Thoughts & Musings
Jobless Claims Jump
In a separate report, a sharp rise in gasoline costs drove up wholesale prices last month by the most in more than three years. But outside energy and food, price gains were mild. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 15,000 to a seasonally adjusted...
Obesity the Greatest Threat to National Security
?! Really? At the link is a quick video of a promo for an upcoming Dr. Oz. We should get something out of the way early; Dr. Oz (IMHO) is a complete quack and why the FLOTUS would go on such a show is beyond me. It's beneath her and the position she holds. But I...
More Americans Can’t Afford Banks
In the aftermath of one of the worst recessions in history, more Americans have limited or no interaction with banks, instead relying on check cashers and payday lenders to manage their finances, according to a new federal report. Not only are these Americans more...
Obama’s Auntie
I really don't know what to say about this. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHoAuk76fT8?rel=0]
The Rich Are Getting Poorer
Trouble for those "Tax the Rich!" folks: For the first time in history, rich people are actually getting poorer, and luxury retailers are freaking out about it. ... "Because these same consumers are significantly invested in their high-end lifestyle with income...
DNC Proudly Displays Russian Ships
On the last night of the Democratic National Convention, a retired Navy four-star took the stage to pay tribute to veterans. Behind him, on a giant screen, the image of four hulking warships reinforced his patriotic message. But there was a big mistake in the stirring...
Inner City Kids and a Catholic School
God Bless John Kass: When Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis led her members out on strike this week, she said real school would be closed. "Negotiations have been intense but productive," she said. "However, we have failed to reach an agreement that will...
Everything (the GOP does) is Racist
Or at least so says the Left. Bill Maher is only the latest: HBO host and Obama donor Bill Maher has accused journalists like NBC's Tom Brokaw of encouraging the birther movement by failing to label it as racist. In a blog post endorsing Chris Matthews' recent...
Fallout of China’s One Child Policy
I'd not thought of this: ... The reason Chinese savings levels are so high is the one-child policy. In most developing countries the way that people save is they have multiple children hopefully to generate a gaggle of grandchildren all of whom are trained to respect...
Then vs. Than
Then is an adverb referring to a period of time. Than is a conjunction used to make a comparison. I guess no one should be surprised given that 79% of CPS 8th graders are not proficient in reading.
How to Help Black Kids Graduate? Vouchers!
Since CTU is out on strike, this appears to be timely. Educational choice is the civil rights movement of our generation. Then look at a breathtaking new study from researchers at the Brookings Institution and Harvard University. Brookings fellow Matthew M. Chingos...
Double-Dipping Payments from the “G”
As many as 117,000 Americans simultaneously collect unemployment benefits and federal disability each year, a form of double-dipping that investigators say costs taxpayers $850 million annually and should be ended. To understand why such "double-dipping" constitutes...
Big Money in Freon Smuggling
I love stories like this; Government run amok. The chief executive of the century-old company from America’s heartland shifted nervously on the witness stand here as he tried to explain how a trusted senior vice president had been caught on a wiretap buying half a...
Teachers’ Unions vs. Children
When schoolchildren start paying union dues, that’s when I’ll start representing the interests of school children. -- Albert Shanker, former president of the United Federation of Teachers I wrote about this before, how the truth is that CTU, WEAC, and all other...
Poem on Congress
CONGRESS Full of jack-assery; Should be a glass menagerie Of the most morally thoughtful minds, But instead it’s a sty full of bleeding-heart blue hacks, And red holy-rollers who probably grind Hunks of yellow scale into white powder ... via artlesspoems. Go read the...
Illinois – 4th Worst Legal Climate for Business
Illinois, along with California, Louisiana, Mississippi and West Virginia, are among the worst states in the country for businesses because of their legal climates, according to survey of corporate attorneys released Monday. Two Illinois counties did not fare well in...
U.S. Department of Education: 79% of Chicago 8th Graders Not Proficient in Reading
Seventy-nine percent of the 8th graders in the Chicago Public Schools are not grade-level proficient in reading, according to the U.S. Department of Education, and 80 percent are not grade-level proficient in math. via CNS News. Very... very... sad. Teachers make over...
How Mitt Wins
Yesterday I read something over at Hillbuzz that got me thinking: Today I want to think about just who are the people who will be voting for Obama in November and see how that compares to the people who voted for him in 2008. I don’t believe anyone who DIDN’T vote for...
Chicago Teachers Union: It’s About Children Greed
According to the Chicago Tribune key issues separating Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union: SALARIES AND BENEFITS. The district offered 16 percent increase over four years and "modified step increases that both reward experience and provide better...
Obama’s Unemployment Chart
Remember when we were promised that if we spent $2 billion of money we didn't have all would be well? Let's compare promised to actual: It's also important to keep in mind that this chart does not reflect the millions of people who simply are no longer included in the...