albert Edwards Explains What Happens When The Fed Can No Longer Contain The Fury Of The "99%" | Zero Hedge:
"The premise in Albert Edwards' latest letter "Is the Fed blowing bubbles to cover up growing inequality... again" is simple: the unprecedented social inequality in the US (and the rest of the world - as pointed out here), and what it will ultimately lead to.
Regarding what it will lead to, Edwards believes, is that "growing inequality drains the swimming pool dry.
The crunch, when it comes, will be ugly."
Simple enough."
"The premise in Albert Edwards' latest letter "Is the Fed blowing bubbles to cover up growing inequality... again" is simple: the unprecedented social inequality in the US (and the rest of the world - as pointed out here), and what it will ultimately lead to.
Regarding what it will lead to, Edwards believes, is that "growing inequality drains the swimming pool dry.
The crunch, when it comes, will be ugly."
Simple enough."
Father of Brooklyn teen Jean Fritz Pierre who drowned on class trip gets call from school about his absences
Father of Brooklyn teen Jean Fritz Pierre who drowned on class trip gets call from school about his absences | Mail Online:
"'Don’t you know my son is dead?': Father of boy who drowned on class trip gets call from school about his absences
Jean Fritz Pierre, 16, died while swimming in a lake on a school trip in June
His father Jonas Pierre, who is already suing the city for $10M, says the school called to discuss his son's record of skipping class"
"'Don’t you know my son is dead?': Father of boy who drowned on class trip gets call from school about his absences
Jean Fritz Pierre, 16, died while swimming in a lake on a school trip in June
His father Jonas Pierre, who is already suing the city for $10M, says the school called to discuss his son's record of skipping class"
The Times Climbs Off the Hockey Stick
The Times Climbs Off the Hockey Stick | National Review Online:
"Rich notes below Richard Muller’s New York Times piece on how the world “mistakenly took the hockey stick seriously“. "
"Rich notes below Richard Muller’s New York Times piece on how the world “mistakenly took the hockey stick seriously“. "
Fix Bayonets!
Fix Bayonets!:
"The Republican war over whether to bow to the seemingly inevitable and fund Obamacare is a Panama Canal issue. How one votes here may decisively affect one’s career."
"The Republican war over whether to bow to the seemingly inevitable and fund Obamacare is a Panama Canal issue. How one votes here may decisively affect one’s career."
$67 Million Missing from Obamacare Slush Fund
Report: $67 Million Missing from Obamacare Slush Fund:
"A Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration report released on Wednesday found that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cannot account for $67 million spent from an Obamacare implementation slush fund.
"Specifically, the IRS did not account for or attempt to quantify approximately $67 million [from the slush fund] of indirect ACA costs incurred for Fiscal Years 2010 through 2012," read the report."
"A Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration report released on Wednesday found that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cannot account for $67 million spent from an Obamacare implementation slush fund.
"Specifically, the IRS did not account for or attempt to quantify approximately $67 million [from the slush fund] of indirect ACA costs incurred for Fiscal Years 2010 through 2012," read the report."
Audit: Real estate investments cost Detroit pension funds more than $144 million over two years
Audit: Real estate investments cost Detroit pension funds more than $144 million over two years | Crain's Detroit Business:
"The report also found "disconcerting administrative protocols for the handling of employee health care and other benefits," according to a news release.
The audit also found that 13 percent of the city's unemployment compensation claims processed between July 2011 and March 2013 were "likely fraudulent."
In addition, there were questionable interest rates applied to GRS annuities and overtime pay included in the average final compensation calculation, the report's executive summary says."
"The report also found "disconcerting administrative protocols for the handling of employee health care and other benefits," according to a news release.
The audit also found that 13 percent of the city's unemployment compensation claims processed between July 2011 and March 2013 were "likely fraudulent."
In addition, there were questionable interest rates applied to GRS annuities and overtime pay included in the average final compensation calculation, the report's executive summary says."
Titanic battle between "art" lovers and "handicapers"
Why Calder flowers now will stay into ArtPrize's final week | MLive.com:
"GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Removal of an ArtPrize piece that Alexander Calder’s grandson called an “abomination” is being postponed so the artist’s son, who has Down Syndrome, can see the work during a school field trip next week."
"GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Removal of an ArtPrize piece that Alexander Calder’s grandson called an “abomination” is being postponed so the artist’s son, who has Down Syndrome, can see the work during a school field trip next week."
Trayvon Martin Verdict Proves It’s ‘Legal To Hunt’ Children In Florida
University Of Maryland Official: Trayvon Martin Verdict Proves It’s ‘Legal To Hunt’ Children In Florida:
"A University of Maryland official is coming under fire after he sent an email to students where he wrote that the verdict in the Trayvon Martin case is evidence that "it is legal to hunt down and kill American children in Florida.”"
"A University of Maryland official is coming under fire after he sent an email to students where he wrote that the verdict in the Trayvon Martin case is evidence that "it is legal to hunt down and kill American children in Florida.”"
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