A Worrying Thought

I worry too much.  I always have.  In fact, I have wasted countless hours worrying.  Now, granted, this behavior intensified when I had children.  And if there was a contest…

Are Banks Making Money Off Unemployment Benefits?

If there’s a justification for the biggest welfare queens in history subsidizing their losses on the backs of people their incompetence and greed helped place in the unemployment line I’m not seeing it.  Probably because it doesn’t exist! 

First, Arthur Santa-Maria called Bank of America to ask how to check the balance of his new unemployment benefits debit card. The bank charged him 50 cents.

He chose not to complain. That would have cost another 50 cents.

So he took out some of the money and then decided to pull out the rest. But that made two withdrawals on the same day, and that was $1.50.

For hundreds of thousands of workers losing their jobs during the recession, there’s a new twist to their financial pain: Even when they’re collecting unemployment benefits, they’re paying the bank just to get the money — or even to call customer service to complain about it.

Thirty states have struck such deals with banks that include Citigroup Inc., Bank of America Corp., JP Morgan Chase and US Bancorp, an Associated Press review of the agreements found. All the programs carry fees, and in several states the unemployed have no choice but to use the debit cards. Some banks even charge overdraft fees of up to $20 — even though they could decline charges for more than what’s on the card.

 

Is your blood boiling yet?  No?  Then keep reading.

Anyone Here Speak Islamic?

I honestly didn't realize how much I missed Rick Santorum. “A democracy could not exist because Mohammed already made the perfect law,” Santorum said. “The Quran is perfect just the way…

Updated: You Can’t Make This Stuff Up… Um, on second thought, I guess you can

What do Republicans have against science?  Is this really just a way to package corporate profits to God-Fearing Christians?  First, we have Fred Barnes making up crap, now George Will.

Over the weekend, the Washington Post‘s George Will, got in on the act. And it took us about ten minutes — longer, it appears, than the Post‘s editors spent — to figure out that Will, like Barnes, was essentially making stuff up.

Both of Will’s major “data points” fall apart after a moment’s scrutiny.

Here’s the first:
According to the University of Illinois’ Arctic Climate Research Center, global sea ice levels now equal those of 1979. 

But within hours of Will’s column appearing, the ACRC had posted the following statement on its website:
We do not know where George Will is getting his information, but our data shows that on February 15, 1979, global sea ice area was 16.79 million sq. km and on February 15, 2009, global sea ice area was 15.45 million sq. km. Therefore, global sea ice levels are 1.34 million sq. km less in February 2009 than in February 1979. This decrease in sea ice area is roughly equal to the area of Texas, California, and Oklahoma combined. 

It is disturbing that the Washington Post would publish such information without first checking the facts.
So, nevermind then.

As for Will’s second claim, he writes:

[A]ccording to the World Meteorological Organization, there has been no recorded global warming for more than a decade. 

This one is a little more complicated. But only a little.

School Boards Impact Everyone’s Life

Don't believe me?  Then think property values.  Bad Schools will directly impact the cost of your home and the quality of your neighborhood. Now, is everyone paying attention?  School Board…

HAVE YOU DONE YOUR HOMEWORK?

Today is STILL a DelawareLiberal "Day of Action" to elect Lisa Diller to the New County Council County Council. Here are your options.  You can: - donate money to Lisa Diller's campaign - pledge your…