Scientists Discover Least Inhabited Place on Earth - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News - FOXNews.com
...underwater.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
...and the least inhabited place on Earth is...
Scientists Discover Least Inhabited Place on Earth - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News - FOXNews.com
...underwater.
ABC-7.com News - Homeowner's insurance dropped over cracked window
ABC-7.com News - Homeowner's insurance dropped over cracked window: "CAPE CORAL: A Cape Coral woman received a letter abruptly cancelling her homeowner's insurance because of improper maintenance. The letter referenced a tiny boarded up window that was broken for not even a week. Something similar could just as easily happen to you."
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The owner says a neighbor kid hit the window with a golf ball.
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The owner says a neighbor kid hit the window with a golf ball.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
North Chicago's 'Top cop' accused of beating up chief :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Chicago Crime
North Chicago's 'Top cop' accused of beating up chief :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Chicago Crime: "North Chicago's 'Officer of the Year' allegedly pummeled and seriously injured Waukegan's police chief after finding him in his estranged wife's home.
North Chicago Officer Carl Sain was charged with felony aggravated battery following the Wednesday altercation in Waukegan, which left Police Chief Artis Yancey with several broken bones in his face, Lake County State's Attorney Michael Waller said."
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I guess that puts Illinois back on top in the "Most Dysfunctional State and Local Governments Sweepstakes."
North Chicago Officer Carl Sain was charged with felony aggravated battery following the Wednesday altercation in Waukegan, which left Police Chief Artis Yancey with several broken bones in his face, Lake County State's Attorney Michael Waller said."
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I guess that puts Illinois back on top in the "Most Dysfunctional State and Local Governments Sweepstakes."
U.S. Home Prices Drop 6.8 Percent in April as Foreclosures Rise - Bloomberg.com
U.S. Home Prices Drop 6.8 Percent in April as Foreclosures Rise - Bloomberg.com: "The housing slump has reduced the median price of an existing home 26 percent from the July 2006 peak, pushing affordability to near record levels. Prospective buyers are now being constrained by rising mortgage rates, the highest unemployment since 1983 and concern the housing rebound will be anemic.
While U.S. builders increased housing starts by 17 percent in May to an annual rate of 532,000, a May 26 report from S&P/Case-Shiller showed home prices in 20 U.S. metropolitan areas fell 18.7 percent in March from the same month last year.
All signs point to further declines. Yale University Professor Robert Shiller, co-founder of the S&P/Case-Shiller index, said earlier this month that prices will continue to fall, contributing to a prolonged recession."
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That's the way it looks to me.
While U.S. builders increased housing starts by 17 percent in May to an annual rate of 532,000, a May 26 report from S&P/Case-Shiller showed home prices in 20 U.S. metropolitan areas fell 18.7 percent in March from the same month last year.
All signs point to further declines. Yale University Professor Robert Shiller, co-founder of the S&P/Case-Shiller index, said earlier this month that prices will continue to fall, contributing to a prolonged recession."
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That's the way it looks to me.
Pennsylvania competing with Illinois for worst government
Plainfield Township supervisor allegedly drunk at meeting -- themorningcall.com: "Shortly after meeting with fire and police officials Thursday night, Plainfield Township's supervisor chairman was found unconscious on the floor of the municipal building with a half-empty bottle of Jack Daniel's nearby, police say.
Timothy Frankenfield, who is also the township fire marshal, faces a public drunkenness charge. Police say a portable breath test showed his blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit to drive."
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This is from the Lehigh Valley in PA. I am now going to be hard put to top this with anything from Illinois, but I won't give up.
Timothy Frankenfield, who is also the township fire marshal, faces a public drunkenness charge. Police say a portable breath test showed his blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit to drive."
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This is from the Lehigh Valley in PA. I am now going to be hard put to top this with anything from Illinois, but I won't give up.
Housing market still deteriorating
More bad news - WSJ.com: "'Despite unprecedented federal efforts to jumpstart the economy and help homeowners keep up with their mortgage payments, home prices continued to fall and foreclosures continued to mount in most areas through the first quarter of 2009,' according to the executive summary of the State of the Nation's Housing annual report released by Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies."
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Stimulus or no, I can't see any economic recovery taking place until the housing market gets back on its feet.
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Stimulus or no, I can't see any economic recovery taking place until the housing market gets back on its feet.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Reports: State income levels plunge
Reports: State income levels plunge: "Personal income taxes paid to the states plummeted 26 percent, or $28.8 billion, in the first four months of 2009, compared with the same time period last year, the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government said in its June 18 report."
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That is a huge loss of revenue for most states.
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That is a huge loss of revenue for most states.
Michigan cities scramble to recycle auto plants | detnews.com | The Detroit News
Michigan cities scramble to recycle auto plants | detnews.com | The Detroit News: "Plans by General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Group LLC to shutter Michigan auto plants will dump 25 million square feet of industrial land onto a struggling commercial real estate market and have sparked a race against time in communities unsure what to do with vast, vacant sites.
In addition to the loss of an estimated 10,000 factory jobs in the next two years, the host communities will lose millions in property taxes they can sorely afford to forfeit: GM already has taken steps to slash as much as 80 percent of its tax liability in some municipalities."
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Michigan will soon have plenty of vacant land. Flint and Detroit are going to have entire neighborhoods razed, and add to that the enormous auto plants.
In addition to the loss of an estimated 10,000 factory jobs in the next two years, the host communities will lose millions in property taxes they can sorely afford to forfeit: GM already has taken steps to slash as much as 80 percent of its tax liability in some municipalities."
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Michigan will soon have plenty of vacant land. Flint and Detroit are going to have entire neighborhoods razed, and add to that the enormous auto plants.
OUR OPINION: Pension costs can ruin cities and states | Grand Forks Herald | Grand Forks, North Dakota
OUR OPINION: Pension costs can ruin cities and states | Grand Forks Herald | Grand Forks, North Dakota: "California faces unfunded public employee retirement benefits of somewhere between $300 billion and $1 trillion, a panel discussion at the Milken Institute’s State of the State Conference concluded in May."
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This op-ed says that the main problem with the State of California budget is public employee pensions, and the same is true of many local governments. The scale of this problem is terrifying, and not just in California.
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This op-ed says that the main problem with the State of California budget is public employee pensions, and the same is true of many local governments. The scale of this problem is terrifying, and not just in California.
States Turning to Last Resorts in Budget Crisis - NYTimes.com
States Turning to Last Resorts in Budget Crisis - NYTimes.com: "With state revenues in a free fall and the economy choked by the worst recession in 60 years, governors and legislatures are approving program cuts, layoffs and, to a smaller degree, tax increases that were previously unthinkable.
All but four states must have new budgets in place less than two weeks from now — by July 1, the start of their fiscal year. But most are already predicting shortfalls as tax collections shrink, unemployment rises and the stock market remains in turmoil."
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I wonder how support for President Obama's expensive federal policies will fare as people get hit with these cuts and tax increases by their state and local governments.
All but four states must have new budgets in place less than two weeks from now — by July 1, the start of their fiscal year. But most are already predicting shortfalls as tax collections shrink, unemployment rises and the stock market remains in turmoil."
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I wonder how support for President Obama's expensive federal policies will fare as people get hit with these cuts and tax increases by their state and local governments.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Lancaster, Pa., keeps a close eye on itself - Los Angeles Times
Lancaster, Pa., keeps a close eye on itself - Los Angeles Times: "Some 165 closed-circuit TV cameras soon will provide live, round-the-clock scrutiny of nearly every street, park and other public space used by the 55,000 residents and the town's many tourists. That's more outdoor cameras than are used by many major cities, including San Francisco and Boston.
Unlike anywhere else, cash-strapped Lancaster outsourced its surveillance to a private nonprofit group that hires civilians to tilt, pan and zoom the cameras -- and to call police if they spot suspicious activity. No government agency is directly involved.
Perhaps most surprising, the near-saturation surveillance of a community that saw four murders last year has sparked little public debate about whether the benefits for law enforcement outweigh the loss of privacy."
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How surprising. A city grants huge power to a private corporation with no public debate about the implications for civil liberties. That has never happened before! Oh, wait.
Unlike anywhere else, cash-strapped Lancaster outsourced its surveillance to a private nonprofit group that hires civilians to tilt, pan and zoom the cameras -- and to call police if they spot suspicious activity. No government agency is directly involved.
Perhaps most surprising, the near-saturation surveillance of a community that saw four murders last year has sparked little public debate about whether the benefits for law enforcement outweigh the loss of privacy."
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How surprising. A city grants huge power to a private corporation with no public debate about the implications for civil liberties. That has never happened before! Oh, wait.
Homeowner Associations Investigated - Houston News Story - KPRC Houston
Homeowner Associations Investigated - Houston News Story - KPRC Houston: "HOUSTON -- They charge many of us hundreds of dollars a year, using the money to pay for parks, pools and landscaping. But some say homeowners associations are abusing their power, taking more money and property from homeowners every year."
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Part One of a three-part series done by local tv in Houston. Thanks to Bill Davis for the links. It seems that CAI was not happy with this series for some reason.
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Part One of a three-part series done by local tv in Houston. Thanks to Bill Davis for the links. It seems that CAI was not happy with this series for some reason.
HOAs Take Members To Court - Houston News Story - KPRC Houston
HOAs Take Members To Court - Houston News Story - KPRC Houston
Part Two of the three links Bill Davis sent.
Part Two of the three links Bill Davis sent.
Wrapup on HOA issues
Ask Amy Blog: "As a wrap to our series on Homeowners Associations this week, we held a phone bank where you could call in and ask questions relating to your rights as a homeowner when it comes to HOA’s."
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Part three of the set Bill Davis sent.
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Part three of the set Bill Davis sent.
On home defect legislation, lobbyists went to the wire - Las Vegas Sun
On home defect legislation, lobbyists went to the wire - Las Vegas Sun: "The construction industry had just captured a huge victory, pushing legislation through the state Senate that would limit the ability of homeowners to win settlements against developers for construction defects.
Builders needed only a victory in the Assembly to save themselves millions in settlements and legal fees."
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...and then the lobbyists for both sides went to the mattresses. Thanks to Fred Pilot for this very detailed story of how state politics works.
Builders needed only a victory in the Assembly to save themselves millions in settlements and legal fees."
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...and then the lobbyists for both sides went to the mattresses. Thanks to Fred Pilot for this very detailed story of how state politics works.
Report: New light shed on lawmakers' secretive grants | PoconoRecord.com
Report: New light shed on lawmakers' secretive grants | PoconoRecord.com: "Never-before-released records obtained by the AP through a request filed under the new state Right-to-Know Law revealed some counties that are home to top legislators were targeted to receive disproportionately more legislative grant money during the last half of 2008.
The records, released by the governor's office, show legislators lodged special grant requests totaling more than $110 million from July 1 through December — more than $430,000 on average for each of Pennsylvania's 253 lawmakers."
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Thanks to Cynthia Stephens for this link--sounds like Pennsylvania is a lot like Illinois.
The records, released by the governor's office, show legislators lodged special grant requests totaling more than $110 million from July 1 through December — more than $430,000 on average for each of Pennsylvania's 253 lawmakers."
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Thanks to Cynthia Stephens for this link--sounds like Pennsylvania is a lot like Illinois.
The Captain - Duplin man hangs judge, DA in effigy | StarNewsOnline.com | Star News | Wilmington, NC
The Captain - Duplin man hangs judge, DA in effigy | StarNewsOnline.com | Star News | Wilmington, NC: "A Faison man is getting everything he asked for, and maybe a little more. According to articles in the Sampson Independent and Jacksonville Daily News, Lacy Phipps has hung effigies of robed judges, attorneys, a sheriff and even Mike Easley in his yard."
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This sounds like quite a saga of justice and injustice. Thanks to Cynthia Stephens for the link, and for the Father's Day wishes!
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This sounds like quite a saga of justice and injustice. Thanks to Cynthia Stephens for the link, and for the Father's Day wishes!
Must have been some party
19 FORMER AND CURRENT NHL PLAYERS SUE KEN JOWDY FOR INVESTMENTS IN DIAMANTE SAN LUCAS - New York Post: "A golf-resort developer put nearly two dozen NHL stars on ice -- taking millions they had invested with him and blowing it on parties packed with porn stars, hookers and his baseball buddies, including ex-Yankees Roger Clemens and Reggie Jackson, according to two explosive lawsuits filed yesterday."
New Yorkers put on best face for the world
Tiger Woods taunted at 10th hole; Fred Funk's name becomes obscenity -- Newsday.com: "Beer-sodden fans and rain combined for an ugly finish to a long day of golf yesterday, with Tiger Woods and other golfers subjected to drunken heckling as the action at Bethpage Black came to a close."
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Charming people. Maybe the state troopers should lob some tear gas canisters into the gallery.
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Charming people. Maybe the state troopers should lob some tear gas canisters into the gallery.
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