I hope that your weekend is great.
Saturday, December 29, 2018
Friday, December 28, 2018
Dear Village Board,
Let's do the math! OK - please check my figures.... So according to MTP Village President, along with many other SE Wisconsin and Racine County Residents – Foxconn will employ 13,000 people being paid an average of $53,000 per year. 13,000 employees times $53,000 = $689,000,000 – per year! So what is the price point which Foxconn must sell those LCD TV’s at to at least break even? (This does not take into consideration WI tax credits or Pollution credits) Foxconn’s actual cost to produce LCD TV’s is not able to be determined at this time – so we will have to deal with raw numbers – based upon projections provided by MTP Village President David DeGroot….. Let us assume a price point of $250 per LCD TV – does that sound reasonable? So we have 13,000 employees times $53,000 = $689,000,000 – per year divided by $250 LCD TV’s sold annually. Remember that this amount does not allow for profit – or consider what is the actual price point at which Consumers can afford to purchase the LCD TV’s in the quantity required to be produced….. Which comes to: 2,756,000 TV’s which must be sold annually. But we still haven’t actually determined the cost to manufacture the LCD TV’s due to the cost of raw materials and production. Along with distribution and handling. While producing 2,756,000 TV’s in 12 months = 645 LCD TV’s per day – if the factory is operating 7 days a week. Working anything less only increases demands for increased productivity per hour/day . At what point is the Worker – “over worked”? What happens when a bathroom break interferes with production? Raising the price point only increases the demand for less wages to be paid with hopes for increased efficiency and less cost for labor/materials. In Asia, workers usually labor 12 hours a day, 7 days a week – so $53,000 per year comes to 365 X 12 divided by $53,000 = $12.10 per hour. Which is way far more than Foxconn pays it’s Chinese and Indian Workers! And Foxconn has already stated that it didn’t take into account the higher US wage requirements, which it won’t pay…. Workers in Asia and India sleep in shifts at Company owned dorms – often only earning $2.50 day Compare that with taxpayer subsidized section 8 housing in Racine – which starts at $460/month. Who says Republicans hate state sponsored welfare – they are it’s biggest beneficiaries. In addition, every Consumer of the Foxconn manufactured product must be able to afford the cost of the (usually) subscribed TV service. While in areas where subscribed TV service is unavailable – the LCD TV will be….. worthless https://concernedracinecountyresidentsjustsaynotofoxconn.wordpress.com/2018/12/28/lets-do-the-math/ Perhaps I am wrong - but it seems that SE WI is doomed to an increasing deflationary spiral which means that taxpayer funded expenses must be curtailed. Or - at least, so we think. Sincerely, Tim & Cindy
Let’s Do the Math
From a Better Mount Pleasant: https://www.facebook.com/abettermtpleasant/
MESSAGE FROM VILLAGE PRESIDENT
Seasons Greetings!
This year, we’ve continued our work to move the transformational Foxconn project forward and have celebrated numerous milestones. Site preparation and utility and road work is underway, as is vertical construction on the first of many buildings on what is becoming the Wisconn Valley Science and Technology Park. We are already seeing the positive results of Foxconn’s investment in our community, including new jobs and business for local companies, increased opportunities for area residents who have been connected with employment and training and the announcement of significant new developments right here in Mount Pleasant.
Read more: https://concernedracinecountyresidentsjustsaynotofoxconn.wordpress.com/2018/12/28/lets-do-the-math/
MESSAGE FROM VILLAGE PRESIDENT
Seasons Greetings!
This year, we’ve continued our work to move the transformational Foxconn project forward and have celebrated numerous milestones. Site preparation and utility and road work is underway, as is vertical construction on the first of many buildings on what is becoming the Wisconn Valley Science and Technology Park. We are already seeing the positive results of Foxconn’s investment in our community, including new jobs and business for local companies, increased opportunities for area residents who have been connected with employment and training and the announcement of significant new developments right here in Mount Pleasant.
Read more: https://concernedracinecountyresidentsjustsaynotofoxconn.wordpress.com/2018/12/28/lets-do-the-math/
Four for Fridays!
Good morning everyone I hope you had a good week and I hope you also enjoyed your Christmas. We really enjoyed being with our families for Christmas. Here are your questions.
1) Do you have plans for New Year's Eve?
2) If your plans are to go out for New Year's Eve how far will you travel?
3) If you are going out for New Year's Eve do you have a safe way to get home?
4) If you plan on staying home for New Year's Eve are you having friends or family over?
Have a great weekend!
1) Do you have plans for New Year's Eve?
2) If your plans are to go out for New Year's Eve how far will you travel?
3) If you are going out for New Year's Eve do you have a safe way to get home?
4) If you plan on staying home for New Year's Eve are you having friends or family over?
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, December 27, 2018
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Britain bans puppy and kitten sales by pet shops
Britain is forbidding puppies and kittens from being sold by pet shops in a bid to crack down on animal exploitation and abuse. The government said it will roll out the legislation next year after holding public consultations that showed 95-percent support for the ban. "This will mean that anyone looking to buy or adopt a puppy or kitten under six months must either deal directly with the breeder or with an animal re-homing centre," the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said on Sunday as part of its Christmas animal welfare push. Britain is forbidding puppies and kittens from being sold by pet shops in a bid to crack down on animal exploitation and abuse. The government said it will roll out the legislation next year after holding public consultations that showed 95-percent support for the ban. "This will mean that anyone looking to buy or adopt a puppy or kitten under six months must either deal directly with the breeder or with an animal re-homing centre," the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said on Sunday as part of its Christmas animal welfare push.
Dear Madame Zoltar
The weather has fallen into that pattern of gray, winter days. I hate that. Three months of this, if we're lucky. We had some snow but that's long gone.
The Packers did something. I think they won. Hurrah. Rodgers is earning his keep. Ha!
Here are the final standings from the Irregular Football League:
Oh well, there's always next year. Next year I'll cheat.
Señor Zanza and Junior are lobbying hard for a New Year's Party. They said that they'd take care of everything, from start to finish. Everything, that is, except me. I'm not interested in a party, so I suppose I'll have to hide upstairs. Better stock up on goodies.
Instead of my usual rant at the corruption in Racine politics, I thought I'd wish everyone a great Christmas, even if it is a day late.
 |
| "Ho! Ho! Ho!" |
I hope uou got what you wanted. Be grateful whatever you get. You've seen so much.
I'm sorry, but I'm beat from Christmas cleanups. Even with the boys doing the majority of the work, it's still a pain in the butt.
It was wonderful to see everyone. That's the best part of Christmas: the people (and dogs). I love you all and wish you good luck on the rest of your vacation.
madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com
I hope to see you when you're not so preoccupied with money.
_________________________
Please donate: paypal.me/jgmazelis
If you don't like PayPal, send me a note at madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com and I'll send you my street address so you can send a check or money order. Thank you.
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Poor Mans Speedball
Post; Alcohol and coffee can help you live past 90, study says Readers, we are honored and privileged to bring you the single greatest piece of news you've heard in your entire life. A study out of the University of California-Irvine has revealed that consumption of moderate amounts of alcohol and coffee is linked to living a longer life. Re-read that last sentence. There are no typos. There are no jokes. The key word is "moderate," of course. The study, called "The 90+ Study," started in 2003 and examined "the oldest-old" age group - about 1,700 nonagenarians - to determine what is key to living to your 90th birthday and beyond.
https://www.freep.com/story/news/nation/2018/02/22/alcohol-near-me/362510002/ Fuk that - I've gone foot first! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97ECZMvbLxg
How can the NY Times celebrate so many atrocities?
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/22/world/asia/mongolia-golden-eagle-festival.html
Should Be Forgot, Again
From The Shepherd Express:
But I will tell you’s I recall that at the beginning of this dying year I looked back at 2017 and said it had sucked, and my crystal ball told me to say that the future-2018 would also suck, but even more. Cripes, I should’ve put my money where my mouth was ’cause if I had, I’d be living the luxury life on Easy Street and lighting my Pall Malls with $20-dollar bills, what the fock.
So yeah, the less said about 2018 the better and I’m sticking to it, this week anyways. But before I go, I got to say once again that if you’re out and about New Year’s Eve so’s to kick 2018 out the door, maybe I’ll see you over by the North Shore American Legion Post #331 up there in Shorewood on Wilson Drive just north of Capitol, 9 p.m. to midnight with the John Schneider Orchestra, Claire Morkin and MRS. FUN, ring-a-ding-ding. It’s a suggested donation of $15, but as always, if you’d rather drop a couple, three grand at the door, there’d be no complaints.
So to the limit of my optimism, it bears repeating that I wish you all a happy focking New Year, and good luck with that, what the fock, ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so.
From: https://shepherdexpress.com/advice/art-kumbalek/should-be-forgot-again/
Dec. 24, 2018
10:47 a.m.
I’m Art Kumbalek and man oh manischewitz what a world,
ain’a? So listen, I know the hub-and-bub of the holiday season is always
a big deal this time of year for the people. But for a guy like me,
hey, every day is just another focking holiday, each and every day of the year. Oh yeah, nothing but seashells, balloons, topped with a generous dollop of you got to be jerking my beefaroni. I kid you not.
And this old year, this time 2018, is practically expired and again I’m thinking the less said about it the better.But I will tell you’s I recall that at the beginning of this dying year I looked back at 2017 and said it had sucked, and my crystal ball told me to say that the future-2018 would also suck, but even more. Cripes, I should’ve put my money where my mouth was ’cause if I had, I’d be living the luxury life on Easy Street and lighting my Pall Malls with $20-dollar bills, what the fock.
So yeah, the less said about 2018 the better and I’m sticking to it, this week anyways. But before I go, I got to say once again that if you’re out and about New Year’s Eve so’s to kick 2018 out the door, maybe I’ll see you over by the North Shore American Legion Post #331 up there in Shorewood on Wilson Drive just north of Capitol, 9 p.m. to midnight with the John Schneider Orchestra, Claire Morkin and MRS. FUN, ring-a-ding-ding. It’s a suggested donation of $15, but as always, if you’d rather drop a couple, three grand at the door, there’d be no complaints.
So to the limit of my optimism, it bears repeating that I wish you all a happy focking New Year, and good luck with that, what the fock, ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so.
From: https://shepherdexpress.com/advice/art-kumbalek/should-be-forgot-again/
Monday, December 24, 2018
Who Gives a Fuk Anyways.
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THIS DAY IN HISTORY – The execution of Eddie Slovik is authorized – 1944
On this day, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower endorses the finding of a court-martial in the case of Eddie Slovik, who was tried for desertion, and authorizes his execution, the first such sentence against a U.S. Army soldier since the Civil War, and the only man so punished during World War II. Private Eddie Slovik was a draftee. Originally classified 4-F because of a prison record (grand theft auto), he was bumped up to a 1-A classification when draft standards were lowered to meet growing personnel needs. In January 1944, he was trained to be a rifleman, which was not to his liking, as he hated guns. In August of the same year, Slovik was shipped to France to fight with the 28th Infantry Division, which had already suffered massive casualties in the fighting there and in Germany. Slovik was a replacement, a class of soldier not particular respected by officers. As he and a companion were on the way to the front lines, they became lost in the chaos of battle, only to stumble upon a Canadian unit that took them in. Slovik stayed on with the Canadians until October 5, when they turned him and his buddy over to the American military police, who reunited them with the 28th Division, now in Elsenborn, Belgium. No charges were brought; replacements getting lost early on in their tours of duty were not unusual. But exactly one day after Slovik returned to his unit, he claimed he was “too scared and too nervous” to be a rifleman and threatened to run away if forced into combat. His admission was ignored-and Slovik took off. One day after that he returned, and Slovik signed a confession of desertion, claiming he would run away again if forced to fight, and submitted it to an officer of the 28th. The officer advised Slovik to take the confession back, as the consequences would be serious. Slovik refused, and he was confined to the stockade. The 28th Division had seen many cases of soldiers wounding themselves or deserting in the hopes of a prison sentence that would at least protect them from the perils of combat. So a legal officer of the 28th offered Slovik a deal: Dive into combat immediately and avoid the court-martial. Slovik refused. He was tried on November 11 for desertion and was convicted in less than two hours. The nine-officer court-martial panel passed a unanimous sentence: execution-“to be shot to death with musketry.” Slovik’s appeal failed. It was held that he “directly challenged the authority” of the United States and that “future discipline depends upon a resolute reply to this challenge.” Slovik was to pay for his recalcitrant attitude-and he was to be made an example. One last appeal was made-to General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander. The timing was bad for mercy. The Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes forest was issuing in literally thousands of American casualties, not to mention the second largest surrender of an American Army unit during the war. Eisenhower upheld the sentence. Slovik would be shot to death by a 12-man firing squad in eastern France in January of 1945. None of the rifleman so much as flinched, believing Slovik had gotten what he deserved. https://www.theburningplatform.com/2018/12/23/this-day-in-history-the-execution-of-eddie-slovik-is-authorized-1944-2/
Back In The Good Ol’ Days…..
https://www.theburningplatform.com/2018/12/23/back-in-the-good-ol-days/
A Better Mount Pleasant Sends:
“The government you elect is the government you deserve.” Thomas Jefferson “Take a sad song and make it better.” The Beatles ~~~~~~~ Time to BOOT DEGROOT! (added) Together - ABMP readers and contributors worked to make the Village more accountable and more transparent. It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t always fun, but we made things better. In no particular order: 1. LIVE VIDEO OF VILLAGE MEETINGS: The Village now broadcasts live Village meetings and Foxconn informational sessions - because we did it first. Oh sure, they say they were going to do it - just like we all say we're going to the gym this week. Videos of Village meetings mean that more people can participate. Folks at home don’t have get out to village hall to see what’s happening, you can watch from home...or watch later. Preferably with cocktails. We credit the Village for doing a good job in setting up the recording - certainly better than Kelly did with her iphone - now if we can just get the audio and video synced up correctly. 2. MAKING EXECUTIVE PACKETS PUBLIC: For years, residents were strangely prohibited from seeing and reading the executive packets of information given to Trustees before meetings - even though it is public information. ABMP filed an open records request for all Village executive packets - as a result the Village now posts them before Village meetings. Residents can now see the same information trustees see at meetings. Go to the Village website and click on Agendas and Minutes, then go down to Village Board Packets. 3. APPROVAL AND PUBLISHING OF MEETING MINUTES: Meeting minutes are the official record of actions taken by the Village. The approval and publishing of minutes as soon as reasonably possible is required by law. The purpose is for residents to be appropriately apprised of actions taken on their behalf. Over the last two years, minutes weren’t approved for weeks, even months after votes were taken. It wasn’t just bad government - it was lazy, disrespectful government. ABMP made an issue of it in meetings, posts and in a letter to the Journal Times. These actions got attention and action. For much of the last year, minutes have been approved regularly. Guess it wasn’t so hard after all. 4. FOXCONN STORM WATER FAILURE: In late summer, residents began remarking on flood water runoff problems at the Foxconn construction site. Even a casual observer could see that barriers to protect from silt runoff into the Pike River were ridiculously lame. Sure enough, after a few days of heavy rain, mud and silt began pouring into Lamparek Creek leading directly to the Pike River watershed. ABMP videotaped the flooding and filed a complaint with the DNR. The DNR said Foxconn contractors had failed to do their job and the Village failed to provide the oversight residents were promised. The episode didn’t cost Foxconn much money - but it was embarrassing. In the end, they did a good job correcting their mistake and hopefully it won’t happen again - thanks to sharp-eyed readers who alerted us. 5. FOXCONN TRANSPARENCY: Early on in the Foxconn process, the Village Project team didn’t seem to think breaking down the bills for various contractors was very important. Hundreds of thousands of dollars listed as “Foxconn Bills” was supposed to be good enough for you. ABMP filed an open records request asking for the bills and published them right here so residents could see where their money was going. As a direct result, the Village started including more detailed information in the Village Board meetings and on the agendas when it came time to approve invoices and make purchases. 6. FREEDOM OF SPEECH: The Village has always had a very odd relationship with residents speaking their mind. No example was ever more stunning than when the Village CDA tried to keep residents from speaking on items listed on the agenda during public comments last spring - not once, but twice. ABMP filed a complaint with the Attorney General’s office who came back and gave the Village a clear message they were treading in some funky water that wasn’t likely to hold up in court. So what did our Village leaders do? Apologize? No, they doubled down and tried to get the Attorney General to change their written guidance. The Attorney General said “nyet.” That’s your Village, fighting hard (and paying lawyers) to keep you from speaking. It didn’t work and we will make sure they never do it again. 7. FOXCONN PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETINGS: ABMP held the first Foxconn public town hall meeting last June - after residents were promised meetings would be scheduled and never were. Close to eighty people showed up and many more watched live on Facebook. Coincidentally, Village Project Manager Claude Lois announced the Village’s first town hall at our town hall...yup, totally going to the gym this week. The Village has continued to hold meetings each month - that's a good thing. 8. FOLLOWING THE MONEY: Our readers and contributors are tireless researchers with handy calculators. ABMP has brought residents real, useful information about Village spending. Whether it’s the more than 100% over-budget EMS palace or the insane rise in costs for the Village Assessor - our readers get the information they deserve to know. It’s your money - and while the majority of the Village Board is still on a spending bender, we’re going to keep bringing you the facts. 9. THE PEOPLE’S VOICE: Over the last year, ABMP has gone from being a small town Facebook page to being a legitimate counterpoint to the public relations firm hired by the Village to dispatch talking points and write press releases for Dave DeGroot. We’ve been featured not just in Wisconsin print press, radio and TV, but in the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, New Yorker, the Guardian, the Verge, and of course the Reply All podcast. Outside the Wisconn Valley “cone of silence,” there is fact-based criticism by respected financial experts and investigative journalists that the Foxconn deal was too rushed, too generous, and Mt. Pleasant was too damn eager to even bother asking questions. You aren’t going to read those views in the Journal Times - not as long as Publisher Mark Lewis sits on the RAMAC Board. You will read them here. Why? Because we hate Foxconn? No. Because you deserve better than to be spoon-fed rainbows, pixie dust and “faith-based economics.” Foxconn has real life implications for our residents. For some it may be great, but for those who have sacrificed, or been treated unfairly, they deserve a voice too. 10. APPLYING PRESSURE: We didn’t get everything we were promised. We didn’t get annual reports for Police and Fire which were promised. Since they make up more than 70% of Village spending you deserve some data and some responsible planning. We aren’t giving up on that. If we have to file open records requests for the information and give you the reports ourselves - we will. We’ve already started compiling information. ~~~~~~ A government who doesn’t fear its own people, is a government who takes them for granted. Village officials read this page everyday. Good. We’re going to keep doing us. Thank you for reading. Thank you for contributing. Have a great holiday and we will see you next year! A Special Thanks to Kelli for continuing to hold MTP Government accountable! *SHINE ON*
Sunday, December 23, 2018
The New Green Deal
If the recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is to be believed, humanity has just over a decade to get carbon emissions under control before catastrophic climate change impacts become unavoidable. The Republican Party generally ignores or denies that problem. But the Democratic Party claims to accept and understand it. It is odd, then, that Democrats do not have a plan to address climate change. Their last big plan — the American Clean Energy and Security Act — passed the House in 2009 but went on to die an unceremonious death before reaching the Senate floor. Since then, there’s been nothing to replace it. Plenty of Democratic politicians support policies that would reduce climate pollution — renewable energy tax credits, fuel economy standards, and the like — but those policies do not add up to a comprehensive solution, certainly nothing like what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggests is necessary. Young activists, who will be forced to live with the ravages of climate change, find this upsetting. So they have proposed a plan of their own. It’s called the Green New Deal (GND) — a term purposefully reminiscent of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s original New Deal in the 1930s — https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/12/21/18144138/green-new-deal-alexandria-ocasio-cortez NO MAS! NO MAS! NO MAS!
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