Thursday, March 31, 2011

Time to Get Rid Of Farm Subsidies


Let's see. Farm prices are at an all time high for grains and dairy. Probably close for meats such as beef and pork.

So, why do we still have farm subsidies? Especially for millionaires?

Watch Out For Inflation In June

From USA Today: U.S. consumers face "serious" inflation in the months ahead for clothing, food and other products, the head of Wal-Mart's U.S. operations warned Wednesday. The world's largest retailer is working with suppliers to minimize the effect of cost increases and believes its low-cost business model will position it better than its competitors. Still, inflation is "going to be serious," Wal-Mart U.S. CEO Bill Simon said during a meeting with USA TODAY's editorial board. "We're seeing cost increases starting to come through at a pretty rapid rate." Along with steep increases in raw material costs, John Long, a retail strategist at Kurt Salmon, says labor costs in China and fuel costs for transportation are weighing heavily on retailers. He predicts prices will start increasing at all retailers in June. "Every single retailer has and is paying more for the items they sell, and retailers will be passing some of these costs along," Long says. "Except for fuel costs, U.S. consumers haven't seen much in the way of inflation for almost a decade, so a broad-based increase in prices will be unprecedented in recent memory." http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2011-03-30-wal-mart-ceo-expects-inflation_N.htm If the real inflation starts in June, then we are in some serious trouble as prices have already gone up significantly in the past several weeks and months. 2012 is going to be very nasty for incumbents, especially President Obama. just think: Jimmy Carter.

Pre School Teacher Charged With Making Death Threats To GOP Senate Members

From The Wisconsin State Journal: A Cross Plains woman was charged Thursday with making death threats to Republican state senators in connection with Gov. Scott Walker's controversial plan to limit collective bargaining for public employees. Katherine R. Windels, 26, of Cross Plains faces two felony bomb scare counts along with two misdemeanor counts of sending a computer message threatening injury or harm. According to a criminal complaint filed in Dane County Circuit Court, Windels sent a threatening email to 15 Republican senators on March 9 that began: "Please put your things in order because you will be killed and your families will also be killed due to your actions in the last 8 weeks." Windels sent a separate email to Sen. Robert Cowles, R-Green Bay, earlier the same day threatening to put "a nice little bullet in your head" and claiming to have placed several bombs in his house and car, as well as at the state Capitol, the complaint states. The email sent to the 15 senators, which also included Cowles, included the same threats. Windels told an investigator from the Wisconsin Department of Justice that she wrote and sent the emails to the senators, but did not intend to follow through on any of her statements and said she was angry "about what they were doing," the complaint says. The emails made reference to senators' stripping the rights of 300,000 people and ruining their lives, "making them unable to feed, clothe, and provide the necessities to their families and themselves." http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_478a9b28-5be6-11e0-83ae-001cc4c002e0.html First and foremost, this lady is a serious drama queen when she says that 300,000 people would be unable to feed, clothe and provide necessities to government employees and their families. The Gateway Pundit via Badger Blogger states she is or was a pre-school teacher, which in Wisconsin, a glorified babysitter. http://gatewaypundit.rightnetwork.com/2011/03/breaking-wi-teacher-charged-with-sending-death-threats-to-gop-lawmakers/ This thugette is also not a certified teacher- she does not have a teaching license in Wisconsin and hopefully, because of this, she never will. This woman has some serious mental health issues and she should never be allowed to teach or work with children in any kind of setting for the rest of her life. Having said that, this is what happens when some people get too involved in a situation that is extremely heated. This thugette clearly was influenced by the union members who called Walker, Hitler and other vile names, acted like thugs and goons and continue to do so. While this thugette is the one who is most responsible, the liberals and unions protesting in Madison also share some responsibility in this thugette's behavior.

And The Winner For The Transparency Award Is: Shhhhh

From Politico: President Obama finally and quietly accepted his “transparency” award from the open government community this week — in a closed, undisclosed meeting at the White House on Monday.The secret presentation happened almost two weeks after the White House inexplicably postponed the ceremony, which was expected to be open to the press pool.This time, Obama met quietly in the Oval Office with Gary Bass of OMB Watch, Tom Blanton of the National Security Archive, Danielle Brian of the Project on Government Oversight, Lucy Dalglish of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and Patrice McDermott of OpenTheGovernment.org, without disclosing the meeting on his public schedule or letting photographers or print reporters into the room.“Our understanding going into the meeting was that it would have a pool photographer and a print reporter, and it turned out to be a private meeting,” Bass told POLITICO. “He was so on point, so on target in the conversation with us, it is baffling why he would not want that message to be more broadly heard by reporters and the public interest community and the public generally.” (emphasis mine) http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0311/not_a_secret_anymore_a00ccd98-0d9e-4822-8936-168f3a51b959.html You just can't make these things up even if you wanted to. Hollywood would never even have thought about this. Mel Brooks certainly wouldn't and he is/was just about the most creative comic in Hollywood ever. Worst president ever. h/t Michell Malkin

Aww, The Hell With Spring

Spring came unto Las Vegas two days ago when Mojave Max came out of his shelter, introducing us to Spring. Tomorrow, the high will be 92 degrees. Who needs Spring?

Another Reason Why Government Has No Clue How to Operate


From Firehouse.com: One Chillicothe firefighter has new job duties on each shift -- walking around the firehouse to make sure the place isn't on fire. Chillicothe Fire Station No.1, the only one staffed in the city following budget cuts, is officially considered a potential fire hazard. The fire-detection and alarm system at the main station downtown on Water Street hasn't worked for at least a year, perhaps longer. And, the sprinkler system had not been inspected. To avoid being ordered to vacate its only station, the department now must assign firefighters -- who can perform no other duties -- to a 24/7 "fire watch." The state fire marshal's office put the fire department on notice last week that it must correct three fire-code violations or face fines of up to $1,000 per violation per day....

Until it's installed, a firefighter will continue to stand "fire watch." When the department has 10 or more firefighters on duty, one will be assigned on his regular shift to stand guard. When only nine firefighters, the minimum staffing, are on duty, an additional firefighter will be paid overtime to repeatedly walk from the basement to the second floor and back. (emphassis mine)


I can't even comment on how stupid this is. It's really beyond words about the stupidity of having a firefighter stand watch over an occupied fire station to make sure it doesn't catch on fire.

The common sense thing to do, if they have to stand watch is to work in shifts. 10 firefighters means someone stays awake 1 hour at night to make sure the station doesn't burn down. And if the station goes on a call, well, they take their chances about the place burning down and don't do stupid things, like leaving the stove on.

This is almost as bad as CCSD hiring fire marshals at schools when the alarms goes down. Sometimes they had the marshals at schools during school time when the classrooms are occupied. It's not like no one would notice a fire and run around school and notify other classrooms if there was a fire. Just a huge waste of money.

This is just another example of government run amok.


picture courtesy of Western Wrangler: http://www.thewesternwrangler.com/

And The Funniest Editorial Goes To: The Las Vegas Sun!!!

Las Vegas is known for some of it's comedians. Carrot Top. Louis Anderson. Penn and Teller. Rita Rudner. The Las Vegas Sun editorial writers. (I didn't say they were good, but...) Today, the Sun comes out with a doozy that could easily qualify for an Oscar for the Funniest Editorial Written in 2011. Once again, the Sun is trying to convince themselves and the readers that President Obama is a world leader and totally in control of the situation in Libya, while those evil Republicans are just out to hurt poor little President Obama. From their editorial: President Barack Obama’s speech Monday night laid out a reasoned justification for the United States’ involvement in Libya. The president navigated a very difficult situation, demonstrating how he sorted through the issue and consequences before ordering the military to enforce a no-fly zone over the country. But, as expected, the president’s rationale wasn’t good enough for Republicans. Instead of engaging the issue honestly, Republicans relied on their same old theme — the president is weak and timid. Some Republicans complained that the president failed to exercise American power, waiting instead for a United Nations resolution and international support. Others said he should be stronger and pursue removing dictator Col. Moammar Gadhafi. But there is nothing weak or timid about the president’s actions. In his speech, he reaffirmed the nation’s position in the world, making a strong statement about America’s values and principles. Saying the country has a responsibility to defend freedom, he ordered the military action to stop a massacre from happening in Libya. That’s an appropriate use of American power. And what’s wrong with rallying international support? The fact that Obama brought together a coalition shows leadership, not weakness. Our allies will help bear the burden and the cost of the effort. That’s important considering the military is stretched thin with two wars and a humanitarian relief effort in Japan. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/mar/31/leading-real-world/ Ok, let's see. Obama put more faith in the U.N. and N.A.T.O. then the United States Congress and even the Democrats in congress except for our senile Senate leader Harry Reid realize this. Also, why Libya and not the other hot spots like Syria, Iran and other places that are having genocidal problems? Maybe because of oil? You know no blood for oil, the favorite mantra of the Left? And how about the claim: "no boots on the ground", which has turned out to be a total lie because we have special forces and intelligence officers roaming Libya right now, ordered by the president. You think the Sun would just let this slide? Umm, no. The president says we turned over the command over to NATO. Well, for the most part, who runs NATO? It ain't France or Spain or Canada. It's the United States. Finally, who are the rebels? Are they serious about seeking democracy or are they followers of Osama Bin Laden? We don't know and I am sure even Obama doesn't know. How long will the government of Libya last? What happens if they don't fall apart in 6 weeks, then what? Does Obama have the stomach for a year or two operation? Then the Sun asks this: "But nothing would mollify Republicans, who want to tear the president down politically. So what would they do if they were in power?" Well, based on history, we, the GOP would have gone to Congress first. Before NATO and the U.N.. That is, if we would have committed troops to Libya in the first place. If the GOP would have gone in, they would have gone in a lot earlier instead of waiting for the House and Senate to recess. The GOP president would have gone in when the rebels had the momentum instead of retreating. Finally, I don't think a GOP president would have won a Nobel Peace Prize. Obama won a Nobel Peace prize and is now involved in wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and other places. Yep, what a qualification for a Nobel Peace prize winner. Who will win next year? Bin Laden? I think he is the only other person who has wars in more than a couple of countries. So, in the end, the Sun editorial is all about trying to convince us that Obama is a strong military leader. The vast majority of Americans never thought Obama is a strong military leader. He didn't run on being a strong military leader and no one expects him to be. But I think the editorial is more about the Sun convincing it's self that Obama is a strong leader, when is not. Somewhere in the United States, Jimmy Carter is smiling knowing he is not the worst president ever.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Will Harry Stand In The School House Doorway Like George Wallace

The House of Representatives has reinstated the school vouched in Washington D.C. Vouchers were eliminated in 2009 when the Democrats decided that poor minority students were not entitled to go to the same schools as President Obama's kids, and other kids of House and Senate Democrats. From the Washington Examiner: The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to reinstate school vouchers for District of Columbia students, reviving the only program that uses federal tax dollars to subsidize private-school tuition. The bill introduced by Republican House Speaker John Boehner would provide up to $12,000 a year for needy students to attend private schools of their choice. It was approved 225-195, largely along party lines. Democrats opposed it as an inappropriate use of federal funds and an unwelcome intrusion into local affairs. Boehner, who attended Roman Catholic schools, had tears in his eyes while describing how the program levels the playing field for families who otherwise would be forced to send their children to failing schools. "There's no controversial idea here," Boehner said. "It's the American way." The voucher program was created in 2004 with the support of the district's Democratic leadership to provide $7,500 a year to about 1,700 students. Congress agreed to begin phasing it out in 2009. The new bill would increase the annual subsidy to $8,000 for elementary and middle school tuition and $12,000 for high school. It would cost $300 million over five years, with $100 million going to the voucher program and the rest to D.C.'s public and charter schools. The bill now heads to the Senate, where prospects are uncertain. Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., is a sponsor, and will all but certainly succeed in advancing it out of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, which he chairs. But to pass the full Senate it will need support from Democrats, a handful of whom have favored D.C. school vouchers in the past. Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/congress/2011/03/us-house-reinstates-dc-school-voucher-program##ixzz1I9drkoDX Of course we know that the Democrats are doing the bidding of the racist teacher unions, especially those in Washington D.C. What is even more shameful, is that Washington D.C. actually had a reformer superintendent, until she was run out of town by the Washington D.C. teacher's union, resigned when the new mayor was elected last year. Then a teacher's union favorite was then put in the superintendent's post. So, now we will watch to see if Harry Reid will put the kids first in Washington D.C or will he stand in the doorway, just like when George Wallace did when Wallace tried to block black kids from attending school in an all-white school. Will Harry bow before the teachers union and their racist leaders or will grow he a backbone and vote for the children of Washington D.C.?

State Of Wisconsin To Continue To Implement Union Law

From madison.com: State officials have not stopped putting in place changes to collective bargaining rules for public employees despite a judge's order barring the law's implementation — and a threat of sanctions against anyone who violates it. Department of Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch said Wednesday he has a legal obligation to implement all laws passed by the Legislature, signed by Gov. Scott Walker and published into law. Huebsch said the Department of Justice and his own legal counsel, a team of DOA attorneys, agree the measure has met those requirements "and is now effective law." "It is my duty to administer that law," he said. Huebsch's latest comments raise questions about whether he or others could face sanctions following a hearing Tuesday, when Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi said any further implementation of the law is prohibited under a temporary court order. "Now that I've made my earlier order as clear as it possibly can be, I must state that those who act in open and willful defiance of the court order place not only themselves at peril of sanctions, they also jeopardize the financial and the governmental stability of the state of Wisconsin," Sumi said Tuesday. Sumi was referring to a March 18 ruling that a legislative committee likely violated the state's open meetings law when it rushed passage of the bill earlier this month. That order also barred Secretary of State Doug La Follette from publishing the law. But the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau, which was not a party to the case, published the law on the Legislature's website Friday citing a separate statutory obligation to publish laws within 10 days of being signed by the governor. That has prompted the administration to declare the law is in effect. http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_195e7dd0-5b20-11e0-83bb-001cc4c002e0.html I'm torn on this. I think the judge was completely wrong in her ruling. She had no jurisdiction, her reasoning was just plain stupid and clearly she was a partisan hack judge who was looking for headlines. On the other hand, there has to be some respect for the courts, regardless how awful the judge is. What if criminals decided to act like Walker's administration? there would be chaos. same with civil courts and their orders. It just turns the court system into chaos. Clearly, the judge in this case is overreaching and was prejudiced in the case even before the case got to her and if this is true, then the Walker should have gone to the Appeals Court for a stay of the injunction. But then, the Appeals Court booted it up to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which has not decided if it will take the case. So, I do sympathize with Walker because the courts are not acting professionally and in a timely manner. So I guess my stance unless the appeals courts get their act together and hear the case soon, I don't blame Walker from implementing the law, but I am extremely uncomfortable about them doing it.

Another One Bites The Dust

The Ohio Senate and House passed a law that will severely limit union bargaining rights in Ohio. From Fox News: The Ohio Legislature voted Wednesday to severely limit the collective bargaining rights of 350,000 public workers, sending a bill that sparked weeks of pro-labor protests to Republican Gov. John Kasich, who is expected to sign it by the end of the week. The full House had passed the measure on a 53-44 vote Wednesday after it cleared committee, and the Senate followed with a 17-16 vote of approval. The measure affects safety workers, teachers, nurses and a host of other government personnel. It allows unions to negotiate wages but not health care, sick time or pension benefits. It gets rid of automatic pay increases and replaces them with merit raises or performance pay. Workers would also be banned from striking. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/30/ohio-house-vote-collective-bargaining-limits/?test=latestnews Apparently, in Ohio, they were not too passionate about the bill, as the liberals were only able to get 8500, at most, to protest these actions. So to my union friends out there, I dedicate this song to you:

Wiscons Public Employee Unions Makes The Mafia Look Like Little Bo Peep

Supposed professional government workers are now truly acting like union thugs and goons in Wisconsin as they are demanding that small businesses put signs in their stores stating they support labor and if they don't then the businesses will be subject to a boycott. From jsonline: Members of Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME Council 24, have begun circulating letters to businesses in southeast Wisconsin, asking them to support workers’ rights by putting up a sign in their windows. If businesses fail to comply, the letter says, “Failure to do so will leave us no choice but (to) do a public boycott of your business. And sorry, neutral means 'no' to those who work for the largest employer in the area and are union members." Jim Parrett, a field representative of Council 24 for Southeast Wisconsin, confirmed the contents of the letter, which carries his signature. But he added that the union was also circulating letters to businesses thanking them for supporting workers’ rights. Parrett said that since the letters were sent out, he has received threatening phone calls as well as calls from people supporting the state workers. "I've gotten a lot of threatening phone calls," Parrett said. Parrett said he believed the letter campaign was going on in other parts of the state. His region includes Racine and Kenosha counties, as well as parts of Waukesha and Walworth counties. “It’s going on in other parts of the state,” he said Wednesday. Parrett referred questions to Marty Beil, the head of the Wisconsin State Employees Union. Beil was not immediately available for comment. In the letter from Parrett to some businesses, he says that, “It is unfortunate that you have chosen ‘not’ to support public workers rights in Wisconsin. In recent past weeks you have been offered a sign by a public employee who works in one of the state facilities in the Union Grove area. These signs simply said, ‘This Business Supports Workers Rights,’ a simple, subtle and we feel non-controversial statement gives the facts at this time.” http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/118910229.html Parrett says he is getting threatening phone calls. Awww, poor baby. First, I don't believe he got any threats. But, if you are going to play with fire, like killing off of small businesses, then expect to get fire in return. Most business people are trying to stay neutral, but the union thugs and goons won't let them. Once again, the union mentality rears it's ugly head and shows what unions are really all about: being thugs and goons.

If CCSD Has To Layoff Up To 5000 Employees, Then Why....

CCSD has said that the worst case scenario's include laying off of up to 5000 employees, including a fair number of teachers, then why are they still asking people to apply for up to 27 teaching categories plus about 5 related service areas? They also are advertising for 5 administrative positions that are open for to the public. http://ccsd.net/jobs/LLPopps.php About a year ago, they only advertised for about 3 teaching areas- Science, Math and Special Education. So, if we are going to lay off so many people, why are they accepting applications for all these positions?

Harry Reid A Failure

Freshmen GOP House Members (and presumably Rep. Joe Heck of Nevada) have called Harry Reid and his policies failures. From Politico: Mr. Reid, We the undersigned call on you and the Senate to pass a long-term Continuing Resolution; a resolution that hears the calls of the American people and makes reasonable, responsible spending cuts. Mr. Reid, your record on spending in the Senate is one of failure. You have failed to pass a budget, failed to restrain spending, and failed to put our country on sound fiscal footing. We do not accept your failure as our own. The American people did not send us here to fail. Make no mistake: any government shutdown is the result of your lack of leadership. America has a $14 trillion debt and you offered a mere $6 billion in cuts. The House heard the calls of the American people and offered $61 billion in cuts, but the Senate has not sent us a Continuing Resolution in return. We have received nothing from the Senate except denials of the dire straits of our nation’s fiscal health. The House of Representatives is accomplishing what we were elected to do. We’ve cut spending. We’ve terminated wasteful programs. We’ve funded the government. Mr. Reid, we are letting you know that we will rally on the Senate steps every day until you pass a long-term Continuing Resolution. We call on all Americans to join our fight in restoring our country’s fiscal health. The House of Representatives is doing our job, Mr. Reid. The Senate needs to start doing theirs. Mr. Reid, it’s time to pass a bill. Bound together and determined, [Signatures] Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/52193.html#ixzz1I7kRNzux Straight and to the point. And where are the veteran GOP House members? Further, when do you think the Las Vegas Sun will get around to writing about this letter? To make the point even clearer, this video will help:

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Being A Police Officer Is Always Dangerous: Cop Killed By A Cow

Being a police officer is just not pulling people over or responding to calls. And sometimes, when you least expect it, danger lurks by. In Smith County, Texas, a police officer was killed by a cow. From the Tylerpaper.com: “God Speed 54,” one officer said after learning Smith County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Britton died Monday of injuries suffered during an attack from a wounded cow. Britton, call number 54, was dispatched to Farm-to-Market Road 344 west Thursday to direct traffic after a vehicle struck a cow in the middle of the road. The 54-year-old Britton was directing traffic when the cow suddenly charged, tossing him into the air, Sheriff J.B. Smith said.Britton landed on his head on the pavement, and the cow trampled the downed deputy.Deputies arriving to assist Britton euthanized the cow because of the seriousness of its injuries. Britton was taken to East Texas Medical Center and was in intensive care until he died shortly after 1 p.m. Monday, said Smith, whose department is mourning the deputy’s death.Britton was injured just hours after Smith County Sheriff’s Deputy Josh Caulkins was shot in the chest with a shotgun as he attempted to apprehend a fugitive at a Tyler apartment complex. Caulkins, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, was treated and released from the hospital for bruising. http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20110329/NEWS01/110329710/0/FRONTPAGE R.I.P. Officer Britton and thanks for your service.

Man,I'm Tired

I am sure most people have had days when you are just tired and today is my day. After taking a 3 hour nap after work, I had some dinner and ready to go back to bed. I am sure it is not helpful that several of my kids at school are sick and they just are trying their best to give me their cold.... Just kidding. So, here is one of the best theme music for TV shows, Waylon Jennings singing the Dukes of Hazzard song.

If Democrats Had Their Way In Education


All hail to the Teacher's Union.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Pawn Stars Review: March 28, 2011

This past week has been quiet. Other than the Nevada legislature meeting in their bi-annual legislative session with every side looking like fools, not much has been going on. Weather was cold last week and then today, it was 75 and it felt so nice. In the first episode tonight, the first guy brought in a 1860-1862 Engraving plate for a 24 cent stamp. Time for an expert because Rick didn't know if it was legal to even own a plate. The expert said the stamp alone would cost thousands of dollars. He thought the stamp was not real because it looked like a photo image and made out of copper. No sale. The next guy brought in a "Revenge of a Jedi" poster. What was important was that the title turned out to be "Return of the Jedi". The guy wanted $2500 and Rick offered $400. There was no sale. The next guy brought in a Sioux Youth Indian vest from 1890. It was quite small and was supposed to be for a infant, but it was really, really small. The guy wanted $1800 and Rick offered $1200 and then $1300 and that was the selling point. After buying the vest, they brought in Mark, from the Clark County Museum. Mark gave us a talk about the Sioux. He thought the time frame was wrong and wear pattern was wrong and it had cotton thread, so it wss not worth anything. Clearly, Rick made a mistake. Ooops. The next lady brought in a Alvin the Chipmunk Marionette from 1958. The lady wanted $120 but the Old Man offered $40 and then $50. And that was the selling price. If you look closely, it looked like the Old Man had a stamp or tattoo on his hand. I might be wrong because you could only see it for a second. I might be wrong, though. The last guy brought in an original Martin Luther King record album. It was a speech he gave to the California Democratic Council. The guy wanted $2500-3000. Rick offered $500 and that was the selling point. In 2nd episode, the first lady brought in a gun desk, where if you hit the right spot on a small desk, it fires a bullet. It was a .22 caliber. Time for an expert. Interesting information, Rick doesn't buy a gun made after 1884 because of gun laws. Sean was the expert and he never have seen a gun/desk like this before. Sean thought the gun/desk was from around 1900, so there was no sale. The next guy brought in a antique Ship papers/document from about 1805. It had the signatures of James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. Time for an expert, Dana. He said the document was authentic and worth about $5000-6000. The guy wanted $5000 and Rick offered $2500 and then $2800 and $3000. And that was the deal. The next guy had the Batmobile patterned after the 1989 film of Batman. By the way Chumlee was acting, this was a set up segment. It was not the original Batmobile. Time for the expert, Danny. He said the car was a replica. He thought it was an early 80's Chevy chassis. It did start and it sounded pretty good. Rick didn't make an offer, so no sale. Chum went for a test drive. The next guy brought in pool player William Masconi, show case. It had a lot of autographed memorabilia. The guy wanted 600. Rick offered $400 and then $450 and that was the selling price. Well, another week has gone by. Take a look around the blog and see what else you may like and as always, thanks for stopping.

More Scum Lawyer News


A law firm in New York city is advertising for clients in New York City. Nothing wrong with that. they are advertising for 9/11 victims who may have contracted diseases or suffered physically. OK. A little disgusting, but not unethical.

In their commercial, they hired a firefighter from the FDNY to pose for a photo. Still, no big deal.

The Ad says that the firefighter was at the World Trade Center and that the firefighter is using the law firm to help get money.

Big problem. The firefighter was not hire until 2004, or about 3 years after 9/11 and the firefighter is not looking for money and not using the law firm to help him.

From Firehouse.com: An ad agency for a law firm specializing in 9/11 lawsuits said today it is pulling the controversial posters after it was revealed that the somber, soot-smeared FDNY firefighter holding an image of the charred remains of the World Trade Center was not actually at Ground Zero. "We issue a sincere and deep apology to Firefighter [Robert] Keiley and this ad will not run again," said John Barker, president of the Barker/DZP ad agency. The Post reported today that Keiley -- who joined New York's Bravest only in 2004 -- was working as a model when he posed for what he thought would be used for a run-of-the-mill fire-prevention ad. The controversial ad that was pulled. He appeared in generic firefighter gear and gripped a helmet for the shot -- not the photo of the destroyed Twin Towers that was "put" into his hands with Photoshop software for the Worby Groner Edelman & Napoli Bern ad. "It's an insult to the Fire Department. It's an insult to all the families who lost people that day," said Keiley, 34, an ex-cop who now works out of an engine company in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Keily had threatened to sue.


Of course the law firm sees nothing wrong with the photo.


The devil visited a lawyer's office and made him an offer. "I can arrange some things for you, " the devil said. "I'll increase your income five-fold. Your partners will love you; your clients will respect you; you'll have four months of vacation each year and live to be a hundred. All I require in return is that your wife's soul, your children's souls, and their children's souls rot in hell for eternity."The lawyer thought for a moment. "What's the catch?" he asked.

More ACLU Stupidity

The ACLU is going to court because they they think anybody should have the right to marry people in the state of Nevada. From the Las Vegas Sun: Attorneys for the ACLU are suing Clark County and the state of Nevada in hopes of overturning a religious test for nongovernmental officials desiring to perform marriage ceremonies. ACLU attorneys Allen Lichtenstein and Margaret McLetchie, suing in behalf of five individuals, filed suit in U.S. District Court for Nevada on Sunday against the county and the state. "This is an action to address the unconstitutional policy and practice of the state of Nevada and Clark County to violate the constitutional rights of those wishing to solemnize marriages, and those wishing to get married in a place of their own choosing, solemnized by a person without religious affiliation," the lawsuit says. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/mar/28/aclu-sues-county-state-over-religious-test-conduct/ Let's see where the ACLU is wrong. First, if they want a non-religious person to do the ceremony, then they can have a judge to marry the couple. 2nd They could go to a wedding chapel like we did and they can request that the minister do a non-religious service. It happened when my lovely wife Cathy and myself got married. 3rd and most important, this is not a court issue. It should be up to the legislature and the governor to decide what the qualifications should be for a person to marry people. Whatever your views on marriage, there has to be some qualifications for a person to marry a couple. First, the person has to be held in high regard as they are required to handle money and the marriage certificate and then file the documents in the proper clerk's office. Perhaps, that is why ministers and judges were chosen to be the one's who marry people. But if the legislators in the Nevada State Senate and Assembly want to change the law, then the people suing ought to go that route- not get the courts involved. The people who are suing are not being persecuted. They just are spoiled and are used to getting whatever they want. But they are not being deprived of any right to get married.

Worst. Song. Ever.

If you dare to listen to this song, you have to hold me harmless for any mental illness you may get. Is the best the liberals can come up with? h/t Charlie Sykes

Jerry Doyle To Quit Radio....


Jerry Doyle said today that he is going to quit radio if....

The current GOP crop of presidential candidates beats President Obama in 2012.


Looks like we are going to be listening to Jerry for at least another 6 years.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Come On House GOP, You Said Ear Marks Would End

From Red State: USA Today reported this week that billions in earmarks remain tucked into the funding measure that keeps the federal government running for the remainder of the fiscal year. Congress is debating right now how much to cut from the measure, yet these secret earmarks are not being openly discussed by members of Congress. That’s unfortunate. Earmarks should be low hanging fruit for the cost-conscious legislator. They are special interests projects requested by individual members of Congress. The USA Today story indicates that the House-passed short term funding measure fully funds $5 billion in existing earmarks. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) has submitted legislation, in the form of an amendment to a “small business jobs bill,” to remove these projects. According to USA Today, (Half of ‘earmark’ spending untouched in GOP bills,) $4.8 billion in earmarks are hidden in the defense, military construction and veterans affairs were left untouched by the Continuing Resolution (CR) that funds the government until April 8th. http://www.redstate.com/blog/2011/03/27/secret-earmarks-remain-in-federal-budget/ The GOP promised no more earmarks and those of us who are conservative need to hold the GOP accountable. I sincerely hope that these earmarks will disappear and hopefully, with the leadership of people like Joe Heck, there won't be anymore earmarks. h/t Dad 29

Sharron Angle Forces Reporter To Stay In closet For 1 1/2 hours


From Fox News: The press secretary for Sharron Angle has apologized to a local political reporter after he was kept in a storage closet during a Nevada fundraiser. Scott Powers, a reporter with the Las Vegas Sun, was relegated to the storage space during a fundraiser Wednesday for Rep. Dean Heller (R-NV)., apparently to prevent him from speaking to people before Sharron Angle showed up. The Las vegas Sun published a brief account of the incident earlier in the week. Angle spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander, responding to coverage of that account, said in a written statement Sunday that the decision to hold Powers there was a "mistake" and that the reporter has accepted her "unequivocal apology." The apology was made shortly after the fundraiser. "This was the unfortunate mistake of an inexperienced staffer and the Angle's campaign office has made sure it will never happen again," she said. She explained that "hold rooms" are typically provided for pool reporters covering Angle when she speaks at private homes. In this case, Angle was speaking at the home of a wealthy developer and the reporter was told to wait in a storage closet -- which Alexander said contained open space, as well as a table and chair where the reporter could work. She said the space was chosen because of its "close proximity" to the room where Angle was speaking. "A hold room, however, should not be a storage room," she clarified. The Las Vegas Sun originally reported that, while about 150 guests waited for Angle to arrive at the $500-a-head fundraiser, somebody from Angle's advance team ordered Powers to stay in the storage closet until Angle took the podium. To enforce the order, the staffer stood watch outside the door, according to the Las Vegas Sun, which posted a photo Powers took of his cluttered "temporary prison." Powers eventually left the closet to watch Angle. He later sent out a lengthy report on his remarks to members of the media. The report itself did not mention the closet, saying only that "press coverage was limited to a single pool reporter, who was allowed to listen to the remarks but not given an opportunity to talk with anyone at the event." Powers later gave a more detailed account of what happened to The Drudge Report, saying he had to wait in the closet for about an hour and 15 minutes before emerging to hear Angle and Heller speak. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/27/reporter-confined-storage-closet-fundraiser-biden-newspaper-claims/?test=latestnews?test=latestnews Wow, that Sharron Angle is such an extremist that she would keep a reporter in a closet so they wouldn't interfere with a fund raiser. Oh, wait, what did you say? It wasn't Sharron Angle? Oh, it's Vice President Joe Biden who did this. It was a Biden's aide who stuck a reporter in a closet to keep them from interfering with the fund raiser. Can you imagine if a conservative GOP did this- there would be calls to arrest Angle and her campaign aide for kidnapping. And the liberals call Sharron Angle extreme. Idea stolen from Dad 29

Funniest Las Vegas Sun Editorial In A Long Time

The Las Vegas Sun, the newspaper that can't deliver it's self- they have to rely on a somewhat conservative newspaper to get their newspaper delivered, has come out with another, only in a liberal newspaper- funny editorial. This time, the Sun is complaining about how the GOP is just picking on poor President Obama on Obama's war on Libya. From the Sun: The Republican criticism of President Barack Obama for his handling of the crisis in Libya has been astounding. The party has gone above and beyond its normal efforts to bash the Democratic president, taking every chance it can to attack... After France launched the U.N.-sanctioned no-fly zone over Libya, Republicans claimed the president’s actions had made the country look “weak,” with several Republicans grumbling about how Obama was allowing other countries to lead. Now, some Republicans are questioning why the country is even in Libya, claiming there’s a lack of “clarity” on U.S. policy. Republican Rep. Candice Miller of Michigan, a key member of the Homeland Security Committee, called for the United States to pull out of the no-fly zone because there isn’t a “vital national interest at stake which demands our intervention in Libya.”... The Republican hypocrisy and double-talk are awful. Their statements have lampooned the real and difficult situations the United States faces around the world. They like to offer simplistic, black-and-white answers to messy situations where there are no easy solutions. Consider former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican presidential hopeful, who recently berated the president’s foreign policy as “nuanced” — as if that’s a bad thing... The way the Republicans have attacked Obama is wrong. This is too serious of an issue to play political games. The nation deserves better. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/mar/26/they-were-it/ Well, that's the Sun's viewpoint. Stick their tongue up Obama's butt so far that it comes out Obama's ears. If Obama says jump, the Sun will jump higher and do a double somersault for a good measure. But what the Sun forgets to point out is that the liberals are also criticizing Obama. Ron Kind, a Democrat has spoken out against Obama. Max Baucus, a Democrat from Montana has spoken out against Obama's policy. Dennis Kucinich, A Democrat has even called for the possible impeachment of Obama and to stop funding the Libyan war. Democrats Pete Stark and Lynn Woosley have also come out against the war. From Politico, these Democrats are also against the Libyan War: Reps. Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.), Donna Edwards (Md.), Mike Capuano (Mass.), Maxine Waters (Calif.), Rob Andrews (N.J.), Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas), Barbara Lee (Calif.) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.) “all strongly raised objections to the constitutionality of the president’s actions” ...Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51595.html#ixzz1HqUu1zE8 Liberal blogger Michae Tomasky says this: You're a president. You launch a war. Granted it's not much of a war. But you are sending Americans into a position where they might die. And you don't go on television and explain to the American people why you've made this decision? One more time: you don't go on television and explain to the American people why you've made this decision? I find this incomprehensible. Reagan sent troops into Grenada on October 25, 1983. Two nights later, he was on television explaining why. Bush Sr. ordered strikes on Panama that began on December 19, 1990. The next night, he was on TV explaining why. This is really, truly unbelievable to me, and the worst thing Obama has done as president (previous winner: his extremely ill-considered comment about the "stupid" Cambridge police). This Libya action is already not very popular. Well, uh...maybe people would be helped if their president went on television and told them what we're doing there. Sheesh. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2011/mar/25/barack-obama-libya The list can go on. But when the Las Vegas Sun runs an editorial, you would think they at least be honest about it. But the words "honesty" and the "Las Vegas Sun" cannot be mentioned in the same sentence.

What The Hell CCSD, Charlie Sheen or Lindsay Lohan Not Available?

From Norm at the LVRJ: "Paris Hilton, making a surprise appearance Friday at the Bartlett Elementary School's annual Sock Hop fundraiser with boyfriend Cy Waits. "Love all the poodle skirts, so cute," she tweeted. " http://www.lvrj.com/news/neil-drama-could-affect-casino-plan-118731904.html OK, name 100 people you would want your elementary school student to look up to. I am pretty sure that cocaine and pot smoking Paris Hilton and her boyfriend would probably not be on that list. So, why in the hell would you want them to come to your school, especially since she has no connection to the school? It is very fortunate that Hilton has no kids, so it's not like she would have gone to her kid's school. And I would be willing to bet there was at least 1 camera attached to Hilton because she is filming a reality show. All she is doing this for is to get some publicity for her TV show. She could have sent a check to the school to help them out, if she really wanted to help the school out, but she chose not to, after all, it's all about Hilton. But then the cameras would have not been on her. Has CCSD and Bartlett Elementary School have any standards at all? Why not bring in a stripper or a prostitute from a Nye County brothel or Charlie Sheen or Lindsay Lohan to help raise money? And this is not an inner city school. This school is located in Henderson and is in one of the nicer areas of the Las Vegas Valley. Come on CCSD, you need to have better standards than this.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

The Milwaukee Bucks And Herb Kohl Ought To Be Embarrassed.

The Milwaukee Bucks are my team, having literally grown up with them since they joined the NBA in 1968. I've been to plenty of games until it got too expensive to go to the games. I've been to games and watched Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and Oscar Robertson play, saw a 4 or 5 overtime game and probably another 25 games in my life time. I remember listening to Eddie Doucette call the games and yell "bango" after a long jump shot goes in. But now, they are owned by U.S. Senator, Herb Kohl and there is little, if any, excitement for the Bucks. Tonight, the Bucks played the Chicago Bulls in Milwaukee, but you couldn't tell by it by listening to the people in the stands. It really appeared there were more Bulls fans than Bucks fans at the Bradley Center. The Bulls ended the game with a huge run of points and all you could hear were Bull fan's. The Bucks continue to suck, like they have for pretty much the last 20 or so years and ever since Herb Kohl took over the team. There have been some glimmers of hope every so often, but in reality, they really have never had a good season in decades, it seems like. I've watched the Bucks a few times this year and come away less than impressed. Based on their last few (many) seasons, the Bucks really have been an embarrassment and it's not the players or coaches fault. It's the owners fault and it is time for Herb Kohl to give the team up and sell them to an owner who actually cares about basketball and having a winning team in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Brewers, under Bud Selig, were mediocre but now that Mark Attanasio owns the team, there has been a lot of excitement about the Brewers and there is a glimmer of hope each season, unlike the Bucks.. It's time for the Bucks to change owners and hope the new owner can create some excitement for Milwaukee Buck fans and not for Chicago Bulls fans.

Liberals Gone Wild


From The Daily Mail: Extremists brought violent chaos to Central London yesterday after hijacking the much-heralded trade union protest against public spending cuts.
Trouble continued to flare late into the night as hundreds of people attempted to hijack yesterday's massive anti government cuts demonstration.
Riot police fought activists in Trafalgar Square as violent protesters threatened to overshadow the TUC rally in Hyde Park which had earlier passed off peacefully.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said between 200 and 300 people had gathered at the landmark....

In stark contrast, the daytime demonstration was hailed a 'fantastic success' by trade unions as people from across the UK marched through central London.
Organisers estimated between 400,000 and 500,000 teachers, nurses, firefighters, council and NHS workers, other public sector employees, students, pensioners and campaign groups converged on the capital.

Union officials and Labour leader Ed Miliband condemned the 'brutal' cuts in jobs and services.
But during the good-natured protest hundreds of activists not connected with the union rally clashed with police in the West End.
Officers were attacked as they tried to stop demonstrators smashing their way into banks and shops.
The protesters surged along Piccadilly, Regent Street and Oxford Street, chanting 'welfare not warfare' as they blocked traffic and forced shops to close.
Paint, fireworks and flares were thrown at buildings, while the outnumbered police were attacked with large pieces of wood
. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1370053/The-battle-Trafalgar-Square-Police-struggle-control-rioters-500-000-strong-London-march-cuts-ends-violence.html#ixzz1Hldir6r0

While the unions and other liberals are not directly responsible for the violence, they have to be responsible for part of it by encouraging the violence and giving the thugs a platform to conduct their violence.
But, this is what is going on in the U.S., in places like Madison, WI., Indianapolis and other places. The liberal government workers are angry that their gravy train is coming to the end because the local and state governments just don't have the money to keep paying for the salaries sometimes outrageous salaries and benefits(see the Clark County and other area fire departments. and university employee salaries)
So these angry government employees in Wisconsin and other places take to the streets and decide to yell and scream and act like a bunch of drama queens, all in order to protect their union leaders lavish life styles and to protect their pay raises that they will certainly get and to protect the bad workers. And in London, their U.S. counterparts in London take to the streets and give the anarchists a reason to trash some stores and act like goons and thugs.

Just another case of liberals gone wild.

G.E. Robs The U.S. Taxpayers Blind


G.E., owner of many different companies, including the ultra liberal MSNBC along with NBC made $5,100,000,000 in profit in the United States alone and yet paid $0 in income taxes.
From the New York Times: General Electric, the nation’s largest corporation, had a very good year in 2010.
The company reported worldwide profits of $14.2 billion, and said $5.1 billion of the total came from its operations in the United States.
Its American tax bill? None. In fact, G.E. claimed a tax benefit of $3.2 billion.
That may be hard to fathom for the millions of American business owners and households now preparing their own returns, but low taxes are nothing new for G.E. The company has been cutting the percentage of its American profits paid to the
Internal Revenue Service for years, resulting in a far lower rate than at most multinational companies.
Its extraordinary success is based on an aggressive strategy that mixes fierce lobbying for tax breaks and innovative accounting that enables it to concentrate its profits offshore. G.E.’s giant tax department, led by a bow-tied former
Treasury official named John Samuels, is often referred to as the world’s best tax law firm. Indeed, the company’s slogan “Imagination at Work” fits this department well. The team includes former officials not just from the Treasury, but also from the I.R.S. and virtually all the tax-writing committees in Congress.
This is just notht. I don't care if you are a conservative, liberal or from Mars, this is border line criminal and at the very least, morally wrong.
The GOP majority in the House needs to start closing tax loopholes to prevent these kind of abuses from happening. My question is this, why haven't the liberals when they had the Congress and the presidency from 2008-11 do anything? Aren't liberals the one's who love to impose taxes and accuse the rich of not paying their share? So, they did nothing. Harry Reid, John Boehner and President Obama, please sit down and start revising the tax loopholes that allows this kind of robbery by the likes of GE and other large corporations to stop stealing. They are robbing the U.S. blind and it is morally wrong. There's nothing about making a large profit, but you also need to pay your share of the taxes as well. And companies like GE are not.

Now, That's A Lot Of Snow


So, some people complain about a 7 inch snow fall. Well, how about if you were up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains the last day or so and they got over 8 feet of now in some places.
From the Reno Gazzette Journal: Awesome. Stunning. Wild.
Superlatives described the Sierra’s snowy situation Friday after a powerful spring storm layered the mountains in feet of fresh snow, building on amounts already deposited during what many are calling the heaviest winter season in years....
At Alpine Meadows ski resort — which received more than 3 feet of fresh snow over the 24 hours prior to Friday morning — this winter is one for the record books. Seasonal snowfall at Alpine’s lodge thus far is more than 46 feet.
It’s the most snow Alpine has recorded since a record winter of 1994-95, when the lodge received 55 feet over the course of the year.
At Alpine’s upper elevations, some 65 feet of snow has fallen so far this season.“We’re on track to have one of the snowiest winters in our history,” Alpine spokeswoman Rachael Woods said. “It’s incredible to see the change here over the last three weeks.”At Soda Springs west of Donner Summit, entire houses are buried in snow, sitting by the road as hummocks of white.
One enters the Soda Springs Store through a snow tunnel. Owner Tony Paduano estimated at least 5 feet of snow had fallen since Thursday afternoon, when whiteout conditions forced the closure of Interstate 80.

Nevada Bill Would Get Rid Of Goverment Paying For Union Activity

From the Las Vegas Sun: Relentless in his criticism of county firefighters over sick leave and overtime pay, Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak is again on the attack, this time seeking to curtail taxpayer spending that compensates firefighters for conducting union business.
A bill in the Legislature would advance that fight by banning the use of taxpayer money to support union activity on behalf of any local government worker in Nevada. But a top union official says that idea lacks merit because the private sector also compensates employees for union business.
Figures provided to Sisolak by county staff showed that taxpayers spent $974,967 from 2006 through 2010 to reimburse the base pay of county firefighters who took leaves of absence to attend arbitration sessions, meetings and other union functions. Factoring in the time-and-a-half in overtime paid to firefighters who replaced those on union leave, Sisolak said the cost to taxpayers is considerably higher. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/mar/26/another-firefighter-perk-fans-flames/

One reason this is a good idea: That’s because the way it works now, Sisolak said, taxpayers are footing the bill for both sides of labor negotiations between the county and the union.
“The taxpayer is paying for the county to represent the county and is also paying for the union to represent the union,” he said. “That doesn’t seem fair. I’m in favor of collective bargaining, but I don’t think taxpayers should pay for it.”
County records furnished by Sisolak show that over the past five years, 80 firefighters took 22,672 hours of leave for union business. Sisolak said he was “quite honestly shocked” not only by the amount of taxpayer money spent on union leave but also by the number of firefighters who have been compensated. He said this is markedly different from unions that represent Metro Police and other county employees, where a much smaller number of workers is typically compensated by taxpayers for union leave.

I would have no problem if the union reimbursed the County for all union activity- pay for the salary of the union member/employee doing business and the cost of the subsitute worker, but that doesn't appear to be happening.
Further, the government should not be taking dues out of paychecks and giving a check to the union.
The idea of a union/government relationship is to be pretty adversiarial, like it is in most private sector jobs. but in the past several years or more, the role is more of a friendly good old boy relationship at the expense of taxpayer.
Now that we Republicans like Scott Walker of Wisconsin and Democrats like Steve Sisolak, this relationship is slowly coming back to they way it should be, more of an adversarial role and save the taxpayers some money.
So, I hope this law passes and bring some common sense to role of management/employee/union relationship.

They Must Do Things Differently In New Hampshire

In an article about Einstein, the world's smallest horse, there was this quote by the tiny horse's owner: 'This has been a remarkable year for us and for Einstein,' said Mr Cantrell, 44, who bought Einstein for their small farm along with his wife Rachel. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1369859/Einstein-worlds-smallest-horse-gets-set-birthday.html#ixzz1Hgjw3Hut

I guess in New Hampshire, you can purchase your wife. I wonder if she came with farm or was bought separately.

I Saw My First Presidential Billboard Today

The election for President is about 1 3/4 years away and Nevada's GOP caucus is about a year from now.
So, it was a little surprising to see my first presidential advertisement on a billboard in the Las Vegas Valley today. It is a commercial for Ron Paul for president. The billboard is located on the I-215 (southside of town) by Buffalo.
I guess it is never too early to run the billboard ad's but I just hope that Paul runs so that the billboard was not a waste of money.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Harry Reid And Obama's Boondoggle: Train Between Las Vegas To Victorville

From the Las Vegas Sun: DesertXpress, a proposed $6 billion high-speed rail line that would link Las Vegas with Victorville, Calif., cleared another major hurdle Friday with the Federal Railroad Administration’s release of its final environmental report on the route.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the completion of the environmental impact statement, a document that was reviewed by five federal agencies, during a press conference at UNLV’s Science and Engineering Building.
The announcement also included presentations by Sen. Harry Reid, Nevada Department of Transportation Director Susan Martinovich and UNLV President Neal Smatresk.
DesertXpress officials had expected the environmental report to be completed by the end of 2010 so the fact that was completed was no big surprise. But transportation experts say the announcement is significant because it is one of the first reports involving high-speed rail transportation, an important piece of President Obama’s transportation initiative.
An environmental report was completed for a high-speed rail line between Tampa and Orlando, but that project is in jeopardy because Florida Gov. Rick Scott in February rejected federal money for the line. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/mar/25/desertxpress-high-speed-rail-project-rolls-forward/

Oh, where to start.
First, who the hell wants to go to Victorville? Victorville is a medium sized city in San Bernadino County and it has some shopping, like Wal-Mart, Target and other stores like that. It has the usual problems with gangs and crime. The perfect tourist attraction. The hope is that there will be a train line from Victorville to somewhere in Southern California.
Very few people will want to go to just Victorville. Just plain stupid.
Second, the $50 price per ticket and $100 round trip to Victorville costs much more than if you drive.
Third, the end of the line is proposed at I-15 and Russell. Ok, and then what? You are going to need a parking garage along for those going to Victorville with a place to rent cars for those coming into Las Vegas. There is not enough space to build all of that by I-15 and
Russell.
Fourth, the cost is going to be $6 billion but you know the costs will be much more than that when include the purchase of land, more studies, law suits and the usual add ons.
Fifth, the taxpayers will be on the hook if this plan fails, which it will. Or the company will be asking the State for subsidies, money which the State does not have.
Finally, anything involving Harry Reid is not going to be a good idea. His ideas are usually bad and expensive and this is no different.
So, get ready, taxpayers. Bend over and take it in the butt from Harry Reid and President Obama.

Wisconsin GOP Outsmarts Wisconsin Democrats. Again.

From jsonline: In a stunning twist, controversial legislation limiting collective bargaining for public workers was published on Friday despite a judge's hold on the measure, sparking a dispute over whether it takes effect Saturday.
The legislation was
published Friday to the Legislature's website with a footnote that acknowledges the restraining order by a Dane County judge. But the posting says state law "requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to publish every act within 10 working days after its date of enactment."
The measure sparked massive protests at the Capitol and lawsuits by opponents because it would eliminate the ability of most public workers to bargain over anything but wages.
The restraining order was issued against Democratic Secretary of State Doug La Follette. But the bill was published by the reference bureau, which was not named in the restraining order.
Laws normally take effect a day after they are published, and a top GOP lawmaker said that meant it will become law Saturday. But the nonpartisan legislative official who published the
law disagreed.....
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) claimed it didn't matter that it hasn't appeared in the paper.
"It's published," Fitzgerald said. "It's law. That's what I contend."
Fitzgerald and Miller met Friday. Miller said Fitzgerald asked him to publish the law and, after reading the statutes, Miller agreed that he could do so. He said he has never had something similar happen with the publication of a law during his 12 years running the reference bureau.

However, there is some disagreement: I think this is a ministerial act that forwards it to the secretary of state," said Stephen Miller, director of the Legislative Reference Bureau. "I don't think this act makes it become effective. My understanding is that the secretary of state has to publish it in the (official state) newspaper for it to become effective."
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/118677754.html
Whether you are for the bill or not, you have to agree that the GOP has been 1 step ahead of the Dem's on this bill.
Whether the bill is enforced or not, you have to admit this has been good theater. And there have been a lot of drama queens, on both sides of the argument.
In other news, the Wausau, WI. School District showed some back bone when they docked 254 teachers. From the Wausau Daily Herald: The Wausau School District has released the names of 254 teachers who have admitted that they missed a day’s worth of work for illegitmate reasons on Feb. 18.
That’s the day when many teachers and other public workers — from Wausau and districts across the state — congregated in Madison to protest Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill, which is meant to strip most collective bargaining rights from public union contracts.
Around 350 of the Wausau School District’s 660 teachers missed school on Feb. 18, forcing administrators to cancel all classes, said Jeff Gress, the district’s director of human resources and employee relations.
The 254 teachers signed an affidavit stating that their absences were not in compliance with their contracts, and will be docked a day’s pay. No other disciplinary action will be taken against them.

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20110325/WDH0101/110325077/1975&located=WISINFO
Just, think their actions saved the district $50,800 or almost 1 teaching position.

How Do These Guy Stay In Business?

I like Country music. Not so much the new stuff, but country oldies. It is the best station in Las Vegas for country oldies and it is located at AM 790.
I think the call letters are KBET but I am not sure. They never run any station promos and they never say who they are.
Further, they don't have any advertisements. NPR has more advertising in 2 hours than AM 790. All they do is run some PSA's.
So, how do they stay in business? Is the owner some rich guy who loves country oldies? Maybe they are being used to launder money? Who knows? But all I know is they play good music with no advertising.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Reduce CCSD Salaries? Hell No

From The LVRJ: School employee salaries would be slashed by nearly 8 percent, class sizes would increase and the textbook budget would be reduced by 25 percent as part of a plan to save the Clark County School District nearly $411 million for 2011-12.
Nearly 2,500 staffing positions, including computer support personnel for schools, literacy specialists and support staff, would be eliminated to compensate for declining revenues, according to the latest district analysis released Thursday. The increase in class sizes would allow the district to cut 1,638 teaching positions.
The district plans to increases classes sizes by three students in grades 1-3, by five students in grades 4-5 and by seven students in grades 6-12, if necessary.
The School Board will consider recommendations at its regular meeting Thursday night.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/school-district-analysis-recommends-reducing-staff-salaries-increasing-class-size-118606644.html

I am a teacher in CCSD and I have seen what has gone on in the past several years in CCSD.
The school board, in conjunction with the school superintendent(s) has done in wasting money throughout the years.
The CSSD school board and superintendents have wasted money and taken money from the Fed's with no regard to the future of CCSD and it's students and employees. I have documented this on several occasions on this blog.
So, if the CCSD wants me to take 8% and pay more in health insurance and pension, then the CCSD school board and superintendent need to show that they have cut the fat out of the CCSD budget. They have not so and so I will oppose any wage reduction and any other give backs until the fat is cut out of the budget.

Islam: Religion Of Peace. Umm, No

From Fox News: Thousands of Christians have been forced to flee their homes in Western Ethiopia after Muslim extremists set fire to roughly 50 churches and dozens of Christian homes.
At least one Christian has been killed, many more have been injured and anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 have been displaced in the attacks that began March 2 after a Christian in the community of Asendabo was accused of desecrating the Koran.
The violence escalated to the point that federal police forces sent to the area two weeks ago were initially overwhelmed by the mobs. Government spokesman Shimelis Kemal told Voice of America police reinforcements had since restored order and 130 suspects had been arrested and charged with instigating religious hatred and violence. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/24/thousands-christians-displaced-ethiopia-muslim-extremists-torch-churches-homes-2057387870/

And CAIR (Center On Islamic-American Relations) response:

Once again, Muslims show that they are just a bunch of terrorists and thugs.

Vice President Calls For The Impeachment Of President Obama



Heh. I love to see liberals say one thing when they are out of power and do another when they are in power.
It's not so easy to rule, now isn't it.

h/t Michelle Malkin

Radio Star Dies On Stage In Las Vegas

Scotty O'Neil, a radio personality in Las Vegas died during a performance today at the South Point, while taping the Dennis Bono Show.
From the Las Vegas Sun: Radio personality Scotty O’Neil, for more than a decade the popular sidekick and announcer on the “The Dennis Bono Show,” collapsed suddenly and died onstage during a taping of Bono’s show at South Point Showroom. He was 69.
Lorraine Hunt-Bono, Dennis Bono’s wife and owner of Bootlegger Bistro, confirmed that O’Neil died this afternoon. No official cause of death has yet been determined. O’Neil is survived by his wife of 15 years, Kristy Killian.
In a statement released this evening, Dennis Bono said:
"I am sad to announce the passing of my dear friend and co-host Scotty O’Neil. Scotty was an important part of my life as both a personal friend and a working partner. For over eleven years, he has been a pivotal part of The Dennis Bono Show. Scotty was a very talented consummate professional and a man of great integrity and character. Scotty passed onstage doing what he loved. We are devastated at his loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. Scotty's voice will continue to be heard over the airways as the voice of The Dennis Bono Show. I will always miss my sidekick."
After a routine start to today’s broadcast, O’Neil fell from the interview couch to the floor during a commercial break while he was talking to guest Corrie Sachs, who portrays Reba McEntire in “Country Superstars Tribute” at the Golden Nugget. The tragedy unfolded 15 minutes into the show. Paramedics’ efforts to revive O’Neil onstage were unsuccessful, and he was taken to St. Rose Dominican Hospital’s Siena Campus....

After Sachs finished her first number, she joined the host and sidekick on the couch, and the show went to commercial.
“Corrie said Scotty just got this expression on his face, his eyes rolled up, and he just looked very peaceful,” Hunt-Bono said. “Everyone thought he’d fainted. Even Dennis thought he might have been doing it as a joke, a comedy bit. Everyone was just in shock. The audience stood up, and one of the audience members was a nurse, and she came up and started trying to find his pulse, but he had stopped breathing.”
O’Neil never regained consciousness.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/kats-report/2011/mar/24/popular-radio-personality-scotty-oneil-collapses-d/
I've listen to the show many, many times over the past couple of years. It's geared to the older audience and Scotty O'Neil was the perfect side kick to Dennis Bono. The show would have some of the older stars on the strip come and perform for a segment or two. They just started their show at the South Point after spending many seasons at Sams Town.
it's sad to see him go and sad that the audience had to see it. But the guy has been in show business for decades and he went out in doing something he loved.
It will be interesting to see how the show continues or how they will play today's show when it airs later this week. It is heard on 720, KDWN at 11:00 PM on Friday and 8:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday. http://www.dennisbono.com/p4lvnow.htm

Why Did Obama Start Bombing When He Did?


So, why did President Obama start bombing Libya when he did?
Why of course, he did it when Congress was on recess, which started March 21 and will last until March 27th.
You didn't think he would begin bombing when Congress was in session and give members of Congress a chance to critize the bombing, did you?
After all, it's all about Obama.
So in honor of King Obama, here is his theme song:

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

I'm A Union Man Song



Can't argue with that.
And who does the left have? The same old liberal retreads.

Two Simple Questions For Nevada Democrats And Liberals

Most Democratic Nevada members of the Nevada legislature have a one track mind. Raise taxes on individuals and companies. Everyday, they are looking for ways to tax the people and companies of Nevada even more they do now.

Question 1: How much extra money will be brought in through the increased taxes?

Question 2: Where specifically will put the money that was raised by raising taxes. And please, don't say things like "education". You'll just sound like a complete moron. If you want to say "education" where in education- raise teacher salaries, more administration, more schools etc.

The Democrats don't think of ways of making government more efficient. They don't don't look at ways to reign in spending. They don't think of ways to reign in obscene pay for certain employees, like firefighters for the CCFD, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson firefighters. Like bloated UNLV salaries like Dina Titus who makes $107,000+ to teach 1 class or a professor named Douglas Unger at UNLV who makes $160,000 in salary and benefits
A man named Robert Tracy is a part time or full time (depending on who you listen to UNLV or Transparent Nevada) art history instructor and makes $126,000+. An art history teacher and makes $126,000, are you kidding me?
Lois Helmbold, a full time professor and department chair of Women Studies makes about $117,000+ in salary and benefits.
Ralph Buechler is the department chair of the Foreign/Romance Languages and makes $132,000+ in salary and benefits. Ok, why is that salary justified?
You can find how much each public employee makes in Nevada by going to Transparent Nevada: http://transparentnevada.com
(For the record, I made $44,000+ in salary plus more in benefits)

So, please answer the 2 easy questions. If you want to raise taxes in Nevada, please justify it.

March 23, 2010 A Day That Will Live Infamy

March 23, 2010 is a day that will live in infamy in the United States when President Obama signed into law, Obama Care. So what has happened since Obama Care was signed into care:

1. Insurance rates have skyrocketed. This is because there have been new mandates on private insurance including having grown adults being allowed onto their parent's insurance plan and no limits on insurance limits.

2. The law has been declared unconstitutional by several courts and constitutional by a couple of courts. The Obama administration, knowing that the law is probably unconstitutional, is delaying the inevitable by trying to delay the appeals.

3. The majority of Americans still don't like the bill.

4. The House of Representatives were taken over by the GOP in 2010 and the Senate will be in 2012, mainly because of Obama Care.

5. While there are a few good things in Obama Care, these items could have been dealt with in a smaller bill or have the items stand on their own merits. Both Obama, Reid and Pelosi decided to take over the health care system.

So, as much as Harry Reid and Obama stand by their bill, the American people don't and in 2012, President Obama will be effectively neutered either by Obama losing his re-election bid or by losing Congress or both. You reap what you sow.

Great Piece By Charlie Sykes

From Charlie Sykes of WTMJ Radio: My 401K is down 40%, my employer just cut the match; and it looks like I may have work until I'm 70 years old. I also pay for pensions to public employees who retired in their 50s.
I don't have enough money to go on vacation this year, but I paid my share of the federal government's $2.6 million grant to teach Chinese prostitutes to drink responsibly. I pay for bridges to nowhere.
I drive a 1997 Honda Accord, but I had to pay for my neighbor’s $41,000 electric car. I also bailed out the United Auto Workers.
I contribute to my children's 529 college savings plan, but since I don't qualify for financial aid I pay for other people's kids to go to school as well. I also pay for the sociology classes where I am sneered at for my lack of social conscience and denounced as the very essence of greed, racism and environmental insensitivity.
I exercise regularly, watch my cholesterol, and pay for my own health insurance as well as copays and deductibles. I also pay for Other People’s tonsillectomies, appendectomies and occasional rhinoplasties. I pay taxes for Medicare, Medicaid and for various medical programs for poor children and now I will get to subsidize the health care of several million more non-elderly, non-impoverished Americans.
My small business just lost its line of credit, but I paid to bail out Citigroup, AIG, and Goldman Sachs, whose executives get bonuses bigger than my entire net worth.
I pay my mortgage, but I also pay to bail out banks who made risky loans and yuppies, who have trouble paying $700,000 mortgages on their McMansions they bought with no-down payment, adjustable rate deals.
I pay for groceries for my family, but also pay millionaire farmers not grow stuff like rice. I buy dinner for more than 41 million food stamp recipients (although, they now call it Food Shares.). I also pay for school lunches. And breakfasts, since other parents apparently can't be expected to feed their kids. I get to have red meat once a week, but I get to pay for urban hipsters to buy organic salmon at Whole Foods.
I pay my electricity and gas bills, but I also pay for other people's air conditioning, cell phones, digital televisions, new windows, subsidized rent, and remodeling,
I pay for my daughter's ballet lessons, but also pay for universities to develop computerized choreography programs that will help develop "interactive dance performances with real-time audience interactions." I probably won't be able to make the show, since I'll be working.
I'm trying to save enough money in case I lose my job, but I pay for more than 70 different means-tested poverty programs
Because I work hard and am successful, I am in the 10% of Americans, who now pay more than 71 percent of the total federal income tax burden. The top 50 percent of earners pay 97.11 percent. In others words, the bottom half of American earners-- theoretically 50 percent of the electorate – pay less than 3 percent of federal income taxes. I pay for them.
I pay property taxes, sales, excise taxes, taxes on my phone, my cable, my water; state income taxes, Social security and Medicare taxes. I also help pay the bills for the nearly half of households who no longer pay any federal income tax. I also pay the bills for the 60 to 70 percent of households who receive more from the government than they pay in.
I expect no gratitude for any of this; it has been years since the term "provider" was a matter of societal respect and personal pride. I understand that the transfer of wealth from makers to takers is seen as morally purer than the efforts of those who created wealth in the first place.
I know my role.
I am the piggybank.

http://www.620wtmj.com/shows/charliesykes/118396324.html?blog=y

If there was one word to describe liberals: Jealousy

State Democrats Want To Steal More Money

From the LVRJ: Some people who win a dollar or two off cashless slot machines don't even bother cashing in their tickets.
Others realize they've lost their payout tickets when they get home or to their hotel room, and figure their winnings wouldn't even cover the cost of gasoline to drive back to the casino.
They just don't fret about it.
But they probably would be surprised to hear that all those small amounts of unredeemed winnings add up.
To as much as $50 million a year, according to one estimate.
Up to this point, the casinos have just kept the money, figuring it belongs to them.
But that would change if Assemblyman William Horne has his way.
On Tuesday, the Las Vegas Democrat said he doesn't think it is right for the casinos to reap the revenue off uncashed tickets. He urged the Assembly Judiciary Committee, which he chairs, to pass his bill that would declare uncashed gaming tickets are unclaimed property whose value should be given to the state.
Assembly Bill 219 would allow the state every three months to take the value of the unredeemed gaming tickets. It would not apply to sports wagering. No vote was taken on the bill.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/uncashed-payout-tickets-could-bring-millions-to-the-state-118488179.html
This money is not the governments. First, it is the customers ticket and then the casinos.
The state did nothing to earn this money. The casino's made the bet, they took the risk and if they have a customer who forgets about the ticket or loses it, then the casino should be able to keep the money.
Let's say you are walking down the street and you find $20. Under this moron Democrat Assemblyman's theory, you should have to turn the money into the state because the money shouldn't be yours, it belongs to the State of Nevada.
I hope this plan goes no where. Maybe the state should take this assemblyman's salary. He's certainly not using it, so it should go back to the state.

Don't Do As I Do, Do As I Say

I was watching "The Police Women of Maricopa County" this afternoon when the deputy sheriff was complaining about how bad and inattentive drivers were. This was after she was coming back from a serious car accident.

She was doing this as she was putting lotion on her hands with no hands on the steering wheel.

Don't do as I do. Do as I say.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

NFL Makes Kickoffs More Boring

The NFL rules committee has just made kick offs more boring.
From ESPN: NFL owners voted to alter rules for kickoffs and instant replay next season but tabled a proposal that would have expanded language changes in the rule involving penalties against defenseless players.
The rule that moves kickoffs from the 30 to the 35-yard line passed 26-6, while the rule to have the booth replay official review all scoring plays passed 30-2. Overall, four of the five proposals up for vote passed.

With changes suggested by 32 head coaches attending the NFL owners meetings, kickoffs will move from the 30 to the 35-yard line but adjustments were made in the proposal by the NFL competition committee.
With the input of coaches, the committee decided to allow return teams to have a two-man wedge. The committee proposal suggested the elimination of the two-man wedge, but coaches argued that would make it harder to have quality returns.
The other tradeoff by the committee to get the vote passed was not changing the spotting of a touchback. Touchbacks will still be spotted at the 20-yard line. The committee had suggested moving touchbacks to the 25.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6247029
Maybe they can call it the Devon Hester rule. Last season, they had 23 touchdown returns from a kickoff. Now, maybe there will 5 or fewer.
Most teams, unless they are kicking into a strong wind, have a kicker who can reach the end zone if they kick off from the 35 yard line.
The NFL says it is doing it to prevent injuries. Perhaps a little, but they still block and kick each other's butt even if there is no return.
Hell, if the kick off team has a very strong kicker, maybe Brett Favre can come back as a special teams player since he won't have to do much tackling and running.