"Fox News host Greg Gutfeld clashed with liberal guest Alan Colmes Thursday night, pushing back against Colmes’ contention that the Islamic State does not currently pose a direct threat to the United States."Friday, August 29, 2014
Greg Gutfeld and Alan Colmes Clash Over Islamic State Threat: ‘Why Is It That Lefties…Have a Hard Time Identifying Actual Existential Evil’ | TheBlaze.com
Greg Gutfeld and Alan Colmes Clash Over Islamic State Threat: ‘Why Is It That Lefties…Have a Hard Time Identifying Actual Existential Evil’ | TheBlaze.com:
"Fox News host Greg Gutfeld clashed with liberal guest Alan Colmes Thursday night, pushing back against Colmes’ contention that the Islamic State does not currently pose a direct threat to the United States."
"Fox News host Greg Gutfeld clashed with liberal guest Alan Colmes Thursday night, pushing back against Colmes’ contention that the Islamic State does not currently pose a direct threat to the United States."
If This Guy in Ferguson Really Believes the Message on his Shirt, Then We Have a Huge Problem in America
If This Guy in Ferguson Really Believes the Message on his Shirt, Then We Have a Huge Problem in America:
"This shirt that was seen being worn by a man in Ferguson sums up all the strife that has been manufactured in a grammatically incorrect, ignorant, and sad way. If this individual truly believes the message on his shirt, then we have a bigger problem in America, created at the hands of the race baiters, than we thought."
This man needs a reality check. If he thinks he has it so bad in the U.S., I think we should take up a collection and send him over to the Middle East so he can learn the true definition of hate crimes.
There isn't a photo available that can convey this type of ignorance. I'll let his T-shirt prove it.
"This shirt that was seen being worn by a man in Ferguson sums up all the strife that has been manufactured in a grammatically incorrect, ignorant, and sad way. If this individual truly believes the message on his shirt, then we have a bigger problem in America, created at the hands of the race baiters, than we thought."
This man needs a reality check. If he thinks he has it so bad in the U.S., I think we should take up a collection and send him over to the Middle East so he can learn the true definition of hate crimes.
There isn't a photo available that can convey this type of ignorance. I'll let his T-shirt prove it.
You can't deport me... I am gay: Thug's claim moments before being put on a planes stops him being kicked out
You can't deport me... I am gay: Thug's claim moments before being put on a planes stops him being kicked out | Mail Online:
You can't deport me... I am gay: Jamaican thug's plea moments before being put on a plane stops him being kicked out
- Alvin Brissett has 18 convictions and was told he must return to Jamaica
- Brissett, who arrived in Britain aged 13 used human rights laws to remain
- Home Secretary Theresa May signed a deportation order in March 2011
- Brissett, 56, told police he was gay as he was approaching Gatwick airport
- The father-of-two was returned to a police station for a further hearing
- Now the thug, who served seven years for robbery in 1993, is free to remain
EU to ban high-energy hair dryers, smartphones and kettles
EU to ban high-energy hair dryers, smartphones and kettles - Telegraph
The European Union is considering pulling the plug on high-wattage hair dryers, lawn mowers and electric kettles in a follow up to its controversial ban on powerful vacuum cleaners.
The European Union is considering pulling the plug on high-wattage hair dryers, lawn mowers and electric kettles in a follow up to its controversial ban on powerful vacuum cleaners.
The power of hairdryers could be reduced by as much as 30 per cent in order to be more eco-friendly, a draft study commissioned by Brussels suggests, threatening many of the models favoured by hairdressers and consumers for speedy blow-dries.
New proposals are expected next spring to outlaw dozens of household electrical devices that European officials regard as using too much electricity, as part of plans to meet EU targets on energy efficiency.
Current EU legislation covers televisions, washing machines, refrigerators and vacuum cleaners but not most smaller electrical appliances.
Can A National Quasi-Religion (Pro Sports) Go Broke?
Can A National Quasi-Religion (Pro Sports) Go Broke? | Zero Hedge:
Please understand I'm not suggesting professional sports isn't the greatest thing since sliced bread: I'm simply asking if attending pro sports games has become unaffordable to the average American.
"Attending costly games is on the margins of the household budget. When the credit card gets maxed out, attending is no longer an option.
Who cares as long as we can watch the games for free on television, right? That raises another issue: in the next recession, will advertisers still pay billions of dollars for broadcast TV ads on sports channels when ads on mobile devices distributed via Big Data analysis can directly target the (shrinking) populace who still has disposable income to spend?
Before we look at the money side of pro sports, let's note the glorious shared experience of "our team" winning and hated rivals losing. Sports is one of the few experiences that unites a remarkably diverse populace, and one of the few spheres of life that isn't politicized to ruination."
Weather Channel Founder Explains the History of the Global Warming Hoax
Weather Channel Founder Explains the History of the Global Warming Hoax:
"Now they call it “climate change” instead of global warming, because the warming has stopped, says Coleman, and that $4.7 billion in taxpayer money is funding “bogus reports” and “bogus research.”
Coleman explains that any warming or “climate change” is extremely negligible from a long-term perspective and certainly nothing unusual or alarming, and points out that Antarctic sea ice is close to an all-time high, and the polar bear population is as high as it’s been in recorded history. "
"Now they call it “climate change” instead of global warming, because the warming has stopped, says Coleman, and that $4.7 billion in taxpayer money is funding “bogus reports” and “bogus research.”
Coleman explains that any warming or “climate change” is extremely negligible from a long-term perspective and certainly nothing unusual or alarming, and points out that Antarctic sea ice is close to an all-time high, and the polar bear population is as high as it’s been in recorded history. "Ya think?------Study: Affirmative Action Stigmatizes Beneficiaries
Study: Affirmative Action Stigmatizes Beneficiaries
Research by George Mason University’s David Kravitz and colleagues reveals that, while “affirmative action policies in the workforce have increased diversity,” they’ve also had the effect of “stigmatizing the very workers the policies are designed to help.”
Kravitz and management professors Lisa Leslie of New York University and David Mayer of the University of Michigan built on previous studies that found that affirmative action recipients were viewed as less competent, which creates feelings of self-doubt for recipients.To counteract this effect, organizations should emphasize the qualifications of new hires, the researchers said, and allow the staff to know them as a person—their interests, hobbies, and such. Companies also should reinforce the message that a stronger, more diverse team helps the whole organization succeed.“When a person is a member of a group targeted by an affirmative action plan, anyone who believes affirmative action involves preferences may not know why they were hired,” Kravitz says. “Maybe they were hired because they’re great. Or maybe the corporation wants to hit a target. To eliminate stigmatization, make sure everyone knows that the affirmative action program does not involve preferences and highlight the competence and credentials of the new hires.”Those hired through affirmative action programs also need to be reminded that they were selected for their qualifications and that others know of their qualifications.
Here’s a thought: If “everyone” (employees) need to be made aware that a new hire was brought on board because of his/her qualifications, then why not ditch affirmative action altogether?
The “stronger, more diverse team” mantra seems a lot like that used in education (and which the US Supreme Court unfortunately bought in the University of Michigan Grutter case) — that some mystical “critical mass” of minorities somehow makes the academic experience “better.” (The National Association of Scholars provides a brilliant rebuttal to this belief.)
Loud TV commercials will get quieter starting next June
Loud TV commercials will get quieter starting next June:
"Binging on Mad Men via Netflix or Blu-ray has a few advantages over watching the show when it broadcasts.
Namely, not having to sit through commercials that jump higher in volume than anything heard in the halls of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.
As spotted by The Hill, the FCC is hoping to change that last bit with an update to 2011's Commercial Advertisement Litigation Mitigation (CALM) Act; the outfit recently ruled for further volume-fluctuation restrictions for certain TV ads.
Starting June 4th next year, an improved loudness measurement algorithm will be implemented that should make watching TV a bit more pleasant.
How?
It won't count the silent parts of an ad that can offset the commercial's average volume measurement, thus bringing the overall audio level down -- something that apparently hasn't been done before.
We can't imagine that Harry Crane would be pleased by any of this."
Namely, not having to sit through commercials that jump higher in volume than anything heard in the halls of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.
As spotted by The Hill, the FCC is hoping to change that last bit with an update to 2011's Commercial Advertisement Litigation Mitigation (CALM) Act; the outfit recently ruled for further volume-fluctuation restrictions for certain TV ads.
Starting June 4th next year, an improved loudness measurement algorithm will be implemented that should make watching TV a bit more pleasant.
How?
It won't count the silent parts of an ad that can offset the commercial's average volume measurement, thus bringing the overall audio level down -- something that apparently hasn't been done before.
We can't imagine that Harry Crane would be pleased by any of this."
Will IRS’s Strategy of Destroying Evidence Pay Off?
Will IRS’s Strategy of Destroying Evidence Pay Off? « Commentary Magazine
If the latest revelations about the IRS are correct, then its officials have approached the abuse-of-power scandal with a clear strategy, pretty much from the beginning.
They have been betting that, since their illegal targeting campaign against those who disagree with President Obama has had the backing of Democrats in Congress, they needed only a media strategy, not a political one.
And that media strategy appears to have been: conceal or destroy potential (and actual) evidence, and assume that this activity will be less damaging than whatever is in the files they’ve worked to hide.
There are two aspects to the latest news. The first is that, according to Judicial Watch, the Justice Department believes Lerner’s records are backed up, but don’t want to put in the effort to find them:
If the latest revelations about the IRS are correct, then its officials have approached the abuse-of-power scandal with a clear strategy, pretty much from the beginning.
They have been betting that, since their illegal targeting campaign against those who disagree with President Obama has had the backing of Democrats in Congress, they needed only a media strategy, not a political one.
And that media strategy appears to have been: conceal or destroy potential (and actual) evidence, and assume that this activity will be less damaging than whatever is in the files they’ve worked to hide.
It’s a direct challenge to the media, in other words.
Department of Justice attorneys for the Internal Revenue Service told Judicial Watch on Friday that Lois Lerner’s emails, indeed all government computer records, are backed up by the federal government in case of a government-wide catastrophe. The Obama administration attorneys said that this back-up system would be too onerous to search. The DOJ attorneys also acknowledged that the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) is investigating this back-up system.We obviously disagree that disclosing the emails as required would be onerous, and plan to raise this new development with Judge Sullivan.This is a jaw-dropping revelation. The Obama administration had been lying to the American people about Lois Lerner’s missing emails. There are no “missing” Lois Lerner emails – nor missing emails of any of the other top IRS or other government officials whose emails seem to be disappearing at increasingly alarming rate. All the focus on missing hard drives has been a diversion. The Obama administration has known all along where the email records could be – but dishonestly withheld this information. You can bet we are going to ask the court for immediate assistance in cutting through this massive obstruction of justice.
The second piece of news is pointed out by the New York Observer:
In two elusive and nebulous sworn declarations, we can glean that Ms. Lerner had two Blackberries. One was issued to her on November 12, 2009. According to a sworn declaration, this is the Blackberry that contained all the emails (both sent and received) that would have been in her “Outlook” and drafts that never were sent from her Blackberry during the relevant time.With incredible disregard for the law and the Congressional inquiry, the IRS admits that this Blackberry “was removed or wiped clean of any sensitive or proprietary information and removed as scrap for disposal in June 2012.” This is a year after her hard drive “crash” and months after the Congressional inquiry began.
So the IRS attempted to destroy evidence of the emails after the investigation began, and those emails might still exist somewhere beyond the reach of the government officials in charge of destroying the evidence. Again, this is a direct challenge to the media: the IRS is expecting either a pass or scandal fatigue to play to their advantage. That is, they are hoping to set a precedent that the government can get away with heavyhanded abuse of its power so long as it destroys enough of the evidence once an investigation commences.
It is especially a challenge to the press if it’s true that the emails still exist but the government doesn’t want to go through the hassle of finding them. It’s actually more brazen, in some ways, than even trying to destroy them. It’s the sign of a government with nothing but pure contempt for the people. As Walter Russell Mead argues:
But if Fitton’s claim is true, then the IRS scandal really has arrived, and it is difficult not to conclude that we are dealing with a genuine constitutional crime. This wouldn’t be a matter of bribes or personal blackmail or sexual misconduct or any of the ordinary forms of corruption that are unfortunately far too common. Rather, it’s about the deliberate use of the power of the federal government to go after political opponents, and then a desperate attempt by others to cover it up. We’re still hoping that this story is exposed to a lot more light (and perhaps less heat), but the more we see, the worse and worse it looks.
Indeed, it would go beyond the sadly all-too-routinized forms of corruption, which are bad enough. The newest round of revelations describe a government agency (and its elected allies) not only thoroughly corrupted but also insistent on its entitlement to stand above accountability. The allegations warrant front-page headlines from the country’s major newspapers, surely. So where are they?
Sean Hannity Explodes on Imam: ‘Every Radical Islamist Like You Will Be Wiped Off the Face of the Earth’ | Video | TheBlaze.com
Sean Hannity Explodes on Imam: ‘Every Radical Islamist Like You Will Be Wiped Off the Face of the Earth’ | Video | TheBlaze.com:
“It absolutely happened,” Hannity interjected. “Obviously, you need an education. Imam, let me educate you, because obviously you are pretty ignorant.”
He continued: “We have video of children who have been beheaded, like this photojournalist. Women and children with their heads placed on a stick after they’ve been beheaded, and we have one report after another of people who’ve been killed, chased out of their homes.”
“It absolutely happened,” Hannity interjected. “Obviously, you need an education. Imam, let me educate you, because obviously you are pretty ignorant.”
He continued: “We have video of children who have been beheaded, like this photojournalist. Women and children with their heads placed on a stick after they’ve been beheaded, and we have one report after another of people who’ve been killed, chased out of their homes.”
Norwegian brewery pulls 'fart-smelling' beer
"A Norwegian brewery has removed all stock of one of its beers on Thursday after drinkers complained of its foul-smelling aroma.
Mack brewers, based in Tromsø, produced the “Isbjørn” (“Polar beer”), but a flaw in the manufacturing process created a drink with stomach-churning properties.
It was found that contamination in the bottling system led to a bad odour in many of the beer cans.
A build-up of lactic acid in cans led to an unpleasant smell of sulphur and rotten eggs.
The contamination was particularly rife when the weather was at its warmest this summer.
Local newspaper Harstad Tidende reported on Thursday that Mack had sold tens of thousands of cans of the "fart-smelling" drink.
In reaction to complaints, Mack has over the last few weeks tried to withdraw all “Isbjørns” produced on July 21st and 22nd this year.
...The last time Mack brewery had a similar incident was in 2013, but Karlsen assured customers incidents like this happen very rarely.
...The affected beer has an expiration date of October 22nd and 23rd."
Jimmy Carter to Headline Fundraiser for Hamas Front Group
Jimmy Carter to Headline Fundraiser for Hamas Front Group:"Former President Jimmy Carter is the featured keynote speaker at this weekend’s Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) convention at Detroit’s Cobo Hall.
The Justice Department recently implicated ISNA, which claims to be America’s largest Muslim organization, as the lead conduit in a scheme to illegally pass on $12 million to Hamas, the Palestinian terror group established to annihilate the State of Israel. Hamas is officially designated a terrorist group by the US government.
The Justice Department officially designated ISNA as an un-indicted co-conspirator as part of its successful 2007 trial of those accused of coordinating fundraising efforts for Hamas in the United States through the Dallas-based Holy Land Foundation. A federal judge turned down a subsequent ISNA appeal to reverse the designation, claiming there was "ample" evidence that Holy Land officials clearly "operated from within ISNA." Key evidence presented at the trial were checks written to known Hamas terrorists and deposited into ISNA accounts from where they were passed on to Hamas.
Shukri Abu Bakr, now serving a 65-year sentence following his con
...US civil rights expert Alan Dershowitz claims that fundraising for ISNA may constitute violation of Section 18, which would put Jimmy Carter "very close to, if not across the line" of criminal activity."
After Obama Says U.S. Doesn’t ‘Have a Strategy Yet’ on Islamic State, Fiery Texas Congressman Offers Him One | Video | TheBlaze.com
After Obama Says U.S. Doesn’t ‘Have a Strategy Yet’ on Islamic State, Fiery Texas Congressman Offers Him One | Video | TheBlaze.com:
"After hearing President Barack Obama declare “we don’t have a strategy yet” on dealing with the Islamic State in Syria, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) offered the commander-in-chief some free advice."
"After hearing President Barack Obama declare “we don’t have a strategy yet” on dealing with the Islamic State in Syria, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) offered the commander-in-chief some free advice."Dude makin' Tricky Dick look good------Obama's "Strong Disapproval" Double His "Strong Approval"
Obama's "Strong Disapproval" Double His "Strong Approval"
Republicans are more likely to strongly disapprove now than in 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans are more than twice as likely to say they "strongly disapprove" (39%) of President Barack Obama's job performance as they are to say they "strongly approve" (17%). The percentage of Americans who strongly disapprove of Obama has increased over time, while the percentage who strongly approve has dropped by almost half.
Mohammed is most popular name in Oslo
Mohammed is most popular name in Oslo - The Local:
"For the first time in the capital city's history, Mohammed is the common name for boys and men, said a study on Thursday.
Statistics Norway (Statistisk Sentralbyrå - SSB) has counted the population of Oslo and found that Mohammed is the most common male name in Oslo for the first time ever.
Jørgen Ouren of SSB said to NRK: “It is very exciting.”
Altogether 4,801 boys and men are named Mohammed or variations of Mohammed as their first name, and Mohammed has thereby passed both Jan (4,667) and Per (4,155).
The name has spent four years in a row at the top of the list of baby names in Oslo, but this is the first time that Mohammed tops the men's name list for Oslo."
Statistics Norway (Statistisk Sentralbyrå - SSB) has counted the population of Oslo and found that Mohammed is the most common male name in Oslo for the first time ever.
Jørgen Ouren of SSB said to NRK: “It is very exciting.”
Altogether 4,801 boys and men are named Mohammed or variations of Mohammed as their first name, and Mohammed has thereby passed both Jan (4,667) and Per (4,155).
The name has spent four years in a row at the top of the list of baby names in Oslo, but this is the first time that Mohammed tops the men's name list for Oslo."
Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Hamas | TheBlaze.com
“In 1988, Hamas established a charter, a mission statement,” Sexton continued. “It said that its goal is to raise the flag of Allah over every inch of Palestine. Well, that’s a problem, because when they say Palestine, they mean Israel.”
The Best (and Worst) States to Be Unemployed
The Best (and Worst) States to Be Unemployed - 24/7 Wall St
3rd Worst.
Michigan
Pct. unemployed getting benefits: 23.0% (16th lowest)
Pct. average weekly wage covered: 32.6% (18th lowest)
3rd Worst. Michigan
Pct. unemployed getting benefits: 23.0% (16th lowest)
Pct. average weekly wage covered: 32.6% (18th lowest)
Unemployment rate: 7.4% (7th highest)
1-yr. job growth: 0.6% (8th lowest)
1-yr. job growth: 0.6% (8th lowest)
Michigan’s unemployed workers received unemployment insurance benefits for an average of slightly more than 13 weeks.
This was lower than in all but five other states and more than three weeks less than the average length nationwide.
Additionally, only 23% of people who applied for unemployment insurance received benefits, among the lower recipiency rates for applications nationwide.
These factors may lead some residents to take any job, including part-time work — Michigan’s high underemployment rate of 15.2% was one of the highest in the U.S.
The state’s unemployment rate of 7.4% in April was also among the highest in the nation.
Unfortunately, Michigan’s job growth of 0.6% does not bode well for the state’s unemployed.
This was lower than in all but five other states and more than three weeks less than the average length nationwide.
Additionally, only 23% of people who applied for unemployment insurance received benefits, among the lower recipiency rates for applications nationwide.
These factors may lead some residents to take any job, including part-time work — Michigan’s high underemployment rate of 15.2% was one of the highest in the U.S.
The state’s unemployment rate of 7.4% in April was also among the highest in the nation.
Unfortunately, Michigan’s job growth of 0.6% does not bode well for the state’s unemployed.
History for August 29
History for August 29 - On-This-Day.com:
John Locke 1632, Ingrid Bergman 1915, Charlie "Bird" Parker 1920
Sir Richard Attenborough 1923, Elliott Gould 1938, Rebecca DeMornay 1962
1833 - The "Factory Act" was passed in England to settle child labor laws.
1842 - The Treaty of Nanking was signed by the British and the Chinese. The treaty ended the first Opium War and gave the island of Hong Kong to Britain.
1886 - In New York City, Chinese Ambassador Li Hung-chang's chef invented chop suey.
1944 - During the continuing celebration of the liberation of France from the Nazis, 15,000 American troops marched down the Champs Elysees in Paris.
1957 - Democrat, Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina set a filibuster record in the U.S. when he spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
1983 - The anchor of the USS Monitor, from the U.S. Civil War, was retrieved by divers.
1990 - Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, in a television interview, declared that America could not defeat Iraq.
1991 - The republics of Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement to stay in the Soviet Union.
1992 - The U.N. Security Council agreed to send troops to Somalia to guard the shipments of food.
2004 - India test-launched a nuclear-capable missle able to carry a one-ton warhead. The weapon had a range of 1,560 miles.
John Locke 1632, Ingrid Bergman 1915, Charlie "Bird" Parker 1920
Sir Richard Attenborough 1923, Elliott Gould 1938, Rebecca DeMornay 1962
1833 - The "Factory Act" was passed in England to settle child labor laws.
1842 - The Treaty of Nanking was signed by the British and the Chinese. The treaty ended the first Opium War and gave the island of Hong Kong to Britain.
1886 - In New York City, Chinese Ambassador Li Hung-chang's chef invented chop suey.
1944 - During the continuing celebration of the liberation of France from the Nazis, 15,000 American troops marched down the Champs Elysees in Paris.
1957 - Democrat, Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina set a filibuster record in the U.S. when he spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
1983 - The anchor of the USS Monitor, from the U.S. Civil War, was retrieved by divers.
1990 - Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, in a television interview, declared that America could not defeat Iraq.
1991 - The republics of Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement to stay in the Soviet Union.
1992 - The U.N. Security Council agreed to send troops to Somalia to guard the shipments of food.
2004 - India test-launched a nuclear-capable missle able to carry a one-ton warhead. The weapon had a range of 1,560 miles.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Prof’s Chilling Warning: Islamic State Will Carry Out ‘Mass Slaughter’ in the U.S. if Not Stopped Soon | Video | TheBlaze.com
Prof’s Chilling Warning: Islamic State Will Carry Out ‘Mass Slaughter’ in the U.S. if Not Stopped Soon | Video | TheBlaze.com:
“They have every intention of getting [to the United States], and these are people who achieve what they set out to achieve,” George said on The Glenn Beck Program with guest host Dana Loesch. “Unless somebody stops them, they make good on their threats. They have threatened to carry out activity in the United States — killing people, mass slaughter in the United States.”
“Believe me, I plead with you, I want your listeners to believe me — these people will do it if they can,” George continued. “And they will be able to do it unless we stop them.”
“They have every intention of getting [to the United States], and these are people who achieve what they set out to achieve,” George said on The Glenn Beck Program with guest host Dana Loesch. “Unless somebody stops them, they make good on their threats. They have threatened to carry out activity in the United States — killing people, mass slaughter in the United States.”“Believe me, I plead with you, I want your listeners to believe me — these people will do it if they can,” George continued. “And they will be able to do it unless we stop them.”
This Obama Administration Proposal Would Effectively Authorize Some Americans Seceding
This Obama Administration Proposal Would Effectively Authorize Some Americans Seceding:
"From a constitutional standpoint, the administration has no legal authority to implement its proposal. Only Congress, not the president, has the authority to recognize Indian tribes under Article I, Section 8. Congress has specifically refused to provide that authority. For more than a decade, former U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, and Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, tried unsuccessfully to convince Congress to pass the Native Hawaiian Recognition Act, which would have provided such recognition."
"From a constitutional standpoint, the administration has no legal authority to implement its proposal. Only Congress, not the president, has the authority to recognize Indian tribes under Article I, Section 8. Congress has specifically refused to provide that authority. For more than a decade, former U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, and Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, tried unsuccessfully to convince Congress to pass the Native Hawaiian Recognition Act, which would have provided such recognition."'...Or There'll Be Hell To Pay' - You Won't Believe The Threat Made By Angry Ferguson Residents
'...Or There'll Be Hell To Pay' - You Won't Believe The Threat Made By Angry Ferguson Residents:
"Ferguson remains a powder keg — and much of the media attention serves to keep the situation volatile and on edge.
Check out this CBS News report, featuring three young black men — reportedly Ferguson residents — with a dire warning: "
"Ferguson remains a powder keg — and much of the media attention serves to keep the situation volatile and on edge.Check out this CBS News report, featuring three young black men — reportedly Ferguson residents — with a dire warning: "
Another Keynesian Myth Refuted: Cold Winters Do Not Shrink The Economy
Another Keynesian Myth Refuted: Cold Winters Do Not Shrink The Economy | Zero Hedge:
In February, the Federal Reserve made a cursory observation that the unusually severe winter was partly to blame for the stagnant pace of the US economy. The news media, ranging from liberal to conservative, all highlighted the Fed’s report and provided their respective “spin” on how the weather damages the economy.
But soon enough, focus turned back to the brutally cold temperatures and not winter’s economic impact.
In February, the Federal Reserve made a cursory observation that the unusually severe winter was partly to blame for the stagnant pace of the US economy. The news media, ranging from liberal to conservative, all highlighted the Fed’s report and provided their respective “spin” on how the weather damages the economy.
But soon enough, focus turned back to the brutally cold temperatures and not winter’s economic impact.
Recently, however, the Commerce Department reported that the US economy actually contracted 2.9 percent in the first quarter of 2014.
This was the Department’s third attempt at revising its figures, with previous reports estimating first 0.1 percent growth and then a 1.0 percent contraction. While this little statistical “revision” was inconvenient, it was quickly followed (in true Orwellian fashion) by a slew of reports confirming that the economy has already rebounded and the second quarter will be even better than previously anticipated.
(According to an advanced estimate released last week by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, GDP increased 4.0 percent in the second quarter and the first quarter’s numbers were revised yet again.)
Naturally, the “blame the weather” campaign popped up again.
In fact, Gus Faucher, Vice President and Senior Macroeconomist with PNC in Pittsburgh, estimates that over half of the contraction can be blamed on the severe winter weather. Well, this certainly begs the question, “Can weather actually cause the economy to contract?”
Weather obviously affects the economy. However, the claim that weather can actually drag down the economy is dubious at best. While severe winter weather may slow construction, idle auto sales, and reduce ice cream consumption, the economy never goes into hibernation. Instead, economic activity simply shifts.
A great analogy is household consumption spending. Each month, the average household allocates a certain amount of disposable income to entertainment. How this money is spent — at restaurants, traveling, shopping malls, or the theater — is irrelevant. The point is that people tend to budget a relatively fixed amount of income toward leisurely pursuits. If a new restaurant opens to rave reviews or a blockbuster movie debuts, a young couple does not drastically increase their monthly budget to accommodate the new entertainment options. Instead, consumption spending may shift from the mall or the theater to dinner and a movie. Similarly, a family that is planning a big vacation or a day at the ballpark either budgets additional savings throughout the year or scales back other expenses. To assume that new retail options magically increase spending is flawed economics.
Is The EPA Preparing For A Massive Private Land Grab?
Is The EPA Preparing For A Massive Private Land Grab? | The Daily Caller:
"Republicans are accusing the Environmental Protection Agency of preparing to take control over vast swaths of land under the guise of protecting the country’s water resources. Lawmakers warn this could erode private property rights.
The EPA has consistently denied they are trying to use the Clean Water Act to expand their regulatory reach, but Republicans say they have a smoking gun that shows the agency is up to something.
Their proof?
The EPA paid private contractors to assemble detailed maps of waterways and wetlands in all 50 states.
The EPA maps were made in 2013, shortly after the agency proposed expanding its authority under the Clean Water Act.
The maps were kept secret by the agency, but were obtained by Republicans on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
“These maps show the EPA’s plan: to control a huge amount of private property across the country,” Rep. Lamar Smith, the science committee’s chairman, wrote in a letter to the EPA demanding more answers on why they have a detailed map of U.S. waterways.
“Given the astonishing picture they paint, I understand the EPA’s desire to minimize the importance of these maps,” wrote Smith, a Texas Republican. “
But the EPA’s posturing cannot explain away the alarming content of these documents.”"
The EPA has consistently denied they are trying to use the Clean Water Act to expand their regulatory reach, but Republicans say they have a smoking gun that shows the agency is up to something.
Their proof?
The EPA paid private contractors to assemble detailed maps of waterways and wetlands in all 50 states.
The EPA maps were made in 2013, shortly after the agency proposed expanding its authority under the Clean Water Act.
The maps were kept secret by the agency, but were obtained by Republicans on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
“These maps show the EPA’s plan: to control a huge amount of private property across the country,” Rep. Lamar Smith, the science committee’s chairman, wrote in a letter to the EPA demanding more answers on why they have a detailed map of U.S. waterways.
“Given the astonishing picture they paint, I understand the EPA’s desire to minimize the importance of these maps,” wrote Smith, a Texas Republican. “
But the EPA’s posturing cannot explain away the alarming content of these documents.”"
Gotta have it!------Chrome 64-bit browser finally available as a stable version
Chrome 64-bit browser finally available as a stable version | Ars Technica
Google today released a 64-bit stable version of its Chrome browser for Windows systems.
The 64-bit support has been in testing since June, and as of Chrome version 37 it has made it to the mainstream version.
The 64-bit version offers three main advantages and one possible drawback.
The browser's advantages are speed, security, and stability. Google claims that certain media and graphics workloads in particular are faster with 64-bit. It offers the example of VP9 video decoding—used for some YouTube high-definition streams—being 15 percent quicker compared to 32-bit.
The Man Who Said the Constitution is a Flawed Document Now Suggests This
The Man Who Said the Constitution is a Flawed Document Now Suggests This:
"It’s no secret that Barack Obama views the Constitution as a flawed document that gets in the way of implementing his far-left, Marxist based agenda. After all, he has said as much himself. But, now, he is doubling down on vocalizing his disdain for anyone and anything that attempts to hold him to the confines of the Executive Branch as designed by our Founders in our system of government."
"It’s no secret that Barack Obama views the Constitution as a flawed document that gets in the way of implementing his far-left, Marxist based agenda. After all, he has said as much himself. But, now, he is doubling down on vocalizing his disdain for anyone and anything that attempts to hold him to the confines of the Executive Branch as designed by our Founders in our system of government."Another government boondoggle exposed-------Allen Park finalizes sale of failed studio site for $12M
Allen Park finalizes sale of failed studio site for $12M | Crain's Detroit Business:
"The city of Allen Park has finalized the $12 million sale of a failed film studio site that's been a financial drain on the city.
Allen Park's state-appointed emergency manager Joyce Parker announced the sale of the 104-acre Southfield Lease Properties to Time Equities this week.
She said it's a step toward restoring the city's finances and calls for payments over 7 ½ years.
The city will no longer need to pay for taxes, insurance and other site costs that totaled about $1.2 million in the last budget year.
Formerly known as Unity Studios, the site was to be the centerpiece of a movie production center. Allen Park sold more than $25 million in bonds for the project, but the plans fell through in 2010."
Allen Park's state-appointed emergency manager Joyce Parker announced the sale of the 104-acre Southfield Lease Properties to Time Equities this week.
She said it's a step toward restoring the city's finances and calls for payments over 7 ½ years.
The city will no longer need to pay for taxes, insurance and other site costs that totaled about $1.2 million in the last budget year.
Formerly known as Unity Studios, the site was to be the centerpiece of a movie production center. Allen Park sold more than $25 million in bonds for the project, but the plans fell through in 2010."
LA Schools' $1 Billion iPad Fiasco Ends After Corruption Revelations
LA Schools' $1 Billion iPad Fiasco Ends After Corruption Revelations - Hit & Run : Reason.com:
Los Angeles Unified School District is ending its billion-dollar iPad program, which has drawn widespread criticism for distributing expensive devices to teachers who didn't know what to do with them and students who kept losing or breaking them.
According to The Los Angeles Times, Deasy's previous connections to Apple and Pearson—the companies contracted to supply the iPads and instructional materials for them, respectively—amount to a conflict of interest. In hindsight, the bidding process that Apple and Pearson won to score the contracts seems biased in those companies' favor, The LA Times notes:
Los Angeles Unified School District is ending its billion-dollar iPad program, which has drawn widespread criticism for distributing expensive devices to teachers who didn't know what to do with them and students who kept losing or breaking them.
The costly program was considered a total failure, and it's little surprise that district officials have finally relented and scaled back.
More surprising, however, are revelations that District Superintendent John Deasy may have engaged in some crooked bargaining to arrange the deal in the first place.
More surprising, however, are revelations that District Superintendent John Deasy may have engaged in some crooked bargaining to arrange the deal in the first place.
Last week, a draft report of a district technology committee, obtained by The Times, was strongly critical of the bidding process.Among the findings was that the initial rules for winning the contract appeared to be tailored to the products of the eventual winners — Apple and Pearson — rather than to demonstrated district needs. The report found that key changes to the bidding rules were made after most of the competition had been eliminated under the original specifications.In addition, the report said that past comments or associations with vendors, including Deasy, created an appearance of conflict even if no ethics rules were violated.
Emails obtained by The LA Times show Jaime Aquino, Deasy's deputy superintendent, advising Pearson officials on how to win the bid.
I should not that this isn't the first time Pearson has been accused of something like this. Pearson, a British company, is the largest publisher of education materials in the world, and its efforts to lockdown contracts for Common Core-aligned testing material have drawn scrutiny.
Still, the iPad fiasco hasn't dampened the district's enthusiasm for forcing costly new technology on unprepared students and teachers. Select LA schools will be trying out other devices this fall (some of which are actually more expensive), and Deasy is fairly pleased with that:
"We will incorporate the lessons learned from the original procurement process," he said."We look forward to refining our processes and ultimately achieve our vision to equip every one of our students with a personal computing device to help them succeed in the 21st century."
Detroit Expected $55 Million in Property Tax Revenue; It Brought in $6.7 Million
Detroit Expected $55 Million in Property Tax Revenue; It Brought in $6.7 Million [Michigan Capitol Confidential]:
Finance expert: Missed projections 'compares to that in many third world cities'
Instead, it collected just $6.7 million, about $48.3 million short of what it expected.
Detroit Expected $55 Million in Property Tax Revenue; It Brought in $6.7 Million
Finance expert: Missed projections 'compares to that in many third world cities'
In the fourth quarter of its fiscal year 2014, the city of Detroit projected it would bring in $55 million in property taxes.
Instead, it collected just $6.7 million, about $48.3 million short of what it expected.
...“It's a combination of many factors,” said Bill Nowling, spokesman for Orr. “Clearly, collections is an issue, but so it is the assessment process itself. In many cases, the city is carrying assessments for properties that are blighted or abandoned and those amounts go into making up that $55 million number.”
How Social Media Silences Debate
How Social Media Silences Debate - NYTimes.com:
"The Internet might be a useful tool for activists and organizers, in episodes from the Arab Spring to the Ice Bucket Challenge.
But over all, it has diminished rather than enhanced political participation, according to new data.
Social media, like Twitter and Facebook, has the effect of tamping down diversity of opinion and stifling debate about public affairs.
It makes people less likely to voice opinions, particularly when they think their views differ from those of their friends, according to a report published Tuesday by researchers at Pew Research Center and Rutgers University.
The researchers also found that those who use social media regularly are more reluctant to express dissenting views in the offline world.
The Internet, it seems, is contributing to the polarization of America, as people surround themselves with people who think like them and hesitate to say anything different.
Internet companies magnify the effect, by tweaking their algorithms to show us more content from people who are similar to us."
"The Internet might be a useful tool for activists and organizers, in episodes from the Arab Spring to the Ice Bucket Challenge.
But over all, it has diminished rather than enhanced political participation, according to new data.
Social media, like Twitter and Facebook, has the effect of tamping down diversity of opinion and stifling debate about public affairs. It makes people less likely to voice opinions, particularly when they think their views differ from those of their friends, according to a report published Tuesday by researchers at Pew Research Center and Rutgers University.
The researchers also found that those who use social media regularly are more reluctant to express dissenting views in the offline world.
The Internet, it seems, is contributing to the polarization of America, as people surround themselves with people who think like them and hesitate to say anything different.
Internet companies magnify the effect, by tweaking their algorithms to show us more content from people who are similar to us."
British Embassy Celebrates 200 Year Anniversary of White House Burning
British Embassy Celebrates 200 Year Anniversary of White House Burning:
"On Aug. 24, 1814, During the War of 1812, British troops set the White House on fire. It was the only time in history that the U.S. Capitol building was captured by a foreign foe."
"On Aug. 24, 1814, During the War of 1812, British troops set the White House on fire. It was the only time in history that the U.S. Capitol building was captured by a foreign foe."TaxProf Blog: The IRS Scandal, Day 476
TaxProf Blog: The IRS Scandal, Day 476:
New York Post editorial: IRS Back-up Baloney:
Thursday, August 28, 2014
The IRS Scandal, Day 476
New York Post editorial: IRS Back-up Baloney:
Some 15 months after Americans learned about the IRS’ targeting of conservative groups, we still have no clue how such an abuse was allowed to happen. And every day, the story only gets murkier.
This week, for instance, a government watchdog group, Judicial Watch, said administration officials admitted that all the “missing” e-mails belonging to Lois Lerner (the woman at the heart of the scandal) had been backed up after all — as part of a practice to back up all the government’s e-mails. ...
An administration official later denied it had said anything new to Judicial Watch and claimed the group was mischaracterizing the facts. The problem for Americans is that the government’s story has always seemed incredible — so why believe anything it says now?
There’s more: According to a sworn declaration, Lerner had two Blackberries, one of which contained all of the e-mails that would have been sent to her crashed computer. But that Blackberry “was removed or wiped clean of any sensitive or proprietary information and removed as scrap for disposal in June 2012” — even after the hard drive “crash” and months after an initial congressional inquiry. How did that happen?
The more we learn, it seems, the less we know. And the less the public can trust their own government. It’s long past time for real answers.
- American Center for Law and Justice: IRS Scandal: Obama Administration Strategy = Delay, Derail, Deceive
- Fox News: IRS Lawyer: Lois Lerner's BlackBerry Deliberately Destroyed After Start of Congressional Probe
- Fox News: Will the IRS Get Away With Its Strategy of Destroying Evidence?
- Investor's Business Daily: IRS Admits That Lois Lerner Emails Were Never Lost
- Legal Insurrection: IRS: By the Way, We Also Wiped Clean Lois Lerner’s Blackberry
- The News Virginian: Lies, Lies and More Lies
- News Busters: Sharyl Attkisson Schools ABC, CBS, NBC on How to Cover the IRS Scandal
- Red Alert Politics: IRS Says That Lois Lerner’s BlackBerry Was Intentionally Destroyed
- Washington Times editorial: The Tax Man’s Ethics
- Western Journalism: It’s Time To Send The FBI To The IRS And Appoint A Special Prosecutor
BURGER KING AND THE WHOPPER ON TAXES: Let me explain...
BURGER KING AND THE WHOPPER ON TAXES:
Let me explain. Or actually, in the case of Burger King’s planned acquisition of Tim Hortons, let my colleague Matt Levine explain, because he is smarter and funnier and a better writer than I am, and has already nicely summed things up:The purpose of an inversion has never been, and never could be, and never will be, “ooh, Canada has a 15 percent tax rate, and the U.S. has a 35 percent tax rate, so we can save 20 points of taxes on all our income by moving.”
Instead the main purpose is always: “If we’re incorporated in the U.S., we’ll pay 35 percent taxes on our income in the U.S. and Canada and Mexico and Ireland and Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, but if we’re incorporated in Canada, we’ll pay 35 percent on our income in the U.S. but 15 percent in Canada and 30 percent in Mexico and 12.5 percent in Ireland and zero percent in Bermuda and zero percent in the Cayman Islands.”
"The United States has been able to get away with this kind of intrusiveness because we’re powerful. As Obama makes us less powerful, there’s increased incentive for other countries to band together against this practice. Though on the other hand, they may favor it as a way to get businesses to relocate outside the United States.
Here’s a crazy idea: Let’s have a business climate that would make people want to headquarter their businesses here.
UPDATE: From the comments: “The global community has spoken: don’t tax income earned overseas. That cowboy Obama is going it alone.”"
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