Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Barker's Newsbites: Wednesday, January 12, 2011
How'bout some nice, soothing music...
Yeah, yeah... I know... not my usual style.
This is a great movie, though; "love" makes me smile; "love" makes me happy.
(Anyone got a frigg'n PROBLEM with that...?!?!) (Nah... didn't think so...)
8:15 a.m. - First cup of coffee.
9:50 a.m. - Ate an apple.
10:10 a.m. - Second cup of coffee.
11:55 a.m. - Ham, cheese, and tomato sandwich on whole grain bread.
12:25 p.m. - Some cheddar cheese goldfish dipped in plain sour cream.
3:30 p.m. - Glass of lite iced tea.
4:55 p.m. - Lite yogurt with quarter cup of "Special K" mixed in.
7:55 p.m. - Pepperoni and mushroom pizza with extra cheese.
8:20 p.m. - Some pineapple.
9:40 p.m. - A glass of Crystal Lite with mega-vitamins and a brandy filled chocolate.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2011/01/governor-seeks-to-hang-up-half-of-96000-cell-phones-in-hands-of-state-workers.html
Alarmed at discovering that the state pays for 96,000 cellphones, Gov. Jerry Brown issued an executive order Tuesday seeking to cut in half the number of devices being billed to taxpayers.
Requiring 48,000 cellphones to be turned in by June 1 will save the state about $20 million a year.
* O.K., BUT ARE YOU FOLKS THINKING WHAT I'M THINKING...???
“It is difficult for me to believe that 40% of all state employees must be equipped with taxpayer-funded cellphones,” Brown said. “Some state employees, including department and agency executives who are required to be in touch 24 hours a day and seven days a week, may need cellphones..."
* O.K. NOW HERE'S WHAT I'M THINKING. THESE SAME "SOME" REQUIRE... er... PANTS, RIGHT? SUITS? TIES? SHOES? IN THIS DAY AND AGE CELL PHONES ARE PART OF PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE'S "ATTIRE." IN THOSE INSTANCES WHERE AN EMPLOYEE CAN MAKE THE CASE THAT HE OR SHE IS INCURRING PHONE EXPENSES "OUT OF THE NORM" WHICH ARE SPECIFICALLY "JOB RELATED" THEN FINE... SOMETHING CAN BE WORKED OUT... BUT BY AND LARGE EMPLOYER PROVIDED CELL PHONES SHOULD BE THE RARE, RARE, RARE EXCEPTION RATHER THAN THE RULE OR EVEN A "NORM" FOR "SOME."
* BOTTOM LINE: GOV. MOONBEAN GETS PARTIAL CREDIT HERE. (AS FOR THE PREVIOUS "GOVERNATOR," HE WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE A PUTZ.)
The new governor is looking for ways to cut waste to help him dig the state out of a $25-billion budget hole...
* WHICH THE DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE IS LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR...
...which has also required him to propose asking voters to extend some existing taxes.
* BULLSHIT! THERE'S NO "REQUIREMENT" TO MAKE THINGS WORSE BY RAISING TAXES. CUT SPENDING. CUT ENTITLEMENTS. BREAK UNFULFILLABLE PROMISES PRECEEDING GOVERNMENTS MADE. LOOK AT HOW MUCH REVENUE YOU HAVE COMING IN AND START FROM SCRATCH IN ORDER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S AFFORDABLE AND WHAT'S NOT.
Brown also wants to reduce the number of state vehicles. There are 13,600 light-duty vehicles, including cars and vans in the state fleet but not including the 12,000 that are used by public safety agencies, including California Highway Patrol. Brown is requiring that each vehicle’s purpose and necessity be "rejustified," his budget said.
(*SMIRK*) HOW'BOUT THIS: SELL EACH AND EVERY "CONVENIENCE" VEHICLE - EACH AND EVERY "EXECUTIVE" VEHICLE.
"Only vehicles necessary for critical state functions will be retained and only when retaining such vehicles is cost effective," the budget said.
* DOES ANYONE... ANYONE AT ALL... BELIEVE BROWN WILL FOLLOW THROUGH? (*SHRUG*)
http://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/congress/2011/01/house-members-want-added-security-after-giffords-shooting
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) on Tuesday called for an increase in House budget to allow for augmented security for members.
* NO.
Just last week, the [new Republican controlled] House voted to slash its operating budget by 5%, or $35 million, as part of the GOP drive to reduce federal spending the cut the deficit.
(*CLAP-CLAP-CLAP*)
Jackson wants that money restored, plus 10%, in order to augment security in the Capitol and in districts, where he said some lawmakers may need to hire security for constituent events and install surveillance cameras in their district offices.
(*SMIRK*)
* HEY, JESSE... EITHER PRIORITIZE YOUR EXISTING BUDGET OR RESIGN AND TAKE A "SAFER" JOB.
Rep. Dan Burton, (R-IN) renewed his call for the installation of an impenetrable, see-through security shield around the viewing gallery overlooking the House floor. Burton points out that, while guns and some bombs would be picked up by metal detectors, a saboteur could get into the Capitol concealing plastic explosives.
* THERE ARE FEW REPUBLICAN MORONS... (*SIGH*)... BUT AS THIS DEMONSTRATES, THEY DO EXIST.
* NO, DAN.... (*SIGH*)... NO "IMPENETRABLE SHIELD." (*SNORT*)
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/01/12/illinois-lawmakers-approve-66-tax-hike/
By a single vote, Illinois lawmakers approved a 66% increase to the personal income tax...
The hike increases the state’s personal income tax rate from 3% to 5%. In real numbers, if your gross income is $50,000 a year, your state income taxes will rise from $1,500 to $2,500 a year.
* WOW... A THOUSAND DOLLAR HIT. IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT CHRISTMAS FOR THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS COME DECEMBER.
(*JUST SHAKING MY HEAD*)
The hike will also boost business taxes by nearly 50%.
(*SARCASTIC CLAP-CLAP-CLAP*)
* YEP... THESE TAX INCREASES ARE SURE BOUND TO... er... "STIMULATE" THE ECONOMY! (NOT!)
The tax hike will be coupled with strict 2% limits on spending growth.
* Ahh... SO THE DEMS ARE PLANNING ON INCREASING ALREADY UNAFFORDABLE GOVERNMENT SPENDING; GOOD MOVE!
(*SNORT*)
If officials spend above those limits, the tax increase will automatically be canceled.
* WELL THAT'S SURE GONNA TEACH 'EM! (IMAGINE... YOU'VE MADE A NEW YEARS' RESOLUTION TO QUIT SMOKING AND LIMIT DRINKING. SO IF YOU FALL OFF THE WAGON IN TERMS OF SMOKING... YOUR "PUNISHMENT" IS TO NO LONGER HAVE TO LIMIT YOUR DRINKING...???)
* SERIOUSLY, FOLKS... YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS SHIT UP!
Drive through the park - you know how a love the park.
-Carl
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/11/AR2011011107045.html
A Texas Republican congressman - Kevin Brady - wants to cut the federal workforce by 10% in the next decade, impose a three-year pay freeze across federal agencies and Capitol Hill, and trim government printing and vehicle costs.
* "OVER THE NEXT DECADE...?" HOW'BOUT OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS...?!?!
Brady's bill, the Cut Unsustainable and Top-heavy Spending (CUTS) Act, is the first detailed series of spending proposals introduced in the GOP-controlled House that targets government operations and the federal workforce.
* AND GOD WILLING IT WON'T BE THE LAST!
Adopting many proposals introduced by Obama's bipartisan fiscal commission, Brady's bill would eliminate about $150 billion in federal spending over five years by, among other things, cutting 200,000 federal jobs - including civilian Pentagon positions - through attrition over the next decade. The cuts would occur by replacing every three workers who leave the government with two new hires...
* SEEMS LIKE A FAIRLY "MODERATE" PROPOSAL TO ME... (*SHRUG*)
"There's not a business in America that's survived this recession without right-sizing its workforce, without having to become more productive with fewer workers. The federal government can't be the exception," Brady said. "We're going to have to find a way to serve our constituents and our taxpayers better and quicker and more accurately with fewer workers.
* FUNNY... JUST LAST NIGHT THAT WINDBAG BILL O'REILLY WAS SUGGESTING THAT IN RESPONSE TO THE ARIZONA TRAGEDY WE HIRE MORE FEDERAL MARSHALS SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE "MARSHALS'" SECURITY TO EACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
* BTW... THE ANSWER IS "NO," BILL!
(*JUST SHAKING MY HEAD*)
The bill also calls for a three-year pay freeze for lawmakers and executive-branch employees, including Defense Department workers, saving about $26 billion over five years.
(*THUMBS UP*)
* STILL... IT'S THE BENEFITS WHICH REALLY CASE THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN FEDERAL PAY AND CIVILIAN PAY.
[President] Obama...has already ordered a two-year federal worker pay freeze.
* WITHOUT "COST OF LIVING" ADJUSTMENTS...??? (I HOPE SO!)
Brady also wants 15% cuts in White House and congressional budgets, which would total $3.8 billion in savings over five years; a $2 billion cut in government printing costs; and a $1.5 billion reduction in federal-vehicle costs...
(*CLAP-CLAP-CLAP*)
Chris Edwards, a budget analyst with the Cato Institute, said the bill "only nibbles around the edges" by saving just $43 billion annually, or 3% of the federal deficit.
* IT'S A START! IT'S A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!
The government could save more money by cutting billions of dollars in business and farming subsidies, and Medicare and Medicaid payments, [Edwards says].
* FINE. DO BOTH!
The bill also doesn't propose cutting any of the approximately $140 billion annual costs tied to health insurance and retirement benefits for current and former federal workers.
* AGAIN... FINE. THERE'S NOTHING STOPPING BRADY OR ANOTHER MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM ALSO PROPOSING SUCH CUTS! (WHICH I ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT BY THE WAY!)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703889204576077931314562052.html?mod=WSJ_hps_sections_markets
Grain prices soared after the U.S. Department of Agriculture made another deep cut in its outlook for global supplies.
End-of-season inventories of corn, already expected to be at a 15-year low, were cut by more than 10%...
Corn and soybean futures surged the most they are allowed to per exchange limits, hitting fresh two-year highs.
Last week, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said its monthly food-price index, a closely watched indicator of international prices, hit a record high in December. The prior record [was set in] 2008... In its first estimate of how much winter wheat was sown this fall, the USDA said 41 million acres were planted. This was in line with expectations but still remains below 2008 levels. Wheat prices jumped almost 4%.
(*SIGH*)
http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/2011/01/mass-tax-credits-used-cover-movie-stars-wages
A quarter of the tax breaks given movie companies under Massachusetts' film tax credit program have gone to help cover the salaries of millionaire movie stars.
Under the program a film production can apply for a tax credit equal to 25% of a film's production and payroll costs. In 2009 film companies applied for a total of $82.4 million in credits.
An Associated Press review of a Department of Revenue report on the program found that $82 million of the $330 million in film spending eligible for the tax credits in 2009 went to pay the salaries of nonresident actors earning more than $1 million.
(*SARCASTIC CLAP-CLAP-CLAP*)
http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/2011/01/oil-spill-commission-report-case-study-self-delusion
[President Obama's "Oil Spill Commission"] report is about ideology and politics as much as it is about facts.
* IS ANYONE SURPRISED...?
In life, facts constitute reality, and perceptions are negotiable. The reverse seems to be true in politics. And the conclusion of President Obama's National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling exemplifies that observation.
In the commission's report made public Tuesday, conflicting notions are revealed that represent a textbook example of cognitive dissonance.
On the one hand, the commission faults BP and its contractors for the April 20, 2010, explosion, citing "incredible incompetence" in at least nine specific decisions, most of which "can be traced back to a single overarching failure, a failure of management." Commission members then use BP's bad decisions to claim "systemic failures" on the part of the entire petroleum industry.
[T]hese are two irreconcilable positions.
The fatal flaws individuals committed on the Macondo well stand out because they so starkly contrast with the standards and processes to which those in the industry on other wells so rigorously adhere.
(*NOD*)
[Fact:] [B]etween 1969 and last spring operators drilled more than 50,000 offshore wells without a serious production accident.
[Fact:] Though opponents attempt to trivialize the successful track record by noting firms have drilled only 43 deep-water wells in the Gulf, the figure grows to more than 14,000 when including deep-water projects around the globe.
BP's Deepwater Horizon disaster stands as an exception rather than a rule. The industry's success record provides compelling evidence that its operating practices, technology, and skilled personnel are effective in carrying out offshore exploration and production and managing accompanying risks. (In fact, the latest U.S. Labor Department incidence data on the number of significant work-related injuries relative to hours worked shows industries generally not thought of as risky, such as performing arts and pet supplies, hold incidence rates five and nine times, respectively, that of the oil and gas extraction sector.)
The costs BP will bear from this accident and the litigation expected to unfold for years to come are more than adequate incentive for other firms to carefully review their operating practices, invest in new technology, and develop more effective response capabilities. This is already taking place.
Federal regulators should allow the industry to proceed with its corrective actions and then assess their adequacy in reducing the risks of a large-scale accident even more. [I]t is in the nation's economic interest to allow companies to resume operations in the Gulf without unduly burdensome regulatory constraints. Areas off our coasts are rich in hydrocarbon resources that our nation's economy needs.
The Gulf states' economies and their work forces have already been jarringly idled by the administration's immediate response to the spill -- officially imposing bans on deep-water exploration while also slow-walking all other offshore permits. Now, if officials will use the commission's conclusion to buttress Obama's bias against offshore drilling, this psychological dissonance may evolve into serious economic distress.
http://spectator.org/archives/2011/01/10/a-slap-at-valerie
Republicans members of the House Financial Services committee intend to formally request copies of the report that Gene Sperling, the new chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, was paid almost $900,000 to write for Wall Street investment firm Goldman Sachs in 2008.
The report laid out a plan for Goldman to underwrite a $100 million program in Africa to educate and train more than 10,000 women in under-developed countries.
"It would be interesting to pull back the curtain on how these Wall Street firms dole out their charitable contributions and foundation money to people like Sperling and others," says a House committee staffer. "What, exactly, did Sperling give them for that kind of money? A 10-page report? Something bigger? ..."
* FAIR QUESTION, WOULDN'T YOU SAY?
* I MEAN EVEN MY "RICH" BUDDIES HAVE TO WORK THREE OR FOUR YEARS OF 60-70 HOUR WEEKS IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT KIND OF MONEY.
* HEY... RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN PAID $900,000 TO "LAY OUT A PLAN," TO "AUTHOR A PROPOSAL."
Post a Comment