Saturday, April 28, 2012

More Union Leaders Lies to Get Obama Reelected

Gerald W. McEntee, of the Wisconsin Teachers Union lie was caught by officials of The Heritage Foundation and The American Enterprise and myself. McEntee lied that "retirees with pensions after a full service career retire with about $19,000 per year" when the actual figure figure as reported by the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System reports that the average for "full public service career" is $39,780.

Workers in the private sector average about half that amount. Why? Easy question. The private sector is trying to make a profit so they can pay taxes to support the millions of people on outrageous public pensions..As I stated before, it is union bosses and incompentent boards, or union supporting board members being reminded by union bosses of what to do or how to vote if they want to be reelected.
Easy answers to a major reason why Caterpillar and many other companies have shifted a great deal of their work overseas or to right to work states whle strong union states like Illinois are going broke.

As I already reported, my wife taught 5 1/2 years and has accumulated about $240,000 in her pension fund. She could draw around $13,000 a year guaranteed  for 15 years right now if she wished. After 15 years, she would probably draw even more.

She didn't teach in Illinois, but in Wisconsin, where they have a realistic Republican Governor.

Friday, April 27, 2012

"Common Sense Caucus" Supported By Republican Darin LaHood

Now we wll find out who the Democrats (and some Republicans) are that should be voted out of office when up for reelection.

Merle


Sen. LaHood Joins Fellow State Senators In Establishing ‘Common Sense Caucus’


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 26, 2012



Contact: Rachel Bold (217) 557-8081



SPRINGFIELD – Understanding the need for a more responsible and accountable state government, State Senator Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) has joined with several Senate colleagues to form the “Common Sense Caucus.”


LaHood points to the immediate need for ethical and fiscal reform as two major areas of state policy the “Common Sense Caucus” hopes to address. Since taking office in March of 2011, Senator LaHood has sponsored or co-sponsored more than 15 pieces of legislation that would significantly reform state government. These bills would increase transparency, establish higher ethical standards for lobbyists and elected officials, and enact term limits on legislators and on House and Senate leadership.


“A 2012 study from the University of Illinois at Chicago found Illinois to be the third most corrupt state in the country,” said LaHood adding, “The study also named Chicago the number one most corrupt city in the nation. This prevalent culture of corruption in Illinois is something that the Common Sense Caucus is seeking to address.”


“In addition to needing to get serious about ethical reform in Illinois, we also need to get serious about fiscal reform. It is simply unacceptable that Illinois has an estimated bill backlog of over $9 billion. Our state is more heavily taxed than any of our neighbors with one of the highest state corporate tax rates and the fourth highest combination of national and local corporate taxation in the industrialized world,” said LaHood. “We need to stop trying to place the burden of state government’s spending problem on the backs of the taxpayers. It’s time to admit that Illinois has a major spending problem and get on track to recovery.”


LaHood and four other Senators are the first members of the caucus and according to LaHood they hope that it will become a bipartisan entity.


“The Common Sense Caucus is about getting our state back on track. It’s about making smart decisions to make Illinois a better place. It is my hope that any legislator who is interested in responsible, ethical, and accountable state government will join us,” said LaHood.


The Common Sense Caucus will be co-chaired by Senators Kyle McCarter (R-51st District) and Dan Duffy (R-26th District). Other members include Senators Sam McCann (R-49th District) and Chris Lauzen (R-25th District).







###





Woodruff Career and Technical Center - Looks to be a Crowning Success of the Board and Superintendent

This first year pilot program appears to be running smoothly. A very capable Principal, Diann Duke, gave me a explanatory tour of what I hoped I would see. She did not disappoint me. Even the athletic facilities were being used by Woodruff students or by other needy groups. That includes the  pool, the track, and the ball diamond.

The building offers a large cosmetology Dept that will offer hands-on experience. Most of the vocational programs that were cut by former Superintendent Strand and an elite (everybody is going to college and hold a white collar job, spear-headed by Board member Linda Daly) school board, will be offered to all #150 students and others from Peoria County.

The building also houses early age disciplined schooling  for the very young in a separate part of this large building.

The present success and an expanding future for this vocational school is a special joy for me, I have written letters to the editors of the JS, posted 6 blogs including my first one, "Disaster Day 1993 at District 150", 8/5/05  and my last one, "District #150 Continued Embarrassment to the City of Peoria" dated 4/21/2008.

All in support of this type of school, promised by many boards and adminstrations but brought to life by Superintendent Lathan and the present board.

All blogs may be found by entering Dist. #150 on the search bar above my profile.

More Union Boss Lies - If they were Pinocchio, Their Nose Would Reach Greece or Spain

Borrowed from a fellow blogger, the Marathon Pundit. Find him on my sidebar along with other bloggers I read.

Merle

Friday, April 27, 2012Another misleading United Steelworkers video about voter ID laws


While I have tremendous sympathy for retiree Clifford Glass, a Nashville military veteran who walks with assistance of canes, facts still get in the way of his story about his not being allowed to vote because of Tennessee's voter ID law. He is one of Big Labor's machinations against laws that Americans overwhelmingly view as not discriminatory.



The United Steelworkers union, in another misleading video, distorts the truth about Tennessee election law.


Glass lost his driver's license after an automobile accident. He said he attempted to vote recently, but he was informed that his Veterans Administration photo ID card could not be accepted as proof of identity. Okay, perhaps VA cards should be added to the plethora of permitted identification documents in Tennessee.



Acceptable forms of ID include:



Tennessee driver license with a photo (current or expired);

A driver license issued by another state (current or expired);

U.S. passport;

Federal employee ID with photo;

State employee ID with photo (including those issued by state universities);

U.S. military ID; or

Gun permit card with a photo.

Glass said he was told that he would be able to vote that day if he acquired a Tennessee photo ID, but an election judge told him, "Be sure and bring $8 to pay for this ID card."



Here is what the state of Tennessee says about this matter:



For Citizens Without Government-Issued Photo IDs:

If you are a registered voter and do not have a government-issued photo ID, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security will provide you with a photo ID at no charge. [Emphasis mine.] Citizens may obtain these IDs at 48 of the Driver Service Centers across the state.



Occupy Chicago, Nov. 17. 2011

Okay, now you know, USW. Free picture IDs are available for voters who don't already have one in Tennessee--and other states as well.



At the end of the video is this caption: "Clifford Glass is one of an estimated 5 million voters who will be disenfranchised by voter ID laws passed in Republican states."



Really? Why should I believe the United Steelworkers...



And why should I believe the critics of voter ID laws.



Earlier post:



USW video: Too dumb to serve in the House? Ex-Dem congresssman doesn't know about provisional ballots



Technorati tags: usw labor Republican unions news Democrats politics tennessee tennessee politics



Democrats Raise Taxes Yet Illinois is in Deeper Doo-Doo

So says the Champaign News_Gazette and reprinted by the JSEB today. "As circumstances now stand, Illinois backlog of unpaid bills is more than $5.5 billion, ip $1.3 billion over the past THREE months.

But the numbers are probably worse than Republican Comptroller Judy Topinka reports because not all unpaid bills have been submitted to Judy's office for payment.....When Medicaid and unpaid state obligations are considered, Illinois' estimated bill backlog at the end of the quarter rises to more than $8 billion".in the red.

So here we sit in a "world class" city per Henry Hollings, in the middle of a Democrat controlled 'going bankrupt' state. (And before the Democrats, a corrupt Republican Governor)

Part of a rapidly growing problem was reported by the JS on 4/19/2012,  "Report lists high Illinois pensions (per Taxpayers United of America)  showing that of the top 100 pensions in the State Employee Retirement System, 84 are state troopers or correction officers and 28 of those retired at age 50 with pensions or more than $110,000 a year."

Card carrying union members or strong union supporters dominate many of the elected boards who union bosses threaten to vote them out of office if they don't  vote to increase salaries thus greater pensions and other benefits. Elected boards set ridiculous rules like earnings of the last four years of employment determine these  outrageous pensions.

If I ever move, it will be to a right to work state and if Obama is reelected, I may move to Somali where the inhabitants understand that almost all those in charge are corrupt and hire their relatives, competent or not.

Ed Papis Resigned as E. Peoria Police Chief Wednesday

While the JS indicates Mayor Mingus did not know why he resigned so abruptly, there were allegations about racial profiling. Ed Papis was a good police chief and if some people felt they were wronged by being profiled I suggest as I have before that they should return to their "roots" were their is a tremendous need and profiling is so rampant that clans meet people and pour out their ancestry in order to avoid being shunned or even killed. Suggested reading is "Infidel" by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a brave woman demonized, threatened to be killed, disowned and expelled, she refuses to be silenced.

Suggested reading is my blog, "Profiling", 8/13/06 and "Peoria Police Profiling", dated 7/14/2010 and easily found by just entering "Profiling" on the search bar above this blog.

I might add, read the book "Don't Shoot" by Kennedy available at Peoria Public Libraries.

I might also add that if someone was looking for a bull among a herd of heifers, you would look for the one who has balls (you would be profiling) and it appears Ed Papis had just those balls.

East Peoria's loss because of some who I have invited in previous blogs to return to their "Roots:.

The invitation still; stands..

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Obama is Everything I Warned You About

Forwarded to me by a friend, This man and his administration is scary beyond comprehension. At the top of my profile is a search bar. Enter Obama and read or reread everything I warned you about this man.
Merle 


Don't know if this is true or not but might be something to consider when voting this fall.

Got this from a friend of mine who is an avid trap shooter and hunter.

Dick

Please Read!! Guns to be outlawed.

Obama is just following up on what Ms Clinton did with the United Nations..

Obama to outlaw guns in 2nd term!!!!



A top official with the National Rifle Association said Friday that President Obama will move to "destroy" gun rights and "erase" the Second Amendment if he is re-elected in November! It is already quietly in motion through the U.N., with Obama and Clinton pushing the agenda!



While delivering one of the liveliest and best-received speeches at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre said the president's low-key approach to gun rights during his first term was "a conspiracy to ensure re-election by lulling gun owners to sleep."





"All that first term, lip service to gun owners is just part of a massive Obama conspiracy to deceive voters and hide his true intentions to destroy the Second Amendment during his second term," he said.





"We see the president's strategy crystal clear: Get re-elected and, with no more elections to worry about, get busy dismantling and destroying our firearms' freedom, erase the Second Amendment from the Bill of Rights and excise it from the U.S. Constitution."



Mr. LaPierre said the president's two Supreme Court appointees - Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan- are "two of the most rabid anti-gun justices in history." He also accused Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of being a foe of gun rights. And with the possibility of two, or more, Supreme Court justice positions opening during the next four years, the NRA official warned that gun ownership will be in jeopardy if Obama stays in office!



"If we get one more like those three, the Second Amendment is finished," he said. "It'll be the end of our freedom forever!"



Mr. LaPierre, who said "there is no greater freedom than to own a firearm," predicted that gun owners will rally en masse to defeat Obama in November.



"All of what we know is good and right about America, all of it could be lost if Barack Obama is re-elected," he said. "It's all or nothing!"



IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU FORWARD THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW! IT IS ALSO CRITICAL THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT, EVEN IF HE/SHE IS NOT YOUR FAVORITE CANDIDATE! IF YOU DON'T, AMERICA, AS WE KNOW IT, WILL CEASE TO EXIST! YOU MUST VOTE!

Pensions: Outrageous and Granted By Incompetent Boards

Dean Kennedy, who married one of my former employees, makes no excuses about why he is (in his early 50"s) is going to draw an annual pension of $119,184.00 or 80% of his outrageous salary. Sure, he and is wealthy compatriots, don't get Social Security Payments. Not his fault that he is getting this outrageous pension and he is correct. He is merely going along with what the law says he is entitled to.

Government leadership incompetent and often corrupt? You bet. Outrageous salries and benefits in the public safety field because of the risk? Sure, their is risk but not nearly as much risk as in dozens of jobs in the private sector, some of who get no pensions. How many State Police officers have been killed in the line of duty and I don't include killing themselves, in the entire State of Illinois since year 2000?

Compare with those who served in the field in Vietnam and were killed by the enemy and compare pensions. Or Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries.

No comparison.

.Now look at your property tax bill and note how much goes for pensions. The City of Peoria collects less than half of your payment to run the City while the balance goes to PENSIONS.

You don't believe Socialism is here. Think again. Another reason why I stopped donating any more of my hard earned money to any politician because in the end, much of it will be wasted or go to outrageous public sector pensions. As stated in the WSJ Editorial, "Before former President Bush joined with Nancy Pelosi and Larry Summers on the blunder of "targeted", TEMPORARY tax cuts, Mr. Bush began playing business favorites for the ethanol and green energy fad. Republicans in Congress spent like Democrats and protected Fannie Mae and the housing lobby. And Mr. Bush and most Republicans embraced an easy money Federal Reserve that favored Wall Street and asset bubbles at the expense of real middle class incomes".

Much as I absolutely hate what Obama and his Democrat ilk are doing to this Republic, Obama and the Democrats were not alone in putting the country in the this sorry state of affairs.

It's difficult to imagine what FOUR more years of this crowd will do to this country. More pensions and entitlements and regulations; 79 new regulations from the EPA and hundreds of new regulations  pending.

Outrageous pensions in the PUBLIC sector are only part of the free spending going on in this country.

And no, trooper Kennedy, who left as Captain Kennedy is not to be considered in the real middle Class. If Kennedy is 50 and lives to be 90, he will collect over $5 million in pensions and countless health benefits. Alone. If his spouse worked and collected a pension they rank in the top 1% ers'.

I don't blame them. I blame those responsible for bankrupting the State of Illinois. Not all Democrats.

For sure.

They Also Found the Prostitutes Quickly - Evidently

Forwarded to me by a friend.

Merle 

Isn't it amazing that, within only one week of Tiger Woods crashing his Escalade,








The press found every woman with whom Tiger has had an affair during the last few years?







And, they even uncovered photos, text messages, recorded phone calls, etc.!







Furthermore, they not only knew the cause of the family fight, but they even knew it was a 9 iron from his golf bag that his wife used to break out the windows in the Escalade.







Not only that, they knew which wedge! And, each & every day, they were able to continue to provide America with updates



On Tiger's sex rehab stay, his wife's divorce settlement figures, as well as the dates & Tournaments in which he would play.



Now, Barack Hussein Obama has been in office for over three years, yet this very same press:







Cannot find any of his childhood friends or neighbors;







Or find any of Obama's high school or college classmates;







Or locate any of his college papers or grades;







Or determine how he paid for both a Columbia & a Harvard education;







Or discover which country issued his visa to travel to Pakistan in the 1980's;







Or even find Michelle Obama's Princeton thesis on racism.







They just can't seem to uncover any of this.







Yet, the public still trusts that same press to give them the whole truth!







Don't you find that totally amazing ?







NOW TELL ME THERE IS NO CORRUPTION IN THE AMERICAN PRESS







You cannot get the water to clear up until you get the pigs out of the creek.





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CIAN - You Are Invited to a Great Afternoon of Fun While Learning

Great show! See you there.

Merle

D*I*C*E Man Returns!



We would like to invite you to attend a special security event our business will be hosting in May. At CIAN, Inc., we are concerned about our community. CIAN is a computer security firm brought to Peoria and run by a retired Navy veteran. We will be underwriting a briefing by Ray Semko, aka the D*I*C*E* Man, from 2–4 p.m. on May 11, 2012, and we would like you to come.



Ray Semko has over 35 years of experience serving and protecting the United States in the U.S. Army then later worked as a Counterintelligence Special Agent for the U.S. Government. He is globally renowned for his presentations covering the latest declassified intelligence information to military and private sector members to keep their data, organizations and communities secure. Because CIAN is doing this as a contribution to the safety of our community, there will be no charge associated with the event.


In talks with Ray, he has identified Peoria as an ideal staging location for terrorism. Peoria is apparently what is known as a “tweener city,” ideally positioned between two major cities. Although we may feel safe, living in the Midwest is not a security measure.


While there is no charge, the event will be held at Packard Plaza and seating will be limited to the first 250 people who register. So it is important that anyone wishing to attend make reservations as early as possible. Reservations can be made by calling 691-3000 or registering online at www.CIANCenter.com.


Please feel free to include this in your blog or direct others to our website link above so they may benefit from signing up for this valuable security briefing. Everyone is welcome!


Testimonials from previous attendees:


“Ray Semko’s presentation at the conference was outstanding. He not only brings home the message of how important Security Awareness is but he does it in an original and entertaining way!” –A Boeing Company attendee


“WOW! Ray Semko motivates, educates, captivates and inspires. We get lost in the drudgery of everyday work, and Ray reminds of the big picture – this is a great country, worthy of fighting for. I can’t wait for next year!” –BSNC attendee


“A first-rate speaker. After about 10 minutes, the audience realized this was no ordinary, boring mandatory government meeting. Mr. Semko was extremely informative (even deadly serious, which of course was the purpose of the brief), effusive, self-deprecating and hilarious. Afterward I realized I had only looked at my watch once and I was amazed at how quickly the time had passed. I wish I had looked around to see if anyone was nodding off (which I sincerely doubt), but I was too personally engrossed in the brief to avert my eyes from the speaker. Bravo Zulu to Ray Semko. His patriotism is contagious!” –U.S. Navy attendee


“One of the goals of my session is to get individuals to change their attitudes about the need for security. Security can never be thought of as an inconvenience. Your people work on unbelievably important projects, missions, operations and activities. They will walk away from my session realizing that what they do has a tremendous impact in keeping America safe and secure and that the enemies and adversaries of the United States will never stop targeting us.” Ray Semko


Ray Semko’s Website: http://www.raysemko.com/


Our contact information is listed below if you have any questions. We hope you’ll come spend Friday afternoon with us and share this outstanding opportunity!


Event Coordinator



DICE-Seminar



1803 W. Detweiller Dr.



Peoria, IL 61615



Ph: 309-691-3000 / Fax: 309-691-3007



Toll Free: 866-953-2426 (CIAN)



www.CIANcenter.com







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This message is for the designated recipients only and may contain sensitive or confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the original and all copies. If you received this message in error or are not a designated recipient, information in this message should not be disclosed and any use of the information is prohibited.



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Wednesday, April 25, 2012

"Giant Screen Theatre" Coming to the PRM in October

So says the Js today, "Negotiations are underway to acquire the first films that will play in the Giant Screen Theatre".

So I googled "Giant Screen theatre" and found no such name listed. Is there a posibility that the PRM Committee is still negotiatng with a giant screen company that will take the risk of putting their brand in this very finacially iffy and possible boondoggle?

The JSEB is always talking about the lack of transparency in this commuity but since this museum has their strong support I suspose the lack of transparency, probably the worst I have seen in Peoria, does not bother them?

It should bother the Peoria County taxspayers who own this new museum building and it should bother them as much as the "iffy" hotel downtown.

Hmmmmm.

P.S. My IMAX stock is up $2.50 a share in the last 10 days.

Peoria Public School District #150 Adminstration and Board Lack of Interest in Minor Sports Like Tennis

If you want to pad your salary and pension, be a teacher at 150 and volunteer to coach a minor sport. You will be paid 11% of your salary, so if you are making, say $40,000 a year, you would get paid $4,400 to coach either boys or girls tennis. The union does not permit unpaid skilled volunteers to be head coach of any sport.

Didn't or don't play the game? No problem. Example: the nice young teacher who coached Manual High Boys tennis last year. And maybe this year. I don't know as I only attended one Manual match advertised on the JS sports page and no one showed up.. And players don't need to show up for practice to play as Manual has trouble finding 6 kids to play the nine matches scheduled. As was the example yesterday at Manual vs. Notre Dame where Notre Dame showed up with more than enough players and Manual, the home team didn't.

The results didn't even make today's sports page. It is the home team that reports the scores, seldom the visitor.

When I inquired what Notre Dame paid coaches for competitive school athletic events, I learned the the Notre Dame football; coach doesn't even make $4,400.

I've stated that most unpaid boards are incompetent. I can think of a no better group than the current board at shrinking #150. When I look at my property tax bill and note that %48 goes to suopport, 150, I wonder why I.................

So sad.

Midwest Baseball League - Dayton Dragons

A crowd of 8,688 witnessed the 815 straight sellout last summer.(July 10, 2011, JS) as the Dayton Dragons set a North American record by a pro franchise. Compare that with the crowds at O'Brien Field or what ever name you wish to call it as O'Brien did not renew their naming contract according to an article in the JS on August 17, 2008 titled, "Say goodbye to O'Brien". The automotive group is not renewing its contract for naming rights to the downtown ballpark".

 I cannot recall more than a half dozen games played by the Midwest League member Peoria Chiefs at O'Brien Field that were ever sold out. In fact, one day this week less than 1000 attended a home game and Dare Day yesterday drew only 5200+, mostly kids at a reduced price..

Yet Peoria is considered a sports" town. Maybe these prospective attendees were enjoying an IMAX movie, buying sports goods at Dicks or Pro Bass or attending the zoo or Civic Center.

They aren't coming to the ball park. Can't say it not because of no palm trees as nine were brought up from down south and planted at "O'Brien".

The Chiefs have had the same group running the franchise since the ball park moved into their $23,000,000.00 ( approx. figure as total costs were never totally understood by this stockholder) stadium about 10 years ago from free parking Meinen Field.

Missed projections are common in Peoria. More loom on the horizon or already have arrived. Stay tuned to this site if you want to know the real facts and figures.

And my 3/4 share of stock in the Chiefs is still for sale. But then I'd have to reveal that his less than one share of stock lost $3200+ in 2011. Been waiting for a buyer for over 10 years.

I'm patient.

Alan Simpson

...
Forwarded to me by a friend. Simpson only served three terms and I'm not sure where the writer got 50 years but I suspect he has been involved in one type of governmental position for a longer time than the three terms he served in Congress.
That he said what he said is a matter po record.






Alan Simpson, Ex-Senator from Wyoming , Co-Chair of the Congressional deficit commission, calls senior citizens the "Greediest Generation" as he compared "Social Security" to a Milk Cow with 310 million teats.







Here's a response in a letter from PATTY MYERS in Montana ... I think she is a little ticked off! She also tells it like it is!



"Hey Alan, let's get a few things straight..



1. As a career politician, you have been on the public dole for FIFTY YEARS.



2. I have been paying Social Security taxes for 48 YEARS (since I was 15 years old. I am now 63).



3 My Social Security payments, and those of millions of other Americans, were safely tucked away in an interest bearing account for decades until you political pukes decided to raid the account and give OUR money to a bunch of zero ambition losers in return for votes, thus bankrupting the system and turning Social Security into a Ponzi scheme that would have made Bernie Madoff proud..



4. Recently, just like Lucy & Charlie Brown, you and your ilk pulled the proverbial football away from millions of American seniors nearing retirement and moved the goalposts for full retirement from age 65 to age 67. NOW, you and your shill commission is proposing to move the goalposts YET AGAIN.



5. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying into Medicare from Day One, and now you morons propose to change the rules of the game. Why? Because you idiots mismanaged other parts of the economy to such an extent that you need to steal money from Medicare to pay the bills.



6. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying income taxes our entire lives, and now you propose to increase our taxes yet again. Why? Because you incompetent bastards spent our money so profligately that you just kept on spending even after you ran out of money. Now, you come to the American taxpayers and say you need more to pay off YOUR debt.

To add insult to injury, you label us "greedy" for calling "bullshit" on your incompetence. Well, Captain Bullshit, I have a few questions for YOU.



1. How much money have you earned from the American taxpayers during your pathetic 50-year political career?



2. At what age did you retire from your pathetic political career, and how much are you receiving in annual retirement benefits from the American taxpayers?



3. How much do you pay for YOUR government provided health insurance?



4. What cuts in YOUR retirement and healthcare benefits are you proposing in your disgusting deficit reduction proposal, or, as usual, have you exempted yourself and your political cronies?



It is you, Captain Bullshit, and your political co-conspirators called Congress who are the "greedy" ones. It is you and your fellow nutcases who have bankrupted America and stolen the American dream from millions of loyal, patriotic taxpayers. And for what? Votes. That's right, sir. You and yours have bankrupted America for the sole purpose of advancing your pathetic political careers. You know it, we know it, and you know that we know it.



And you can take that to the bank, you miserable son of a bitch.





If you like the way things are in America delete this. If you agree with what a fellow Montana citizen Patty Myers says, PASS IT ON!!!!
Forwarded to me by my wife. 50 years on the taxxpayer dole? Vote him out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merle


Alan Simpson, Senator from Wyoming , Co-Chair of the Congressional deficit commission, calls senior citizens the "Greediest Generation" as he compared "Social Security" to a Milk Cow with 310 million teats.

Here's a response in a letter from PATTY MYERS in Montana ... I think she is a little ticked off! She also tells it like it is!



"Hey Alan, let's get a few things straight..



1. As a career politician, you have been on the public dole for FIFTY YEARS.



2. I have been paying Social Security taxes for 48 YEARS (since I was 15 years old. I am now 63).



3 My Social Security payments, and those of millions of other Americans, were safely tucked away in an interest bearing account for decades until you political pukes decided to raid the account and give OUR money to a bunch of zero ambition losers in return for votes, thus bankrupting the system and turning Social Security into a Ponzi scheme that would have made Bernie Madoff proud..



4. Recently, just like Lucy & Charlie Brown, you and your ilk pulled the proverbial football away from millions of American seniors nearing retirement and moved the goalposts for full retirement from age 65 to age 67. NOW, you and your shill commission is proposing to move the goalposts YET AGAIN.



5. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying into Medicare from Day One, and now you morons propose to change the rules of the game. Why? Because you idiots mismanaged other parts of the economy to such an extent that you need to steal money from Medicare to pay the bills.



6. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying income taxes our entire lives, and now you propose to increase our taxes yet again. Why? Because you incompetent bastards spent our money so profligately that you just kept on spending even after you ran out of money. Now, you come to the American taxpayers and say you need more to pay off YOUR debt.

To add insult to injury, you label us "greedy" for calling "bullshit" on your incompetence. Well, Captain Bullshit, I have a few questions for YOU.



1. How much money have you earned from the American taxpayers during your pathetic 50-year political career?



2. At what age did you retire from your pathetic political career, and how much are you receiving in annual retirement benefits from the American taxpayers?



3. How much do you pay for YOUR government provided health insurance?



4. What cuts in YOUR retirement and healthcare benefits are you proposing in your disgusting deficit reduction proposal, or, as usual, have you exempted yourself and your political cronies?



It is you, Captain Bullshit, and your political co-conspirators called Congress who are the "greedy" ones. It is you and your fellow nutcases who have bankrupted America and stolen the American dream from millions of loyal, patriotic taxpayers. And for what? Votes. That's right, sir. You and yours have bankrupted America for the sole purpose of advancing your pathetic political careers.





If you like the way things are in America delete this. If you agree with what a fellow Montana citizen Patty Myers says, PASS IT ON!!!!





























!









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Monday, April 23, 2012

Calculators in the Classroom?

Passed to me by a friend. Yes, I agree but kids should be introduced to calculators, etc, at a very early age. But in classrooms and homes especially, they should be taught to figure with their heads,.

Merle

State board wants calculators out of grade schoolers' hands




Texas officials tentatively approve tougher math standards



By Gary Scharrer



AUSTIN - Texas schoolchildren should not use calculators until they learn to work through math problems the old-fashioned way - on paper, State Board of Education members said Thursday.



The board on Thursday tentatively approved new math curriculum standards designed to add rigor while encouraging students from kindergarten through fifth grade to learn basic math without the aid of calculators.

Certainly, Yes a but not in early elementary classes. I agree.

Merle

"We hear more and more from parents that their kids in school are being allowed to rely on calculators without actually memorizing their math facts and building that firm foundation," board Chairwoman Barbara Cargill, R-The Woodlands, said.



Member Mavis Knight, D-Dallas, cast the only dissenting vote against removing calculators from the early elementary grades. The board is expected to take final action on the new math standards Friday.





The vote followed Education Commissioner Robert Scott's urging of the board to adopt standards that are better than the "common core" standards adopted by 45 other states or delay approval of anything until it can.



"We're going to fight and we're going to complain and we're going to have amendments and we're going to have dialogue," Scott told the board. "If you can't walk out of here tomorrow with math standards that are better than the common core, delay. Come back in May and finish then."



The Texas Association of Business also has opposed the new math curriculum standards, saying they are not strict enough and ultimately will hurt the competitiveness of future Texas workforces.



Tentative approval



Hours after Scott spoke, the board voted 14-0 to give preliminary approval to the new requirements.



"Our objective today is that our kids are required to memorize their math tables and their basic math," said David Bradley, R-Beaumont, who pushed for the restriction on calculators. "That will then lead to success."



The board, he said, wants to send a message in the new standards that "calculators are not to be an instructional tool in K-through-5."



Knight said she believes teachers need flexibility and should be allowed to use calculators as "an enrichment activity."



"I think it's nonsensical in this 21st century that we are not having students use the tools at the appropriate time and at the appropriate level because these are the tools that they will be using as they advance through school and in the work world," she said.



The new math curriculum standards will not ban calculators in the early elementary classes as there is no way to enforce such a prohibition, but Knight said teachers "will interpret the standards as 'we cannot use calculators.'"



Texas' current math standards do not address calculator use.



New math curriculum standards are scheduled to take effect in the 2014-15 school year for kindergarten through eighth grade and the following year for high school students.



The standards will last for about 10 years but will take effect only if state lawmakers provide funding for new instructional materials.



'Mediocre C' for Texas



Texas received "a mediocre C" in a 2010 national study of math curriculum standards by the conservative-leaning Thomas B. Fordham Institute because the state's math standards were deemed minimal and lacked specificity.



The state's new math standards represent an improvement but do not approach "the best of the standards that were in place in states such as California and Florida," according to Johns Hopkins University mathematics Professor W. Stephen Wilson, who reviewed Texas' proposed standards for the Fordham Institute.



"Moreover, though this comment may cut little ice in Texas, the present draft lags behind the Common Core math standards on a number of fronts," Wilson said in his review.



Texas is one of five states that have not joined in the movement for national curriculum standards, with Gov. Rick Perry declaring he would "not commit Texas taxpayers to unfunded federal obligations or to the adoption of unproven, cost-prohibitive national standards and tests."

---------------------

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

*********************************************









*********************************************

[II] From The Associated Press, Friday, April 20, 2012. See http://www.chron.com/default/article/Texas-Education-Board-approves-new-math-curriculum-3497609.php

*********************************************





Texas Education Board approves new math curriculum





By Will Weissert



AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The State Board of Education approved math curriculum standards for all K-12 students in Texas for the next 10 years on Friday, despite concerns by an influential business group that the new requirements weren't strenuous enough to train the future workforce.



The unanimous vote came with little fanfare or debate, even though the issue has sparked strong feelings among supporters and critics. The new curriculums for students in kindergarten through eighth grade are expected to take effect in 2014, and high school math standards should begin the following year.



Approval only went smoothly after the education board spent hours Thursday going through curriculums for each grade, tweaking language and the requirements. There was little support, however, for delaying a final vote to allow for more-substantial rewriting.



The proposed requirements are based on previous Texas standards and past curriculums in California, Massachusetts and Minnesota, as well as standards in Singapore. They don't adhere to the widely used national standards outlined in the Common Core State Standards Initiative, which is coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers. [Emphasis added by JPB]



Texas is just one of five states to shun the national standards in math, language arts and other essential subjects, which were developed working with teachers, school administrators and experts. The standards are meant to provide a consistent benchmark for preparing students for college and the workforce.



The national standards have been seen by some in Texas as a national overreach and a threat to state control of schools. Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott urged the board to come up with standards unique to the state - but ensure they were better than the ones adopted almost everywhere else in the country.



The Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a nonprofit think tank that Texas lawmakers have previously described as conservative, said Friday that it supports the new Texas curriculum but believes the requirements don't go far enough.



"The new standards are an improvement on the current mediocre standards but still flawed and inferior to the Common Core math standards," said Kathleen Porter-Magee, senior director of the High Quality Standards Program at the Washington-based institute.



The Texas Association of Business, one of the most-influential organizations of its kind in the state, opposed the new curriculum standards as not strict enough - arguing that they ultimately will hurt the competiveness of future Texas workforces.



The group said the requirements try to cover so many areas that they practically are incoherent at times, and don't place enough focus on basics like algebra.



The association's president, Bill Hammond, declined to comment following Friday's vote, saying he hadn't seen the modified and amended curriculum as passed by the board.



Some education groups and classroom experts have supported the standards as a major step forward. But others worry students are being asked to do too much, tackling advanced math at young ages.





*************************************************

--



Jerry P. Becker

Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction

Southern Illinois University

625 Wham Drive

Mail Code 4610

Carbondale, IL 62901-4610

Phone: (618) 453-4241 [O]

(618) 457-8903 [H]

Fax: (618) 453-4244

E-mail: jbecker@siu.edu

H.R. 347 Another Move to an Obama Dictatorship

Passed to me by a friend. This should not surprise anyone who has been reading my blogs, Fox, Judicial Watch, the Wall Street Journal. Some of the most promenent among the truth-seekers on this administration.

Merle

Welcome to America.


YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHECK THIS OUT ON SNOPES - IT MADE FOX NEWS WHICH YOU CAN SEE THE VIDEO BY CLICKING ON BELOW! PRETTY SCARY FOLKS!!!

This is really frightening.

They sneaked another one in on us.

New law makes it illegal to protest in Obama's presence

This means that, wherever Obama is at, you do not have a right to ask him anything you want to. His secret service can have you arrested, fined, and imprisoned for more than a YEAR if you ask him something he doesn’t like. Sound like he’s more like Hitler than Lincoln to you?

WATCH AND BE AMAZED AT HIS LATEST ATTEMPT TO STAGE A TAKE OVER OF AMERICA...

Guess you’ve probably heard about this, but sending it on anyway. It’s probably the scariest thing this guy has done yet.

Are you aware of this new law, signed by “Obama” in early March 2012?

May the Lord have mercy on us!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=7SGWH3kirzg&vq=medium















New Zoo Entrance and Parking Lot

I blogged in error that I saw no progress at the zoo new entrance and parking lot. The Barton financed project is well underway. My lame excuse is that I only play on the tennis courts and did not drive the perimeter of the park or I would have noticed. I did note the removal of two tennis courts which will limit tournament play this summer. However, 7 clay courts, unusual for a community this size, and also 4 lighted hard courts are available in upper and lower Glen Oak Park.

Several years ago, a study was made that proved clay courts were less expensive to maintain. Also, the courts are free only because it would cost more to supervise and collect user fees.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Educating Class Part of 1%'ers

11.1 million of the 1%  come from the educating class. Yet they complain about their pay. I'll say it again, if you don't think you are being paid enough, get another job. Problem is, most of the educating class are very well paid with pensions unbelievable. My wife taught 5 1/2 years and could draw a pension of over $12,000 a year with 180 months at that figure GUARANTEED. (Wisconsin, not Illinois)

Recently in California tens of thousands of students, professors and administrators marched in California and some 30 other states to protest cuts in education spending. It has long been proven that more money is not the solution of our mediocre large high school and college educational system.

One marcher asked beforehand to explain his participation employed the vocabulary of idealism that appeared on every placard and sounded from every bullhorn. "I'm hoping, he said, that students...feel connected to Montgomery, to Selma..to sit-ins, to Freedom Riders, to farm workers struggle" of the 1960's and 60's and 70's. He wrote on the Socialist Workers Web site "Now that's an education: to see your fight against oppression connected to a long line of others "fights".What bullshit. What these "Me Generation" did was demonstrate the entitlement mentality and self-absorption has come to demonstrate much of higher education.

Credit a column in the WSJ titled, "The Golden State's Me Generation", by Peter Robinson, a fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.

California is another near bankrupt state that spends over $13,000 a year on each student yet these protesters demanded more money for the "downtrodden and oppressed"

For education of the students?  No. for themselves to fund their tax-free pensions.

Here in Peoria, last year, the Manual tennis "coach' who never played tennis, drew around $4,000 for coaching a tennis team, that only showed up for practice when convenient and only won a few games when they played Central, a team in a somewhat similar situation. This money adds to his pension.

A group of teachers, administrators, unions and supporters led a protest on the Illinois State Capitol grounds demanding more money for education in this near bankrupt state. Again, for education? Not really, just more money for salaries and money to relieve  their rapidly expanding debt in their pension funds.

All of these protests are led by the unions. Governor Walker and others have curbed the growing power and greed of the union bosses. More power to common sense people like them.




Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Democrat Governor's War Against All Taxpayers and the Economy

Dear Merle,

Here's something you don't read every day: the Democrats are right. There is a war being waged against certain people in this country. The trouble is, they are the ones waging that war, and it is against all taxpayers.Democratic Governor Martin O'Malley in Maryland has tried to raise the gas tax. Democrats Bev Perdue in North Carolina and Christine Gregoire in Washington tried to raise the sales tax. Democrat Jerry Brown in California is trying to raise the state’s income tax to the highest in the nation. Democrat Dan Malloy in Connecticut already pushed through the largest tax hike in that state’s history. Democrat Pat Quinn in Illinois increased income taxes by 66 percent.The result? Democrat-led states are falling behind Republican-led states on job creation.Republican governors have a different vision. They are holding down or reducing taxes. No wonder states with Republican governors are leading the nation in job creation.Please take a moment and visit MyIssuesMyVote.com and join us in telling Democratic governors to stop waging their war against taxpayers. Let’s send them a message they can’t ignore.Sincerely,Phil Cox

Stephanie Aaron Will be Performing in the Area This Weekend

This talented lovely lady performances shouldn't be missed.

Merle

Hello Nice People!

I hope that everyone's spring is bouncing along beautifully - and that you are ready for some heavy swinging. I am so happy and excited to announce that I'm coming downstate to release my new CD, The Song of the Lark this weekend. Join me on Friday, April 20th at the Contemporary Art Center in Peoria (305 SW Water Street) and get your copy! My beloved companeros Larry Harms and Cory Flanigan (have you seen this, Cory fans? http://www.alternatemode.com/katartists/ - this is one versatile cat) along with Good Mike Nellas on bass will be playing cuts from the record with me and playing a few "new" tunes from 5:30 to 7:30. Larry and I will have our CD available for purchase as well, so if The Pleasure Corruption Collection isn't part of your collection, now's your chance to make the addition. PS, "Lucky Lips" is on that disc.
On Saturday, we bring it all to our friends in Bloomington-Normal at Swinger's, located at 1304 Cross Creek Drive in Normal. We start at 7 and go till 10 - come early and have a little supper and then let's all jump...it's been a long time since we've been to Swinger's and I'm already eager to see everybody and sing for you all. Tell everybody you know and bring your pin money so you can treat yourself to a new CD from a real Chicago jazz singer! Tim Brickner will be taking the bass chair, and you know that means we will be tearing it up.
I hope to see everyone and their mother this weekend, and I really mean that - I'm planning on swinging a tune especially for the moms.
Cheers!
Stephanie
PS - Jazz is coming to the UU Church on Richwoods Blvd this Sunday in the form of...me! And Larry too, and Cory and Tim Brickner. It's the church's annual Jazz Sunday and we are their guests this year. The preachin' starts at 10:30.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Wisconsin's Governor Scott Walker Needs Your Financial Support

I do not blame the ordinary union members, many of who are my friends and acquaintances but I do highly criticize the radical union bosses and radical union members.

What Walker did was curb the unions power saving the State of Wisconsin $25 millions of dollars in the first year and up to $36 million in the second year. For years, Peoria residents paying property taxes to School district #150 complained that STAFF either grew or held steady as school attendance declined. Wisconsin voted not to recall 4 Republicans, meaning Republicans stayed in control of the Senate and which prompted the Wisconsin Education Association to announce it was laying off about 40% of its STAFF.

Governor Walker is still up for recall largely because the teacher union did not want to pay "Obamas fair share" of taxes.

Union bosses continue to try to mislead their union members barely mentioning either their supposed grievance about collective bargaining or their real fears, which concern money, particular political money. Teachers unions can no longer bargain to require school districts to purchase teachers' health insurance from the union's preferred provider, which is especially expensive. This is savings millions of dollar, and reducing teacher layoffs. Also unions must hold annual recertification votes.

And teachers unions may no longer automatically deduct dues from members paychecks. In 2005 Indiana stopped collecting dues from unionized public employees: in 2011, there are 90% fewer dues-paying members. In Utah, the end of automatic dues deductions for political activities caused out of pocket teachers payments to fall 90%

The unions are spending dozens of millions of dollars to unseat Walker; am man who is merely trying to "curb" union power, not put unions out of business. But the unions have lied to their members and the public while Walkers actions are saving taxpayers millions of dollars and creating more jobs for teachers.

I have often mentioned that my company was represented by the Teamsters Union. In Bargaining, the union wanted me to accept the unions health plan. My accountant run the figures and showed me how much more it would cost the union members and my company. I said no. But most elected officials do not have my backbone, in fact on the Peoria County Board, a majority of the 12 Democrat board members were card carrying union members.

Please send whatever you can afford to support Governor Walker to "Friends of Scott Walker", P.O. Box 620437, Middleton, Wisc. 53562-9941.

A recent survey showed that 11% of the 1% millionaires that Obama criticized for making money, come from the teaching professions.

The Teamsters represented my company for 22 years and they still do today, 20 years later under new ownership. We had next to no problems and they were and still are, to my knowledge, an asset. Company and union learned how to give and take and work to be the best in our field. It can be done today but not in the hostile, aggressive manner taken on by at least three major unions.

The power of radical union bosses and radical members must be curbed to help save this country from eventual bankruptcy. The U.S. could be one the next country's to find themseves in the condition of Greece.

Friday, April 13, 2012

The Obamas - Both Phonies Along With Part of Their Staff

These are facts. You don't need to look up on left-leaning Snopes.

Spread the wealth, my rear end which is more truthful than these two. I also blogged on this back on August 10, 2009. To read what I blogged, just enter Michelle Obama in the search bar above my profile on any of my blogs..

Merle

Barack Obama, April 2012 - “We didn't have “the luxury” for Michelle to not work”

In 2005, when Obama began serving in the U.S. Senate(and his daughters turned 4 and 7), he and his wife were earning a combined annual income of $479,062. Barack Obama was paid a salary of $162,100 by the U.S. taxpayers, and Michelle Obama was paid $316,962 to handle community affairs for the University of Chicago Medical Center.

LaHood Can Sell Term Limits to Reluctant Politicians

LaHood Chief Co-Sponsor of Term Limits Legislation in the Illinois Senate



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 12, 2012
Contact: Rachel Bold (217) 557-8081

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) has signed on as Chief Co-Sponsor of Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 41, (SJRCA 41) a piece of legislation that would impose term limits on Illinois legislators.

Senator LaHood, who did not initially support term limits legislation, says witnessing how much control the current leadership has over the process in Springfield during the past year has changed his mind about the need for term limits. He also points to Illinois’ bleak fiscal outlook, highlighted by all three major credit ratings agencies – Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch Ratings, as further evidence that term limits are necessary to encourage turnover in state leadership.

“Over the last year I’ve watched as state debt has grown to more than $9 billion with millions more in unpaid bills. On top of this, Illinois has the most unsustainable public pension system in the nation. These problems are not new, they’re a long time coming and the result of allowing the same stale leadership to continue to hold this state in a death grip,” says LaHood.

SJRCA 41, which was introduced by State Senator Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove), would amend the Illinois Constitution to limit an individual to ten years of service in the General Assembly. Term limits are not a new idea. Florida, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio have all recently enacted term limits on legislators. According to LaHood, greater turnover in the legislature gives more citizens the opportunity to become engaged in the process, have a greater appreciation for, and become more invested in state government.

“The longer a legislator stays in office, the more power they gain, and the harder it gets to elect someone new. A large majority of legislators who are elected will continue to be re-elected indefinitely regardless of their effectiveness as a representative of the people,” says LaHood. “Term limits promote the values of democratic representation and equality, and make it easier for the electorate to bring in legislators with new ideas and a fresh perspective on state issues.”


###

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Obama Change - Not What Many of us Wanted

Forwarded to me by a friend. The first line on each item is what is what when Obama came to power. The 2nd line is approximately where it is now and the third line is % of increase - or decrease.

Merle

PRESIDENCY
SOME WILL APPRECIATE THIS AND SOME WILL NOT.
HOWEVER, ALL OF IT IS TRUE.
After three years of Obama ...
Here's your change!
January 2009
TODAY
% chg
Source
Avg. Retail price/gallon gas in U.S.
$1.83
$3.44
84%
1
Crude oil, European Brent (barrel)
$43.48
$99.02
127.7%
2
Crude oil, West TX Inter. (barrel)
$38.74
$91.38
135.9%
2
Corn, No.2 yellow, Central IL
$3.56
$6.33
78.1%
2
Soybeans, No. 1 yellow, IL
$9.66
$13.75
42.3%
2
Sugar, cane, raw, world, lb. Fob
$13.37
$35.39
164.7%
2
Unemployment rate, non-farm, overall
7.6%
9.4%
23.7%
3
Unemployment rate, blacks
12.6%
15.8%
25.4%
3
Number of unemployed
11,616,000
14,485,000
24.7%
3
Number of fed. Employees
2,779,000
2,840,000
2.2%
3
Real median household income
$50,112
$49,777
-0.7%
4
Number of food stamp recipients
31,983,716
43,200,878
35.1%
5
Number of unemployment benefit recipients
7,526,598
9,193,838
22.2%
6
Number of long-term unemployed
2,600,000
6,400,000
146.2%
3
Poverty rate, individuals
13.2%
14.3%
8.3%
4
People in poverty in U.S.
39,800,000
43,600,000
9.5%
4
U.S. Rank in Economic Freedom World Rankings
5
9
n/a
10
Present Situation Index
29.9
23.5
-21.4%
11
Failed banks
140
164
17.1%
12
U.S. Dollar versus Japanese yen exchange rate
89.76
82.03
-8.6%
2
U.S. Money supply, M1, in billions
1,575.1
1,865.7
18.4%
13
U.S. Money supply, M2, in billions
8,310.9
8,852.3
6.5%
13
National debt, in trillions
$10.627
$14.052
32.2%
14
Just take this last item: In the last two years we have accumulated national debt at a rate more than 27 times as fastas during the rest of our entire nation's history.Over 27 times as fast. Metaphorically speaking, if you are driving in the right lane doing 65 MPH and a car rockets past you in the left lane. 27 times faster, it would be doing 7,555 MPH!
Sources:(1) U.S. Energy Information Administration; (2) Wall Street Journal; (3) Bureau of Labor Statistics; (4) Census Bureau; (5) USDA; (6) U.S. Dept. Of Labor; (7) FHFA; (8) Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller; (9) RealtyTrac; (10) Heritage Foundation and WSJ; (11) The Conference Board; (12) FDIC; (13) Federal Reserve; (14) U.S. Treasury
So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive? Can't think of anything? Don't worry. He's done all this in 29 months -- so you'll have about 8 months to come up with an answer. Every statement in this email is factual and directly attributable to Barrack Hussein Obama. Every bumble is a matter of record and completely verifiable.
EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS...
I WONDER HOW MANY WILL FORWARD THIS?

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

If This Knowledge Doesn't Get the Repubicans and Independents Out ot Vote, Then we Deserve What we Will Get

Passed on to me by a friend,

Merle

"If Mitt wins the nomination, as seems very likely, I will enthusiastically support his candidacy. For my friends who have hesitation on that score, I'd just ask you to keep four things in mind: Justice Scalia just turned 78, Justice Kennedy will turn 78 later this year, Justice Breyer will be 76 in August, and Justice Ginsburg turned 81 about a week ago. We wish them all well, of course, but the brute fact is that whoever we elect as president in November is almost certainly going to choose at least one and maybe more new members of the Supreme Court -- in addition to hundreds of other life-tenured federal judges, all of whom will be making momentous decisions about our lives for decades to come. If you don't think it matters whether the guy making those calls is Mitt Romney or Barack Obama, I think you're smokin' something funky." --columnist Andrew McCarthy

Transparency in Peoria Totally Lacking

With the Journal Star, our only local major newspaper unable to report the news properly and the TV stations time spent mostly on advertising, where is the challenge to local "movers and shakers" on factual transparency?

Here are just a few examples: What ever happened to the million dollar lawsuit against the city for supposedly not doing their due diligence when they wisely voted against buying out the water company. The vote was 6-5 against with newcomer George Jacobs casting the deciding vote. He told me it was after reading my blogs on the subject, he felt it was not in the best interests of the city to vote to buy. Jacobs is sorely missed on the City Council.

In case you forgot, it was supposedly a lawsuit filed by 10 community leaders who invested $100,000.00 each to support the buyout. (When the water company went up for sale several years later, not a peep was heard about this status of this lawsuit. (names furnished on request).

Remember when community big money wanted to buy out Cilco? What happened?

Why did the Peoria County Economic Director resign after only 4 months on the job and after thousands were spent with a 'search' firm to find him? Hm.

Why after Peoria County's first or second highest paid employee (the counties capable IT Director, Russ Haupert, and good luck, Russ, wherever you are now) leave on Oct. 5, 2011 and no move as yet being made to replace him? Interesting.

On July 22, 2011, Glen and Polly Barton announced that they were funding an approx. $5 million new entryway into Glen Oak Park and a new parking lot with construction to start in late 2011. The only change I've seen to date is the removal of two tennis courts, badly needed at that location. Why the delay? Could it be possible because the zoo is losing large amounts of money than planned? I note no bragging of attendance in the JS in 2011..

Why is their no talk of when and where the Peoria Park District will be locating and what will happen to Lakeview Museum. (long rumored to be the new home of the PDC; all 33,000 sq. ft.)

On the Children's Playhouse, so far funded by only $10,000 of tax dollars, slated to occupy the Peoria Park Pavilion and still short some millions of dollars in funds after years of fund-raising. Is it possible some of the people who were going to fund the still unfunded Peoria Riverfront Museum have not parted with the money? Or what?

What happened to the 40 acres still not deeded after all these years, by Bradley to the Peoria Park District? This land lies off Rt.91, 2 miles south of Dunlap and purchased by Bradley as part of an 163 parcel of farmland for $13.000.00 an acre to be used as a swap for Meinen Field so that the donated Shea Soccer Field could be built.

What happened to the $10 million Dave Ransburg said he would personally raise to finish the funding for the new museum? If funded, which most of us who pay attention, know that it's not fully funded even though the JSEB claimed it was fully funded over 24 months ago? And why, if fully funded, was the County Board still seeking New Market Tax Credits less that 7 months ago?

There is no transparency coming from Andrew Rand, County Board member who heads up the construction committee of the PRM. Call him and ask him if you wish. Or call Ransburg and see what you can l;earn that is factual.

Why isn't the PRM Endowment Fund fully endowed by now when the financial guru's who supported the boondoggle sorry, project) said fund raising would be relatively easy for such a community enhancement?

Was $5.5 million taken from public taxes to push the endowment funds up to $9+ million? On 11/7/2009, Patrick Urich, now City Manger, said that $5.5 million tax referendum dollars could go to help fund the endowment "but those should be the last dollars that go into the project."

Just a reminder to Peoria residents. Don't forget to ask for your 15% discount on entry fees, as yet unpublished, but estimated to be around $9.50 for adults. This was a 15%'er promise, probably like IMAX, made by the museum people and union leaders at the UAW press conference and seconded by the two Bradley professors, who claim $14,000,000.00 a year, every year in NEW business would be drawn to Peoria because of the museum and VC.

Why, at the last press release from the museum leader did he not name the the replacement screen for IMAX and just say "a large screen"?

Why did the JSEB not question why a Florida marketing firm recieved a $74,000.00+ contract to promote the new Bel-Wood. The vote to go non-local was spearheaded by Republican Mary Ardapple (Apple's Bakery) and oppossed by Republicans Baietto, Elsasser, Harding. Rosehbohm and Trumpe and no Democrats

(Strange when the Democrats on the County board always insist on hiring locals, especially union people)

The above asks only a few of the questions about the lack of good reporting and a of lack of transparency. But then, maybe the community is so numb over the end??? of the depression or recession that they would rather that more circuses be built to occupy their attention.

Hmmm.

Shades of the Defunct Peoria, il. Based FireFly

Set the new scene at Elkhart, Indiana where the feds dumped $180,000,000.00 of your tax dollars into a no-fail battery maker and another $80,000,000.00 of state and local incentives. The company aptly named Enert 1 (like inert) went bust and their technology was sold to a Russian firm.

Which leads me to ask whatever happened to the technology from busted FireFly? Was that sold to a foreign firm also?

Joe Biden called this latest bankrupt U.S. taxpayer sponsored battery maker a 'state of the art company'. And people not widely read want to reelect people who are mostly in charge of our money?

Yes, over 40% of them do because in some way these voters benefited financially from a basically 'know not much" party, abetted by quite a few big spending Republicans. How are you going to sort them out when it comes election time? One of my acquaintances says he doesn't vote.and suggest voters read some of the works of the deceased Frank Chodorov, whose writings on the state of society and it's direction often hit the 'nail on the head'.

At the rate we are going in giving away all our secrets, we will be in worse shape security wise than many people can imagine or care to know about.

Probably by the end of 2016.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Today's Journal Star's Phoniest Headline and By-Line

One has to wonder about the relationship of JS Sports Editor and Peoria Baseball President "Rocky" Vonachen after reading today's front page and then looking at the boxscore on page D6.

If you missed it, here is the JS front page headline, "Opening Night a Hit" with a by-line reading "Whether arriving early or late, Chiefs fans PACK O'Brien Field for home opener. Now go to the sports page on on page D6 is says. "Attendance 3273" in a $23,000,000.00 stadium, where a PACKED house is 8,000 fans.

Packed my eye. A short 5 months ago, 12/22/2011, the JS front page showed that the Chiefs lost $488,000.00 in 2010, $438,000.00 in 2007, $464,000.00 in 2008 with no results published for 2011 but the lost was large because my personal loss in 2011 was $3,399.00 and I own probably less than one share.

As previous articles in the JS, I questioned the move from Meinen Field, rent about $30,000.00 as year to a new stadium being built with a majority of borrowed money. (The City of Peoria contributed somewhere around $5 million depending on what figure the city wishes to give out and $2 million from Ex-Governor and someday ex-con, Illinois First Funds.)

At the time the stadium was being considered, the JSEB wrote "Why should city risk millions on stadium"? Here is part of what they said, "Do not dismiss Merle Widmer's concern so easily. The former Peria businessman spent months of his retirement being a thorn in the side of the Peoria Park District and District #150 and those who want a four-lane highway to Chicago, etc. And a good thing too. He challenges conventional thinking. A community needs that.

And so he asks a good question: Why should the city risk potentially millions of dollars on a new stadium for a team that has already about 0ne-tenth the rent and isn't making a profit, that has yet to produce the private investment promised beyond a vague commitment fro Caterpillar?"

Unfortunately 2-3 members of the JSEB never forgot my election win over their heavy favorite, Zan Ransburg. Fortunately, two of my tormentors are gone from the JS and the JS is under heavy pressure from the corporation that owns them. The paper is a shell of it's former self.

Few people like someone who thinks is right and then is proven right. But popularity was never a major goal of mine in life. Neither was money. But I am a stickler on facts because facts seldom lie.

Packed house? My eye. Just trying to help out a struggling highly questionable investment? O'Brien Field? Only by default for the third straight year as the Chiefs apparently have not been able to find a paying name sponsor.

Eastern Bypass - Here's An Interesting Story

Back in 1997, opponents to this eastern bypass on the east side of the Illinois River, formed a group called Care of Communities against ring road encroachment. headed by Washington Alderman Michael Godar. (JS, 8/13/1997) On April 16, 1997 the JS reported that Godar had stated, "any ringroad would be built over my dead body".

No ring road was built. Later Godar would be elected to the Tazewell County Board by thankful voters. Time passed and Godar did an abrupt turn. A letter with the heading '474 Eastern Bypass Regional Coalition" was mailed to "EDC Investors" signed by Michael Godar, President. Godar asking for 'your support for the Eastern Bypass is paramount to the success of the Coalition and the project. The eastern bypass will facilitate more efficient traffic movement, relieve traffic congestion, encourage economic development, create a more balanced tax base, result in a more balanced result in a mobile workforce and improve the area's global competitive position".

Wow. Global even!!

So what happened in Godar's next run for relection? He was "blown" out by a margin 863 votes by unforgiving voters in Tazewell County who can recognize a turncoat wen they hear him talk.

No one is talking about the cost of this ringroad and bridge because there is no way this project is going to succeed, especiallly if the estimated cost would be known and the source of the funding be identified. Tazewell has a large majority of Republican officeholders so I doubt our present president will be tossing one billon dollars even with the Republican ?Department of Transportaion Ray LaHood's support. Back in the 1990's, LaHood supported a billion dollar highway to Chicago, a eastern ringroad, a widening of Rt. 29; in fact, he was all over the place with priorities with no real idea where the money would come from.

Who is on the Board of Directors of 474 EAstern Bypass? Godar, a failed businessman, is president, Ken Mauer, an educator?? is 1st VP, Steve Van Winkle, former City of Peoria Public Works???, and several less notables.

My prediction remains the same as it was in the 1990's This road will never be built but many people will add to their wealth. Who are these people? IDOT, Peoria Regional EDC Manager, a a slew of engineers, consultants and some go-fers.

Why won't it be built? There is little money now to repair our existing roads and bridges, union wages would drive the construction sky high and no one can justify the economic values in dollars unless it might be justified by a couple of Bradley Professors who live in "ivory towers".

Sunday, April 08, 2012

Manual Training High School Yearbooks - 1932 and 1933

i am in possession of these two beautifully embossed yearbooks.They were previously owned by Robert Neary, Class of 1935. Among the many signatures is one by R.J. Neary, "1888".





Among the most noteworthy graduates listed and pictured is the deceased nationally renowned sports announcer, Jack Brickhouse.





The books are in near mint condition and are for sale. Contact me if interested in buying.

We The People, Is This The Direction You Want to Follow?

This has been making the email rounds so I might as well print it on this blog.

While this a summation of the direction I beleive many people think we are heading
but too many are "takers" and they will probably vote to reelect the "givers".

More and more people are believing the old saw that there is a "free lunch".

Merle

"One of the penalties of not participating in politics is that you will be governed by your inferiors." Plato



I think this is one of the best email ever, But you decide on November 6, 2012.


Best explanation of what is happening in America that I have heard! Please pass this on may actually make folks think!

CAN THE USA SURVIVE GIVEN THE FOLLOWING?

The folks who are getting free stuff, don't like the folks who are paying for the free stuff,
because the folks who are paying for the free stuff can no longer afford to pay for both the free
stuff and their own stuff.The folks who are paying for the free stuff want the free stuff to stop, and the folks who are getting the free stuff want even more free stuff on top of the free stuff they are already getting!Now... The people who are forcing the people to pay for the free stuff have told the people who are RECEIVING the free stuff, that the people who are PAYING for the free stuff, are being mean, prejudiced, and racist.So... The people who are GETTING the free stuff have been convinced they need to hate the people who are paying for the free stuff by the people who are forcing some people to pay for their free stuff, and giving them the free stuff in the first place.We have let the free stuff giving go on for so long that there are now more people getting free stuff than paying for the free stuff.Now understand this. All great democracies have committed financial suicidesomewhere between 200 and 250 years after being founded. The reason?The voters figured out they could vote themselves money from the treasury by electing people who promised to give them money from the treasury in exchange for electing them.
Thomas Jefferson said it best: "The democracy (Republic) will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."The United States officially became a Republic in 1776, 235 years ago. The number of people now getting free stuff outnumbers the people paying for the free stuff. We have one chance to change that On Nov 6th, 2012. Failure to change that spells the end of the United States as we know it.ELECTION 2012 IS COMINGA Nation of Sheep Breeds a Government of Wolves!I'M 100% for PASSING THIS ON!!!Let's take a stand!!!
Obama:Gone!Borders: Closed!Language: English onlyCulture: Constitution, and the Bill of Rights!Drug Free: Mandatory Drug Screening before Welfare!NO freebies to: Non-Citizens!We the people are comingOnly 86% will send this on. Should be 100%. What will you do?
------------------------------------"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money". -- Margaret Thatcher




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By-Pass (Ring Road, Eastern Bypass, 474 Eastern Bypass, etc.) Studies in Tazewell County Countinue

At what cost? No one in the taxpaying sector will ever know, That is except for the regional EDC and IDOT and they don't care. They are getting well-paid by your taxes. My educated guess would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $20,000,000,00 and all of it going to the above mentioned managers, engineers, consultants, etc.

These studies have been going on for over 16 years with expenditures every couple of years like a $2.4 million request in 2006 by then Congressman Ray LaHood, $3 million to a Chicago engineering firm in 2007, $6.4 million by Congressman Aaron Schock in 2009, millions more going back to at least 1995 and millions more before one shovel of dirt would be turned.

An organization called "Communities Against Ring Road Encroachment (C.A.R.E.)" was very active back then. It's remaining leadership needs to be revived. Estimates were made that over 35,000 trips would be made (mostly benefiting Caterpillar) but like all projects and estimates in this community have been wrong like Cubs Food, the ballpark, the zoo expansion which fell over $5 million short of raising the funds to complete the project, etc., an estimate and projections are just that, estimates and projections made by people in favor of whatever taxpayer dollar they want to spend.

And now these politicians most who never owned a business, are looking for more tax-collecting projects like museums, libraries, nursing homes, etc. to build to keep our highly paid unions bosses being reelected.

Back on 10/09/06, the JSEB wrote the following "Ringroad's circuitous journey begins again" . 'Like a bad penny- or a good one, depending on whom you ask-the ring road on the east side of the Illinois River keeps turning up. If it is to become a reality for our kids--it;s getting late for many of us adults--a corridor must be identified, land reserved and purchased. This likely central Illinois' last chance'.

That was 6 years ago and now 6, that' right, new options have been prepared by these highly paid "planners, bureaucrats, consultants and engineers". I haven't heard where our National Dept. of Transportation head, Ray LaHood, has promised the roughly one BILLION dollars that would be needed to build the bypass from Morton over a new bridge to Caterpillar-Mossville, while CAT is moving jobs out of Peoria County. (I don't blame Cat)

In my address to the Noon Optimist Club Tuesday, I stated that as far as spending goes, the Republicans are no better than Blago was, Quinn Reid, Waters, Barney. etc. and their hired hands, bureaucrats all.

Check it out. Another reason why I have declared myself an Independent. Although two votes I will not cast for Obama and Quinn.

Wake-up taxpayers. After November, where, at rate the rate the Republican hierarchy keeps shooting all Republicans in both feet,, I expect that 'he' will be reelected, we better get serious about a third party. And no, not Ron Paul as it's leader.

Obama Wants Your Guns - Wonder Why?

Forwarded to me by a friend. Scroll towards the bottom for credits.

Merle

While the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin saga unfolds in Florida amid protests and death threats, a different story is quietly playing itself out in the opposite corner of the country. But you might not know much about it, because this Northwest self-defense story isn’t getting much airplay on network news. Maybe because it doesn’t play into their race-baiting, anti-gun narrative.
This story just keeps going and going, because NW burglars continue to practically beg to be shot by breaking into other people’s homes. And NW homeowners keep obliging them by shooting them.
Four days ago we reported on a North Bend, WA homeowner who shot and killed the cocaine and alcohol-fueled madman who broke into his home and kicked down his bedroom door.
That followed a fatal shotgun home-defense shooting in La Center, Washington (also involving a heavily-intoxicated burglar) and a nonfatal rubber buckshot home-defense shooting in Portland, Oregon in January, where the wounded burglar tried to escape on his bicycle.
And another nonfatal home-defense shotgun blast in Seattle in February, where the wounded burglar hopped on a city bus to make his getaway. If you’re familiar with Portland or Seattle, you won’t think it unusual that wounded home-invasion burglars would try to escape on bicycles or public buses: it’s all about the carbon footprint after all.
And two days ago another home invader made an abrupt career change (from burglar to corpse) when he attacked a retired Puyallup, WA police officer. KING5.com reports:
PUYALLUP, Wash. — A retired Puyallup police officer shot and killed a man who was attempting to break into his home Wednesday afternoon.
Pierce County sheriff’s deputies said just before 4:30 p.m., a man who lives at a home in the 14300 block of 134th Avenue East was sleeping when people tried to break in. The owner grabbed his gun and fired, hitting one of the intruders. The group then fled.
Their next stop was the emergency room. According to deputies, the injured man was dropped off at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, where he later died.
That person has been identified as Kevin Fernandes, 21, of Spanaway.
That’s pronounced ‘Pew-allup’ if you’re wondering, but there’s more.
AND just yesterday there were two more home-defense DGUs, in which several would-be burglars ran for their lives at the sight of a homeowner’s firearm. One of those homeowners violated a cardinal rule of self-defense and fired his shotgun at the fleeing felon after the threat had ended, but no charges against him have been announced.
I’m almost embarrassed to live in a part of the country with so many lunatic, intoxicated or just plain stupid burglars, but at least at this rate most of them will be dead in a few decades if they don’t breed too fast. And I’m proud to live in a part of the country where homeowners are willing and ready to defend themselves.

This entry was posted in Defensive Gun Use of the Day, Gun Nation, Law and Order, News, Personal Defense and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.


59 Responses to NW Burglars Continue To Not Get It: Another Burglar Killed, More Flee
bontai Joe says:
April 6, 2012 at 18:51
My personal theory about the increase over the past hundred years or so of not so bright bad guys was the elimination of natural predators. With no wolves, bears or mountain lions to kill and eat the stupid folks, these folks breed and bless us with their offspring. Now with John & Jane Homeowner becoming afraid enough of the increasing numbers of bad guys are arming up to defend themselves, we can only hope that the herd of mutant scum that prey on the rest of us can be kulled out of the gene pool. I live in an area that has a meth lab problem, not super bad yet, but it’s there. I clap with joy and glee every time I see one of these operation blow up killing the druggies with it. I smile at every story where Joe Ordinary fires back at the mugger, or intruder and wins the fight. For decades, crime has been paying well for those that choose that life, nice to see the risk go way up for the folks that choose to take what is not theirs instead of working for it like the rest of us.
Reply
BLAMMO says:
April 6, 2012 at 19:16
That’s why I don’t think bicycle helmets should be mandatory for children. They should be prohibited. If you’re not sharp enough to keep your melon from smacking the pavement, maybe you won’t grow up to be a driver who texts.
And for predatory pukes, getting your head blown off should be an occupational hazard.
Reply
JoeFromSidney says:
April 7, 2012 at 13:42
Sorry, but I disagree about bicycle helmets. My son, who holds a PhD and is literally a rocket scientist for NASA, and who is an accomplished cyclist, had his life saved by a helmet. Through no fault of his own, he ended up head-over-handlebars. His helmet was crushed, but his skull wasn’t. I strongly urge everyone to wear a helmet. Just because you’re brilliant doesn’t mean you won’t have bad luck.
Reply
Swamp Thing says:
April 7, 2012 at 17:43
Couldn’t agree with you more. MY 13 year old now has 2 broken arms but, because he’s the only kid in Louisiana who wears a helmet, does not have severe head injuries. Sorry to go off topic.
My personal idea would be to require anyone who wants to live on the public dole to be forced to have contraception or, if religion prohibits, agree to give any offspring up for adoption.
Reply
hutch1200 says:
April 7, 2012 at 18:51
Agreed 100%. More than enough people would love to shower that child with true love. No more mouths to feed, or medical care. Usually caused by lack of supervision. Drug testing too.I’m sorry, but you sell your soul and Freedom, when you EXPECT other to take care of you. That makes you a big child. Children are at the mercy of the parents’ (taxpayers) wonts. If you want to live under the roof I provide, there WILL be some rules. Want to be a “whole & Free” person, show some self control and resposibility!

Monday, April 02, 2012

Peoria Noon Optimist Speaker Tomorrow

That's me. My subject is, "A Critique of Local Government". 11:45 approx at Barrack's Catering on Pioneer Parkway. Probaly not many local politcians will attend although I hope most of my presentation will be open discussion, from Eagle Point to roundabouts.

And Big Al's!!

All readers are invited as it is an open meeting. Great buffet. Unfortunately, visitors pay.

Bamopoly - The New Game Board

Sent to me by a concerned friend. Not just in Washington but in all state capitals, city councils and county boards.

Merle

Who designed this and who is throwing the dice? Same answer to both. Its so real its scary. We have absolutely no idea just how bad off we are. When I was a little girl and my father was in politics he once told me that if the general public really knew what was going on behind closed doors in Washington D.C. that the whole country would run for the cliff like lemurs, because they couldn't handle the truth. We know more now than we did then and we still can't handle the truth. We don't know how to gather together and stand up and fight back with a workable plan in sight. We want change, but we are too weak and stupid to do it ourselves so we elected a man who claimed to bring us change. Unfortunately we didn't ask what KIND of change

Obama Fact Check - Just More of His Truth Stretching

Taken from a January release by the Associated press and snippets from the WSJ.

Merle


Obama: "We have subsidized oil companies for a century. That's long enough. It's time to end the taxpayer giveaway's to an industry that's rarely been more profitable and double down on a clean energy industry that has never been more promising."


Fact: This is his third attempt recently. Republicans want to spur DOMESTIC oil and gas production and oppose tax increases generally.


More facts: Natural gas produces 24,781 trillion BTU's


Solar energy produces 109 trillion (Remember the billion dollar Solyndra fiasco, almost all subsidized by the U.S. Government?)


Wind - 924 trillion (Wind power firms on edge over possible expiration of tax credits would cause cancelled projects and layoffs - 2/2/12 WSJ)

Coal - 22.077 trillion

Crude Oil - 11,669 trillion

Fact: Fossil fuels will dominate for a long, long time.

Obama: "Our health care law relies on a reformed private market, not a government program."

Fact: Half true. About one half of the 30 million uninsured Americans expected to gain coverage through the health care law will be enrolled in a government program. Medicaid, the federal-state program for low income people will be expanded in 2014 to cover childless adults living near the poverty level.

Obama: "The money we're no longer spending at war, use half of it top pay down our debt,and use the rest to do some nation-building right hear at home."

Fact: The idea of taking war "savings" to pay for other programs is budgetary sleight of hand. For one thing, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been largely financed through borrowing, so stopping wars doesn't create a pool of ready cash, just less debt. And the savings seem to be based at least in part on inflated war spending for future years.

Obama: "The Taliban's momentum has been broken, and some troops from Afghanistan have begun to come home."

Fact:The latest Nation Intelligence Estimate warns that the Taliban will become stinger, using fledgling talks with the U.S. to stall until troops leave, while continuing to fight for more territory. The AP says that the current Afghanistan leadership has been unable to establish creditability with its people and predicts the Taliban and warlords will largely control the countryside.

If Obama's imagination were as good as facts, we wouldn't be in the quandry this nation is in and faces.