Drive-bys in the Poconos

Update: Police search for suspect in drive-by shooting of 17-year-old in Emerald Lakes Monday | PoconoRecord.com: "LONG POND -- Police are seeking the public's help with an apparent drive-by shooting of a 17-year-old teen as he rode a motorized scooter on Glade Drive South in the Emerald Lakes private community Monday night...The Emerald Lakes development was the scene of another shooting over the weekend in which four people were wounded outside a private party around 12:45 a.m. Sunday."
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Hmmmmm. Private parties, private community...drive by shootings?
Thanks to Cynthia Stephens for this link.

Daily Herald | Utility tax moves forward in Antioch, IL

Daily Herald | Utility tax moves forward in Antioch: "The village has cut the equivalent of 20 full-time positions in the last two years, Keim said. Officials have also cut nearly $500,000 in spending this year.

With the failure of Neumann Homes, the stalled Antioch Market Place shopping center project and a decline in revenue from building permits, Keim said the village is on target to finish their fiscal year nearly $500,000 in the red. The total operating budget is just over $10.5 million.

'We can't close that gap,' he said."
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So Antioch is raising taxes. In a recession. In a working class/middle class community where people are struggling to survive as it is. And note the story I posted below: corporate developer/bad citizen Neumann Homes is partly to blame for Antioch's dire straits, but Neumann is suing Antioch for return of its impact fees. Nerve? Oh, yes.

Daily Herald | Communities try to help as suburban foreclosure crisis grows

Daily Herald | Communities try to help as suburban foreclosure crisis grows: "Elgin is using federal money to help rehab foreclosed homes. Lake County intends to use stimulus funds to acquire, fix up and resell abandoned or foreclosed properties. Prosperous towns like Geneva, Schaumburg, Wheaton and Naperville are looking for ways to direct desperate homeowners to community resources."
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Foreclosures are up 18% in the third quarter. Of 2009. Tell me more about this so-called "recovery" we are enjoying?

Daily Herald | Bankrupt Neumann Homes sues towns to return impact fees

Daily Herald | Bankrupt Neumann Homes sues towns to return impact fees: "Neumann Homes Inc., which had been one of the 10 largest homebuilders in the Chicago area before filing bankruptcy last year, has sued more than two dozen municipal governments on a theory that, if valid, could be another hit in already-depressed local budgets.

Neumann, based in Warrenville, sued towns including Antioch; Naperville; Kenosha, Wis.; and Aurora, Colo., to get back impact fees, according to documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Chicago."
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This photo shows what they left behind in the subdivision close to my house. They wrecked a huge natural landscape and left it looking like the moon. Then they went bankrupt. Antioch had to fix bad drainage problems, plow snow, etc., and they are in huge budget trouble (see my post above). Now Neumann is suing for their impact fees. From where I sit, Antioch should be suing Neumann for the "impact" they made.

And here is the supreme irony: Antioch tried to stop this development from the outset, refusing to permit it. Neumann Homes sued Antioch and won, with some judge cramming the development down the village's throat. So, this corporate bad citizen sued to impose the development on everybody, then went bankrupt, leaving a devastated landscape, bereft owners, and a village in trouble. And now...they sue Antioch again to get their impact fees back.

This is why people don't like real estate developers. Or their lawyers.

Illinois budget

Just got a message from the President of the University of Illinois system. Good news: no furloughs before the end of 2009. Bad news: the state owes the U of I system $317 million that has been billed but not paid.

They haven't paid our dental plan, either, which is why the dental plan won't pay my kids' dentist.

But look at the up side. The state legislature just guaranteed all seniors free rides on public transportation, no matter how rich they are.

The Golden State isn't worth it -- latimes.com

The Golden State isn't worth it -- latimes.com: "Joel Kotkin of NewGeography.com and Chapman University told the Los Angeles Times in March: 'Twenty years ago, you could go to Texas, where they had very low taxes, and you would see the difference between there and California. Today, you go to Texas, the roads are no worse, the public schools are not great but are better than or equal to ours, and their universities are good. The bargain between California's government and the middle class is constantly being renegotiated to the disadvantage of the middle class.'"
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Blockbuster article that shows why California's entire model of political economy has failed.

Should I Stay or Should Furlough Now? | NBC Chicago

Should I Stay or Should Furlough Now? | NBC Chicago: "One of the more controversial pieces of Mayor Daley’s 2010 budget is the requirement for all city workers to take 24 unpaid furlough days.

The only city workers who have been spared from what amounts to an entire month off without pay are the city’s police and firefighters. But that could change.

A representative for the city budget office says the city is in negotiations with police and fire unions to accept furlough days."
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Daley was counting heavily on the Olympics to provide the an influx of private and public revenues that he could distribute to his connected friends. Now he has to face the city budget debacle.

H1N1 Vaccinations To Be Offered To Guantanamo Bay Detainees

H1N1 Vaccinations To Be Offered To Guantanamo Bay Detainees
How nice. The Lake County Health Department canceled the vaccinations they were going to hold this weekend because they can't get enough vaccine. People had to stand in line at 3am on Thursday for the 8am clinic openings. Then they gave people wristbands. Then they ran out of vaccine.

Same thing all over this area, and across the nation.

Do you know what the press and the congressional Democrats would be saying about this situation if Bush were still President?

Dollar Homes Lack Buyers | NBC Chicago

Dollar Homes Lack Buyers | NBC Chicago: "Officials in suburban Barrington put three homes up for a sale at just a dollar a piece - a dollar! - and didn't get a single bidder."
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But there is a catch. All you get is the house, not the land, and you have to move the house out of the "historic" downtown area. The houses are going to be demolished for new development.

Lindenhurst goes HOA

Home Owners Associations
I live in this little exurb. Now I see that the Village of Lindenhurst has added a link to its home page for "Home Owners Associations." So far only two HOAs have appeared on the links page. I imagine the list will grow. The connections between cities and HOAs continue to grow.

Dix Hills condo complex agrees to allow mezuzahs

Dix Hills condo complex agrees to allow mezuzahs: "A Jewish woman from Dix Hills who says her condominium complex discriminated against her by stopping her from displaying a 4-inch mezuzah on her front door has won a settlement after an investigation by state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo."
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The mere fact that people even have to file cases like this tells you how screwed up things are.

Guess What: The Next Housing Bubble Is Already Underway

Guess What: The Next Housing Bubble Is Already Underway: "...the housing bubble is back. Sure, prices aren't at their old levels, but everything else is in place.

Generous government involvement is back. Fear of missing out on good deals is back, and yes, even no-money-down is back."
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And just in time for the crash of the commercial real estate market.

Judge eats his words -- chicagotribune.com

Judge eats his words -- chicagotribune.com: "A Will County judge says he's eating his words after accepting a tray of jerk chicken as a substitute for a man's sentence of 100 community service hours.

The local legal community has been abuzz since associate Judge Robert Livas accepted the Jamaican-style chicken from Darrius Logan this month over an objection from a prosecutor."
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Maybe this is what I've been doing wrong all these years. I didn't bring food for the judge.

Law.com - Price to PepsiCo for Not Being in Court: $1.26 Billion

Law.com - Price to PepsiCo for Not Being in Court: $1.26 Billion: "What's the cost of not showing up to court? For PepsiCo Inc., it's a $1.26 billion default judgment. A Wisconsin state court socked the company with the monster award in a case alleging that PepsiCo stole the idea to bottle and sell purified water from two Wisconsin men.

Now the company is scrambling to salvage the situation. The damages award was handed down on Sept. 30. PepsiCo filed motions to vacate the order and dismiss the claims on Oct. 13, saying it wasn't even aware of the lawsuit until Oct. 6."
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Hey--this is better than winning the lottery. There was a case in Los Angeles years ago where the owner of an apartment building got sued by a tenant for letting it turn into a decaying slum. The landlord ignored the lawsuit...right up until the day the court gave the building to the tenant in satisfaction of the default judgment. Then it was too late. Mr. Slumlord lost the building, and it was worth over a million.

Council bans parents from play areas - Boing Boing

Council bans parents from play areas - Boing Boing: "Score one for Britain in its contest with the United States to create the stupidest fear-based society. The Watford Borough Council took the lead by banning parents from supervising their own kids in public playgrounds, 'because they have not undergone criminal record checks.'

The only adults allowed to monitor the kids are idiocracy-vetted 'play rangers.' The children's parents must 'watch from outside a perimeter fence.'"
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Well, we will catch up with them soon. We already have government officials scolding us for not coughing the right way. Our local, state, and national government already think they own our kids. How much longer can it be before I need a background check to pick up my kids at school?

Thanks to Mystery Reader for this fascinating example of a real nanny state. Literally.

Restaurant owner declares victory in 'Flamingogate' -- baltimoresun.com

Restaurant owner declares victory in 'Flamingogate' -- baltimoresun.com: "The owner of Cafe Hon is proclaiming a victory for small business after the city agreed to cut in half the cost of a permit to erect a pink flamingo sculpture outside her restaurant and promised to promote the Hampden neighborhood with new signs on the Jones Falls Expressway.

After a rally Tuesday outside City Hall where supporters erected scores of plastic pink flamingos, Cafe Hon owner Denise Whiting praised Mayor Sheila Dixon for the decision."
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That's quite a flock of flamingos.

Rats! City to Pay for Informing on Tax Cheats | NBC Chicago

Rats! City to Pay for Informing on Tax Cheats | NBC Chicago: "The folks at city hall will pay cash bounties to informants who turn in business tax cheats around the city. The reward would amount to some sort of percentage of the tax money that the city recovers."
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They anticipate that businesses will turn in their competitors. Daley and his Machine cronies are desperate to find sources for graft.

Newspapers Across the Country Show Steep Declines in Circulation, in New FAS-FAX

Newspapers Across the Country Show Steep Declines in Circulation, in New FAS-FAX: "Circulation at many of the country's largest newspapers continued a steep slide as the Audit Bureau of Circulations Monday morning released the latest figures for the six months ending September 2009 -- proving yet again that the industry can't shake the dramatic declines that have taken hold over the past several years."
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Of course there are many reasons for this. But even with all the technological challenges they face from TV, radio, and the internet, I think they would be doing better if they acted more like professional news organizations that gather and report and analyze news. There is way too much flacking for the Obama administration. People aren't stupid. They remember how these same newspapers treated Bush.

CARPE DIEM: Profit Margin: Health Insurance Industry Ranks #86

CARPE DIEM: Profit Margin: Health Insurance Industry Ranks #86: "As the table above of Profit Margins by Industry shows (click to enlarge, data here for the most recent quarter), the industry 'Health Care Plans' ranks #86 by profit margin (profits/revenue) at 3.3%. Measured by profit margin, there are 85 industries more profitable than Health Care Plans (includes Cigna, Aetna, WellPoint, HealthSpring, etc.)."
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But that won't stop Obama Inc. from continuing to demonize these evil, profiteering, corporate insects.

A Brit's view of America

Arrested just for looking weird | Jeremy Clarkson - Times Online: "Step out of the loop, do something unusual and you’ll encounter a wall of low-paid, low-intellect workers whose sole job is to prevent their bosses from being sued. As a result, you never hear anyone say: “Oh I’m sure it’ll be all right.”"
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I have this experience about a dozen times a day.

Mayor Daley May Be Considering A Sale Of Chicago's Water System - cbs2chicago.com

Mayor Daley May Be Considering A Sale Of Chicago's Water System - cbs2chicago.com: "CHICAGO (CBS) ―If the parking meter deal put a bad taste in your mouth, try swallowing this: Chicago is considering leasing its water system to help fix the budget.

The new boss could charge whatever they want for water, CBS 2's Roseanne Tellez reports.

Could it happen here in Chicago? It already has nearby. Homer Glen in Will County relies on Lake Michigan water, but the supply comes from a German-owned firm. Locals say there's a lot more than water going down the drain."
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Here we go again. This is another scheme to get money from a private firm that then passes on that cost to the taxpayers (who become customers). Net effect: a disguised tax increase.

Sort of like HOAs and condos.

Chicago, like many cities, simply refuses to reduce its spending to match a level of taxation that will keep people and businesses from fleeing the city in droves.

Homer Glen is a city that was made out of several HOAs that decided to incorporate so they wouldn't get swallowed up (annexed) by nearby Orland Park. So the picture is complete: Chicago is doing what a huge HOA-turned-city did.

Soupy Sales dies at 83; slapstick comic had hit TV show in 1960s -- latimes.com

Soupy Sales dies at 83; slapstick comic had hit TV show in 1960s -- latimes.com Sad day--he was funny, a good person, and a very creative and original comedian.

Behind the War Between White House and Fox - NYTimes.com

Behind the War Between White House and Fox - NYTimes.com: "...officials at the White House had decided that if anything, it was time to take the relationship to an even more confrontational level. The spur: Executives at other news organizations, including The New York Times, had publicly said that their newsrooms had not been fast enough in following stories that Fox News, to the administration’s chagrin, had been heavily covering through the summer and early fall..."
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The New York Times says that the White House decided to go after Fox News because Fox was doing too good a job of covering the White House. Fox broke stories that the other major media outlets initially ignored, and then when the stories proved to be true and big, were forced to cover. So, when Fox started leading the way for the rest of the herd, the White House decided to try to demonize and isolate Fox, in the hope that stories broken there will stay there and will not be picked up by the New York Times, et al.

How do you like that, Obama lovers? Is this the new tone you were looking for?

Interactive map: where are the foreclosures?

AP news - knoxnews.comCalifornia, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, and Florida account for well more than half the total

The Shadow Budget | Feature | Chicago Reader

The Shadow Budget | Feature | Chicago Reader: "We recently came into possession of hard evidence of what we've long argued: that the city produces two annual budgets, one released to the public, covered by the media, and debated by the City Council, and the other forged behind closed doors by the Daley administration, shared only in pieces with certain aldermen, and never fully disclosed to citizens. Both budgets are funded by taxpayers.

For the last few years, we've been trying to force the city to open up that shadow budget, which is funded by property taxes diverted into Chicago's tax increment financing program."
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And another part of the secret budget is the zillions of condo and townhome associations around the loop.

55-and-over community wants to evict family with 6-year-old - St. Petersburg Times

55-and-over community wants to evict family with 6-year-old - St. Petersburg Times: "With her mother gone, her father a mystery and no other relatives to speak of, Kimberly's living arrangement seemed simple. Except for this: She was breaking the law. And now her case has drawn national attention.

The Stottlers' home, under the management of the Lakes Homeowners Association, was designated 55-and-over. Children could live there for no more than 60 days a year.

The association, which said its bylaws worked to preserve the age-restricted community, wanted Kimberly gone. But the Stottlers' attempts to sell their house stalled. Kimberly had no place else to go."
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Thanks to Beth for this updated story, which is full of heartbreaking detail. There is a line in the Cormac McCarthy novel No Country for Old Men that goes something like this: "If the rule that you follow has led you to this, of what use is the rule?"

And that about sums up my feeling on these 55 and over age restrictions. I have always believed that seniors' communities should not have been granted exemption from age discrimination laws. But legislators responded to their voting power and industry lobbying. The irony is that seniors are constantly filing complaints about discrimination against them. You can find people 80 years old bagging groceries. But seniors in these retirement communities are the first to use the law to go after kids, no matter what their circumstances or how badly it will hurt people.

Well, enjoy your freedom from the laughter of children, you bunch of creeps.

Obama Quarterly Approval Average Slips Nine Points to 53%

Obama Quarterly Approval Average Slips Nine Points to 53%: "In fact, the 9-point drop in the most recent quarter is the largest Gallup has ever measured for an elected president between the second and third quarters of his term, dating back to 1953."
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After reading this comment, I think he deserves it:

President Barack Obama says his family is like a lot of others — in which the men "need to be knocked across the head every once in a while" in order to see imbalances between the time moms and dads put into raising children. "There's no doubt that our family, like a lot of families out there, were ones in which the men are still a little obtuse about this stuff," Obama said Wednesday in an interview with NBC.

This sort of man-bashing just drives me up a tree. Speak for yourself, pal. So he is a loving but lazy father whose narcissism has driven him to obsess about climbing the greased pole of politics, and to dump the child raising responsibilities on his busy wife? Live with it. But don't pretend that this is the way men act toward their family responsibilities. It is the way you act.

Can't beat those tangible assets

Deserted shopping mall bleak symbol of Fed bailout | Reuters: "The Fed finds itself in the unusual situation of being an Oklahoma City landlord after it lent JPMorgan Chase $29 billion to buy Bear Stearns last year.

That money was secured by a portfolio of Bear assets. Crossroads Mall is the only bricks and mortar acquired through bailout. The remaining billions are tied up in invisible securities spread across hundreds, if not thousands, of properties.

It is hard to be precise because the Fed has not published specifics on what it now owns. The only reason that Crossroads Mall has surfaced is that it went into foreclosure in April."
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There is an oil well in the parking lot, but the Fed doesn't own the mineral rights. Other than the fact that the property seems to be worthless, we taxpayers got a heck of a deal.

Simi shuts family's haunted house attraction : Local News : Ventura County Star

Simi shuts family's haunted house attraction : Local News : Ventura County Star: "A popular haunted house in Simi Valley that attracts thousands of children each Halloween has been shut down because the city deemed it an unsafe structure.

Haunted Halls has been operated by Cindy Fike and her family outside their Sebring Street home for the past eight years. But what makes it popular — a covered wooden maze with steel poles, dark and spooky scenes, and volunteers that startle visitors — is the reason it was given a 72-hour notice Friday to be taken down.

Responding to an anonymous complaint, the city said the 1,200-square-foot “amusement building” didn’t have a permit."
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What kind of person would complain about this?

In Hawaii, school's out for recession

In Hawaii, school's out for recession: "HONOLULU (AP) - At a time when President Barack Obama is pushing for more time in the classroom, his home state has created the nation's shortest school year under a new union contract that closes schools on most Fridays for the remainder of the academic calendar.

The deal whacks 17 days from the school year for budget-cutting reasons and has education advocates incensed that Hawaii is drastically cutting the academic calendar at a time when it already ranks near the bottom in national educational achievement."

Daley Unveils Some Budget Plans - cbs2chicago.com

Daley Unveils Some Budget Plans - cbs2chicago.com: "Faced with a $550 million budget deficit, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley on Monday said that all non-union city workers would take nearly five working weeks of unpaid leave next year to save the city money.

Daley announced plans Monday to save $114 million by requiring 3,600 non-union city workers to take 24 unpaid days off, eliminating 220 vacant jobs and cutting expenses like travel and supplies by $20 million."
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That's the equivalent of a 9% pay cut. Note that union employees are exempt. Daley's hail Mary strategy was that failed Olympic bid. Now the bitter reality of the city's financial picture has to be faced.

Seeking Legal Representation - RFP - HOA Class Action Lawsuits | Deer Ridge Owners - Deer Ridge Mountain Resort - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Seeking Legal Representation - RFP - HOA Class Action Lawsuits | Deer Ridge Owners - Deer Ridge Mountain Resort - Gatlinburg, Tennessee: "The following is a standard, automated email that I plan on sending to 200-400 law firms in Knox, Blount and Sevier Counties with the goal of soliciting the best legal representation in our upcoming class action lawsuits concerning Deer Ridge Mountain Resort."
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Any takers?

Mass. town uses goats to clear meadow, save a buck | SeacoastOnline.com

Mass. town uses goats to clear meadow, save a buck | SeacoastOnline.com: "Under a pilot program in Andover, Lucy McKain's dairy goats will rotate their grazing around the meadow for an all-you-can-eat buffet of grass, brush and other growth. The goats can clear as much as a half acre every three days at no cost."
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The story of the Gömböc

The story of the Gömböc
Fascinating little shape.

Homeowners group seizes control of Scottsdale Estates clubhouse - The Daily Breeze

Homeowners group seizes control of Scottsdale Estates clubhouse - The Daily Breeze: "In the latest twist in a long-running power struggle, a dissident homeowners group has seized control of the clubhouse at Carson's Scottsdale Estates town house complex.

The group has been trying to wrest control of the homeowners' association from board President Cyd Balque for the past year, after she orchestrated a $40 increase in condo dues.

Armed with 349 signatures - and accompanied by a locksmith and private security guards - the group seized control of the Scottsdale Townhouses Association office on Thursday night."
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Looks like somebody stormed the Bastille. Thank to Fred Pilot for this link.

Five statues + HOA = big trouble

Neighbor against neighbor: "When she and her husband, Glenn, decided to buy a house in Willamette Landing, a planned development in South Corvallis, the statues went up on the porch and in the yard before the furniture was even unloaded.

'I wasn't going to move anywhere without my statues,' Wolf said.

Now those statues have become the focal point of a long-simmering dispute that has pitted the Wolfs against their homeowners' association board, stirred up ill will among the neighbors and prompted an effort to recall three of the five board members."
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Thanks to Beth for the link to this story about a home with five statues on the lawn ranging from 6 inches to 3 feet. The folks thought they were OK bringing these in, but the BOD doesn't like them. And they are off to HOA Conflict Land. As Mr. Wolf aptly put it, ""There's a sociological thing that happens when people are put in charge," Glenn Wolf said. "But when it's a homeowners' association, they're really not answerable to anybody. There's no one you can complain to except them."

And that about sums it up.

Joe Biden: the worrying rise of Barack Obama’s Mr Wrong - Telegraph

Joe Biden: the worrying rise of Barack Obama’s Mr Wrong - Telegraph: "On all the big questions, he has been – to put it politely – on the wrong side of history. In 1990, he voted against American forces expelling Saddam Hussein from Kuwait. He voted for the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and advocated splitting it into three states along ethnic lines. He opposed the Iraq troop surge of 2007 that pacified the country and rescued the US from the jaws of defeat.

Now, Mr Biden is pushing a policy of what he terms 'counter-terrorism plus' – a scheme which involves a much smaller military presence in Afghanistan, with al-Qaeda elements being targeted at long range by military drones and smart missiles.

This runs entirely against the counter-insurgency doctrine convincingly outlined by Gen Stanley McChrystal, who wants an extra 40,000 troops to enable Nato forces to protect and influence the people while mentoring the Afghan army and police, and gathering intelligence on the ground.

The problem is that Mr Obama may now be listening to Mr Biden."
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That's General Biden, please.

Harvard’s Bet on Interest Rate Rise Cost $500 Million to Exit - Bloomberg.com

Harvard’s Bet on Interest Rate Rise Cost $500 Million to Exit - Bloomberg.com: "Oct. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Harvard University’s failed bet that interest rates would rise cost the world’s richest school at least $500 million in payments to escape derivatives that backfired."
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You'd think with all those brilliant economists on the faculty that they could do better than this.

My Way News - Calif. bank becomes 99th in US to be shut in 2009

My Way News - Calif. bank becomes 99th in US to be shut in 2009: "NEW YORK (AP) - Regulators shut down San Joaquin Bank in California on Friday, marking the 99th failure this year of a federally insured bank.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. was appointed receiver of San Joaquin Bank, based in Bakersfield, Calif. It had $775 million in assets and $631 million in deposits as of Sept. 29."
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Cost to the FDIC (i.e., the taxpayers): an estimated $103 million.

Scientists create 'sexual tsunami' - Telegraph

Scientists create 'sexual tsunami' - Telegraph: "They discovered that when the pheromone was removed, it created a 'sexual tsunami' where the bugs proved attractive to one another, regardless of sex. The research found that male fruit flies with no history of homosexuality attempted to mate with their pheromone-free males, according to the research published in journal Nature."
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Wait until the Pentagon gets their hands on this one.

School Chief Sticks By 'Zero Tolerance' Ruling for Eagle Scout - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

School Chief Sticks By 'Zero Tolerance' Ruling for Eagle Scout - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com: "The upstate New York school superintendent who suspended an Eagle Scout for 20 days for keeping a 2-inch utility knife locked in his car is unwilling to speak to the teen's family or bend in his ruling."
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It is no wonder that so many parents have taken their children out of public schools. They are often run by people like this.

The Geography of Jobs - TIP Strategies

The Geography of Jobs - TIP Strategies

Posted using ShareThis

Texas man faces execution after jurors consult Bible to decide fate - Telegraph

Texas man faces execution after jurors consult Bible to decide fate - Telegraph: "At one point, a juror reportedly read aloud from a copy, including the passage: 'And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.'"
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And the defendant not only shot the victim--he beat him with the rifle, which is an instrument of iron. His execution date is November 5. If he is expecting any relief from Governor Rick Perry, I would not hold my breath on that one.

Foreclosures hit record in third quarter 2009 - Oct. 15, 2009

Foreclosures hit record in third quarter 2009 - Oct. 15, 2009: "NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Despite concerted government-led and lender-supported efforts to prevent foreclosures, the number of filings hit a record high in the third quarter, according to a report issued Thursday."
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The map looks like it could just as easily be ranking the percentage of CID housing in the state's housing stock.

Majority of Nobel jury 'objected to Obama prize'

Majority of Nobel jury 'objected to Obama prize': "'The committee was unanimous,' its influential secretary Geir Lundestad told AFP on Friday.

But Inger-Marie Ytterhorn, who represented the right-wing populist Progress Party on the committee, led the way in objecting to the choice of Obama because she questioned his ability to keep his promises, the newspaper said.

It also said the representative of the Conservative Party, Kaci Kullmann Five, and Aagot Valle, the representative of the Socialist Left, had objections.

The choice for Obama was however strongly supported by committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland and Sissel Roenbeck, both representatives of the Labour Party."
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Maybe they should rename it the "Nobel Political Prize."

Invading giant snakes threaten U.S wilderness areas | Lifestyle | Reuters

Invading giant snakes threaten U.S wilderness areas | Lifestyle | Reuters: "MIAMI (Reuters) - Burmese pythons and other giant snakes imported as pets could endanger some of America's most important parks and wilderness areas if they are allowed to multiply, according to a report released on Tuesday.

Wildlife experts say the Burmese python is distributed across thousands of square miles (kilometers) in south Florida. There could be tens of thousands in the Everglades, a wildlife refuge that is home to the Florida panther and other endangered species."
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And a whole bunch of other species too. They are breeding. It seems that Floridians buy themselves a nice python or boa, feed it the occasional mouse, and enjoy showing their friends their cool pet. But then it gets big enough to eat their kids, so they haul it off to the Everglades and leave it there. Problem solved. For them.

Tidbits: Jamie Foxx has no sympathy for Polanski - Tabloid Tidbits- msnbc.com

Tidbits: Jamie Foxx has no sympathy for Polanski - Tabloid Tidbits- msnbc.com: "“If it had been my daughter who was barely a teenager — my daughter is 15 — Roman Polanski would be missing ... period,” Foxx stated in an interview with Parade magazine. “"
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Well said, Mr. Foxx.

Apartment residents told to take down U.S. flags | KATU.com - News, Weather and Sports - Portland, Oregon | Local & Regional

Apartment residents told to take down U.S. flags | KATU.com - News, Weather and Sports - Portland, Oregon | Local & Regional: "Resident we talked to who had been approached to take down their flags all told us the same thing: that management told them the flags could be offensive because they live in a diverse community."
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And this really is a ban on flags, in all forms, all places, all manners of display. It seems that for this apartment building owner, any trace of patriotism might cause a conflict.

Obama fails to win Nobel prize in economics - MarketWatch

MarketWatch First Take: Obama fails to win Nobel prize in economics - MarketWatch: "While few observers think Obama has done anything for world peace in the nearly nine months he's been in office, the same clearly can't be said for economics.

The president has worked tirelessly since even before his inauguration to wrest control of the U.S. economy from failed free markets, and the evil CEOs who profit from them, and to turn it over to wise, fair and benevolent bureaucrats."
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Dang. Well, maybe next year.

HOA Fights Back Against Delinquent Members - Money News Story - WPBF West Palm Beach

HOA Fights Back Against Delinquent Members - Money News Story - WPBF West Palm Beach: "...with so many foreclosures, about 33 percent of homeowners are delinquent in their homeowner's association dues.

'(It's a) pretty high amount, substantial -- especially when you try to budget that,' said Prince.

Now, the community is trying something new. Liens are only marginally working, so the HOA board has invested in new security software and a car transponder system that will cut conveniences, like entry into the community -- until they pay up."
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The rule seems to be, the association gets all kinds of breaks and leniency from the law and the courts, but the owners have to live up to all their obligations, or else.

Henderson HOA to pay up for board member's mistake - Las Vegas Sun

Henderson HOA to pay up for board member's mistake - Las Vegas Sun: "A former board member of a homeowners association in Henderson whose landscaping company performed work for the association he represented -- while he sat on the board -- was disciplined last week by the state board that regulates homeowners associations.

At the hearing, some members of the Commission on Common Interest Communities and Condominium Hotels, however, expressed disappointment when they discovered that his $500 fine, like many of the fines they have handed out over the years, would be paid by the association he represented and not out of his own pocket."
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Do you ever get the feeling that the game is rigged? I mean, this is Nevada and all.

My husband had beaten cancer, then doctors wrongly told him it had returned and let him die | Mail Online

My husband had beaten cancer, then doctors wrongly told him it had returned and let him die | Mail Online: "A grandfather who beat cancer was wrongly told the disease had returned and left to die at a hospice which pioneered a controversial 'death pathway'.

Doctors said there was nothing more they could do for 76-year- old Jack Jones, and his family claim he was denied food, water and medication except painkillers.

He died within two weeks. But tests after his death found that his cancer had not come back and he was in fact suffering from pneumonia brought on by a chest infection."
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But on the other hand, the system that appears to have let him die is such a wonderful egalitarian thing.

Parking meters may help plug Indy's money gap | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star

Parking meters may help plug Indy's money gap | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star
Supposedly I'm quoted in this story somewhere.

Recession-hit Britain to sell off state assets: PM

Recession-hit Britain to sell off state assets: PM: "The government is to sell off 16 billion pounds (25.4 billion dollars, 17.2 billion euros) of assets, Brown was to say, according to extracts from a keynote speech to be given London, setting out his vision for 'enduring and sustainable growth.'

Brown was to outline details of initial sales that could raise three billion pounds, including the Channel Tunnel linking Britain to France; the 33 percent stake in European uranium consortium URENCO; the Tote bookmakers; the River Thames crossings at Dartford, east of London; and the Student Loans Company."
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Just like Chicago selling the Skyway and the parking meters, and trying to sell Midway Airport, while the state of Illinois tries to sell the lottery. And on, and on. Fire sale on government, Aisle Five.

Chávez Fans Push to Remove Legacies of U.S. Capitalism - Golf Courses - NYTimes.com

Chávez Fans Push to Remove Legacies of U.S. Capitalism - Golf Courses - NYTimes.com: "“Let’s leave this clear,” Mr. Chávez said during a live broadcast of his Sunday television program. “Golf is a bourgeois sport,” he said, repeating the word “bourgeois” as if he were swallowing castor oil. Then he went on, mocking the use of golf carts as a practice illustrating the sport’s laziness.

The government’s broad nationalizations and asset seizures have gone far beyond the oil industry to include coffee roasters, cattle ranches and tomato-processing plants."
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Firs they came for the coffee roasters and people said nothing. Then it was the cattle ranches and the tomato processing plants, and still people said nothing.

Then they came for the golf courses! And that was the start of the Revolution!

FORE!

Biggest news you’ve never heard: Earth isn’t warming | csmonitor.com

Biggest news you’ve never heard: Earth isn’t warming | csmonitor.com: "Five major climate centers around the world agree that average global temperatures have not risen in the past 11 years, according to the BBC. In fact, in eight of those years, global average temperatures dipped a tad."
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But this can be dismissed easily, because it is that right-wing Christian Science Monitor quoting that right-wing BBC.

Opinion | America's renters deserve better treatment from federal and local governments | Seattle Times Newspaper

Opinion | America's renters deserve better treatment from federal and local governments | Seattle Times Newspaper: "Goodbye to the era of homeownership as the powerful, pervasive symbol of the American Dream. Who believes any longer that owning your own house is a sure ticket to building wealth and assuring yourself an easy retirement?

So, welcome back to renting — the plain vanilla, easy-to-grasp idea that you pay methodically, month by month, for the roof over your head."
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I think the era of home ownership began winding down when CIDs became the predominant form of new housing.

Nation & World | Clothesline bans stir rights battles | Seattle Times Newspaper

Nation & World | Clothesline bans stir rights battles | Seattle Times Newspaper: "Like the majority of the 60 million people who live in the nation's roughly 300,000 private communities, Saylor was forbidden to dry her laundry outside because many people viewed it as an eyesore, not unlike storing junk cars in driveways, and a marker of poverty that lowers property values.

In the past year, however, state lawmakers in Colorado, Hawaii, Maine and Vermont have overridden these local rules with legislation protecting the right to hang laundry outdoors, citing environmental concerns, because clothes dryers use at least 6 percent of all household electricity consumed.

Florida and Utah already had such laws, and similar bills are being considered in Maryland, North Carolina, Oregon and Virginia, clothesline advocates say."
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My Way News - 2012 isn't the end of the world, Mayans insist

My Way News - 2012 isn't the end of the world, Mayans insist: "MEXICO CITY (AP) - Apolinario Chile Pixtun is tired of being bombarded with frantic questions about the Mayan calendar supposedly 'running out' on Dec. 21, 2012. After all, it's not the end of the world.

Or is it?

Definitely not, the Mayan Indian elder insists. 'I came back from England last year and, man, they had me fed up with this stuff.'"
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And he ought to know.

The Nobel Peace Prize Committee members

Committee members | Nobels fredspris
These are the five people who gave the Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama: Thorbjørn Jagland, Kaci Kullmann Five (yes, her name is Five), Sissel Marie Rønbeck, Inger-Marie Ytterhorn, and Ågot Valle. That is Ronbeck on the left. I'm sure they are perfectly nice people. But why is the Nobel Peace Prize considered such a great thing when it is awarded by five unknown Norwegian politicians? Why is it worth more than if I and four friends think Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" video was a greater contribution to world peace than anything Obama did in the last 9 months?

California RealEstateRama | Real Estate News, Press Releases and Articles from California

California RealEstateRama | Real Estate News, Press Releases and Articles from CaliforniaHas links to news about the California real estate industry and market.

Is bankruptcy an option for San Diego?

Is bankruptcy an option for San Diego?: "Less than 500 municipalities have declared bankruptcy since Congress allowed it under Chapter 9 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in 1934, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. Whether San Diego chooses to take that route is a decision left to the city’s elected officers, and first they’d have to prove the city can no longer pay the bills necessary to keep it functioning."
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San Diego's situation has gotten worse than it was when bankruptcy was first proposed.

Homeowners set to sue banks over low interest loans - Business News, Business - The Independent

Homeowners set to sue banks over low interest loans - Business News, Business - The Independent: "Thousands of holders of controversial shared appreciation mortgages (SAMs) have been told they can club together to take on the banks that sold them in court in a US-style class action.

The schemes saw Barclays and Bank of Scotland offering low – or zero – interest loans on homes while taking up to 75 per cent of the increase in value of those homes when the mortgages were repaid. They were hugely popular when sold in 1997 and 1998 before the property boom got under way. Now, however, those who took them out often find themselves trapped in their homes and unable to move."
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The Associated Press: AP, News Corp bosses tell search engines to pay up

The Associated Press: AP, News Corp bosses tell search engines to pay up: "By ALEXA OLESEN (AP) – 7 hours ago

BEIJING — The leaders of two of the world's major news organizations said Friday that it is time for search engines and others who use news content for free to pay up.

The comments from Tom Curley of The Associated Press and News Corp.'s Rupert Murdoch come as the media industry struggles in the Internet age. Many news companies contend that sites such as Google have reaped a fortune from their articles, photos and video without fairly compensating the news organizations producing the material."
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And yet note that this story I have reaped a fortune from reproducing comes from...the Associated Press. Ah, the irony.

Investors.com - Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Now FHA

Investors.com - Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Now FHA: "Housing Mess: A huge, government-run housing agency shows massive losses and needs a bailout. Fannie Mae? Freddie Mac? No. It's the Federal Housing Administration, in a bad case of financial-meltdown deja vu.

The FHA, which insures mortgages made by first-time buyers with low down payments, says it may need a bailout because it will have losses of — get this — $54 billion. And how did it lose all that? By backing home loans made to people who couldn't pay them off.

Where have we heard this before?"
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Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize to mixed reviews | Reuters

Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize to mixed reviews | Reuters: "The decision to bestow one of the world's top accolades on a president less than nine months into his first term, who has yet to score a major foreign policy success, was greeted with gasps of astonishment from journalists at the announcement in Oslo."
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You can't blame the guy for being a narcissist. Every time he turns around somebody gives him something he did little or nothing to earn.

Underground City Envisioned in Nevada - Yahoo! News

Underground City Envisioned in Nevada - Yahoo! News: "According to a recent study, over the coming century the Southwest will essentially transition into a state of 'perpetual drought' due to the effects of global warming. This prediction leads to the questions of whether the worsening arid conditions of the Southwest should be called a drought or whether the regional climate is changing.

'Sietch Nevada projects waterbanking as the fundamental factor in future urban infrastructure in the American Southwest. Sietch Nevada is an urban prototype that makes the storage, use, and collection of water essential to the form and performance of urban life. Inverting the stereotypical Southwest urban patterns of dispersed programs open to the sky, the Sietch is a dense, underground community. A network of storage canals is covered with undulating residential and commercial structures.'"
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As the article points out, this sounds a whole lot like Dune.

Crippled man up in arms over NHS | The Sun |News

Crippled man up in arms over NHS | The Sun |News
Another triumph of socialized medicine. Don't click the link because the photo of his arm is not for the faint of heart.

Airports To Screen Passengers For H1N1 Symptoms - wcbstv.com

Airports To Screen Passengers For H1N1 Symptoms - wcbstv.com: "The government warns that some passengers may be asked to pass through a screening device, have their temperatures taken, answer questions about their health, and even be quarantined if someone on the flight shows symptoms of H1N1."
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I hope these are oral thermometers they are talking about. But when we get to the point of quarantining an entire flight of people because of one person, I think things are pretty far over the line.

FHA Shortfall Seen at $54 Billion May Lead to Bailout (Update1) - Bloomberg.com

FHA Shortfall Seen at $54 Billion May Lead to Bailout (Update1) - Bloomberg.com: "The Federal Housing Administration, which insures mortgages with low down payments, may require a U.S. bailout because of $54 billion more in losses than it can withstand, a former Fannie Mae executive said.

“It appears destined for a taxpayer bailout in the next 24 to 36 months,” consultant Edward Pinto said in testimony prepared for a House committee hearing in Washington today. Pinto was the chief credit officer from 1987 to 1989 for Fannie Mae, the mortgage-finance company that is now government-run."
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Well, we taxpayers can just reach into our pot of bailout dollars that we all have in the cupboard and support the good old FHA, right?

Jack LaLanne at 95 / He exercised his personal demons

Jack LaLanne at 95 / He exercised his personal demons: "LaLanne works out two hours a day, mostly swimming and lifting weights, at the LaLanne mansion on the Central Coast.

'I work at living,' he says, leaning close and squeezing an arm. 'Most people work at dying. Dying's easy.'"
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Jack LaLanne has been my hero since I was a kid. Still is.

San Rafael partners with Peacock Gap neighborhood group on median maintenance - Marin Independent Journal

San Rafael partners with Peacock Gap neighborhood group on median maintenance - Marin Independent Journal: "Despite some community objections, the San Rafael City Council signed off on a landscape maintenance pact with a Peacock Gap neighborhood group that could be the way of things to come.

The council on Monday unanimously approved a city partnership with the Peacock Gap Homeowners Association that puts maintenance of the neighborhood's long-neglected medians and other landscaping in city hands with $80,000 of neighborhood funding.

The city will use funding from the association to improve the medians with new irrigation systems and landscaping.

'With all the budget cuts, we are forced to come up with creative solutions to come up with services,' said city spokeswoman Terri Hardesty. 'This is a great example. It could be the beginning of many more partnerships.'"
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Like I keep saying, HOAs are becoming the lowest level of local government. Thanks to Fred Pilot for this link.

Straighten up that bacon!

Telegram.com - A product of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette: "She had been turning over strips of bacon that were cooking in a pan when Mr. Rutledge became angry because “it wasn’t in a neat line,” she wrote in a statement she gave police. She told police he struck her and told her, “You’re going to cause your own death.”"
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Too bad he couldn't have channeled his impulses for creating order into some more productive vein, such being president of an HOA.

Widow vs. HOA dispute gets HUD's attention | Mesa Arizona News - Mesa News - Mesa AZ news | eastvalleytribune.com

Widow vs. HOA dispute gets HUD's attention | Mesa Arizona News - Mesa News - Mesa AZ news | eastvalleytribune.com: "Federal housing authorities have become involved with the case of an 87-year-old Mesa woman whose homeowners association told her she can't have a grandson live with her as a caregiver because of the community's age restrictions."
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Go, Granny, go!

Loudoun Times: One HOA doing its part to prevent economic recovery

Loudoun Times: "Residents of CountrySide are upset that members of the community's board of directors are considering a plan to restrict home businesses, threatening operations such as home day cares.

According to a draft of the resolution, permission to operate any business would have to be obtained from all adjacent property owners and from the board of directors."
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Can you imagine a worse time to do this?

Hotel defaults, foreclosures rise in California -- latimes.com

Hotel defaults, foreclosures rise in California -- latimes.com: "More California hotels are being pushed into foreclosure as tourists and businesses alike scale back their travel plans and owners are unable to pay their mortgages.

Statewide, more than 300 hotels were in foreclosure or default on their loans as of Sept. 30 -- a nearly fivefold increase since the start of the year, according to an industry report released Tuesday.

The list of troubled properties includes the St. Regis Monarch Beach in Dana Point, the downtown Los Angeles Marriott, the Sheraton Universal and the W hotel in San Diego."
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This is just the beginning of a meltdown in the commercial real estate market.

WBBM 780 - Chicago's #1 source for local news, traffic and weather - Naperville restricts sleeping downtown

WBBM 780 - Chicago's #1 source for local news, traffic and weather - Naperville restricts sleeping downtown: "NAPERVILLE, Ill. (STNG) -- Scott Huber plans to stay put under his tarp outside the central parking deck in downtown Naperville, despite a new law designed to keep him out.

Huber has been camping on the sidewalk for eight years in what he calls a protest against the city for taking away his lifestyle and electronics business. Under a new city ordinance effective in 30 days, Huber will need a special event permit or a new location to continue -- or face daily fines of up to $100 and a court injunction."
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How would Naperville look if a few thousand people decided to save money by living under a tarp in a pubic parking garage?

Illinois State Comptroller Dan Hynes Says State Finances A Mounting Crisis, Things Getting Worse - cbs2chicago.com

Illinois State Comptroller Dan Hynes Says State Finances A Mounting Crisis, Things Getting Worse - cbs2chicago.com: "The State of Illinois' pile of unpaid bills has grown to a record-breaking $3 billion. Comptroller Dan Hynes said Tuesday it's never before been this bad at this point in any previous fiscal year. CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports that some social service agencies that rely heavily on state reimbursement warn they will soon be forced out of business.

Hynes said that things are likely to get worse before the state's bleak revenue picture begins to improve."
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They aren't even paying the dental bills for their employees. The state deducts money from our paychecks for this coverage, and then we pay our share directly to the provider, but the state won't pay what they owe. So the provider--take my kids' dentist, for example--threatens to turn me over to a collection agency if I don't pay it. So I pay the state's share. Then, someday down the road, the state will pay the dentist what they owe, and the dentist will have been paid twice. Will the dentist notify me? Probably not. So how will I know that they made that payment at long last? I won't, unless I call the dentist relentlessly.

Illinois Review: Bill Ayers' admits he wrote "Dreams of My Father"

Illinois Review: Bill Ayers' admits he wrote "Dreams of My Father": "Then, unprompted he said--I wrote Dreams From My Father. I said, oh, so you admit it. He said--Michelle asked me to. I looked at him. He seemed eager. He's about my height, short. He went on to say--and if you can prove it, we can split the royalties."
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In the blogosphere what Ayers did is called a "troll." But the conservative bloggers who are repeating this endlessly don't get the joke. Do they really think that Ayers confessed the biggest literary fraud of the century to a right wing activist who had just taken his picture in an airport? Come on, people.

UIC's education building, where he teaches, is right across Harrison Street from the Behavioral Sciences Building, where I work. Yesterday when I was leaving the office for Union Station, I walked past Ayers as he was trying to hail a cab at the corner of Harrison and Morgan. I stood there for minute waiting for the light to change. It was raining and he seemed frustrated when a cab drove right past him. Can't blame him. I guess sometimes being rich and famous doesn't mean a thing. Not that I would know.

Despite Chicago 2016 Olympic loss, White House new sports office to continue - Lynn Sweet

Despite Chicago 2016 Olympic loss, White House new sports office to continue - Lynn Sweet: "WASHINGTON--With some fanfare, the White House created the first-ever Office on Olympic, Paralympic, and Youth Sport to help bolster Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid. Chicago suffered an embarrassing loss last Friday in Copenhagen--getting knocked out in the first round of voting. Turned out Chicago never had a chance. But the Sun-Times has learned that the Obama sports office will continue, even though the Chicago bid flamed out."
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Of course. Because the Administration is full of people who think there is no such thing as an unnecessary government agency. Which is a convenient rationale for making sure that all your buddies keep their government jobs at taxpayer expense.

Biting pupil pried from Ohio teacher's arm

Biting pupil pried from Ohio teacher's arm: "DAYTON, Ohio (AP) - Police said an Ohio elementary school student bit a teacher on the arm and had to be pried off by a school official."
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No wonder they want four-day weeks.

As Obama Advocates Longer School Year, Teachers' Unions Push for Shorter Weeks - Political News - FOXNews.com

As Obama Advocates Longer School Year, Teachers' Unions Push for Shorter Weeks - Political News - FOXNews.com: "In order to save everyone's job, teachers' union organizers in many states and school districts are advocating payless furloughs for all employees -- getting four days' pay for four days' work.

But critics say the teachers are putting their own priorities above the students they're supposed to be nurturing, and that payless furloughs will cost the kids services and class time."
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Sigh.

Aging in America: Why seniors are not getting swine flu | Latest News | WFAA.com

Aging in America: Why seniors are not getting swine flu | Latest News | WFAA.com
Until the 1990s few people bothered to get flu shots. So they got the flu, and the prevalent attitude was, so what? There once was a time when getting the flu was not considered a major event unless you were especially vulnerable. And now the older you are, the more antibodies you have. Ironic.

Girl in box seat, mom on hot seat :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Nation

Girl in box seat, mom on hot seat :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Nation: "A police spokesman said the 37-year-old woman was arrested Sunday after police received a call about a minivan on a state highway with a child riding on top.

The woman told police the box was too big to go inside the van, and that her daughter was inside the box to hold it down, police said.

Police said the mother told officers it was safe because she had the box secured to the van with a clothes hanger."
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Sweet home Alabama.

Criminalizing everyone - Washington Times

Criminalizing everyone - Washington Times: "Chairman Robert C. Scott, Virginia Democrat, and ranking member Louie Gohmert, Texas Republican, conducted a truly bipartisan hearing (a D.C. rarity this year).

These two leaders have begun giving voice to the increasing number of experts who worry about 'overcriminalization.' Astronomical numbers of federal criminal laws lack specifics, can apply to almost anyone and fail to protect innocents by requiring substantial proof that an accused person acted with actual criminal intent."
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Read about the 66 year old retiree who spent two years in prison for selling orchids from his home without the proper paperwork.

Pa. Woman Mauled To Death By Bear - cbs3.com

Pa. Woman Mauled To Death By Bear - cbs3.com: "Authorities say Kelly Ann Walz, 37, of Ross Township in Monroe County, was attacked by her 350 pound pet bear while cleaning its cage at about 5 p.m. Sunday. Walz had reportedly thrown a shovelful of dog food to one side of the cage to distract the bear while she cleaned the other side, but the animal turned on her and attacked."
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Darwin would probably have something to say about this.

William Saletan: No smoking in your own apartment. - By William Saletan - Slate Magazine

No smoking in your own apartment. - By William Saletan - Slate Magazine: "Two years ago, Belmont, Calif., outlawed smoking in apartments and condos with shared floors or ceilings. Then last year, two New York condo owners sued their neighbor for lighting up in her apartment and 'causing smoke to enter into the common hallway.' Now comes another court fight: According to the Dallas Morning News, a local woman is suing her ex-neighbor and her ex-landlord 'for damage she says was caused by cigarette smoke wafting through adjoining walls of her high-end townhome.'"
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At some point you have to wonder if the issues are more psychological than physiological.

Spengler strikes again

Asia Times Online :: Asian news and current affairs: "The parallels between America in 2009 and Japan in 1989 are uncanny. An asset price bubble has collapsed, just before a tsunami of prospective retirements that the asset bubble was supposed to fund. Demand for savings is bottomless, and the government satisfies demands for savings by running a huge deficit and issuing debt. The crippled banking system borrows at an interest rate of zero and buys government securities. And the economy shrivels up and dies."
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I hope he's wrong, but his explanation is persuasive.

The Associated Press: Police chiefs endorse anti-terror community watch

The Associated Press: Police chiefs endorse anti-terror community watch: "DENVER — A store clerk's curiosity about why Najibullah Zazi was buying large quantities of beauty supply products indicated that something about the transaction wasn't quite right — and it's an example of the kind of citizen vigilance that can combat terror, a police commander said Saturday.

Los Angeles police Cmdr. Joan McNamara cited this summer's incident as police chiefs meeting in Denver adopted a model for a nationwide community watch program that teaches people what behavior is truly suspicious and encourages them to report it to police."
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Great. Citizens informing local police about the "suspicious" activities of their neighbors...what could possibly go wrong?

FTC to Regulate Blogging - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News - FOXNews.com

FTC to Regulate Blogging - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News - FOXNews.com: "The Federal Trade Commission will try to regulate blogging for the first time, requiring writers on the Web to clearly disclose any freebies or payments they get from companies for reviewing their products.

The FTC said Monday its commissioners voted 4-0 to approve the final Web guidelines, which had been expected. Violating the rules, which take effect Dec. 1, could bring fines up to $11,000 per violation. Bloggers or advertisers also could face injunctions and be ordered to reimburse consumers for financial losses stemming from inappropriate product reviews."
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This is so ridiculous. What a complete waste of taxpayers' money.

Man shoots neighbor over leaves in Randolph

Man shoots neighbor over leaves in Randolph: "BOSTON -- A Randolph man pleaded not guilty to armed assault with intent to murder after police said he shot his neighbor over a leaf-dumping dispute."
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Just your average neighbor who "always carried his gun, even when cutting the lawn or playing with the kids."

Dismissal of Obama birthplace lawsuit argued - Total Buzz - OCRegister.com

Dismissal of Obama birthplace lawsuit argued - Total Buzz - OCRegister.com: "“It would be disastrous if a single circuit court judge had the power to remove a president from office,” said Assistant United States Attorney Roger West."
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My mother was Roger West's secretary for years before her retirement at age 79.

California: Red light camera ripoff declared illegal

California: Another Appellate Court Strikes Down Cost Neutrality: "A second appellate ruling has struck down a California city's red light camera program as illegal. On September 22, the California Superior Court for the County of San Mateo, Appellate Department overturned motorist Al Bullock's $387 conviction for making a right turn on red. Presiding Judge Mark R. Forcum concisely found that San Mateo's cost neutral contract with an Australian company, Redflex Traffic Systems, was in direct violation of state law.

'Reversed,' Forcum wrote in a one-word decision.

California law explicitly bans local jurisdictions from rewarding red light camera companies with payments based on the number of citations issued or as a percentage of fines generated. At least fifty cities have attempted to skirt this requirement with a clever arrangement known as cost neutrality. These contract provisions allow a city to pay the contractor based on the number of citations issued up to a certain monthly amount. After this cap is reached, the city keeps all of the revenue generated. The provisions are designed to ensure that cities can only profit from photo ticketing and will never pay to operate the program."
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Nice to see that some appellate courts are standing up to these grasping local governments.

My Way News - Great time for US consumers: America is on sale

My Way News - Great time for US consumers: America is on sale: "The Great Recession has caused massive job losses and hardship for millions, but it has also fostered a shoppers' paradise. Anyone who still has the means to spend can find unheard of deals."
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So get out there and borrow some money and buy a bunch of stuff.

Vegas Casinos Fold on Expansion Plans - WSJ.com

Vegas Casinos Fold on Expansion Plans - WSJ.com: "LAS VEGAS -- After a six-year building frenzy that transformed this city, casino companies are shifting strategies dramatically toward slower growth, paying down debt and cutting back on spending.

Many casino executives don't expect to break ground on another major building project in Las Vegas for at least 10 years."
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Think about how many jobs these projects create, then consider the consequences of not having them.

Group offers homeowner's board training The Post and Courier - Charleston SC newspaper

Group offers homeowner's board training The Post and Courier - Charleston SC newspaper: "Anyone who serves on a homeowner association board knows the responsibility usually comes with little training. Some groups are barely equipped with enforceable bylaws.

The Community Associations Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, has launched a program to address that gap in association-governance knowledge. The group is offering a free online training course that could help new board members get their bearings."
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I love the way the local press just takes press releases and plugs them right into the newspaper as if they were news or something. Anyway, CAI is taking their training online.

New York City to Establish Surveillance Network in Midtown - NYTimes.com

New York City to Establish Surveillance Network in Midtown - NYTimes.com: "Asked Sunday about criticism of the increased surveillance, Mr. Bloomberg said: “We live in a world where we have to have a balance. We can’t just say everybody can go everyplace and do anything they want.”"
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Politicians love these straw man arguments. As if anybody had suggested that in New York City, there should be no restrictions on anybody's movements and activities.

Homeowners are challenging property-tax assessments at a record rate | Philadelphia Inquirer | 10/04/2009

Homeowners are challenging property-tax assessments at a record rate | Philadelphia Inquirer | 10/04/2009: "With the ebbing of the real estate market, a record-bursting tide of property-tax appeals is inundating assessment offices all over the region - and the nation - with appeal numbers double and triple what they were last year."
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My sense of the situation--and it is just anecdotal--is that assessments have not been lowered to reflect the decline in property values. That would account for the wave of challenges.

Barack Obama furious at General Stanley McChrystal speech on Afghanistan - Telegraph

Barack Obama furious at General Stanley McChrystal speech on Afghanistan - Telegraph: "In London, Gen McChrystal, who heads the 68,000 US troops in Afghanistan as well as the 100,000 Nato forces, flatly rejected proposals to switch to a strategy more reliant on drone missile strikes and special forces operations against al-Qaeda.

He told the Institute of International and Strategic Studies that the formula, which is favoured by Vice-President Joe Biden, would lead to 'Chaos-istan'. When asked whether he would support it, he said: 'The short answer is: No.' He went on to say: 'Waiting does not prolong a favorable outcome. This effort will not remain winnable indefinitely, and nor will public support.'

The remarks have been seen by some in the Obama administration as a barbed reference to the slow pace of debate within the White House."
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So then Obama and McChrystal had their little tete-a-tete in Copenhagen, and now the White House is leaking these items about how they are unhappy with his rhetoric. And over the weekend the Taliban made headlines with an attack that killed ten Americans.

Will California become America's first failed state? | World news | The Observer

Will California become America's first failed state? | World news | The Observer: "The crisis is so deep that Professor Kenneth Starr, who has written an acclaimed history of the state, recently declared: 'California is on the verge of becoming the first failed state in America.'"
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Yes, indeed. Things are that bad. The state and local governments are in a state of budgetary crisis and political paralysis. The problems are structural, not temporary. The public schools are horrible, the great system of public higher education is in trouble, infrastructure is crumbling, the middle class is leaving and the poor are still arriving in droves, the prison system is overflowing, the housing market is in chaos, and on and on. The state is at this point impossible to govern. But if you go to California, as I did this summer, you will find that the people who live there are going about their lives as usual and not even talking about this sort of thing except in passing.

Wile E. Coyote chases the roadrunner until he runs off a cliff, but he doesn't fall until he looks down.