U. of I. jobs-for-entry scheme -- chicagotribune.com: "What does it cost to get an unqualified student into the University of Illinois law school?
Five jobs for graduating law students, suggest internal e-mails released Thursday.
The documents show for the first time efforts to seek favors -- in this case, jobs -- for admissions, the most troubling evidence yet of how Illinois' entrenched system of patronage crept into the state's most prestigious public university."
--------------
This is just disgraceful.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Britain’s Secret Underground City
Britain’s Secret Underground City: "Code named Burlington, the immense city was set to be the seat of the emergency Government during the war; should nukes be involved. Created to house the Prime Minister of the time, Harold McMillan, the entire Cabinet Office, civil servants and any support staff, the hidden city could accommodate up to 4,000 personnel, but, unfortunately, not their families."
---------
There is nothing more interesting than planned communities. The things people come up with will just never cease to amaze you.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Unprecedented number of states lack budgets with week left - Jun. 24, 2009
Unprecedented number of states lack budgets with week left - Jun. 24, 2009: "At least 19 states still have to approve their fiscal 2010 budgets before next Tuesday. If they don't, staffers might not be paid and services might shut down."
------------
I see a trailer park in my future.
------------
I see a trailer park in my future.
Welcome to your new condo--complete with shock treatment
The Cemetary of the Danvers Hospital for the Criminally Insane | Atlas Obscura
Danvers State Hospital for the Criminally Insane opened in 1878 to serve some 600 mental patients under its imposing gothic spires. While it was built with a surprisingly caring and modern attitude toward the mentally ill, by the 1930's the site was crowded, falling into disrepair, and was using shock therapies and lobotomies on a regular basis. The addition of criminals, alcoholics, and the mentally retarded to the overcrowded hospital made it very difficult for the hospital to help cure any of its mental patients. The hospital was shut down in 1992.
The building, with its gothic style and series of underground tunnels, inspired H. P. Lovecraft's Arkham Sanitarium, in turn inspiring Batman's Arkham Asylum. Besides the horror of H.P. Lovecraft there is yet another more modern horror story here. As of 2007 the beautiful, if decaying, building was mostly torn down and turned into a bright and shiny condominium. "Avalon Communities" is complete with swimming pool and nary a reference to the sites fascinating past. While, thankfully, some of the facade remains the rest of the beautiful building has been replaced with chinsey condos, elliptical machines and ikea furniture. That would have scared even H.P. Lovecraft. However there is one piece of the former insane asylum that still exists; it's cemetery.
------------------
Reminds me of Poltergeist.
Danvers State Hospital for the Criminally Insane opened in 1878 to serve some 600 mental patients under its imposing gothic spires. While it was built with a surprisingly caring and modern attitude toward the mentally ill, by the 1930's the site was crowded, falling into disrepair, and was using shock therapies and lobotomies on a regular basis. The addition of criminals, alcoholics, and the mentally retarded to the overcrowded hospital made it very difficult for the hospital to help cure any of its mental patients. The hospital was shut down in 1992.
The building, with its gothic style and series of underground tunnels, inspired H. P. Lovecraft's Arkham Sanitarium, in turn inspiring Batman's Arkham Asylum. Besides the horror of H.P. Lovecraft there is yet another more modern horror story here. As of 2007 the beautiful, if decaying, building was mostly torn down and turned into a bright and shiny condominium. "Avalon Communities" is complete with swimming pool and nary a reference to the sites fascinating past. While, thankfully, some of the facade remains the rest of the beautiful building has been replaced with chinsey condos, elliptical machines and ikea furniture. That would have scared even H.P. Lovecraft. However there is one piece of the former insane asylum that still exists; it's cemetery.
------------------
Reminds me of Poltergeist.
Holyfield's estate faces foreclosure again | ajc.com
Holyfield's estate faces foreclosure again | ajc.com: "For the second time in a year, Evander Holyfield’s palatial Fayette County estate is under foreclosure.
A notice published last week in the Fayette Daily News revealed the former heavyweight boxing champion is in danger of losing his 109-room Fairburn mansion. The lien holder is demanding full repayment of the original $10 million loan, with an auction scheduled for July 7 on the Fayette County Courthouse steps."
---------------
Mike Tyson wants to make an offer on it, but he can't get Holyfield's ear.
A notice published last week in the Fayette Daily News revealed the former heavyweight boxing champion is in danger of losing his 109-room Fairburn mansion. The lien holder is demanding full repayment of the original $10 million loan, with an auction scheduled for July 7 on the Fayette County Courthouse steps."
---------------
Mike Tyson wants to make an offer on it, but he can't get Holyfield's ear.
Investor Daily: Analyst says California will default on debt - Jun. 25, 2009
Investor Daily: Analyst says California will default on debt - Jun. 25, 2009: "Asked to put odds on California defaulting on its $59 billion in outstanding general obligation bonds, Weiss doesn't hedge. 'It's unavoidable,' he tells Fortune.
If he's right, the impact on investors would be far broader and deeper than Bernie Madoff, General Motors (GMGMQ) or any of the other investment implosions that have occurred over the past year."
--------------
I keep hearing people on TV saying that the economy has turned the corner and they see the light at the end of the tunnel and so forth--and I think they are just saying whatever will induce people to buy stuff. From where I sit, it looks as though there is a whole lot more bad economic news coming down the pike.
If he's right, the impact on investors would be far broader and deeper than Bernie Madoff, General Motors (GMGMQ) or any of the other investment implosions that have occurred over the past year."
--------------
I keep hearing people on TV saying that the economy has turned the corner and they see the light at the end of the tunnel and so forth--and I think they are just saying whatever will induce people to buy stuff. From where I sit, it looks as though there is a whole lot more bad economic news coming down the pike.
'Most Dangerous' Neighborhoods In US Ranked - Family News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh
'Most Dangerous' Neighborhoods In US Ranked - Family News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh: "Chicago has the dubious distinction of holding four places on a list of the 25 most dangerous neighborhoods in the nation."
------------------
They even give you the exact intersection that is marked as ground zero for each neighborhood.
------------------
They even give you the exact intersection that is marked as ground zero for each neighborhood.
Cop justice, Chicago style
Cop in bar fight video gets 2 years probation - WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader: "CHICAGO (AP) - The judge who sentenced an off-duty Chicago police officer to probation for beating a female bartender says the officer has been through rehabilitation and didn't cause serious harm.
Cook County Circuit Judge John Fleming also says Anthony Abbate (ah-BAHT'-ee) has no prior history of crimes and wasn't working the night he beat the bartender.
Fleming today sentenced Abbate to two years probation and anger management classes. He also imposed a home curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and ordered Abbate to perform 130 hours of community service."
-----------
Abbate is a hulking 300 pound drunken brute. The bartender weighs about 125. The whole thing is on video and has been all over the world since it was first broadcast. She refused to serve him, he refused to leave, she tried to get him out, he beat the crap out of her.
But this is Chicago, where in the absence of videotape the victim often gets the blame in these cop-civilian confrontations, even if the cops are off-duty. The formula for a lawyer defending a cop charged with brutality in Chicago is simple. Waive jury and try to get the case assigned to a friendly judge for a bench trial. Make a ludicrous argument in which you blame the whole thing on the victim. Try for a not guilty verdict. Failing that, claim your client has been punished enough, he would be at risk in prison because he's a copy, and hope for a minimal sentence.
In years past that formula worked out fine even for organized crime figures, even for mafia hit men who shot people to death in public, in front of witnesses. But that involved bribing the judges. In these cop cases, there is no indication of bribes. There is a political side to these cases, because the police officers' union is a powerful force and the judges have to be concerned about missing the 60% threshold needed to keep their jobs in retention elections. The only way to lose a retention election is to generate organized opposition. But maybe the judges don't want to send cops to jail or prison because of the risk to their safety from other inmates.
Cook County Circuit Judge John Fleming also says Anthony Abbate (ah-BAHT'-ee) has no prior history of crimes and wasn't working the night he beat the bartender.
Fleming today sentenced Abbate to two years probation and anger management classes. He also imposed a home curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and ordered Abbate to perform 130 hours of community service."
-----------
Abbate is a hulking 300 pound drunken brute. The bartender weighs about 125. The whole thing is on video and has been all over the world since it was first broadcast. She refused to serve him, he refused to leave, she tried to get him out, he beat the crap out of her.
But this is Chicago, where in the absence of videotape the victim often gets the blame in these cop-civilian confrontations, even if the cops are off-duty. The formula for a lawyer defending a cop charged with brutality in Chicago is simple. Waive jury and try to get the case assigned to a friendly judge for a bench trial. Make a ludicrous argument in which you blame the whole thing on the victim. Try for a not guilty verdict. Failing that, claim your client has been punished enough, he would be at risk in prison because he's a copy, and hope for a minimal sentence.
In years past that formula worked out fine even for organized crime figures, even for mafia hit men who shot people to death in public, in front of witnesses. But that involved bribing the judges. In these cop cases, there is no indication of bribes. There is a political side to these cases, because the police officers' union is a powerful force and the judges have to be concerned about missing the 60% threshold needed to keep their jobs in retention elections. The only way to lose a retention election is to generate organized opposition. But maybe the judges don't want to send cops to jail or prison because of the risk to their safety from other inmates.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Ventura County considers letting public decide on pension increases - Los Angeles Times
Ventura County considers letting public decide on pension increases - Los Angeles Times: "Alarmed by spiraling pension debt, Ventura County could join a growing number of local governments requiring that future increases in retirement benefits for public employees be put on the ballot.
Voters in Orange County and the city of San Diego in recent years have stripped benefit-granting authority from their elected officials, reserving that power for the electorate. San Francisco has required voter approval of pension benefit hikes since its founding charter over a century ago."
------------
That might reduce the role of unions in jacking up pension benefits.
Voters in Orange County and the city of San Diego in recent years have stripped benefit-granting authority from their elected officials, reserving that power for the electorate. San Francisco has required voter approval of pension benefit hikes since its founding charter over a century ago."
------------
That might reduce the role of unions in jacking up pension benefits.
Shriver: Budget choices confound Californians
Shriver: Budget choices confound Californians: "Californians seem to want it all, says first lady Maria Shriver. They oppose billions of dollars in cuts to address the state's massive budget deficit but are not willing to pay more for the services they enjoy."
--------------
True. And well known. The definitive book on the Proposition 13 property tax revolt that set the state on the road to catastrophe back in 1978 is titled, Tax Revolt: Something for Nothing in California. Jack Citrin and David Sears had it exactly right. Californians want the goodies from government but they don't want to pay for them. And in my opinion, the Obama administration, backed by a majority of the public, is presently embarked on one great big attempt to do the same thing nationwide. The inevitable failure will be much more dramatic.
--------------
True. And well known. The definitive book on the Proposition 13 property tax revolt that set the state on the road to catastrophe back in 1978 is titled, Tax Revolt: Something for Nothing in California. Jack Citrin and David Sears had it exactly right. Californians want the goodies from government but they don't want to pay for them. And in my opinion, the Obama administration, backed by a majority of the public, is presently embarked on one great big attempt to do the same thing nationwide. The inevitable failure will be much more dramatic.
Second verse, same as the first
Fannie, Freddie asked to relax condo loan rules: report | Reuters: "In March, Fannie Mae (FNM.N)(FNM.P) said it would no longer guarantee mortgages on condos in buildings where fewer than 70 percent of the units have been sold, up from 51 percent, the paper said. Freddie Mac (FRE.P)(FRE.N) is due to implement similar policies next month, the paper said.
In a letter to the CEO's of both companies, Representatives Barney Frank, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and Anthony Weiner warned that a 70 percent sales threshold 'may be too onerous' and could lead condo buyers to shun new developments, according to the paper.
The legislators asked the companies to 'make appropriate adjustments' to their underwriting standards for condos, the paper added."
------------------
What this country needs now is more federal office holders tinkering with the economy. Yes sir. Autos, banking, medical insurance, and of course the housing industry. Why, they have done such a fine job so far, especially Barney Frank.
In a letter to the CEO's of both companies, Representatives Barney Frank, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and Anthony Weiner warned that a 70 percent sales threshold 'may be too onerous' and could lead condo buyers to shun new developments, according to the paper.
The legislators asked the companies to 'make appropriate adjustments' to their underwriting standards for condos, the paper added."
------------------
What this country needs now is more federal office holders tinkering with the economy. Yes sir. Autos, banking, medical insurance, and of course the housing industry. Why, they have done such a fine job so far, especially Barney Frank.
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."
---------
The owner says a neighbor kid hit the window with a golf ball.
---------
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."
-------------
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."
-------------
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."
-----------------
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."
-----------------
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."
-----------------
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."
-----------------
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."
-----------
Stimulus or no, I can't see any economic recovery taking place until the housing market gets back on its feet.
-----------
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."
----------------
That is a huge loss of revenue for most states.
----------------
That is a huge loss of revenue for most states.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)