Pawn Stars Review: Feb. 28, 2011

Well, it's going to be an exciting week in Las Vegas, as it is NASCAR weekend. There is going to be Nationwide and Sprint race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Fortunately, the race will be held this coming weekend when the temperatures will be in the mid 60's as opposed to last weekend where there some snow flurries in the Valley and heavy snow in the mountains.

There is going to be a show filmed in Las Vegas, which is a cross between Pawn Stars and COPs. The show will follow around the public administrator of Clark County. The department collects property from people who have died and there is no will or relatives. Should be interesting, if not a little ghoulish.

Tonight's episodes is a combination of a new episode and a rerun.

In the first episode tonight, the first guy brought in a letter signed by Winston Churchill. the guy bought a used desk and found it underneath a drawer. Time for the expert, Dana and Dana said the letter was real. He said the letter would go for $1500 at an auction. Rick offered $700 and then $800 and that was the deal.

The next guy brought in Hummer RC car, a radio controlled Hummer toy. It can get up to 80 mph. the car didn't start. The guy wanted $350 and Rick offered $100 and $150 and that was the selling price, then they had Chumlee try and fix it. Chumlee did get the car running and got paid $50.

The next guy brought in an old Barbershop pole. It's about 3 feet tall, so it wasn't the entire pole. The pole was from the late 1800's. The guy wanted $1100 and Rick offered $700 and then $750. Finally, the selling price was $800.

The next guy had an old 1938 Frigidaire refrigerator. It worked and the guy wanted $800. Rick offered $200 and there was no sale. Seems like when the guys go out to buy something, more often than not, it's a no sale.

The next guy brought in a relic of Elizabeth Ann Seton, who is the first American born Saint and is the patron Saint of education. There is a church in Las Vegas named after her that we used to go to. The guy wanted $300. The guy had to leave town, so he left the item with Rick and they would try and make a deal over the telephone. Yeah right, if this was not a TV show, this would never happen. Time for an expert, named Kristin from UNLV. The letter that came with the relic was in Latin and said that whoever sold it or bought the relic may end up in hell. You are not permitted to sell the relic. Hope the seller gets it back and doesn't try and sell the relic again.

I don't know, but it seemed like a couple of the sales tonight were set up or fake sales. The relic and Hummer truck segments just didn't seem very real.

The 2nd episode is a rerun from January 17, 2011 and is reviewed here: http://lasvegasbadger.blogspot.com/2011/01/pawn-stars-review-january-17-2011.html

Hope everyone has a great week and stay safe.

Gov. Sandoval Proposes Vouchers For ALL Nevada School Children

From the Las Vegas Sun: After repeatedly emphasizing during his campaign that every Nevada child should have access to school choice, Gov. Brian Sandoval will propose a needs-based voucher program that will allow poorer families access to more money than families with a higher income.
Sandoval will seek a constitutional amendment — which would require the Legislature to pass it twice before it goes to a vote of the people — to implement the voucher program.
In new details released today, Sandoval’s senior adviser Dale Erquiaga said the program would award families a certain percentage of the per pupil funding given to public schools based on how close they are to the poverty line....
During the campaign, however, Sandoval was adamant that every child have access to voucher money.
“The great thing about this is everybody would be eligible for it,” he said during the campaign. “Every family, every parent would have the ability to decide where they will send their child to school. I think that’s extremely important.”
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/feb/28/sandoval-propose-needs-based-school-voucher-progra/
I favor vouchers and the Democrats have shown repeatedly how racist they are when they try to block voucher programs in the inner cities across the country. Further, when Obama was elected, the Democrats in Washington D.C. got out their white robes and burning crosses when they eliminated the voucher program in Washington D.C..
However, a voucher program in the Las Vegas Valley just won't work. I used to teach in the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), which was one of the first school districts who had vouchers and I saw first hand how well the program worked. First, it made MPS improve their schools and it gave the students in Milwaukee an opportunity to go to schools that their parents wanted them to go to.
Well, at first, most of the religious schools took in the voucher students and a few other schools did as well. But the voucher program also allowed some fly by night private schools to open and these schools were worse than the public schools. Some of these schools operated in strip malls or in store fronts. Because of this, some students received crappy education. This was not what vouchers were supposed to do.
This is what I fear in Las Vegas. Las Vegas doesn't have the student seats available in private schools to accept even a tiny fraction of CCSD students. When we moved to Las Vegas almost 5 years ago, we tried to get our kids in the Catholic schools and most of the schools had waiting lists for our kids to get in and I doubt that has changed. They only have 1 Catholic high school in the entire Valley.
But yet Sandolval's plan covers all the students in CCSD? One of two things will happen if vouchers are approved: 1. Not many students will be accepted into the voucher program.
Or second, there will be an industry of fly by night schools that will pretend to educate students but they are only in for the government money.
So, I just don't think vouchers will work in the Las Vegas Valley. The Valley just doesn't have the network of private schools that will have enough open spaces in their schools to allow a voucher system to work. In older cities, especially those with numerous Catholic Schools like in Milwaukee, they have a network of schools. Las Vegas is more like the county I came from in Wood County, WI., by Wisconsin Rapids and Marshfield. Wood County, population of about 45,000, has more Catholic Schools than in the Las Vegas Valley, population 2,000,000 or so. The numbers will not work.
Vouchers just is not the answer to the education problems in Nevada and the Las Vegas Valley. Improving CCSD by eliminating administrative positions and putting more teachers in the classrooms, concentrating on education instead diversity, getting rid of proficiency testing, getting kids in the classroom rather than the streets and other reforms CCSD can do, this will improve the education in CCSD. And we can do this with the budgets cuts that are going to be imposed on CCSD.

Scott Walker Owns Barack Obama

Barack Obama may be an intelligent man, but when it comes to the real world and real world issues, Obama is a few fries short of a Happy Meal.
As you are aware, President Obama has been meddling in Wisconsin regarding the union protests, even though it's a state issue and has nothing to do with the Federal government.
Well, Scott Walker, governor of Wisconsin took Obama to school on Sunday on Meet the Press. From the Green Bay Press Gazette: Wisconsin’s governor, Scott Walker, was not at the White House but rather in his home state as a nationally watched budget showdown rolled on. He called for Democratic lawmakers to return to the state by Tuesday and vote on his bill that would end most collective bargaining rights for public employees as part of a plan to plug a $3.6 billion shortfall. Walker issued an equally pointed response to Obama, saying:"I'm sure the president knows that most federal employees do not have collective bargaining for wages and benefits while our plan allows it for base pay. And I'm sure the president knows that the average federal worker pays twice as much for health insurance as what we are asking for in Wisconsin. At least I would hope he knows these facts."Walker added: "I’m sure that President Obama simply misunderstands the issues in Wisconsin, and isn’t acting like the union bosses in saying one thing and doing another." http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20110228/GPG0101/110228115/1978&located=WISINFO
I could hear the dope slap Walker gave Obama from Vegas (Ididn't watch the show)

Need Transportation To The Speedway This Weekend?

The Road Warrior from the LVRJ has some tips about getting to the NASCAR races this weekend. http://www.lvrj.com/news/go-to-las-vegas-nascar-weekend-early-and-stay-late-for-speedway-fun-117004918.html
She points out that there are shuttles to and from the Strip and downtown which cost $35 round trip on Friday and Saturday and $45 on Sunday. Taking a shuttle is going to be much cheaper than a taxi, even though many people do take taxis' I have to think that with mileage, waiting time in traffic and tip, you are probably talking about a $100 trip one way.
If you want to helicopter in, you can take the helicopters for $500. From the article: OK, so you have some extra money and want to fly over all this congestion?
Go for it. Maverick Helicopters, at the south end of the Strip, will zip spectators 20 miles to the speedway for $500 per person. The helicopters drop passengers off right outside Turn 2. Maverick also provides shuttles from hotel-casinos on the Strip or within five miles of the Strip corridor. It's a pretty cool way to get to the race track and you will be able to get a great view of the Las Vegas Valley. The landing pad at the track is just outside Gate A and is about a 10 minute walk into the track.
If you drive, if you come from the south, I have always taken Las Vegas Blvd. You will have a smooth ride in, until you hit Range Rd or so and then the lanes shift and narrow and from there, it will be about a 30-45 minute drive in from there.
My suggestion is to leave early, very early and don't wait for the last minute or you will miss the opening ceremonies and even the first part of the race.

On Saturday, there will still be traffic jams close to race track, so again, leave early.
As far as getting out after the race, it's a little easier than getting in because people leave at all different times after the race.

If you like to tailgate, go for it. The parking lot ground is made out of gravel. The weather is going to be great for tailgating, with highs in the 60's, which is nice to BBQ. Just watch how much you will be drinking, because Metro police and the NHP swarm Las Vegas Blvd. and the Interstate entrance looking for drunk drivers.

Picture Of A WI. Liberal Protester At The State Capitol

This liberal protester was on the ledge for 45 minutes demanding that a certain drug be legalized
(picture and information from jsonline: http://www.jsonline.com/)
This inconsiderate boob put the lives and health of the cops in danger because of his stunt. As I said before these protesters in Madison are just a bunch of spoiled brats who need to go get their diaper changed.

Christchurch Slowly Returning To Normal

Christchurch is slowly returning back to normal, a week after a deadly earthquake that has killed close to 200 people.
From the Stuff.nz: A vestige of normality has returned.
The first movie theatre reopened yesterday. People can be seen jogging, playing golf and cycling. Firewood is being delivered, stock are on the way to the freezing works and container ships are unloading at Lyttelton.
Factory car parks are full as workers get back to work. About 70 babies (about the usual total) have been born since last Tuesday.
Ten out of 15 Countdown supermarkets are back in operation and the default town centre of Christchurch, Westfield Riccarton, is open to shoppers again.
BP says it has "replenished" its petrol stations, and a ship discharged jet fuel at Lyttelton over the weekend. http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/4715113/A-week-on-a-nation-mourns
However, it is still a tragic situation: A week on, the central city still looks like a war zone.
Access to the area within the four avenues is strictly controlled. Police and soldiers continue to man cordons, while rescue crews comb the still shaky remains of the city for survivors, hoping for a miracle.
Three hundred police from the rest of New Zealand and 300 Australian officers have augmented Christchurch police on the streets.
Other crews, including those from China, Taiwan, Japan, Australia and the United States, have the task of recovering bodies, which are then taken to a morgue at the Burnham Military Camp so specialist personnel can identify the bodies.
The process can be short-circuited if family can identify their loved ones, but DNA and dental records are often needed.
Commander Nick Bracken, of New Scotland Yard, who was senior identification manager after Thailand's 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, has arrived in Christchurch, and was briefed yesterday.
The death toll has risen to 154 today, and some of the injured are still fighting for their lives.
Christchurch Hospital's intensive care unit is at capacity, and 10 people have needed to have limbs amputated.

Just remember, that this is the kind of tragedy the Las Vegas Sun and Palm Beach Post wished for in Florida, for political reasons earlier in the month.

Poll On Obama's Leadership Tanking

From Rasmussen: President Obama’s job approval ratings have taken a dive this week in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll, and the number of voters who give him favorable ratings for leadership has fallen to its lowest level since he took office in January 2009.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 37% of Likely U.S. Voters now say the president is doing a good or excellent job as a leader. Forty percent (40%) rate his performance as poor. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Last month, right after the president’s State of the Union speech, 47% of voters viewed his leadership positively. At that time, the number who gave Obama poor marks (33%) fell to its lowest level since September 2009.
Twenty-seven percent (27%) now view the president's leadership style as too confrontational, while slightly more (29%) say it’s too cooperative. Thirty-one percent (31%) think his leadership is just about right. Another 12% are undecided.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/february_2011/obama_s_leadership_ratings_fall_to_a_new_low
Obama got a bump from his State of the Union speech and the speech he gave after the shootings in Tuscon, AZ. But now, reality is setting in, especially with the Mideast crisis, the economy, rising food and fuel prices and the protests in Wisconsin in which he got in the middle of.
One only hopes the GOP can eventually find a quality candidate to run against Obama. If they can, Obama will be Carterized.

WI. Capitol Starting To Close

It's a few hours late, but the state capitol in Madison, WI. is closed to vistors and people are leaving the capitol building. Fox News reported that there about a dozen people left in the capitol about an hour.
From jsonline: The Capitol is shut down to visitors from the public Monday morning, with only staff and media being allowed inside.
The state Department of Administration tightened rules on access to the statehouse Monday morning after deciding the night before not to force out hundreds of demonstrators who were camped out in the rotunda.
"We are going to let people in in a measured way but we have to get this building cleaned up," Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch said.
On Tuesday, Gov. Scott Walker will deliver his budget address in the state Capitol's Assembly chambers to a joint session of the Legislature.
Protesters lined up outside the King St. entrance to the Capitol this morning, waiting to be let in.
Inside that entrance at 9 a.m., Capitol Police were cordoning off areas and setting up tables similar to an airport security checkpoint to screen those entering the statehouse once the doors open. At least most of the Capitol elevators had also been shut down on Monday morning -- no reason for that was clear.
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/117060513.html
So, instead of clearing out last night to let the cleaning crews do their work and have the capitol open by Monday morning, the officials had to close the capitol during normal business hours to do the cleaning.
Good job, liberals.
My guess is that once the TV cameras were turned off for the night, the protesters left the capitol. This pretty much shows that when the TV cameras are on, they love their cause but when the cameras are off, well, not so much.

Last World War 1 Veteran Dies

From the Toronto Sun: Frank Buckles, believed to be the last surviving U.S. veteran of World War One, has died at age 110, according to media reports Monday.
The Washington Post, quoting his daughter, said Buckles died Sunday at his farm in West Virginia.
Buckles, who celebrated his 110th birthday on Feb. 1, lied about his age to join the army at age 16. The Missouri native was among nearly 5 million Americans who served in World War One in 1917 and 1918.
“I knew there’d be only one (survivor) someday. I didn’t think it would be me,” he was quoted as saying in recent years.
Buckles drove an ambulance during the war. In 1941, while working as a civilian in Manila, he was captured by the invading Japanese and held prisoner for 38 months during World War Two.
The Post said that with Buckles’ death, only a 109-year-old Australian man and a 110-year-old British woman were believed to survive from the estimated 65 million people who served in the 1914-1918 war.
http://www.torontosun.com/news/world/2011/02/28/17433796.html
Mr. Buckles is the last of the American heroes of World War 1. It was a great generation and the generation helped transform the country from a primary rural country to a manufacturing country.

Las Vegas Jail: Politically Correct Or Racist?

I've been watching Las Vegas Jail for too many hours today. When you are sick with a cold, you do crazy things.
but when watching the show,I swear the only people arrested in Las Vegas and Clark County are white males and females.
In the 6 or so episodes I watched tonight, I only saw 3 blacks and one Hispanic person arrested.
Now, it could be that blacks and Hispanics don't sign the waivers to be on the show.
Or it could be that the show wants to be politically correct and show almost all white defendants.
BTW, not that I am counting, I also saw very few correctional officers and police officers of color. So, maybe the producers of the show are racist. Who knows.

Voodoo+Sex= Fatal Fire In NYC

From Firehouse.com: Candles ringing a bed in a voodoo ceremony that included sex ignited sheets and clothing strewn nearby and caused a fatal apartment fire last weekend, a city official said Friday.
The blaze started Sunday evening when a woman visited a fourth-floor apartment in Brooklyn and paid a man $300 to perform a mystical ceremony that would bring her good luck, according to fire marshals with the Fire Department of New York.
The man was known in the neighborhood as a priest, and the two were either having sex, or had sex when the fire started from the candles on the floor, though it's not clear if it was part of the ceremony, said the official, who had direct knowledge of the case but spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.
Instead of calling police, the man first tried to put out the fire himself using water from a bathroom sink. As smoke began to gather, one of the other apartment occupants opened a window and propped the hall door open in an attempt to dissipate the plume. But instead, wind gusts shot the flames back inside, creating "a blowtorch effect" that pushed the fire into the hallway, the FDNY said.
The occupants fled as the flames spread.
It took nearly 200 firefighters about seven hours to bring the five-alarm blaze under control.
One resident, 64-year-old Mary Feagin, was found dead. Her cause of death has not yet been determined and was pending further study, the medical examiner's office said Friday.
Eleven residents and 20 firefighters were injured, and nearly 50 families were left without a home. http://www.firehouse.com/topic/fire-prevention-and-investigation/voodoo-ritual-sex-gone-awry-caused-fatal-nyc-fire
Despite the rumours, it wasn't the batter in this video:

More Evidence Of Liberal thuggery

When people say that the protesters are quiet, peaceful little waifs who are there just to express their opinions, they are full of crap.
This video from Fox shows more evidence that there are a numbewr of liberals who just show how little class they have. The act like a bunch of spoiled little brats who think they are the only ones allowed to speak and that their view is the only one.
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4559550/reporter-mike-tobin-harassed-attacked/

As far as the chant "this is our house" umm, no, it's everyone's house. But when you are a liberal, you have a sense of entitlement.

update: Here is the video:

Teachers: Free Or Complain

I have been a teacher for 14 years now and I have made some observations over the years.
First, some teachers have some pretty dirty minds.
Many teachers could not hold a job in the real world.
Some teachers have used drugs, especially when they were young.
But the biggest thing I've observed is that teachers like free things. Free food. Free services. Free tickets. *
This week, Bank of America bought a lot of tickets to the NASCAR Sprint car race in Las Vegas. To get the tickets, you had to get a voucher from CCSD and then turn the voucher at the Speedway.
Apparently, between BOA, the LVMS and CCSD, they printed far more vouchers than tickets available, and the tickets were sold out. But they gave away tickets to the Nationwide Sam's Town 350 on Saturday.
I heard one lady berate the ticket seller because teacher made the mistake of waiting to turn in a voucher, like I did, and had to settle for the Saturday race.
Cathy, my wife, heard another lady tell the ticket seller that if she couldn't get a ticket to Sunday's race, she wouldn't go to Saturday's race because it wasn't a good race to go to- in other words. it was beneath her.
I asked the ticket sellers if they had some problems with teachers not getting Sunday race tickets and they hem and hawed and finally said yes, they had several problems with teachers ho were pissed they were not getting a free Sunday but were getting free tickets for Saturdays race.
Well, on my behalf, I apologize to the ticket takers who had to take the B.S. from teachers who had no right to be mad.
And I thank Bank of America and LVMS for providing free tickets to teachers for Saturdays and Sundays race.

* This doesn't include my teacher friends at the school I currently teach at.

U.S. Navy: Global Force For Good, Except For New Zealand?

The U.S. Navy has been running commercials about how they are doing good things in the world. Like rescuing the man from the pirates near Somalia. Like the Tsumnai in Indonesia. Like the Haiti earthquake.
But for the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, well, not so much.
Why?

In Case You Were Hungry On Tuesday

There is a Day for everything. National Hobo Day. National Poop Day. National Liberal Day when liberals are told they are really, really special.

Well, on Tuesday, there is the National Pancake Day and if you go to IHOP, you get a free short stack of pancakes. All they ask for is a donation to Children's Miracle Network.

I can see a 3 meal day of pancakes at IHOP on Tuesday.

For more information: http://www.ihoppancakeday.com/

There are numerous IHOP's in the Las Vegas area.

For those protesting in Madison, there is a IHOP at 2825 University Ave. Free food always attracts protesters. And teachers (seriously, I really do mean teachers, oh the stories I can share)

WI. Capitol Still Field With Human Debris

From the Wisconsin State Journal: Protesters proved Sunday the Capitol was “their house” as up to 600 remained without incident and were not arrested as they had been expecting. Shortly before 7 p.m., police announced protesters who remained in the Capitol would be allowed to spend the night.
“If you’re here, you can stay,” Capitol Police Chief Charles Tubbs said. Protesters will be limited to the ground floor, while crews continue with an “extensive cleaning” tonight.
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_f1def2c4-42bc-11e0-b8d7-001cc4c002e0.html
I guess this shows that Scott Walker has more class than the protesters who refused to when asked. All the protesters had to do was to leave for a few hours, let them clean the capitol building and then come back. But Walker let them stay. He could have ordered the cops to arrest the protesters but choose not to.
Proving my point about the human debris: “I have felt the sting of hatred so deep that it almost ripped my soul in half,” protester Damon Terrell said as he addressed the crowd Sunday. “Those that feel that same anger, that would be torn apart by that same hatred of their fellow man, try one thing for me. Don’t do it. Be stronger than yourself. Rise above your own emotions.”
My guess is was talking about the vile and hate filled left who called Walker, Hitler and said he was a NAZI. He was also probably talking about the fools who were desecrating the War Memorial in the Capitol. He was also probably talking about the protesters who harassed those who had opposing views.
Yeah, I'm sure he was talking about them.

Did You Expect Anything Else From An Obama Friend?

From Fox News: The head of one of the nation's most powerful labor unions did not condemn the violent rhetoric in placards and signs held by union supporters demonstrating in Wisconsin despite two direct attempts Sunday to get him on the record declaring them inappropriate.
On several occasions over the past two weeks of demonstrations in the Wisconsin capital of Madison news media have zeroed in on signs that liken Republican Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and recently ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Appearing Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka was twice asked whether he found the tone at the nearly two-week long demonstrations "wrong" or "inappropriate."
Trumka did not answer, instead saying, "We should be sitting down trying to create jobs. ... In Wisconsin, a vast majority of the people think this governor has overreached. His popularity has gone down. They're saying to him, sit down and negotiate; don't do what you've been doing. So he's losing."
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/27/union-chief-doesnt-condemn-comparisons-wisconsins-walker-hitler/
Once a thug, always a thug. And he is BFF with Obama, and that should surprise who?

Righthaven Gives Up On LVRJ

Apparently scum bag lawyers from Righthaven have given up on the LVRJ. Starting January 1, 2011, the LVRJ has stopped saying that their stories and pictures do not have copywrites attached to it. I suspected that the LVRJ had stopped their relationship with Righthaven over copy write infringement, and it appears that the relationship is over.
http://lasvegasbadger.blogspot.com/2011/01/is-lvrj-dropping-righthaven-and-copy.html
Righthaven is a group of scumbag lawyers that go after bloggers and anybody else who has a web site for violating copywrite infringements. How it worked is that the LVRJ would have an online article, said it was copywritten. Then Righthaven would troll the Internet looking for someone who used a LVRJ. Then Righthaven would purchase the copywrite and then sue the web site for $150,000 and the domain name of the web site.
So, since the first of the year, the LVRJ has ended the use of saying that their articles are not copywritten.
Since the first of the year, Righthaven has not sued anybody for using LVRJ material dated since January 1.
My guess is that the relationship between the LVRJ and Righthaven has soured, and it might be because the LVRJ has a new editor, replacing Sherman Fredricks.
But the bottom line for bloggers is don't do anything stupid, like copy and pasting a whole article and not give credit, but sometimes, that doesn't even do. Just be careful.

Tony Stewart to Drive Cab In Las Vegas

The Fox NASCAR race reporters said that Tony Stewart will be driving a cab in Las Vegas this week.
I suspect if you get into a cab and there are more cameras than usual, you may be on TV.
The turns may be interesting.

NASCAR Officially Starts Now In Las Vegas

The Phoenix 500 race just ended with Jeff Gordon (cripes, my son picked him this week- he has picked the winner the last two weeks- time to go to the casino?)winning followed by Kyle Busch.
Kyle and Kurt Busch are 1 and 2 in points and they are coming to their hometown track.
The haulers will be probably start coming in tonight.
A brief schedule: On Thursday is the hauler parade on the Strip.
Friday is qualifying for the Sprint Race
Saturday is qualifying and running of the Nationwide Sams Town 350
Sunday is the Running of the Sprint Kobalt 400

We are going to the Nationwide race on Saturday, as we were unable to get tickets to Sprint race. $200 for a family of 4 is a bit much for our budget.

Anyways, it's one of the biggest weeks of the year in Las Vegas (every week is big, some are just bigger than others) and I will post several times during the week.

Hold A Rally For Unions And No One Showed Up

Well, apparently the students at U.W. Stevens Point have their priorities straight. They tried to hold a rally and not 1 person showed up.
From The Stevens Point Journal: Daily life may be getting in the way of student-led protests at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Only a few students meandered through a proposed meeting place for today’s planned walkout to protest Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill. Student leaders had called for students to leave class at 10 a.m. and meet in the sundial.
Student Government Association president Michael Wilson said he couldn’t make it because he was studying for a test, and other leaders were in class.
http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/article/20110223/SPJ0101/110223069/-1/archive

Pretty Cool: Amish Horses and Man Get Semi Out Of The Snow

This is the second time in a week where the Amish have defeated modern technology.
Earlier in the week, in Wisconsin, an Amish Buggy took on a car and the car lost.

Will There Be A Riot In Madison Today?

Today, after two weeks of protests, the State Capitol in Madison, WI. is going to close at 4:00 Sunday afternnon to do some cleaning and repairs.
From The Wisconsin State Journal: And there were several indications late Saturday that some won't walk out of the building when asked. Posters went up in several places announcing that three "non-violence training" sessions were scheduled for late Saturday night.
Also, organizers distributed instructions for those who choose to peacefully refuse to leave. Among the options listed was going limp and being carried out by officers.
"I will leave peacefully," said Neil Graupner, one of the protest organizers, Saturday. "But I can't speak for my friends."
Another protester spoke to the crowd about what to expect Sunday and how to behave.
"Don't fight with the people who carry us out tomorrow," she told the crowd. "They're not who our fight is with. It's with Scott Walker and the people who support his bill."
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_a3477074-421b-11e0-9128-001cc4c002e0.html
To do this, the police are going to roust people who been sleeping in the capitol for days on end. They are going to have roust people who think it is their rights to use a War Memorial as their personal bulletin board and who been very vile in their protests.
There is going to local and national media focused on the capitol at 4:00, Wisconsin time. What better time is there to show civil disobedience by refusing to move or to riot in the capitol or on the grounds of the capitol. They may even move down State Street.
Seening that are many, but not nearly the majority, who have been very vile in the protests, it would not surpise me if there are serious problems clearing the capitol today.

What Would Happen If The U.S. Government Shuts Down

The Ghostbusters say it best about what will happen if the government shuts down, according to the Democrats:




Fact is that not much will be different than before. A stoppage will not prevent the military from killing and destroying things.

The TSA will still molest people, especially those women with breast cancer and big boobs.

The FBI, DEA, Border Control and other police agencies will still keep America safe while eating donuts at the local donut shop. (just kidding)

The IRS will still be at work, collecting taxes but I guess not sending out refunds. I guess the American government has to hold onto your money in case of a shut down.

National Park police will be still directing traffic but the visitor centers will not be open.

Social Security will still be sending out checks.

Federal hospitals will not shut down.

Military schools and other Federally run schools will still be in operation.

Federal fire departments will still put out fires.



The fact is that the majority of government workers will still be at work if the government shuts down. All public safety and military related employees will still report to work.

And maybe there will be some good things, like the Department of Failed Education bureaucrats will not be at work and that is a good thing.

Some bureaucrats will not be at work but they will get paid when the shutdown ends.

When Washington D.C. was shut down earlier in the winter due to snow storms, the country still survived without anybody noticing. If the government shuts down, few people will notice, except liberal Democrats who believe that a large government is necessary and the media who will come up with mostly false stories on people are being affected.

So, shut down the government, GOP. No one cares and people would rather see you fight than quit. Look at Wisconsin.

CCSD Uses Parentlink Phone Number To Invite Parents To Protest Budget Cuts

Today, we got a phone call from Clark County School District Parentlink program encouraging parents to protest, err discuss, the proposed budget cuts next week. Parentlink is a way the parent and school can communicate. A parent can find out a kids grade and attendance and apparently CCSD can use Parentlink to encourage people to participate in political activities.
First, as a teacher, I received an e-mail from a union leader saying I should come to these meetings to protest, err discuss the budget cuts.
Now, I get a phone call from the school district about these same meetings.
Earlier this week, CCSD administrators and board members were up in Carson City lobbying legislators. The legislators know how CCSD stands on it's issues. The governor knows how CCSD feels. So, why the need to protest? Tell sob stories? Promote lies? Say we are competent leaders of the school district?
This is just CCSD putting on a dog and pony to protest the budget cuts.
Why is CCSD using government resources to encourage people to protest, err, discuss the budget cuts? Why is CCSD permitting the CCEA, the teachers union, to use it's resources in promoting the protests?
Maybe the CCSD board and administration should put more time in trying to figure what to do instead promoting protests that are not going to work.

Want To Find The Cheapest Gas Prices?

With gas prices racing to $4 a gallon, it is tough to find where you can find the cheapest gas or the most expensive, if you are fueling government cars and trucks.
The site is http://www.vegasgasprices.com/ and I believe it associated with gasprices.com.
You can find gas prices throughout the United States, especially in the Metro areas.
Check it out.

What About The WI.State Senate Families?

WI. State Sen. Julie Lassa is 40, is married and a mother of two kids. She has been in Illinois for over a week now. Does she care more about politics or her family? Why hasn't the MSM been asking this question to the Senator's families?
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/sen24/news/
For me, I just cannot understand why the WI.State senators are putting their families through this ordeal. But then I realize that some politicians are pompous and arrogant and hard to live with.
But the bottom line, is this public employee cause really worth being away from your families for potentially weeks on end? Do these Senators really even care about their families that they gave up their families for this length of time? Are the senator's families pissed that the senator is putting politics before the family?
I know I couldn't and wouldn't do it but I guess these liberal Democratic senators have different family values.

Another Reason To get Rid Of Public Empoyee Unions

From Firehouse.com: A judge has ordered the reinstatement of six Mansfield firefighters after ruling Thursday that the layoffs went against the union contract, according to The Mansfield News Journal.
Richland County Common Pleas Judge James DeWeese issued a preliminary injunction requiring the city to return to staff levels of 88 fire suppression positions with 21 firefighters on duty for each shift, which was set by the contract in 2009.
The ruling is only temporary and will remain in effect until an arbitrator decides if the city can eliminate the positions.
The six firefighters -- along with four police officers -- were laid off in February as part of budget cuts after the city was place under fiscal emergency last August.
Mansfield is the largest city in Ohio to be placed on fiscal emergency status.
http://www.firehouse.com/news/top-headlines/judge-reverses-ohio-firefighter-layoffs
So, a city is a financial disaster and the union contracts don't allow for layoffs to help solve the crisis. The city is unable to solve it's problems because a public employee union and the contract.
Yes, the City was stupid to put into the contract a minimal staffing level, but if the City had the means to change the work rules, this would ruling would never have had to happen.
From the article from the Mansfield News Journal, the safety protection budget has over a $4,000,000 deficit. It's not a safety issue because this only a drop of two firefighters a shift.
So, now, the city will have to layoff other police officers, 9-11 operators to make up for bringing back the laid off firefighters, thereby putting people more at risk for crimes and delayed response times.
Another reason to get rid of public employee unions.

Gas Prices Going To Seriously Harm Las Vegas Economy

I've been preaching this from Day 1.
From the LVRJ: Bloody revolutions rumbling through the Middle East are starting to send shock waves through the Las Vegas tourism industry because analysts fear Middle Eastern oil shortages would increase the cost of traveling to Las Vegas.
That was the consensus of three analysts speaking to about 60 attendees late Thursday at the annual forecast dinner of the Chartered Financial Analyst Society of Nevada in Las Vegas.
Stephen Brown, director of the center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said the spike in oil prices so far are stemming from fears of shortages, rather than actual oil shortages.
The price of oil affects the prices that Californians, who account for 40 percent of the tourists visiting Las Vegas, pay at the pump. Other tourists catch flights to Las Vegas, but air fares will increase if jet fuel prices climb.
Also, when consumers must spend more for gasoline, they have less discretionary income for things like trips to Las Vegas, Brown said.
"Las Vegas is a place that is very dependent on (consumer) discretionary income," Brown said.
http://www.lvrj.com/business/mideast-shock-waves-may-ripple-through-las-vegas-tourism-industry-116939958.html
Right now, gas prices are between $3.30 and $3.50 a gallon in Las Vegas and more in California.
And what is President Obama's and Harry Reid's solution? Refuse to drill for oil, costing the U.S. tens of thousands of good paying jobs. Refuse to drill for oil and then increase our dependence for Middle East oil.
Reid knows that for the Nevada economy to survive, we need cheap gas but he doesn't care. He is all about green energy, which if it ever comes, will take years, if not decades for it to become useful and cheap for the average consumer. He has to know his beliefs are hurting Nevada because with higher fuel prices, there will be fewer people coming to Nevada. Maybe that is what he wants- fewer people to roam the Strip spending money and make it a nicer a environment for the whales who can spend the big money.
The policy of Obama on energy is hurting the poor, the middle class and everyone who has to eat.
Worst president ever.

Liberals Use War Memorial For Their Own Cause

http://althouse.blogspot.com/2011/02/protesters-at-wisconsin-capitol.html

During the protests in the State Capitol, the liberal protesters decided to use whatever they wanted to make their case and that includes a War Memorial for the veterans of the State of Wisconsin.
I've been capitol in Madison many, many times and the War Memorial is prominently displayed, surrounded by flags. But these liberal activists decided to make the Memorial a bulletin board. I don't think these were union people, but activists that decided to just show up and help their cause.But when you listen to the video, you have to realize that these liberal are just not very bright. They are not intelligent and they are spoiled rotten. I'd say they had bad parents.

What's scary is that these people will soon be raising children and instilling their values into their kids. Their kids will learn to disrespect veterans and the people who died protecting our country. That is frightful.

h/t Badger Blogger

Update: Christchurch Earthquake:

From the stuff.nz: A Chinese recovery team works with members of New Zealand Urban Search and Rescue to carry a body from the Canterbury TV site.
The death toll from Christchurch 6.3-magnitude quake has risen to 145, and will continue to rise, say police.
District Commander Superintendent Dave Cliff said the number of people missing remained more than 200.
Each dead person's family had been assigned a police officer to liaise with them, he said.
There had been two meetings with families today - one for international families and one for local families.
Cliff said people had been "very badly hurt" and visual identification by family members would consequently not work.
He said there continued to be a problem with too many people on the roads and residents were asked to defer all non-essential travel.
Cliff thanked his staff for their tireless efforts saying the biggest problem with local police officers was "getting them to go home".
A Fire Service spokesman said there had been no live rescues today.
Work in the ChristChurch Cathedral had been hampered by continuing aftershocks.
A plan had been made to stabilise the Grand Chancellor Hotel which continued to teeter in the central CBD, he said.
Crews from eight countries had joined the urban search and rescue operation and in terms of resources "we want for nothing".
Orion chief executive Roger Sutton said 82 per cent of Christchurch now had power. The company was fast-tracking an overhead line to provide power to further areas.
Representatives from the Australian Police talked about being "humbled" by a standing ovation the 300 officers received when they arrived at Christchurch Airport.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/4707095/Earthquake-death-toll-145

Compare the situation the crisis in Christchurch and the earthquake in Haiti. The Haitian government, if there is one, is demanding money from the U.S. and other gullible countries so they can pull through their earthquake from over a year ago.
New Zealand and Christchurch? They appreciate the help from the countries that supplied search and rescue. But beyond that, they are not demanding anything from other nations. Bill Climton and George Bush have not done PSA's for Christchurch and I doubt they ever will. The New Zealand people are tough people. The people from Haiti? Not so much. The Haiti people are like M8ike Tyson fighting his last 3 opponents. Lot's of hype but no show and little self defense.
So, give your prayers to Christchurch, New Zealand. Give your prayers to the people from Haiti. Just emphasise in your prayers that the people of Haiti become more self sufficient.

We Had Family Night At Chuckie Cheese Tonight...

Well, we took our family tonight to Chucky Cheese in Las Vegas. It was a rough crowd. People butting in line, yelling at the machines because it ripped them off, pushing and shoving, being so competivie that they would shove token after token after token in the machine in an effort to win tickets that would buy a 5 cent toy. And then there were the kids. Some kids trying to steal tokens off of tables, kids wanting to as many tickets as they can get to buy a 10 cent trinket.

I can see why there are problems at some Chucky Cheese restaurants- people, kids and adults, just don't know how to be have. kids, you expect some problems, but adash in a casino.ults? Some adults were worse than the kids in trying to beat the machines.

Now, I know how casinos get their suckers- they get kids started at Chucky Cheese trying to win tickets and it graduates into trying to win cash. As far as adults, well, they are just lost.

Rent A Mob In New Jersey

From NJ.com: There appears to be efforts from unions to get more members to beat the drum today in Trenton. According to an e-mail obtained by The Star-Ledger, CWA Local 1038 is preparing for the rally with boxed lunches, leaflets and ponchos because of the expected rain.
The union is also offering to reimburse wages for anyone who takes a half-day off to participate in the rally.
"You must use your own time, either vacation or AL (administrative leave), and give the local a photocopy of your paystub. Please note that the payment for lost-time wages will be mailed to you; it will not be paid tomorrow," the e-mail states.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/nj_labor_unions_expected_to_ra.html

I wonder how many "protesters" were paid to be there. Especially those from out of state.

If you have to bribe people to protest, you really don't have a belief in what you are protesting for.


h/t Michelle Malkin

More Liberal Civility

My question is how did the union thugs and goons get on the floor of the Assembly?
from jsonline: Democrats erupted after the vote, throwing papers and what appeared to be a drink in the air. They denounced the move to cut off debate, questioning for the second time in the night whether the proper procedure had been followed.
"Shame! Shame! Shame!" Democrats shouted in the faces of Republicans as the GOP lawmakers quietly filed off the floor and a police officer stood between opposing lawmakers.
"Cowards all! You're all cowards," yelled Rep. Brett Hulsey (D-Madison) as another Democrat tried to calm him down.
Most Republicans had no comment on the vote afterward and some were escorted out under police protection. Earlier in the night, Majority Leader Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) said that Democrats had been given more than two full days and nights to make their case - effectively turning the debate into a filibuster - and that Republicans had done nothing wrong.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/116824378.html
If there is any doubt that the Assembly Democrats and their supporters are union goons and thugs, I think that doubt has been dispelled.

Why The U.N Is Irrelevant

Question: Which country is head of U.N. Human Rights Council.

Answer: Libya

Question: Who is a temporary member of the U.N Security Council?

Answer Libya

Why is the United Nations relevant?

Let's Spot the Bias Game

There was a City of Las Vegas forum last night and it was reported on by "reporter" Delen Goldberg, one of the Las Vegas Sun's unethical reporting crew. From the looks of things, this was a fairly conservative audience and it really pained Goldberg to attend. He must have taken a good amount of illegal drugs to get through and you can tell he must have been using drugs by the way he wrote the story.
Let's start the bias reporting game from this story: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/feb/24/debate-crowd-pounces-issue-firefighter-sick-leave/
1. Giunchigliani received the harshest reception, which wasn’t surprising given the conservative audience and her liberal views. She said she expected she might encounter differences of opinion but had promised to participate in every debate and wanted to hear people’s different perspectives
2. Many in the group also confused the idea Giunchigliani mentioned with the high-speed passenger train proposals being discussed and advocated by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Barack Obama.
Harris and Chaltiel both called those high-speed rail projects a “stupid” use of tax dollars.
Ross again remained silent.
“It’s a horrible idea,” one woman grumbled as Giunchigliani tried to explain her position.
3. Emboldened by the collective dissatisfaction, a woman then blasted Giunchigliani for introducing herself as a school teacher rather than a county commissioner.
Forum host Bob Lampert interrupted to say that he had previously stated Giunchigliani’s commissioner title.
“I’m a school teacher on unpaid leave and I’m also a county commissioner,” Giunchigliani said
4. Still, this particular group’s reaction to Giunchigliani is likely a weak indication of her overall standing in the race. She is considered to be one of the front-runners.
Remember, this was a conservative event. Giunchigliani almost certainly would have received a far more favorable reaction at a gathering of progressives.
Gee, I wonder what this liberal maggot of a reporter, Goldberg is cheering for?
I wonder if Goldberg even knows what journalism ethics are?
But I know why he was hired by the Sun: he is unethical, not very bright, liberal and probably has his nose and up the editor of the Las Vegas Sun's butt so far that it comes out Brian Greenspun's mouth.

Super Nanny Alert In Carson City

The Super Nannys are at it again in Carson City.
From the Las Vegas Sun: A bill that would ban smoking on all university and community college campuses in Nevada ran into questioning from the Assembly Judiciary Committee today.
The measure, Assembly Bill 128, was sponsored by Assemblyman Paul Aizley, a retired UNLV professor, who told the committee, “I want to walk through a smoke-free campus.”
He was backed by health officials and some faculty members.
Assemblyman William Horne, D-Las Vegas, the chairman of the committee and a non-smoker, said he would “like to see some compromise.” He said most of the students were adults and could make their own decisions on smoking. He said there could be designated smoking areas.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/feb/25/lawmakers-hear-testimony-bill-ban-smoking-college-/

I don't smoke and I really don't like some of the smokers who throw their butts where ever they want. That said, why not let the campuses set up smoking rules on their campuses? Why do we need a law to do this simple thing?

But apparently, every thing must be hunky dory in Carson City while the legislators are working. No budget shortfalls. No high unemployment. No foreclosures problems. So, I guess everything is great that we can talk about smoking laws when a simple rule would suffice.

Amish Buggy Takes Out Car

This doesn't happen very often. An Amish horse and buggy got into an accident outside of Wisconsin Rapids with a car and the horse and buggy won.
From the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune: At 8:35 p.m. Wednesday, a car driven by Donald L. Brehm, 63, Vesper, and a buggy driven by Samuel E. Wagler, 21, Arpin, collided while traveling east on Highway 186, just west of Hemlock Creek, according to a Sheriff’s Department crash report.
The car hit the back left corner of the buggy, which was fully compliant with all required safety rules, crossed over the center line, went into the north ditch, overturned and landed upright on Hemlock Creek, according to the report. Wagler was not injured, though his horse received a small cut on its back leg.
http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/article/20110225/WRT0101/110225096/Update-Authorities-release-names-of-people-involved-in-buggy-crash
The driver of the car was arrested for drunk driving, drinking in a car and inattentive driving.
This could have been a horrible accident as there are many times young kids are in these buggies and are often injured seriously.
So, it was nice to see 18th century technology beating 20th century technology for once.

Wisconsin Assembly Passes The Budget Repair Bill

From jsonline: After a bitter, 61-hour debate that was the longest in living memory, the sleep-starved state Assembly voted in just seconds early Friday to approve a watershed proposal repealing most union bargaining rights held by public workers.
Just after 1 a.m., Republicans cut off debate on Gov. Scott Walker's bill and in pell-mell fashion the body voted 51-17 to pass it. In the confusion, nearly one-third of the body - 28 lawmakers including 25 Democrats, two Republicans and the body's lone independent - did not vote on the bill at all.
All Democrats voted against the proposal along with four Republicans - Dean Kaufert of Neenah, Lee Nerison of Westby, Richard Spanbauer of Oshkosh, and Travis Tranel of Cuba City.
Democrats erupted after the vote, throwing papers and what appeared to be a drink in the air. They denounced the move to cut off debate, questioning for the second time in the night whether the proper procedure had been followed.
"Shame! Shame! Shame!" Democrats shouted in the faces of Republicans as the GOP lawmakers quietly filed off the floor and a police officer stood between opposing lawmakers.
"Cowards all! You're all cowards," yelled Rep. Brett Hulsey (D-Madison) as another Democrat tried to calm him down.
Most Republicans had no comment on the vote afterward and some were escorted out under police protection. Earlier in the night, Majority Leader Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) said that Democrats had been given more than two full days and nights to make their case - effectively turning the debate into a filibuster - and that Republicans had done nothing wrong.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/116824378.html
Afterwards, the Democrats nannies changed the Democratic lawmakers diapers, fed them their bottle, burped them and put them to sleep.

Harry Reid and Steve Ross: They Need You In Christchurch!!!!

From the stuff.com: Christchurch prostitutes aren't letting natural disaster prevent them from plying their trade on the streets despite the dangers of aftershocks in the city.
However, the national office of the organisation that lobbies for sex workers, the New Zealand Prostitute's Collective (NZPC), said street walking had become riskier than ever in the wake of Tuesday's devastating quake.
Yet early yesterday there were signs the sex trade is returning to the streets of Christchurch, albeit shuffled from the cordoned CBD.
In the suburbs of Phillipstown and Waltham, living conditions are strained.
Water supplies are severed, electricity is intermittent, roading is shattered, mud from liquefaction is everywhere and buildings are collapsed.
Yet after dark there is an element of vice.
Teetering in boots, two women picked their way through mud and rubble of collapsed shops in Ferry Rd, towards the visibly leaning Lancaster Park Hotel.
"Do we look pretty?" one, dressed in a skimpy red corset, asked. "Two prostitutes walking down the street." Umm, no.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch/4702269/Prostitutes-ply-trade-near-dangerous-buildings

Hey Harry, they need you down in New Zealand. Lord knows, we don't need you here in the U.S..

Hey Steve Ross, just so you know, Christchurch is not in your jurisdiction. But hey, keep on putting your nose in in Reid's butt.

So, Christchurch is in crisis and it is where Harry Reid can actually help. Come on Harry, help them out.

Update: Christchurch Earth Quake

Christchurch New Zealand is still digging out and holding out for finding some surviors in some of the collapased buildings. It also apparears that some foriegners may be some of the victims in the earthquake.
From the stuff.com: Meanwhile families overseas with relatives caught up in Tuesday's deadly Christchurch earthquake have been urged to prepare for the "worst type of news".
Foreign Minister Murray McCully said he had spoken to his international counterparts over the last two days and told them that some families in their countries should expect "very bad news".
"I've said to them that while we do not have the information that those families would want, we are at a point where some very negative conclusions need to be drawn," he said.
"There will be families receiving the worst type of news in the next few days."
The Christchurch quake death toll rose to 113 this morning. Police have urged tourists to phone home so they can determine if anyone should be struck-off the missing list.
Family and friends clutch passport photos outside the Papanui police station as they search for information about loved ones, still missing...
Of the 113 people confirmed dead so far, 20 are believed to be foreigners, while a number of the more than 200 missing are also believed to be from overseas.
Ninety international students and staff from private training school King's Education are believed to be inside the flattened CTV building....
Signs of the international help are spread throughout the city, from Singaporean army officers manning cordons to American medical tents at welfare centres.
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said words could not describe how grateful he was for the overseas help.
"It means absolutely everything," he said.
"To have people from many nations coming here to help this city is deeply moving and deeply supportive for all of us, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts."
The Government is not ruling out a nationwide tax to help fund the rebuilding of Christchurch, but won't be making any decisions soon, Prime Minister John Key said.
He said the lack of economic activity in the quake-hit city would be a drag on the national economy but the country could cope.
"We've got the financial capacity to deal with the earthquake," he told Radio New Zealand.
Treasury Secretary John Whitehead was travelling to Christchurch today.
Key said he would consider a nationwide tax if it was the best way to pay for the rebuild but said it was too early to think about it yet.
For now the focus remained on the rescue operation, he said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/4697308/Vows-exchanged-after-rescue

Stupid City Of Las Vegas Mayoral Candidate

Sometimes you have to wonder how stupid people get elected to office.
Take the case of Las Vegas City Council member Steve Ross, from the LVRJ: Larry Brown, Steve Ross and businessman Victor Chaltiel have all said they oppose legal prostitution, and Ross on Thursday directly challenged Mayor Oscar Goodman's assertion that brothels don't hurt the state.
"Las Vegas deserves the opportunity to compete without one hand tied behind its back," said Ross, who is on the City Council. "It's time to declare unequivocally: Las Vegas is open for business, not for prostitution.
"As mayor, I'll say it: Prostitution is not welcome here."
http://www.lvrj.com/news/prostitution-law-becomes-issue-in-las-vegas-mayor-race-116873508.html
Hey, Ross, you moron, prostitution is illegal in the City of Las Vegas and Clark County now. If you have a problem with it, talk to the Metro police about it.
Further, why are you complaining about what is going on in the rural areas of the State. They are not in your jurisdiction.
Steve Ross: Not smart enough to be Las Vegas's mayor. Not smart enough to be a Las Vegas council member. Maybe smart enough to be in a special education classroom.

This Is Why Teacher Unions Arfe Scared: Protect Lavish Lifestyles Of Union Leaders

If I have said it once, I have said it hundreds of times (and I have), the reason why unions are scared of Scott Walker's proposal is because the government will not longer collect union dues from workers and then turnaround and pay the unions. If this comes to pass, union dues will plummet and this would end the lavish life styles of the union leaders.
An example from biggovernment.com: As nearly 5,000 city teachers face the ax, their union shells out millions of dollars on feasting, boozing and partying, the Daily News has learned.
Free-spending United Federation of Teachers brass last year spent nearly $1.4 million for the UFT’s 50th anniversary gala at the Hilton – complete with a movie, a book and a paperweight.
Records show they:
Ponied up $514,000 to 16 separate caterers.
Dropped $278,417 on the annual Teachers Union Day ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria.
Bought $6,100 in gift baskets from a lower East Side candy store – and plowed $179,000 into training retreats at a Connecticut resort boasting golf, scuba diving and aqua aerobics.
In one amazing feat of spending, they shelled out $114,870 for annual “coffee supplies” at their five offices across the city – paying the Coffee Distributing Corp. on Long Island $324,000 over three years, records show.
And while most New Yorkers spend hours trying to find a parking space, the UFT rents 25 slots in Brooklyn’s Renaissance Plaza Garage for members at an average annual cost of $75,000 over three years.
“I’m not going to apologize for spending money to service our members,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew.
“These people are heroes dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our children. They never get the respect they deserve. A cup of coffee, a bottle of water and a few parking spots is the least we can do for them.”
http://biggovernment.com/publius/2011/02/24/teachers-union-blows-1-4-million-on-party/
While local union leaders usually don't these benefits, make no mistake that the leaders in Wisconsin, especially WEAC, make 6 figure salaries, great benefits and get to travel the country going to "conferences" at nice places like Vegas, Florida and other exotic places and spend gobs of money on these conferences, all paid for by union dues. They don't stay at the local Howard Johnsons or Motel 6, they stay at the local 4 and 5 star hotels and eat at the best restaurants, all on the backs of it's union members.
If union members are given a choice of joining a teacher's union or not, the union will lose hundreds, if not thousands of members and this will end the lavish life style of union leaders, unless they decide to raise union dues.
So, union supporters, why not get the government out of the business of collecting union dues? Perhaps, Walker may be willing to compromise if the unions agree to this.
That is why unions are scared of Scott Walker's proposal.

h/t Charlie Sykes

What Is It With Union Goons And Attacking Gays?

For the second day in a row, another union goon has attacked a person with gay slurs.
From Michelle Malkin: At AFSCME’s “solidarity” rally in Providence, Rhode Island on Tuesday, a cameraman was accosted by a fuming pro-union protester. The cameraman had his back to the goon, who appears to accost him unprovoked. The goon screams:
“I’ll f**k you in the ass, you faggot!”
His shouting escalates and other union supporters try to intervene as he threatened the cameraman, but he continues to foam at the mouth.
The “solidarity” mob finally starts chanting “Hey, hey, ho, ho, union-busting’s got to go” to drown out the goon’s snit fit. He yells that he will “follow you out of here.”
http://michellemalkin.com/2011/02/24/video-rhode-island-union-supporter-to-cameraman-ill-fk-you-in-the-ass-you-faggot/
Of course, if a conservative said this, the gay world would be outraged, there would be demands for an investigation and calls for the conservative to be charged with a hate crime.
But because he is a liberal, he is given a pass.
Pathetic.

Exclusive: WI. Senate Democrats Give Concert

In my spare time, I have a spy service working for me and tonight my spies in Illinois caught the Wisconsin Senate Democrats giving a surprise concert, under the directorship of Gonzo. They didn't have much of an audience, just two old men, who are rumored to be leaders of WEAC.



The missing Democrats were out laying eggs in the barn, commonly known as a hotel in Illinois.

Once Again Obama Administration Shows It's Stupidity

Today, the Las Vegas Sun had an article about how Ken Salazar, Obama's Secretary of the Interior, said that the conservatives need to accept climate change, aka global, because of the drought conditions in the Rockies.
From the Sun: Could Western conservatives push the GOP toward adopting a more friendly stance on climate change?
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar certainly seems to think so.
In comments he delivered at a symposium hosted by the progressive Center for American Progress Thursday morning, Salazar said the worsening situation with the Colorado River -- where the water level has dropped about 20 percent in the last decade -- is serving as a powerful wake-up call to conservatives to do something about climate change.
“The seven states ... are a bastion of conservatism. They recognize ... that the water supplies of the Colorado River are directly related to the changing of the climate,” Salazar said. “You further reduce that by 20 percent, what’s that going to mean for the cities of Los Angeles and Las Vegas?”
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/feb/24/salazar-colorado-river-issue-could-push-conservati/
Umm, Secretary Salazar, it's going to snow in Las Vegas this weekend. Not just snow in the mountains, where they will get another foot and a half, but also down in the Valley, on the Strip, Fremont Street, in Henderson, Nellis AFB. In Las Vegas. Talk about horrible timing.
Further, the snowpack in the Rockies is way above normal this year, meaning that there will be more water in the Colorado River and in Lake Mead.
Talk about situational awareness. Salazar just doesn't have it. Just like Harry Reid, John Ensign, President Obama and Democrats and their support for government labor unions when their state and local government agencies are billions in debt. Lack of common sense, all these fools.
Ken Salazar: Just a fool who needs to read the weather forecast before spouting off.

Why Is Harry Reid In Nevada When There Is Strong Possibility Of A Governemtn Shutdown?

Why is Harry Reid in Nevada preaching about whorehouses in Nevada when there is a strong possibility of a government shutdown in a couple of weeks.
Could it be that Harry really wants a government shut down? Just for politics?

On the other hand, I have no problem with a government shut down. When there were snowstorms this winter and it shut down the government in Washington D.C. and other east coast cities, the country survived. It did not get swallowed up by the Potomac River and people said oh woe is me.
So, if a government shut down comes our way, so what and bring it on. At least it will bring attention to the outrageous spending in Washington D.C. by Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and President Obama. It's time to hit them over the head with a shutdown and bring them back to reality.

Harry Reid Still Spouting Off About Banning Brothels

A day after bombing in Carson City by giving a speech about outlawing brothels in rural counties in Nevada.
Today, Channel 13 showed a clip (not put up on their web site) of Harry continuing his tirade about brothels. He continues to lie,err state, that businesses are not coming to Las Vegas because of the brothels.
Harry, it's time to stop looking like a fool. Resign for health reasons because your dementia is getting the best of you.

A Very Interesting Perspective On The Crash Of Air France 330

On May 31, 2009, an Air France Air Bus330 took off from Brazil and was supposed to land in Senegalese, Senegal. The flight number was 447. The plane went down in the Atlantic Ocean about 6 1/2 hours later. The presumed cause was a thunderstorm, but the Internet scuttlebutt was that it was shot down or their was a bomb on board.
Flight Level 390, which is run by Dave, a pilot for a major airline, writes what the crew probably went through. Dave's a much better writer than I am (who isn't?) and he writes a beautiful piece about subject so tragic: 1. As I suspected, the ground track did take the A330 through a line of thunderstorms, and then, unfortunately, through a second line hidden by the ferocity of the first line. In my business, this is known as a radar shadow. A radar shadow is extremely dangerous, as in WARNING: Do not fly through a radar shadow! A direct quote from the Pilot Manual.A warning, as opposed to a caution, translates to possible death and/or loss of airframe: another quote directly from the Pilot Manual. This is (major) serious stuff! The show portrays the pilots as confused and trying to understand the multiple warnings being thrown at them from Fi-Fi's electronic monitoring system as they penetrate the storms. The co-pilot is seen looking through a Quick Reference Checklist. I can (mostly) guarantee you that this was the furthest thing from their minds....
A thunderstorm is a tremendous atmospheric water pump. Part of the water in every storm is super-cooled, i.e., pure water with a temperature of less than 0 degrees Celsius and looking for a surface to attach itself as ice. An aircraft is perfect, especially anything protruding into the slipstream, like those evil and politically incorrect pitot tubes... Super cooled water will cover and block pitot tubes with clear ice instantaneously, easily overwhelming the heating elements. This, in turn, causes BIG problems with the air data computers, a primary supplier of information to the flight management computers.Keep in mind that all of this happens in seconds; the seconds that the pilots are trying to get a glimpse of the artificial horizon... Holy [deleted], did I just see a 70 degree bank and 30 degree nose down attitude?Her auto-thrust would, in the wild speed fluctuations, revert to a survival mode. Fi-Fi trys to protect herself from overspeeds and underspeeds, but with the pitot tubes temporarily blocked, she has lost her digital mind. The auto-thrust would eventually fail from the bad data it is receiving, further complicating a situation that is rapidly spinning out of control. And then (it's very possible), the unthinkable happens... The aircraft passes through an area of intense water/hail and one or both of the engines flame out. If you think your hands were full before...
http://flightlevel390.blogspot.com/2011/02/af-447-part-3.html

Dave's blog is a terrific read if you even a small interest in flying either as a passenger or a pilot. His blog is at: http://flightlevel390.blogspot.com/

Home Fire Sprinklers Dangerous To Firefighters

The City of Henderson, NV has just passed an ordinance requiring newly built houses to be built with fire sprinklers installed in the new house. Clark Count is considering the same kind of law for the unincorporated areas of Clark County.
However, it turns out that fire sprinklers can be deadly to firefighters as a Los Angles City firefighter was killed in a ceiling collapse in a house with fire sprinklers. The fire burned through the hoses of the fire sprinkler above a ceiling and soaked the ceiling with water and collapsed the ceiling on a group of firefighters, killing a veteran firefighter, Glenn Allen.

From the LA Daily News: A veteran Los Angeles city firefighter gravely injured when a ceiling collapsed on him and five colleagues battling a blaze at a Hollywood Hills mansion died today.
Glenn L. Allen, a 38-year veteran of the force, died at 12:15 p.m. at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department. He was 61 and about a year from retirement....
Firefighters were inside the home when the ceiling collapsed on them, said Capt. Jaime Moore, who noted the area above the ceiling had become saturated with water. A plastic pipe providing water to the sprinkler system "burned through," causing a large amount of water to accumulate above the ceiling in the enclosed space between the ceiling and the roof, he said.
Allen's colleagues had to use chainsaws to gain access to him under the rubble and pull him out, Haro said.
http://www.dailynews.com/ci_17423843?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com
First. the law passed by Henderson was wrong to be passed and the law being considered in Clark County should not be passed because it adds an unneeded mandate and cost on building new houses. I understand that some fire departments like them because they can knock down a fire before the fire department can get there.
But the sprinklers also can cause damage if they are accidentally set off, like a sprinkler head knocked off. It will soak all the surroundings, even if there was no fire damage, causing significant flooding damage. This happens more often than a fire happens in most houses.
But now we find out that the sprinklers can be deadly to firefighters fighting a fire and it probably caused more damage to the house than the actual fire.
So, I hope Henderson will realize the errors in their ways and that Clark County will see the light and not pass the fire sprinkler ordinance. It's not worth a firefighters life.

Oil At $101 A Barrel. What's Obama And Reid Doing About It?

Oil is now over $101 a barrel and gas prices are going to go up and up and up. $4 a gallon of gas soon, hurting the poor and middle class the hardest. Las Vegas is going to be hurt terribly, all at a time when the economy needs to improve.
So, what is Obama's solution to the problem? Green energy, send in union thugs to make sure taxes go even higher and then nothing. Reid's: Outlaw prostitution.
Can't wait for 2012. The American people will realize what a mistake the 2008 elections were and in 2012, the conservatives, not RINOs, will be swept into office.

Gay Black Tea Party Activist Harrassed By Racist Union Goon

More liberal civility on display.

Update: Christchurch Earthquake

Here is an update on the devastating earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The Los Angeles fire Dept. (not sure if it is County, City or a combination of the fire depts.) is supposed to be on their way to Christchurch, but as of yet, they have not arrived.

From stuff.co: The death toll from the Christchurch earthquake could rise as high as 200 after police confirmed up to 120 people are feared dead at the Canterbury TV building site.
Police believe there are a further 22 bodies inside Christchurch's Cathedral Square.
They said 238 people were missing after Tuesday's 6.3 magnitude earthquake although some may have already left Christchurch before the disaster. The official death toll stands at 76.

Canterbury district commander Superintendent Dave Cliff said the number of bodies thought to be in the CTV building ranged from "the high 60s'' to 120 and several more bodies were known to be in the Pyne Gould Corporation building, where the operation was now also a "recovery" one.
The number of bodies in the temporary morgue was growing all the time.
"The vast bulk of those people have been hauled out of the wreckage within the central city, but not all. There are more bodies being recovered as we speak, and that number is growing. When I go back [to the morgue], I'm expecting there to be more," Cliff said.
"There are some locations, very sadly, where buses and cars have been crushed and we're in the process of systematically going through those and looking for anyone who could be within them.''
Police were likely to release a list of the missing, along with identifying a limited number of those confirmed dead, at 4pm.
Cliff urged anyone who was on the list, but who was safe and well, to contact the 0800 RED CROSS line.
It was vital that police had an accurate and up to date list of people who were missing so they could focus the ongoing search and rescue effort.
Cliff said efforts elsewhere were still focused on looking for survivors.
"This is very much an operation around rescue. We're looking for the living.''...

United States President Barack Obama has told John Key the US is ready to provide any further help needed in the earthquake recovery effort.
Key and Obama spoke on the phone for about five minutes just before midday in a conversation requested by the US leader.
"The President asked about ongoing aftershocks and reiterated that the United States stood ready to provide further help, should New Zealand need it," a spokesman for Key said. ...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/4697308/Up-to-238-missing-76-dead

Teams of foreign rescue workers continue to arrive in Christchurch.
The latest details on foreign assistance have just been released by Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully.
From Australia: Two urban search and rescue teams totalling 142 personnel (72 NSW and 70 Queensland) and three dogs. A disaster medical assistance team comprising 23 emergency and surgical personnel.
From Japan: Urban search and rescue team of 67 personnel with three dogs arrived 4:00am today.
From Taiwan: An urban search and rescue team of 24 personnel with two dogs arrived 12midnight 23 February.
From Singapore: The first part of an urban search and rescue team totalling 55 personnel with four dogs has arrived. In addition, 116 Singaporean Defence Force Personnel who were already in New Zealand are now helping with the security cordon around the Christchurch CBD.
From the UK: Six Fire Service search and rescue experts have arrived. This is the advance party of an urban search and rescue team totalling 55 personnel.
Arriving today:
From Singapore: The remainder of its urban search and rescue team is expected to arrive later today. In addition, Singapore's two C130 aircraft carrying the second urban search and rescue team may also be available to transport people from Christchurch to Auckland if required.
From Australia: A field hospital providing 75 beds is due to arrive this afternoon.
Arriving tomorrow:
From the US: An urban search and rescue team of 80 personnel plus 40 tonnes of equipment is due to arrive at 1:00am 25 February.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4688671/Christchurch-quake-latest-info

It would be nice if the U.S. had given more medical supplies and had a naval ship or three heading to Christchurch to provide aid as necessary. Most other presidents have done that previously. But it is also possible that New Zealand has declined an offer- they are a hardy bunch.

So, good luck to New Zealand. You are handling the crisis far better than the people in New Orleans when Katrina struck.

John Ensign Talks Before Empty Seats And A Few People

Yesterday, John Ensign talked to some elderly folks yesterday up in Summerlin and looking at the video on Channel 13, there were far more empty seats than people. And the the venue was quite small, maybe 50 seats and less than 20 people bothered to show up and they did not look happy.
The story about the meeting in the LVRJ related how Ensign has apologized for his affairs with a staffer and then paying her family off.
Situational awareness definition: The perception of environmental elements within a volume of time and space, the comprehension of their meaning, and the projection of their status in the near future. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Situation_awareness
John Ensign does not have situational awareness or a clue right now as he tries to seek re-election. Someone in his small inner circle needs to tell him what is really going on, even if they are fired from their job.

This Will Make Capper's Head Explode

From The National Journal:A head-on collision with the labor movement has turned the rookie Republican governor of a Midwestern state into an overnight superstar.
Barely a month after his inauguration, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker already has prospective presidential candidates stampeding to help him. In today's turbocharged political climate, fueled by constant chatter on cable television and the Internet, can talk of a vice presidential bid be far behind for the man who two months ago was a little-known county executive?
“If you had suggested that about Scott Walker 10 days [ago] it would have seemed incomprehensible,’’ Byron Shafer, political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told National Journal. “Stay tuned and ask me again in another 10 days."
Walker was the lead guest on Fox News Sunday; on Monday, MSNBC boasted of a “cable exclusive’’ with him. He's become one of the most sought-after politicians in the country ever since his plan to balance Wisconsin's budget by slashing labor costs sparked days of protests by tens of thousands of union workers in the state capitol.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/one-month-in-office-gov-scott-walker-steals-the-show-20110221
I've known about Scott Walker for years, since he was a legislator from my hometown in Wauwatosa, WI, to County Executive of highly Democratic Milwaukee County and now, governor of Wisconsin.
While he probably won't be a candidate for president in 2012, but if he wins this battle against the unions now, with minimal give in to the unions, he will be a front runner in 2016, especially if Obama wins in 2012. But, if he wins this battle, he will be a force to be reckoned with in the near future as presidential candidates will come to Wisconsin to kiss his ring or other a backside part of his body.
And this will make my liberal friend, capper of Whallah (http://whallah.blogspot.com/) and Cognitive Dissidence ( http://cognidissidence.blogspot.com/) head explode.