It ain't just the feds who're gettin' rich and doin' nothin'-----Ending the federal worker gravy train

Ending the federal worker gravy train | New York Post:
This month’s congressional hearing on outlandish bonuses at the Veterans Administration is the latest proof that the nation needs to overhaul how federal workers in every department are paid and promoted.
They’re on the gravy train, and taxpayers are being taken for a ride.
Back in 1883, Congress passed the Pendleton Act to replace patronage with a federal civil service in which workers would be hired and paid based on merit.
There is no MERIT anymore.
Scramble the letters.
What you have now is a TIMER system.
Workers put in time and get hefty salaries and bonuses, regardless of work quality, with virtually no risk of being fired.
...The regional director overseeing the Pittsburgh VA collected a $63,000 award in 2012 shortly after six vets treated there died needlessly from legionella, an infection traced directly to poor maintenance of the facility.
The General Accountability Office investigated VAs nationwide and reported in July 2013 that doctors get bonuses regardless of work quality. 
A radiologist cited for mistakes reading mammograms got a $8,216 bonus, even though a professional-standards board deemed him unqualified to continue his current duties.
A surgeon suspended for 14 days for abandoning a patient on the operating table and leaving the medical center, with only unsupervised residents to complete the procedure, still got an $11,189 annual bonus.
But it’s not just the VA. 
Every federal department has this putrid culture.

In Fairfax County kindergarten classes, school system’s future comes into focus

In Fairfax County kindergarten classes, school system’s future comes into focus - The Washington Post: "Long an enclave of predominantly white, middle-class families with a top-class school system, Fairfax has experienced a dramatic demographic shift in recent years that is nowhere more obvious than in the county’s kindergarten classrooms.
The white student population is receding and is being replaced with fast-growing numbers of poor students and children of immigrants for whom English is a second language. 
More than one-third of the 13,424 kindergartners in the county this year qualified for free or reduced-price meals, a federal measure of poverty, and close to 40 percent of the Class of 2026 requires additional English instruction, among the most ever for a Fairfax kindergarten class.
The demographic changes in Fairfax are likely to have long-term implications for the school system:
Most of this year’s kindergarten class will spend the next 12 years in county schools.
Schools officials believe that the challenges that come with a less-affluent and less-prepared population will exacerbate the system’s struggles with a widening achievement gap for minorities and ballooning class sizes.
The rising enrollment — the overall student body has surged by more than 22,000 since 2004 — is not sustainable at the current funding level, schools officials said, "

‘Disgraceful!’: The Reason Cracker Barrel ‘Terminated’ a 73-Year-Old Military Veteran Has Resulted in Something of a PR Nightmare | Video | TheBlaze.com

‘Disgraceful!’: The Reason Cracker Barrel ‘Terminated’ a 73-Year-Old Military Veteran Has Resulted in Something of a PR Nightmare | Video | TheBlaze.com:
"A Vietnam veteran has been “terminated” from his job at Cracker Barrel in Venice, Florida, after he gave a corn muffin to a man who appeared to be homeless.
Joe Koblenzer, 73, says he was working his shift earlier this month when a men entered the restaurant and asked only for mayonnaise and some tarter sauce. The veteran gladly provided some packets of condiments and also added a corn muffin as a kind gesture."

Water shortages leading right back to corn and ethanol

Water shortages leading right back to corn and ethanol « Hot Air
"The 2012 – 2013 drought season saw more and more people having trouble accessing potable ground water, or even sufficient moisture for agriculture.
It’s long been known that this problem is exacerbated by expanding corn production, driven by a need to feed the government mandated ethanol market. 
But a recent study from an unusual source sheds some new light on this situation.
The source for this study actually is the interesting part, as it comes from Ceres, a group self-described as “a non-profit organization advocating for sustainability leadership.”
Among their key issues, they list climate change and the need to move away from fossil based fuels.
In other words, this isn’t exactly a right wing think tank.
But now they’ve released a lengthy study on the subject of aggressive corn production to meet ethanol demands and the effect it is having on water supplies."

History for June 30

History for June 30 - On-This-Day.com:

Birth anniversary of singer/actress Lena Horne (1917-2010).

Happy Birthday! Vincent D’Onofrio,  Pat Schroeder, Mike Tyson

1097 - The Crusaders defeated the Turks at Dorylaeum. 


1894 - Korea declared independence from China and asked for Japanese aid. 






1908 - A meteor explosion in Siberia knocked down trees in a 40-mile radius and struck people unconscious some 40 miles away. 


1913 - Fighting broke out between Bulgaria and Greece and Spain. It was the beginning of the Second Balkan War. 


1930 - France pulled its troops out of Germany’s Rhineland. 






1934 - Adolf Hitler purged the Nazi Party by destroying the SA and bringing to power the SS in the "Night of the Long Knives." 





1936 - Margaret Mitchell’s book, "Gone with the Wind," was published. 


1953 - The first Corvette rolled off the Chevrolet assembly line in Flint, MI. It sold for $3,250. 


1964 - The last of U.N. troops left Congo after a four-year effort to bring stability to the country. 

1971 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the government could not prevent the Washington Post or the New York Times from publishing the Pentagon Papers. 


1971 - The Soviet spacecraft Soyuz 11 returned to Earth. The three cosmonauts were found dead inside. 


1971 - The 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified when Ohio became the 38th state to approve it. The amendment lowered the minimum voting age to 18. 


1998 - Officials confirmed that the remains of a Vietnam War serviceman buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery were identified as those of Air Force pilot Michael J. Blassie. 

Obama Says He’ll Work Without Congress | TheBlaze.com

Obama Says He’ll Work Without Congress | TheBlaze.com:
"Obama’s promise in his weekly address echoes a tweet sent out by the White House Twitter account Friday, quoting the president as saying, ”We can’t afford to wait for Congress…and that’s why I’m going ahead without them when I can."

Nancy Pelosi at the Border: Influx of Illegal Immigrants an ‘Opportunity,’ Not a ‘Crisis’ | Video | TheBlaze.com

Nancy Pelosi at the Border: Influx of Illegal Immigrants an ‘Opportunity,’ Not a ‘Crisis’ | Video | TheBlaze.com:
"House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Saturday called the recent inpouring of Central Americans across the U.S. border an “opportunity” rather than a “crisis” — and added a personal desire of hers."

I'm bettin' their expert advice is we give 'em a bunch of money and they'll "promise" to fix it-------Study: Low Great Lakes water levels will be costly

Study: Low Great Lakes water levels will be costly | Crain's Detroit Business

A study finds that if water levels remain low on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River they will have a negative economic impact on the region that could reach $18 billion by 2050.

The report released today by the Mowat Centre—a public policy think tank at the School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Toronto —used a climate-change scenario that projects future water levels near the low end of the historic range. 

According to the study, much of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence basin beginning in 1997-98 has experienced the longest extended period of lower water levels since coordinated measurement began in 1918.

The entities that would face an economic hit include recreational boating and fishing; commercial shipping and harbors; and rural groundwater users.

The study was conducted for the Council of the Great Lakes Region.

Duh-------Sponsors of Pentagon's alarm-raising climate study could benefit from action

Sponsors of Pentagon's alarm-raising climate study could benefit from action - Washington Times:
In all, four CNA board members sit on the panel of advisers to the Center for Climate and Security, whose statements on climate change are similar to those found in the CNA report.
Other board members work in the climate change world of consulting and technology.
The CNA advisory panel is headed by retired four-star Army Gen. Paul Kern, who sits on the board of directors of a company that sells climate-detection products to the Pentagon and other government agencies.
At least two other board members are employed in businesses that sell climate change expertise and products.
The greatest influence on CNA reports seems to come from the Center for Climate and Security, whose position is that the debate on climate change, or man-made global warming, is over.

Government by Fiat | National Review Online

Government by Fiat | National Review Online: "The Clean Air Act covers polluters that emit 250 tons per year (or in some cases, 100 tons). This standard makes no sense if applied to greenhouse gases. Thousands of establishments from elementary schools to grocery stores would be, absurdly, covered. So the EPA arbitrarily chose 100,000 tons as the carbon dioxide threshold.
That’s not “tailoring,” ruled the Supreme Court. That’s rewriting. Under our Constitution, “an agency has no power to ‘tailor’ legislation to bureaucratic policy goals by rewriting unambiguous statutory terms.”

Seriously, how complicated IS the voting for Miss Florida?------------Wrong Miss Florida crowned in voting mix-up

Wrong Miss Florida crowned in voting mix-up - Style - TODAY.com

I'm thinkin' Rome had the same problem back in the day-------Recruits' Ineligibility Tests the Military

Recruits' Ineligibility Tests the Military - WSJ:
"The military services don't keep figures on how many people they turn away.
But the Defense Department estimates 71% of the roughly 34 million 17- to 24-year-olds in the U.S. would fail to qualify to enlist in the military if they tried, a figure that doesn't even include those turned away for tattoos or other cosmetic issues.
Meanwhile, only about 1% of youths are both "eligible and inclined to have a conversation with us" about military service, according to Major Gen. Allen Batschelet, commanding general of U.S. Army Recruiting Command."

The Fall of the American Experiment--------Women Wearing Tata Tops To #FreeTheNipple NSFW

Women Wearing Tata Tops To #FreeTheNipple NSFW | The Daily Caller:
Questioning the oppressive social norm of women wearing tops is all the rage these days, so it’s no surprise women are now walking around wearing bikini tops that look like exposed breasts.
The purpose of the tata top is to desensitize people to the sight of women’s nipples. 
They come in all sorts of colors and lots of people are wearing them to do all sorts of stuff
....You can buy them here in good conscience, because $5 per order goes directly to cancer research. Never mind the shock and confusion you’ll cause innocent people walking by.

VIDEO: Police State UPDATE: This Story Gives Bloodsuckers a Whole New Meaning

VIDEO: Police State UPDATE: This Story Gives Bloodsuckers a Whole New Meaning:
"Typically, if someone is stopped for a suspected DUI, they do have the option to decline a breathalyzer. Such a decision would subject them to fines and a yearlong suspension of their license. But, over the July 4th weekend, that will change. Oregon police have said that, one way or another, they will obtain evidence of a person’s DUI. If someone is pulled over for a suspected DUI and refuses a breathalyzer, then either at a police station, on the traffic stop site, or at the nearest medical facility, they will be subjected to a “No Refusal” blood draw."

Naa. There's no political bias in TV news today..... TODAY show on NBC

The "top headlines"10:50AM Sunday 6-29-2014

TODAY - Latest News, Video & Guests from the TODAY show on NBC

Environmental justice! Create the problem. Demand others pay. It's the democrat way!------John Conyers appeals to Obama over water shutoffs

John Conyers appeals to Obama over water shutoffs | The Detroit News
“Regardless of the rationale for these cutoffs, the human consequences are unacceptable and unsustainable,” he said.
“The failure to reinstate water service means unsanitary conditions, malnutrition and disease for babies, the sick and the elderly.”
The water department, responsible for about $6 billion of Detroit’s $18 billion in debt, is a major issue in the city’s bankruptcy.
Earlier this year, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department said it would be more assertive about delinquencies. 
About 46,000 shut-off notices were sent last month and service to about 10 percent of that number was recently cut.

Guess where this tsunami of money is gonna come from-----Part of Woodward to close for 120 days when M-1 Rail construction begins July 28

Part of Woodward to close for 120 days when M-1 Rail construction begins July 28 | Crain's Detroit Business:
"Downtown Detroit’s Woodward Avenue will shut down from Adams Street, at Grand Circus Park, to Campus Martius Park for about 120 days beginning July 28 as construction of the M-1 Rail streetcar line begins, project organizers said today.
...The Michigan Department of Transportation and DTE Energy Co. might start complementary work on Woodward in July before M-1 begins its work, the nonprofit streetcar project said.
The MDOT and DTE work will require lane closures, but not full closure of Woodward.
The $137 million, 12-stop loop is scheduled to be operational by late 2016, and will stretch 3.3-miles between Larned Street and West Grand Boulevard. Some utility work began in December. M-1 has been meeting with affected local businesses to deliver information about the project and construction and plans more public education.
Construction is being funded by the mixture of public, private and foundation money. 
M-1 has said construction is proceeding as scheduled despite a reported $12 million funding shortfall.

Civil Unrest Is Rising Everywhere: "This Won't End Pretty"

Martin Armstrong Warns Civil Unrest Is Rising Everywhere: "This Won't End Pretty" | Zero Hedge
The greatest problem we have is misinformation.
People simply do not comprehend why and how the economic policies of the post-war era are imploding. 
This whole agenda of socialism has sold a Utopian idea that the State is there for the people yet it is run by lawyers following their own self-interest.
The pensions created for those in government drive the cost of government up exponentially with time.
The political forces blame the rich and this merely creates a class warfare with no resolution for the future. Even confiscating all the wealth of the so-called rich will not sustain the system. Consequently, we just have to crash and burn and start all over again.
....The repeal of Glass Steagall was the final straw that broke the back of the world economy.
That was the single worst act that could have ever been done and we are now paying the price in spades. The collapse from 2007 has wiped out even the liquidity of the markets.
The second worst act was the creation of the euro when the real goal was the federalization of Europe from the outset.
That undermined the entire European banking system and has led to a serious undermining of the entire global economy.
...This is not going to end pretty. 
The question is when does society wake up? 
Just how high will this price be that we have to pay? 
They will blame the rich and the idiots will cheer – get them. 
What will happen when there is no more wealth to hunt? 
We end up with a communist state by default – no wealth, just career politicians who blame everyone but themselves.

EPA spends $1.6 million on hotel for ‘Environmental Justice’ conference

EPA spends $1.6 million on hotel for ‘Environmental Justice’ conference | Fox News

WASHINGTON –  The Environmental Protection Agency will spend more than $1 million on hotel accommodations for an “Environmental Justice” conference this fall.

The agency posted its intention to contract with the Renaissance Arlington Local Capital View Hotel for its upcoming public meeting, for which it will need to book 195 rooms for 24 days.