Good reasons for re-thinking public employee bargaining ... bottom line is that competition is lacking - state government is lacking competition, not the union, and therefore does not have "survivor" mentality - after all, government is not spending it's money, it's spending ours ... read on ...
Why Public-Employee-Bargaining Laws Must Be Reformed - By Peter Kirsanow - The Corner - National Review Online
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Right Turn - Gov. Rick Perry's dream: Make the federal government as innocuous as possible
Go Ricky Go!!! ... ." He (Rick) calls the state senators who've walked off the job "juvenile" and "immature." He says, "You have fourteen senators who have walked away from their responsibilities. Listen, I understand in fighting for what you believe in, but in the end we vote." He analogizes the walkout to a kid going home with his basketball when he thinks he can't win the game. He warns that "if this is the only way they are going to be able to succeed, running out of the legislature," the voters will not look upon them kindly.....
Right Turn - Gov. Rick Perry's dream: Make the federal government as innocuous as possible
Right Turn - Gov. Rick Perry's dream: Make the federal government as innocuous as possible
Picture of the Day: Slains Castle - Inspiration for the Novel - Dracula
The Earls of Erroll, chiefs of Clan Hay, were a powerful family in the area for generations and prospered after William Hay, 18th Earl of Erroll, married the daughter of King William IV. Francis Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll, built it after James VI had destroyed his castle, known as Slains Castle near Collieston, after the Hays participated in the rebellion of 1594. But over time misfortunes befell the Hays and in 1916 the castle and contents were put up for sale.
The castle was then sold in 1916 and fell into disrepair in the first quarter of the 20th century, after more than 300 years of occupation by the Errolls. The castle was bought by Sir John Ellerman of the shipping line. He in turn gave it up in 1925 and its roof was removed to avoid paying taxes. That led to the inevitable ruin seen today.
Once a major stronghold and occupying a large area, it consisted of a massive 15th century keep, a fragment of which survives, and a courtyard defended by ditches. The castle was originally a property of the Comyns but passed to the Hay Earls of Erroll early in the 14th century.
In the late 19th century, the 19th Earl of Erroll entertained many celebrities at the castle. Some believe it was Bram Stoker's inspiration for the castle of Count Dracula. In 1948, the Earl of Erroll accorded the title Slains Pursuivant to his newly revived private officer of arms and appointed Michael Maclagan to the position. The current holder of the office, Peter Drummond-Murray of Mastrick, is a retired banker and an authority on heraldry.
Bram Stoker was staying in a local hotel in Cruden Bay when he heard of Slains Castle - which he saw as 'the castle of the dead'. It may have helped to inspire his writing of the novel, Dracula.
The ruin of the 13th century Old Slains Castle[1] lie about 6 miles to the Southwest. The older castle, also a family seat of the Errolls, was blown up by James VI as a punishment for their part in the 1597 plot by the Earl of Huntly against him.
In October 2007, it was announced that the ruins of New Slains Castle were to be converted into holiday homes by the Slains Partnership, but the development was subsequently delayed.
Friday, 25 February 2011
Charles Krauthammer - Obama's Louis XV budget
Obama math same as bait and switch ... promises (broken/spun), promises (broken/spun), promises (broken/spun) and on and on and on and on ....
Charles Krauthammer - Obama's Louis XV budget
Charles Krauthammer - Obama's Louis XV budget
Thursday, 24 February 2011
Pajamas Media » A Bachelor’s Degree for $10K? Yes, We Can
A very interesting proposal. I personally like the give/take in the classroom setting, but when you have over 20 students, that doesn't happen. In university, I had some professors whom I couldn't understand due to their accent. Listening to the "best" lecturers - being available to all has some real merit. Apparently, Arizona State has proven up the concept. Maybe I pursue a masters on-line?
Pajamas Media » A Bachelor’s Degree for $10K? Yes, We Can
Pajamas Media » A Bachelor’s Degree for $10K? Yes, We Can
When Pretending Fails to Hide Bankruptcy: Laurence Kotlikoff - Bloomberg
Grim news. If only the politicians spent OUR money as if it were their own ...
When Pretending Fails to Hide Bankruptcy: Laurence Kotlikoff - Bloomberg
Our country is bankrupt. It’s not bankrupt in 30 years or five years. It’s bankrupt today.
Want proof? Look at President Barack Obama’s 2010 budget. It showed a massive fiscal gap over the next 75 years, the closure of which requires immediate tax increases, spending cuts, or some combination totaling 8 percent of gross domestic product. To put 8 percent of GDP in perspective, this year’s employee and employer payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare will amount to just 5 percent of GDP.
Actually, the picture is much worse. Nothing in economics says we should look out just 75 years when considering the present-value difference between future spending and future taxes. Over the full long-term, we need an extra 12 percent, not 8 percent, of GDP annually ....
When Pretending Fails to Hide Bankruptcy: Laurence Kotlikoff - Bloomberg
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