‘President Blowhard’ Sabotages Talks

Surprise! Our newbie narcissist President thinks it’s all about him.

Fred Barnes reports:

McConnell, the Senate minority leader, did not participate in the earlier negotiations, seven weeks of them, guided by Vice President Biden. Senate Republican whip Jon Kyl had taken part in those talks, which were friendlier and far more productive than the meetings run by Obama. Biden, despite his reputation as Washington’s premier windbag, had restrained himself. The president hasn’t. He’s talked incessantly, and for so long that others often gave up trying to get a word in. Obama dominated one session so completely that only one of the four Republicans spoke and then only in short spurts. [. . .]

The president has been less genial away from the prying eyes of the press and the public. In the private talks, he’s dominated the discussion with the eight most senior members of Congress in an overbearing way not likely to lead to compromise. He’s been argumentative. He’s come across as President Blowhard.

Borders to Shut Down

Borders Group Inc. said it would liquidate after the second-largest U.S. bookstore chain failed to receive any offers to save it.

Borders, which employs about 10,700 people, scrapped a bankruptcy-court auction scheduled for Tuesday amid the dearth of bids.

If states can do so can Congress

States in Budget Surpluses ... Why Not Congress?

S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley urges Congress to find debt deal as nearly two dozen states are on pace for surpluses

Young Hispanics Say Cut Spending, Liberate Business

Generation Opportunity recently commissioned a poll of young Hispanics (ages 18-29). The survey was conducted in April and has a margin of error +/- 4%. The results are striking: young Hispanics, like young Americans generally, want opportunity and understand that opportunity comes from the private sector: * By nearly a 3:1 ratio, Hispanic young adults prefer “reducing federal spending” (69%) to “raising taxes on individuals” (27%) in order to balance

Latest Airfare Hike Falters because of Texas Airlines

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 takes from Tampa, Fl. On April 3 a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 carrying 142 people diverted to Los Angeles because of a burning electrical smell in the passenger cabin.

DALLAS –  The latest effort by airlines to broadly raise fares — hikes of $4 to $10 per round trip within the U.S. — faltered Monday as some airlines balked at the increase.

United and Continental started the fare hikes on Friday and most other airlines went along at first. But on Sunday, Southwest rolled back the increases, and American did the same Monday morning.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2011/07/18/latest-airfare-hike-falters/#ixzz1SUkrPghw

Emanuel fires 750 Chicago employees, why can’t we fire federal employees?

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel sent pink slips to up to 625 city employees last week and he plans to privatize many of those jobs in order to close Illinois’ $30 million budget gap, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Nearly 130 seasonal transportation workers will be told to leave immediately.

According to the Tribune, “Emanuel said he intends to get private companies to clean the city’s airports and libraries, work now done by city employees. Operators at the city’s water-bill call center and employee benefit managers also will see their jobs outsourced. Those union workers will receive 30- and 45-day layoff notices.”

Emanuel followed through on his threat to lay employees off because, he said, the unions had failed to offer concessions or cost-cutting measures that would help close a budget hole created by an earlier deal with City Hall for unions to take unpaid days off.

In Obama Land this is not a hate crime.

Another Non-Hate Crime

I was beaten, taunted for being white, Bronx man says after subway attack

White is the wrong color skin to wear on a subway into the Bronx, as Jason Fordell learned the hard way:

After Fordell transferred to a crowded 4 train at 42nd St., four young, black men began harassing him, cops said.

“People started saying stupid little comments — cracker this, white boy this, f—-t this,” Fordell said. …

As the train continued into the Bronx, the confrontation became physical, he said.

“I was in a headlock, punched and kicked on the floor,” Fordell said.

Then a passenger decided to join in — declaring, “Oh, I get a few shots, too,” before kicking and punching Fordell in the head, according to cops.

When Fordell finally left the train at his Fordham Road stop, his original attackers snatched his bag and ran. Inside was $2,900 worth of merchandise, cops said.

Top Chinese gymnast found begging on the street

One of China's most promising young gymnasts, who seemed destined for Olympic glory before his career ended in injury, has been found begging on the streets of Beijing, prompting criticism of the country's Soviet-style sports system.

Zhang Shangwu: His gold medal-winning performance was the highlight of his career, and he seemed certain to make the cut for the 2004 Athens Olympics until he broke his left Achilles tendon in training in 2002

Children are safest in the car when their grandparents are driving

Researchers admitted they were 'surprised' by the findings, which shows children involved in accidents in cars driven by their older relatives are 50 per cent less likely to be injured.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2016070/American-children-safer-car-grandparents-parents.html

How did this truck not plummet into the Potomac River?

A UPS truck was unlucky enough to get caught on a Maryland bridge above the Potomac River Friday during a thunderstorm with 60-mph winds. The driver was lucky enough to avoid the water 135 feet below — by mere inches.

Authorities say the truck was kept from plunging off the Harry Nice Memorial Bridge in Charles County, Md., by "the grace of God." Neither the driver, the truck nor the bridge sustained major damage in the incident. It wasn't clear whether the truck was carrying any packages at the time, or if some ballast kept one fortunate UPS man from making a water delivery.

Another argument for limiting voting.

Face Value: Looks of Political Candidates Are Key Factor Influencing Low-Information Voters

ScienceDaily (July 18, 2011) — The looks of political candidates are a key factor influencing voters, a phenomenon identified by a number of scholars in recent years. Now, a new study by MIT political scientists adds to this body of research by detailing which types of citizens are most influenced by candidate appearances, and why: The tendency is most prevalent among low-information voters who watch a lot of television.

Using data from the 2006 U.S. Senate and governors' races, the study shows that for every 10-point increase in the advantage a candidate has when rated by voters on his or her looks, there will be a nearly 5 percent increase in the vote for that candidate by the uninformed voters who are most firmly planted on their couches. Yet that same advantage in looks is worth only about a 1 percent increase among low-information voters who watch little television.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110718121726.htm

Grand Cayman Blue Iguana: Back from the Brink of Extinction

This is an adult Grand Cayman blue iguana on its namesake island. Decimated by a combination of habitat destruction, car-related mortality, and predation by introduced cats and dogs, the reptile numbered between 10-25 individuals by 2002. A recovery program -- assisted by health experts from the Bronx Zoo -- has brought the number of free-ranging iguanas within Grand Cayman's protected areas to more than 500 animals.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110718141038.htm

Cutting Spending is the key. It worked for the states, it can work for US.

Understanding “Cut, Cap, and Balance.”

“The key to understanding this bill is that it focuses on government spending, rather than on taxes or deficits. The bill would achieve significant deficit reduction through cutting and limiting spending, and all of its mechanisms use spending rather than deficit targets. . . . I recommend supporting this bill even with its significant imperfections. I place enormous value on the creation of an enforceable cap on total government spending.” If Obama wants to veto it, let him.

Japanese tsunami stood at 132.5ft

The tsunami that struck north-east Japan in March rose to a maximum height of 132.5ft, according to researchers, taller than Rio's Christ the Redeemer.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/8645094/Japanese-tsunami-stood-at-132.5ft.html

World's largest photograph now on display

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/world-largest-photo-display-california-162227583.html

You da man, Johnny!!!!

Happy Birthday, John Glenn! First American to Orbit Earth Turns 90 SPACE.com - 1 hr 7 mins ago

This story was updated at 2:23 p.m. ET. More »

You da man, Johnny!!!!

Adios, adieu, auf wiedersehen, goodbye

Final shuttle crew says last goodbyes in orbit SPACE.com - 2 hrs 27 mins ago

HOUSTON — The last astronauts to fly on a space shuttle have boarded their spaceship for the return trip to Earth and closed its hatch on the International Space Station for the final time. More »

McConnell "Plan B" to put it in BHO lap is sounding better all the time

Obama threatens veto of debt measure tied to balanced budget amendment

House Republicans schedule a Tuesday vote on the proposal.

• Reid: Senate to stay in session until there’s a deal
• Poll: Little confidence in leaders to deal with issue
• U.S. stocks slump amid debt limit concerns
• Q&A transcript: Bipartisan plan explained

Is it hot where you live?

We're the little '107' you see where Dallas should be on the map. Whew!

World’s Tallest Mobile Crane Is Also World’s Strongest

The blades of the world's biggest wind turbine don't just sprout from the impeller like leaves. And at 364 tons, you'll need a pretty hefty crane— like the Liebherr LTM 11200-9.1. It's strong enough to lift three of them simultaneously.

The LTM 11200-9.1 is both the the strongest and tallest telescopic crane in the world, lifting up to 1,200 tons (that's 2,645,000 pounds or 12 adult Blue Whales, depending on who's counting). Its eight-part telescoping boom extends up to 328 feet (50 feet taller than the last record holder) and, with the addition of a lattice jib, has a maximum lift height of 630 feet, more than 50 stories high! Though, despite its 445,000 pounds of counter-weight, when the LTM 11200 is picking up 2 million+ pounds, it can only extend about eight feet laterally without tipping.

Media Elite blaming America for getting in the way of the Ruling Elite.

Hijacked’ GOP: CNN Analyst Blames Tea Party for Stopping Obama from Being ‘Transformational’

 

"What Occurred between 2008 and 2010...is the Tea Party."

Time to become a veggie. (Remember Soylent Green)

Lab-Grown Meat Would Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Save Energy, Research Suggests

Meat department in a grocery store. New research suggests that meat grown using tissue engineering techniques, so-called 'cultured meat', would generate up to 96% lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventionally produced meat.

ScienceDaily (July 18, 2011) — Meat grown using tissue engineering techniques, so-called 'cultured meat', would generate up to 96% lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventionally produced meat, according to a new study.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110714101036.htm

A hundred years later Earth Day. Formula: society needs to develop far enough to create the problem, go past that point and then it will slowly start to correct the problem. This can only take place where the people control the gov’t.

July 18, 1876: Royal Commissioners Wrinkle Their Noses

• 

1876: The British government appoints a Royal Commission on Noxious Vapours to look into the growing problem of industrial air pollution. Its report two years later would bring better regulation but warn about impeding economic growth.

America does not have poor. We have recipients.

64 Percent of “Poor” Americans Have Cable TV

And many other things:

Data from the Department of Energy and other agencies show that the average poor family, as defined by Census officials:

● Lives in a home that is in good repair, not crowded, and equipped with air conditioning, clothes washer and dryer, and cable or satellite TV service.

● Prepares meals in a kitchen with a refrigerator, coffee maker and microwave as well as oven and stove.

● Enjoys two color TVs, a DVD player, VCR and — if children are there — an Xbox, PlayStation, or other video game system.

● Had enough money in the past year to meet essential needs, including adequate food and medical care.

In most other countries, such people would be considered wealthy.

They don’t want to cut anything. They just want gov’t to run more of everything.

Gas prices on the rise; top $4 in eight states...

OBAMA VOWS TO VETO SPENDING CUTS

Egypt's Indiana Jones Fired

AP Photo / SCA

June 30, 2010: Looking for all the world like Indiana Jones, antiquities chief Zahi Hawass studies an unfinished 570-foot long tunnel in Luxor, Egypt -- first discovered in 1960 and possibly meant to be a secret tomb.

CAIRO –  He's hanging up the hat. 

After decades of popularizing Egyptology -- from exploring the pyramids to studying mummies to digging for buried treasure -- Egypt's top archaeologist has lost his post, fired Sunday under pressure from critics who attacked his credibility and accused him of being too close to the regime of ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/07/18/egyptian-indiana-jones-fired/#ixzz1STTwrz7y

Uncle Sam, sugar daddy

Michael Walsh writing in the NYPost:

Forget all the numbers being tossed around in Washington — the millions and billions and trillions of dollars being taxed, borrowed, printed and spent as the country approaches the Aug. 2 debt-ceiling deadline.

Forget the political jockeying for position between a president desperately seeking re-election in 16 months and a Congress equally desperately seeking not to be blamed for spending even more money that we don’t have.

Forget the fact that such “entitlements” as Social Security and Medicare — social-insurance programs that the public long thought to be actuarially sound — have been exposed as little more than legal Ponzi schemes, paying today’s benefits out of tomorrow’s borrowed receipts.

Instead, just ask yourself this simple question: When did it become the primary function of the federal government to send millions of Americans checks?

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/uncle_sam_sugar_daddy_b5PtLOJxAhWJuG66PQxZlN

Not sure I ever want to be close to a crocodile

Crocodile safaris

There are plenty of (safe) ways of getting up close and personal to Australia's monster crocodiles.

$476 million

Harry Potter sets staggering worldwide box-office record this past weekend

Pottermania in LA

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/18/movies/harry-potters-opening-weekend-breaks-box-office-records.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha28

HE is good at one thing

Obama generated twice as many campaign contributors as new jobs through second quarter of 2011.

Ramirez on the cheerleading Washington press corps

It is time to call it. It is the Obama Depression. (Gov't stats will confirm in about 3 months)

Gallup finds employment “deterioration” in July

Underemployment at 18.3%.

The Ted Party is America. What the Media is upset about is America decided its "leaders" were in it for themselves and not the country.

CNN's Gloria Borger: Tea Party 'Hijacked' GOP, Preventing Obama from Becoming 'Transformational President

Is there anything Red Wine can not do?

Red wine is good for astronauts as it 'prevents the negative effects of weightlessness'

The 'healthy' ingredient in the alcoholic drink - resveratrol - prevents the negative effects of space-flight and sedentary lifestyles on people.

They have a Manual?

SEIU Manual On Intimidation Revealed.

Despite these tactics, it’s not like the SEIU has done particularly well lately. But then, it’s hard to get good goonsnowadays.

Over 3 million dollars a month

• No White House Recession: Obama’s 454 Staffers Cost Taxpayers $37,121,463

• T

  "13% more" than George W. Bush.

Ready for a 70% marginal tax rate?

Michael Boskin writing in today's WSJ:

It would be a huge mistake to imagine that the cumulative, cascading burden of many tax rates on the same income will leave the middle class untouched. Take a teacher in California earning $60,000. A current federal rate of 25%, a 9.5% California rate, and 15.3% payroll tax yield a combined income tax rate of 45%. The income tax increases to cover the CBO's projected federal deficit in 2016 raises that to 52%. Covering future Social Security and Medicare deficits brings the combined marginal tax rate on that middle-income taxpayer to an astounding 71%. That teacher working a summer job would keep just 29% of her wages. At the margin, virtually everyone would be working primarily for the government, reduced to a minority partner in their own labor.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304911104576443893352153776.html?mod=opinion_newsreel

Only in DC

Feds pay for study of gay men's penis sizes

National Institutes of Health-funded study examines whether size correlates with sexual health

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/#ixzz1ST6zE8ht

Wow, Russia politics is a lot more fun than ours

Girls urged to strip to support Vladimir Putin as president

An online campaign has been launched in Russia urging young women to support Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in a presidential vote by taking off their clothes, a lawmaker's site showed on Sunday.

Women are urged to support Prime Minister Vladimir Putin

Note the states cut spending to balance their budgets.

Many states celebrate surpluses as Congress struggles with debt

As Washington stares at rising national debt and projected deficits for years to come, many states are faced with the opposite problem: whether to spend their budget surpluses and, if so, on what.

At least a dozen states ended fiscal 2011 with surpluses. Indiana reported one of the largest, with an extra $1.2 billion in its accounts.Gov. Mitch Daniels, a Republican, on Friday authorized bonus payments of up to $1,000 for state employees. An employee who “meets expectations” will get $500, those who “exceed expectations” will receive $750 and “outstanding workers” will see an extra $1,000 in their August paychecks.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels

What the Dems have done.

GOLD HITS RECORD $1,600