We awaken this morning to the sound of a billion dollars being dropped on the Coastal Bend, a new petition following close behind that, and Longhorn fans all over town breathing a huge sigh of relief as Colt McCoy marches his teammates 78 yards in just under two minutes for the winning score. Let's get to work........
Poll: Are you concerned about the disregard the Chinese have when it comes to air quality?
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Poll: Do you think the latest petition against the ban that prohibits smoking in bars and pool halls, will pass or fail if it gets to the voters.
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MO'MONEY....President-Elect Obama is now willing to include as much as $300 billion in tax cuts as part of his proposed economic stimulus. While the final numbers aren't set yet, those tax cuts would apparently account for roughly 40 percent of the total package, which is expected to come in at around $600 to $700 billion total.
GAS SAVINGS USED ON FOOD _ One of the few bright spots of the sinking economy is plummeting gasoline prices. Since July when gas hit a record $4.06 per gallon average, prices have fallen by around 60 percent, to $1.61 a gallon. What are consumers doing with all that cash money they’re not pouring into their tanks? According to a new survey most Americans are using the windfall to buy groceries. Of the 3,013 consumers asked to choose from a list of ways they’re spending the money saved on gas, 48 percent cited groceries, 42 percent said holiday gifts, 37 percent said they planned on using the money to pay off their credit card balances, while 10 percent said entertainment.
OBAMA SAYS ECONOMY BAD, GETTING WORSE _ President-elect Barack Obama describes the economy as "bad and getting worse." He was on Capitol Hill Monday meeting with House and Senate leaders to talk about an economic stimulus plan.
OBAMA DOG UPDATE _ The Obama family has arrived in Washington, and while most of the news of the day is centered around Sasha and Malia's first day of school, let's not forget about another important item on the family to-do list: choose a puppy. Or puppies, as the case may be. A source with ties to the national branch of the American Kennel Club source says that there's a good chance that the first family could ultimately decide to get two dogs at once. The source says, "A dog from a shelter is almost a given, but there's the problem of shedding and Malia's allergies. Getting a second dog at the same time, one that is purebred and has the least chance of shedding, hasn't been ruled out. It's a good solution that will make everyone happy, most of all, Malia."
STEVE JOBS ISN'T DYING _ Apple CEO Steve Jobs isn't dying. Instead, he's suffering from a hormone imbalance that is "robbing [him] of the proteins [his] body needs to be healthy." The disease is treatable, and he'll stay on as Apple CEO. Steve decided to disclose this information to quell the rampant death rumors that his weight loss inspired.
The Next Edition of
Monday 01-05-2009 7:22am CT
Lago in the Morning...Can HBO really do this without making me angry? Two men, connected by chance, a true story, the trailer is here.
Nostradamus or James Carville? " 2009 will be a year in which the Republican Party will be confronted with a near catastrophic ideological rift. There is no obvious Republican leader on the horizon, and the party is caught between its Southern/talk-radio base and the rest of the country on whether they should oppose or cooperate with Obama's administration".
Nostradamus or Grand Warlock of Mexico? Did Nostradamus read tarrot cards? The rest here.
How long until we have a Mike Shanahan Coors Light commercials? He won't be out of work that long. Man those commercials suck.
From the Huffington Post! Harold Ambler, noted leftist, re-joins the reality based community. "Mr. Gore has stated, regarding climate change, that "the science is in." Well, he is absolutely right about that, except for one tiny thing. It is the biggest whopper ever sold " Wow!.........
Volunteers build you a house in Florida and give you a 25-year, no-interest mortgage. Payments are less than $300 a month. How do you show your gratitude in America in the 21st century? You call your lawyer.
I ended up staying at home with my lovely wife, drank some really good coffee, grilled some great steaks from Moody's, tried to finish "Outliers" (I didn't) and watched one of the goofiest New Year Celebrations on Television I've ever seen. Las Vegas. A guy who was determined to do a back flip in a pick-up, and a guy who launched himself up a ramp and landed on the Arc de Triomphe replica.
This year I’ve decided to make a resolution. I plan on procrastinating more.
I’ll start tomorrow...
Uncle Jay explains 2008
Bailout. Henceforth, this term should apply only to CEOs who bail out of their executive-suite windows without even a golden parachute.
The New York Times covers three small businesses in the NYC area and it’s pretty sobering stuff. Whatever stimulus plan we see after Obama gets in better help these folks directly otherwise the economy simply isn’t going to pick back up.
We start the New Year off with some great news. A Chinese-based company plans to build a pipe manufacturing facility in Gregory that would add at least300 permanent jobs.
The crazy uncle we all wish we had.
When eccentric doctor and compulsive hoarder Harold Carr died at the age of 89, his relatives faced a daunting task to sort through his possessions.
His home was packed with piles of medical machinery, 1,500 beer steins, thousands of receipts and even a World War Two spy drone.
A growing number of landlords were seeking a guaranteed source of revenue in a city hard-hit by foreclosures. They began offering their Antioch homes to low-income tenants in the HUD Section 8 housing program, which pays about two-thirds of every tenant's rent.
Ahh! Good old Section 8, one of the pillars of LBJ's Great Society.
Got this from a friend, his back yard. Nothing like starting the new year with a big ol' heaping helping of Global warming...
NEW YEAR'S EVE
Wednesday 12-31-2008 6:21am CT
Mayor Henry Garrett in the box at 6:30 AM and Skip Noe at 7. What's on the city menu for 2009? The elections in April? Questions? Bring'em on....560-5589.
Here we go again, the tempest in the teapot, Time/Warner vs KIII. Maybe no Rose Bowl.
Nancy Stevens Died Monday. She was a huge Hooks fan, I will miss her at ball games. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Grace Presbyterian Church. God bless all her family members.
ABOUT 2009 _ Despite the doom and gloom of a prolonged recession, the majority of Americans are optimistic about what's in store in 2009. According to a new poll, expectations for a brighter future were higher among younger generations with 64 percent of those under 45 having an optimistic view compared with 52 percent for those 45 or older.
... And given the economic downturn many of those surveyed have also pledged to try to save more money in the coming year. Or they are Pessimistic about 2009. I'm gong to be more careful in 2009, especially with money, but I fall into the Optimistic group. Mainly because I believe in individualism, hard work, and dedication to the task at hand.
Things That Drop...( I put a lot of work into this)
The “Walleye Drop” idea came to life when "Drop Man" Dan Sedlak, with the support of the "Big Fish" Mayor Tom Brown, presented his idea to the Ottawa County Visitors Bureau and the Port Clinton Chamber of Commerce. With the assistance of John Fellhauer, John's dad-Bob, Dan's brother Kevin and Ron Miller of OurGuest Inn, the Drop became a reality that cold December of 1996, and 13 years later the event is a huge success!
The event is an outdoor celebration (other than the heated tent) and its not uncommon to face less than 10-degree weather with the "special" Lake Erie wind chill! So bundle up! Brrrrrr.....
TripAdvisor named Bethlehem, Pa.’s Peep Show as No. 2 in its list of “Top 10 Quirkiest New Year’s Eve Events.” Bethlehem’s First Night event is ranked No. 2 for its tradition of dropping a 25-pound fiberglass Peep in the countdown to midnight.
We can start looking forward to Property tax notices soon. We'll talk about that today with James Duerr just after 7 and State Rep Elect Todd Hunter just after 8. Story from the Caller Friday the 19th. A power struggle on the Nueces County Appraisal District board has one member criticizing spending habits and the chairman accusing that member of resorting to political games.
Board member James Duerr wants area taxing entities to analyze the district's expenses, which will increase 13 percent next year.
January 1 (Nueces County Appraisal District determines ownership and value for tax year) A tax lien attaches to all taxable property on htis date to secure payment of taxes imposed for the year. This lien is automatically extinguished by payment in full. January 1 is the effective date of the tax year, for example, if a business closes, moves or changes ownership after this date, it will be taxed for the enire year. Any new exemption for the year should be claimed at the Nueces County Appraisal District.
January 31 This is the last day to pay taxes before delinquency. The first payment on quarter payment plans for over sixty-five and disability homestead accounts is due on or before this date.
What would you do to choose a school for your child? Hide in the bathroom and spy on other students? That's exactly what one parent did.
Great News: Islamic Militants 'Beheading and Burning Their Way Through Pakistan's Picturesque Swat Valley'..A lovely time being had by all.
MONDAY
Monday 12-29-2008 5:40am CT
So many days off, too much time on my hands, and another day off coming Thursday. I filled up my pick-up Saturday, $1.39 a gallon. Last December it was $2.89. I'm watching the Cowboys stink it up against the Eagles, between the light beer commercials and car manufacturers claiming they don't deserve to die horrible nasty bankruptcy deaths for making crappy products, I'm down to pulling the hair on my knuckles. Why can't we have a coach like Bill Cower? I'm not quite ready to throw in the 2008 towel, but I can distinctly hear the fat lady warming up in the wings. let's get to work..... Nice article in the Caller about Bernie Paulson, 2008 Newsmaker of the Year. He's been pushing for the engineering program at A&M-CC as long as I can remember.
Got an e-mail from Joe McComb Friday about the group that has been chosen to do whatever it is we want done with Memorial Coliseum. Joe updates on the petition just after 7:35.
The City is accepting applications from residents interested in serving on advisory committees again. Have you ever thought about doing that? I just signed up.
This letter is from the Washington Post, just before Christmas. It deals with the big 3. "After witnessing the Big Three automakers come to Washington to beg for money, and seeing GM and Chrysler take the bailout ["Aid in Hand, Clock Ticks for Detroit," front page, Dec. 20], I know that I will never buy another GM or Chrysler product, and maybe not another Ford. Which is too bad, because I have one Ford and one GM car in my garage right now, and both are pretty nice vehicles."
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Poll: So, has this bail out affected you the same way? After watching GM and Chrysler take the money will you swear off American Cars and trucks?
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Poll: Fun thread about midlife crisis. Is a Harley a mid life crisis vehicle?
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Some of the largest Texas cities and counties will spend about $3 million in taxpayer dollars lobbying lawmakers when the Legislature convenes next month, records show.
Gov. Rick Perry is not interested in discussing Indian gaming with the Kickapoo tribe, a Perry spokeswoman said in response to the tribe's request for such talks.
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