Mad Statists

Ohio Appeals Court: Turn Signal Not Needed If Driving Straight

"Motorists driving in a straight line do not need to use their turn signal. That's the conclusion Ohio's second highest court reached on June 7 while reviewing the opinion of the Erie County Municipal Court. Paseka had been heading west on Lima Sandusky Road (State Route 6) in Erie County where the road forks. Those wishing to continue on Lima Sandusky Road must veer to the left, otherwise continuing straight ahead places the driver on Wahl Road. Paseka continued straight onto Wahl Road, and for that he saw the flashing lights of a police officer behind him. He was pulled over for failure to use a turn signal." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOhio Appeals Court: Turn Signal Not Needed If Driving Straight

Renewed fear of global recession as companies rein in spending plans

"Growth in spending on machinery and investment by the world’s 2,000 biggest companies has begun to contract for the first time since the Lehman crisis, led by sharp falls in China and a near collapse in Latin America. Company spending plans are watched as an early warning gauge for the economy. The drastic falls in large parts of the world doom hopes for strong recovery later this year, and even point to a recession risk.The International Monetary Fund has cut its global forecast for this year to 3.1pc, sharply downgrading Russia, Brazil, South Africa, India and Mexico, as well as Italy and Germany." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRenewed fear of global recession as companies rein in spending plans

Constitutional crisis pushes Portugal closer to the brink

"Yields on 10-year Portuguese bonds jumped to 7.85pc in a day of turmoil, kicked off by a government request to delay the next review of the country’s EU-IMF Troika bail-out until August. President Anibal Cavaco Silva set off a constitutional crisis when he vetoed a reshuffle by the two conservative coalition parties, insisting on a red-blue national unity government with greater legitimacy to see through austerity cuts until mid-2014. Socialist leader Antonio José Seguro has so far refused to take part, demanding fresh elections to clear the air. Some Socialist leaders have threatened debt repudiation as a way of fighting back at Germany and the creditor powers." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingConstitutional crisis pushes Portugal closer to the brink

Judge Napolitano: President Obama Puts Politics Above the Rule of Law

"What's going on? What we have is a runaway government, dismissive of the Constitution it has sworn to uphold, contemptuous of the law it is required to enforce and driven by its own values of maximum control and minimum personal freedom. And we have a Congress supine enough to let this happen, as well as a judiciary so tangled in its own arcane procedures that immeasurable human freedom will be destroyed and Obama out of office before any meaningful judicial review can be had. Is this the rule of law? What shall we do about it?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJudge Napolitano: President Obama Puts Politics Above the Rule of Law

Glenn Beck calls for celebrating Ramadan by shooting all Guantanamo prisoners in the head

"Let's save some money... here's the thing... We can't let them starve themselves to death? Damn right we can. We can also shoot them in the head, which is the other option and the one I'm for. SHOOT THEM. But, the other is let them starve to death and I'm totally fine with that. I don't want to starve anybody myself; but I don't want to do that. I want to be the country that we all love and appreciate. You know the one that is feared by its enemies, but should not be a country that is feared by all. But is feared by its enemies." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGlenn Beck calls for celebrating Ramadan by shooting all Guantanamo prisoners in the head

China, India and Pakistan beefing up nuclear arsenals

"China now has 250 nuclear warheads against 240 in 2012, while Pakistan has increased its warheads by about 10 to between 100 and 120 and India has also added roughly 10 for a total of 90 to 110, SIPRI said in its annual report. Only the two old superpowers have cut their warheads, Russia reducing its number from 10,000 to 8,500, and the United States scaling back from 8,000 to 7,700. The warheads controlled by France stayed at 300, while Britain’s remained at 225, and Israel’s at 80. The United States and Russia have not destroyed all their chemical weapons in 2012 as promised, and Syria has said it is prepared to use them in the case of foreign attack." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChina, India and Pakistan beefing up nuclear arsenals

Japan says it faces increasing threats from China, North Korea

"Japan faces increasingly serious threats to its security from an assertive China and an unpredictable North Korea, a defense ministry report said on Tuesday, as ruling politicians call for the military to beef up its ability to respond to such threats. The report, the first since hawkish Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took office vowing to boost Japan's defenses, was likely to prompt a sharp response from Beijing, whose ties with Tokyo are strained by a territorial row. China is also upset by remarks from Abe suggesting he wants to cast Tokyo's wartime history in a less apologetic tone." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJapan says it faces increasing threats from China, North Korea

Monetary Mavens Talk, Talk, Talk

"The thrust of central banking coverage is one that emphasizes high finance, complicated terminology and impressive circumstances. The reality is that the tools are very limited and the choices are, well ... simplistic. Either a central bank prints money or it doesn't. Either it sets interest rates high or low. Officials can choose various targets but essentially, 'targeting' doesn't change the basic mechanism: more money or less, higher interest rates or lower ones. It's very simple and the amount of time, energy and mainstream media coverage lavished on these rudimentary – and primitive – decisions is incredible." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMonetary Mavens Talk, Talk, Talk

EPA sues Oklahoma utility for failing to estimate emissions that did not occur

"The EPA claims that OG&E failed to estimate emissions that did not occur. They are suing OG&E in an effort to force the company 'to assess whether its projects were likely to result in a significant [GHG] emissions increase.' The EPA had no authority to regulate GHG emissions when the work was done (2003 & 2006). The work (on boilers and turbine blade replacements) caused no emissions increase." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEPA sues Oklahoma utility for failing to estimate emissions that did not occur

Wal-Mart walks away from plans for 3 D.C. stores after ‘living wage’ law passes

"Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it was scrapping plans to build three stores in Washington, D.C., after the city council passed a bill late Wednesday that would require big retailers to pay starting wages that are 50% higher than the city’s minimum wage. The bill requires retailers with corporate sales of $1 billion or more and with stores of at least 75,000 square feet to pay workers starting salaries of no less than $12.50 an hour. The city’s minimum wage is $8.25. The measure includes an exemption for unionized businesses and gives existing big stores, which include Target Corp. and Macy’s Inc., four years to comply." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWal-Mart walks away from plans for 3 D.C. stores after ‘living wage’ law passes