Sunday, August 17, 2014

SILVER STATE CONFIDENTIAL 08/17/2014

LET SUMMER BE SUMMER

While back in Baltimore last week surprising my mom on her 75th birthday, I heard a story on the radio about a petition drive urging the Maryland legislature to decree that each new school year could not begin until after Labor Day.

Maryland State Comptroller Peter Franchot says his “Let Summer Be Summer” campaign “will bolster small businesses that rely on seasonal workers, increase wages for young people and provide families with another week of quality time together” with “no added pressure on teachers.”

Do you agree that the school year shouldn’t start until after Labor Day?  Cast your vote in my online poll by clicking here: http://www.muthstruths.com


By the way, if I was in the private sector and wanted to launch an online petition drive for a “Let Summer Be Summer” campaign, one of the FIRST things I would do is buy www.LetSummerBeSummer.com

Alas, that’s not what Mr. Franchot thought about first. Or apparently second.  Or even third.

Guess who owns that domain name now – you know, just in case there’s support for a national “Let Summer Be Summer” grassroots effort?

LOOKING OUT MY BACKDOOR

In case you missed it – and you might have because the media doesn’t make anywhere near as big a deal out of thousands getting laid off in the private sector as it does if a dozen government workers get pink slips - Cisco, the world's largest networking equipment maker, announced last week that it was laying off 6,000 employees.

And it might be Barack Obama’s fault!

Our friend Durk Pearson – an MIT graduate “with a triple major in physics, biology, and psychology” who “assisted with equipment design and experiments for NASA's Space Shuttle” (source: Wikipedia) writes that “Cisco (internet routers and firewalls) has lost so much international business due to the disclosure that its products have National Security Agency backdoors.”

“Backdoors” are put into various hardware and software products to allow the NSA to spy on Americans.  The House passed an amendment back in June, 293-123, to stop funding to the NSA for the purpose of building “backdoors” into tech products. 

Nevertheless, the world has spoken about Obama’s spy program…and 6,000 of Cisco’s workers are apparently paying the price.

WE SUCK, BUT IT'S WORSE THAN YOU THINK

It’s well-known that Nevada’s government-owned/union-operated public schools suck.  Indeed, they are usually rated at the bottom of any performance list.  This is no secret. 

But according to Dale Erquiaga, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, things are “even worse than the statistics would have you believe.”

How is that possible since according to the campaign propaganda being put out by Gov. Brian Sandoval (R&R Partners), his education reforms and higher spending on education are the greatest, most successful innovations since the founding of the republic? 

Or is the governor just blowing smoke up our skirts?

FOR SALE

Attention classic car buffs: A friend of mine has this car up for sale on Craig’s List...

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1964 Mercury Marauder Hardtop Fastback Sedan, not many of these around. Beautiful project car, they don't make them like this anymore! Non-running project car with a FE 390 engine. Pretty sure the odometer has rolled over at least once, reading14,000 miles. Has AC/Heat unit, interior needs some repairs but not in terrible shape. Hate to let it go, but stuff happens. Asking 4,000.00 but will take reasonable offers. Contact me for more pictures or questions.”


MUTH’S TRUTHS

--> The Nevada Transportation Authority (NTA) – which is charged with the responsibility of protecting the state’s taxicab industry from private sector ride-sharing competitors such as Lyft and Uber – has nonetheless granted recent approval to two local smart-phone e-hailing apps for the taxi industry itself. 

So apparently the use of technology to facilitate ground travel services isn’t bad; just free-market competition.
 
--> Another wing suit skydiver dies.  Amazing what these guys will try. Click here (h/t: Bobby Ellis)    

FAMOUS LAST WORDS

“Political consultant Erin Bilbray’s campaign is in a full tailspin and it’s clear that she has no intention of fixing it. Bizarre campaign tactics and fundraisers with Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden have only strengthened Bilbray’s ties to Washington insiders and put her at a disadvantage going into November.” – Tyler Q. Houlton, NRCC Spokesman

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