Author Archive
Monday, March 30th, 2009
The Washington Times has the story on how the Senate Banking Committee Chair, democrat Chris Dodd, collected large donations from AIG employees.
Mr. Dodd’s campaign quickly hit pay dirt, collecting more than $160,000 from employees and their spouses at the AIG Financial Products division (AIG-FP) in Wilton, Conn., in the days before he took over as the committee chairman in January 2007. Months later, the senator transferred the donations to jump-start his 2008 presidential bid, which later failed.
Now, two years later, Mr. Dodd has emerged as a central figure in the government’s decision to let executives at the now-failing AIG collect more than $218 million in bonuses, according to the Connecticut attorney general – even as the company was receiving billions of dollars in assistance from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). He acknowledged that he slipped a provision into legislation in February that authorized the bonuses, but said the Treasury Department asked him to do it.
…
The employees were told, “If you agree,” to write checks for $2,100 from themselves and their spouses and to send them to Mr. Dodd’s campaign within four days. They also were to ask the senior members of their management teams to do the same and send copies of their checks to the company.
The Dodd campaign collected $162,100 from AIG-FP employees and their spouses within six weeks of the e-mail, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics and the Federal Election Commission.
Note that the employees were told to send copies of their checks to the company. That may be legal, but it clearly crosses an ethical line.
Posted in Culture of Corruption, Politics | No Comments »
Monday, March 30th, 2009
Our Dear Leader‘s so-called “Cap and Trade” program is really a “Cap and Tax” program that is going to suck more money from the paychecks of every American.
This energy tax is going to hit the poorest the hardest, since they pay the largest percentage of their income on energy costs (electricity, heating and transportation).
White House sources have admitted that this will be an average increase of $1,800 per family!
President Obama’s energy tax plan — a version of the failed European “cap and trade” global warming fiasco — may cost families $1,800 yearly in higher utility bills, far exceeding his promised $800 a year tax cut for 95% of Americans.
While campaigning, Obama admitted that his energy plan would cause electric bills to “skyrocket.” President Obama’s energy tax plan — a version of the failed European “cap and trade” global warming fiasco — may cost families $1,800 yearly in higher utility bills, far exceeding his promised $800 a year tax cut for 95% of Americans.
While campaigning, Obama admitted that his energy plan would cause electric bills to “skyrocket.”
So when Candidate Obama said that Americans making less than $250,000 a year would not see any new taxes, he was lying! Get used to it folks. It’s a long way until January 20, 2013.
Also published at E-Ramblings
Posted in energy, Environment, Politics, Taxes | No Comments »
Monday, March 30th, 2009
Apple has changed the rules for the Rev 2, 3G iPhone sales. Customers can buy “unlimited quantities” without the AT&T contract that subsides the price. This is the same tactic Apple used to clear out Rev 1 hardware before they announced the 3G iPhone.
The Apple Developers Conference, June 8-12, would be a good place announce a new rev of the iPhone hardware that will use the new firmware to the best advantage. Apple could use a new iPhone to offset the Palm Pre and new Android phones.
Originally posted at Urbin Technology.
Posted in SmartPhones & PDAs, Technology | No Comments »
Sunday, March 29th, 2009
If you have browsed my site, you know I’m a strong supporter of Civil Rights, including RKBA.
The largest Second Amendment advocacy groups, the National Rifle Association, is conducting a membership drive and offering free memberships.
Given the attacks the current administration and congress are conducting against basic Civil Rights, including RKBA, joining the NRA is a good idea.
Posted in Politics, RKBA | No Comments »
Saturday, March 28th, 2009
I’m a fan of the old Pulp stories, Doc Savage in particular.
One place to get a new fix of crunchy Pulp Goodness is Decoder Ring Theater.
“…all-new audio adventures in the tradition of the classic programs of Radio’s Golden Age.”
The adventures come in two flavors, hard boiled detective stories and masked hero adventure. Black Jack Justice features PI Jack Justice and his partner, Trixie Dixon, Girl Detective. The masked heroes are Canada’s own Red Panda and the Flying Squirrel.
Personally, I listen to them both. Stop by and check ’em out.
Posted in Pulp | No Comments »
Saturday, March 28th, 2009
Details at Urbin Technology on two alternate fuels sources. One is algae oil based biofuel and the other is coal based.
Posted in Technology | No Comments »
Friday, March 27th, 2009
A Force of One
A Chuck Norris classic from 1979. Bill “Superfoot” Wallace also has a big presence in this film. For the star power, Jennifer O’Neill does quite nicely. Eric Laneuville plays Norris’ adopted son, in his second martial arts film (the first was 1974’s Black Belt Jones), and later appeared in “St. Elsewhere.”
The Friday B-Movie Archive.
Posted in Martial Arts, Movies | No Comments »
Friday, March 27th, 2009
I’m listening to Planet Kruiser on Radio for Conservatives.
Weekdays at 2PM Eastern. Kruiser is a stand up comic and does a good political rant for an hour, five days a week.
Posted in Politics | No Comments »
Friday, March 27th, 2009
The latest rumors are for an announcement next week.
Posted in SmartPhones & PDAs, Technology | No Comments »
Friday, March 27th, 2009
Before you get too excited, it won’t be released until next month, it’s only available in Japan, and it has a $1,000 price tag.
The FLEPia will however have a color screen with touch capabilities. Old School Palm OS stylus touch control though.
The display uses a variant of LCD tech that doesn’t use a backlight. The backlight is the power hog that has kept it from being used in a ebook reader yet.
I wouldn’t call this a threat to the Amazon Kindle or the Sony EBook reader, but it shows the market is opening up.
First posted at Urbin Technology
Posted in Technology | No Comments »