MarkDobie.com

Bolivia is to Lithium as Saudi Arabia is to Oil

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Guess what, they don't like us either. When will we learn to quit enriching countries that do not like us? I'm a big fan of this book:

Sen. Specter (R) Switches to Democratic Party

I'll paraphrase, "See, I was going to lose the 2010 election as a Republican. And...well you know, I like being a career politician and it has enriched my family greatly, so I'm switching parties now."

Link to NPR story

Can we just throw these career politicians out already. Good grief they are ruining our country.

State of Iowa Budget

2nd all-nighter at Statehouse yields biggest budget ever

Federal stimulus plugs holes, but problems loom for future

While State Employees are getting no pay raise this year and people like my Dad lost his job, the State of Iowa Budget is growing 21%.  We are in the best of hands people, your state legislators really care about you.

What does this mean for our future?  Well, the projection is a $900 million hole for the 2010 budget which the legislature will start working on in Jan. 2010.   It means Iowans will probably see a property tax increase because of new legislation that guarantees starting teacher pay.   Most of the cuts in Education from the budget were back-filled with Federal dollars or other funds so I don't see that K-12 or Higher Education will see a lot of cutting this year, but next it's going to be very painful.   I also think that some of the 362 Iowa school districts are going to have to close small schools and consolidate even more.   There's no other way to pay for all of the K-12 increase in budget. 

On a side note: Terrace Hill gets 2 new gardeners and state vehicles can still get bug shields as options.  

Another cat picture

I'm as snug as a bug in a rug!

Keep track of swine flu using google maps

Google Maps mashup tracking swine flu. Google Maps Link

View H1N1 Swine Flu in a larger map

"Barney lied and our equity died"

"Clueless? A liar? In this case, Frank qualifies as both."

Cat sleeping

I'm not sure how that's comfortable!

CIA memos released

Just had to share this graphic, I thought it was clever.

Here come the internet taxes

Tax-free Internet shopping may be at an end

So much for no tax increases if you make under $250,000/year

Our new outside cat

We don't really have a name for our new outside cat. Some are calling her Lucy, some TC (the cat). She has doubled in size and is much healthier than she was when she stumbled into our yard. She lives under the deck and loves store bought cat food.