U.S. waives Jones Act to help get fuel to Northeast

"The Department of Homeland Security's waiver of the Jones Act allows foreign-flagged vessels to begin shipping petroleum products, such as gasoline and diesel, from the Gulf of Mexico to Northeastern ports effective immediately. The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, better known as the Jones Act, was created to support jobs in the maritime industry. It requires goods moved between U.S. ports to be carried by ships built domestically and staffed by U.S. crews." Continue reading

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Unlicensed Contractors ‘Preying on Homeowners’, Says Media

"Unlicensed contractors are coming out of the woodwork after Sandy, warns NBC. Why, these vermin are actually going door-to-door, luring you in with low, low prices! One of the criminals (2:08) even brought a state-of-the-art boom truck, all the better to deceive vulnerable storm victims. Thank goodness the heroic license-checker shows up just as this lowlife is preparing to adapt his expertise to the task at hand. 'We’re taking a tree off somebody’s house [for crying out loud],' he pleads. Ha! That’s what they all say!" Continue reading

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Local TSA workers headed to East Coast

"TSA workers are leaving Thursday to help Sandy survivors. They'll not only be helping the traveling public, but their fellow TSA screeners who are dealing with the aftermath of a storm in their personal lives. The extra help is needed because of the backlog of passengers the airlines have with all the canceled flights over the past three days, and because many of the TSA screeners in the New York City area can't make it to work." Continue reading

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Hurricane Sandy: Local residents banned from barrier island up to 8 months

"Busloads of people were being escorted out, with several residents interviewed saying police and fire officials knocked on their doors, telling them they had five minutes to pack a bag before they had to leave. Residents will be able to return at some point, with police escorts, to gather their belongings. 'Overall, we’re in very very good shape because we have the people in place to do the job at the right time. We’ve pretty much got Seaside on lockdown and that’s what we’ve go to do to make it safe,' Seaside Height Police Chief Thomas Boyd said." Continue reading

Continue ReadingHurricane Sandy: Local residents banned from barrier island up to 8 months

New Jersey kicks out Sandy volunteers because they aren’t unionized

"Crews coming to assist all the way from Alabama’s Decatur Utilities were turned away because they aren’t unionized, despite making the 800-mile jaunt to lend a hand. Left with nothing to do in New Jersey, Moore and other members of the Decatur team are reportedly waiting in Roanaoke, Virginia to see if Seaside Heights authorities will change their mind. Meanwhile, though, millions of residents up and down the East Coast remain without power after a powerful tropical storm downed power lines and flooded streets from North Carolina to New England." Continue reading

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Some Private Sector Contestants for the U.S. vs U.K. Stupidity Contest

"I’ve had some fun on this blog by comparing moronic government policies in the United States and United Kingdom. In my never-ending search for cheap laughs and juvenile entertainment, I’ve ever turned this into a contest to see which nation has more pathetic and useless bureaucrats. The United Kingdom has some very strong contestants. But as a patriotic American, I’m proud to say that we’re giving the Brits a run for their money. As you can see, the United States is filled with equally stupid and clueless government officials." Continue reading

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Former Mich. mayor sets bronze statue of himself outside home

"The former mayor of Flint, Mich., Don Williamson, recently set a bronze statue of himself outside his gated home surrounded by six bronze lions, reported Michigan Live. Williamson says the statue itself was made 20 years ago and at one time sat in the building of a company he ran, The Colonel’s Inc., which burned down in 1993 in a suspected arson. His wife imported the lions. Williamson, who now lives in nearby Davison Township, resigned as mayor of Flint soon before his looming defeat in a recall election in 2009." Continue reading

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Illinois Teacher Retirement System Is Broke

"There are only two numbers that matter: the amount of money the pension fund will pay out for earned benefits, and the amount of money it has on hand. Between now and 2045, TRS will pay $376.5 billion to retired teachers. It has just $36.3 billion on hand. In order for these assets to cover future payouts, TRS would need to see average investment returns of more than 18.5 percent per year. The simple fact is that TRS is broke. Under new accounting rules, TRS has less than 23 percent of the money it should have in the bank today in order to make its pension payments." Continue reading

Continue ReadingIllinois Teacher Retirement System Is Broke